Read Online Land of the Free by Jeffry Hepple - Free Book Online

a
smile.
    “I was going to supper and
wondered if you would care to join me,” he said.
    She looked surprised for a
moment and then stricken. “Oh dear. I have nothing to wear. The
need for a gown had not occurred to me.”
    “I’m certain that we can
find someplace where your attire will be acceptable.”
    “I still have the dress I
was wearing the first day,” she said, lapsing unconsciously into
French. “Perhaps that would do.” She stepped back from the door.
“Come in and give me a moment to change.”
    He looked nervously up and
down the hall.
    “If you’re concerned about
my reputation, you needn’t be,” she giggled.
    He walked in and closed the
door. “What are you reading?” He pointed to the book she was
carrying.
    “It is a copy of Coronado’s
journal.” She handed it to him, “There are details of his trek east
which may be useful to us.”
    He thumbed through a few
pages. “Yes. This could be very useful.”
    “You read
Spanish?”
    “Yes. Although my spoken
vocabulary is poor.”
    “I also have some journals
of my ancestral grandmother. In them, she describes the journey
from Coronado’s winter camp to Yellow Stone in detail. If we are
forced to abandon the Sabine we can at least reach Lewis and
Clark’s trail by following her directions.”
    “Where did they come
from?”
    She wrinkled her brow.
“Where did what come from?”
    “Your journals. You didn’t
have them with you and we didn’t get your things from the
saloon.”
    “You’re the suspicious type,
aren’t you?”
    He nodded. “Yes.”
    “I had Jack, the colored boy
that works there, bring them to me.” Marina sat down on the bed and
began to pull off her boots.
    “Perhaps I should wait
outside,” Yank stammered.
    She looked surprised.
“Why?”
    “While you change your
clothes.” His face was very red.
    “Of course. If you wish. Or
you could just turn your back.”
    “No.” He shook his
head.
    “No what?”
    “Stop doing that. We must
talk.”
    “I’m just taking off my
boot.”
    “And I’m asking you to
stop.”
    “Very well.” With a puzzled
expression, she leaned back on the bed.
    Yank took a deep breath. “I
don’t know what I was thinking, but you cannot go with
us.”
    “Why?”
    “A woman in a party of rough
men…” He spread his hands. “I don’t know what I was
thinking.”
    She shrugged. “I can take
care of myself.”
    “How? By shooting every man
who takes an interest in you?”
    “If they believe that I’m
your woman there will be no problems.”
    “What?”
    “It isn’t that complicated.
You need show no open affection or demonstrate our relationship
beyond sharing a tent with me and perhaps…”
    “What?” This was said with a
gasp and a new flush of color.
    She rolled her eyes. “Does
sharing a tent shock your delicate sensibilities?”
    “Yes. It would be completely
- indecent,” he stammered. “Immoral.”
    “Immoral to share a
tent?”
    “Cohabitation without
benefit of marriage is a sin.”
    She laughed. “Then marry
me.”
    Unable to answer, he simply
gawked.
    “So long as the marriage
isn’t consummated it can be easily annulled when we return,” she
said calmly.
    “But…”
    “No,” she interrupted.
“Think before you argue.” She pointed to the straight backed chair
at the small desk. “Sit down and think. This is an important
decision that impacts the future of our country
enormously.”
    “Our country?”
    “The United States of
America. I’m an American too now. That’s something I’ve dreamed of
for many years and I don’t take it lightly.”
    “Of course, but…”
    “No. Sit down and think.
Please. This is not the time for an emotional decision.”
    He hesitated for a moment
then obediently crossed the room to pull out the chair.
    “Let us examine this
logically,” she suggested. “You need a multi-lingual interpreter
and I am the best you will find anywhere.”
    “I agree. But the many
negatives outweigh the single