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

positive.”
    “What negatives? You have no
wife, no fiancée and no family.” She stood up and planted her hands
on her hips determinedly. “Would an annulled marriage of
convenience discredit you with the army or damage your
career?”
    “No, but…”
    “But what?”
    “It-it seems –
immoral.”
    “You said that being
unmarried and sharing a tent would be immoral. What’s immoral about
being married and sharing a tent?”
    “The tent is no longer the
issue,” he grumbled.
    “What is the issue
then?”
    “The marriage.”
    “Marriage is
immoral?”
    “Yes. I mean no. That is...”
He took a breath. “Our marriage would be immoral.”
    “You’re not making
sense.”
    “Marriage is a sacred,
religious sacrament. One cannot…”
    “Hogwash,” she said,
interrupting him. “Any magistrate, justice of the peace or ship’s
captain can marry us in a civil ceremony without benefit of
clergy.”
    “But there is a pledge and
the implication of…”
    She raised her hand to stop
him. “Don’t say love. That is a myth.”
    “Love is a myth?”
    “Can you deny that marriage
among gentry, such as you are, is much more often a matter of
political or financial advantage than a demonstration of mutual
affection?”
    “No, I cannot deny that.
But…”
    “Think of this in the same
way.”
    “But…”
    “Except this: our marriage
is not a life-long commitment. Unless we both die on the trail or
we decide to consummate it, of course.” She gave him a moment.
“Well?”
    “I don’t know,” he
complained, rubbing his temples.
    “It would trouble me very
little to be left behind,” Marina said gently. “I have my freedom
and enough money to make a fresh start. You, on the other hand,
will never find my equal as an interpreter.”
    He nodded. “I know
that.”
    “The western expansion of
the United States will make us the most powerful nation in the
world. That expansion may well hinge on your mission. If you wish
to complete your mission, you need me. If you love your country,
marry me. It’s as simple as that.”
    He looked at her for a
moment then dropped his eyes again.
    “What now?”
    “Nothing.”
    “Don’t say ‘nothing’ to
dismiss me. Give me an argument. Tell me where I’m
wrong.”
    “You are quite correct in
all that you say.”
    “Well, what
then?”
    He sighed. “Do we need a
marriage license?”
    “I’ve never heard of such,
so I would presume not.”
    He stood up then sat down,
shaking his head.
    “Now what?”
    “I was just
thinking.”
    “About what?”
    “The marriage
ceremony.”
    “The marriage
ceremony?”
    “What do I do when they tell
me that I can kiss the bride?”
    “You kiss me.” She laughed.
“Who knows? You might even like it.”
    “That is exactly what I’m
afraid of.”
    “We could practice if you
wish.”
    He started to answer then
laughed. “You are a startling woman.”
    “You’ll get used to
me.”
    “I doubt it,” he shook his
head. “You know I’ve been told that my mother tricked my father
into marrying her.”
    “Do you think I have tricked
you?”
    “No, not exactly. Well, that
is…”
    “May I ask you a
question?”
    He chuckled. “I’m tempted to
decline.”
    “Not personal.
Business.”
    “Business? Very well,
business. What then?”
    “You turned down the first
dozen men this morning without giving them any consideration. At
first I thought you were just being too choosy, but by the end of
the day I began to suspect that there was some method in your
behavior that I had missed.”
    He considered her for a
moment before answering. “That is a very astute
observation.”
    “And that is a very clumsy
attempt to avoid answering.”
    He smiled. “The first few
men arrived before dawn. They were too anxious. Probably running
from the law. Behind them were the desperately unemployed who would
lie about their qualifications to gain the twenty dollars. The true
adventurers had been watching and listening to us while deciding