Read Online Reckless Destiny by Teresa Southwick - Free Book Online Page B

other.”
    “So the hostilities started when John caught the snake and Reynolds—” She stopped, trying to think of a delicate way to say it.
    “Embarrassed himself?” Kane asked with a smile in his voice.
    “That must have been awful for him.”
    “He was mad as a rained-on rooster when the story circulated all over the post. He blamed John.”
    “But you just said John Eagle doesn’t talk much. Why would he humiliate his friend?”
    “He wouldn’t. This post is like a small town. Someone, probably one of the enlisted men, saw the two boys come back with the snake and noticed the condition R. J. was in and put two and two together. The story spread like wildfire. R. J. had to blame someone, and he was jealous of John because he caught the snake.”
    She shook her head. “That’s such a shame. Isn’t there some way to get them to make up?”
    “I’ve tried. Nathan Eagle even stuffed the snake for him. R. J. refuses.”
    They approached the mess hall. As the sun sank, the shadows grew darker and deeper and the lights inside seemed brighter. Laughter and the sound of voices drifted toward them.
    Cady stopped and took a deep breath. “Why don’t you go on in? I think I’ll watch the sun set. It’s spectacular here, far more brilliant than back home.”
    In spite of what her father had always told her, she didn’t feel very charming or confident at the moment.
    “If you need a minute, I’ll wait with you.”
    She saw in his expression that he understood. She hated that he could read her so easily when she thought she was hiding her feelings. He was being very considerate. Then she remembered; he was following orders. She couldn’t let herself believe that he was being solicitous. She was nothing more than a duty.
    “Do you always follow orders to the letter, captain? I think I can get to the mess hall now. It’s not necessary for you to accompany me inside.”
    “It would be unchivalrous of me to let you walk in by yourself.”
    “Then let’s get it over with.” She pulled her shoulders back.
    Officers, a few of their wives, and enlisted men were gathered inside the mess hall. When Cady and Kane entered, everyone in the room stopped talking and looked in their direction. Kane felt a shiver run through Cady but she lifted her chin and appeared calm and serene, in spite of her purple eye.
    She was nothing but contradictions: fiery and spitting mad one minute, soft and insecure the next. She kept him off balance, and that disturbed him.
    That and the way she filled out her dress. The white material trimmed with tiny pink roses made her look like just about the daintiest, most feminine woman he’dever seen. She smelled like roses too. In the middle of the Arizona desert, he couldn’t help thinking about a green meadow filled with flowers.
    It also reminded him that he had the responsibility of protecting her. The way the men were staring at her told him it wouldn’t be an easy task.
    His commanding officer’s wife hurried over to them.
    “Good evening, Mrs. Wexler,” Kane said, greeting the plump, brown-haired woman politely. He held his hand out toward Cady. “May I present Miss Tanner.”
    “Oh, my dear.” Mrs. Wexler pressed a palm to her ample bodice and stared in horror at Cady’s eye. “I can’t believe my son did that. His father will discipline him severely, I assure you.”
    “He didn’t mean to do it. I was trying to separate the two boys, and a wild punch caught me.”
    Kane cleared his throat. “I’ve already taken care of punishment detail. He and John Eagle will chop enough wood to keep Miss Tanner supplied for weeks.”
    “That’s one of the chores you gave them?” Cady asked, a speculative look in her green eyes. “Are they required to do this together?”
    “It is,” he answered, “and they are.”
    She nodded approvingly.
    “I don’t know what we’d do without Captain Carrington,” Mrs. Wexler said. “With my husband gone so much on army business, and a