Read Online Summer of Promise by Amanda Cabot - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Amanda Cabot
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can’t explain it, but the first time I met Abigail, I knew I didn’t like her. Have you ever felt that way?”
Ethan had. One of the other plebes had gotten under his skin the first year at the Point. He’d never been able to identify the reasons, but he’d gone out of his way to avoid the man. Still, it was hard to understand how Abigail could have affected Jeffrey that way.
“No matter what I do,” Jeffrey continued, “I suspect we’re stuck with Abigail for the rest of the summer. She told Charlotte she’d only be here for a couple weeks, but I don’t believe her. Heaven only knows how much trouble she’ll cause before she leaves.” Jeffrey shook his head again. “A dog.”
“It might not be so bad.” Abigail’s assertion that everyone needed to play continued to reverberate through Ethan’s brain. Was that part of the men’s discontent? Unlike the officers, enlisted men had little free time for play. Their days were filled with drilling and the much-hated fatigue duties. Though he didn’t claim to be an expert, it seemed to Ethan that the officers’ wives had the opposite problem—too much idle time. “I imagine life here is lonely for the women.”
Jeffrey did not agree. “How can that be? It seems there’s always something going on. If it isn’t a tea party, they’re organizing a sewing circle. You’re wrong, Ethan.” It was a measure of Jeffrey’s distress that he used Ethan’s given name in public. “Charlotte’s not lonely. She does not need a dog, and she most definitely does not need Abigail. Everything was fine until she arrived.” Jeffrey frowned. “There’s got to be a way to stop Abigail from meddling.”
He stared into the distance, as if the answer would come down the hill from the hospital, but all that came was a warm breeze. After a few seconds, Jeffrey snapped his fingers. “I’ve got an idea. You should start taking your meals with us, and maybe you could escort Abigail on a walk a couple times a week. That might keep her too busy to concoct a new scheme.”
It might, but it sounded dangerously like courting. “I’m not interested in your matchmaking.”
Jeffrey’s eyes widened in what appeared to be genuine surprise. “It’s not that. Heavens, no. The last thing I want is for you to marry Abigail. I’d never get rid of her if you did. Besides, you’re safe. Charlotte says she’s practically engaged to one of the other teachers at that girls’ academy in Vermont.”
Casual as they were, Jeffrey’s words hit Ethan with the force of a mule’s kick. It stood to reason that a woman as beautiful as Abigail would be spoken for. He shouldn’t care—he didn’t care—that Abigail had a sweetheart. After all, it wasn’t as if he were searching for a wife. Oliver was the one who chased everything in a skirt. And yet there was no denying that Abigail was different from the other women Ethan had met.
Jeffrey was still talking, oblivious to the odd sensation in the pit of Ethan’s stomach. “All I need is for you to occupy a bit of her time. Any time Abigail’s with you is time she can’t be making mischief.” Jeffrey rolled his eyes and grimaced. “A dog. I won’t even ask what could be next for fear it will happen.”
“Think of it this way. Maybe a dog will keep both your wife and Abigail busy.”
“C’mon, Ethan. I need your help. We West Pointers have to stick together. Besides, Mrs. Channing makes a fine roast.”
That she did. And the truth was, spending time with Abigail would be no hardship. Unlike the women his grandfather had chosen for him, Abigail appeared capable of discussing matters other than ladies’ fashions. She’d demonstrated strength on the stagecoach, and this morning had proven that underneath that cool exterior was a tenderhearted woman, one who cared for a little puppy and, unlike most of the females he had met, one who didn’t mind a little mud on her clothing. No doubt about it. Abigail Harding was an intriguing
Ethan had. One of the other plebes had gotten under his skin the first year at the Point. He’d never been able to identify the reasons, but he’d gone out of his way to avoid the man. Still, it was hard to understand how Abigail could have affected Jeffrey that way.
“No matter what I do,” Jeffrey continued, “I suspect we’re stuck with Abigail for the rest of the summer. She told Charlotte she’d only be here for a couple weeks, but I don’t believe her. Heaven only knows how much trouble she’ll cause before she leaves.” Jeffrey shook his head again. “A dog.”
“It might not be so bad.” Abigail’s assertion that everyone needed to play continued to reverberate through Ethan’s brain. Was that part of the men’s discontent? Unlike the officers, enlisted men had little free time for play. Their days were filled with drilling and the much-hated fatigue duties. Though he didn’t claim to be an expert, it seemed to Ethan that the officers’ wives had the opposite problem—too much idle time. “I imagine life here is lonely for the women.”
Jeffrey did not agree. “How can that be? It seems there’s always something going on. If it isn’t a tea party, they’re organizing a sewing circle. You’re wrong, Ethan.” It was a measure of Jeffrey’s distress that he used Ethan’s given name in public. “Charlotte’s not lonely. She does not need a dog, and she most definitely does not need Abigail. Everything was fine until she arrived.” Jeffrey frowned. “There’s got to be a way to stop Abigail from meddling.”
He stared into the distance, as if the answer would come down the hill from the hospital, but all that came was a warm breeze. After a few seconds, Jeffrey snapped his fingers. “I’ve got an idea. You should start taking your meals with us, and maybe you could escort Abigail on a walk a couple times a week. That might keep her too busy to concoct a new scheme.”
It might, but it sounded dangerously like courting. “I’m not interested in your matchmaking.”
Jeffrey’s eyes widened in what appeared to be genuine surprise. “It’s not that. Heavens, no. The last thing I want is for you to marry Abigail. I’d never get rid of her if you did. Besides, you’re safe. Charlotte says she’s practically engaged to one of the other teachers at that girls’ academy in Vermont.”
Casual as they were, Jeffrey’s words hit Ethan with the force of a mule’s kick. It stood to reason that a woman as beautiful as Abigail would be spoken for. He shouldn’t care—he didn’t care—that Abigail had a sweetheart. After all, it wasn’t as if he were searching for a wife. Oliver was the one who chased everything in a skirt. And yet there was no denying that Abigail was different from the other women Ethan had met.
Jeffrey was still talking, oblivious to the odd sensation in the pit of Ethan’s stomach. “All I need is for you to occupy a bit of her time. Any time Abigail’s with you is time she can’t be making mischief.” Jeffrey rolled his eyes and grimaced. “A dog. I won’t even ask what could be next for fear it will happen.”
“Think of it this way. Maybe a dog will keep both your wife and Abigail busy.”
“C’mon, Ethan. I need your help. We West Pointers have to stick together. Besides, Mrs. Channing makes a fine roast.”
That she did. And the truth was, spending time with Abigail would be no hardship. Unlike the women his grandfather had chosen for him, Abigail appeared capable of discussing matters other than ladies’ fashions. She’d demonstrated strength on the stagecoach, and this morning had proven that underneath that cool exterior was a tenderhearted woman, one who cared for a little puppy and, unlike most of the females he had met, one who didn’t mind a little mud on her clothing. No doubt about it. Abigail Harding was an intriguing
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