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Authors: Rose Gordon
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spyglass against it. Squinting, he muttered a curse and a phrase about how he wished whoever was responsible for making such small holes in the watchtower should be made to spend a night looking out for the fort through them.
“ Then, he might get shot,” came a voice behind Gray.
Gray stiffened. Satisfied that what he saw off in the distance was only the moon reflecting off the river, he turned around to face General Davis. “What do you want?”
“ Is that any way to speak to your future father-in-law?”
Gray released a breath. “No, sir.” He raked a hand through his black hair. “Why did you do it?”
General Davis made himself comfortable on the wooden chair that rested in the middle of the room. “I do hope you mean that in a nice way.”
“ Why do you care what happens to me?” Gray forced himself to ask.
“ Because I made a promise.”
“ A promise,” Gray scoffed. “Are you sure you don’t mean a debt?”
“ Son, I owe you no debt. As I said at the time, I am terribly sorry for your loss and my role in it all, but my remorse only goes so far. I wouldn’t give you my daughter’s hand as a peace-offering.”
Gray wasn’t sure if he believed him or not. “So instead of a peace-offering to me, you’re giving your approval for us to marry as a means to keep a promise.” He paused. “A promise to my mother, I suppose.”
General Davis nodded once.
Gray fought to keep from pursing his lips. Though he was grateful for General Davis’ intervention—yet again—he couldn’t help but think this might go too far. It wasn’t nearly as innocent or well-meaning as allowing a boy of fifteen to live at a fort under the care of a colonel so he could learn basic skills or ‘anonymously’ paying for him to attend West Point. “Are you saying the promise you made to a dead woman trumps the happiness of your daughter?” His words more a statement than a question.
“ Trumps it?” he echoed slowly. “I don’t know if I’d say that. But I don’t think I was so out of line. Michaela did manage to make it to a score and four unwed. She’ll be happier this way.”
“ I have my doubts about that,” Gray muttered.
“ Do you intend to treat her poorly, boy?” General Davis snapped.
Gray scoffed. “I don’t think I’d have to for her to be miserable.”
“ What makes you say that?”
Gray sagged against the wall of the watchtower. “As you say, she is four past a score. If she hasn’t married by now, she might be just as happy to remain unwed.”
“ That’s preposterous. All women wish to marry.”
“ Then I’d imagine she’d have done so by now,” Gray pointed out.
“ She claims she hasn’t found the right one yet.” General Davis’ voice dripped with disbelief. “I’ve suggested that she might have better luck finding a husband if she’d actually look.” He tapped his foot on the ground. “Now she doesn’t have to.”
“ A fact which I’m sure she appreciates more than words can express,” Gray said dryly.
“ Just so.” A moment passed. “And you?”
“ I hadn’t planned to marry.” Gray ran his fingers over the cool tube of his spyglass. “But considering the circumstances, I’m appreciative she has consented to be my bride.” He twisted his lips and closed his eyes halfway. “I just have one concern.”
“ Which is?”
“ Is there any possibility that Michaela and I—”
“ No,” General Davis barked. He cleared his throat. “Is there anything you’d like to know before your wedding, son?”
“ Just that the bride will be there.”
“ She will. Is there anything else you’d like to speak about?”
“ Not with you.”
“ No, I don’t imagine a fellow like you has any questions about his wedding night.” He chuckled. “I imagine you could teach me a thing or two.”
Gray shrugged. “Probably.” But I’d much rather teach Michaela.
***
General Samuel
“ Then, he might get shot,” came a voice behind Gray.
Gray stiffened. Satisfied that what he saw off in the distance was only the moon reflecting off the river, he turned around to face General Davis. “What do you want?”
“ Is that any way to speak to your future father-in-law?”
Gray released a breath. “No, sir.” He raked a hand through his black hair. “Why did you do it?”
General Davis made himself comfortable on the wooden chair that rested in the middle of the room. “I do hope you mean that in a nice way.”
“ Why do you care what happens to me?” Gray forced himself to ask.
“ Because I made a promise.”
“ A promise,” Gray scoffed. “Are you sure you don’t mean a debt?”
“ Son, I owe you no debt. As I said at the time, I am terribly sorry for your loss and my role in it all, but my remorse only goes so far. I wouldn’t give you my daughter’s hand as a peace-offering.”
Gray wasn’t sure if he believed him or not. “So instead of a peace-offering to me, you’re giving your approval for us to marry as a means to keep a promise.” He paused. “A promise to my mother, I suppose.”
General Davis nodded once.
Gray fought to keep from pursing his lips. Though he was grateful for General Davis’ intervention—yet again—he couldn’t help but think this might go too far. It wasn’t nearly as innocent or well-meaning as allowing a boy of fifteen to live at a fort under the care of a colonel so he could learn basic skills or ‘anonymously’ paying for him to attend West Point. “Are you saying the promise you made to a dead woman trumps the happiness of your daughter?” His words more a statement than a question.
“ Trumps it?” he echoed slowly. “I don’t know if I’d say that. But I don’t think I was so out of line. Michaela did manage to make it to a score and four unwed. She’ll be happier this way.”
“ I have my doubts about that,” Gray muttered.
“ Do you intend to treat her poorly, boy?” General Davis snapped.
Gray scoffed. “I don’t think I’d have to for her to be miserable.”
“ What makes you say that?”
Gray sagged against the wall of the watchtower. “As you say, she is four past a score. If she hasn’t married by now, she might be just as happy to remain unwed.”
“ That’s preposterous. All women wish to marry.”
“ Then I’d imagine she’d have done so by now,” Gray pointed out.
“ She claims she hasn’t found the right one yet.” General Davis’ voice dripped with disbelief. “I’ve suggested that she might have better luck finding a husband if she’d actually look.” He tapped his foot on the ground. “Now she doesn’t have to.”
“ A fact which I’m sure she appreciates more than words can express,” Gray said dryly.
“ Just so.” A moment passed. “And you?”
“ I hadn’t planned to marry.” Gray ran his fingers over the cool tube of his spyglass. “But considering the circumstances, I’m appreciative she has consented to be my bride.” He twisted his lips and closed his eyes halfway. “I just have one concern.”
“ Which is?”
“ Is there any possibility that Michaela and I—”
“ No,” General Davis barked. He cleared his throat. “Is there anything you’d like to know before your wedding, son?”
“ Just that the bride will be there.”
“ She will. Is there anything else you’d like to speak about?”
“ Not with you.”
“ No, I don’t imagine a fellow like you has any questions about his wedding night.” He chuckled. “I imagine you could teach me a thing or two.”
Gray shrugged. “Probably.” But I’d much rather teach Michaela.
***
General Samuel
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