Savage Conquest (30 page)

"While we're at it, we might as well cover all
points. I want you to stop taking such rash chances. I
can handle the case against Weber, so stop trying to
assist me. How can I concentrate on success if I'm
worried about you and what you're doing? I can't
promise to be around every night, and I can't risk
sending a message. And I can't confide my plans to
you. There are others involved now, and I won't risk
endangering more lives. I don't think you realize
the importance of this mission. You're being childish and selfish, Mandy. This isn't the time to prove
you can outwit Weber or gain revenge on him. I take chances every time I come here. Hellfire, I risked
death and defeat by confiding in you and marrying
you so I wouldn't lose you! What more do you want
from me?" he thundered.

Amanda determined she wouldn't cry, but it was a
battle to control her tears. Why was he being so mean,
so defensive, so secretive? It wasn't jealousy. "You
know where I am, but I have no idea where you go or
what perils you confront! For all I knew, you could
have been lying dead somewhere! You're my husband, Reis. I love you. I was so frightened I almost
contacted President Grant."

"You what!" he stormed at her, his eyeschillingat
the vision of what her loose tongue could inspire.
"Don't you ever contact him or anyone about mel
You want to get me killed? Or in deep trouble? If
anyone knew about us . . . " He fell silent, then struck
the table forcefully in unleashed fury. "It was a
mistake to marry during a critical mission. Damn, I
gave you credit for more sense. All you want to do is
play amateur detective, and damn the rules and
consequences! Why can't you stay out of trouble and
mischief? What have I gotten myself into? You could
ruin everything, Mandy. Lives and national security
are at stake. If you loved me and trusted me, you'd do
as I asked."

She was devastated by his insults. Her chin and lips
quivered and tears blurred her vision. A lump came
to her throat. He had dropped into a chair and was
staring blankly at his clasped hands, musing over
how to handle this complex female. When she could force words from her throat, she said in a trembly
voice, "If this is any indication of what marriage to a
spy is like, then it was a mistake for us to wed.
Perhaps we shouldn't see each other again until this
'critical' mission is over, or else we might ruin our
relationship all together. I wouldn't want to jeopardize it or any lives, especially yours and mine.
Don't feel obligated to check on me; I'll be just fine.
As to Weber, I'll follow your orders, sir. After you
feed your starving body, feel free to sneak out at your
leisure. If you think you've made a terrible mistake by
marrying me, then by all means correct it as quickly
as possible," she stated, then fled the tormenting
room, slamming and locking her bedroom door.

Reis propped his elbows on the table and rested his
forehead on his palms, berating himself for taking
his frustrations and fears out on his innocent wife. It
wasn't fair; he had been cruel. He couldn't tell her he
was distressed because one of his agents had been
killed last night, for she would worry over his
survival too much. Now, he must write a letter of
condolence to Bill Hayes's family.

He-couldn't blame her because Weber had tightened the security around both warehouses before he
could complete his investigations. He was further
disturbed because he and George Findley hadn't been
given the time to sabotage the illegal weapons they
had located in Weber's crates. And he had discovered
that a Ku Klux Klan meeting had been arranged for
next week, a meeting to plan violence to black voters
and several carpetbaggers, and to discuss the possible assassination of Jefferson Davis to rile up the South.

He had taken an oath of silence and loyalty to
America for the President. He shouldn't have become
so angered by her fear for him, but he couldn't allow
any contact with Washington. Grant had many
enemies in his administration. Grant had made some
terrible errors in judgment, in special-interest legislation, and in patronage. There was much corruption and scandal surrounding the President, and he
was trying to correct it and redeem himself with
Reis's help. Only Grant knew of his missions. If
Amanda dropped clues into the wrong ears, all could
be ruined. But if he couldn't trust her, he couldn't
trust anyone! Why hadn't he simply explained that
no one but Grant knew of this mission?

He couldn't admit to irrational jealousy this
afternoon. It wasn't her fault her life was in danger. It
wasn't her fault that he had almost been caught by
Weber because he had been distracted by thoughts of
herl She hadn't seduced him or tricked him into a
wedding. She hadn't married him for fear of poverty.
It wasn't her fault he wanted this mission over so they
could be together and she could be safe.

She had become like an obsession to him, a
perilous weakness, a deadly distraction. Yet, those
were his problems, not hers. How could he have said
such hateful things to her? Hellfire, he hadn't even
shown or told her how much he had missed her!
What was he doing to her, to them?

Weber Richardson-he was the evil force in this
matter. God, how he wanted to kill that man barehanded! Each time he saw Weber or overheard
him plotting, it became more difficult to restrain his
hatred and desire for revenge. But if he killed Weber,
the trail to the others involved in these crimes would
be lost. This case was so complicated and demanding. He stood and stretched to relax his taut muscles,
then headed for Amanda's room to beg her forgiveness and understanding.

As Reis mounted the steps wondering how to
explain his mercurial moods, he knew the only way
to show his love and trust was to tell her everything.
He had never been this edgy or indecisive. But he had
never had someone more precious than life to fret
over, to protect. Amanda was right; if he died while
carrying out this mission, she wouldn't even know
why she had lost him. No one would even know to
contact her with such grim news! He sighed heavily,
thinking how glad he was that Miranda and Lucas
were safe and happy ...

It didn't take long for Lucas to realize that wild
Yankton wasn't the place for him and Miranda, and
neither was their second stop, Fort Randall. They
would continue toward Pierre on the Martha Lane
tomorrow morning.

With two railroads joining in Yankton soon, the
town was overflowing with workmen, "ladies of
pleasure," and a variety of opportunists. Two mills
were being built near town: a flour mill and a lumber
mill. A packing plant and foundry were under
discussion for imminent construction. Several rowdy
saloons were ready for use, with numerous others
under construction or planning. Headquarters for
freight companies and stagelines had blossomed in
and around Yankton. The town was full of crime and
violence and Lucas felt they should move on, as the
area offered nothing but trouble.

But their brief stay at Fort Randall provided some grim and interesting insights. Miranda and Lucas
were both surprised by the boredom and hardships
which filled the average soldier's life. They had been
led to believe the soldiers and settlers in this area led
exciting, profitable, and pleasant lives. But the
colorful adventures printed in newspapers and books
were fantasies or fictionalized accounts.

Lucas was fascinated by all he saw and learned,
and made careful notes for future stories or articles.
He questioned almost everyone he met about three
men in particular. His pouch grew fat with information, facts and figures which he was only too eager to
share with Miranda.

True, the Army did protect the trails and railroads,
the miners and settlers, the cattlemen and sheepherders, and the traders. The Army did do surveys for
railroad lines and telegraph lines or protect the crews
which carried out such necessary jobs. The Army did
battle "hostiles," as the Indians were labeled.
Sometimes, the Army did the work for companies,
such as building roads or clearing land. Yet, the
majority of time was spent with arduous chores in
or around the fort.

One thing which Miranda found intriguing was
the Army's contradictory views on marriage amongst
its enlisted men. The men were lonely and miserable;
yet families were discouraged. The men's carnal
needs were met in several ways. At some forts, whores
were permitted to live and ply their trades. At others,
women who served as cooks and laundresses also
served as whores for the men who could afford such luxuries. At still others, wagons arrived every few
weeks with prostitutes, games, and whiskey for sale;
at such times, some men spent their entire month's
wages in one day. Sadly, in some cases, widows or
daughters were forced into such professions when
left alone and penniless. Many soldiers used Indian
women from the nearby reservations to sate their
lusts. At those forts which existed near settlements,
saloons offered the soldiers their three desires: drink,
women, and gambling.