His gaze swept over her body and she looked down. Water soaked, the white underclothes clung tight and near invisible. She wrapped her arms around her body in an effort to cover herself.
“It’s only fair, I suppose.”
Water dripped off his body when he stood. Her eyes widened. Waist deep for her the water hit James mid-thigh. Her eyes followed the line of his lean body. Thin from the lack of food on the campaign he’d retained the muscular cut of a man accustomed the physical activity.
Her gaze dropped and rested on the flesh between his legs.
“The water is cold.”
She gasped.
“I’m so sorry.” She spun away from him. Heat burned from her face and crept across her body.
“Even thin, you have wonderful curves,” James said. He moved forward in the water. “And your knickers don’t hide much.”
“These are not knickers.”
His arms wrapped around her waist. “I know.” He kissed the curve of her neck, his lips cold but his breath hot on her skin.
She shivered.
“The way the cloth wraps around your hips. I imagine you would look quite nice in a pair of knickers.”
“This isn’t proper.”
“Tamsyn, there isn’t anything proper about this entire situation. War, death, captives. I found it all meaningless, I questioned why I endured it all. Why I survived it all. Until ten days ago.”
She rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes. “What happened ten days ago?”
“I met you.”
His hand cupped her breast and his thumb caressed her nipple through the cotton fabric. Lightning coursed through her body and settled between her thighs.
He urged her out of the creek and onto the dry bank. Turning her, his lips descended onto hers with an urgency she understood. His tongue swept inside her mouth and she mimicked his motions. Her lips danced against his. She nipped his bottom lip and darted her tongue across it.
Kissing she could handle.
He groaned against her lips and his hands slid down her backside. His fingers kneading her flesh. Her wet toes curled against the now-wet ground. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her hands found their way into his damp hair.
He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. Heat radiated off of his naked skin and his fingers gripped her underthings. His hard length pressed against her stomach. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“Don’t be.”
He opened his eyes and met her stare.
“Please, don’t be,” she repeated. Her hands slipped down his arms and she tugged him further up the bank where the new grass grew soft along the creek’s edge. She bit her bottom lip and the ache in her body, in her heart once again roared to life.
Lifting onto her toes she closed her eyes and kissed him again.
Her fingertips slid down his stomach.
He gripped her hands, stopping her. “No, you’re not a camp follower to be bedded on the riverbank.”
“Is there something unpleasant about me?” The question rolled across her lips. Sharp tears sprang to her eyes and she squeezed them closed. Her teeth ground together.
He released her. The air wrapped around her, cold in his absence while she waited for his answer.
“Tamsyn, look at me.”
She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. A treacherous tear escaped the corners of her eyes and trailed down her face.
“Look at me,” he ordered again and waved his hands over his body. It glistened, still damp, in the afternoon sun. He rested his hands on his hips while she glanced over him again.
She returned her gaze to his face. “What? What is it you want me to see?”
“Do I look like a man standing before an unpleasant woman?”
She closed her eyes. “I don’t understand.”
He moved next to her and she opened her eyes again. “James…”
“Shh.” His body tensed and his eyes scanned the trees along the creek. The loud crunch of footsteps caught her attention.
His hands tightened around her and he dragged her into a thick bramble along the edge of the creek. Her toes sunk into thick, cold mud. He pressed his finger to his lips and they crouched behind the bushes.
Two soldiers emerged from the trees. They scanned the creek in front of them. She recognized Waxman.
“I told you she came this way. There are her clothes.” The younger soldier kicked at her dress with disgust.
“She can’t be far.” Waxman’s gaze searched over the brush where they hid.
Tamsyn froze, holding her breath, certain he’d spot them.
“Keep looking. I’m going to break the reb bitch when I find her.”
“I’d like to help you break that little piece.” The other soldier laughed and massaged his crotch.
“Steele should have strung her up by the neck the night we caught her.” Waxman growled. He stalked to the creek’s edge. “Bastard saw nothing but her blonde snatch.”
James curse under his breath as she fought the urge to vomit.
“Come on, let’s look closer to camp.” Waxman walked along the creek’s edge, eyes intent on the bank.
James held her still in the freezing mud while they waited until the soldiers disappeared from sight.
“Bastard.”
“Oh, God.” Tamsyn started for the trees. “Elizabeth.”
What the hell might Waxman be capable of?
“Tamsyn, wait.” James gripped her arm.
“No. I have to check on Elizabeth.”
“Your clothes,” he whispered and motioned to her clothing littered on the grass. He moved to pull on his gray trousers.
****
James raced through the thin line of trees toward the cabin and nearly collided with Tamsyn when she stopped just inside the clearing where the cabin sat.
Davis sat on the front porch in the rocker with Elizabeth curled under his arm. Her giggles carried across the yard while she listened to her uncle’s story. He touched Tamsyn’s back and urged her forward. Her wet hair dried in wispy curls around her shoulders.
When they started up the steps Davis’ gaze swept over them.
Ah, shit. He knows.
“What’s wrong?” Davis asked.
“Did anyone stop by earlier?” James cleared his throat.
“No, General. Just me and Elizabeth here.” Davis shook his head. His eyes flickered between the two of them and scanned the trees behind them. “Were you expecting someone?”
James clenched his jaw. “No.” He slid his hand down Tamsyn’s arm and gripped her hand. “You’ll be safe. I’ll see to it.”
She swallowed hard, eyes wide with fear. He dipped his head and touched his lips to hers. “I promise.”
“General Steele!” Knowles ran across the yard. “General Grant is at camp. He waits for your immediate return.”
Damn.
He’d forgotten General Grant was expected that afternoon.
“Mr. Hart, keep your sister and niece inside.” His tone resumed that of a commanding officer accustomed to obedience. He noticed the rifle leaning against the rail. “ And your weapon within arm’s reach.”
He squeezed Tamsyn’s hand before releasing it. And turned his gaze on Knowles. “I have discovered the snake in our camp.”
Knowles nodded. “Is it who you suspected?”
“Yes.” James scanned the trees. “No one in or out.”
Chapter Ten
James hurried through the camp. The men paid him no heed. He pushed his still wet hair away from his face and stepped inside the tent.
“General Grant, I apologize…”
“No need, James.” General Grant waved the apology aside. “Did you enjoy your swim?”
“Bath, sir,” James corrected.
“On to business then.” Grant paced the tent, his hands locked behind him.
James adjusted his uniform while he listened.
“Several of your men have approached me.”
James slowed his movements and remained silent.
“They are concerned about you. Or more specifically your activities. Particularly your behavior regarding your prisoner, Mrs. Moody.” Grant stopped his pace and turned a hard stare on James. “Several of them seem to believe you are engaged in some sort of romantic affair with the woman.”
James clenched his jaw.
“Are you?”
“Friends close, enemies closer.” James forced a smile. “I don’t believe the woman to be a threat, General. Her dead husband made a dying request she tried to carry out.”
“You don’t believe she’s involved otherwise?” General Grant resumed pacing.
“No, sir, I don’t.”
“All right, I release you from your responsibility to her.” General Grant nodded. “Put the woman on a train with her brother. Take the next train home to Boston. I’m sure your mother is eager to have you home.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’ve signed the order to disband your regiment, effective immediately.” Grant went on. “My assistant is taking care of the payroll now.”
“You’ve announced the disbandment to my men?”
“Yes.” Grant nodded. “Right after I told them about President Lincoln’s assassination.”
“What?” James’s heart plummeted. He bowed his head. He’d met Lincoln once just after the start of the war. “No, that can’t be.”
“Shot in the head at the theater on Friday eve.” Grant sighed. The two men shared a moment of silence. “Several of your men have already started to make their way to the train station in Lynchburg. They are eager to depart for home.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Grant moved past James toward the tent flap.
“James, when I made you responsible for the woman…” General Grant chuckled. “I didn’t mean for you to take her to bed.” The general pushed the flap aside and stopped again. “But, that Mrs. Moody, she’s got backbone. I hope when you leave her at the train station it’s on good terms.”
****
Tamsyn paced in front of the fire. Her fingers twisted in front of her. Elizabeth had long since fallen asleep and lay twisted in the blankets on the bed. Davis disappeared with the rifle onto the porch after a meager supper. Knowles declined their invitation to join them for the meal and she knew the soldier paced somewhere on the property.
Deep voices from outside stopped her in her tracks. She moved toward the door. Relief washed over her when she recognized James’s deep baritone talking to her brother. She grabbed her thick shawl from the wooden hook and opened the door.
“Tam,” Davis sounded angry. “General Steele was just giving me some interesting news.”
She stepped onto the porch. “What is it?” She closed the door behind her, pulled the shawl around her shoulders and crossed her arms.
“My regiment has been disbanded.” James remained on the bottom step.
She could feel his gaze on her even in the dark and fought the urge to close the gap between them.
“Go on,” Davis demanded.
“I need to get Davis on the first train out of Virginia.” James paused. “Some of my men aren’t happy with me. I’m afraid they may try to take it out on one of you.”
She knew which men he referred to and shivered. She’d told Davis about the men at the creek in a roundabout way.
“Davis, that’s wonderful news.” She touched his shoulder. Tension hummed in her brother’s body.
“What about Tamsyn and Elizabeth?” Davis questioned for her. “I meant to stay until I could take them home to Tennessee.”
“Tamsyn remains my responsibility,” James reminded them. “She must remain with me.”
She touched her hand to her stomach in a vain attempt to control the flutters.
She must remain with me.
“I’m not going.” Davis growled from the rocking chair.
“Tamsyn, may I speak with you, in private?”
“Go inside, Davis.” She touched her brother’s arm. “It will be all right.”
Davis grunted his displeasure but stood and hobbled into the house.
He’s getting better on the peg.
Tamsyn turned to find James smiling up at her. His smile made her knees wobble. “Is Davis in danger?” She descended the steps.
He waited until she stood on the step just above him before he responded. “Honestly, I don’t know.” He pushed a loose curl away from her face. “But I’d like for him to be safely on his way to Tennessee soon.”
She nodded. The men only made threats against her but there was no way to know what they might do to Davis or Elizabeth given the opportunity.
“So what will I do?”
He leaned forward and placed a light kiss on her lips. Her body trembled and he tossed her another smile. “You will return to Boston with me.”
“What?” She took a step back.
“My regiment has been disbanded, but I am still responsible for you.” He reached for her hand. His warm fingers intertwined with hers. He tugged her forward until her body pressed against his own. “I’d like to go home. See my family. Will you go home with me? To Boston.”
“If I say no?”
He leaned back to stare at her. “I could force you, but I’d rather not put you in chains.” His dark eyebrow lifted and a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “Silken bonds sound interesting though.”
Her jaw fell open. His soft laughter filled the silent night air around them. “Please, Tamsyn. I haven’t seen my family in three years. Go with me to Boston, so I can uphold my word to General Grant concerning you and remind myself what civilized life is again.”
She thought for a moment, searching his face for any sign that his threat of chains was mere jest. She sighed. “All right, Elizabeth and I will go with you to Boston.”
He dropped his head.
“What is it?”
He remained silent.
“Out with it, General.”
“I think you should send Elizabeth with Davis to Tennessee.”
The words ripped the breath out of her and she dropped down into the rocker. “What? No. I can’t.”
In five years, she’d never spent one day away from her daughter.
“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think she was in danger.” James climbed the steps and dropped to his knee in front of her. “I’ll send you on the first train out of Boston when my promise to Grant is fulfilled.”
“I can’t.” She closed her eyes and shook her head.
“Boston is a big place, love.” He gripped her hands. “I can’t promise there won’t be people like Waxman. She’ll be safer with your brother and your family in Tennessee.”
“Tam, he’s right.” Davis whispered from the doorway. He’d been listening. “Send Elizabeth with me to Ma. He’ll put you on a train out of Boston before the summer is over or I’ll come and get you myself.”