Ambush by Luke Short

Author:Luke Short [Short, Luke]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Ward stepped out of Headquarters building into the glaring afternoon sunlight and headed straight across the parade ground toward Brierly's house. Except for the afterwash of his sudden anger—an odd restlessness—he was completely indifferent to what Loring had told him. He had given his promise, and he would keep it. As for his welcome on the post, he had gauged that accurately long ago. There was not an officer here who was not his friend and who did not enjoy his infrequent company. Loring's reprimand, in retrospect, brought a stirring of amusement to him, and of understanding, too. A man who was any sort of man liked to do things his own way; for Loring to accept anything in Brierly's pattern would brand him as a man of little character or thought or pride.

The heat of the hard-packed earth reached through his moccasins, and now he saw Linus cut around the corner of the officers' quarters, laundry under his arm, and take to the shade of the veranda. His long legs dragged, and Ward knew he was bone weary. Remembering now, he swerved in his course and called, "I think Captain Loring was looking for you, Linus."

He heard Linus groan and say, "I'll never get that bath"; Linus waved his thanks and Ward went on, taking the walk to Brierly's steps.

Mrs. Wolverton, wife of Captain Wolverton, came out the door as he mounted the veranda. She was a worn-looking woman, blonde, thin, with a careless, merry smile, and when she saw Ward she said, "You were coming over for supper tonight, but it's my turn to sit here. What about tomorrow night?"

"Like to, Emmy," Ward said.

From inside the house came Ann's quiet voice, "Don't be foolish, Emmy, I can " She came to the door then and saw Ward and halted, and then said gravely, "Hello. So you came back?"

"I couldn't leave without one of Emmy's dinners," Ward said.

"Antelope and fresh peaches," Mrs. Wolverton scoffed. She turned and said, "No, Ann, I'd rather have him tomorrow night. I'll be over in a little while."

She untied the apron she was wearing over her dress and threw it over, her pale hair and stepped out into the sunlight. Ward smiled faintly at the sight and so did Ann, and Ward said, "A complexion is more trouble than it's worth."

"So the Indians discovered," Ann said. "Here, sit here."

She pulled a rocker around and Ward waited until she was seated and then slacked into it. She looked tired, he noticed, and he inquired about Major Brierly and was told his condition. As she talked, she watched him curiously. Finished, she hesitated, and then asked, "What was your real reason for returning?"

"Work," Ward said.

Ann hesitated only a moment, then almost intuitively, she asked, "You mean you'll be guide when they take the field?"

Ward nodded.

"What changed your mind? Nothing has happened, except that we know for sure that Diablito has Mary." She looked at him searchingly, "Was it Major Brierly's accident?"

"Yes."

Ann said, "Still another question. How does it change things?"

Ward said mildly, "Major Brierly could fight Indians, Army fashion.

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