Marci’s Desire by Sara Luck

Author:Sara Luck
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pocket Books

TWELVE

Frances was excited about her pictures and was anxious to see her work, so she convinced F. Jay to return to his studio by early afternoon so she could spend the rest of the day in the darkroom.

“I guess you’re through for the day, Cade. Maybe you could show Marci around Mammoth so she’ll know where to go if I want something—that is, if it is still part of your duty,” Frances said.

“The order clearly states that a line officer is at your disposal, so I would assume being Marci’s escort would be a part of my duty.”

“Good, and, Cade, do plan on joining us for supper this evening?” F. Jay said.

“Thank you.” Cade turned to Marci. “Where would you like to start our tour?”

“I’d like to see where you live.”

“All right, but before I show you, let me take Rowdy back to the stable.” Cade stepped up to the hitching rail where his horse was standing quietly.

“He doesn’t seem like a Rowdy to me,” Marci said as she patted the horse’s neck. “Why did you name him that?”

“I didn’t. Someone who had him before I did named him that.”

“Then, he’s not really your horse.”

“Now he is. I bought him from the army.” Cade untied the reins. “Come on, old boy, let’s get you to the stable.”

Marci could see a broad area separating F. Jay’s house from a row of buff-colored buildings, all with tall, red chimneys and red roofs. Though the buildings didn’t resemble West Point in any physical way, they had a regimen to them, all aligned and similar in appearance.

As they crossed the parade ground, Cade pointed to the row of buildings that were the closest to them.

“That’s the officers’ quarters over there. And that’s my window on the right.” He pointed to the first building.

“That’s a big house. How many people live there?”

“Just me and three other lieutenants. I’m the most junior officer so they try to give me a hard time, but I don’t let them get away with it.”

Marci smiled. “I’m sure you don’t.”

“Really, we’ve got a good bunch of men here. Fort Yellowstone is a small post and everybody gets along well. It’s like we’re all family.”

When he said that, Marci recalled that Cade had told her he had no family. She could see how the military could become so important to him.

Just then a squad of soldiers came into view. They were marching back and forth, carrying rifles on their shoulders. One man was marching alongside and barking out words that were so clipped that Marci could not understand what he was saying.

“That man—the words—they don’t make sense. ‘Hip, hoop, hireep, harp!’ What is that?”

Cade chuckled. “It makes perfect sense if you’re a soldier. He’s counting cadence, one, two, three, four.”

“You mean you have to learn a new language when you join the army?”

“Sort of. Come on. While we’re right here, I’d like you to meet my commanding officer.”

They stopped in front of a building that was a little different from the officers’ quarters.

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