As the chorus marched away, they began singing.
Lorena asked again if there wasn’t something she could do to help.
“I’m sure you can find something much more pleasant to do,” Libbie said. “In fact, if I may suggest such a thing, Colonel MacCallister, why don’t you show Lorena around the fort? I’m sure she would enjoy the tour.”
“I’d be glad to,” Falcon replied. He glanced toward Lorena. “That is, if Miss Wood would be interested.”
“Oh, I can’t think of a better way to close out a delightful evening,” Lorena replied.
“You had better put a wrap on,” Libbie said as they started toward the door. “The nights get a little cool, even this late in the spring.”
“You might try this,” Tom said, taking off his shell jacket, complete with the two medals, and slipping it over Lorena’s shoulders.
“Why, thank you, Captain,” Lorena replied.
“Captain, would you prefer to walk Miss Wood?” Falcon asked.
“Why, Colonel, is my company so unpleasant that you would deal me off to another?” Lorena asked.
“No, no, of course not,” Falcon replied, a little flustered by her response. “I was merely trying to be magnanimous to my host, that’s all.”
“I appreciate your generous offer, Colonel, but I prefer to approach the young lady on my own,” Tom replied with a broad smile.
“Then, by your leave, sir, I shall enjoy the walk,” Falcon replied.
They walked down the front steps of the Custer house, then turned to look back at it. Cream colored with brown trim, a wide porch spread all the way across the front of the house, then ran down along the left side. It was a two-story house with dormer windows protruding from the roof of the second story. Five chimneys serviced the stoves inside, so that the house would stay warm in the winter.
“The Custers certainly live in a nice house,” Lorena said.
“Yes, that’s one of the advantages of being the commanding officer,” Falcon replied.
“Do you have a house like that on the post that you command?”
Falcon chuckled. “Not exactly,” he said. “My command is a state guard. We have some quarters, but none as nice as these.”
As they passed one of the barracks, they heard singing.
“Oh, listen,” she said, holding up her hand. “Why, it’s beautiful.”
“Yes,” Falcon replied.
They stayed just outside long enough to hear the song, which was being sung in four-part harmony. Then they moved on through the post, their way lit but dimly by the ambient light spilling through the windows of the barracks and post quarters.
They heard the loud trill of a woman’s laughter, then other women joined in. This came from “Soapsuds Row,” so named because it was a row of houses occupied by laundresses.
“Most of them are NCO wives,” Falcon explained. “And the money they make, combined with their husbands’ army pay, gives them a pretty good income.”
They walked away from the quarters, and from the stables, until they were in the most remote corner of the post, on the other side of the parade ground, and some distance from any of the buildings. From there, they could see the Missouri River gliding by, the water gleaming a soft silver in the light of a three-quarter moon.
“Halt! Who goes there!” a voice called from the darkness.
Lorena gasped. “Oh, what is that?”
“It’s a sentry, walking his post,” Falcon answered. Then, louder, he called out, “A friend.”
“Advance, friend, and be recognized,” the sentry’s voice called back.
Taking Lorena’s hand, Falcon moved toward the sound of the voice.
“Halt,” the sentry called again.
Falcon stopped and waited until the guard appeared from the gloom of darkness.
“Identify yourself,” the guard said.
“I am Colonel Falcon MacCallister,” Falcon said. “This is Miss Lorena Wood. We are both guests of General
