“Would your husband talk to me? I figure I owe him that much, being from the same state and all.”
“He might.” Karlee turned around and pulled the already loose ribbon from her camisole. “If you gave him this, at least he'll listen.”
“I'm not promising anything, ma'am.” He stuffed the ribbon in his pocket. “But I'll do what I can.”
Whiteley turned toward the men. “All right, empty your pockets. We ain't taking souvenirs with us. Let's get out of here and leave this mother and children in peace.”
Karlee watched them file out. She still stood in front of the hidden latch. They'd found nothing.
Several of the day-shift guards reported in sick the next morning to the stockade known as Sandtown. They complained of something they ate.
Daniel watched replacements come in reluctantly for duty. They didn't want to be here any more than the prisoners did. They probably wanted to be home with their families, not on duty in Texas.
He'd found Jesse's brother, Altus Blair, and the reports had been right. He was near death. Even if they found a way to break him out, he might not live through the rescue.
“You the preacher?” A stocky sergeant stopped in front of Daniel.
Daniel didn't answer as he turned and walked toward the far wall of the stockade. He wanted no trouble. He knew Logan was just looking for a reason to keep him here longer. Daniel figured, if he stayed out of trouble, the Lieutenant would have to let him go. He might think Daniel was involved in something, but he had no proof.
“I said, you the preacher named McLain?” the sergeant asked again.
Daniel tried to turn and walk away, not wanting to talk to anyone in this place.
The sergeant fell into step. “You are Daniel McLain, Wes McLain's brother.”
Daniel stopped and faced the man but didn't speak.
“I was ordered to search your house yesterday. Your wife chewed me out right and proper for bothering you and her. Course, we didn't find anything-just like she said. But she threatened to tell my ma how I was behaving.” The sergeant smiled. “No one's done that in years.”
Daniel could almost see Karlee letting him have a piece of her mind. He smiled to himself. Better that than a slice of her pie.
“I told her I'd talk to you.” He reached in his pocket. “She gave me this little snip of ribbon to let you know I was on the up and up, and this ain't no trick.”
The sergeant handed Daniel the pink ribbon.
Daniel took the ribbon but still didn't speak. He wasn't as trusting as his wife. The man could be playing him, hoping to help Logan.
“I fought with your brother in sixty-three. A braver soldier I never met, and that's a fact. My name's Whiteley. Been called Sergeant Whiteley for so long I plum' forgot my first name. Tell your brother Whiteley, and he'll remember me.”
“Whiteley.” Daniel nodded.
“Reverend.” Whiteley nodded back as if they'd just been formally introduced.
Daniel straightened and tucked the ribbon in his pocket. “So, you knew my brother in sixty-three. You ever see that terrible scar on his left leg?”
Whiteley looked confused. “I don't think I ever did. I never got past that one on his face. He told me he got it in the first battle of the war, and before that day, he'd been the handsomest man in Indiana.”
“That sounds like Wes.” Daniel relaxed a little. The man was telling the truth. Karlee might have mentioned the scar, but he felt sure she didn't know when Wes got it.
“Are they treating you all right, Reverend? Getting plenty of food? Did you get issued a blanket? I can help you if you weren't.”
Daniel decided he had nothing to lose by trying. “Whiteley, there's a man in here who didn't even fight in the war. He's been ill since he was a boy. He's about to die.”
The sergeant shook his head. “I'm no doctor, McLain. And if I was guessing, I'd say there's more than one in this place who fits that description.”
“I know. I need your help getting this one out of here so he can die at home with his family.”
Whiteley shook his head. “I haven't got that kind of power. If Logan wants a man in here, there ain't no way to get him out but maybe feet first.”
“Then tonight we take him out feet first. Meet me at this spot at sunset.” Without another word, Daniel turned away from the sergeant, wondering if he'd show up at dark.
Slowly, he walked back to the only building in the stockade. If he could call it a building. It served as a jail for the more troublesome prisoners.
As he neared the gate, he saw Karlee. She was dressed very properly as a minister's wife should be. She entered with a pie in each hand. He heard her say, “Now you'll make sure my husband gets at least one of these?”
The replacement guards nodded, their mouths already watering as they stared at the pies.
Daniel couldn't help but smile. He knew he'd never see a slice of pie, and the guards would pay for their theft.
“McLain? You want to see your wife?” As Daniel stepped to the door, Sergeant Whiteley moved in beside him. “They'll be listening,” he whispered as he cuffed Daniel.
Whiteley had just proved his loyalty.
“I know. Thanks.” The sergeant didn't close the cuffs uncomfortably tight around his wrist as the guard had yesterday.
Daniel walked into the small room and raised his arms to his wife.
Karlee moved into his hug. “They almost didn't allow me to see you today,” she whispered.
He smelled of her hair and just hugged her, realizing he needed her near.
She finally broke the silence. “I brought you a change of clothes.”
“Thanks.”
“How much longer, Daniel?”
“I don't know. A day. A week. A month.” He felt her tremble with his words. “At least I know the twins are safe with you.”
Karlee buried her head on his shoulder. “Daniel, I forgot to tell you. I'm not brave. I never have been. I'm more the run-and-hide type than the stand-and-fight.”
He couldn't hold back the laughter. “I doubt that. From what I've seen, I'd say you're about as brave as a wife could be.”
“No, you got a lousy deal in this marriage. I can't cook. I'll never be a beauty. I head off on some plan and later wonder why. And to top it all off, I'm sure I'm a coward.”
Daniel had never seen her like this. He wished his hands were free so he could hold her tighter. She was frightened, truly frightened. And to his surprise, he realized what scared her most was the fear that she might let him down.
“Honey, listen, you are brave.” He leaned close, kissing the tear on her cheek. “I want you to pack the house, everything except the furniture and the kitchen, and of course what's upstairs. Understand?”
She nodded. There was nothing left except the secret compartment in the hallway.
He raised his voice a little. “Since my church burned, we may have to move. I guess the house belongs to the church and now there's no church it will probably be sold.” His voice lowered against her ear. “Search carefully, pack everything.”
“I will,” she promised.
He kissed her lightly. “I'll be home sooner than you think. Logan's a hard man but I don't think he'll step to drumming up false charges.”
He pulled away as he heard the door unlock. “Take care of the twins.”
“I'll be back tomorrow,” she promised as the guard signaled her out.
The weight of her problems settled over Karlee like an unwanted summer cold. She lingered longer at the bakery, talking to Valerie and her mother, than she'd planned. But going home without Daniel there didn't appeal to her. Valerie's mother had given Ida a job. The tiny German woman was like a worker ant. She seemed to carry ten times her weight and walked in almost a run from place to place. Each time she passed, the little woman smiled, proud of her job.
