Laura Abbot Read Free Page B

heart. David. So amiable and strong. It had
been natural to idolize the big brother whose hearty laugh had charmed them all.
In her innocence, she had thought him invincible. Until that awful news. The
telegram from the War Department had stated in cold, impersonal terms that their
beloved David had been killed in the Battle of Lookout Mountain.
    She remembered the sickening feeling she’d experienced with the
realization that he had been dead for many days before they received word. Days
when he had still lived in her imagination—eating, laughing, singing
and...fighting. That blow had been especially cruel since they had no efficient
way to communicate with Ezra. Their father’s return following the war, though a
cause for celebration, was a somber occasion, the four of them grieving for the
son and brother who would never again grace their family circle. Recalling past
family dinners where there was always one empty place at the table, she was
reminded of last night’s meal.
    “Papa, we missed you at the Hurlburts’ dinner.”
    “I hope you and Rose enjoyed it.”
    “We did. The new captain dined with us.”
    “What did you make of him?”
    “He seemed pleasant enough.”
    Her father rose to his feet and laid a hand on her shoulder. “I
worry about you girls being in this place. There are good men here, but
others...” He grimaced. “Others you shouldn’t even have to see, much less come
into contact with.”
    “Captain Montgomery is no cause for alarm.”
    He kissed her forehead. “I probably shouldn’t have brought you
here with me, but we had been so long apart during the conflict that I—” his
voice cracked “—needed you.”
    “And we needed you, do need you.”
She patted his arm. “Never blame yourself for our circumstances. Rose and I are
fine, and, after all, we are a military family. Women do their duty, too, you
know.” Then, to emphasize her point, she saluted airily and took her leave.
    As Lily made her customary way from the hospital to the
cemetery, the breeze carried a tantalizing hint of spring. Full sun warmed her
back as she stood before her mother’s grave, pondering the exchange she’d had
with her father. Finally she spoke. “Mama, we miss you so. Papa is lost without
you.” She closed her eyes, picturing her parents embracing. “How he must have
loved you. And you? How sad to die in a harsh place like this so far from the
home you loved.”
    Turning to leave, she glanced in the direction where yesterday
she’d seen the new cavalry troops arrive, led by Caleb Montgomery. He had none
of the arrogance of George Custer, who had been stationed at Fort Larned a few
months ago, nor the affected dandyism of some of the others. Montgomery
seemed...was solid the word for which she searched?
Yes, that, but more. Dependable? Trustworthy?
    She chided herself for attempting to pigeonhole the dashing
captain. His essence would not be captured, even as she ruefully admitted
thoughts of him had captured her, despite her best efforts to will them
away.
    * * *
    Although it had been a week since his arrival at Fort
Larned, Caleb had slept poorly, troubled by disturbing dreams. Awake before
reveille, he dressed quickly and stepped onto the front porch to watch the
sunrise. Smoke rose from the mess hall kitchen, and in the distance a horse
whinnied. After a few minutes, he made out the form of the bugler, who sounded
notes that brought the fort from quiet to bustling activity. Lantern light
flared in the barracks, and he heard the raucous shouts of prompt risers rousing
the slugabeds.
    From inside, the lieutenant with whom he shared quarters
grunted and coughed. Will Creekmore, a fellow from Wisconsin, began every day
with prayer. While Caleb found the practice laudable, he wondered how it had
served the man on the battlefield. He himself had struggled to find God in the
chaos of armed conflict, finally latching onto the instinct for sacrifice, even
love, that he observed in the way men in