Marrying the Major

“I suppose.”

Appalled by his apparent indifference and moved by Dora’s obvious need, Caroline tried again. “Does she like to play with dolls?”

He said nothing, though he hadn’t looked away from his little girl. Did he know what a gift he had in this precious child? Caroline wanted to lecture him, to warn him that such gifts could be snatched in a blink, but then she realized that he knew it. Major Smith was afraid to love his children because he was afraid of dying and leaving them to grieve.

Caroline watched over his shoulder as a boy with the major’s blond hair and stiff posture joined his sister at the top of the two steps connecting the porch to the ground. “That must be Freddie,” she said more to herself than the major. “He’s a handsome lad, isn’t he?”

Major Smith reined Cairo to a halt. “You should be aware, Miss Bradley, that I expect orders to be followed. And I left specific instructions for the children to remain at the ranch.”

She couldn’t resist a bit of defiance. “Apparently not everyone obeys you, at least not when children miss their father.”

Without turning or twitching, the major spoke in a tone just for her. “Courage becomes you, Miss Bradley. Rudeness does not. I suggest you mind your own affairs and leave me to mine.”

He’d snubbed her, rightfully so, considering her position in his household. Stranded on his horse, she wanted to escape his nearness but feared sliding off and ending up in a heap. She settled for releasing her grip on the major’s waist and looking for Jon. He rode up next to them, swung off the packhorse and helped her down with a gentleman’s ease.

“There you go,” he said in a friendly tone.

“Thank you.”

Bessie halted Grandma next to the packhorse. After Jon helped her sister dismount, Caroline asked him to retrieve a small bundle from their possessions. It held gifts for the children and she wanted to present them now. Assuming Major Smith would introduce her, she waited while he tied the reins to the hitching post.

She turned her attention to the children. Dora’s eyes were wide with curiosity. Freddie reminded her of his father, both in looks and in temperament. He had a stoic expression, a sign he’d learned sadness and loss too young. Dora needed a smile and a hug. Freddie needed to know she’d respect his quiet nature. Already Caroline felt challenged by the differences in the children.

Major Smith indicated she should step forward. For the first time since leaving the river, she had a clear view of his face. Creases fanned from his blue eyes, deeper and more numerous than she’d seen this morning. The line of his mouth pitched downward in a frown, or maybe it was a grimace against exhaustion. He wasn’t a well man, and the trip to the stagecoach had cost him. Compassion tempered the frustration she’d felt toward him moments ago.

She came forward as he’d indicated, watching the children for their reactions. Freddie snapped to attention. Dora leaned against her brother and acted shy. Caroline was glad she’d brought the doll. Little Dora desperately needed something to hug.

The major spoke in a firm voice. “Good afternoon, children.”

“Good afternoon, Father,” Freddie answered.

Dora hid her face against her brother.

“Come forward, please,” the major said. “I’d like you to meet Miss Caroline Bradley, your new governess.”

Freddie took Dora’s hand and guided her forward. The protective gesture touched Caroline to the core and reminded her of how the major had gently guided her out of the river. His cold attitude to the children hadn’t always been a wall between them. She suspected that losing his wife and facing an illness had changed him.

When the children reached the ground, they stopped four feet in front of her. Freddie looked up at his father, a soldier ready to take orders. Dora looked at her toes, a little girl who didn’t know what to do. Aching for her, Caroline stepped forward and dropped to a crouch so she could look into the child’s eyes. They were blue like her father’s and no less haunted. A harrumph told her she’d crossed the major, but she didn’t care. He could be cold and distant if he wanted, but Caroline had no such inclination.

She smiled at the shy little girl. “You must be Dora.”

Still looking down, the child nodded.

“That’s a pretty name,” Caroline said gently. “And you’re wearing such a pretty dress. I bet you like to play with dolls.”

Her head bobbed up and she nodded.

“Good,” Caroline declared. “So do I.”

The major spoke to her back. “Miss Caroline, I don’t think—”

“I do.” Ignoring him, she opened the drawstring bag and gave Dora the doll. “I made this for you.”

The major’s voice boomed behind her. “Miss Bradley!”

He sounded ready to court-martial her, but she had to give the book to Freddie the way she’d given the doll to Dora. She took the volume from the bag, stood tall and handed it to the boy. “This is for you, Freddie.”

The major had said little about the boy’s interests, so she’d taken advice from Mary Quinn’s young brother and selected a science book with easy experiments. “We can use kitchen items to make a volcano. That should be fun.”

Freddie’s eyes lit up, but he looked to his father for direction.

Not wanting the boy to be a pawn, Caroline faced the major. She recalled how he’d ignored her when she’d wanted to tell him about the quinine. It went against her nature to be rude, so she gave him a wistful smile. “Forgive me, Major Smith. I was just so excited to meet your children. I’m sure you understand.”

She’d meant to bridge the gap between the major and Freddie and Dora. Instead she felt as if she were in the middle of the river again, only this time Major Smith needed to be led to shore. He looked both stunned and bitter about his poor health. Caroline couldn’t abide his attitude toward Freddie and Dora, but neither would she do him the dishonor of being blunt. His children were present, and Bessie and Jon were watching them with more than idle curiosity.

She softened the moment with a winsome smile. “I do apologize, Major Smith. With your permission, I’d like to speak to Dora and Freddie for a just another moment.”

He made a sweeping motion with his arm. “By all means, Miss Bradley. Speak as long as you’d like. Take all afternoon … take all night.”

Ignoring the sarcasm, she crouched next to Dora. “I thought we could name your new doll together.”

Dora’s bottom lip pushed into a pout, trembling until she finally spoke. “I want to name her Molly.”

Freddie elbowed his sister. “You can’t!”

“Why not?” Dora whined back.

“Because that was Mama’s name.”

The boy had the cold tone of an undertaker, but Caroline wasn’t fooled. He’d built a wall to protect his bruised heart. Dora’s innocent attempt to keep her mother’s memory alive hit the wall like a battering ram. Behind her the major inhaled deeply, a sign he wasn’t as indifferent to his children as he wanted to appear. Hoping to smooth the waters, she touched Dora’s shoulder. “Molly’s a fine name. It would honor your mother, but we need to consider your father and Freddie, too. We can give the doll two names, a special middle name and one for everyday.”

“Do you have two names?” Dora asked.

“I do,” Caroline answered. “I’m Caroline Margaret Bradley. Margaret is after my grandmother.”

Dora looked at her father. “What’s my other name?”

A five-year-old shouldn’t have needed to ask that question. She should have been loved and schooled in family memories. When the major hesitated, she wondered if he knew the answer.

He finally cleared his throat. “Your full name is Theodora Constance Smith. Constance was your mother’s sister.”

Dora’s eyes got wide. “I can’t write all that!”

Caroline took the child’s hand and squeezed. “I’ll teach you.”

Standing, she turned to Freddie. The boy’s expression was strained, a mirror image of his father. She’d have to work to win him over, but she firmly believed God had brought her to this family for a purpose. Not only did the children need a mother, but they also needed a father who wasn’t afraid to love them.

She motioned for Bessie to come forward. “This is my sister, Miss Elizabeth Bradley. You can call her Miss Bessie.” Hoping to earn Freddie’s interest, Caroline spoke to him directly. “She was a nurse in the war.”