His mouth lowered to hers. His breath tickled her lips. “I’m allowed an impetuous streak now and then too.”
Her eyes fluttered closed, and her lips parted.Please. Please. Please.
She melted against him as his lips brushed hers. Her hands swept over his shoulders, and her fingers locked around the back of his neck.
His arms tightened, and he cradled her head as he deepened the kiss, flooding her with a wave of warmth that washed past hurts beyond the horizon.
CHAPTER 27
Lamplight flickered across the Schramms’ oil-cloth-covered table. Devon had come to clarify Morning Fawn’s role in the mission and to later rendezvous with the recruits from the German League. From his perch next to the flower-print curtains, Devon wrapped his fingers around a steaming mug of coffee. Frieda sat at the end, as far from Devon as she could while still being at the table. A frown, deeper than he’d imagined her capable of, furrowed her brow, adding years to her face.
She seemed to have the ability to see through every valid reason he’d come up with for why he’d allowed Morning Fawn a part, and she’d taken it personally. But there was nothing he could say, short of a lie, that would fix matters between him and Frieda. He hadn’t intended to hurt her. The first day he’d visited this house, he’d had Morning Fawn at his side, and he’d reminded Frieda on several occasions that the courtship was only pretense.
Thank goodness, he’d had sense enough to make Morning Fawn stay at home today, under threat he’d send her off with Captain Jeremy Carson three days from now if she didn’t proveher ability to listen and obey orders. Her presence here would have been like a matchstick to kindling.
Across from him, Dr. Schramm laced his worn fingers across his paunch. “You have feelings for this captive girl.”
Devon startled, splashing a wave of coffee out of the cup and onto his finger. He winced at the sting. “Sir?” He flashed a glance at Frieda, who’d stiffened like a statue of some martyr.
Dr. Schramm held up his hand. “My daughter must hear this too. It is all of our lives at stake.” A sigh rattled through him. “It’s a statement, not a question. There is no need to expound upon the fact. I see it in your face and in your actions. Even in the reticule I had to go looking for last time you vere here.”
“I apologize for that. As I explained before, I didn’t willingly bring Morn—Miss Logan in. She followed me?—”
“I understand the situation, Lieutenant Reynolds.” The doctor returned his hands to his belly. “I vould have no problem with the girl if she came to my house for dinner or called as a patient, but as far as the mission goes, ve must acknowledge that she is a volatile element. After all, she is the girl who stole the Thoroughbred in the middle of a church service. She does not possess the calm, thoughtful, practical demeanor of my daughter.”
Devon settled back in his chair. A seepage of breath eked out between his teeth. The man’s assessment was too close to the facts to dispute. “I won’t argue with you. Frieda is an exceptional assistant, and her character is above reproach.” He glanced away from the end of the table where she fluttered at his words. “I have greatly appreciated her help and would welcome her continued assistance. However, Miss Logan is now part of this mission, and if it wasn’t for her quick thinking in planting suspicion in Moyer’s mind regarding his superiors and agents, I might be in danger of arrest at any moment.”
Dr. Schramm pushed his glasses back upon his nose. “It vill only be a matter of time before the danger returns.”
“Yes, but I don’t plan to wait around for it.” Devon leaned forward, elbows on the table. “But precious time that Morning Fawn bought gives us a window of opportunity to strike. I’m moving up the date to Christmas night. I’ve instructed Miss Logan to accept Moyer’s invitation to the Christmas Ball at Robson’s Castle. She’ll keep him away from the warehouse. I believe the quartermaster will be attending the ball, as well. For the soldiers on guard, we’ll see if we can get them some liquor as a Christmas present.”
“I…I could do that.” Frieda shifted forward in her seat.
Devon jerked his head toward her, eyebrows raised. “I don’t want you anywhere near the warehouse or depot on Christmas.”
She clasped her hands on the table, no trace of a dimple on her smooth, pale skin. “I’d be out of there hours before anything happens. I’ll go after the changing of the guard. Some of the fellows come to my father seeking remedies they’ve heard about from snake oil salesmen, basically alcohol. I’ll tell them my father got in a special batch for Christmas.”
“I don’t like it.” Dr. Schramm ran a hand over his untamed tuft of gray hair.
“I’ll not allow you to go alone amongst the men after dark.” Devon firmed his voice.
“You could go with me, Lieutenant.” She flattened her lips.
He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. It could work, but he still didn’t like it. He shoved his coffee aside. “If you do something such as that, your father and you would need to leave town immediately afterward.” He glanced around at the morning-glory-print wallpaper, the hand-painted porcelain cups, the beautifully carved cupboard. “You’d have to leave it all behind.”
“Frieda and I have discussed it.” Dr. Schramm heaved asigh. “Considering all of the developments, ve do not feel safe staying. Even if the only connection to Frieda was her pretend courtship vith you, it vould be a risk. Ve are Germans. Ve’re not well-liked. Too many of our people have already been hunted down as Unionists. I’ve told you of the young men vho sought to leave Texas in order to join the Union and vere slaughtered. Ve cannot count on reasonable treatment. I’ll allow Frieda to go vith you to deliver the gifts of remedy to the guards, then she and I vill head out of town. Hours before the explosion. We’ll pack a few things and send them off ahead of time.”
“I’m villing to sacrifice the comforts of home for a cause I believe in.” Frieda tilted her chin. “There are men dying on the battlefields, giving their all. I only seek to do my little part. For me, this isn’t some grand, flirtatious adventure. It’s a commitment.” A self-satisfied smile lifted her lips, revealing the tarnish on her halo.
Devon stared at her for a moment. “Morning Fawn is willing to risk her life, and if I’d allowed her, she’d have been right here with me tonight.”
“Vithyou. If she took a fancy to some Reb, vould she be vith him and their cause?” Frieda pressed her lips together and stood, dismissing the subject. “You’ve hardly touched your coffee. I’ll pour a little more and varm it up before you and papa head to the meeting.”
He glared at her. She was jealous. A wise man would ignore the barbs. “My coffee is fine.” He covered his cup with his hand.
“Very vell.” She clanked the pot back down on the stove. “It isyouPapa and I are most concerned about. I just hate to see…” She held up her hands. “Never mind. I need to go milk the cow.”
He shifted in his seat. The cow? Was it a ploy to get him to speak to her alone? Should he go try to explain things more?
