Desperate (Harris Trilogy Book One) Page 4
While Kate and the other new recruits trained from morning until night, the rest of the camp played cards, pitched horseshoes, or played baseball. She couldn’t wait until she was finished with her training so she could have some free time.
For training on the third day, they practiced fighting on horseback. Kate had not ridden a horse in years. She was clumsy and was knocked from her horse several times. She was bruised, filthy, and exhausted by the time training was over. She was beginning to regret her hasty decision to join the war. It was too late now. She would have to bear whatever she was subjected too.
All the new recruits were leading their horses away when Lieutenant Emerson approached on horseback. “We have several deserters that need to be rounded up and brought back to camp. I need some men to help me.” Lieutenant Emerson pointed out several of the men standing near Kate. Thankful she was not chosen, she turned to leave when Emerson yelled, “You too, Private Monroe!”
She was in a quandary. She had tried to stay out of Lieutenant Emerson’s way. It was evident he was suspicious. Mounting up, she reined her horse behind the others. Emerson would have to lead them, and if she remained in the back she would not draw his attention.
The group of men and Kate had been riding for almost an hour when they came to a river. Lieutenant Emerson dismounted, and walked along the bank of the river studying the tracks of the deserters. “There are four of them, and they have split up.” Emerson divided his men into two groups. Half were to go across the river and the other half was to follow him down the river. Kate tried to go with the men across the river but Lieutenant Emerson stopped her. “Private Monroe, you come with us.”
Kate bit her lower lip. She had an uneasy feeling. Why would Lieutenant Emerson care which group she accompanied? Even though her instincts told her otherwise, she did as ordered and fell in behind the last man.
Lieutenant Emerson and his men followed the trail of the deserters into a crop of trees near the river. “You men ride into the forest and capture the deserters. I’ll wait here in case someone escapes.”
She kicked her horse in the sides intending to follow the others when she heard Lieutenant Emerson call out, “You stay with me, Private Monroe!”
Wary of her predicament, terrible thoughts surfaced. She should not be alone with Emerson, but couldn’t defy orders. Slowly, she dismounted and stood holding the reins of her horse. Nervous hands wrapped the reins through her fingers.
Lieutenant Emerson waited until his men disappeared into the crop of trees. He dismounted and ambled over to her. “You don’t mind answering a few questions do you, Private?”
In a mild tone, Kate answered, “Of course not, Sir, what would you like to ask me?” She was gripping the reins so tight her hands were white.
Emerson quirked a brow and asked, “Why do I make you so nervous?”
“What makes you think I’m nervous?” She asked in a calm tone.
“You look like a scared little rabbit waiting to bolt at any minute.” That was exactly what she wanted to do, but she stood her ground. When Kate did not say anything, Lieutenant Emerson moved closer.
He raised a curious eyebrow. “I don’t understand how you can wear that thick jacket in this heat. I know you must be hot. I can see the sweat on your brow, but you never take it off. Are you hiding something under all those clothes?”
She backed up when he stepped mere inches from her. He reached out clutched a hand to her jacket.
Kate’s mind worked frantically. Her voice cracked when she snapped, “Do you like boys, Lieutenant Emerson?”
His hand fell to his side, and he rubbed it against his pants leg. She saw the doubt in his eyes. Suddenly they heard gun shots coming from the forest. Kate let out the breath she had been holding. At least she was safe for the moment.
Emerson mounted his horse, looked down on her, and said haughtily, “Maybe the next time we are alone I’ll find out what you’re hiding.”
He galloped into the forest leaving her wondering what she was going to do about him. He was definitely going to be a problem. She worriedly chewed her bottom lip as she wondered what her punishment would be if they discovered she was a female.
****
Kate rode back to camp alone. She was standing outside her tent when Lieutenant Emerson and his men returned with the four deserters. She didn’t recognize the deserters, which was not unusual since it was a huge camp with hundreds of enlisted soldiers. She watched as they were tied to posts in the center of the camp. Adam stepped out of their tent and stood beside her. “What are they going to do with them?”
“They will be branded as deserters.”
She watched in horror as Sergeant Branson picked up a branding iron that had been heating up in a campfire. He faced the four men while Lieutenant Emerson read the charges. “You have been found guilty of desertion. The penalty is to be branded with a “D” that will show on your face the rest of your life.”
Sergeant Branson approached one of the deserters. He was too young to be subjected to such brutal punishment. He couldn’t have been more than sixteen years old, just a boy. He fought his restraints trying to get away as Sergeant Branson loomed over him with the red hot iron.
She put her fist in her mouth to keep from screaming when the branding iron made a sickening sound as it burned a “D” into the young man’s tender cheek. Smoke circled his face as it cooked his skin. As long as she lived, she would never forget his terrible screams.
Looking at the men surrounding her, Kate was appalled. They were all watching as if they were at a horse race. It boggled her mind how they could watch something as terrible as a young man being marred for life, and hear his cries of pain. She turned and kept running until she could no longer hear the soldiers’ screams. Never had she seen anything more barbaric in her life as branding a person as punishment.
Chapter Three
Homesickness settled so hot and heavy Kate’s belly ached. After being witness to something as cruel as branding men as punishment, she wanted to go home. The smell of burning flesh was still in her nostrils.
As she lay on her tiny cot in the dog tent she shared with Adam, she stared at the canvas ceiling. Maybe she made a huge mistake thinking she could leave her home and join The Civil War. She couldn’t very well go back home knowing Bob Lewis would force her into marriage. She needed another plan. But, what could she do? She rubbed her aching temples as she tried to formulate a plan. Nothing surfaced since she didn’t have any money.
God, she missed her home. Swamped with memories of her father, mother, and brother, a tear slipped over her cheek. An unspeakable sadness swept over her.
Dirt and grime stuck to her skin, her clothes, and her hair. She imagined what it would be like to be clean. Not being able to bathe each night had been the hardest part of camp life. She had taken something as simple as washing away the sweat and filth each night before bedtime for granted. It would feel wonderful to remove all the layers of clothes and feel human once again. Or rather feel like a female. Most of the men in camp didn’t seem to mind their stench.
Adam entered their small dog tent and threw his hat on his cot. He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m tired.”
“Me too. I think I’ll turn in.” As she did every night, she rolled over so she wouldn’t see Adam undress. She felt her cheeks heat when she heard the rustle of his pants fall to his ankles. He blew out the flame on the lantern engulfing the tent in darkness.
Minutes passed as she lay there impatient to hear Adam’s snoring. It wasn’t long before he was sound asleep.
After everything settled down in camp and the only thing she could hear was someone playing “My Old Kentucky Home” on the harmonica, she decided it was safe to slip away and go to the nearby creek.
The moon was shining brightly so Kate had no problem following the path to the creek that wound around the camp. She could hear the water flowing over the rocks making a calming noise. The moon reflected on the ripples of water soothing her nerves
.
She shed her clothes and removed the stiff binding hiding her breasts. It felt strange to undress in the open. In her cabin, she had always washed in the kitchen with a pan of water.
Her skin itched from being wrapped with the strips of sheet and it felt fantastic to scratch her skin. A loud moan escaped her lips as she raked her fingernails over her irritated skin under her breasts where she had sweat. She had not removed the bindings since she had left home.
Wading into the creek, Kate prayed no one would see her. Uneasy, she kept looking over her shoulder expecting someone to be standing on the bank behind her. There was no privacy in a camp full of men. Perhaps she was being paranoid. There would be no reason for anyone to be at the creek this time of night.
The shock of the extremely cold water caused her to lose her breath. It took her awhile to adjust to the frigid temperature, but then it felt as if she were in heaven. Cool water lapped at her irritated skin. Sounds of crickets and the water running over the rocks lulled her into a calmness she had not felt since leaving her home.
She ducked under the water and lathered up her hands. It felt odd when she began to wash her short hair. She had not had time to come to grips with the fact her long, brown locks were gone. She stiffened her spine and whispered, “It’s only hair. It will grow back.”
Kate took the cloth and lathered it with soap. She rubbed it over her tired, sore muscles. She closed her eyes and basked in the feel of the cloth against her skin.
****
Lieutenant Mike Emerson couldn’t believe his luck. He had been watching Jake Monroe and decided to follow him when he saw him sneaking out of camp. He knew something just did not seem right about the young man. When he had fallen on him during training, he thought he felt breasts under his shirt. He knew his backside was much too curvy to be a man’s.
Peeking over the rock he hid behind, he realized all his suspicions were warranted. Jake was a she. Now he was glad he did not force the young woman to remove her jacket earlier in the day. Someone may have come across them by the river. Here by the creek they would have some privacy.
He stood stock still as he watched her bathing in the cold, creek water. Her body was beautiful. He could just make out her full breasts and the curve of her hips in the moonlight. Her breasts were exquisite. The nipples were puckered from the cold water and stuck straight out. They were firm and ripe.
Mike’s eyes followed farther down to her small waist. His eyes stopped to rest on the juncture between her legs. There was just enough light for him to see the soft, brown hair between her legs. Oh, how he longed to touch her.
He was hard as a rock and knew he would not find relief until he felt her body under him. It took all his willpower not to go to her. Watching as she washed her most intimate spots with the cloth, Mike thought he would die. He could tell by the expression on her face she was enjoying the feel of the water on her skin. He wanted to bathe her. Mike shivered uncontrollably at the sensations she was causing.
****
Kate finished her bath and stepped out of the cold water. She bent to pick up the towel she brought with her when she saw Lieutenant Emerson standing on the rocks above her. It took all the strength she could muster to stand her ground. Emaciated with fear her whole body trembled.
“Well, well, what do we have here?” He looked boldly into her frightened eyes and smiled. “I can’t believe my luck. You are absolutely beautiful.”
She grabbed her shirt and wrapped it around her nude body.
His eyes roamed over her still wet body. “Don’t even bother to hide behind that thin shirt. It’s too late for modesty now. I’ve seen all of you and I like what I see.”
His tone changed as if he were angry. “Please explain to me why you dressed as a man and have been pretending to be a soldier.”
Too frightened to speak, she stood on the bank of the creek in complete silence. In a more demanding tone, he snapped, “Please explain!”
Her voice quavered. “I have no money and no family to turn too. I had to do something to survive and this was the only plan I could come up with. I was desperate.”
“Where did you get the uniform?” The anger in his voice caused her to shudder. She had played soldier for days and no one had suspected she was a female but him.
Her face pale, Kate explained, “My twin brother, Jake, was a soldier. He was wounded and died two months after returning home. I altered it to fit me. I did not mean to cause any trouble. I have no family. I had to do something to survive, and this was all I could think of.”
Emerson took a step in her direction. She gripped the thin shirt tighter to her body, and backed up until the cold water covered her feet as she stepped into the creek.
His eyes narrowed. “What’s your name?”
Paralyzed with fear she did not answer. He snapped, “I asked you a question and I demand an answer.”
Her voice quivered. “Kate Monroe, Sir.”
“How old are you?” Long strides had him towering over her.
She had to tilt her head back to look into his face. “Seventeen, Sir.”
“I suspected you were female. I’m glad I did not find out until tonight. If I would have discovered your gender by the river today, one of my men may have stumbled upon us ruining everything. This is much better. I can have you all to myself.”
As if he couldn’t stand the anticipation any longer, he reached out and pulled her into his arms. Placing her hands against his chest, she pushed but her attempt to stop him was futile. His strength was much too powerful.
He must have felt her quivering in his arms, knew she was frightened, but that didn’t stop him. She pleaded, “Please don’t do this, Sir.”
“Don’t play innocent with me. A lady would never have thought to dress as a man and play war. A lady would never chance being among so many men. No, you’re no innocent, your behavior is wanton.” He held her against his chest.
“Sir, I am an innocent. I have never been with a man. I swear.”
His grip loosened and she felt a little hope. Maybe she had convinced him she was a virgin. He seemed to be an honorable man and would never force an innocent to have sex with him.
When he didn’t release her, Kate panicked. She jerked her body trying to get away from him and he lost his composure when her bottom brushed against him.
“Damn, you have a hot little body.” He lowered his face to her lips and kissed her. Again she tried to push him away, but he was much too strong. Hard lips pressed against her mouth and she heard him take a deep breath to keep control.
Placing both of his hands on her derriere, Emerson lifted her from the ground pressing her against his arousal. He lowered her to the ground. Pinning her between his legs, he began to unbutton his shirt.
Kate began to buck wildly trying to get him off of her. A tear slipped down her cheek as she realized she had no hope and was about to be raped. “Please, let me go. Stop, let me go, Lieutenant Emerson.” Her head began to pound as he removed his shirt and threw it to the ground.
Should she scream and hope someone would come to her aid? Should she accept what he was about to do to her? She decided to hope for help. No way could she let this man defile her.
She opened her mouth to scream, but he pressed his hand against her lips.
His fingers caressed her cheek as he whispered in her ear, “I will be gentle, Kate, I promise. I won’t hurt you.”
She began to fight even harder. She scratched him across the face, but it was as if he felt no pain because he was so hot for her. She pushed at his chest and pleaded when he pulled his hand away to remove his pants, “I swear I am a virgin.” Crying in earnest now, she knew her pleas were useless.
In one swift movement she raised both legs. She kicked him in the chest with both feet sending him flying backwards where he landed on the ground. She jumped up to run, but Lieutenant Emerson was too fast. He grabbed her around the waist, throwing her to the ground and fell on top of her.
He whispe
red in her ear, “Stop fighting me. I don’t want to hurt you.” He held her hands over her head with one hand while he tried to finish removing his pants with the other.
All of a sudden, he was pulled roughly from on top of her. The moment she realized she was free, she jumped up and quickly slipped on her shirt.
****
“What is going on here?” Shocked at his Lieutenant’s behavior, Captain David Harris grabbed him by the hair and pulled him to his feet. He drew back his fist and struck him in the face and then the stomach. The Lieutenant fell to the ground on his hands and knees.
Fists at his sides, David shouted, “I’ll ask one more time. What do you think you’re doing?”
When he didn’t get an answer, Captain Harris jerked Emerson from the ground as if he weighed nothing. Before Captain Harris punched him again, Emerson replied in an uneasy voice, “I can explain, Captain. I found this little mermaid taking a bath. She had us believing she is a man and the truth is she’s a woman.”
He looked down at the young woman, standing there in only a shirt. She was blushing in embarrassment as her hands gripped the front of the shirt together. He’d known there was something different about Private Monroe, but had no idea he was a woman. He could see her bountiful curves through the thin shirt that she was trying to use to cover her naked body. She was exquisite. How in the world had she hidden it from them? Unable to look away, his eyes started at her head and stopped on her bare feet before traveling back to her perfect face. Finally, he came to his senses and glared at Emerson.
“I heard enough to know you were forcing yourself on the young woman. I heard her tell you no!” The thought of Emerson taking her against her will made him angry beyond reason. Again he hit him with another powerful blow to the face. Falling hard to the ground again, the Lieutenant didn’t even try to get up.
In a snap of temper, David furiously whispered, “You should have come to tell me instead of helping yourself, Lieutenant Emerson! I heard her tell you no! She should not be here, but she is, and you should not have tried to force yourself on her!” His voice began to rise in anger as he shouted, “I should have you severely punished!”