eased into the bunkhouse, being careful not to wake the occupants. He needn’t have worried; Reno shook his head in amusement as he heard Jericho and Boone snoring up a storm. They were almost in sync, sounding like a couple of bullfrogs on a lily pad.
Reno took his time undressing, laying out some clean clothes. He made sure to transfer the medicine bag Ela gave him to the pants he would be wearing come morning. Once he was nude, he stretched out on the bed and pulled the covers up to his waist. As he lay there, he couldn’t help but smile at the thought of King and Fancy having a baby. They hadn’t been married very long, just a few months. Despite their rocky start, no one could doubt they were perfect for one another. The sweet woman was the best thing that ever happened to the Captain. Reno chuckled remembering how he and the other men took it upon themselves to find their Captain a mail-order bride. “Damn lucky he didn’t drag us behind the house and shoot us.”
Reno hoped he’d be so lucky one day. Find someone to love. Someone to share his life and his bed. “Someday,” he whispered, recalling what his mother told him she’d seen in the still waters of the Tennessee River. “Someday, I’ll find the girl Sojourner said awaits me at the end of the rainbow.” So far, she’d eluded him. Yet, there were times when he could almost feel her presence…almost see her face.
…When Reno awakened, he was alone. Apparently, he’d slept longer than he intended. After a quick dip in the spring, he dressed and set out to the main house for breakfast. Fancy insisted on feeding the men twice a day. To say they were appreciative was an understatement. After surviving on army grub and enduring each other’s culinary attempts, having a good cook prepare their meals was heaven.
“Get enough beauty sleep, Reno?” Jericho motioned for him to come over and take a seat. “Have some coffee.” He filled up a cup from the pot sitting in the middle of the table. “Boone and I have already fed the livestock and filled Fancy’s woodbin.”
“You’ve been busy. I’ll make up the difference when I get back from my trip. Although, you can’t blame me for sleeping late, it’s hard to rest with you two sawing logs.” He spoke to Fancy, then joined them, eyeing the platters filled with flapjacks, eggs, and ham.
“You’d best eat up,” Boone told him as he speared another flapjack. “You’re going to get mighty hungry on the trail.”
Reno nodded and filled his plate, feeling a pang of remorse for his friend. “Will do.” Boone nearly starved to death as a prisoner of war in the hellhole of Elmira prison, so he was always worried about people having enough to eat. “Where’s Gentry? I’d like to see him before I leave.”
“At your service, squire.”
Hearing the voice behind him, Reno grinned. “I’m going to miss that accent something fierce, Duke.”
“I’m not surprised. The Queen’s English is butchered more often than hogs in this part of the world.” He straddled the end of the bench so he could face the others. “I have something I want you to deliver to Wallace.”
“Money? No.” Reno’s face went solemn. “I told you I will settle his fee. You’ve done enough.” He patted his pockets. “I have enough gold to pay the man.”
Gentry started to say something, but Amelia came up to the table and he froze. She cut her big blue eyes at him and seemed equally uncomfortable. As hesitant as a young doe, she slowly put down a pan of biscuits.
“Thank you, Amelia,” Gentry said softly. The girl just blinked, giving him the faintest of smiles as she backed away.
“King gave me the doll you made for Tess. She’s going to love it, Amelia.” Reno watched the woman’s cheeks glow red from the attention.
“I’m glad,” she whispered, then turned to flee. Once she was gone, the Englishman let out the breath he’d been holding.
The other men watched the scene play out. Once Amelia was out of earshot, Jericho whispered loudly. “You two eye one another like a fox and a rabbit.”
“Hush.” Gentry cautioned him. “She’s leery enough of me as it is.”
His friend didn’t have to say it, the fact that Gentry wanted Amelia to feel comfortable with him was as clear as the rather large nose on the Duke’s patrician face. “What are you going to do about it?” Reno