Married

Each time Will stopped to consider the spot in the yard near the door to the diminutive log cabin, the place where Nolan had fallen and lost his life, he was taken aback. It was never easy to cross by there, and even tonight, with his new bride, he was consciously aware, as he led Cordia to the door, of what had transpired here such a short time, an eternity ago.
Cordia was also aware that this may be difficult for him, and she said nothing as they approached the house. He was carrying her bag and held her hand. As he drew near the door, he opened it, setting her bag inside, and turning back to face her. She looked into his eyes, confused as to why he had not entered.
“Cordia,” Will said quietly. “This house isn’t much, not yet, but I intend to make it a nice home for you and for Julia.”
Cordia smiled. “Will, it doesn’t matter to me where we live, as long as we are together.”
He leaned in and kissed her softly before sweeping her into his arms and carrying her through the doorway. Setting her down gently, he lit a lantern that sat on a small table by the door. In the dim light, it was difficult to see, but Cordia could make out a couple of beds, a dining room table, and a fireplace. After the long ride in the cool night air, she was happy to see the fireplace, and Will set about getting a blaze going.
Cordia took off her coat and hung it on a hook by the door. She turned back around to see Will had the fire started and was removing his own coat. She was suddenly very aware of the larger bed in the corner of the room. Though she had certainly spent quite some time thinking about her wedding night, now that it was upon her, she could feel the butterflies fluttering around in her stomach.
He was standing next to her now, a shy smile on his face. “Cordia,” he said quietly, “I know it’s late. We do have two beds.”
Cordia glanced away from him but only briefly. As she spoke, she looked directly into his eyes. “Will, I’ve been waiting two years to be your wife. I will admit I’m nervous, havin’ never done anything like this before, but I’m ready.”
He could tell by the sincerity in her voice that she meant what she said. “Well, all right then,” he replied, his smile broadening. He took her hand and led her over to the larger of the two beds. Kissing her gently, he began to undress his new bride. Once she was down to her undergarments, he guided her onto the bed, pulling the blankets down for her to slide beneath. In the light of the flickering fire, he undressed himself and climbed in beside her. “I love you, Cordia,” he said looking into her eyes.
Leaning over and kissing him passionately, Cordia conveyed how deeply she returned that love. Will responded to her kiss with conviction, and with the light of the moon shining through the windows of the small cabin, he proceeded to make Cordia his wife at last.
* * *
Isaac Pike was up early the next morning, despite having gotten little rest. He had been aware that Jane had dozed off just a few hours ago, her light snoring an indicator that her sobs had finally trailed off enough for her to rest. He knew she would be angry later that he did not wake her, but he also realized she needed her rest, and there was little she could do to locate Cordia, so she may as well sleep.
He made himself a quick breakfast, a bit surprised that Frieda was also still sleeping. The house seemed intolerably quiet, and he was thankful when a knock on the door ended the eerie silence. He rose to see whom it was, fairly certain he would find Sheriff Dickerson there.
Surprisingly, it was Carey. He looked a bit haggard himself, as if he had gotten little sleep. “Good morning, Mr. Pike,” he said, stepping in the door. “Any word?”
Isaac shook his head no, gesturing with his hand toward the parlor, inviting Carey inside.
“No, thank you, I can’t stay,” he replied. He looked a bit nervous, and Isaac couldn’t tell if it was because he was anxious to find Cordia or something else. “I’ve just received word that a company of Union soldiers has set up an outpost at the courthouse over night. Most of my men have elected to join them, but being a former Confederate officer, I’m reluctant to do so. It seems I’ve lost my command, and my fiancée in the same day.”
Isaac had been hearing rumors for several weeks that the 8th Missouri Cavalry was in the area and that they had been charged with guarding the county courthouse against raiders, which were also known to be nearby. Though plenty of able-bodied men had been protecting the town for years as part of the city guard that Carey had headed up, these troops were regulars, and since Missouri was still part of the Union, their authority would usurp Carey’s for certain. “I’m sorry to hear that,” Isaac responded, though he was actually glad to hear that cavalry would be keeping them safe now. His understanding was that cavalry could be much more effective against the likes of the guerrilla raiders that had hit towns in nearby counties. Ever since the raid in Lawrence, Kansas, just a few months ago, the entire area had been on alert. Any extra soldiers would be welcomed by Isaac and his fellow citizens, though he could also understand why Carey would not be the first to applaud their presence.
“Any word from Sheriff Dickerson?” Carey asked, still standing near the door.
“No, I haven’t seen him yet this morning,” Isaac replied. He was wondering if it were possible that the good sheriff was meeting with the commanders of the 8th now, possibly seeing what information they might have regarding the possibility of a local raid. If that were the case, Cordia’s whereabouts may no longer be a priority.
Carey ran his hand through his shaggy blond hair. “I’m planning to ride out this morning, survey some of the surrounding areas, see if I can find any trace of her. Some of my men, former Confederate soldiers, will be riding with me. We may be gone for a few days. I’ll check back in once I return to town. Hopefully, I will find Cordia and bring her back safely to you very soon.”
Isaac nodded. He could understand why Carey would want to go out and conduct his own search, particularly since it seemed that the sheriff was preoccupied. “Be careful,” Isaac warned. “Rumor has it that devil Quantrill is out and about.”
Carey was fully aware that Quantrill was nearby. In fact, he was a bit suspicious that Isaac had so quickly named his true objective. “I will be careful,” he promised, reaching for the doorknob. He nodded a quick goodbye and made his way back to his steed, which was tied to a tree close to the front porch. He would meet the four men he had recruited early that morning at a prearranged location east of town and then ride out to see if they could find Quantrill and his men. If the devil truly was considering a raid on Lamar, as rumor had it, perhaps the notorious guerrilla could use some information. Carey had grown weary of the likes of Isaac Pike and his spoiled daughter. It had been two years since he had been engaged in warfare, and he longed for the smell of battle. If the 8th Cavalry wanted a fight, he would bring them one.
Isaac watched as Carey rode off, peering down the street to see if there was any sign of Sheriff Dickerson. He saw none and was resolved to go find the peace officer himself if he did not show his face soon. Though he was getting up there in years, he wasn’t too old to ride out and begin searching for his little girl.
Walking back past the stairs, he paused for a second to see if he could hear either Jane or Frieda stirring. He heard nothing, so he sauntered off toward the kitchen, fully aware that the night before he had made a date with a sweet little morsel named Ginger Snap.