I suppose you're wondering where I've been," Caleb said, sounding damnably pleased with himself as he climbed down from the gelding's back. "I wasn't wondering any such thing." Lily's arms were folded, and her chin was thrust out. She couldn't help noticing that Caleb wasn't wearing his uniform-he had on dark trousers and a cotton shirt. On his head in place of the tasseled campaign hat was a slouchy leather one. Although he wasn't wearing a holster and pistol, there was a rifle in the scabbard on his saddle. Caleb grinned as he reached up for his saddlebags. "That being the case, you probably wouldn't be interested in the presents I brought you." Lily took a reluctant step nearer. "Presents?" He slung the bulging saddlebags over one sturdy shoulder and gave a long-suffering sigh. "You won't want to see them, of course." Lily bit her lower lip. "That would depend," she said. Caleb laughed. "On what?" There was no helping it; Lily had to smile. "On what they are, silly." He tossed the saddlebags to Lily, and they nearly knocked her over. "Go ahead, sodbuster. Have a look." Feeling self-conscious, Lily opened the flap of one saddlebag and peeked inside. It was bulging with fragrant, tangy oranges, and Lily's mouth watered at the prospect of such a treat. In the other saddlebag she found two dime novels, Wilhelmina and the Wild Indians and Evelyn and the Mountain Man, along with a bar of chocolate and two pretty tortoiseshell combs for her hair. "I don't know what to say," Lily whispered. She'd never received so many wonderful presents at one time in her life. "Except for thank you, of course." Caleb kissed her forehead. "Am I back in your good graces now?" Lily looked up at him, clutching the saddlebags to her chest. "That depends on whether or not you've decided to marry me." His jawline tightened, and for one terrible moment Lily was afraid he meant to take back the oranges and the books and the chocolate and the combs. "I've decided," he answered. His voice was so cold that Lily didn't need to ask what that decision was. She flung the saddlebags with their cherished contents back into his arms, whirled on one heel, and strode back to the garden plot, where she began hoeing again with a vengeance.
( Linda Lael Miller )
[ Lily and the Major ]
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