June 5, 1943
Daisy flicked an ear at a fly, and a barn cat strutted out of the shadows to watch. Tom rubbed a hand over his chin to wipe away the smile that wanted to sneak out. If Lainie caught him laughing at her, he could imagine her reaction. Lots of sparks.
“Come on, Lainie. Daisy’s a patient lady, but every horse has her limits.” Daisy snorted and pawed the ground at Tom’s words.
Private Thorson turned on the charm. “Both hands on the saddle horn. There. Now stick your left foot in the stirrup. Not that left foot. There you go. Now up and over. Good.” He winked at Tom. “Hold Daisy while I grab Tornado.”
Lainie perched on top of the saddle, back stiff and head high. Tom shielded his eyes from the sun to get a better look. Yep, a blank expression tightened the muscles around her eyes, and she looked ready to swoon. “We can do something else if you’d rather.”
“No.” Her voice sliced the air. “We’ll do this, but if I get hurt, so help me, Tom.”
“I won’t let anything happen to you.” He would do everything in his power to protect her from harm. Maybe someday she’d understand how serious he was.
Thorson brought out a gelding that stamped his feet in impatience. The horse tossed his head, mane flying.
“Hey, boy. Good to see you, too.” Tom stroked the horse’s neck.
“You act like good friends.” Lainie’s voice remained tight.
“I try to ride him as often as I can. Tornado and I enjoy a good run, don’t we?” The horse pawed the ground with his right foreleg. “Thanks, Thorson. We’ll be back in a few hours.”
“Don’t forget this.” Thorson tossed the repacked picnic to him, and Tom pulled the more practical knapsack over his shoulders. There had been no way to carry the basket. “Have a good time. And relax, miss, Daisy’ll take care of you.”
Lainie pulled her straw hat lower over her eyes and nodded. “Thank you.” She turned her head with a stiff jerk toward Tom. “How do I get her to move?”
“Squeeze her lightly with your knees. She’ll get the idea.” Tom, on Tornado, led Lainie and Daisy up the road and away from the highway. They clopped past the parade grounds and soon struck out from the post buildings. Within minutes, the barracks and officers’ quarters were behind them with the sandy hills and buttes in front of them. Peace descended on him as it so often did when he snuck away for some time in God’s creation. Some might call it rugged, but he thought the area showcased God’s diversity and creativity.
“How ya doing, Lainie?”
Her body swayed in time with Daisy’s gait. She remained perfectly balanced even as she gripped the reins so tightly her circulation almost cut off.
“I’m okay, though I’m not sure I can climb off her.”
“I’ll help.” A funny feeling flooded his stomach at the thought of lifting her from the horse. She’d been light in his arms when dancing. And he could only guess how she’d feel as he handed her down. He swallowed and forced the sensation away. They had friendship only, and that was as it should be.
They traveled in silence. When she’d been quiet a while, he glanced over to see if she’d fallen asleep. He’d seen it happen to others, lulled by the gentle pacing of a horse’s walk.
She caught his glance and gamely tried to smile. “I think I’m getting the hang of this.”
“You look like a natural.”
“Sure I do.” Her shoulders dropped a bit, and the reins came to rest easily in her hands and across the saddle. “Thank you for talking me into this.”
“My pleasure.” A copse of chokecherry shrubs appeared over a hill a hundred yards in front of them. They were covered in yellow blossoms and would provide some shade. A thin rivulet ran behind the grove. “Let’s head there for lunch. The horses can drink and forage while we eat.”
He ground tied the horses and reached up to help Lainie off Daisy. She grasped his hands tightly and swung her right leg over the horse. She groaned and slid into his arms. His heart raced as his breath stilled. Her head fit perfectly under his chin, and she sagged into him.
“I’m not sure my legs will support me. It feels like I’m still moving.” She murmured against his chest.
“Give yourself a moment.” He should step back, put some space between them, but she leaned on him. How could he do it without dropping her on the ground? She looked up, a grimace marring her delicate features.
“Remind me to think twice next time. Parts of my legs ache that I didn’t know could hurt.”
“It’ll get better.” He stepped back and pulled her toward the shade. “Let’s enjoy that lunch you brought.”
Lainie uncurled as they ate. Her sharp wit kept him on his toes, and he liked it. He didn’t have to wonder what she thought. She’d tell him without hesitation. They cleaned up the traces of the picnic, and he boosted her onto Daisy. A crease furrowed Lainie’s brow, and she looked from him to the countryside.
“Even if I’m sore, thanks for encouraging me to come. It’s amazing out here.” Daisy flicked an ear toward her. Lainie smiled and leaned forward to rub Daisy’s neck. “And you have lived up to your billing. Not bad for a first ride.”
“I knew you’d like this.” Tom hopped on Tornado and pulled the horse’s head toward the fort. “Any time you want to go out again, let me know. I’d enjoy the excuse to break away and experience the peace out here.”
Esther pounded on the door Sunday morning.
“Time to get moving or you’ll miss church.”
Lainie cracked open her eyes and squinted against the glare of sunshine streaming into the room. She shifted her legs to the side of the bed and bit off a squeal. Shards of heat skittered through her thighs, and her shoulders balled tight. She groaned and focused on releasing each group of muscles.
“Are you awake in there?” An echo of concern filled Esther’s voice.
“I’ll be down in a minute.” Lainie gritted her teeth and pushed up. This was the pain of muscles used, not of muscles abused by fever. She should feel grateful. Instead, she wanted to question her sanity. Then she thought of the freedom she’d felt abandoning the fort and roaming the hills with Tom. Everything from the delicate chokecherry flowers to the scraggly branches of the pines stretching toward heaven had hinted at the handiwork of God. Only He could make everything so unique and detailed. If He cared so much about the details, why couldn’t He care as intimately about her?
It must be Sunday if such thoughts rolled through her mind. The answers danced beyond her reach, so she forced the questions away. Maybe someday she’d find a response that made sense when compared to the reality of her life.
“If I don’t hear some movement, I’m coming in.” The door handle rattled in its catch.
“All right.” Lainie stood up with a thump. “Did you hear that, Esther? I’m moving.”
“Good thing. We’ve got to hustle, missy.” The sound of Esther shuffling down the hallway, muttering to herself, filtered through the door.
Lainie shook her head and wondered if she’d have to hobble to get to church. “You’d think the horses would be the sore ones.”
All week Lainie looked for Tom, but never saw him closer than across a field. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he purposefully avoided her. He almost turned on his heel if they came within one hundred feet of each other.
He’d seemed to enjoy Saturday, and the conversation had flowed back and forth with plenty of barbs. As she sat at her desk Wednesday, she could almost sense the heat of the sun warming her face. Surely he’d enjoyed it as much as she. But the more she analyzed their time, the more she worried that she’d done or said something wrong. She couldn’t figure out what that was, but he’d swerved inward the nearer they came to the fort.
Unfortunately, she kept running into Lieutenant Daniels. The fire in his eyes made it clear he continued to fume. She was just glad he didn’t say anything, choosing to glower at her instead.
Wednesday afternoon Mary walked across the office and stopped in front of Lainie’s desk. “You’re a million miles away today. Something wrong?”
Lainie shook her head and shifted the intake papers piled on her desk. “Gathering wool, I guess.”
“Are there many Gardners in North Platte?”
“No, all of Father’s family is from Kansas. His job at the bank brought our family to town. Why?”
“I wondered, because Private Donahue brought in the newest stack of forms. This top one says the dog belonged to James Gardner of North Platte.”
Lainie bolted out of the chair and rushed around the table. “Let me see that.” She scanned the sheet once, then again, unwilling to believe the information typed on the page. “No, no, no. Why would they do that?” She spun and grabbed her hat from the coat tree before rushing from the building.
She stepped into the sunlight and stopped. Where could she go? She couldn’t let the Army have Mason. The dog had been her confidant on too many occasions to count. The black Lab would settle back on her haunches and listen as Lainie poured out her woes. Mason didn’t have an aggressive bone in her body nor did she chase every squirrel and bird like so many of her breed. “What were they thinking?” Mason would flop as a war dog, although part of Lainie feared the dog would excel with her intelligence. Lainie had to find Mason and get her discharged before the training harmed her.
But what could she do? Her thoughts froze in a jumbled mess, and she felt rooted to the ground. Lainie forced herself forward. Maybe Mason was still in processing. If so, she’d be at the War Dog Reception and Training Center. Lainie hurried across the street to the center.
She pushed open the doors and waited for her eyes to adjust to the dimness. The smell of antiseptic and bleach mixed with a doggy odor choked her. She covered her mouth and nose and looked for anyone who might be in charge. Her gaze fixed on Sergeant Lewis. He could help her, he had to.
“Sergeant.” She hurried toward him when he didn’t move. “Sergeant, please, I need to talk to you a moment.”
He shifted from the dog he’d examined and looked at her. “Yes, Miss Gardner? What can I do for you?”
“Please, there’s been a mistake.” She thrust the papers at him. “This dog, she shouldn’t be here.”
“And how do you know that?”
“She’s my family pet.”
“Not anymore. Says right there she’s property of the War Department for the duration.”
Lainie’s knees weakened, and she closed her eyes. She felt someone grab her arm. Clenching her teeth, she yanked her arm free. “I want her back. If my family’s decided they no longer want her, I’ll take her.”
“Can’t do that.”
She opened her eyes and blinked to clear the tears clouding her vision. “She doesn’t have the personality to be a war dog.”
“If that’s true, we’ll find out during the training exercises.” He shrugged. “The dog’s in the Army now. I suggest you accept that.”
Lainie spun to leave before the tears fell down her cheeks. The sergeant might think there was nothing she could do about Mason. Lainie refused to believe that. She’d find a way. She had to.