Three days after the races was when Elizabeth had promised to bring the puppy home. She had managed to get him almost four weeks with his mother and the fact that he was the only puppy nursing showed. Although his legs were a little shaky, he looked at least a week older than he was, and Elizabeth was sure he would do well, especially since he was used to the nursing bottle.
“And probably ready to start lapping milk from a bowl, aren’t you,” she crooned as she picked him up and pressed her face to his.
She didn’t hear the step behind her and she jumped and nearly dropped the puppy when she heard Michael’s voice.
“Sure and is that the wee creature that almost started a war, Mrs. Woolcott?”
Without thinking, Elizabeth responded tartly, “No, Sergeant Burke, it was that ‘craytur’ of your lieutenant. This pup is a fine little fellow and I am taking him home with me today.” Immediately after she spoke she blushed. She had committed one of the cardinal sins of the army: she had criticized a superior officer to one of his men.
“I shouldn’t have said that, Sergeant Burke. Mr. Cooper is a fine officer,” she said in her most proper voice, “and he is being most kind to let me have this puppy.”
Michael lowered his voice. “Mr. Cooper is a proper ass, so full of himself that he nearly got us all killed on Sunday. You know that and I know it, ma’am. And don’t worry, I won’t be corrupted by yer lapse in etiquette,” he added, his eyes laughing down at her. He reached his hand over the stall door and stroked the puppy’s head. “Sure and he seems a fine dog. I have always thought me-self that purebreds can sometimes be too high-strung and sensitive. A mixed breed often gets the strength of both parents without the weaknesses.”
Elizabeth was holding the puppy against her breast and as Michael’s finger continued stroking, he became aware of a very strong desire to be following her curves with his finger. He gave the little dog a quick pat and opened the stall door.
“Why don’t ye take him now, Mrs. Woolcott, while I stay here and keep Misty from following. She might be a wee upset at losing her baby.”
“Thank you, Sergeant. That is very kind of you. And it would be even kinder of you to forget what I said about Mr. Cooper.”
Michael gave her a quick bow and a. smile, and said, “Yes, ma’am. And may I say, Mrs. Woolcott, that wee fat fellow there is lucky to be going’ home with ye. I heard his brothers were drowned.”
Elizabeth made some sort of flustered thank you and good-bye and hurried off, leaving Michael leaning over the stall door, watching her go. He heard a low whine behind him and felt the greyhound bitch press against his leg. “Oh, I know ye’d like me to let ye out of here, Misty, to go off after yer baby. But he’ll be fine,” said Michael, scratching behind her ears. “And I’m sure yer master’ll be breedin’ ye again and this time ye’ll get to keep all yer babbies.” He opened the stall door and slipped out, closing it quickly behind him. As he walked toward his quarters to clean up for dinner, he couldn’t stop thinking of how sweet and desirable the prim and proper Mrs. Woolcott had looked cuddling her puppy. “Sweet Mary, Mother of God, keep me from thinking such a thought,” he prayed desperately. “She’s a married woman, Michael Joseph Burke, and not for the likes of ye anyway.” He decided that a visit to Mary Ann’s would be a good idea tonight. Fornication might be a mortal sin, but surely God would forgive a poor Irishman who had no chance in hell of getting married for a while. And surely it was better to go to Mary Ann occasionally than be lettin’ himself be wondering what Mrs. Woolcott’s breast would feel like under his fingers.
* * * *
“Are ye going to Mrs. Casey’s tonight, then, Josh,” Michael asked as he slipped onto the bench next to Elwell in the mess hall.
Elwell grinned. “I was thinking about it.”
“Well, I think I’d like to come along and see if Mary Ann is free. Would ye mind the company?”
“Not at all, Sergeant, I would enjoy it, and I’m sure the women would. I’ll meet you after supper.”
* * * *
Mrs. Casey had been a laundress for five years and her “seniority” had gained her a nice room and a half. The four of them squeezed into her sitting room and Elwell pulled a pint of whiskey out of his jacket.
“Here, Ginny,” he said as Mrs. Casey offered her glass. “And Mary Ann. And, Michael, will you join us tonight?”
“Just a wee drop,” said Michael as always. He never had had any problem with whiskey and he never intended to. He’d seen too many Irishmen on the streets of New York who had drunk their lives away.
“Cheers,” said Elwell, lifting his glass.
“Slainte,” said Michael.
The others finished the bottle quickly and Elwell and Mrs. Casey were soon wrapped around each other and clearly ready to retire into her bedroom.
Mary Ann tugged on Michael’s sleeve. “Come, Michael, we’ll go next door and give them their privacy.”
“I doubt they’ll notice whether we’re here or not,” said Michael with a grin as he let himself be led next door.
Mary Ann lit the kerosene lamp by her bed. She kept her small quarters very clean and neat, something that Michael liked and admired in her. It was hard enough to keep the sand and dust out when you were an officer’s wife with a striker to help you. And although her bedspread was worn, it was brightened by a homemade afghan.
The lamp shone on Mary Ann as she stretched herself out on her bed and brought out the red highlights in her dark brown hair. She was at least five years older than Michael and he suspected that the red came from henna, but he didn’t care. She was an attractive woman, was Mary Ann, whatever her age. He sat on the edge of the bed and slowly unbuttoned his blouse while she lay there watching him.
“You looked fine on Sunday, Michael, riding your mare. I’m sorry you lost. I thought you had the race till the last few minutes.”
“The blood bay and Frost are well matched, and I just might be taking turns winning.”
When he turned to her after pulling off his boots and trousers, her skirts were lifted and she was reaching down to loosen her garters.
“Can I help you with those, Mary Ann,” he whispered.
“Thank you, Michael.”
He peeled the stockings off her slowly and then reached up under her skirts to trace her thighs with his fingers. He pulled himself up next to her and rested on one elbow while he unbuttoned her blouse and lifted her shift over her head. She was a plump woman and her breasts were round and firm and spilled over his hand when he went to cup one.
He lowered his head and teased one nipple with his tongue and she pulled his head closer with one hand and reached down with the other to feel him through his skivvies.
He shivered as she touched him and she whispered, “Do you need me right away?”
“I’ll try to wait, but I’m not sure I can be promising anything.” Dear God, but he had been feeling like he was going to burst since he walked into her bedroom. Or to be honest with himself, all afternoon. But he banished the thought of a smaller, daintier woman and pulling down his underwear, let himself spring free. When she rubbed her hand along him, he groaned and pulled himself on top of her. His hands reached up to knead her breast and then he was up and thrusting into her, hoping she was ready enough for him. But she was slick and wet and he came very quickly and then collapsed on top of her.
She lay still for a moment and then taking his hand, guided it down between her legs. He began to kiss her again and she came almost as quickly as he had. He was glad, for he liked women in general and Mary Ann in particular and liked giving her pleasure. And tonight he had not exactly been an ideal lover.
“That was a wee bit quicker than usual,” he whispered. “I don’t know what came over me.”
“I don’t mind when someone has to have me quick because he’s wanting me so much,” she whispered back. “And you took good care of me, too, Michael. Perhaps we’ll go slower in the morning.”
And indeed, when they awoke before dawn, Michael took her slowly and carefully. She was a hardworking woman with a hard life, Mary Ann was, and she deserved to have someone thinking of her once in a while, even if she was doing it for a little extra money. But although he had no trouble, he did feel a little removed from her and himself. He liked Mary Ann and he needed her, but he didn’t love her nor did she love him. Not that he expected it or even wanted it between them, but it just left him with a lonely feeling as they lay together for a while before he had to go.