ROSEDALE IN APRIL
Chapter Ten

April’s early morning sun streamed through the lace curtains, bathing the two passion spent lovers in its brilliant, radiant glory. Captain Jack Dalton gradually awoke, becoming aware of a warm, soft body intimately pressed to his side in peaceful slumber. Abruptly, he bolted upright at the unexpected movement when an arm was unconsciously thrown across his sweat-slicked chest. Glancing down, his heavy lidded eyes made immediate contact with the sultry woman of his wildest dreams. Slightly shaking his head as if to clear it, he stared at the long tresses of copper hair fanned out across a goose down pillow and ruby kiss bruised lips slightly parted in repose. Reluctantly, he forced himself to rise and dress before the company's bugle boy summoning all to start the new day blasted morning revelry out. He refused to think about last night…there was too much to do today and not enough energy to spare—both mentally and physically! Exhausted from the previous night’s overzealous exertions, he’d have plenty of time to reflect on his war crimes later…much later.

As he rolled out of bed, he longingly glanced one more time before going downstairs to break the fast. And what met his eyes jolted him back to the gravity of the perilous situation he had carelessly found himself in. Scattered across the sheets, scarlet droplets of virgin’s blood slammed into his heart like a vicious, hard slap. Evidence of all that had gone on between them…a stark reminder of his horrific part in a horrendous crime against a sinless enemy! Intuitively, he realized that the only sin she was guilty of was artlessly driving him into an all out, uncontrollable, animalistic rut. Guilt ridden and not wishing to disturb her much needed rest, he silently crept out of the room to go downstairs…only to be met in the dining hall by a sleep deprived albeit cheerful Sergeant Tommy Ryan.

"Why are you up so early, Sergeant?" Jack questioned in an obviously surly tone.

"If you must know, I couldn’t sleep last night for all the racket in this house, Captain. And you?" Tommy cheerily responded with a slight grin marring his handsome Irish face.

"I see you’re into Nanny’s pie again. I’m surprised you’re still alive! But, you’re gonna get fat if you keep that up! Have you had your coffee?" Slightly uncomfortable, Jack deviously attempted to change the subject.

"Plenty…as a matter of fact, Nanny and I had several pots throughout the night. I’m sure glad I’m not in your shoes, my friend…the woman is positively pissed, to put it mildly! It took every ounce of wit I could muster to keep the dear old doll from charging up those stairs last night with a bullwhip and thrashing you within an inch of your miserable life! So, it seems…you owe me, Jack!"

Jack stubbornly refused to answer or meet his sergeant and best friend’s ridiculing yet teasing hazel eyes.

"No comment, Captain? Well, that’s a first! So tell me…did your revenge feel as good as you expected? From the sounds coming from that room last night…"

"That’ll be all, Sergeant Ryan. Mind your own Goddamn business. And when you’re through feeding your face, order the men to fall in rank for morning duty call if you think you can manage. Is that understood?" Jack furiously interjected, and stalked out of the room without a backward glance.

Jack was boiling…or was it just self-contempt and embarrassment for his lack of control when it came to the fair mistress of Rosedale Plantation? Wearily leaning against one of the massive columns on the front raised verandah, he suddenly flinched when his back came into the slightest contact with an ivory post. Truthfully, his throbbing inflamed back had literally been shredded to pieces by razor sharp claws inflicted in the heat of passion by a wild she-cat of the night. He really needed to have the regiment’s doctor examine and treat it before it festered, but was too disturbed by conscience to pursue the embarrassing condition. Wickedly grinning, he decided right then that he’d just have to get the little lady to administer to him personally when she deemed to wake up for the day…whenever the hell that was.

*****

"Miss Rose…wakes up…moanin time! Time to wakes up now. Lizzie gots yo’ some nice warm water fetched fo’ youse bath! Wake up, my sistah!"

As Lizzie threw back the curtains to let more light into the room, her eyes widened and bulged at the telltale reminder of her mistress’s night of activity. Large splotches of blood were smeared across the sheets. My poor, poor dear sistah!

Groggy, Rose finally opened her dazed emerald eyes to lock on Lizzie. She flushed once, before hastily averting her gaze.

"Thanks, Liz." As Rose threw her legs over the edge of the bed to stand up, she instantly fell into a heap on the floor, groaning in extreme agony while tightly holding her ravished woman’s flesh.

"Miss Rose! Iz you’s awsright?" Lizzie flew to her side, concern blurring her understanding.

"I’m fine…really, I’m fine. Just a little sore and raw is all. Nothing a hot bath won’t cure!" Rose desperately tried to belittle her acute pain…not wanting to upset her sister. Nevertheless, it didn’t work.

"I’za gonna go git Nanny!"

"No! Absolutely not, Liz! Leave it be! Please don’t make it any worse than it already is! Nanny will just hit the roof! She’s bound to know what happened last night as it is! But please, Liz…not right now! I’ll handle Nanny later…after breakfast!"

"Iz youse sho’, Miss Rose?" Obvious skepticism marred her pretty features.

"Positive…now if you don’t mind, please just help me get into the tub if you can manage!"

Just as Rose was sinking into the copper tub, the door flew open on its hinges and Nanny stormed in, her presence filling the room. Closing her eyes, Rose exhaled a loud sigh, preparing herself for the coming tirade.

"Miss Rose…" Nonetheless, leave it to fate, the first thing that met Nanny’s outraged line of vision was the bloody sheets on the bed. Rose followed where her shocked gaze had sought out and inwardly cringed.

"Now, Nanny…please don’t judge me…" Rose helplessly implored.

"Judge you, honey chile? Iza fixin to tan the hides off a damn Yankee Cap’un’s back!"

"No, Nanny! You can’t! It wasn’t his fault! It was my idea…please just…"

"Youse faults? Youse idea? Hows cans thats bees?"

"I had to, Nanny. I had no choice. Now come sit down and let me try to explain some things…please?"

At her hesitation, Rose vehemently continued an imploring defense. "I couldn’t let them destroy us, Nanny! This was my doing…you know I was being forced to marry Cal and I recklessly broke off our forced engagement without the Colonel’s permission. And the Major obviously found out about it sooner than I thought…and he sent the Captain here to burn us out, but I just couldn’t let them do it! I had to think of something to get the Captain to change his mind…and I did! And I’m not sorry for it! I just have to think this was meant to be. Father would’ve insisted after he returns from this bloody war that I still marry that cad Henley…but now that option is obviously closed…and the alternatives are too grave to think upon! This way…Father will think I had no choice in my decision not to marry his Yankee gentleman. A real gentleman wouldn’t think of marrying tainted goods, and after what happened last night…besides, it’s for the best! It was worth it not to inflict Cal’s vile presence here in the foreseeable future. You know what that man’s capable of…he could break up our family just to spite me…just to hang something over my head…blackmail all of us to do his black-hearted bidding! Can you understand?"

"Yessum I does…but Nanny stills not likes it one bit. It ain’t fittin’ what dat Yankee mans dones to my babe! Iz sho’nuff should’ve put some poison in dat pie meself!" Breaking down, Nanny began to wipe watering, dark brown eyes on her starched, white apron.

"Oh, Nanny…please don’t cry! I can’t bear to see your tears! Please?" Rose’s own eyes were misting over; she was already on the verge of collapsing at the reality of all that had happened in less than twenty-four hours time. Hell had arrived at Rosedale Plantation and was doggedly here to stay…at least for a little while!

Some time later, after picking at her breakfast tray that Lizzie had thoughtfully brought up, Rose dressed and decided to face the enemy. She had secluded herself in shame, too embarrassed and humiliated at last night’s haunting memory to face the damnable perpetrator. But she couldn’t hide indefinitely like a yellow coward…because in no shape or form could she ever be called that…she had to show courage in the face of adversity. She was a native Texan…born and bred. Time to hold her head up with pride and never look back! And to hell with the Yankee army and its despicable, insufferable Captain!

Jack was in the study when he glimpsed a blur of the lightest shade of blue out of the corner of his eye. His heart actually lurched...instantly becoming cross with himself. So therefore, it was in a much harsher voice than he intended when he blurted out, "Rose, front and center! And shut the door!"

Perusing him suspiciously, nevertheless, Rose closed the door and glided into the room before crossing her arms and crooking a questioning brow. The initial embarrassment at seeing him again had completely vanished with his rude and commanding order. In its wake, a bit of impatient agitation crept into her visage. He was so handsome. His hair was wet as if he had just taken his morning bath, and vivid blue eyes raked her with an intimate assessing caress. That visual caress created a spontaneous body rush that Rose could not control…ignorant as how to slow her fiery blood.

"What can I do for you now, Captain Dalton?"

"Well, right now, I need for you to apply some ointment to my back. If you would be so kind and obliging." Jack’s throbbing body hardened at the mere sight of her. Again, she was dressed in an all too revealing blue floral dress…the decolletage cut way too low for proper decorum. Not only that, but he belatedly observed that her tiny waist seemed too small and pleasingly out of proportion for her overly endowed breasts. Rose was the type of woman that would turn heads, all right…provoke duels to the death among overzealous suitors intent on her favors. And he found himself wondering how many of those she had caused and how many deaths or maimings could be lain at her tiny delicate feet...plenty, he sourly surmised. Rose would never be without a flock of men panting and sniffing after her skirts…with her sensual fire and erotic beauty…whether she desired it or not! Now he knew what was so damn fired special about the mistress of Rosedale Plantation…and he visibly paled.

"Of course, Captain…obliging seems to be my middle name as of late," Rose sarcastically replied.

Without any further adieu, Jack began to disrobe. First his jacket, then his undershirt. Instantly, as he turned, Rose glimpsed the raw, deep, jagged wounds on his back, and something akin to guilt stirred her conscience, knowing it was she that was solely responsible for inflicting such obvious pain even to a sworn enemy of the Confederacy. Rose surmised, with remorse, that his beautiful back was most likely scarred and gulped the lump threatening to rise in her tightening throat.

"Have they been cleansed, Captain? I mean, have you taken a bath after last…" Rose’s voice abruptly trailed off, not able to rehash what had happened…not wanting to think about it.

"I did the best I could do, but I couldn’t quite reach the majority. First thing this morning I went down to the lagoon. But my bloody back is still throbbing like…like… never mind, wench! Just apply the damn salve!" Jack contemptuously commented while waving off any further explanation.

Agitated at his scornful disdain and the distasteful term he had applied to her person, Rose vindictively picked up a bottle of whiskey and menacingly approached the Captain. Smiling darkly inside, "This might sting a bit, Captain, but it’s a necessary evil." And without warning, she unceremoniously doused the angry wound with half of its burning, fiery contents.

"God damn it to hell! You did that on purpose!" Jack furiously hollered.

"Oops…my hand slipped, Captain Yank! Umpf…it seems it’s not necessarily only women that bleed as a result of…intercourse…at least in our case!"

Immediately contrite, Jack grimaced and raised a concerned and apologetic hand in gesture. "Rose…about last night…I’m truly sorry that I hurt you…I never imagined…"

At that precise moment, a knock rapped on the door and before a reply could be given, it was hastily thrust open by none other than Sergeant Tommy Ryan and an unexpected female caller to Rosedale Plantation.

"Rosa!"

"Marie…what a lovely surprise!" Rose was shocked to say the least. Not at her friend’s impromptu visit but by her outlandish feminine foppery disguise. Dressed to the tea, in crinolines, petticoats, and a stylish bonnet, no less, Marie rushed forward in her most ladylike charm-exuding manner. Her dark brown hair was ridiculously arranged in long curls hung by hairpins while wearing a fanciful peach satin and lace confection complete with a matching parasol. It was all Rose could do to keep from bursting out laughing in hysterics. And to add to the comical situation, the Sergeant was obviously taken in my Marie’s acute acting abilities…Tommy was ogling her like a boy that had just gotten his first real hard on.

"Darling!" Marie sauntered over to lightly kiss Rose on both cheeks in an overblown doting greeting. "I just had to come see for myself. The gossip at the Jefferson tearoom being bandied about is that the Union Army has made its headquarters here at Rosedale and I had to come check on the welfare of my best friend and cousin. But silly old me, I had no cause at all to worry so! Especially after meeting Sergeant Ryan here. Such a handsome fine gent of the first class…so kind and considerate to allow me to pass through his barricades to call on my sweet, genteel Rosa. Makes me feel so protected and safe from the vile ruffians that roam the river and woods these days intent on dishonoring a lady!"

Marie’s intelligent eyes flicked down the Captain’s muscled and exposed torn back. She noticed right away that the man was extremely uncomfortable, prompting a hasty attempt to dress himself. Marie cast Rose a crooked knowing smile and a secretive little wink. Aw, such familiarity in so short of a time! That Rosa was definitely a pistol all right!

"Miss Marie Dupuis, how rude of me. Let me introduce our guests. Of course, you’ve met Sergeant Tommy Ryan."

"Of course, Rosa! Such an honorable man…I hope to be seeing a lot more of him…real soon! Sergeant…you must sit next to me at dinner tonight…and I won’t take no for an answer." Tommy was grinning ear to ear, totally enthralled by the lovely southern belle’s attentions purposefully going out of her way to flirt outrageously with his male ego.

"And this, Marie, is Captain Jack Dalton…the Yankee, I mean, Union Army’s commanding officer," Rose lamely finished with a flush gracing her glowing countenance.

Jack had already dressed and stood with his hands crossed behind his back. Stepping forward, he gallantly bowed and took Marie’s extended hand in greeting.

"It’s an honor to make your acquaintance, Miss Dupuis. The South truly gives birth to some of the most beautiful creatures in the States and abroad." And gentlemanly placed a light chaste kiss on her knuckles before instantly dropping her hand.

"Captain…welcome to Texas. We are truly honored that you and your soldiers have come to visit our fair county. Perhaps, if you make a trip into Jefferson, you might pay a call to my little tearoom on the riverfront. We serve up the best fare in the whole state, if I do say so myself! And I’ve brought a little treat from our own kitchen in order to share some of that famous southern hospitality…but, if truth be known, I had no inkling that there were so many of you. If so, I’d have brought a whole wagon load so everyone could indulge and enjoy."

"How very generous, Miss Dupuis. They look absolutely scrumptious. We’ll just have to be very selective and discreet in their divisions," Jack charmingly complimented.

"I’ll just have to call again to bring more for the rest of your troops…to regale your group so to speak. You see, they’re made from an old secret family recipe…they’re called "magic dreams"…guaranteed to wipe away all your tensions and make you feel like you’ve never felt before!" Marie secretly smiled.

Rose thought she was going to loose it! Having to bite the insides of her mouth to keep from choking on Marie’s twisted words of carnal invitation. If only they knew what kind of fare she was wont to serve up!

"You’re most considerate and gracious, Miss Dupuis. We will be sure to do that on our next trip into Jefferson for supplies. Now, if you’ll excuse Sergeant Ryan and myself, we have some business to tend to. We’ll see you ladies at dinner tonight, then."

Stopping at the door, to jab at Rose once more for deliberately setting his back on fire with the overly liberal dousing, "Miss Bukater…perhaps you should frequent your cousin’s tearoom more often…maybe some of her proper genteel manners might rub off on you! And who knows…maybe you’d learn to conduct yourself as a real lady for once!"

Loud bawdy guffaws met the Union officers’ ears as the door closed behind them. Jack hesitated a moment to scratch his head in wonder…just what was so damn funny? He had meant to strike a shaming blow at the exasperating wench but damned if it didn’t seem to send her over the edge into hysterics! Secretly smiling, the little wench!

Rose and Marie laughed so hard their faces ached. Finally, Rose giddily invited, "Come, Marie…how about some mint juleps out on the gazebo? Tearoom indeed!"

Marie was holding her sides in the pain of laughter. "And imagine, me rubbing off on you!"

*****

Some time later, Rose was staring off into space, sipping her drink, as Marie secretly watched her friend’s silent revelry.

"So, Rosa…tell me…how was your first time with the Yankee Captain…um?"

Rose furiously blushed and cast her friend a simpering grin.

"How did you know, Marie?"

"Rosa…men are my business…I saw the looks that passed between you two…besides, those were some passionate nail marks on the Captain's fabulous back…such a fine specimen of a man, too!"

"Marie! I can’t believe you brought those magic pralines…I’ll be sure and hide them from the Captain or I’ll never be able to walk straight again! I’m still so sore from last night!" Rose erupted into a fit of silly giggles. "Old secret family recipe indeed! You shameless hussy!"

"Just trying to drum up some business, Rosa. Since this damnable war…it’s been very slow! Nowadays there’s no money for whoring or carousing…hell…no men to speak of…either they’re too old to get it up or too young to get one on!" Marie joined in on the infectious laughter.

Slowly setting down her drink, Marie raised a wondering intense brow. "Rosa, you remember what I told you about your body’s cycle, no?"

Rose blanched as pale as cotton. Hastily averting her gaze, as if to mentally calculate what up to now had completely evaded her memory, Rose’s hand slowly came up to cover her mouth in shock.

"Rosa…what is it? Don’t tell me you haven’t considered the consequences of your contact with the Captain!" Marie earnestly confided with worry and concern.

"Oh God, Marie. Last night and tonight was the days to avoid…I never even thought…everything happened so fast…I never stopped to think about…my fertile period!" Rose nervously stammered, tears actually threatening to spill.

"Not to worry, Rosa. It being your first time and all. Surely a girl wouldn’t get caught after just once…very unlikely, in fact, practically unheard of. And tonight, well you just better practice what I told you about oral sex or claim that headache as you threatened before with Henley! Although I get the distinct impression that your Captain will not take that for an excuse! And whatever you do…keep Marie’s magic treats hidden…you know what happens when a man eats those! Aphrodisiac in the truest sense of the word! They’d mate a goat if they could catch one! Talk about potent!"

Rose still sat as if in shock. Rooted to the spot as if she had just seen a ghost, Marie’s joke to try and lighten the situation not even heard.

"Rosa…what’s wrong? Tell me…what did I say to upset you so?"

"Marie…what if…what if…it happened more than just once?" Rose blustered.

"Mon Dieu, Rosa! I should have known…the Captain, of course…he wouldn’t stop at once…how silly of me! Well not to worry, darling, twice is not so risky either! The chances are still very slim…"

Rose blanched an even whiter shade of pale. Her stomach lurched as if she were going to retch. She felt near to fainting and came to her feet in a panic.

"Rosa! Oh no…how many times did you two…"

"I lost count after about four or five times," Rose moaned, becoming near to hysterics.

"I declare, Rosa. Such a virile stallion, and I can just imagine the right equipment to match. How lucky can a woman get?"

"Have you lost your mind, Marie? Do you realize that there’s no way in hell I can stave him off of me tonight…he’s a damn rutting bull! I felt it last night…I believe it may be too late to avoid…Oh God, Marie…what can I do?" Rose was furiously pacing by now, wringing her hands and twisting her hair, then biting her nails.

"Calm down, sweetie. There’s other ways we can get rid of…"

"Marie! Never…I can’t even allow such a thought like that to enter my head…if it’s happened…I’ll just have to live with it! It’ll be mine…he’ll be gone and he never has to know…and he never will for he’ll be gone soon and…I just can’t think of this right now!"

Rose and Marie ate their lunch on the gazebo and let the conversation slip into a more comfortable direction, but on the edge of Rose’s troubled conscience...she knew and fretted.

"Marie…have you seen Rafael lately? I haven’t had a chance to speak with him, and I know he must be worried sick about the Yankees being at Rosedale!"

"As a matter of fact, Rosa, he hasn’t been at the gypsy camp since you were last there. The night of your enlightenment. But not to worry, you know Rafael. As wild and free as a tumbleweed blowing in the wind. I’m sure he’ll turn up soon…just when you least expect it! That’s Rafael…gotta love him!"

Later That Same Night at Supper

Seven o’clock that evening and punctual for a change, two very different albeit very similar southern females waltzed into the formal dining room. One dressed in the palest, daintiest pink satin and lace with an over abundance of pearls gracing her neck and dark coiffeur. She resembled a fairy princess with just the slightest hint of mischief gleaming in her large almond shaped eyes. The other…a noble sultry queen gowned in the brightest color worthy of aristocratic royalty…a rich brocade of bold purple. Setting off the scandalously revealing gown were matching accessories of amethysts and diamonds…her copper flaming hair partially falling in a cascade of waves down her back with just the front held up with amethyst encrusted combs. Yet, emerald eyes that impishly glittered and twinkled like precious gemstones.

This time all the chairs were hastily scraped back and everyone stood in awe at the contrasting beauties presented before them…even the Captain. Jack’s sapphire eyes instantly fell on that one special woman that was vastly becoming an obsession to his heart and soul. Although the pink angelic lady was fair in the loosest sense of the word, it was the other, the sensual voluptuous red haired woman that simply stole his breath away. She was glowing with an ethereal radiance that overshadowed everything and everyone else in the entire crowded dining hall. Jack realized in amazement that his searching eyes never wanted to leave her…kept coming back to rest on the enchanting vision of their own volition. It was if he were powerless to stop their amorous path to caress and ogle the object of his most exotic fantasies. He felt himself harden as he glimpsed the amethyst stone that rested in the deep valley of her alluringly bountiful breasts. The tip of his tongue moistened his lips before biting down to keep from panting like a hungry dog slobbering at a tasty morsel. God, she was driving him into a depraved sexual madness…all she had to do was waltz into the room with her woman’s flesh slightly jiggling over the top of her dress and his body hardened like a God damn rock! How in the world had she managed to fight off the abundant horny cocks that he was convinced had lusted after the little slut? Such a blatant cock tease!

A short time later, after amicable chitchat around the festive table, Marie innocently brought the precarious subject to the forefront.

"Captain Dalton? Satisfy my curiosity…what brings your regiment this far west? I was under the impression that most of the real fighting was east of the Mississippi River."

"Well, Miss Dupuis, we’re here at the direct orders from the Commanding General himself," Jack calmly replied.

"Grant?" Rose shockingly blustered. "You mean Major Henley’s orders, don’t you?"

Rose felt like she had been ruthlessly slapped in the face…surely not…she just hadn’t heard the Captain’s words quite right. This had to be a mistake.

Jack shot Rose a curious look while Lizzie, without warning, dropped an entire pitcher of water onto the floor, breaking the glass into a thousand pieces.

"No…I don’t stutter, Miss Bukater. I have no reason whatsoever to mislead you ladies. General Ulysses S. Grant bade me personally to take on this mission. And I wholeheartedly accepted and obeyed his superior directive. It’s just that simple."

Dawning and sudden understanding sunk into the depths of Rose’s reeling mind…scattering her wits. Her uncle…he had ordered them here as a means of protection for her…his great niece. Not as she had falsely and ignorantly believed…Cal had nothing to do with this. She had sacrificed herself for nothing! The hilarity of the situation mingled with the incredulity of irony. Her uncle had sent a man with an army to supposedly protect her and Rosedale but had tragically sealed her worst fate! Of course, the Captain obviously had no idea who she was to his commander or he surely wouldn’t have deviously made her his whore and maliciously threatened to burn this house down around her. Or would he?

Furiously, Rose threw down her napkin on the table and jumped up in a thunderous rage surprising everyone with her brewing erupting tirade.

"You dirty rotten son of a bitch! You were never going to burn this house down!" Rose’s chest was heaving in anger. Green eyes of fire shot daggers at cool pools of azure.

Raising an amused slanted brow, "And what makes you think that, Miss Bukater?"

"I just know it! You uncouth, unimaginable lying bastard!" Rose was screaming at the top of her lungs and hotly glaring in pure hatred.

Everyone stared with mouths gaping wide open. Jack furiously locked gazes with the rebel hellcat and menacingly stood up, hovering over her petite, enraged form. Their noses just mere inches apart, furiously locked in another dangerous battle of wills!

"Like hell I wouldn’t! General Grant said to set up headquarters here and I have every God damned right to discipline belligerent hot headed rebels the way I see fit!"

Liz hastily interjected in the defense of her mistress and sister. "But Mr. Grant would nevers order…"

Rose abruptly whirled around to silence her sister. A sudden self-assured smile crept across her flushing face. Feeling snide all of a sudden…she now had her secret card to play…because he just inadvertently answered her question. Truthfully, he obviously didn’t know that General U.S. Grant was in fact her great uncle. And the damn dirty Yankee scum would pay…oh how he would pay for this!

"If you’ll excuse me Marie…gentlemen…I think I’ve lost my appetite. I’ll be in the parlor, Marie, if you care to join me after you’ve finished your supper." And with that she spun around and stomped out of the room without a backward glance but with a little less devastation in her haughty mannerisms.

Rose sat down at the grand piano suddenly a lot lighter at heart and began to play, releasing some of the anxiety and anger that had ruined her dinner for the second straight night since the damnable man had come to Rosedale. The Yankee filth never ceased to arouse her volatile emotions. Whether they be anger or…passion. And it infuriated her!

The Captain, Sergeant Ryan, and Marie set back at the table while uncomfortably meeting each other’s astonished gazes. Jack still seething yet suddenly feeling like he was missing something…that he wasn’t privy to all the pieces of a very important puzzle. Sergeant Ryan absolutely put out with his best friend’s provoking the little lady again…just like the previous night. Marie, well just a little surprised that the destiny that Rose’s gypsy grandmother had predicted just a few nights ago…was actually coming to pass…and remarkably a lot sooner than any one of them could have believed possible. Seeking to redirect their ire, Marie hastily spoke up, "Sergeant…may I be so bold to ask…is there a Mrs. Ryan back home?"

*****

In what seemed like a heartbeat, Jack, Tommy, and Marie silently entered the parlor to the most soul soothing music that had ever been composed and performed for mankind. The harmonic sound of angels filled the spacious room mesmerizing the night with its classical romantic notes. Oblivious to their presence, Rose instinctively ran her slender fingers down the ivory and ebony keys expressing the poignant emotions suffocating her pounding heart…on the last note, immediate applause jarred her into the present as she alarmingly came around before blushing beautifully for the enchanted trio.

"That was remarkably…beautiful, Miss Bukater. Please play some more," Jack encouraged.

"I…I…don’t think I’m in the mood anymore, Captain," Rose nervously stammered, aware that all eyes were upon her and for once feeling awkward and jittery.

"Rosa…you haven’t lost your legendary touch. It’s been so long since I’ve heard your delightful music…but now…I believe the Sergeant and I are about to take an evening stroll down by the lake…that is if the gracious Captain will give us permission?" Marie charmingly implored.

"Of course, Miss Dupuis. No permission needed…just watch out for the night creatures."

Gliding over to the table where the china platter sat bearing "magic dreams", Marie helped herself to a couple. Conspicuously popping one into the Sergeant’s mouth, Marie turned a secretive grin in Rose’s direction. "It’s about time one of you tasted my gift tonight…so tell me, Sergeant…how are they?" Marie smoothly inquired.

"Absolutely delicious…Miss Dupuis…may I have another?"

"Of course…Sergeant…of course. It would crush my feelings if you didn’t!" And purposefully sliding her arm through Tommy’s extended arm, they both turned to exit outside the opened French doors.

Rose stared after them with a half grin marring her beautiful countenance. It was just a few minutes later, that Marie and Tommy broke out into a full mad dash for the secluded garconiere…loud laughter drifting into the April evening air. Shaking her head at the Sergeant’s gullibility and inwardly surmising that he wouldn’t be fit for killing the next day, Rose had completely forgotten that the Captain was still in the room until she heard him unexpectedly declare, "Damn…these are good! You must get that recipe, Rose!"

"Oh, shit!"

Chapter Eleven
Stories