Its all right, I know of him, Miss Gordon, the newcomer said softly, soothingly. And I was deeply sorry to hear about his death. Now, tell me, what did you see?
I saw the hollow in the woods. I heard the horses coming, and I saw movement in the trees. And then the men stepped out, thin, haggard, like starving dogs. And starving dogs can be desperate. When the horses came, the men were ready to attack. And then it was as if a fog suddenly settled over the daylight, but the mist was red, the color of the blood being spilled. I saw I saw them die. Some were shot, others skewered through by bayonets. Then I saw the riderless horses cantering away, and I saw the ground, strewn with the dead, one atop another, as if in death enemies had at last made amends.
Do you dream often? he asked.
She longed to see the face of the man who had come to speak so kindly to her. No.
But you have done so before?
Yes.
And when you have these dreams, what you see comes true?
Unless it is somehow stopped, she said. I tried so hard but no one would listen.
She was startled, but not frightened, when he took her hands.
His hands were very large, callused and clumsy, but warm, and offering great strength.
Shes a Confederate spy, someone muttered venomously.
Gentleman, a spy does not warn the enemy in an attempt to prevent death, he said. A spy would let the enemy march to their doom. Tell me, he said to her, do you wish to bring us down?
No. I am not a spy. I came home to marry
A Reb, the inquisitor interrupted.
And instead I watched my fiancé and what was left here of my family die. But I do not pray for either side. I pray for an end to war. I teach
Sedition, the lieutenant stated.
Piano, she corrected dryly. And I run a library and bookshop. My father was a great teacher, and Im proud to say I learned everything I know from him.
The gentle man spoke to her again. Do you consort with the enemy?
If I do, I have nothing to tell them. And I consort with those who are not your enemy, as well, she said, an edge to her tone.
I believe you, he said. But now I would like to return to the subject of your dreams.
I believe that dreams come to warn us, but that if we learn to heed them, we can change the course of events.
She heard the other man sniggering. Did your dreams warn you about your fathers death, Miss Gordon? the lieutenant asked, mocking her.
Dreams do not always tell us what we might most wish to know, she said.
Tell me, Miss Gordon, have you ever changed the outcome of events after you dreamed them?
Yes. I stopped a young man who was wounded from rejoining his unit. I had seen him lying on the battlefield, staring up at the sky with sightless eyes on the battlefield. He has since been reassigned to communications work.
Spying! Lieutenant Green said.
She laughed. He was a Union soldier, so
The quiet man spoke again. What if we are not intended to change fate, the soft-spoken man said.
We are creatures of free will, she said. I believe that God helps those who help themselves. We read books. Perhaps we can learn to read our dreams, as well, she said.
Perhaps. She heard him move his chair back. Its my belief, Lieutenant Green, that we are violating the rights of this young woman, he said.
She didnt know what she had said, but she had somehow satisfied him.
What are your plans, Miss Gordon? he asked, surprising her.
Ive been planningto head west, to Texas. I want to find out what happened to my father, she said.
I think youd do better to stay here, the man said. Safer.
I have to go, she said simply.
Have you received guidance on that matter in your dreams? he asked.
No. But I know in my heart that I must search out the truth, she said.
I understand. At any rate Lieutenant Green, get that ridiculous hood off the young ladys head.
I can manage, sir, she said, shuddering at the thought of Green touching her. She quickly pulled the canvas sack from her head.
She looked up and found herself rising. She had never suspected She had seen President Lincoln many times, and she had heard that he was haunted by dreams and sometimes driven to distraction by his wifes obsession with the occult. But then, the poor man had lost two sons, and the challenge of keeping a nation together did not lessen a fathers grief or a mothers desperation.
He stretched out a hand. She accepted it. You will be in my prayers, young lady.
And you, sir, will be in mine.
That is something for which I will be eternally grateful.
Sir! Green protested.
Please see to it that Miss Gordon is escorted home. And if she needs help in any way, I know that you will be kind enough to see that she receives it. Right, Lieutenant?
Green looked as if he were about to explode.
Right, Lieutenant? Lincoln repeated softly.
Right, sir, Green said.
Lincoln tipped his hat to her. I wish you could meet Mary. She might be greatly encouraged by knowing you.
I am here for another fortnight, sir, and it would be my great pleasure to help you in any way.
Then I shall make the arrangements. You have my thanks.
MARY LINCOLN DID NOT have her husbands calm disposition.
Alex felt she had to be honest and explain that she had no way to communicate with the dead, but she also found herself desperate to ease the womans suffering if she could. Sometimes, she said, those who have gone before us appear in our dreams, and I believe that is their way of letting us know that they are happy in the next world.
Has your father, or perhaps your fiancé, appeared in your dreams? Mary asked anxiously.
No. But I have heard of it happening. Mrs. Lincoln, I know that your little ones are with God. You must find peace here on earth, and know that you will be reunited with them when the time is right.
She saw a peacefulness enter Mary Lincolns eyes then, and she left feeling that, in some small way, she had helped.
DAYS LATER, WHEN SHE was actually leaving for her long journey, she saw the president again.
He was riding in a carriage with his wife, as he often did on a Sunday. He didnt see her, though. He was leaning back, his eyes closed, his expression that of a man pushed past the point of exhaustion. As she stepped into her own carriage, she wondered what dreams were plaguing the president as he wearily rested his head. Dreams were such unreliable messengers.
No dream had warned her of her fathers death, when she had left him to return to her fiancé in the East.
And no dream had come to alert her to what lay ahead.
CHAPTER TWO
IT WAS JUST SUNSET when Alex started toward the stairs of the boardinghouse that, following her fathers death, was now hersdespite the fact that he had left behind a new young wife, a woman named Linda Alex had yet to meet and couldnt say she thought much of.
She was shaking the dust of travel from her skirt before heading back up to her room, where clean clothes awaited after the long trip from the capital. Shed walked around the house, making note of the changessome of them very strangethat had been made in her absence. Now she was looking forward to cleaning up and resting.
She was shaking the dust of travel from her skirt before heading back up to her room, where clean clothes awaited after the long trip from the capital. Shed walked around the house, making note of the changessome of them very strangethat had been made in her absence. Now she was looking forward to cleaning up and resting.
That was when she heard the shots.
Dozens of them, along with the sounds of horses hooves, and the whooping and hollering that came along with the sudden rush of men into town.
Oh, no! Bert, the jack-of-all-trades her father had hired right after their arrival in Victory, Texas, came rushing into the entry hall and made his way to the front window. He peered carefully beyond the lace drapes, the color draining from his coffee-colored face. Its them, he said, shuddering.
Whats going on? Alex demanded, turning. She felt a surge of fear streak through her, but she headed straight to the gun rack in the library. She had heard strange stories ever since her return, but she wasnt one to put stock in spooky tales, not when she had a gun in her hand.
Her fathers Colt automatic was right where it had always been, and it was loaded. She might go down in a hail of bullets, but she wasnt going down without a fight.
Bert turned to stare at her, and she realized shed never seen him afraid before. Alex, leave that thing be. It wont help you any. These folks aretheyre animals. Weve got to get down in the basement and hide. Dont you see? There just aint no point in fighting these days.
No point in fighting? That was ridiculous. Victory had a sheriff, a deputy, and a town banker, three shopkeepers and a stable masterall of whom had fought in the war or on the frontier and knew how to defend themselves. Not to mention the fact that the saloon had several bartenders and song and dance girls who were tough as nails.
Bert turned from the window to stare at her. Weve got to get into the basement. All of us. Weve got to hide, and be real quiet. Well be safe down there.
Im not hiding in the basement. This town has guts, and if we fight, others will, too.
Beulah, the cook, appeared, running from the kitchen. Come on! Weve got to go hide. She turned, calling for Tess and Jewell, the maids.
It was crazy, Alex thought, but all this panic was giving her chills.
Fighting her growing fear, Alex strode over and took Bert by the shoulders. Stop it! We need to stand up and fight.
No! Bert shook off her hold and grabbed her in return. Alex, you dont know these outlaws. Its the Beauville gang. Ive seen what they done, back in Brigsby.
What happened in Brigsby?
They murdered everyone and now the place is a ghost town. Now, you go down in the basement and
He never got to finish his sentence. The door to the boardinghouse burst open and revealed three outlaws standing on the front steps, guns drawn.
Alexs heart stuttered, then resumed beating as she told herself that they were just outlaws. Murderers shooting into the air and shouting to create fear and confusion, but men. Just men.
But it was three against one, because only she was armed.
Bert was a courageous man. Despite his fear, he stepped forward, ready to protect her. But the first of the outlaws, a tall man with a gaunt face and black eyes, laughed as, with a single swift blow, he sent Bert crashing against the wall. She heard the crack as his head hit the wood, then saw him slump unconscious to the floor.
You must be the Alexandra Gordon Ive heard so much about, the outlaw mocked, sweeping off his hat and bowing in greeting. The two behind him laughed, and one spat chewing tobacco on her newly swept hardwood floor. Milo Roundtree, at your service, the first man said, then, No, thats wrong. I believe you will be at my service.
I dont think so. She lifted the Colt. I know exactly how to use this.
A short man with scruffy, tangled blond hair laughed uproariously. Shell be at our service? All right! Shes a damn sight cleaner than them whores were always stuck with.
Didnt you hear me? I said Ill shoot you, Alex announced.
No, youll come with us, Milo said, and grinned. It was then she saw that two other men, who must have come in through the back door, had caught up with Tess and Jewell before they could reach the basement and were holding knives at the girls throats.
Alex was filled with sudden terror, but somehow she managed to stay upright and keep her face as defiant as her words. Let my friends go this instant, and I wont blow your brains out.
Arent you the feisty beauty? Milo said. I think youll be for me. Just for me.
Not in this lifetime, she said.
Thats all right, too, little darling, he drawled. The words were not reassuring.
Ill shoot you before I let you lay a hand on me, she said to Milo.
He merely nodded toward the ruffian who held Tess. The man brought his knife closer to her flesh, and a low moan escaped her.
Milo looked at her challengingly, and Alex lowered her gun.
Milo stepped forward and grabbed her, slamming her up against him. She was immediately aware that there was something very odd about the man. He felt cold, his flesh where it touched her like icy stone. She struggled, trying to wrench her arm away, but she was certain she would wrench it from its socket before she would break the mans hold on her. She looked up and met his eyes, strange eyes, and pitch-black.
More shots, cries and taunting came from the street. Alex didnt even fight or scream as Milo dragged her out. Where would be the sense in it? she thought.
There were eight men in all, she saw once she was outside: three who had remained out on the street with the horses and were the source of the most recent ruckus, the two who had Jewell and Tess, and the three, including Milo, who had accosted her.
Round em up! chortled one of the men with the horses.
Jewell let out a terrified cry as she was sent flying out the door and into the arms of another man.
Where the hell was the sheriff?
Where were any of the men?
Get them across the street, into the saloon. Weve got some more business in town before we leave with our spoils, Milo said to the others.
They were herded into the saloon, where several of the song-and-dance girls were huddled together by the piano.
The only man in the room was Jigs, the piano player.
Milo let go of Alex at last, so he could go behind the bar and open the cash register. Several of his men joined him, breaking open bottles of alcohol and shouting raucously.
Suddenly they heard the sound of clicking spurs.
Someone was coming at last. Alex let herself breathe an almost silent sigh of relief.
The slatted saloon doors were thrown open, crashing back against the walls loudly enough to arrest the attention even of the men behind the bar.
For a moment he was framed there in silhouette, a tall man in a wide-brimmed hat, wearing a railroad duster and cowboy boots, a rifle carried easily at his side.
He hadnt come alone. Behind him stood another man, a shade shorter but otherwise a twin of the dark silhouette in appearance.
The first man stepped closer and nudged his hat up, revealing eyes that seemed to glow with a golden light. He looked around the room and sized up the situation.