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She’d always known his as to beco he’d lost his father and two uncles at the Battle of Shiloh, Seth had given up on the dream Not only for his mother’s sake—she’d lost her husband and two brothers on the same day—but for his, too He needed to continue the shipbuilding business his father and uncles had started before the war, make sure his family was financially secure

Even now, years later, he wondered if she’d truly wanted her sons to go to West Point, as she’d said, or if his mother had pushed him to because she’d known it hat he’d still wanted It had been, and by then, one Not just to make his mother happy It had ht of responsibility for his fa crews for several years, and he’d found he liked co men It came naturally to him What he’d decided he didn’t as the responsibility of having a wife and children He loved his family, but the loss of their father had affected them all deeply

“Yes,” Jasper said “It’s here, too There’s no avoiding death”

Seth didn’t respond Death was inevitable, but there was no reason to leave broken hearts and shattered homes when it happened He saw it on the battlefields, but he shouldn’t have to see it in the faces of the wives and children left behind It was too much

“So is asis” Jasper crossed the roo the door softly

A shiver settled deep in Seth’s spine,didn’t need to include a wife Snatching up the report, he forced his mind to concentrate on it, as well as several other tasks that needed to be completed So it wasn’t until the dinner bell echoed over the compound that he rose from his desk

Fro, where he was stretching aze went to his cabin The right thing would be to go get his wife, escort her to dinner Then again, she had ears, and as he’d told Briggs, she

He was toiling with his decision when he entered the hall, aled She was here Not sitting at a table set for two, but at a long bench, talking merrily with several men already seated around her

A growl vibrated at the back of Seth’s throat That definitely reminded him of Rosemary As did the way she turned and lifted her brows at the sight of him

Menfor hi snap decisions, faltered He couldn’t ignore her in front of all his men, yet he couldn’t pretend they were happily married

Or could he? Thatthat would irritate Rosemary—or Millie, or whoever she was After five years, an a she’d expect, and perhaps the one thing that would send her on her way

It was a twist he hadn’t thought would thrill hirin as he walked across the hall “Hello,” hea hand between her shoulder blades, where he felt the tiniest quiver beneath his palm

Shock shimmered in her eyes as she answered, “Hello”

“I trust you had a nice afternoon,” he said, taking a seat and scooting a bit closer to her side than necessary

“Y-yes, thank you,” she stammered

The twitching of her lower lip did ht be the perfect plan of attack He should have thought of it earlier Not doing what his enemies expected had kept him alive for years

When Briggs opened the food line, Seth escorted her through it, with his hand riding low on the s, and her nervousness had triu table, and Seth encouraged her to answer the slew of questions the soldiers posed Many of them hadn’t been outside Indian Territory for years, and they were hungry to hear as happening in other parts of the country

The attention was ers said that And the edgy glances she sent his way told hi

Seth simply smiled, and asked a few nonessential questions of his own When the h the crook of his while leading her to the door

Things were slow at the fort right now The cattle drives were over for the year and most of the crops harvested That had bothered hi he wouldn’t have other duties consu Dedicating a few days to a plan that would ultimately hasten her departure was exactly what he needed