“Who is Paul Carson?” Duff asked.
“Oh, that’s right, ye have nae yet met him. Mr. Carson is a member of the city council, ’n he has made it plain enough that he does nae agree with the defending of the city. That’s why he dinnae join with the other men in forming the Home Guard or in building the defenses.”
“Well if he don’t want to defend the city, what does he want to do?” Elmer asked. “Surrender?”
McGregor nodded. “Aye, that is exactly what he wants to do, for he has made that proposal, most avidly, and on more than one occasion.”
“Why in the world would he want to surrender?” Elmer asked. “You think maybe he believes if he surrenders that Schofield will cut some special deal for him?”
“He says that surrendering the town to Schofield will save many of our citizens’ lives. ’N I think ’tis his sincere belief that that is so.”
“Do ye think his leaving town might have something to do with that?” Duff asked.
“Aye, that is my thought. ’Tis no pleasure for me to be saying this about a man who is on my own city council, and who I considered a friend, but ’tis thinking I am that he has gone to find Schofield and try to surrender to him.”
“Why, he can’t surrender the town by himself, can he?” Elmer asked
McGregor shook his head. “He has nae authority to do so. But, and this is what I fear, he can tell Schofield about the fortifications we have built.”
“Then there will be no surprise,” Wang said.
“Tell me, Leftenant Colonel, do ye think Mr. Carson may have been the one to provide the map to Yancey?” Duff asked.
McGregor let out a surrendering sigh. “Aye, Duff, I believe he may well have been the one.”
“If that is so, then there is a bright side to this, Duff,” Meagan said.
“Aye. If Carson is the spy, we’ve nae further worry with the matter.”
“I had better go the sergeant major,” McGregor said. “He will need to know about this.”
When McGregor stepped into the jail a few minutes later he saw Drexler and Campbell having breakfast together. Although Drexler was inside the cell and Campbell outside, they had drawn their chairs up against the bars so they could carry on a conversation as they ate.
“Ye can let Drexler out of jail, Sheriff,” McGregor said.
“Mayor, I appreciate that”—Drexler smiled—“but can I be a guest of the city at least long enough to finish my breakfast?”
“Aye, but there’s nae need for ye to stay in the cell. Come on out ’n eat in more comfort.”
“What’s happened, Mayor? Why are we letting him out?”
“We know now that Paul Carson is the spy,” McGregor said. “Poindexter saw him riding out of town this morning, ’n there can be nae need for it, save to go meet with Schofield.”
“Why would Mr. Carson want to do such a thing? I know him. He’s a good man,” Drexler said.
“It’s something he said at a city council meeting,” McGregor said. “He wanted to surrender to Schofield. He thought if we would do that, there would be nae killing.”
* * *
After McGregor left the hotel dining room, Duff, Elmer, and Wang talked about the disposition of their forces in order to meet any attack from Schofield.
When breakfast was finished, Meagan, who had remained quiet throughout the discussion, spoke. “Duff, if you don’t mind, I’m going to take some coffee up to the men who are standing guard on the roof of the hotel.”
“Aye, ’twould be good of ye to do so. I know they’ll appreciate it.”
Meagan ordered a pot of coffee and two cups, then as Duff and the others left the dining room, she took the three flights of stairs up to a door that opened out onto the roof.
“I’m tellin’ you, Clay, I seen ’im do it!” one of the two men was saying. “Coolie spread all them cards out on the table ’n asked Pollard to take one of ’em, then he put his hand on Pollard’s forehead, ’n the next thing you know, why, he told Pollard whatever card it was he took. He was readin’ his mind.”
“Come on, Deekus. That’s just a card trick. You know damn well he wasn’t actually readin’ Pollard’s mind.” Clay laughed. “For one thing, Pollard ain’t smart enough to have a mind to read in the first place.”
The two men laughed.
“Gentlemen?” Meagan called.
Startled, Clay and Deekus turned toward the sound of her voice.
She held up the coffeepot.
“I thought maybe you gentlemen would like some coffee.”
“Yes, ma’am, we truly would! Miss, you are an angel, ’n that’s for sure,” Deekus said.
The two men held out their cups for Meagan to pour their coffee.
She did so, then looking beyond them saw a large group of mounted men approaching. “Is that something we should be worried about?”
Seeing the expression on Meagan’s face, the guards turned to look at what she was calling their attention to.
“This is it, Deekus! They’re comin’ to attack. Get word to Cap’n MacCallister’n Hawkins so he can blow the warnin’.”
“Thanks for the coffee, Miss. Sorry I ain’t got no time to drink it,” Deekus said, tossing the coffee over the side.
“Miss, you’d better get back down into the hotel ’n stay away from the winders,” Clay said.
By the time Meagan was safely back in the hotel, she was already hearing Hawkins playing “To Arms” on the bugle.
Chapter Twenty-four
“What was that?” Captain Bond asked. “General, did you hear that? It sounded like a bugle call.”
“It was a bugle call,” Schofield said, answering for Peterson. “It was ‘To Arms.’ It would appear that they have discovered our approach, and if they are able to have a bugler play ‘To Arms,’ we must also assume that they are well organized and prepared to meet our attack.”
“Are we still going to attack?” Captain Bond asked.
“Of course we are going to attack,” Schofield said. “General, form the Legion into two battalions in columns of four. You will ride at the head of the attack,” Schofield ordered.
Peterson hesitated for just a moment. He knew that leading the attack would put him in the most exposed, and consequently, the most dangerous position.
“Do you question that order, General?” Schofield asked.
“No, sir! I feel it an honor to be able to lead our men on this, the most important of all our campaigns.”
Schofield smiled. “Gentlemen, though we haven’t had to use him in any previous campaign, I am happy to report that we have our own trumpeter. Trumpeter Kendig, front and center.”
A rather smallish man hurried to respond to Schofield’s call.
“As soon as the attack phalanx is formed, you will take your position just behind General Peterson. Upon his command, you will blow ‘Charge,’ and you will continue to do so until the first shot is fired.”
“Yes, sir,” Kendig replied.
* * *
In Antelope Wells, the bugler was still blowing “To Arms.”
“Mr. Hawkins, ye may discontinue the bugling.” Duff smiled. “I think all the lads are in place now.”
Hawkins lowered the bugle. “Yes, sir.”
At that moment Drexler came running across the street carrying a rifle.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Truax asked. “I thought you was in jail.”
“The mayor knows I ain’t no spy, ’n he told the sheriff to let me go. I know I didn’t train none with the Home Guard, but I can damn well shoot.”
“That’s true, Ed. I oncet seen ’im shoot a coyote from near five hunnert yards away,” Collins said.
“And if some sonofabitch is plannin’ on attackin’ our town, I want to do somethin’ about it,” Drexler said.
“Uh, look, Anton,” Truax said. “I mean, ’bout us almost hangin’ you ’n all. Uh, well, we thought you was a spy. ’N truth is, you’d more ’n likely do the same thing if you thought
someone else was spyin’. Anyhow, what I’m sayin’ is, I’m sorry we purt nigh hung you, ’n I’m glad we didn’t. Are you goin’ to hold any hard feelin’s agin us?”
Drexler put his hand to his neck. “It didn’t seem like nothin’ a friend would do.” He smiled. “But long as you don’t try ’n do it again, well, I reckon I’m fine with it.”
Truax grinned back at Drexler. “Then climb over here with us ’n let’s shoot us a few o’ them when they come into town.”
“Let’s shoot a lot of ’em,” Drexler replied as he took his position within the fortification.
Elmer had taken a position at the north end of town, from which direction the attack would come. Wang went to the south end of town, and Duff took up a position in the middle of the town behind the barricade that sealed off the passageway between Chip’s Shoe Alley and Sikes Hardware.
As they waited in place, they heard a bugle.
“Is that Hawkins?” Truax asked. “What’s he playin’ the bugle for?”
“That ain’t Hawkins,” Morley said. “That there bugle is blowin’ ‘Charge.’ I’ve heard it blowed before.”
The call was repeated several times, sounding louder as it came closer.
* * *
Peterson led the army into town, surprised that the resistance was much lighter than he had expected. He felt a sense of elation as the army galloped down the street, the thunder of the hoofbeats echoing back from the buildings, joining with the roar of gunfire. Why, it was no harder than had been the attacks on Hachita, La Tenja, or Cottonwood Springs. The town would fall within minutes, and the war would be won!
Suddenly the roar of gunfire grew much louder, and Peterson heard cries of pain and surprise as some of his soldiers were shot from their saddles. He realized then that he had led his men into a trap. The defenses of the town had been set up to allow an ambush to be sprung upon them when they reached the center of town.
“Retreat! Retreat!” he shouted, and just as he had led his men into town, he led them in retreat. And whereas the attack had been made in a controlled formation, the retreat was a disjointed rout as the formation broke, and the men galloped away as fast as they could.
“Cease fire! Cease fire!” Duff ordered as he saw the last of the attackers clear the north edge of town. Six of the attackers had been left behind and were lying in the street. Four of them were perfectly still, but two of them were still moving.
“Sergeant Morley, would ye be for checking on our lads and see if anyone is hurt. If so, get Dr. Urban to have a look at them.”
“Yes, sir,” Morley said.
Duff, with his pistol drawn, stepped out into the street to check on the attackers who were down. Four of them were dead, but two were still alive. Neither of the two survivors were very badly hurt.
“Ah, Sergeant Major,” Duff said as he saw Sheriff Campbell coming toward him, picking his way gingerly around the bodies. “Here are a couple of lads for ye jail.”
“Aye, jail for these two,” Campbell replied, then he glanced to the four dead. “’N I’ll get Mr. Nunlee to take care of the others. Have we any dead or wounded?”
“There were nae dead or wounded where I was,” Duff replied. “I’ve asked Morley to check on the others.”
Even as Duff was talking to Sheriff Campbell, Morley came up to join them. The big smile on his face answered the question before it could be asked.
“Nobody killed, ’n not even nobody was wounded neither,” Morley reported happily. “Looks to me like we gave Schofield a pretty good whuppin’!”
“Aye, the lads acquitted themselves very well,” Duff said. “Sergeant Morley, prepare the men for a second attack.”
“Yes, sir,” Morley said. “All right, you men, a lot of shootin’ was goin’ on, so what you need to do is reload your weapons so that when they come back again, we’ll be ready for ’em.”
“You think they’ll for sure be comin’ back, Morley?” Truax asked. “I mean it seems to me like we give ’em such a whuppin’ that it won’t be nothin’ they’ll be a-thinkin’ about doin’ again no time soon.”
“They’ll be back,” Morley said assuredly.
“I shall say another prayer, gentlemen,” Chaplain Cooley said.
“You really think prayin’ is goin’ to do us any good, Preach?” one of the men asked.
“Why, most assuredly, sir,” Chaplain Cooley replied. “How do you think we repulsed them the first time, if not by prayer?”
* * *
When Peterson returned to Cottonwood Springs with the dispirited army, the expression on Schofield’s face was one of anger and disbelief. “What happened? Why have you returned?”
“It was a trap, Prime Director,” Peterson said.
“What do you mean, it was a trap?”
“They were waiting for us. They have built fortifications between every building, fortifications that our bullets won’t penetrate, and behind every one of them are several men armed with everything from pistols to rifles to shotguns. It was like riding into a hornet’s nest.”
“Captain Bond?” Schofield called.
“Yes, sir?”
“Dismiss the men, have them cool their horses, then await further orders.”
“Yes, sir.”
As Captain Bond relayed the orders to the dispirited and somewhat disoriented soldiers of the Legion, Schofield turned his attention back to his general. “You say the entire town was fortified?”
“Yes, sir, it wasn’t anything like any of the other towns we’ve attacked.”
“Yancey must have seen that, and somehow, he was discovered,” Schofield said. “It could be that I have underestimated Mr. MacCallister.”
“We aren’t going to give up on the town, are we?” Peterson asked.
“Of course not. Why would you even ask such a thing?”
“The reason I asked is, I think now that we know what they have, we could attack again and with proper preparation, be successful,” Peterson said.
“General, the fortifications will be no less impregnable because you know they are there,” Schofield said.
“No, sir, you’re right. We won’t be able to prevail against them with a frontal attack.”
“Frontal attack?” Schofield smiled. “You have an idea, do you, General Peterson?”
“Yes, sir, I do.”
Peterson knelt down. Picking up a stick, he began sketching in the dirt. Within a minute he had drawn a map of the town, showing where the fortifications were.
“Before, we went in this way,” he said, indicating the north end of the street. “The resistance was light until we got here.” He put his stick right in the middle of town. “Here, the shooting was intense. It was also effective because we were exposed and they were protected by the walls they had built. But,” he moved the stick behind the row of buildings, “if we come in between the buildings from this end, there are no fortifications to protect them, only these walls.” He indicated the barricades that faced the street. “And those same walls that protected them from a frontal attack will now trap them and prevent their escape.”
“Excellent suggestion, General. Draw up the attack plan, let me examine it, and I will approve the operation.”
* * *
In Antelope Springs, three tables had been pulled together in the Bear Tracks Restaurant, necessary in order to accommodate more people—Duff, Meagan, Elmer, McGregor, Lucy, General Culpepper, Sergeant Morley, and Ethel Marie. The young woman who’d arrived on the coach that had recently been robbed had moved quickly into the fabric of the town. Although she had initially gone to work at the Hidden Trail Saloon, she had been looking for an investment opportunity, and within the last few days, she had used the money she had managed to hide from the robbers to buy a partnership in a hairdressing shop. Her partnership was with Morley’s sister, and that proximity with Morley had led to a blossoming relationship between the two.
“Yes, sir, we sent ’em skedadlin’ away with their tails tucked betwixt their legs,�
� Morley said with a happy chuckle. “I tell you, Cap’n MacCallister, that was one jim-dandy idee you had ’bout puttin’ them walls up ’tween all the buildin’s like we done. Why we suckered them in like drawin’ a beaver into a trap. There they was, right out in the open, ’n we was safe behind all them walls we built.”
“Aye, the fortifications were a very good thing, but that was none of my doing.” Duff held his hand out toward General Culpepper. “’Twas the general who came up with the idea. And ’twas nae just the fortifications, either, for the plan of battle, the way we drew them in, was also his idea.”
“Ladies and gentlemen,” McGregor held up his glass of wine as he spoke. “May I propose a toast to General Culpepper ’n his military acumen?”
“His what?” Elmer asked.
“Never mind, Elmer. Just drink the toast,” Meagan said with a smile.
“Yes, ma’am. They don’t nobody have to tell me two times to take a drink.” Elmer held his glass out with the others.
“To the general,” McGregor said.
“To the general,” Duff repeated, and everyone drank the toast.
General Culpepper beamed under the praise. “Gentlemen, I know that my wearing this uniform of a lost cause, and my insistence that I am still a general may be indicative of deteriorating mental acuity. And in my more lucid moments, I am quite aware that I may be an embarrassment to myself and to my daughter, as well as a great burden to her, and an oddity to others. But, at this moment, I feel that I am surrounded not only by friends, but by men of military accomplishment. And I salute you.”
He completed his rather lengthy response by holding his glass out toward all present, then taking a drink from his own glass.
“Papa,” Lucy said. “You are neither a burden nor an embarrassment to me. I am very proud of you.”
Culpepper smiled. “And, as it was your young man proposed the toast, then I choose to believe that he supports your feelings toward me.”
“I do, sir.” McGregor reached for Lucy’s hand and raised it to his lips to kiss it. “For how can I think any other way of the man that I hope someday will be my father-in-law?”
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