by Lynn Landes
“Dayton what’s a Senator for the Union doing with a Confederate General?” Eli asks.
Savannah gapes at Eli. “What?”
Dayton nods, “We’ve been trying for years to prove he was committing treason, and that one image speaks volumes. I need to know if there are more.”
“We?” Savannah asks softly. Staring at Dayton, she wonders yet again who Dayton Patrick is.
“One thing that bothered me about Oliver asking you to bring his images to me specifically, Savannah, was that he knew how I felt about his hobby,” Eli explains.
“Do you think Oliver knew that this man was committing treason?” Felicia demands.
“I had no idea,” Savannah stammers. “You have to understand that when he gave me his bag most of them weren’t developed. I was busy traveling, and when I finally got home, the images were… graphic.” Savannah stands and starts pacing.
“I photograph the land, buildings, people, not death. It is my biggest regret that it took me so long to fulfill my promise. I was weak, and the images gave me nightmares,” she sniffs and accepts a handkerchief from Felicia.
“Oliver shouldn’t have put this burden on you,” Felicia insists and guides her back to the chair. “Sit down.”
“Anyone, man or woman would’ve struggled with these images, Savannah,” Eli snaps. Savannah sits while Dayton runs a hand over his face.
“Savannah you don’t have to go through them, I know what to look for,” Dayton explains.
“Why is that?” Eli demands. “Just what exactly did you do during the war?”
“The Patrick family supplied horses to the government for the war effort,” Dayton explains.
“Evasive answer,” Savannah states and picks up the picture of the Senator with a sinking feeling in her stomach.
“No. It’s the truth. I saw a need and filled it,” Dayton explains quietly.
“So, you just provided a service and capitalized on the war,” Eli declares.
Dayton ignores Eli’s constant attempt to bait him and watches Savannah closely. Her opinion is the only one that matters right now.
“Is that any different than a farmer who provides food and cotton, or wool for the Soldiers?” Savannah snaps back.
“Maybe,” Eli grins, “but I’m not afraid to spell it out for you, Savannah. He’s hiding something.”
“Dayton tell him that he’s wrong about you,” Savannah demands.
“He’s not wrong.” Dayton sits taller, “I saw an opportunity to make a profit and provide for my family after the war. It also allowed me to move between the North and the South easily, including Washington, which is especially important when you are recruited as a Scout for the Union.”
“I don’t understand. What does a Scout do?” Savannah asks.
“Yeah, Kentucky, tell her what a Scout does.” Eli grins and sits back to watch how this plays out.
“It doesn’t matter. What matters now is that Senator Buren was a suspected traitor to the Union, and we didn’t have proof of this until now.” Dayton glares at Eli, “Until your brother did what no one else could do. Oliver put his life on the line to secure that proof, and he chose to send it to you.”
Savannah gasps as she finally understands what Dayton is saying. “Oliver was a spy?”
“Not just Oliver, Savannah,” Eli retorts and jumps up to pace.
“Dayton?” Savannah gasps and all the color drains from her face.
Felicia listens quietly and sighs when Savannah stands and runs from the room. Dayton drops his head and rubs his neck.
“What did you expect her to say?” Felicia asks.
“Oliver was a spy?” Eli sits heavily in a chair. All the fight has gone from his body.
“Does that really surprise you, Son? Your brother was always looking for the next adventure.”
“Unfortunately, he put Savannah’s life on the line with his last choice,” Dayton holds up a hand to stop Eli from exploding at him. “Not that he had a choice. Oliver saw something in Savannah, and because of that, we can finally make sure Buren is stopped before he becomes Secretary of State.”
“We, Mr. Patrick? Are you still working for the government?” Felicia asks.
“No, but I sent the copy of that photo to a U.S. Marshall named Deidrick Hunter.” Dayton jumps to his feet, uncomfortable with Savannah out of his sight.
“I came for one reason only… Savannah.”
Felicia nods, “Good answer. Is my family in danger, Mr. Patrick?”
“Your family was in danger the moment Oliver started taking images.” Dayton sighs, “I’m sorry to be blunt, but if I’m right, he wasn’t shot during a battle. His images are the last chance to set things right. We need to sort them and look for anything that seems suspect.”
Dayton glances back at her as he walks towards the door, “I have a plan, but first I need to see to Savannah.”
“You’ll find her in the garden,” Eli murmurs. “I’ll continue sorting.”
Savannah hears him coming and wipes her eyes with trembling hands. She glances around for some way to escape, but Dayton is determined to speak to her in private. His eyes meet hers, and his heart drops. Seeing the trail of tears down her reddened cheeks causes him to slow his stride.
“Savannah, we need to talk.”
“No, I’ve heard enough. I’m going home!” She turns to walk away, but Dayton stops her with a hand to her arm, causing her to flinch in pain. He immediately releases her with a hiss of frustration.
“Again, I’m sorry, but I can’t let you do that, yet,” Dayton insists.
“Am I under arrest, Mr. Patrick?” Savannah demands.
“Of course not, Savannah!”
She turns around and glares at him, “And why is that?”
Dayton runs a few options through his mind and decides to go with the truth. “I no longer work for the government, though I intend to follow this through. I promised Glenn that I’d take you to Kentucky. Your family is going to meet us.” He takes a step towards her.
“I see,” she sighs and wraps her arms around herself. “It shouldn’t upset me so that Oliver was a spy, but…” she sniffs and turns away to walk, and Dayton walks beside her, careful not to touch her.
“I thought we were kindred spirits, wanting adventure and seeing the world through our lens. Capturing those moments…” her voice fades, and she sighs, “It’s stupid.”
“Nothing about you could be called stupid, Savannah.” Dayton smiles when he looks at the surprise on her face. “Oliver saw in you a woman who’d face the storm coming at her and not be frightened by it.”
“No, he used me, Dayton.” She doesn’t bother to wipe the tear that streaks down her bruised cheek.
Dayton cups her face gently and wipes the tear with his thumb, “Yes, he did, but he chose well.”
“Dayton, I gave up years of my life. I carried this burden thinking I was doing something of value… I don’t know anything anymore.” She whirls away from him and stops when he steps over to her.
“I understand why you’d feel that way, but Savannah, we can make sure your sacrifice wasn’t in vain. Help me put this right. Together we can end this,” he pleads.
“I’m so tired, Dayton,” she whispers, “I don’t know how much fight I have left.”
“You’re not alone any longer, Savannah,” Dayton promises.
Savannah steps back from him, frightened by the intensity in his dark eyes. “You don’t know the weight of this promise. I need to be free of it,” she cries.
“Then let’s end this together.”
“I can’t do this anymore,” Savannah whirls around and starts pacing.
“I know the weight you carried, secrets are heavy, Savannah, When I left the war department, I promised myself I’d be free of it. I wanted only to race and create a legacy for my family.”
“Then why are you here?” she demands and steps closer to him.
“Are you sure you’re ready for that answer, Savannah.” He grabs h
er hands and tugs her into the heat of his body, and she fits like she was custom made for him.
Large eyes stare at him and her mouth drops open in stupefied shock. Dayton is smiling when his mouth takes hers. Softly, reverently he tastes her, coaxing until she responds erupting in a flame that rivals the color of her hair.
He means to keep it gently, but the moment she responds, opening to his exploration, all thought of going slow, evaporates. Savannah feels his body jerk in response, and she takes what she needs, desperate to feel something besides, stress, fear, and worry.
Dayton gives what she needs, his hand trails up the back of her neck and fists in her hair, causing her to gasp in shock. He groans, sucking her bottom lip and tasting the flavor that is Savannah. Drawing back slowly, he stares at Savannah’s swollen lips and smiles.
“Kentucky?” Eli shouts from the house, “Get back in here, we have things to discuss.”
Savannah giggles when Dayton snarls, “I know ways to dispose of people, just say the word.”
“Oh, you’d be surprised how creative my mind can be,” Savannah teases.
Dayton laughs and releases her. “Like minds working together. We’d be unstoppable.”
Relief floods through Savannah’s body at the thought of not walking alone.
Dayton smiles, “Together, then.” He offers her an arm, and she smiles feeling a sense of peace and walks towards him.
“Together.”
Chapter 30
“Let me out! You’ve got the wrong person,” Fred shouts again for the fifth time.
“Shut him up, Sheriff,” his cellmate shouts. “Before, I choke him out!”
“Try it,” Fred glares, “and while you’re at it, try a bath! You smell like trash.”
“I’m not sure I’d provoke crazy Len that way,” Eli says walking in with the Sheriff and Dayton.
Len sits up with a grin and spits in the corner. “Don’t stop my fun, Irwin!” Len shouts.
“Come on Len, go home and sleep it off,” the Sheriff says as he swings open the cell.
Len stumbles to his feet and wonders from the room. “Good luck with that one, Sheriff, he’s a piece of work,” Len says and slams the door behind him.
“Mr. Anderson, why don’t you come on out here and we’ll get this sorted out,” the Sheriff says softly.
“I think I’ll stay here, Sheriff,” Fred snorts. “Those two have me confused with someone else.”
“Suit yourself, though you should know that we have a lot of witnesses who say you grabbed a young lady and tossed her in front of a moving train.”
“They are mistaken,” Fred spits back. “It wasn’t me.”
Dayton and Eli glare at Fred. “Sheriff, I’m thirsty, do you have any water?” Eli asks with a grin.
“Nope. I’ll have to go get some. I’ll be gone for about fifteen minutes. Think that’ll be long enough?”
“It’ll do,” Dayton grins.
Fred starts to shout and back up into the cell.
“Dayton, I’m getting married,” Eli says softly.
“I heard, congratulations.” Dayton grabs a chair and opens the door to Fred’s cell.
Eli walks in with his rope, “What about you, Dayton. You ever think about getting married?”
“If she’ll have me,” Dayton quips.
Fred blanches and backs away. “What kind of game is this?” Fred shouts.
“It’s probably best to wait until she heals from her fall,” Eli explains.
Dayton blinks back the image of her screaming and reaching for him. “Look,” Fred snaps, “we can be civilized about this…”
Eli punches him, rocking Fred back on his heels. “Damnit, the first shot was supposed to be mine!” Dayton snarls.
“I’m sorry, fire away,” Eli says backing up. Fred screeches and runs straight at Dayton, who silences him with a swift kick to the crotch.
Fred falls to the ground, writhing in pain and groaning. Eli sneers and jerks him to his knees. “Is this what that little boy looked like when you hit him, or my Kristin?” Dayton grabs the chair and slams it onto the ground and steps back to let Eli rope him to it.
“Mr. Anderson, this can go a few ways. Though, I’m tempted to let Mr. Patrick treat you the way traitors are treated.”
Fred spits blood on the floor and laughs at them. “Traitor? You have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m here to meet a woman about buying some photo’s, that’s all.”
“It would be believable, Mr. Anderson,” Dayton says and pulls out a piece of paper, “if you hadn’t received a message this morning from Washington from Senator Buren. It would seem he’s really interested in whether or not you acquired all the tintypes.”
Fred glares at Dayton and Eli before he starts to laugh. “Does this routine ever work for you?”
Eli starts to move, but Dayton snaps, “No, Eli.”
Dayton leans forward with retribution glowing in his dark eyes. “As an agent of the Government, I have the authorization to carry out executions against those who are accused of treason. You, Mr. Anderson, are accused of treason. Senator Buren will surely not agree that he sold the weapons to the Confederates. He’ll say that you planned everything, and he was an unknowing pawn. Who do you think they’ll believe?”
Fred blanches and stares at the two of them in shock. “Execution! Now, wait a minute.”
Dayton turns and snarls at Eli, “I’m done. Tell them to hang him at sunset and bury him in an unmarked grave. It’s more than he deserves.”
“No! Wait! Listen, I’m sorry about your women and the child. Okay, I was drinking,” he raises his voice when they step from the cell, “Please, I can give you dates and details. I can prove that Buren was selling to the Confederates all through the War!”
“Did you get that Sheriff?” Eli says stomping to the front door and pulling it open.
“Sure did. Now, when exactly is this Marshall showing up to claim this filth?”
“He’ll be here in two days.”
Together, they sit with the Sheriff as he interrogates Fred to find out what he knows. Before they leave, Dayton says to Fred, “I can guarantee that you won’t be strung up, Mr. Anderson, but you may wish for death where you are going.”
They step out in the sunshine, and Eli claps Dayton on the back. “That was good, Dayton. He spilled everything you need to stop this Buren. I can’t believe he fell for that execution stuff,” Eli laughs as they walk to their tied-up horses.
“Why not? Dayton snorts. “He wouldn’t be the first strung up for treason. They are usually shot on sight.”
Eli glances at him in shock. “You mean to tell me you knew that any second you could be shot just for the possibility that you might be a spy?”
“Yes. Shot hung and worse. Oliver knew the risks, and so did I.” Dayton kicks his horse and trots away, leaving Eli to catch up to him.
“Why would you do that?” Eli demands.
“Are you asking for your brother or for me?” Dayton demands.
“Both, I guess,” Eli sighs. “I never understood him and his need for adventure. Part of me was jealous that he got to live a free life, but I loved the land and wanted a legacy to leave to my children. What I don’t get is how you could put your life on the line for no reason.”
Dayton stops his horse, with a quick jerk on the reins. “No reason? He did it so you would have the chance to leave that legacy. There were thousands of spies on both sides of the War, Eli. Without the information, we’d have lost. He believed enough to risk his life, and you should be thankful for it.”
“I am, Dayton.” Eli sighs, “I’m just shocked, and I wish he’d talked to me.”
“He distanced himself from his family to protect you. He didn’t want it coming home to hurt you. Savannah brought you his legacy, the question is, what are you going to do with it?”
“I’ll have to think about it,” Eli replies.
“I’m going to the station to buy our tickets. Doc said she could travel in a week
.” Dayton kicks his horse, desperate to return to Savannah’s side and be done with the ghosts of War.
Crazy Len hurries from the jail to the hotel room and found the man’s money waiting under the mattress just like Fred told him. He opens the wallet and laughs. “Twenty-three dollars to send a telegram! That’s easy money.”
Len watches from the alley beside the Sheriff’s office for the two men to leave. He’s been in this jail numerous times, and he smiles, knowing that the Sheriff will be otherwise occupied with a certain saloon girl named Delilah for at least another hour. Slipping inside he smiles when he sees Fred pacing in the cage like an animal.
“Len! You see, I told you the truth. Get me out of here!” he grips the bars.
“Not so fast,” Len waves the wallet. “I sent your message, just like we agreed. I didn’t agree to nothin’ else.” He jerks the keys from the drawer and waves it at Fred.
“You bastard!” Fred hisses. “I kept my word!”
“Don’t you know better than to deliver afore’ yur’ paid, boy!” He cackles at his own joke, draws a bottle of whiskey from his pocket.
“There’s a lot more money, Len,” Fred says softly.
“More?” he stumbles close to Fred.
“Much more, how long do you think that money’s going to last you, Len?”
Len grins, “Why didn’t you say so?” he walks towards him and listens. “Tell what you need.”
Chapter 31
U.S. Marshall, Deidrick Hunter, is shocked at the amount of evidence discovered in Oliver’s tintypes. “These are stunning shots. How were they achieved?” He slides the tintypes to Savannah.
“Aerial shots,” Dayton says looking over her shoulder. “Hot air balloon, to give a view of how many soldiers and weapons they would be up against.”
“Look at the next images. They show regiment camps, lookout towers, basically the overall strength of the force and conditions of the men,” Deidrick runs a hand through his short blonde hair.
Savannah’s mouth is dry, and her heart pounds in her ears. The thought of someone like Oliver or Dayton risking their lives to provide this information is astounding.
