“Daniel, I have saved the last dance for you so be sure to be back here with me before that time since I do not think that we will have finished talking by the end of the eighth dance. I saw you dancing with your colonel’s daughter; she seems to have taken quite a shine to you.”
“She is a very nice lady, Arabella, but she will be returning to Europe in a month or so. I think her father wishes to be certain that she is kept well away from this war.”
Daniel had one more dance to sit out before his next dance with Melissa. He was about to get himself something to drink when Bill Hamilton plucked his sleeve.
“I see that you have become acquainted with Miss Arabella Fairfield, Dan. I wish it to be known that I saw her first and since you appear to have captivated the young Miss Melissa Bridges, I think it only fair that you should leave Miss Fairfield to me.”
“Why Bill, I did not know that you were romantically inclined.” Daniel mocked him gently. “For my own part I am too young to settle down so you may have both of the ladies. To me they are nothing more than dancing partners, albeit particularly attractive ones.”
“So, sir, if you are not ready for romance what pastime does take your fancy?” Bill jested in return.
“Why I do believe that poker is my favored pastime.”
“You did not stay too long at it, earlier in the evening.” Bill pointed out.
“Yes, I had not yet got into my stride when my dance with Miss Fairfield approached. I may not be ready for marriage but I never keep a lady waiting.”
“Ah, Dan, you must remember what friends are for. Should you be in any way pre-occupied you have only to delegate me and I shall dance with the lady informing her that military duty has intervened.”
“Your friendship knows no bounds. I shall bear your kind offer in mind.”
The music concluded and Bill hurried away for his dance with Arabella while Daniel sought out Melissa and bowed to her.
“For a moment there I thought that you would fail to arrive, Dan. That Major Dodgson is a terrible bore. He has an interest in American Indian culture and he repeats the same things over and over again.”
“I must remark that your look of rapt attention probably encourages him.”
“I really do not know how to deal with such social encounters, perhaps my Father is right in assuming that I need to be ‘finished’.”
“It certainly is difficult to maintain a balance between politeness and boredom when someone wishes to expound on something in which he is avidly interested but anyone else can hardly comprehend.” Daniel commented sympathetically.
“You are right but take my father; he is always paging through his bible and making copious notes from it but never once have I heard him preaching or quoting from it. It is his own private passion and I respect his attitude.”
“That surprises me, Melissa, I have never suspected that your father was a religious man. He always seems to find urgent matters to deal with instead of attending church parades.”
“That is true. He also does not bother with things like grace before meals. I have to constantly remind him of them.”
“What bible does he consult?”
“I believe that it is the King James Version. He has it in a particularly large print as his eyesight is not as good as it once was. He finds lamplight particularly taxing for reading purposes. I have suggested that we should change to using gaslight but he points out that it would not be practical when on campaign.”
“I would be most grateful if you could find out for me the name of the publisher of your father’s bible. It sounds as if it could be ideal for my dear mother since her eyes have also failed her.” As he well might say, as his mother was dead.
“Certainly, Dan, I shall let you know on our first ride tomorrow morning.”
Daniel was beginning to get an idea about that bible. The Colonel was anything but a religious man. Dan had often heard the ex-college professor state that he believed in science and not religious mumbo-jumbo.
Daniel returned to the card room to watch the players and check the cards. Someone had given them a thorough shuffle since he had last seen them. It would take more time to scrutinize them than he had available before the next dance with Arabella.
He bowed to her and she came into his arms.
“Apparently you are highly thought of among the Federals.” She told him. “Captain Hamilton regards you as his particular friend. You are expected to be made substantive captain shortly. Your troop is regarded as the best trained and your men respect you highly.”
“Thank you for establishing all of that for me, Arabella.”
“I did not have to establish any of it. It all came out in general conversation. You are the only authentic hero in the regiment.”
“How do Quantrill and his raiders fare?” Daniel asked.
“They are no longer on the plantation. They fled to Texas. Quantrill has stained his reputation by conducting a raid with over four hundred men on Lawrence virtually burning it all down. He killed over a hundred and eighty men and boys, all civilians. That is why I allowed Captain Hamilton to come calling on me to prevent being regarded as a Southern sympathizer. We were very lucky to avoid being included in the Burnt District.”
“I heard about that but I did not know that it was as a result of Quantrill’s actions. I thought that it was another example of Yankee brutality.”
“There is a lot of fault on both sides in this dirty war.” Arabella said sadly. “Dan, when are you coming to visit me?”
“Bill Hamilton has warned me off you. He says that he saw you first and as his friend he expects me to stay away. Would you please let him have the last dance?”
“Only if you visit me; wait until he is the duty officer and then come around. You will be welcome at any time.”
“Very well I shall try but I cannot guarantee that I will make it. I cannot afford to create ill-will with Bill until I am ready to resign from the Federals.”
“Do they allow officers to resign?”
“They do not allow anyone to resign. That is a euphemism for sneaking back to Dixie.”
“Is that not dangerous?”
“They will shoot me as a deserter but on the other hand they could also shoot me as a spy if they find out that I am not Archibald Daniels.”
“How would they do that?”
“If anyone from the Fourth Cavalry visits the regiment, I’m a goner.”
“Land sakes, Daniel, we cannot allow that. If anything dangerous for you happens, get yourself over to the plantation and we will find a way to get you to Texas.”
“If it is possible, I will, but do not count on it. I shall tell Bill Hamilton that you asked me to tell him that you have reserved the last dance for him.”
“I hope that doesn’t encourage him too much. The next thing you know he will be asking me to marry him.”
“Is that so bad? Bill is an excellent fellow and his family is very rich. You could do much worse.”
“He is a Yankee!” she protested.
“That is not going to matter when the war is over, Arabella.”
“Will it ever be? The South will always be the south and the North will always be the north. We just do not think the same way.”
The music ended and they could no longer talk privately. Daniel conducted Arabella back to her seat and went to look for Bill Hamilton.
A young cadet touched his arm.
“Excuse me sir, Miss Bridges is looking for you. Could you please attend her?”
Daniel walked back to where the young lady was seated and bowed to her.
“Captain Daniels, thank you for coming. I see that I have not yet carded the last dance. Would you be so kind as to accept it?”
“Of course, Miss Bridges, it would be my great pleasure.” Dan
iel wondered what had possessed her to display such a lack of decorum but he was very pleased that he had been able to accept. It could have been most embarrassing for Melissa Bridges if he had been forced to decline because of a prior commitment.
He found Bill Hamilton in the card room and told him about Arabella reserving the last dance for him. This put the poor man in the clouds and he quite forgot his concentration, losing the Poker hand that he was playing.
In due course the last dance was announced and Daniel dutifully presented himself to Melissa.
“Dan, I have arranged with my father to ensure that you are not the duty officer tomorrow so we may definitely ride together but that is not the important news. You are to be posted as substantive captain immediately. Is that not wonderful? Congratulations, I am so pleased for you.”
Dan was quite flustered to have the news delivered to him in such a manner.
“Er, thank you Melissa. Yes, wonderful news.”
“I was planning to tell you tomorrow morning but the news was so exciting that I could no longer contain myself. Daddy says that General Ewing himself will be coming to meet you. It is possible that he might recommend you for that medal.”
Daniel’s head was in a spin. He did not know whether to laugh or cry. The idea of him being honored by a Federal general was almost too droll to contemplate.
Melissa on the other hand was smiling and happy because she had what she regarded as the most attractive man in the regiment dancing with her and due to go riding with her on the following morning.
Chapter Fourteen
Daniel rose with the bugle on the following morning and had Star saddled. He rode to the main gate and stood beside his grazing horse for three quarters of an hour before Melissa finally arrived.
“Good morning Captain Daniels!” She called out, hoping the sentries would hear her. “What a pleasure to see you up and about so early. Are you too going for a ride?”
Considering that he had been obviously waiting for someone at the gate, it seemed a little naïve to believe that anyone would imagine that they had met by chance.
After a few more pointless words calculated to give the impression that these two people had met by accident and would now ride out together, they cantered away along paths well-known by Daniel.
“I have found the publisher of that bible for you Dan. It is Box and Letterman.”
Dan knew the name. They had a lot of US Army contracts for stores ledgers and similar stationery.
“Thank you Melissa. I shall write to them and ask them to post a copy of that bible to me. “
“Oh, Dan, there is no need for that I have already had a cable sent to them and they will post it down to you directly.”
“You are extremely kind and thoughtful Melissa. Thank you yet again. Does your father allow you to use our telegraph office?”
“There is no need. The telegrapher is in love with me. He would do whatever I asked. He said that he had ordered such a bible before. They are a special order for the army.”
Daniel rode listening to Melissa’s incessant chatter and turning the problem over in his mind. A bible that is a special order for the US Army: that fitted well with his idea that the bible was merely a disguise for a codebook. Who would think twice about an authentic bible printed in large type, unlike most bibles, that would ensure that words would never fall on the same page or position as any other bible. Such a bible would not be out of place on anyone’s bookshelf and once glanced at would not suggest that it was there for any reason other than a religious one.
He was in such a mental turmoil over this thought that at first he did not hear the command shouted at him.
“Put yore hands up or ah gonna shoot you-all!”
It was Star who came to a stop unbidden because Melissa’s horse had been halted by a pair of rough hands that had grabbed her horse’s bridle.
There were two of them both had their bandanas over the lower half of their faces.
“Git off that there hoss, Yankee or iffen you-all prefer ah c’n blow you-all outa the saddle.”
Daniel studied the men both had single shot rifles pointed at him. He used his hands to easy himself out of the saddle on the far side of the stallion, while he was there they could not see what his hands were doing nor could they shoot him since he was protected by the horse that they wanted. Naturally he pulled out his pistol and shot the man holding Melissa’s bridle in the kneecap. He fell to the ground screaming and clutching his leg. The other man fired his rifle at where Daniel’s head had been but only succeeded in tearing a hole through the cantle of his saddle.
Daniel stepped out from behind his horse and snapped.
“Drop that empty rifle unless you want me to shoot you in the kneecap too.”
The man threw his rifle down as if it had suddenly become too hot to hold.
Daniel gathered up the rifles and jerked down the bandanas on each man’s face. Neither man was known to him but from their accents they were both southerners. Daniel searched them and found eight cartridges on them. He dumped the cartridges into his saddle bags and then said: “Help your friend and start walking.”
“He gonna need a doctor. He ain’t gonna walk anywhere.”
“You come with me, you get a doctor and a prison camp. You walk away and you just might make it back to Texas. What is your pleasure?”
The man threw his companion’s arm across his shoulders and half-carried half-dragged him away.
“Dan, those men were rebels. Why did you let them go?” Melissa asked, still white and shaking from the ordeal.
“They were not in uniform, Melissa. Had I taken them back to the regiment they would have been deemed to be spies and shot.”
“And well they would have deserved it!” she shot back with some of her old spirit.
“Perhaps, but I called to mind being in a very similar situation myself just a month or two ago so I thought that I would extend them the mercy I would have preferred had I been caught. The man I shot will never take up arms again should he survive his wound and the other will have his work cut out getting them both to safety without weapons or supplies.”
“I have never seen anyone pull out a pistol so quickly or shoot so accurately as you did, Dan. You are a remarkable man.” Her eyes shone with admiration. “You remained perfectly calm throughout.”
The joy of the ride having been ruined by this incident, Dan returned Melissa to her father’s bungalow.
Even as he rode away he could hear Melissa singing his praises.
A few days later the regiment was instructed to prepare itself for a visit and inspection by General Ewing. On the appointed day, the great man arrived with his entourage.
Each troop was drawn up ready for inspection with troop commanders and non commissioned officers in attendance.
General Ewing said a few words to each officer on parade.
“So you are the famous Captain Daniels? It is a pleasure to meet you. I have heard that you have had a recent set-to with a couple of rebels. Whereas I approve of showing mercy to our fellow-Americans, I cannot say that I would not have preferred to execute those two. They were very likely remnants of that renegade Quantrill’s men. Their behavior in Lawrence was worse than one could expect from the Redskins.”
The ordered bible had arrived on the same day but Daniel had not the time to even open the pages.
That evening a dinner was given for the general. Each officer was permitted to invite a lady as his dinner companion, Daniel had no choice but to accept that Melissa would be his companion because she told him so. Not unexpectedly, Bill Hamilton invited Arabella Fairfield. By this time Melissa and Arabella were well acquainted with one another.
One of the general’s aides was much taken with Melissa and had engineered things so that while Daniel was seated opposite her he, Lieutena
nt Garner, was seated alongside her. Melissa was never averse to having male admirers and she chattered as much to Garner as she did to Daniel. Daniel noticed an increasing coldness developing between himself and this privileged lieutenant. He put it down to a sense of rivalry for Melissa’s attention.
The next day Bill Hamilton was officer of the day and in accordance with the arrangement Daniel had with Arabella, he rode out to dine with her to find Lieutenant Garner already seated and apparently determined to be invited to stay and dine.
Arabella greeted Daniel with her customary kiss and said:
“You already know Lieutenant Arthur Garner do you not?” she said to Daniel as he found himself confronted by the man.
“Yes, General Ewing’s aide. I am surprised to find you here lieutenant. I believed you to be a particular admirer of Miss Melissa Bridges.”
“Miss Bridges told me very clearly indeed that she had an understanding with you which she expected to become permanent. In the circumstances, I find it strange that you should be here.” Daniel noted the absence of the ‘sir’ appellation.
Arabella interposed quickly. “Oh Captain Daniels and I are old friends. His closest friend, Captain Hamilton, is my current beau. Captain Daniels is an expert in card games and I often invite him around to learn from him.”
“Is that card games or trickery? The captain appears to be quite expert in the latter.”
Daniel went cold at this comment.
“What is your meaning, sir? Are you implying that I am a trickster?”
Garner ignored his question and asked one of his own.
“Who are you? You certainly are not Archie Daniels of the Fourth Cavalry.”
“You are preposterous, sir. I am certainly better known than are you.”
“Perhaps you are, in this regiment, but no one in the Fourth Cavalry will know you. I should be well aware of that since I served under Archie Daniels for a year.”
“You are badly mistaken lieutenant and I fear that there will be consequences for you in this matter.”
“Yes there will!” Garner said pulling out his pistol.
The Texican Way Page 11
