“And you knew reinforcements were being brought up,” the colonel continued. “Yet contrary to every sensible deduction that could be drawn from the laws of nature, the decrees of mankind, or the edicts of our heavenly Father, you decided to create a diversion?”
Andrea let her gaze drift to the window trying to pretend she was somewhere else. It was a tactic she had perfected as a child and often used when she was in a place she didn’t wish to be. But the sound of J.J.’s fist hitting the table returned her attention to the present.
“A commanding officer told you not to go! Isn’t that right?”
Andrea refocused her attention on him. “Yes, sir. Colonel Delaney told me he was concerned for my safety. He said I should wait for the reinforcements.”
“And your response?”
“I told him…” she took a deep breath and glanced at Daniel. He was leaning casually against the windowsill now with his arms and legs crossed, shaking his head, his eyebrows raised as if waiting with great anticipation to hear her answer himself. His pose told her he thought her in way too deep for him to save her now.
She cleared her throat. “I believe at dawn, I went to him…and I told him he could wait for the reinforcements. I was not.”
The other men who had not seemed to be paying attention to the conversation at all, now slowly raised their heads and looked at the young, mud-splattered boy in front of them.
“And then?”
“Then Colonel Delaney said he would try to get in behind the enemy with the men he had with him.”
“And your response?”
“I do not recall my exact words,” she mumbled, looking down at her feet.
J.J.’s glare then fell upon Daniel, who gazed sternly at Andrea. “I believe your exact words were, ‘Come with me or get out of the way.’”
Andrea rolled her eyes at his brutal honesty. “Colonel Delaney did everything in his power to follow military regulations,” Andrea admitted, looking up at J.J.
“And you did everything in your power not to.” J.J. massaged his temples now with his eyes closed. But then, as if garnering strength for another round, he stood, placed both palms on the table and leaned forward.
“Your orders were peremptory. Do you know what that means?”
“Absolute and unconditional, I believe,” Andrea muttered.
“And do you know what that means?” J.J. questioned again.
“I suppose it means I should have followed them no matter what else was asked of me.”
“You suppose?”
“I know,” she said, stammering slightly, “but I did not feel I had the authority to disregard the general’s order to take a message to—.”
“You carried that authority in my order!”
Andrea glanced at J.J. and read his angry expression before looking away.
“I regret that I didn’t follow your orders,” she finally said. “But I did not have the opportunity to come through Hopewell Gap.”
The room fell silent, and then J.J. cleared his throat. “Gentlemen, if you will excuse us, I’d like to speak to Sinclair alone.”
The men shuffled out, one by one, and the door soon closed, but J.J. didn’t speak right away. He stared at her broodingly for a few long, uncomfortable moments, as if trying to figure out what to say.
At last he cleared his throat. “It’s the consensus of the other officers that the success of the expedition outweighed the risk and disobedience.”
“Sir?”
“We’ve got prisoners…three of them from Hunter’s command, plus one killed. That’s quite a loss for him.”
Andrea stood stunned and speechless for a moment. “Killed? Dead?”
“What other kind of killed is there? How many times do I have to tell you this is not a game?”
“I know it’s not a game.” Andrea began pacing distractedly despite the pain in her ankle. “I guess I just thought we would stop them, not kill them.”
“Dash it, girl! Those men are fighting for their lives. Their honor! This is their homeland! They would rather die on it than stop!”
Andrea sat and put her aching head in her hands. She couldn’t think about this right now.
J.J. cleared his throat. “Anyway, somewhat to my surprise and not at all to my understanding, Colonel Delaney has taken your side.”
Andrea looked up at him sharply. “He needn’t have. I accept full—”
“I know that. But it made me realize how much he believes in you. And for that reason, and after cool reflection, I’ve decided to let you go ahead with Richmond.”
Andrea looked up to see if he was joking, and when she saw he was not, leaped to her feet—one foot anyway—and hopped over to him. “But you said today—”
“May not a man change his mind?”
“J.J., I won’t let you down. I promise,” Andrea said, hugging him.
“You have Colonel Delaney to thank. I respect his opinion. And for some reason he believes you have some sense hiding somewhere in that head of yours.”
“But it doesn’t sound like you concur.” Andrea tilted her head to the side and studied him, knowing he was disappointed in her.
“If you’re asking for my opinion on the matter, I find your resentment of discipline, your disregard for authority and your inability to follow orders beyond all possible comprehension.” He stood in the middle of the room with arms crossed, appearing larger than life and strong as an ox. “You possess a recklessness, an impetuousness and unruliness that is unmatched in the annals of war.”
“But you’re letting me go?”
“You can be in no greater danger there than here. I’m relying on the hope that you’ll be a little wiser and cautious in new surroundings.”
Andrea nodded. “Thank you, J.J. I will. I promise.”
She turned to leave, but he stopped her.
“Wait. One more thing.”
She looked up when she heard the seriousness of his tone.
“Hunter’s men, the prisoners, were very vocal about you.”
“About me?”
“The little kid with the big backbone on the black horse to be precise.” J.J. paused to make sure she was listening. “And they said you are as good as dead if Hunter ever gets his hands on you.”
Andrea bit her cheek, then shrugged. “We’ll have to make sure that doesn’t happen, won’t we?”
“I’m not sure you understand the seriousness of the matter.” J.J.’s voice grew louder. “This from a man who does not threaten in vain.” When she did not respond other than to stare thoughtfully at the ceiling, he continued. “His loss today will grieve him, but it will not daunt him, Andrea. He is the type of man more apt to avenge the death of a comrade then greatly mourn it.”
Andrea nodded. “I understand. Will that be all?”
J.J. apparently decided not to further waste his breath. “Yes,” he growled. “That will be all.”
Andrea turned to leave with her lips curved in a smile, but when she reached the door, she paused with her hand on the latch. “That’s not why you’re sending me to Richmond, I hope.” She forced a laugh, and looked back at him over her shoulder. “To get me far away from Hunter.”
Andrea waited, but there was no reply. The colonel’s silence spoke louder than words.
The resulting sound of the slamming door echoing through the Union camp warned everyone in earshot to steer clear of Sinclair. He was no longer in the best of moods.
Chapter 26
I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.
– Abraham Lincoln
Colonel Delaney stepped from the shadows of the picket line, stopping Andrea as she stormed toward Justus. “It’s a little late for a ride, isn’t it Sinclair?”
“I’m not afraid of the dark and was not aware I had a curfew.” Andrea picked up her saddle and threw it over Justus’ back a little harder than she should have, causing him to jump sideways.
“Where a
re you going?” Daniel spoke while trying to evade the prancing horse.
“To Hades in a hand basket,” was the immediate retort. Though she said it under her breath, Daniel heard it nonetheless.
“You can’t just come and go as you please,” he said forcefully. “Soldiers have to have a little discipline.”
“In case you haven’t noticed,” Andrea replied, limping to the other side of her horse to untangle the cinch, “I’m not a soldier. At least I’m not treated like one.”
“Perhaps if you acted with a little more restraint and obeyed orders you would be. Subordination, no less than valor, is the duty of a warrior.” Daniel winced when Andrea let out a string of curses from the far side of the horse, her hands pulling and slapping at the leather as she worked to untangle it. Justus continued sidestepping and snorting, trying to avoid her wrath.
“These hills are still full of rebels,” he said, changing tactics.
“Good.” Andrea came back from around the horse but did not stop her work. “Perhaps one of them would be kind enough to shoot me. That torment could not be nearly as agonizing as that through which I just passed.”
Cursing again as she strove to cinch up the saddle with fingers that bungled the job, Andrea added a few more sentences—all richly punctuated with profanity—when her toe was almost stamped upon by her jittery horse.
“You’re tired,” Daniel said, touching her arm. “Stay here tonight.”
Andrea stopped, took a deep breath, and leaned her head into her horse’s neck for a moment as if to gather strength. “You and Colonel Jordan have it all figured out, don’t you?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Sending me to Richmond. It’s to get me away from Hunter.”
Daniel cleared his throat. “That’s what Colonel Jordan told you?” He laid his hand on Justus’ rump to calm him.
“No.” Andrea wheeled around to face him. “That’s what he did not tell me!”
Daniel met her gaze but did not speak.
“It was all your idea, wasn’t it?” Andrea glared at him accusingly. “Jordan wasn’t going to let me go until you talked him into it.”
“I thought you wanted to go to Richmond.”
“I did. I do!” Andrea turned back to her horse. “I don’t want to be exiled there so you and Colonel Jordan can be rid of me.”
“It’s not like that.” Daniel put his hand on her arm and led her deeper into the shadows. “Look, I was with the prisoners when they were being interrogated. Hunter means business.”
“Oh, hang him!” Andrea said, freeing herself from his grasp and walking away. “I’m not afraid of Hunter.”
“Then you do need protection,” Daniel said grabbing her arm and pulling her to a stop. “Because you should be.”
“You know him so well as to believe I should fear him?” Andrea’s eyes probed his searchingly.
“I know he’s a soldier fighting for what he believes in. That’s reason enough to fear him.”
“We’re all fighting for what we believe in,” she countered.
Daniel let out an exasperated breath. “You don’t understand. He’s as devoted to his men as they are to him. There’ll be blood to pay for the one he lost—and the three he’s missing.”
Andrea stood staring into Daniel’s eyes as if contemplating what she saw there. He apparently passed her test of sincerity.
“I’ll stay the night,” she finally said, turning back to Justus to remove the saddle. “And I’ll take the offer of going to Richmond under consideration.”
Daniel shook his head in bewilderment. Now he understood why Colonel Jordan had confided in him and shared the truth about Andrea. She was a perplexing wild spirit full of energy and determination, even now, when he knew she was fighting exhaustion.
“Is it so hard to believe we’re doing this because we’re concerned about you?”
Andrea stopped what she was doing but did not turn around. “Your concern is misplaced. I’d rather have your trust.”
Daniel put his hand on her shoulder from directly behind her. “Perhaps you should try trusting us first.”
He watched her take a deep, quivering breath, and was astounded when she turned and looked up at him with woeful eyes as if he had said something that hurt her.
Instinctively he wrapped his arms around her for comfort and she responded by burying her head against his shoulder as if in desperate need. Daniel drew her even closer, surprised at her softness and fragile vulnerability.
After only a few moments she pulled away, and stared at the ground as if uncomfortable. “Good night, Colonel Delaney.” Picking up her saddle and placing it over a post, she turned and started walking toward the mill, her limp growing more noticeable with every step.
“It’s Daniel. I wish you wouldn’t be so formal when we’re alone.”
Andrea stopped, looked back over her shoulder, and smiled. “Well then, good night—Daniel.”
“That sounds better. Good night, Andrea.”
Chapter 27
Madness in great ones must not unwatch’d go.
– Hamlet, Shakespeare
The camp lay wrapped in deep silence a little before dawn when Daniel stumbled onto the wide wooden porch of the mill and stretched. Drawing in a deep breath of the fresh, cool air, he pulled his suspenders over his shoulders and started down the steps. The flickering light from a campfire caught his eye, followed by the sight of a solitary figure silhouetted against the flames.
Daniel could tell upon his approach that her mind was miles away. She seemed to be staring into the fire in deep—and private—reflection.
“Sinclair,” he said in case anyone was about. “You get any sleep?”
Startled, Andrea looked up and shrugged. “Yes, sir. A little.”
Daniel pulled a pot of coffee off the fire, cursing under his breath when he burned his fingers, and poured the warm liquid into a battered tin cup. He wondered why she sat up awake when she looked so dreadfully tired.
“Well, I’m glad to see someone’s up keeping the coffee hot,” he said teasingly. Andrea nodded slightly, but her gaze remained locked on the flames.
Glancing up at the sky, as all soldiers do when they know they have a ride ahead of them, Daniel smiled when he saw a few stars. Good. No rain—for a little while anyway.
“I ah, need a guide,” he said, taking a sip of coffee and grimacing at its strength. “Was going to wake up Logan, but since you’re up—if you’re willing.”
He did not have time to finish. Andrea jumped to her feet, took a final gulp of coffee, dumped the rest, and limped quickly to the picket line.
“I didn’t even tell you where I’m going,” Daniel said after catching up.
“Doesn’t matter,” Andrea answered. “I don’t like sitting around camp.”
Yes, I’ve noticed that, he thought as he spread a map on his horse’s rump and lit a match. “I’m heading here.”
Andrea nodded, giving the map a quick glance and tracing a route with her finger. “I’m familiar. Let’s go.”
After refolding the map, Daniel gave her a leg up on her prancing beast, then swung into his own saddle with easy grace. Riding a few paces behind the silent figure, he watched her drift into the night with the ease of one comfortable within its depth.
She did not speak, but obviously took her business seriously, constantly scanning the terrain and studying the ground. Instead of following the road as he assumed she would, she directed him into a grove of pines with a slight nod of her head. He followed her by sound, not sight, for under the cover of the trees he could barely see his hand in front of his face.
After a few miles, Andrea reined in Justus while pulling a spyglass from her saddle. When she finished looking at the horizon, she handed it to Daniel, then circled her prancing horse back into the shadows of the trees.
Pointing the spyglass in the same direction, Daniel watched the image of shadowy horsemen come into view, their ominous forms standing in bold
relief against the sun rising behind them. Row after row crested the hill less than a mile away, a Confederate battle flag fluttering proudly in their midst.
“I saw tracks when we crossed the road a ways back.” Andrea’s voice was low and hushed. “Their advance must have come through right before us. I figure about two hundred cavalry and at least one fieldpiece. What do you think?”
“That looks about right.” Daniel nodded casually, even though he was a bit overwhelmed at her ability to summarize numbers so quickly. He wondered what would have happened if he’d brought Logan as a guide. No doubt we would have run directly into them.
The first stirrings of the birds began just then as the landscape started to reflect the soft pinkish hue of the dawning sun. Neither had time to reflect on the view or appreciate the splendor of another morning’s birth.
“Doesn’t look like Hunter’s men.” Andrea talked while turning her experienced eye back to the horizon. “Could be Stuart.”
“And they’re heading straight toward Salem,” Daniel replied.
“I have the fastest horse,” Andrea stated with authority. “I’ll head to Salem to warn Dayton while you go gather your men. We may be able to flank them yet.”
Daniel turned and looked into green eyes that appeared to gleam with mad impatience. “A fine plan. But I don’t think Colonel Jordan will approve.”
“He’ll have to,” Andrea said bluntly. “We have no choice.”
Daniel now heard the distinctive rattle of sabers clanking against saddle fittings.
“Can’t be Hunter with those sabers.” Andrea talked as if to herself as she moved Justus back to the edge of the tree line to scan the scene again.
Daniel circled his impatient horse in the shadows, mulling over her idea. He knew time was of the essence, yet he wanted to use caution. His gaze fell upon Justus, whose black coat now gleamed in the low dawn light. It was obvious he’d been curried and cleaned at some point during the night, though his rider’s clothes were still, for the most part, encrusted with mire.
“I know you are willing to undertake danger, but you can’t keep pushing Colonel Jordan like this,” he said at length, trying to keep a firm hand on his suddenly unruly mount. “You can’t keep on with this complete disregard for military regulations and orders.”
Duty Bound (Shades of Gray Civil War Serial Trilogy Book 1) Page 12