Tommy scowled as he rode, wishing he was back in his cot asleep instead of eating dust back in the ranks while Jim and that beautiful girl rode up front with General Stand Watie. Jim had always treated his younger brother like a baby, but Tommy would soon show him he was a grown man. Maybe when April Grant realized how important Tommy was, she’d change her mind about going north with him when this war ended. She’d show him around Boston or New York, and they would have wonderful, exciting times together. Let Jim have his damned old ranch. Tommy didn’t intend to spend the rest of his life breaking horses and herding cattle.
September 16, as they rode north, the Confederate forces attacked a haying operation in the fields near Flat Rock Creek, and the Yankees took heavy losses. The Southern troops burned thousands of tons of hay the Yankees had planned to use to keep their cavalry horses fat through the next winter. Then the Confederate troops rode on up the old Texas Road through the valley of the Grand River, planning to intercept the Yankee wagon train.
Will Eagle was very pleased with himself. Here he was, accompanying Major Henry Hopkins in charge of the big supply train moving toward Fort Gibson, and everything had gone without a hitch so far. He had at least three hundred wagons loaded with supplies to keep Fort Gibson comfortable through the coming winter, while the Confederate troops were already in desperate condition. He knew from his spy that the rebs and their horses would starve when the weather turned cold.
As he rode, Major Hopkins, of the Second Kansas, joined him. “Lieutenant, I’ve just received a dispatch saying the rebels are coming up the Texas Road with many Indian and Texas troops. Do you think it’s accurate?”
Will reined in and considered. “I’ve got an informant among the rebs and haven’t been alerted to anything new.”
“Maybe he’s in a situation where he’s not able to get a message to you,” Major Hopkins suggested.
“Could be. I don’t know how the rebs would know about this. I never told my spy—just to be cautious.”
“Nevertheless”—the major wiped his sweating face—“maybe it would be smart to stop at that little post we have at Cabin Creek until we’re joined by additional troops. It’d be easier to defend.”
“Yes, sir.” Will saluted. He didn’t think it was necessary, because his insider would certainly have alerted him if anything was afoot. However, the major was being extra cautious with this much food and supplies at stake. Will yelled to his sergeant to turn the wagons toward the Union post at Cabin Creek.
September 18, additional Union troops arrived to back up the Indian Home Guard and protect the big supply train in case the rebels were planning an attack. They now had over six hundred soldiers to defend their prize, but Will’s informant hadn’t sent him any warning. Will felt very secure as he took to his blankets that night.
Chapter 23
Lieutenant Jim Eagle had had misgivings about this whole campaign. If it weren’t for the girl, he would never have believed this wild story about a gigantic wagon train. It was turning dusk, and the early autumn evening turned cool, with an occasional yellow leaf whirling from a tree. He glanced over at the girl riding beside him. “So far, you’ve taken us on a wild-goose chase. If it’s an ambush. . .” He left the sentence unfinished. He loved her too much, no matter what.
“I told you the truth,” she repeated stubbornly.
Tommy rode up just then. “I tell you, Jim, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about. You’re gonna lose your officer’s bars over this. You ought to convince the general to turn around and head back south.”
“Tommy, you just stick close and don’t be wandering away where some Yankee sniper might pick you off.”
Tommy looked as if he might argue, then fell silent.
April didn’t say anything. She knew that Tommy hated her now because she knew he had lied about how she escaped, and because she had spurned his advances. She dare not tell Jim that. She had been keeping a close eye on Captain Big Horse and Clem Rogers on this campaign, in case one of them was the spy taking information to Will. Or could it be Jim? No, her heart refused to believe that, no matter the cost.
“Stay here,” Jim ordered. “I’ve got to report in.”
“Can I go with you?” Tommy sounded eager. “I never get in on the action.”
Jim shook his head. “Stay with the lady.”
April looked at him. “You afraid I’ll escape and go over to the Yankees?”
Jim grinned without mirth. “Just try it. Remember, April, I’ll be in big trouble if you disappear.”
“I’ll be here when you get back.”
Tommy said, “I’ll see to that.”
Jim nodded and rode off to find the two generals, Stand Watie and Gano, sitting their horses in the shadows, discussing strategy. Even as he saluted, Clem Rogers galloped onto the scene. “General, the little lady was right. There must be at least three hundred wagons camped up ahead at Cabin Creek, and several hundred mules. Plenty of Yankees with them, though.”
The two generals both grinned.
“Best news we’ve had in months, right, Lieutenant?” General Stand Watie asked.
“I’d say so, sir.” Jim smiled in sheer relief. He’d been right to follow his heart and trust her.
The white general rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “You suppose camping at Cabin Creek is a deliberate trap to lure us into an ambush?”
General Stand Watie looked at Jim. “What do you think?”
Jim took a deep breath. He loved April; therefore, he must trust her. “Maybe we could surprise them. Even if they’ve got more troops, surprise might turn the trick.”
Clem nodded. “Sounds smart to me, General.”
“If I might suggest it, sirs,” Jim said, “there’s a full moon tonight, and we might be able to get close to the Yankees before they realize we’re here.”
“Attack in the dark?” The white general looked doubtful.
However, the old Cherokee nodded. “Sounds like a good plan to me, Lieutenant. We’ve got artillery to surprise the Yanks with, too. If we mount a sudden night attack, we might capture the wagons before they have time to destroy them.”
They talked a minute more while Jim waited patiently.
“All right, Lieutenant Eagle,” General Watie said, “pass the word to maintain silence, and we’ll wait a couple of hours until their camp is bedded down for the night. Then we’ll sneak as close to those sleeping Yanks as possible before we attack. Clem, you do some more scouting; get us some more details. Where’s Captain Big Horse?”
Clem and Jim looked at each other and shrugged.
“Damn him,” General Watie grumbled, “he’s probably off shooting dice again. Remind me to break him in rank and throw him in the guardhouse when we get back. He’s never around when we need him.”
“I’ll look for him, General,” Clem said.
Jim said, “I’ll start passing the word to the troops.”
“Dismissed.” The general nodded.
Jim saluted and rode back, his mind preoccupied with April’s and his little brother’s welfare in this coming fight. He wished he had a safe place to send them until this was over, but Tommy was a soldier and duty-bound to take part.
He rejoined them. “We’re going to try to take the Yankees by surprise in about an hour.”
“Tonight?” Tommy sounded horrified.
Jim nodded. “I said we were going to try to take them by surprise.”
Tommy started to ride away.
Jim reached out and grabbed Tommy’s bridle. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
“I—I thought I might get a little sleep in the meantime.”
“I reckon that’s all right,” Jim agreed, “but don’t stray too far from our lines. They may have snipers on the perimeter of their camp. You might get yourself killed if you aren’t careful.”
“I’m a grown man,” Tommy snapped, “and I’m damned tired of you treating me like a baby, especially in front of her.”
“Sorry
, kid,” Jim said. He hadn’t meant to humiliate him. “I swore to Mother I’d look out for you.”
“I’m tired of that, too. I’m a hell of a lot smarter than you give me credit for.”
April said gently, “Tommy, I’m sure Jim didn’t mean—”
“I know what he meant. I’ll see you two later.” He wheeled his horse and rode off into the darkness.
“You embarrassed him,” April said.
Jim sighed. “I know. I have a hard time thinking of him as a man. To me, he’ll always be my baby brother.”
April watched him in the moonlight. “You worry about both your brothers, don’t you?”
Jim nodded. “I wish Will weren’t with that supply train. I told Mother I’d bring them both home safe and sound, and now I’m leading one into battle and attempting to kill the other one.”
“You take too much responsibility on yourself.”
“It comes from being the oldest.” He frowned.
“You look like you could use a little rest yourself,” she suggested.
“I don’t have time; I’ve got to meet with the other junior officers and discuss strategy. You might want to find a sheltered place, though, away from the fighting.”
He wheeled his horse and started to ride away.
“Jim,” she called after him, then hesitated.
“What?”
This was neither the time nor the place for what she had to tell him. There was so much she wanted to say to him about how she loved him and how she would give up all her dreams of returning east if he would just ask her to stay. “I—I just wanted to tell you to take care of yourself.”
He looked at her in the moonlight, her hair blowing in the cool September air, her lips parted. There was a lot he wanted to say to her, but he couldn’t commit to anything. He might not be alive after tonight’s attack. Well, Will loved her, too. If he didn’t survive and Will did, she’d be taken care of. Jim wouldn’t let himself think of his brother making love to her. He had to put all his energy and emotion into the coming battle. There was so much depending on it. “Try to find yourself a safe place out of the line of fire.”
“I’ll pray for you.”
“Thanks. Do me a favor and make sure Tommy doesn’t get too far from our lines. He’s pretty irresponsible.” He nodded and rode away.
Still looking out for his kid brother, who resented it. Well, if it would make Jim happy, she’d check on Tommy. April nudged her horse forward in the growing darkness, looking for the boy as she went.
She passed Clem Rogers. “Clem, you seen Tommy Eagle?”
He scratched his head. “Come to think of it, I did, miss, he was heading north, far ahead of our lines. I yelled at him, but he didn’t answer me. I reckoned maybe the kid was carrying dispatches for his brother. Anything wrong?”
“N-no, of course not.” She started to ride on.
“Miss,” said the scout, “it ain’t my business, but you’re loco to ride any farther north. There’s gonna be a hell of a battle up there in about an hour.”
The thought scared her to her very core. “I know, but I promised Lieutenant Eagle I’d keep an eye on his little brother.” Then she nudged her horse and rode out.
“But, miss . . . !” he protested.
April ignored his shouts and didn’t look back as she rode on north into the darkness. There was a big, full moon tonight, and she remembered Tommy rode a pale gray horse that should be easy to spot.
Behind her, Clem took off his hat and brushed his hair back. “Damn silly female,” he grumbled, and then turned his horse, headed to look for Lieutenant Jim Eagle. He hoped little Tommy wasn’t deserting, terrified of the coming fight. Or could the pair be escaping together? Nevertheless, Clem figured the lieutenant ought to know that the girl and his brother were riding into danger.
He found the young officer and told him.
“What? Are you sure, Clem?”
The other nodded. “Both of them at different times, headed north, right into the battle zone.”
Jim began to curse. “What in the devil . . . ?”
“Maybe you should just leave ’em be, Lieutenant. They’re either loco or . . .” He didn’t finish. “Well, I’ve done my duty.” He put spurs to his bay gelding and loped away, leaving Jim struggling with the news.
What in the hell was going on? He’d thought Tommy too cowardly to get right in the middle of a battle, but maybe the boy was trying to prove something to Jim. Maybe the girl was confused about directions and didn’t realize where she was going. Another horrible suspicion crossed his mind: Could April be leading the Confederate forces into a trap, and want to clear out now while the getting was good? One other thought occurred to him; then he shook his head. No, he could never believe that April and Tommy might be running away together. One thing was certain: He had to find them both and get them out of the area between the two armies and quickly. He didn’t have much time before he’d be caught in the middle of a terrible battle, but he had to rescue the pair. Jim put spurs to his palomino and started off through the woods to the north.
He was acutely aware of time ticking away as he rode, but he did not turn back. Any minute now the big Confederate cannons would open up, and cavalries would go at each other in full gallop. The landscape between the two sides would be littered with dead and dying horses and men. Jim had deserted his post to look for the pair, which meant he might be shot as a deserter, but he didn’t care what happened to him—he was only worried about the welfare of the two people he loved.
Will came suddenly awake as a sentry shook him. “Sorry to disturb you, sir, but we’ve captured a young reb attempting to breach our lines. He says he has to see you.”
“What? There’s no rebs near—”
“This one is, sir. He won’t talk to nobody else.”
Will reached for his boots, sleepy and baffled. “Bring him in and then you can leave, Corporal.”
Tommy rushed into the tent, breathless and evidently terrified. “Will, General Stand Watie is about to launch a surprise attack on your wagon train.”
“Here?” Will grabbed his brother by his sleeve, cursing. “Damn, Tommy, we pay you to report such things.”
The boy shook his head. “I know, but I haven’t had a chance to get a message out.”
“Damn it, I don’t know how the rebs found out about this campaign.” He put his hand on Tommy’s shoulder, and together they walked out into the night.
“The girl told them.”
“What girl?” He was baffled.
“April. She’s riding with Jim.”
Will paused in the moonlight, thunderstruck. “Jim and April are with the attack force?”
Tommy nodded.
The end justified the means, and now it had boomeranged on him. Will threw back his head and laughed without mirth to keep from crying out in anguish. “Why, that ornery little rebel. Here I had a spy in their army; I never imagined they’d put one in ours. I was crazy about her.”
“So is Jim.”
Will sighed. It all came suddenly clear: why April had been so hesitant about marrying him. She was not only a spy, she was in love with his big brother. Mother had loved Jim best, and now the girl Will adored loved Jim best, too. No matter if he climbed in rank to become an important general, he would always be second-best to the two women who meant the most to him. “Thanks for alerting us, Tommy. Now, you’d better get to safety before the shooting starts.”
“Can I keep riding north and skip this fight?”
Tommy was a coward, but that couldn’t be helped. The family had always spoiled and protected him.
Will shook his head. “You couldn’t get through our lines to the north in that gray uniform.”
The boy hesitated. “I think I’ll wait to get paid.”
“You greedy rascal. You’d better forget about money and get the hell out of here. We’ll pay you later.”
Tommy started to walk away. “Remind them about the money.”
“Have w
e ever neglected to pay you in the past? Get on your horse and vamoose before Jim misses you.”
Tommy hesitated again, looking very young and scared. “I’m afraid to ride back south, Will. The fighting might start at any minute, and either side might kill me by mistake.”
“I’ll ride with you to the edge of our lines.” Will yelled to his orderly for a horse. “You see that April is safely behind the lines, too, you hear me?”
“You don’t hate her?”
Will shook his head as he swung up on the horse. “She can’t help it if she loves him best, and I reckon she’s no worse than I am; her loyalties are just different.” He watched Tommy mount up. Will’s first duty was to ride to Major Hopkins and warn him about the impending attack, but he was out of time, and his little brother and the girl Will loved might be in immediate danger. He’d get Tommy safely through the Union lines, and then he’d take care of his duty.
April reined in, in the darkness of the woods and warned herself not to panic. She’d lost track of Tommy and wasn’t sure if she had crossed enemy lines or was still somewhere in the landscape between the two sides. Any minute now, the cannons would open up and hundreds of Confederate soldiers and cavalry would attack. For Tommy and her to be caught between the two forces was surely a death sentence.
Jim Eagle was sweating now, although the night was cool. Where in the hell had that pair gotten off to, and why? He could believe that irresponsible Tommy might have wandered away from the Confederate troops by mistake, but what was April doing out here in this shadowy land between two opposing armies? Could he have been mistaken about her? Had she led his troops into an ambush, and was she now making her escape?
Jim paused, considering. No, he’d stake his life that she was telling the truth. He had no hard evidence to support that theory except that she had taken a big risk bringing him her information, and because he loved her, he had to trust her. All he could do was try to find the pair before the firing started. For him to be caught between the two forces, especially if he had crossed into Yankee lines, was like signing his own death sentence. The pair’s welfare was more important to him than his own life, so he kept riding.
To Tame A Rebel Page 29