B00HSFFI1Q EBOK

by Unknown

  I heard a wail. We had to move. These were deserters and as such would be unlikely to surrender. I gestured for Ritchie to head around the back. He nodded. I holstered one gun and tried the door. They had not locked it. I moved it ajar so that I could peer inside. There was a large hallway and a central staircase heading to a landing. A massive grandfather clock ticked away. To the left was a door which was slightly open with a shaft of light shining on the hall floor. That had to be the room. I stepped inside and closed the door. I didn’t know how long it would take the sergeant to gain entry but I could not wait forever.

  “Strip the girl! That might make the old woman talk.”

  I could wait no longer. I had to act. I had no idea where they would be in the room. I could only hear the two voices. I cocked both Colts and kicked the door open. It flew back. I saw a blue uniform standing by the fire and I let him have my right hand Colt. He slumped to the ground. I saw two men holding Mary; I dare not fire at them. Suddenly a knife sliced down from my right. I just reacted and fired both Colts as I fell backwards. The corporal who had tried to knife me was thrown backwards by the force of the shots.

  One of the men holding Mary let go of her and drew his Colt. I rolled to my right as his first bullet struck the oak floor recently occupied by me. As I brought my gun up to fire I saw that Mary was biting the hand of the fourth soldier. It seemed to take an age for me to raise the Colt. I saw the deserter’s gun swinging around to shoot me. I fired a second before he did. He fell clutching his arm and I heard a scream from behind me. I fired a second shot and hit him between the eyes. He fell dead.

  The last man had thrown Mary to the floor and was drawing his gun. I pulled the trigger of my right Colt and it fell on an empty chamber. I saw the look of joy on his face as he took a bead on me. My left hand was swinging my second Colt up but it would not be able to save me. Lucky Jack’s luck had just run out. Then I heard Ritchie’s two guns boom from behind me and the last man was thrown through the window.

  The room was filled with the smell and smoke of gunpowder and the crackling of the fire. All else was silent save the ticking of the hall clock. I saw Mary’s look of horror. I turned and saw the old lady they had been threatening. Her head had been blown almost clean off and her body lay draped over that of her murdered husband and son.

  I saw Sergeant Ritchie in the doorway at the far end of the room. “Sorry it took so long, sir. I had to break in.”

  “You made it and that is the important thing.”

  Suddenly Mary threw her arms around me and began sobbing on my chest. “You came back! I can’t believe it, you came back!”

  I holstered my gun and put my arm around her. I did not know what to say. “I said I would. And I am not letting you out of my sight.”

  The only sound that could be heard was the regular ticking of the clock. Sergeant Ritchie coughed. “Er sir, Captain Hogan…”

  “Yes Sergeant Ritchie. You are quite right. Go and fetch the rest of the troop.” I pulled back from Mary. “Is there anyone else in the house?”

  “No, I was the only servant.” She pointed to the three members of the family. “They were all murdered.”

  “I know, I heard. Off you go, sergeant.”

  After he had gone she kissed me again full on the lips. “Thank you for returning.” She broke off and looked at the bodies.

  “You go in the kitchen and put some coffee on. I’ll deal with the bodies.”

  She nodded. “You get rid of that scum and when I have made a pot I will look after the Delanceys. They were good people.”

  After she had left I searched the four bodies and collected their weapons, their papers and their money. They had a lot and must have been in business for themselves. I dragged the bodies out one by one and laid them in a line well away from the horses. We might bury the family but I would leave these jackals for the other harbingers of death who feasted on corpses.

  I had just moved the last one when I heard hooves behind me. I whipped around with my gun in my hand. Dago grinned and held up his hand, “Steady Jack. We are on your side.”

  “Sorry Dago.”

  Sergeant Ritchie said, “There is a barn around back. We can put the horses there.”

  “You do that and then come in the house.”

  By the time I returned to the house Mary was trying to move the bodies. “Leave that Mary, I have men. They will dig the graves.”

  She shook her head. I can’t leave them like this. Don’t let your men in until I have covered them with a winding sheet.” Her eyes pleaded with me. “Please.”

  “Very well.” I went out of the door Ritchie had used earlier. There was a short passage and it emerged in a large kitchen. I could smell the coffee. The back door opened and Sergeant Major Mulrooney and Dago stood there.

  “We thought that the men could sleep in the barn sir. Sergeant Ritchie told us….”

  I smiled, “I can imagine what Sergeant Ritchie told you Sergeant Major. Get some men to dig three graves out back for the dead family and get some men who can cook in here to prepare food. The coffee is made. Help yourself.”

  Dago went and poured three mugs. He gave one to me and left one on the table for the Sergeant Major. “Lucky Jack eh? I take it this is the woman you were talking about?”

  I nodded. “For once I agree with you. This must have been luck. I have no intention of losing her. She is coming with us.”

  He laughed, “Of course.”

  When the men came to the kitchen to prepare food I went to find Mary. She was just finishing sewing the last body into a shroud. “There. I don’t mind your men seeing them now.”

  It was at that moment that I realised I had found a jewel. She was both loving and yet practical. “My men are digging graves and I have some others preparing food.”

  She suddenly changed, “In my kitchen! They will make a mess.” She hurried off like a miniature tornado. I looked down at the three white sheets. This was a family who thought the war was just passing them by and yet they had been destroyed by their own soldiers. That was what war did to people. There were no bystanders. You were in it even if you tried to hide from it.

  Mary supervised Cecil’s cooks. She seemed satisfied with their work and Cecil seemed at ease with her. He caught my eye at one point and gave me a cheery wink.

  “I think we should lay the Delanceys to rest before we eat Mary. What do you think?”

  She nodded and went to get a coat. Just five of us went to bury the family destroyed in the aftermath of Gettysburg. Having just buried so many of my comrades I hoped that this would be the last burial I had to attend. Mary said a few words and gave her goodbyes. The rain had stopped but tears flooded down her face.

  “We came from Virginia to avoid the war. Mr Delancey never thought that this part of Maryland would be in any danger.”

  We walked back into the kitchen. “Were there any others in the family?”

  “No. This had been Mr Delancey’s brother’s farm and he died of the fever.”

  There was a pause and Mary began to lay out dishes. “Seems to me ma’am, like it belongs to you.”

  She looked at Dago as though he had sworn in church. “I want to leave this place as soon as possible.”

  Dago was always practical. “I’m sorry ma’am. As soon as this is empty someone else will come along; deserters likely or not. They might be Rebs or they might be Yanks. It won’t make any difference. They will tear through this place like pack rats.”

  “He’s right Mary. I would just take those things that the family would like caring for. Does that make sense? I didn’t know them.”

  “They were good people. And you are right.” She looked at the plates. “We haven’t got enough fine china for all our men I’m afraid.”

  Cecil burst out laughing. “The boys’ll not mind eating off the floor they are so hungry. Ma’am if you would serve up the food for you and the officers me and the lads will take this out to the barn.”

  “No Sergeant Major, you
eat in here with us.”

  “That’s kind of you but it will be easier if it is you and the two officers. My boys won’t have to mind their cuss words.”

  She laughed, “I’ve heard them before.”

  Cecil said, in all seriousness, “That doesn’t mean you should have to hear them again.”

  When he had gone the three of us sat around the table with an oil lamp burning in the middle. It was the cosiest meal I had had in a long time.

  “I like your men, Jack. They are gentlemen.”

  Dago laughed, “I don’t think they have ever been called that before but the colonel taught us well.”

  “The colonel?”

  We told her, as we ate, of James Boswell and his Wildcats. By the time the tale was finished so was the meal. She rose and went into the dining room. She returned with a decanter and three glasses. “Mr Delancey was very partial to port. He decanted at lunchtime ready for this evening. Let’s drink it and remember a fine man and a lovely family.”

  The wine was delicious and we did not spoil it with unnecessary words. She looked at me as I drained my glass. “And now what?”

  “Sorry?”

  “What happens now?” She looked at her glass and swirled the dregs in the bottom. “To me.”

  Dago coughed and began to rise, “No Dago, you can stay. You know my thoughts as well as I do.”

  He shrugged and sat down. Pouring himself another glass of port he said, “Besides there is still port to finish.”

  “You will come with me… with us. We have been given the task of holding Williamsport until the wagons come through and then we go home. You shall come with me. If you will.”

  Her eyes lit up. “Of course I will. That was a proposal was it not?” She giggled and was suddenly a girl again.

  Dago laughed, “I believe it was ma’am and I am a witness.”

  I felt myself colouring. “Well yes, I mean I would …”

  “Then I accept. And where is home?”

  “We all came from Charleston although I don’t know how it stands now.”

  “Is that the place you said you had a house?”

  “I did. I bought it a year or so back and I have a man who looks after it for me but I don’t know if it has been taken, destroyed or what.”

  She nodded, eminently practical. “Then we shall take a wagon with some of the nicer things from this house. You shall have a fine home.”

  “And I will escort you there too. It’s the least I can do. Besides there may be people who have not heard that there is no longer a bounty on your head.”

  I glared at Dago as Mary put her hand to her mouth, “A bounty?”

  “Sorry Jack. I blame the port.”

  I explained to her about the threat from O’Callaghan. “But he is dead now. I left him on Cemetery Ridge.” I suddenly remembered the papers I had taken from his dead body. “That reminds me.” I patted my pockets and found the packet. It was slightly wet. I put it on the kitchen table. “I took these from him. I don’t know why.” I began to separate them. There was a handbill, crudely printed with the bounty for Hogan, Murphy and Boswell and any Wildcat. I gave it to Dago and Mary.

  There was a wad of damp Yankee money which I put to one side and there was a letter. I felt a chill as I took the letter from the envelope. I recognised the hand.

  Dear Mick,

  I am sorry to have to write like this to you but I have become afraid of you. You have changed and you are not the man I fell in love with. The death of your cousins and the hate you have for those men in the Wildcats means I cannot live with you.

  I have sold the bar. I have left $100 with Father Dolan. I think that you should have something from our time together but it is over between us.

  I am going to leave here and go to Charleston. I have heard that my brother once live d there. If I can find him then my life might make sense. I once thought that I had that with you but I can see that I was wrong.

  Your friend

  Caitlin

  Mary and Dago looked at me aghast. “What’s up Jack? You look like you have seen a ghost.”

  “I have Dago.” I thrust the letter across the table and they huddled together to read it.

  Mary looked up. “Who’s Caitlin?”

  Dago shook his head, “It’s his sister.”

  Mary put her hand on mine and said to Dago, “But this Mick, wasn’t he the man who was trying to kill Jack?”

  “He was but from the letter I don’t think he knew that Jack was Caitlin’s brother. Caitlin must have been unaware as well.” I was just shell shocked. This was too much information to take in at once. “Well Jack, I think that means we definitely all go to Charleston.”

  The Sergeant Major was summoned before we turned in for the night. “We need a wagon for Miss Malone’s things. We can use the Yankee horses to pull it. Put some guards out. We wouldn’t want to be surprised tonight would we?”

  “No sir, we wouldn’t and congratulations to you and your lady.”

  I threw an irritated look in Dago’s direction as I said, “Thank you.” Dago just shrugged in a good natured fashion.

  I took the money I had collected from O’Callaghan and the deserters and divided it between the men. They tried to refuse but I was in no mood for an argument. It meant each man profited by $40. With the two horses they had I knew that they had done well.

  Mary sat on the wagon and one of the wounded men drove it. I took Cecil and Dago to one side. I want her safe and I want the wounded men safe too. “I want the wounded men and you, Dago, to guard her. We have enough fit men to do what we have to. I will have no arguments in this.”

  Dago laughed, “You’ll get none from me sir. Mary is a sight easier on the eye than the Sergeant Major here.”

  “And no arguments from me either sir.” Irish looked positively happy which was a rarity.

  We left the tragic farm and headed south to complete our service to the Confederacy.

  Chapter 17

  The Road to Charleston

  Sergeant Ritchie took our four best trackers to scout out Williamsport. To my great relief there was no one there to oppose us. The pontoon bridge still stood. I sent Dago with Mary, the wagon and the horses to the safety of the southern bank of the river. No matter what happened I wanted them safe. Dago nodded when I told him to make sure that Mary would be kept out of harm’s way.

  “I want to be with you Jack.”

  “No Mary. I have one last job to do and I cannot be worrying about you. It might get my men and you killed and I couldn’t bear that. When we are married you can order me around all that you like but for the moment I still command here.” I gave a half smile. “You can get to know Copper while you are waiting.”

  The men cheered as they crossed to safety. “A wise move sir.” The Sergeant Major rubbed his hands together. “Now what sir?”

  I pointed at the pontoon bridge. “That is the only way across the river. Our orders are to protect that until the wagons with the wounded arrive. I want this bridgehead fortifying. Get anything you can, wagons, lumber, tables, chairs, anything to build a barricade. I want a wagon putting in the middle so that we can open it for our wounded when the wagons finally arrive. Get Sergeant Jones to organise that. Put a man at the far end of town to let us know of any enemy movements. Get food and water. We may only have to be here for a day or so but at least we can eat and drink. Send Sergeant Ritchie to me.”

  “Yes sir.” He strode off to give his orders. I had thirty troopers; I only hoped that would be enough.

  “Sir?”

  “Right Sergeant Ritchie, we have to make this like a fort. We need to have ammunition and guns ready to hand. Go across the river and ask Lieutenant Spinelli for the spare ammunition and any spare carbines from the wounded.”

  We had brought the weapons of our dead friends and spare ammunition. We might only be thirty men but we would fight like three hundred. I looked out from our little fort. We had a clear killing zone and we had the height advantage. I
t was the best we could do.

  By late afternoon everything was in place. There was a sentry in the top of the tallest building and we had our fort. Sergeant Jones laughed, “It’s just like the Alamo sir.”

  “I just hope, sergeant, that we don’t end up the same way.”

  Every trooper had his own carbine and two spare ones already loaded. With our pistols loaded and ready we could lay down a heavy rain of lead on any attackers. We saw the sentry signal at dusk. He soon came running towards us, although we already knew he had sighted the enemy. Had he stayed there then it would have been the wagons.

  “Get ready men.”

  Trooper Cooper threw himself over the barricade. “Sir there is a troop of cavalry heading from the direction of Boonsboro.”

  “Well done Cooper. Everyone stay hidden. No one fires until I give the order.”

  We had cleared our line of fire so that no-one had any cover for a hundred yards in any direction. The nearest buildings which overlooked our positions were two hundred yards away. Unless they had sharpshooters we would be safe. I was just grateful that it was cavalry and not infantry or artillery. Our weapons would be equally matched but I was counting on the mettle of my men. They would not let me down.

  The cavalry troop rode in a column of twos. I suspect they had anticipated that the army would still be at Gettysburg. They would be in for a rude surprise. I now had a future wife to fight for. They would not cross the river. I wanted them as close as possible before I fired to create as many casualties as possible. I waited until they were eighty yards from the barricade. I think that the captain leading them was duped by the poor light and did not recognise the barricade for what it was.

  “Fire!”

  Thirty carbines tore into them; hurling men from saddles and throwing horses to the ground. We fired until our guns were empty and then picked up our second weapons.

  “Cease fire!”

  We could hear the moaning of dying horses and wounded men. The smoke hid all.

  “Sergeant Ritchie, take four men and bring back any guns and ammunition. We will cover you.”