A Dangerous Promise (17 page)

"I'll stay for just a little while. Ma," he told her. "I want to spend some time with you and Peg and visit Danny, but then I need to get back to Fort Leavenworth. Louisa is expecting me—and Todd's sister Emily."

For just an instant disappointment clouded Ma's face, but she covered it with a smile. "You seem so much older, Mike. You've grown."

"I still have a bit of growing to do," Mike said as she

hugged him again. "You might say three inches and three years to go."

"If you're talking about reenlisting—"

"Ma," Mike told her, "if you're going to ask me to promise I'll wait until I'm legally old enough, well, I've already made that promise to myself."

As his mother wrapped him in her arms again, Mike laughed. "Let's forget about war for a while," he said, "and go find Peg."

A week later Mike rode the ferry across the river with Jim. "I'll soon be off for the mountains and the gold and silver hidden within them," Jim said, stroking the horse he'd bought for his journey—a horse that was slightly sway-backed but had sound teeth. "I wish you'd come with me, Mike."

At the moment Mike wished he could go, too. Jim's offer wa^ certainly tempting. But he answered, "I've got to keep my promise to Todd and the promise I made to myself."

"Good luck," Jim said, and Mike counted on that wish as he traveled south to Fort Leavenworth.

As Mike entered the fort, a strong hand gripped his shoulder. "We heard some of what you did, lad," Sergeant Duncan bellowed, "and we're hopin' to hear the rest."

"Later," Mike said, pulling away. There'd be time for war stories later. "I need to tell Lou—my mother that I'm home again."

Louisa affectionately folded Mike in her arms, tearfully scolding and praising him. "No more running away," she said. "Promise me, Mike."

"I promise," he answered. No need at the moment to tell her his plans to reenlist when he reached the age of sixteen.

Mike took a deep breath and faced the inevitable. "I have to see Emily Blakely. I've brought her Todd's watch."

Louisa wiped her eyes and pulled on her bonnet, tying it

firmly under her chin. "And Mrs. Blakely," she said. "We'll call on them together."

Mike protested, "There's no need for you to go."

But Louisa opened the door, waiting for Mike to follow her. "This will be a difficult time for you," she said, "and I think it will help you to know that your mother is there by your side."

As Mike had guessed, Mrs. Blakely had many questions to ask about Todd. Mike couldn't hold back his own tears as Mrs. Blakely burst into sobs.

"I—I'm sorry, Mrs. Blakely," Mike murmured. "Sorrier than anyone could know."

"I'm not blaming you for what happened, Michael," Mrs. Blakely told him, wiping away her tears. "Todd always had a mind of his own."

Emily broke in. "He talked about going off to war afore you even came here."

"He wanted to be hke his father, the captain," Mike began, but he couldn't go on. He wanted badly to know if Captain Blakely had survived the Battle of Bull Run, but he was terrified to ask.

With a soggy handkerchief Mrs. Blakely rubbed hard at her reddened nose. "That's Major Blakely now," she said. "My husband received a field promotion."

If only Todd had known his father had survived the battle with honor. If only Todd could be with his family now. Mike fished into his pocket and brought forth Todd's watch, placing it in Emily's hand. "This meant more to Todd than anything else he ever owned," he said, "and he asked me to bring this to you, Emily."

"Thank you," Emily whispered. Tears ran down her cheeks as she held the watch to her lips.

One promise fulfilled, one to go, Mike thought. But the promise to himself would take three years to come about. Right now he was glad to be home.

Jennifer sighed as Grandma closed Frances Mary's journal. "I learned in history class that the Civil War lasted four years," she said. "Did Mike do what he'd planned and become a soldier?"

"All the Kellys were involved in the war, in one way or another," Grandma answered. "As Mike said, the war reached everyone. It changed every life, and innocent people often suffered greatly in their attempts to help the cause in which they beheved. Think how terrible it must have been for the Kellys when one of them was arrested for being a Union spy!"

Jeff sat bolt upright. "Mike was arrested? But he said he'd never be a spy!"

"Mike wasn't the spy," Grandma said. She stood and asked, "I've got to run some errands in town. Would you like to go with me?"

Jennifer jumped to her feet. "Grandma!" she complained. "I can't stand it! You have to tell us which Kelly became a spy!"

"I will," Grandma said, and broke into a grin. "But not until tomorrow morning."

"I may not last until then," Jennifer moaned.

"You will if you want to hear a truly unusual story," Grandma said. "Tomorrow we'll read the journal again—I promise."

About the Author

Joan Lowery Nixon is the acclaimed author of more than ninety books for young readers. She has served as regional vice-president for the Southwest Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America and is the only four-time winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Best Juvenile Mystery Award given by that society. She is also a two-time winner of the Western Writers of America's Golden Spur Award, which she won for A Family Apart and In the Face of Danger, the first and third books of the Orphan Train Adventures. She was moved by the true experiences of the children on the nineteenth-century orphan trains to research and write the Orphan Train Adventures, which also include Caught in the Act and A Place to Belong.

Joan Lowery Nixon and her husband live in Houston, Texas.

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JOAiN LOW hMTNlXDN IS the acclaime( author of more than ninety books for young readers. She has served as regional vice-president for the Southwest Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America and is the only four-time winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Best Juvenile Mystery Award. She is also a two-time winner of the Western Writers of America's Golden Spur Award, which she won for A Family Apart and In the Face of Danger, the first and third books of the Orphan Train Adventures. She was moved by the true experiences of the children on the nineteenth-century orphan trains to research and write the Orphan Train Adventures, which include A Family Apart, Caught in the Act, In the Face of Danger, and A Place to Belong.

Joan Lowery Nixon and her husband live in Houston, Texas.

Jacket design © 1994 Martha Sedgwick

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