Antebellum BK 1 (49 page)

Robert chuckled. “Anna says to expect good news soon.”

“
That’s all?”

“
Yeah.”

“
She didn’t say when?”

“
No.”

“
Thanks.”

Nancy’s eyes were wide. “Why didn’t you tell me he could hear us?” she whispered.

Robert shook his head. “It didn’t occur to me that you didn’t know.”

“
How long has he been over there?”

“
He’s gone nearly mad over Clementine. I had to argue with him to get him to act as my best man. I don’t think he’s left his room since we came back from the church.”

“
For God’s sake, Robert. With all the moaning and squealing I’ve been doing – he must think I’m depraved.”

“
Don’t worry about it. He’s used to it. Clementine’s a real screamer and so was....”

“
What?”

“
Clementine screams when – you know.”

Nancy covered her face with her hands, then peeked through her fingers. “Are you going to tell me how you know that?”

“
When they first got married we shared the little house on Thomas’s ranch. She used to wake me up three or four times a night.”

“
How utterly humiliating.”

“
Get back in bed before you freeze your pretty weapons off.”

“
No. Help me move the bed to the other side of the room.”

“
Would you rather have a stranger listening to you?”

“
I’d rather have some privacy.”

“
You won’t find it in a frontier hotel with plank walls, Nancy. Chances are the man in the next room is enjoying a fine view of your charming buttocks through a knothole.”

“
What?” She looked over her shoulder in terror, then ran to the bed, jumped in and burrowed under the covers. “You beast.”

“
What did I do?”

“
You let strange men look at me naked.”

“
I did no such thing. It was you that decided to expose yourself to Lane.”

“
That was different.”

“
Where were we? 1840, wasn’t it?” He tried to put his arm around her but she pushed him away. “What’s the matter?”

“
Learning that we have an audience has put me out of the mood.”

“
Fine.” He turned on his side with his back to her.

“
Fine.” She turned on her side with her back to him.

There was a knock on the door.

“
What?” they both bellowed at the same time.

“
This is the hotel manager. The Committee of Safety has commandeered the hotel as a barracks. I’m afraid you’ll have to vacate.”

“
Who’s in charge of the Committee of Safety?” Robert shouted angrily.

“
Dr. Charles Robinson is commander-in-chief.”

Robert was about to reply but he heard the man knocking on Jack’s door. “Well. I guess we’re evicted.” He kicked off the covers and swung his feet to the floor.

Nancy got out of bed. “Where will we go?”

“
I don’t know. We’ll have to look around.”

~

Robert, Nancy and Jack were walking through Lawrence and marveling at the fortifications. Every house was occupied by volunteer soldiers of the Committee of Safety. All approaches to the town were now defended by circular timber and earthen redoubts. Each redoubt was surrounded by a deep trench. Secondary fortifications had been built closer to the center of town. Printed posters with evacuation instructions were being passed among the citizens.

Jack stepped around Nancy to walk next to his brother. “If the city’s attacked we might be able to use it as a diversion to break Clem out of the prison.”

Robert rolled his eyes. “And then what? We run to Canada or Mexico? Let’s give Anna some time to deliver her good news.”

“
There may never be an opportunity like this,” Jack insisted.

“
We can storm that prison any time we want,” Robert countered. “It’s just mud and logs. We’ll wait for Anna.”

“
If it came to that, to storming the prison, would you help me?” Jack asked.

Robert gave him a disapproving look. “That’s a stupid and insulting question.”

“
What are you two whispering about?” Nancy asked in a peeved tone.

“
You,” Jack said.

“
Me?” Nancy pointed to herself.

“
Yes.” Jack walked back around her and took her free arm. “I was telling Robert that I’ve always thought of you as a sister and I’m delighted that now you really are.”

“
I’m happy that Robert hasn’t held me in the same view,” she giggled. “As a sister, I mean.”

“
No, that he hasn’t. Robert’s had a yen for you ever since you started growing breasts.”

Nancy giggled and bumped Robert with her hip. “Is that true?”

“
No.” Robert shook his head. “The yen didn’t develop until your breasts were fully developed. Then I was hooked.”

“
Don’t tell me that you married me just to see them,” Nancy teased.

“
Speaking of your recent marriage,” Jack said. “Where are we spending the night? I haven’t gotten much sleep since the wedding and a little distance from you would be welcome.”

Nancy blushed. “A gentleman wouldn’t mention that.”

“
I stopped being a gentleman when I resigned my commission,” Jack said.

Robert watched a cannon being wheeled into place. “There’s an inn on the road to Mount Oread. It’s probably vacant. We can take rooms at opposite ends.”

Jack nodded. “But the proprietor has probably evacuated.”

Robert waved his hand. “Then we’ll commandeer the whole place in the name of the United States Army.”

“
How will we know if there’s a telegram from Anna?” Nancy asked.

“
It’s not a long walk,” Jack said. “I’ll check a few times a day.”

December 6, 1855

Lawrence, Kansas

A
nna gave Jack a document envelope, then hugged and kissed Robert and Nancy. “I’m so happy for you.”

Jack had opened the envelope and was leafing through the pages. “What is this, Anna?”

“
Clementine’s sentence has been commuted.” She pointed at the document. “That’s sure to be overturned, but if you get her out of the territory today, she should be safe. It might actually be best to leave the country for a while.”

“
I’ll take her to Canada or Mexico.” Jack fanned the pages. “How did you get this?”

“
I did the judge a favor.”

“
It must have been a big one,” Jack said.

“
Now don’t go getting big-brotherly on me, Jack,” Anna said angrily. “Whatever I did was for you.”

“
Let’s go get Clem.” Robert put on his coat.

~

“
Do you know who I am?” Robert bellowed at the warden.

“
I don’t care who you are,” the man replied.

“
Then you’re a complete and utter damn fool,” Robert said in an even louder voice. “I’m the commander of Fort Leavenworth. In one hour, I can have a full brigade of men plus thirty cannon surrounding this complex.”

“
You – you can’t…”

“
I can and I will.” Robert slammed his hand on the warden’s desk. “You send someone to get my sister-in-law now or I’ll turn this place into a pile of dirt and splinters with you under it.”

The warden nodded to a nervous guard who was being held at bay by Jack with a shotgun. “Get her. Take her out through the front gate.”

“
Thank you,” Robert said. “Good day.”

December 16, 1855

Lawrence, Kansas

R
obert and Anna were seated at a table in the boarding house dining room. “It’s just not fair,” Anna grumbled.

Robert shrugged. “It’s probably fair, but it still hurts like Hell. I fully expected to be relieved of my command, but to be relieved of my commission – well, I feel like someone died.”

“
What did Nancy say?” Anna asked.

He shook his head. “I haven’t told her yet.”

“
Why not?”

“
I wanted to get used to the idea first. She won’t understand the pain of it. When I told her how much the army paid me, she laughed. I tried to explain that I didn’t serve for the money but…”

Anna nodded. “She’s never felt strongly about causes. Her involvement in politics has always been just acquiescence to me.”

He nodded.

“
What will you do now?”

He shook his head. “When are you going home?”

Anna looked out the window. “Well, it looks like the Governor’s mediated an end to the so-called
Wakarusa War
and things will be returning to normal.” She turned back and smiled at her brother. “I’m ready to go whenever you are.”

“
Would you object if Nancy and I moved into the main house at Van Buskirk Point?”

“
I’d be delighted. And so would Abe and Ginger. They feel isolated with the rest of us gone.”

They both looked up as Nancy came in.

Robert stood up and pulled out a chair for her.

“
Why the long faces?” Nancy asked as she sat down. “Has something bad happened?”

“
The truce is holding,” Anna said. “The Wakarusa War was a non-event.”

“
What then?” Nancy searched their faces.

“
I’ve been relieved of my commission,” Robert said, reclaiming his seat.

Nancy covered his hand with hers. “Oh no. That’s awful. How very unfair after all you’ve done for the Country.”

Robert looked into her eyes for a moment, then nodded toward his sister. “Anna and I were just discussing the Van Buskirk Home Place. How would you feel about living there?”

“
It’s always been a second home to me,” Nancy said. “But what will you do for employment?”

He shrugged. “I have more than enough income, even without yours.”

“
I wasn’t thinking about money, Robert,” Nancy replied. “I was thinking about your need to serve.”

Robert and Anna exchanged a pregnant glance.

“
What?” Nancy asked. “Did I say something wrong?”

“
No,” Anna replied. “You said something right. But it was unexpected.”

Nancy stuck her tongue out at Anna. “I know you think I’m a flibbertigibbet without a brain in my head.”

“
No, no,” Anna protested.

Nancy waved her away with her left hand and picked up the menu with her right. “I’m starving. Have you ordered yet?”

“
No,” Robert answered. “We were waiting for you.”

“
What kind of meat do you suppose this steak is?” Nancy pointed at the menu.

“
If you’re going to order that, tell them to burn it black,” Anna suggested. “Otherwise you’re liable to get ptomaine poisoning.”

“
We should have heard from Jack by now,” Robert said.

“
It’s only been ten days,” Nancy replied. “As crowded as the steamers are he might be stuck anywhere.”

“
He really loves her,” Robert said, absently. “If she dies, I don’t know what he’ll do.”

“
Clem’s a tough one,” Anna said. “She’ll be okay.”

Robert shook his head. “I can’t get the image of her or the look on Jack’s face out of my mind.”

Nancy folded the menu. “I don’t think anything they did to her was life-threatening.”

“
Before we leave town I’m going to pay a visit to that warden,” Robert said.