When the Missouri Ran Red by Jim R. Woolard

Author:Jim R. Woolard [Woolard, Jim R]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2021-06-22T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

I HUPPED BADBOY AHEAD, WONDERING HOW GENERAL THOMPSON would react to the good news, as well as the bad news I was bringing him. Besides their soldierly duties, he had shared a deep, respectful friendship with Colonel Lawton, as had Captain Logan. I suspected veteran, risk-taking, skilled intelligence officers were invaluable and doubly difficult to replace. And somewhere down the road, Lawton’s absence might result in a loss of men that his counsel and experience could have spared.

Sharpshooter Monk hadn’t lied. Shouts of “Halt right thar” soon had me tugging on Badboy’s reins in a whipstitch. The voices on either side of the road belonged to Lance and his fellow scout Pat Shannon. They trained revolvers on me held at the end of outstretched arms, their expressions deadly serious and mouths drawn tight like they didn’t know who I was.

They damn well recognized me. I was dressed the same and riding the same distinctive horse I was astride the last time they saw me. They were attempting to frighten and bully me. I realized then and there that I must always remember Pat Shannon was no less dangerous and ruthless than my half brother.

Without a gulp or a blink, I said in an even voice that did me proud, “Lest you two want to explain to Captain Logan how you shot one of your own in broad daylight, I’d suggest you cage the tiger right smartly.”

Pat Shannon snarled, “ ‘Cage the tiger right smartly’? What the H does that mean, Lance?”

“That’s what our good-for-nothing, whip-happy father said if he even thought you were thinking of defying him.”

I sensed I could gain control of the situation, particularly since I saw other curious scouts closing on the scene. I pointed and said, “That’s Colonel Lawton wrapped in his own blanket.”

Lance flashed his meanest smile and said gleefully, “I told Logan you were too green. That you’d get Lawton killed.”

“I didn’t get him killed. One of our sharpshooters shot him a quarter mile down the road. Now, if you two will step aside, I have important intelligence for General Thompson. He’ll be expecting Colonel Lawton’s report. I don’t believe you’d want it known you delayed me.”

I had my fingers crossed in my head. Pat Shannon caved first. “Better let him go about his business, Lance. We can’t afford public trouble with Thompson or Logan. That would spoil our plans.”

Lance shrugged and holstered his revolver. “Go be Logan’s hero again. We’ll have our chance at you later when nobody’s around.”

I waited to enjoy a relieved gulp and satisfied smile till I was well under way. I found Captain Logan in his usual spot in the center of the road behind his advancing scouts. The color drained from his face when he recognized Badboy and me. He had no trouble guessing the identity of the wrapped body beside me.

“What happened?”

“We were returning from scouting Byram’s Ford disguised as Union cavalry soldiers. We were planning to shed our blue coats before we got too near Confederate lines.

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