Dorothy Garlock - [Wabash River] (32 page)

The work in the pit had stopped. Farr and Colby had climbed out and were wiping the sweat and sawdust from their faces. Amy was coming back through the trees with Mr. Washington, Daniel riding on his shoulder. Her sister was laughing up at the huge black man, and Daniel was giggling and holding onto his topknot. Liberty saw all of this before she reached the camp.

She reached it slightly ahead of the party that came around by way of the road. Her face was red from exertion, and her hair had come loose from her braids, causing it to kink and curl down over her forehead. She went directly to Farr; her eyes met his and clung. His smile of cheerful reassurance was gentle, easygoing, half amused. He reached out his hand and she put hers in it.

“I thought a bear was after you. You can run fast when you have to, Liberty Bell.” He had taken to calling her that. The light banter eased her anxiety. Just being with him made her feel confident.

“I had to get to you. Oh, Farr. What’ll we do if Papa has come for Amy?”

“If he has we’ll take care of it when the time comes. Don’t worry.”

They waited together for the horsemen to approach and together walked out to meet them.

Farr had known the militiamen were at Lenning’s since Donald Luscomb’s brother had arrived that morning. The thin, wiry youth, called Peewee for so long he had almost forgotten that his real name was Melvin, had told Farr the patrol had spent the night at the Luscomb homestead. He had come as far as Lenning’s with them. Farr had expected them to arrive earlier.

He had met Captain Nathan Heald when he first arrived from Fort Wayne to take command of Fort Dearborn, and he was curious to know why he was leading a patrol this far south. And he knew Lieutenant Hammond Perry.

The column stopped and a sergeant barked orders in a drill voice. Two men came to hold the horses while Captain Heald and the lieutenant dismounted. The captain’s blue coat was faced with red, his leather hat trimmed with a roach of bearskin, cockade and a feather. An epaulet graced his right shoulder, establishing his rank as captain.

He came toward Farr and Liberty, clutching his sword to keep it from thrashing at his leg. He extended his gloved hand long before he was close enough to shake. His dark eyes made eye contact with Farr’s and remained there.

“Howdy, Quill.”

“Hello, Captain.”

The captain’s eyes brightened when he turned to Liberty. He hurriedly whipped off his hat and made a sweeping bow.

“Your servant, ma’am.”

Farr introduced Liberty as his wife, and Captain Heald voiced his hearty good wishes. He scarcely acknowledged his lieutenant who came up beside him.

“Hello, Quill.” There was disinterest in the voice of the lieutenant who was no taller than Liberty.

“Hello, Perry.” Farr’s greeting was barely civil.

Perry?
Liberty’s eyes went first to Farr and then to the face of the lieutenant. It was a thin face, dominated by piercing eyes set close together under brows that met over his nose. His lips were shaped like a woman’s, full and red. The thin, reddish brown whiskers on his chin were an effort to disguise the fact that it receded sharply, giving his face the shape of an upside down bowl. He was small of stature, but stood with his shoulders held rigid and his head tilted far back as if he were looking down his nose. Could this be Jubal’s brother?

“This is Hammond Perry, Libby. Your late husband’s brother.”

Liberty saw a look of irritation flit across Hammond’s face. She held out her hand and he touched it briefly.

“Hello, Hammond. I’ve heard so much about you from Jubal and read the letters you sent to him. That’s why—”

“Spare me the details. I’ve heard all about it from your father,” he said in a tone that clearly relegated her to an inferior position.

Liberty was taken aback by his hostility, but made another effort to be friendly to the brother of the man who had been so kind to her.

“Then you know about Jubal’s death. I’m sorry—” His only response was to wave his hand as if it were unimportant, but Liberty continued determinedly. “Jubal was a good man. We were married for almost a year.”

“Carroll told me all that. You married
Jubal?
Name of a cow! Why? All he knew to do was whine and make pots, and who cares if jugs have two stripes or one? He had no business coming out here. You had no business insisting that he come. I’m not surprised he died on the way.”

The unfeeling attack on Jubal fanned the anger that had been building in Liberty since Hammond’s first words. It blossomed until she forgot the captain, forgot to be polite for Farr’s sake, forgot everything but the need to defend Jubal. She placed her hands on her hips and faced his brother.

“Jubal was the best potter in New York State, and if you weren’t so square-headed and full of yourself, you would know it. He made beautiful things and he didn’t
whine.
He had dreams too. He had as much right to do what he wanted to do as you do.”

“Don’t you mean what
you
wanted,
Mrs.
Quill? My brother was weak as water. I knew it, my father knew it, and
if
you married him, you knew it. I imagine he was like clay in your hands. He didn’t have an ounce of manhood,” he finished scathingly.

“Don’t you dare say that about Jubal, you cocky, little, strutting popinjay! He was a man—a good man—and he died trying to get to you. How disappointed he would have been if he had lived to see you.” Liberty could use her voice to cut as deep as her words. She did that now.

“If you cared so much for him,
Mrs.
Quill, why did you remarry before he was cold in the ground?” His voice was fringed with sarcasm.

“Why you arrogant son of a bitch! That is none of your business!”

“Now, now.” Captain Heald lifted his gloved hands. He glanced to see if Quill was going to interfere. He saw that he was watching his pretty wife, his eyes warm with admiration. Beneath the softness of this young woman, the captain decided, there was steel and determination. He liked her immediately. She reminded him of his Rebekah.

“Name of a name! Hush up, Libby. Ain’t ya got no manners no more? Since ya come here, ya talk like a tavern wench.” Elija, unsure of his reception with the men working on the stockade, had stood with the troops that had gathered to hear and gawk at Liberty, who was the prettiest woman most of them had ever seen. He confronted Hammond Perry. “She jist ain’t been herself since we up ’n left civilization. She don’t mean nothin’—”

“Shut up, Papa!” Liberty said sharply. “I do mean something. Don’t you dare apologize for anything I say.”

“Now, Libby—”

“And don’t be ‘now Libbying’ me, either. I don’t have to account to you for what I say and do. I’m accountable to my
husband
and that is all! Jubal loved this little pip-squeak and he isn’t fit to lick Jubal’s boots. I say Hammond Perry is a weasel; a mouthy little rooster who talks big and does nothing! Compared to Jubal he is lice and cabbage.”

“Quill! Ain’t ya agoin’ ta do somethin’?” Elija’s squeal was like that of a stuck pig. He groaned and sagged against his horse when he saw Farr smile proudly down at Liberty.

“What do you want me to do?” he asked when he looked back at Elija’s worried face. “Liberty has the right to say what she wants to say. Besides, I agree with her. I always thought Perry was a strutting little something-or-other. Rooster fits. Weasel fits. And compared to almost anyone I know, he
is
lice and cabbage.”

Hammond’s face turned brick red; he clenched his fists and swallowed convulsively. There was a titter, followed by a low murmur of laughter. Hammond swung around, his hand on his sword, and the laughter ceased.

“It looks as if we’re getting off on the wrong foot here, Quill. We need this fort. What we don’t need is to fight among ourselves. There was a stiff Indian fight up near Rock Island last month. That’s Black Hawk’s country and he means to keep the whites out of it. The Sac and Fox will be pushed south before spring. When that happens the whole territory will be a battleground,” Captain Heald said.

“It seems to me that talking peace would be easier than fighting.”

“I agree. There are men in Kaskaskia who are working on getting Illinois admitted to statehood. When that time comes we’ll have plenty of backing and the government can work at a permanent peace.” His eyes roamed the camp. “You’re making good time here. Any Indian trouble?”

“No. Don’t expect any.”

“Lenning said three canoes of warriors came downriver yesterday. Lenning fired on the canoes, but failed to hit anyone. I told him to come to you if he sees any more war parties.”

“For God’s sake! I wondered who was doing the shooting. The ‘war party’ Lenning fired on was a hunting party of Ottawa, as peaceful a tribe as any in this territory. It’s damn fools like him that will start a war.”

“Major Taylor has put Lieutenant Perry in charge of the lower Illinois Territory, Quill.” Nathan Heald dropped the news into the conversation smoothly.

“Oh, my God! Has Zack Taylor lost his mind?”

“It isn’t my place or yours to question Taylor’s or the governor’s decisions.”

“I’ll question it if it’s my life and that of my family he endangers by making a foolish judgment.” Farr spoke with hard conviction.

Captain Heald studied him for a moment before he spoke again. “I would appreciate it if you would cooperate with Lieutenant Perry—for the good of the territory.”

“It is impossible to cooperate with Lieutenant Perry. He can be in charge of whatever he wants as long as he keeps his nose out of my business. I’m in charge here, and he’d better not forget it.” Farr spoke quietly. He didn’t need to shout to make his point.

“Now look here, Quill. Are you putting yourself above Major Taylor?” Hammond stood with his back straight and his hand on his sword. He had regained his composure, and feeling he had the backing of Captain Heald, he spoke sternly. “He’s depending on me to see that this work is done here.”

“Look here, Perry. The governor is a busy man and so is Zack Taylor. Usually I respect their judgment. But not this time. I’d not put you in charge of building a privy. I don’t like you. I have never liked you since I heard that you shot two innocent Indians to teach the rest of the tribe a
lesson.
As a matter of fact, I hate your guts.” Farr pointed his finger in Hammond’s face. “You listen and listen good, because I’ll say it only one time. Do your soldiering someplace else. You come nosing around here and I’ll roast your butt over hot coals and send you downriver on a pike. Do you understand?”

“Damn you . . . Why, who the hell do you think you are to threaten me?” Hammond sputtered.

“Lieutenant, take the men and set up a noon camp.” The captain issued the order crisply.

Hammond gave Farr a murderous look and yelled out orders to the sergeant for the troops to mount up. Farr saw the glance that passed between Hammond and Stith Lenning as the troops wheeled their horses and moved back toward the road.

“Would you be so kind as to excuse us, ma’am? I must have a private word with your husband.” Captain Heald smiled charmingly and tilted his head toward Liberty.

She returned the smile. “Certainly. And captain, we would be pleased if
you
dined with us.” She pointedly refused to invite Hammond.

“Thank you, Mrs. Quill. I’ll be delighted to accept your hospitality.”

Without even looking at her father, Liberty went to where Amy stood with Mr. Washington. Farr watched, as did the captain: Farr to see that Elija and Lenning didn’t corner her before she reached the others, and the captain because he was impressed with her beauty, her bearing, and her independent spirit.

“You’ve got yourself some woman, Quill. It seems she takes to pioneer life, just as my Rebekah did. She’s a spirited woman too.”

Captain Heald put his hat back on his head and walked a few paces back from where Stith and Elija lounged. After the troops left, the other men had gone back to work with the exception of Mr. Washington, Juicy and Colby. They stood ready, as if Amy and Liberty would need protection.

“You’ve got yourself some trouble, Quill. Perry will go back to Vincennes and tell the major and Harrison what you said.”

“I hope he does. I intend to send them a message myself. That little ass will start a war as sure as shooting.”

“I’m inclined to agree, but that’s off the record. You’ve got other troubles too. Carroll says you’re holding his young girl. He says you’ve threatened him if he goes near her. He seems to think you want her for yourself along with her sister.”

Farr laughed. “Do you believe that, Captain?”

“No, but Perry does. He can command his men to take the girl and turn her over to her father.”

“There’ll be a fight if he does. The girl is twelve years old, for God’s sake! She’s lived with her sister all her life. Carroll wanted Liberty to marry Lenning; she refused and married me. Lenning wants to get back at Liberty by taking Amy. Carroll will let him marry the child thinking he’ll have a soft spot for the rest of his life. I’m telling you now, Heald, Lenning isn’t going to get his hands on that girl.”

“Hell, Quill, you can’t stand off ten men.”

“You, too, Heald?”

“No, goddamnit! Nine men.”

“Would you want your twelve-year-old sister taken to bed by a man like Lenning? Why, the bastard’s as big as an ox. He’d split her in half!”

“You know I wouldn’t. I’d kill the son of a bitch first!” Heald put emphasis to his words by slapping his gloves against his palm. “But she’s not my sister, and the law is the law. The old man can give her to wife. It’s the custom back East, and as wrong as it is it’s the custom here.”

“I’m not going to let him have Amy,” Farr said firmly.

“I don’t want to go against you, Quill, but what the hell am I to do?”

“You can give me a day to work things out. You can tell those two bastards over there to get the hell off my land and not to come back unless they’ve got guns in their hands. Give me this time to do what I can, or I’ll take my family, which includes Amy, and pull out. Mr. Washington will go with me. Without us, who’ll build your fort? Do you want to go back and tell Harrison that there’ll be no fort on the Wabash?”