Land of the Free (25 page)

“I’ll have to have proof
before I report it.”

“This is very
important.”

“I know.”

“I don’t think you
do.”

“You’re not asking me to
falsify a report, are you, Bill?”

“No, certainly not. But I’m
asking you to look real closely. The British and their Indian
allies are gonna try their damndest to make you believe nothing’s
amiss.”

“You have my word that I’ll
look closely, Governor. Is there anything else?”

“No.” Harrison shook his
head but his face showed that he was still troubled.

“If the British are
supplying or influencing any tribes, I’ll find out,” Yank said to
reassure him.

“Do me one favor?” Harrison
asked.

Yank waited for him to
continue.

“If you don’t find the proof
you’re looking for, just say that. Don’t draw any
conclusions.”

“My mission here was to
investigate and report the facts to Secretary Madison. I wouldn’t
draw conclusions either way, Governor.”

Harrison nodded. “Be
careful, Yank. It looks more civilized than it was but it’s still
plenty dangerous out there.”

October 2, 1805

Manhattan Island, New
York

Rachael and Marina Van
Buskirk were sitting at a tiny French table in the corner of John
Jacob Astor’s palatial ballroom.

“Who is that?” Marina asked,
peeking over her Chinese fan.

“Who, dear?” Rachael
asked.

“The navy
lieutenant.”

“Which one?”

“He is now dancing with Mrs.
Astor.”

Rachael squinted. “Ah. That
is Lieutenant Percy.”

“He keeps looking at us.
Watching.”

“I assure you that he is not
looking at me.”

“Is he famous?”

“He’s served on several
famous ships in the Quasi-War with France and the War in Tripoli
against the Barbary pirates, but I’ve not seen his name mentioned
in any of the notable engagements. I must have missed something
however, if he is on the Astor’s guest list.”

“He’s quite
handsome.”

“Yes. But Apollo couldn’t
get invited here if he wasn’t a god.”

“How do you keep track of so
many people and events?”

“I was an army wife for most
of my life.”

Marina looked
surprised.

“What? Were you not told
that my Thomas was a major in the Seven Years War and a general
during the Revolution?”

“Yes, of course I was. But
somehow I had the impression that your social position elevated you
above the status of army wife.”

Rachael smiled. “Perhaps my
mother thought that military careers were bourgeois, but I did not.
I was always proud of Thomas, my sons and your husband. I always
was and always will be.” She bent closer to Marina. “Your admirer
is coming toward us.”

Marina looked in time to see
Lieutenant Percy smile. “What should I do?” Her color had risen
significantly.

“You should dance with
him.”

“Oh dear, no.”

“Why not?”

“I’m six months pregnant,”
Marina whispered.

“You don’t look it. Enjoy
yourself while you can.”

The young man had at last
crossed the room and stopped in front of Rachael. “A very good
evening to you, Mrs. Van Buskirk.”

“And to you, Lieutenant
Percy.” She gave him her hand and waited until he had bent over it,
stood up and released it. “May I present my grandson’s wife? Marina
Elena Cortés Van Buskirk.”

“Charmed, Madam.” Percy took
Marina’s hand and looked into the cleavage between her
breasts.

“This young gentleman is
Lieutenant Alexander Percy,” Rachael said to Marina, who was now
bright pink all the way to her hairline.

“I wonder if I might ask for
the next dance?” Percy asked, still holding fast to Marina’s hand
and still enjoying her breasts.

Rachael started to give her
permission but was interrupted by Marina. “No thank you,
Lieutenant,” Marina extracted her hand.

Percy seemed a bit put off.
“Then perhaps you will permit me to sit with you.”

“Certainly,” Rachael
said.

“I would rather you didn’t,”
Marina quickly interjected.

“Very well.” Percy clicked
his heels like a Prussian, bowed and hurried away.

“That was a bit rude, Dear,”
Rachael said after a moment.

Marina didn’t
answer.

“Perhaps you might share
your thoughts,” Rachael said with an edge in her voice. “I am,
after all, your sponsor here in New York.”

Marina leaned closer to
Rachael and whispered. “He was leering down the front of my dress
the entire time and...”

“And what?”

“That’s all.”

Rachael smiled. “You must
forgive a young man for that flaw.”

Marina fanned
herself.

Rachael watched her for a
moment. “You found him attractive.”

“No.” Marina took a deep
breath. “Yes.”

“You must forgive yourself
for that flaw.”

“I was taught that such
feelings were sinful.”

“Sinful? Oh dear. You must
have found him very, very attractive, indeed.”

“If we could speak of
something else I would be heartily grateful,
Grandmother.”

“Certainly my dear.
Certainly.”

October 3, 1805

Manhattan Island, New
York

Rachael knocked on the
bedroom door.

“Come in,” Marina
called.

Rachael opened the door,
stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. “Lieutenant
Percy has gone.”

Marina marked her place in
the book she was reading and closed it.

Rachael walked to the window
and looked out. “This was Anna’s room when she stayed with us
during the War.”

“Yes. You mentioned
that.”

“When Manhattan was occupied
by the British, John, my son John that is, used to slip past the
sentries and climb this trellis to see her.”

Marina smiled. “How very
romantic.”

“And dangerous. But he was
absolutely fearless.”

Marina nodded.

“I think young Captain Percy
is cut from the same cloth.”

“Captain? Has he been
promoted since last night?”

Rachael turned away from the
window. “No. His rank is lieutenant but he is the captain of a
ship.”

“Oh. I wasn’t aware that he
had a command.”

“If you had come down when
he called, you would.”

“Had I realized that it was
so important to you,” Marina said crossly. “I would have come
down.”

Rachael started to answer
then changed her mind.

Marina sighed. “Forgive me
please, Grandmother. If he calls again, I shall attend, so long as
you agree to stay in the room.”

Rachael knitted her brow.
“No. If you feel that way you should not see him.”

“Thank you.”

October 15, 1805

Wapakoneta, Ohio
Country

Catecahassa, or Black Hoof
in English, was the civil chief of the Shawnee. A distinguished
looking man with intelligent eyes, he had led his people in
the
Northwest Indian War
where he was defeated by “Mad” Anthony Wayne in
1795. “You look bad, Yangee,” he observed without preamble,
gesturing toward Yank’s battered face.

Yank chuckled and shook the
smaller man’s hand. “And you look good, Catecahassa.”

“We heard that you have
married an Indian.”

“True,” Yank
said.

“From what
tribe?”

“Mexican.” Yank was prepared
to explain but Black Hoof simply nodded and asked no questions.
“Have you been contacted by the British?”

“No.”

“We have heard that they are
arming some nations and encouraging them to fight us.”

“I have heard these
rumors.”

“Are they true?”

“They could be.”

“Who must I talk to in order
to learn the truth?”

“The British.”

“You’re not being terribly
helpful, Catecahassa.”

“I am not wearing war paint
and have abided by the Treaty of Greenville.”

“Yes. But that is a matter
of law between the Shawnee and the United States. I was speaking of
matters of friendship. Are we no longer blood brothers?”

“A blood brother of the
Shawnee would not have married outside the tribe without first
seeking permission.”

Yank was completely
unprepared. “I was far away, where the Big Muddy empties into the
southern sea.” He stammered. “My mission could not be postponed and
I needed the woman that I married to translate for me.”

“Ah.” Black Hoof raised his
eyebrows. “I had not heard this.”

“Heard what?”

“That you married the woman
for her service.”

Sensing some new trap, Yank
tried to extricate himself. “I married her for her service but I
have – I have become attached to her now.”

Black Hoof nodded. “Bring
her here and we can welcome her to the nation. Then all will be
well.”

“We have a child and are
expecting another soon.”

Black Hoof nodded. “To have
children is a fine thing, Yangee.”

“The journey from my home to
here is far and dangerous.”

Black Hoof
nodded.

October 29, 1805

Manhattan Island, New
York

Rachael walked into the
library. “Marina,” she said in a sharp tone, “I have changed my
mind. You really must see Lieutenant Percy.” She handed Marina a
card.

Marina glanced at it and
tucked it into the pages of the book she was reading. “Why must
I?”

“He’s been here nearly every
day for a month.”

“Is it not somehow against
your rules for a man to pursue a married woman?”

“What harm is there in
speaking to the boy?”

“Is he in love with
me?”

“Of course.”

“And you still want me to
see him?”

“What possible harm can it
do?”

Marina closed her book.
“Very well. Is he in the parlor?”

“Yes.” Rachael started for
the door.

Marina stood up. “Then I
have changed my mind too and I would like to speak to him
alone.”

Rachael stopped and turned
around. “You said you were afraid to see him alone.”

“You misunderstood. Or
perhaps you didn’t.” She sighed. “In any event, I now prefer to see
him privately. If you still insist that I see him.”

Rachael put her hand to her
head. “I don’t understand.”

Marina walked to the mirror
and examined her reflection. “He excites me.”

“He what?” Rachael
gasped.

“My neck, face and chest
will flush, my breathing will become rapid, and my nipples will
become erect. You or anyone else in the room would see it. I prefer
to avoid that embarrassment.”

“Marina,” Rachael stammered.
“I…”

Marina turned back toward
Rachael. “At the Astor’s ball I thought I might faint. My heart was
pounding so that I was sure you could hear it. My body was on
fire.”

Rachael closed her eyes and
muttered something under her breath.

“I am truly sorry to
distress you, Grandmother, but I have done my best to avoid this
discussion.”

Rachael gave her an angry
look. “Are you often overcome by your passion?”

“No,” Marina returned the
glare in kind. “Nothing like this has ever happened before. Not
even with my husband, who I love more than my life.”

“Dear God.”

“Perhaps it is my Indian
blood suddenly rising to show itself and take command of my
emotions. Or perhaps I am simply a bad woman; a sinner in the
depths of my heart.”

“No.” Rachael walked to
Marina and took her hands. “No. You’re not bad nor are you a
sinner. We are all the daughters of Eve, tempted by forbidden
fruit.”

Marina rolled her eyes.
“Temptation is a word that I did not clearly understand until
now.”

“Well,” Rachael released
Marina’s hands. “The question now is what to do. The young man is
waiting downstairs hoping that I will convince you to see
him.”

“I must go down.”

“With me.”

Marina shook her head. “It
would be mortifying for you to witness my weakness.”

“Surely you can suppress
these feelings.”