He took out a cigar, looked at it thoughtfully, and added, “Better still, let Fraconi bring them to me. You stay in command of the men in the bunkhouse. I trust your judgement.”
When Calder had gone he ordered coffee and sat down in the hide chair with a book. It would be some time before they arrived. He glanced around the room, once more appraising his situation. He had guns placed at various places through the room and was prepared for any eventuality.
Kate Connery had no idea what would happen once she reached the ranch of her uncle Martin. Her family had not liked him, but on the one occasion she had seen him he seemed romantic, adventurous, exciting. She remembered him only as a very tall man, slender and immaculately dressed.
The house was low, flat-roofed, and of plastered adobe. On either side were rows of buildings. One was apparently a store-room; another might be a bunkhouse. The barns and corrals were some distance away. There were hitching rails along both sides of the avenue leading to the house.
A stocky, powerful-looking man walked into the open space and stood waiting. As they rode up, he glanced at her, then at Ashford.
“There is something you wish?”
Ashford drew up. The man seemed to be alone, but he radiated strength and seemed in no way disturbed by confronting a column of armed men.
“I am Colonel Henry T. Ashford, of the Confederate Army. I wish to see Martin Connery.”
“Captain Connery.” Calder gestured toward the shed roof in front of what appeared to be a store-room. “You may leave your men there.”
“I wish them with me.”
Calder merely looked at him. “You will leave your men there. You may bring four people including yourself. If you do not like that, ride away.”
Ashford was furious. Who was this man to speak so to him? Well, that could wait. After all, if he could get Connery’s help it might save much travel and leave him a tower of strength when the ship arrived.
“Very well.”
His men hesitated, then trooped toward the shade of the shed, tying their horses at the hitching rail.
Ashford turned in his saddle, looked around carefully, then dismounted. Only the one man in sight, but on a ranch of this size he would need many men. Where were they? He had an uncomfortable feeling they were not far off.
“Hayden, and Cutler. Come with me, please.” He turned and looked at Kate. “You, also. We will hope for your sake that this uncle can help us.”
“I did not promise that.”
They walked over the hard-packed yellow earth to the steps, which led to the wide veranda that encircled the adobe house. Mounting the steps, they saw no one.
Cutler leaned close and whispered. “Colonel? We’d better be careful. I don’t like this.”
Ashford rapped on the door. After several minutes a slender Chinese appeared, dressed all in white except for a red sash.
“I am Colonel Henry T. Ashford. I wish to see Captain Connery.”
“Show the gentlemen in, Lee.” The Chinese stepped back, and they walked into the coolness of a wide room, sparsely but elegantly furnished, totally unlike the cluttered parlors done in velvet and panels that Kate remembered.
Captain Martin Connery was standing. He was tall, as she remembered, with a lean face, high cheekbones, and a slender but powerful body. He must be, she thought, sixty years old. He did not look more than forty,
“Colonel Ashford?” He held out his hand to Gushing.
“I am Colonel Ashford!” Ashford said, irritated.
“Of course! How stupid of me!” Connery’s face was bland. “Will you not sit down? You must have had a warm ride.”
“Captain Connery, I will be brief. General Lee has surrendered. I have not. Some of us believe the Cause can still be won, and we go to Mexico to gather our forces, to recruit, to acquire weapons, and to prepare for our victorious march to the north.”
He paused. “Your niece, Katherine Connery, was kind enough to offer to introduce me.”
Connery smiled, holding out his hand. “It is good to see you again, Kate. I scarcely expected you to have a military escort.”
“Colonel Ashford has also been kind enough to escort several young women, including one of the Traven girls. I believe he thought we would be in danger if left in our homes and would be much better off protected by his soldiers. In fact,” her heart was pounding, “I believe he intends to protect us all the way into Mexico.”
Ashford’s features tightened with anger, but before he could speak, Connery said mildly, “You are perfectly welcome here, Kate.” He turned to Ashford. “It would please me if you would bring the women here. They could remain here until it is safe for them to go home.”
“They are with me. They will stay with me.”
“Ah?” Connery was bland. “I do not quite understand what a southern gentleman has to do with carrying off women from their homes. In a military action women can be nothing but an encumbrance.”
Ashford was coldly furious, but he fought down his anger. “It was not women I came to talk about. For the move I hope to make, I shall need horses to mount my men. I understood you had horses and believed you were loyal to the Cause.”
“I see. And who is at the head of this move?”
“I am.”
“Have you considered the logistics of such a move? Of the arms and ammunition you will have to obtain and to transport? Have you considered the feeding of an army of any size? I fear you are approaching this move with too little planning, Colonel.
“You will need not only your immediate supplies but continual replacements. You forget that was one problem the South had. Most of the munition factories were in the North. The South had the arsenals in the beginning but they did not have either the food or the munitions to continue such a struggle.”
Colonel Ashford had been a volunteer, elected to command by the men of his unit, as were many officers of both the North and the South. As such, his experience with command was slight. He had been, until near the end of the War, when he was leading what was virtually a guerilla outfit, entirely dependent on the supply system of the Confederate Army.
“We shall have no problem. We will live off the country.” Ashford was uneasy, wanting to avoid the subject. Why had he come here in the beginning? This man was not going to help. What they wanted they would have to take.
“You amaze me,” Connery was cool, smiling gently. “You would live off the very people for whom you are supposed to be fighting? I do not think they would appreciate that, Colonel Ashford. I am afraid you’d encounter much resistance. As far as that is concerned, I doubt if there is ammunition enough in all east Texas to fight one major battle. You are dreaming, sir.”
Ashford placed his hand on his pistol. “No more of this!” he said sharply. “You have horses, you have supplies. We need them. If you will not volunteer them, we shall take them!”
Thirteen
Connery took up his cigar and placed it in his teeth. He was smiling. “I think not, Colonel.” He spoke quietly. “And do not try to draw that pistol. Blood discolors my floor. Right behind you gentlemen is Carlo Fraconi. He has held a gun to you, Colonel, for several minutes.”
“My men are outside,” Ashford said, “within a minute I could …”
“I am afraid, Colonel, that you continually overestimate your situation. Your men are neatly arranged under the shed in front of my supply room. Opposite them are some of my men, one of them covering each one of yours. If a shot is fired in here, your men will be wiped out on the instant.”
Martin Connery drew gently on his cigar. “I would suggest you retire from the scene, Colonel. Take your little army and ride away.”
“Kate,” he said, “you may remain here until such time as I can send you safely home, with an escort.”
“I can’t, Uncle Martin. I have to go back to those other girls. They need me.”
“Ashford, I want you to free those girls. Free them at once.”
“Go to Hell!” Ashford was shaking with fury. “You have the upper hand now, but wait! Just wait!”
“Shall I kill him, Captain?” Fraconi asked.
“No, please!” Kate exclaimed. “Please, don’t! He is the only protection those girls have! Please don’t kill him!”
“Very well.” Connery dusted ash from his cigar. “You may go, Ashford, but if any harm comes to those girls or to Kate Connery I will personally see you skinned alive. And I mean just that. Now get out! Get off my place! And stay off!”