In an America that might have been, two war orphans from a divided nation, one in the north and one in the south, meet across a vast battlefield, striking out to forge a future together in the west. It's 1892, the fourth and bloodiest year of the Ci...
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Deke wanted desperately to check on Ned, but they were up in the observation trench instead. "Damn it all! Godsell, there were twice as many shells incoming than there were supposed to be. Our counter battery fire did nothing!" Captain Torbett said.
"Sir," the private said. "Sir, there're two new batteries, at least, judging by the smoke." Deke edged over the lip of the trench.
Outside he could still hear Torbett. "Tar-nation, show me where!" Walking down the hill to the depression where they'd left the horses, Deke found Ned, which brought a smile. They were all still there! Deke thought that maybe the spot really was truly blessed. He was busy trying to make amends to Ned for leaving him out during a shelling when he was joined by Clem, who was out of breath from trotting down the hill.
"They want my telescope up in the trench." He pulled the box off the pack saddle and trotted back up.
Deke dug around in his bags and found Ned's brush. He worked Ned's back and then had moved on to his pale mane when Clem showed up again. He looked at Deke and shook his head. "You and that horse." He grabbed the map tube and his pencil box and ran back up the hill. Then Deke dug out his hoof pick and cleaned and checked Ned's hooves. They all needed tending and he was working on his third horse when Big came down the hill. "Deke, that can wait. Come on back up."
Up in the trench, Clem was making a copy of the parts of the map he had drawn on. He had the map rolled out on top of a shell crate and had a thin piece of paper on top of it. He was tracing the markings in ink. Over on the other side of the trench Jake was writing furiously on a piece of paper. He stopped for a moment and said to Deke, "We're going to send you back with what we've found so far and to get supplies. Go down and pick two pack horses to take with you."
Now it was Deke's turn to run down the hill. He set to work on the pack horses. Then Big came down again and worked on moving the contents of the panniers into just one so Deke could go back empty. Deke led Ned and the two pack horses up the hill. Jake met them near the top. He had a packet of papers sealed with wax.
"Take this back to McDonald," Jake said. "I want you to follow the river back the way we came. Report anything new you see to McDonald. We'll be somewhere along the river when you come back, but I don't know where." Then he handed him a piece of paper with a list on it. "These are supplies we need. McDonald will tell you who to talk to about getting them. Don't stop for anybody except when you have to pass a challenge. Don't give that packet to anybody but McDonald. Deke, this is important. This is not the time to take off. This is serious. Camp alone away from others, not at all if you can. That means no fires at night. No hunting. Stick to salt beef and hardtack. If you think that you may be captured, not that I expect this to happen, but if it does, then try to burn or hide the packet. A lot of people are counting on you. That's the standard courier lecture. Now you come back soon and in one piece."
"Have fun Deke," Big said with a smile, and he slapped Deke on the shoulder.
Deke mounted Ned, tipped his hat with his forefinger and rode away.
