The Return of the Freedom Thief Read online

  He looked over at Socks, but the horse was standing silently, his ears pricked up at full attention. The other horse was also silent, but standing with his head lowered. He seemed to be exhausted from the long gallop.

  The hoof beats passed by on the road, but a few minutes later, they could hear loud voices and the crashing sounds horses made as they pushed through the heavy brush. Whoever they were, they were also searching for the stream.

  Ben and Puck stood riveted in their places. Neither knew what to do. To stay there might be disastrous, depending upon who the other riders were. Yet, to leave they would be making noise, giving away their resting place, and they would still have to ride past the riders. Either way, they could be in danger. Finally, Ben whispered, “Puck, I’ve got to get back on the road. I need to make Liberty before dark. You can stay here if you want. Your horse looks pretty beat, anyway.”

  She shook her head violently. “No way, I’m going with you. I’ll ride the nag until he drops. Maybe he’ll last until we get there.”

  He shrugged. “Fine with me. Let’s get mounted and see how quietly we can get out of here. I’ve got a feeling they are soldiers, but I don’t know if they’re Confederates or Federal. Either way, I don’t want to have to deal with them.”

  The voices were undistinguishable as to words, but were loud and raucous, obviously all male. There was an occasional shout, and much laughter. Ben was hoping they were making enough noise to cover the sounds he and Puck made guiding the horses back through the brush and trees. When they reached the road, Ben looked both ways, but there was no one in sight.

  “Let’s walk the horses past the sound those men are making. It will be less noisy from our end, so maybe they won’t hear us.”

  “What if they left a guard posted on the road side?”

  “Hmm. I never thought about that. I guess we’ll deal with it if it happens. Look, if we do get stopped, you’re my little sister, and we’re on our way to Liberty to find our relatives. Don’t say a word, you hear? You just follow my lead, but mostly, keep your mouth shut.”

  “Hey, you don’t speak for me, okay? I can take care of myself without any help from you. If…”

  Ben stopped her. “Puck, if you want to ride with me, you follow my directions and do what I say. If you don’t want to do that, then spur that crow bait you’re on, and get away from me.”

  He turned Socks away from her, and started down the dusty road at a walk. Both he and Socks had cooled off at the stream, but even though the sun was a little lower than it had been, it was just as hot, and the road still shimmered in the distance. He heard Puck ride up next to him, but he ignored her. As they got closer to the sounds coming from the stream, Ben tightened the reins just a bit, but was careful to keep his heels away from the horse’s sides. Socks’ walk became even slower, but the horse beside him was not well-trained, and Puck moved ahead. A few yards on, and she stopped. Socks eased up beside her, but kept on walking.

  The sounds of shouts and laughter was constant as they moved cautiously past. Evidently, the men were making enough noise to cover any horse movement on the road. When Ben figured they had moved on far enough, he nodded to Puck, and put Socks into a canter.

  Several hours later, exhausted, hot, sweaty, and covered in road dust, Ben reined Socks to a stop. Ahead lay a small town, where the road they were on curved onto a bridge that led into the town. The bridge spanned the stream they had stopped at, but it had developed into a deeper, narrow river. The town that lay ahead had two and three story buildings on each side of the road, most of them built out of brick and paneled wood, with big windows full of glass panes that reflected the late afternoon sunlight. The road itself had broadened into the same kind of crushed rock and cobblestone street that Lexington had. Horses and their riders paced down the street, the horses’ hooves ringing loudly on the cobblestone. Women in their full hoop skirts shopped and chatted along the wooden sidewalks.

  Puck spoke quietly. “Well, we’re here at Liberty. Now what?”

  Ben shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re going to do, but I have to find the Union camp, and talk to a Colonel MacNair. So I guess the first thing is to get across this bridge. Do you know where your relatives live?”

  Puck looked down at her hands, fingers threading themselves through the reins. “Uh, well, I don’t really have any relatives here. I just said that because I didn’t know what else to tell you.”

  “Oh. Well, where are you going from here? And by the way, you need to get rid of that Union jacket and cap. We’re still in Confederate country, you know.”

  “Yeah, well, it’s the only jacket I have. When I ran from the soldiers, I didn’t have time to go through all their stuff and find what belonged to me. Uh, Ben, can I go with you? I won’t be any trouble, I promise. I haven’t caused you problems so far, have I?”

  Now what do I do? She doesn’t like to take orders, but if she goes with me, she has to listen and do what I say. I don’t want the responsibility of a girl tagging along with me. There might be problems neither of us ever thought of. On the other hand, she’s only fourteen, and she has been through a rough time. I don’t know what…

  “Ben? Are you going to answer me or not? Why can’t I just go with you?” Her voice broke into his thoughts. Now she was being petulant.

  “Puck, it’s not going to be easy for you to come with me. Once I see this Colonel, I’m going back to Lexington and hire out as a newsboy. You can’t do that, so if you come with me all the way, you’ll just be right back in the same place you came from.”

  She shook her head, and he saw tears on her cheeks. “I can’t go back there. I ran away from the people I was with, and I’m sure they’re on the lookout for me. They wouldn’t want me to tell the authorities what they had been doing with me.”

  Ben frowned. “Doing with you? Puck, were you some kind of slave to these people? Tell me!”

  “Look, the sun is going down. You said you need to find this Colonel before dark, so we’d better be going. You do what you have to do, Ben, and I’ll just tag along. I’ll be quiet, and I won’t cause you any trouble. Later, I’ll tell you everything, if you want to know. Just please, let me come with you for now.”

  He sighed. She was right, there was no time for big decisions now. He had to find the Colonel, and get the information to him. He picked up the reins, and put his leg against Socks’ side, moving the big horse forward.

  “All right, come on, just follow my lead.”

  * * *

  A little later, the two reached the Union camp on the far side of the town of Liberty, West Virginia. Ben had not expected any trouble getting through the town, and he was right. For the most part, both he and Puck were ignored. When he stopped a young boy to ask if he knew where the camp was, the boy simply pointed down the street and said the camp was at the “t’other side a town.”

  Entering the camp was another matter. Once they were through Liberty, the road narrowed and became just another dusty dirt road. The forest closed in around them again, and with the sun beginning to set, there was little light filtering through the trees. Suddenly, two figures jumped out of the heavy foliage along the road.

  “Halt! Who goes there?” The voices were accompanied by two large muskets aimed directly at them.

  Socks snorted in surprise, his nostrils flaring widely as he skittered sideways. Puck’s horse merely stopped so abruptly she almost fell out of the saddle.

  Ben leaned over and patted Socks on the neck. He spoke softly. “Whoa, boy, easy now. It’s okay.” He reined him in, and Socks immediately responded. He settled, and stood quietly.

  “I said, who goes there? Tell me who you are, and what your business is.” The soldier’s voice was loud and hoarse. The two soldiers moved a little apart, until one was standing in front of Ben, the other in front of Puck.

  Ben held up his hand. “I’m Ben McKenna. I mean no harm. I’ve come with a message for Colonel MacNair. Mistress Fenaway in Lexington sent me.”

&nbs
p; The soldier held out his hand. “All right, give me the message and I’ll deliver it.”

  “No. I’ve been sent to deliver this message in person. I must see the Colonel at once.” Ben’s voice was clear and firm.

  The soldier standing in front of Puck leered at her, and said, “And who is this little bit of sweet trash? You comin’ to visit me, honeybee?”

  Ben moved Socks forward slightly. “She is my sister. Don’t call her names, or talk to her like that. In fact, don’t talk to her at all.”

  The first soldier said impatiently, “Sam, shut your stupid mouth, and leave the girl alone.” He turned back to Ben. “Do you have papers from this Mistress Fenaway to get you to the Colonel?”

  Ben shook his head. “No, I don’t. But the Colonel knows this lady, and he will want to see me and get the information I have for him. I am unarmed, so I can do him no harm, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  The soldier eyed him up and down then lowered his musket, telling the other soldier to do the same. “All right. Continue on the road about a quarter mile. You’ll see what you’re looking for on the right side. Tell the sentry Murphy said to let you in.”

  The two backed away, and disappeared into the forest.

  Ben and Puck trotted the horses up to the camp, which was more of a small fort than just a camp. While not large, it was surrounded by a twelve foot wall made of huge logs, and in the center of this wall was a sentry box which faded back into the logs so well most would never know it was there, until the sentry appeared to tell the visitors to halt.

  Ben leaned over Socks’ neck to say, “I’m here to see Colonel MacNair. Murphy said to tell you it was okay and for you to let us in.”

  The soldier studied him for a moment. “Dismount, both of you. Keep your hands high, and step away from your horses.”

  They did as he said, and after the soldier had walked around both of them, he nodded. He looked up at the wall, and yelled, “Coming in. Open the gate.”

  Ben and Puck led the horses inside the gate, which immediately closed behind them. A soldier approached, and asked their business.

  “I have some information for Colonel MacNair. Mistress Fenaway from Lexington told me to bring it to him.”

  The soldier nodded towards a large tent-like structure several yards away. The bottom half of the structure was brick and mortar, while the top was nothing more than a large tent. Lanterns glowed from within. “That’s the Colonel’s tent. I’ll hold your horses while you see him.”

  They entered the structure cautiously. Inside, the Colonel was sitting at a small desk, writing. A lantern provided light for him, another sat near the door way, and a third sat at the back of the tent, near a bedded cot. He didn’t look up, but said gruffly, “Take a seat.” Two small wooden chairs sat in front of his desk. Ben and Puck sat down silently. A moment later, the Colonel put his pen down and stood. The large pistol that would normally have been holstered was in his hand, pointed directly at them.

  Chapter Eight

  Party Girls and Newsboys

  Ben was stunned. He could feel Puck shaking next to him. The Colonel stared down at him, his dark eyes cold. When he spoke, his voice seemed even colder. “Who are you, where do you come from, and why are you here? If you don’t speak the truth, if I do not think you are speaking the truth, you will be under arrest and confined here.”

  He nodded at Ben. “Speak up, now.”

  “Yes sir. My name is Ben McKenna, and I’m…”

  “McKenna? That name is known to me. Tom McKenna is a staunch Confederate. He is helping the Confederate Army by providing horses and hemp, and I just learned he is also providing strategic help. Now, who the hell are you, boy, and for certain you be truthful this time, or you will regret it. I promise you that.”

  “Sir, please listen. Yes, my father is Tom McKenna, but I am not a Confederate. If you know of him, perhaps you know of his son who helped some slaves escape in 1859? I’m that son. And I have information for you that should be sent to General McDowell. I…”

  The Colonel held up his hand to indicate Ben should stop talking. He stared at him again, but his eyes seemed to have lost their coldness. He moved from behind the desk, and holstered his pistol.

  “Hmm. Yes, I did hear of such a thing. Back in Kentucky, wasn’t it? There was quite a to-do about it, as I remember. Something about a tunnel collapsing, or some such foolishness. So you are that son?”

  “Yes sir, I am. And the tunnel we were in did collapse, just before we were able to get out. Colonel MacNair, I am not a Confederate. I left my home to become a spy. I intend to…”

  “A spy? A spy for the Union Army? Is that why you are here, taking up my time?” The Colonel laughed, and then said, “My men tell me Mistress Fenaway sent you. Please explain.”

  “My grandmother is Elizabeth Tate. She and Mistress Fenaway are friends. My grandmother sent me to see Mistress Fenaway, and she, in turn, told me how to get to you. I was on my way to Manassas, but I, uh, I didn’t pay attention to the map, and didn’t realize how far Manassas is from Liberty. The lady told me to come to you, give you the information, and you could get it to General McDowell.” Ben hurried through this little speech, afraid the Colonel would not give him a chance to finish it all.

  The Colonel paced a bit more. He stopped in front of Ben, and said slowly, “Lucy Fenaway would not have given you the way to this camp if she didn’t think it important for you to find me. So, what is this information?”

  Ben reached under the inside rim of his cap, and brought out the piece of paper. He held it out to the Union officer.

  “General McDowell is planning a surprise attack on Manassas at Bull Run. But the Confederates know about it, somehow, and they are getting reinforcements. The Union attack will fail because the Confederates will be prepared. If General McDowell knows the attack won’t be a surprise, he can cancel it. Or something. Can’t he?”

  The Colonel smiled. “Son, you don’t know McDowell. When he plans an attack, he will carry out that attack, no matter what. Beauregard is the General in charge at Manassas. You say he knows about this, “somehow.” Well, the “somehow” is through his own spies, that’s how. Don’t make the mistake of thinking the Federals are the only ones with spies. That would be fatal on your part.”

  He was silent for a minute. “Ben, how did you come about this information? How do you know it is accurate?”

  Ben told him about his hiding place beneath the staircase and about the soldiers who came to talk with his father. “The officers come all the time. They talk about plans and strategies and attacks. They are very open to my father. He is a very staunch Confederate, and he fancies himself a strategist, so I reckon that’s how he helps.”

  The Colonel walked around to his desk and sat down again. “You’ve taken some real chances to get this stuff to me. So, young man, what do you do now? Do you want to sign up with our forces?”

  “No, sir, I can’t rightly do that. My brothers are in the Confederate Army, and I won’t do anything that might get me to facing off with one of them.”

  Colonel MacNair looked thoughtful, but he merely nodded. “I understand. I can’t put any blame on that.”

  He settled himself more deeply in his chair, looked over at Puck, and said, “All right, young mistress, now I know all about Ben here, but nothing about you. What’s your story, and how did you come to be with this young man?”

  Puck swallowed. She twisted her hands in her lap. “Uh, well, I ran away from Lexington, got caught by a couple of Union soldiers. They were mean, and drinking. They wanted me to cook for them, not that they had much food, just plenty of whiskey. They slapped me around a little, but then they got so drunk, they passed out. I tied their hands and feet up, then got another long rope and tied them both to a horse, slapped the horse hard on his butt, and he took off, dragging the two soldiers behind him. That must’ve scared him, ‘cause he really ran.”

  Then I took the other horse and rode away. I, uh, sorta found
Ben in the woods, and, uh, he let me ride with him.”

  The Colonel stared at her, his mouth twitching, until he couldn’t contain his laughter any more. For a few seconds, his hearty laugh roared through the tent, causing tears to roll down his cheeks. When he realized that Puck was glaring at him, he stopped. He coughed, swiped at his face with his hands, pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and blew his nose.

  “A little thing like you tied two soldiers to a horse and slapped him to run?” He started to laugh again, but choked it back to a smile when he saw the angry look on Puck’s face.

  “I beg your pardon. I should not have laughed at you. Of course, you were able to do that.”

  Ben broke in. “Uh, Colonel, Puck is stronger than she looks. I told her she could ride with me, but that horse she took is nothing but crow bait. If you’ve got any extra horses, maybe she could borrow one? I’m heading back to Lexington, and I’m sure Mistress Fenaway would keep the horse until she could send him back to you.”

  “Sorry, we have very few extra mounts, and they are needed.” He turned back to Puck. “Do you know who these Union soldiers were? They could be court-martialed for what they did, and I would be pleased to do that.”

  She shook her head, and looked back down at her hands. Her voice was low. “No, I don’t know their names. They never called each other by anything in my hearing. They were just—just soldiers. Dirty soldiers.”

  The Colonel sighed. “On behalf of the Union, I apologize for their actions towards you. Not much help, I know, but without their names I can do nothing.” He turned back to Ben. “I shan’t ask you what you intend to do now, but if you are heading back to Lexington today, you need to be on your way. It will be getting dark before too many more hours. Thank you for this information about Beauregard, I’m sure General McDowell will appreciate it. Is there anything else I can do for you, Ben?”