An Honorable Soldier in General Washington's Army: Chapter 1
by Tami B.
Disclaimer: The following work has been written solely for the enjoyment of fans and not for monetary profit. The rights to the characters initially created for the Daniel Boone series belong to 20th Century Fox and Fess Parker. All other characters are of the author's own creation. No copyright violation is intended.
Israel Boone raced from the cabin with his sister, Jemima, hot on his heels. He had pestered her for the last time in her eyes and she would have her revenge. But before she could exact her wrath, Israel had plowed into a young Continental soldier who had just moments earlier been mounting the porch to their cabin.
Both her brother and the young man lay sprawled on the ground. Israel quickly scrambled to his feet uttering apologies to anyone who would listen. The soldier very slowly got to his feet while dusting himself off lethargically.
"You hurt, mister?" asked Israel, retrieving the soldier's tricorn and rifle and handing it to him fearfully.
"No harm done," the soldier stated succinctly replacing his hat back on his head. "Is this the...ah....um...cabin of the...um..."
"This is the Boone cabin. Is that what you were trying to ask?" queried Jemima, instantly noticing the soldier was struggling with an apparent memory loss.
"Yes. Thank you. I've been traveling a long time and a long way. I suppose I'm weary. Can't hardly think straight anymore," the soldier replied, recovering from his momentary lapse. "That nice Mr. Cincinnatus at the fort said I would find the Colonel here. Is he home? May I speak to him please?"
"Yes, he's here. Israel, go fetch Pa," Jemima ordered and for once Israel didn't argue but hurriedly made for the cabin interior.
Jemima took stock of the lean young man standing before her. He stood as tall as her mother with dark brown hair and eyes. He was very young and looked on the verge of keeling over. His face was drawn with dark circles under his eyes and still a bit unsteady on his feet. Trusting what he said, she didn't think him inebriated. He braced himself against a porch column with his head bowed. She couldn't be sure but she thought he was asleep. His eyes were closed anyway. His uniform had seen better days. It was tattered in places, faded in others, and a few holes shown through.
Daniel Boone emerged from the cabin with Israel and Rebecca close behind.
"Pa, this soldier wants to talk to you," Jemima informed her father.
The young man hadn't moved from his stance and hadn't acknowledged Daniel at all. Daniel looked to Jemima for an explanation. She shrugged her shoulders and answered his unbidden question. "He said he was tuckered, Pa. I reckon he decided to take a nap before speaking with you."
Daniel smiled. "Young man," he said tapping the soldier's shoulder with an index finger.
The soldier was instantly awake but not fully aware of his surroundings. He looked around trying to get his bearings.
"I'm Daniel Boone," Daniel said, reaching a hand to him in friendship.
"Colonel Boone, sir! Corporal Adam Liberty at your service, sir!" The corporal snapped to attention and executed the finest salute any exhausted soldier could muster. The apparent confusion had disappeared. At least, for the moment.
"At ease, Corporal," Daniel commanded. "What brings you to my doorstep, son?"
"Orders, sir," Adam said, reaching into his inside coat pocket. He withdrew an oil-skinned packet which he opened searching for the particular document intended for one Colonel Daniel Boone. "Here it is. Your orders from the general, sir." The corporal handed the parchment to Daniel.
"General? Which general?" Daniel asked.
The corporal's mouth went agape. "Which general?" Adam asked astonished not comprehending there were any other generals but one. "Thee general," Adam emphasized, thinking that was enough.
"Thee general who, Pa?" Israel asked, stepping towards his father.
"General Washington," Daniel replied, having the paper unfolded and spying the signature at the bottom.
"Criminitly!" a surprised and delighted Israel said exuberantly. "What do the orders say, Pa? Do you get to go whup the bloody Redcoats?"
"Israel!" Rebecca admonished. "That will be enough of that kind of talk."
Concluding reading his orders, Daniel folded the document in the precise manner in which he received it. "I need to speak with the corporal alone. You young 'uns," Daniel said, pointing to the children, "fix a bed for our guest. Becky -"
"I know," Rebecca interrupted. "A meal. By the looks of him, he could use a good one."
Adam didn't hear her as he had leaned against the porch column again and had apparently fallen asleep. Amazing how he could do that standing upright.
"I suppose he'll eat hearty, if he can stay awake long enough," Rebecca said with amusement. "Come along, children."
Rebecca herded the children inside the cabin and after they had left, Daniel turned his attention to the young soldier. "Corporal?" Daniel said loudly.
Adam stirred. "Sir?" he said sleepily.
"Sit down, boy, before you fall down," Daniel told him.
"Yes, sir. Gladly, sir." Adam sat and seemed to revive somewhat.
Daniel sat beside him. "According to this paper," Daniel said, waving it in front of him, "you're here to protect me."
"Yes, sir," Adam said, nodding in agreement. "The general wished to warn and safeguard you at the cost of my life, if need be. Your leadership on the frontier is vital to holding Kentucky against British rule. The general said without you the frontier would fall. Also, there are rumors suggesting the British might try stirring up the Indians in the area in another effort to drive the settlers permanently from Kentucky. We're to investigate and calm matters as necessary."
"That's the size of it," Daniel said. "Reckon you're up to it, Corporal?"
Shaking his head, Adam replied honestly, "Not at the moment, sir. I don't think I could see a bear standing six feet away from me let alone shoot it. I'm not much use to you now, Colonel. But give me a couple of hours..."
"You'll need more than two hours, Corporal," Daniel pointed out. "A couple of days is what you need."
"I couldn't agree more, sir. The way I feel a couple of months sounds awfully inviting," Adam said dreamily.
"I'm sure we can accommodate your immediate needs, Corporal," Daniel assured him. "A hot meal and warm bed are the next order of business. On your feet, soldier"
Daniel started for the cabin door with Adam walking wobbly behind him when the corporal stopped short. "Sir!" Adam shouted.
With a start, Daniel turned to face the soldier. "What's the problem, son?" he asked.
"Sir, I don't think it proper for me to enter your home," Adam declared.
"Why not?" Daniel queried.
"It's obvious, sir. You're an officer. I'm not. You're a colonel. I'm just a corporal," Adam explained.
"Corporal, you'll find that I don't much stand on ceremony. You're here at the behest of General Washington to safeguard my life. I think that deserves extra consideration, don't you?" Daniel questioned him. "The least I can do for someone who has offered his life for mine is to provide him a full belly and a warm place to sleep."
Adam contemplated Daniel's words trying to find a flaw in them and even in his fatigued state he discovered it. "Sir, Mrs. Boone would surely not desire to have a stranger invade her home."
"You don't know my wife, Corporal," Daniel said, throwing an arm around Adam's shoulders and prodding him towards the door. "She loves company...especially hungry ones."
Once inside, Adam discarded his pack, rifle, and cartridge pouch. Daniel ushered him to the table where Rebecca had provided a plate full of rabbit stew. Adam ate to his stomach's delight engaging the Boones in conversation that centered on what he knew about General Washington and his travel to their home. Adam spoke with admiration and there was an unspoken heartfelt affection for his leader.
At the close of the meal, Adam began to feel as if he was in a stupor, which he probably was. His travels in a short amount of time had taken its toll and the volume of food he inhaled contributed as well. Expressing his gratitude to the Boones, he then excused himself for a rest. Daniel showed him to his bed, which was located, by the porch window near the front door. Thanking Daniel for his courtesy, Adam prepared to slumber. Daniel left him alone and shooed the children outside so they wouldn't disturb their guest. He closed the door behind them.
Seconds later, Israel ran into the cabin nearly colliding with Daniel, grabbed his slingshot, and fled to the outdoors allowing the door to slam behind him. Daniel glanced at Adam who slept through it all. Daniel thought he could shoot off a cannon right by his ear and the boy wouldn't hear it. Just so a similar incident didn't occur again, Daniel placed the locking block in position across the door. That ought to keep Israel out unless he decided to climb through a window, which he had been known to do a time or two.
That evening Daniel checked that the children and Adam were asleep. He wanted to discuss General Washington's orders with Rebecca in privacy and without interruption. Not even Israel's almost constant demand throughout the day to know what they were could open Daniel's lips.
Adam had slept through the afternoon and evening and appeared that he wasn't going to awaken anytime soon. Rebecca was concerned that he hadn't gotten to eat dinner, but Daniel assured her that the corporal needed sleep more than he needed another meal. Although not satisfied with that, she didn't attempt to rouse him for dinner. She decided to feed him well in the morning.
"Dan, what's this all about?" she asked with more than just a little curiosity.
Daniel sat on the bench opposite of her in the rocking chair as she mended one of his shirts. "First of all, there's a rumor that the British might get the Indians to mount an offensive against us," Daniel began. "General Washington doesn't think there's much to the rumor but wanted us to be alerted. Adam and I will look into it when he's able to travel."
"Take Mingo along," Rebecca requested. On a mission such as this she felt better if Mingo joined them. There seemed to be a greater amount of safety with three rather than only two.
"Planned to," Daniel said and then continued. "Secondly, General Washington is quite taken with Adam. It seems he is one of the best soldiers he's encountered. He's even thinking of making him an officer eventually. An excellent marksman, disciplined, loyal, takes orders well, able to motivate his fellow soldiers, maturity beyond his years, and seized with patriotic fervor," Daniel summarized from the document. "The general sent Adam here for protection. A bounty's been placed on his head."
"What ever for? Who issued the bounty?" Rebecca queried.
Daniel paused and said with disgust. "His father."
Rebecca dropped the shirt and her mouth in the same instant. "His father? Why would a father place a bounty on his own son? It doesn't make sense."
"I wish I knew. General Washington didn't say. My orders are to keep Adam here under the pretense that he's to protect me from any Redcoat threat. In reality, I will protect him. The general feared his own soldiers might turn the corporal in to collect that bounty themselves. Also, the general did say that he expects no one to find or come look for him here. When he wishes Adam's return, he'll send a courier for him," Daniel said. "Basically, he requests we house him until he sends for him."
"When will that be?" Rebecca wondered.
"No telling. Could be soon. Could be months away," Daniel replied. "How do you feel about him staying here an indefinite period of time?"
"How do you think I feel, Dan?" Rebecca said in an almost scolding tone. "He's welcome here as long as he needs to be here. So far, he's been a perfect gentleman and General Washington has given him glowing remarks. Maybe some of these qualities will rub off onto Israel. I expect he'll be no trouble so why shouldn't he stay," Rebecca surmised, resuming her mending.
"Thought you'd say that," Daniel said with a smile. He knew his wife very well. "Best not let Adam know about that bounty," he advised.
"I won't breathe a word," she promised and then chuckled. "I'm afraid Israel is going to be greatly disappointed when he learns you're not going to 'whup any bloody Redcoats'."
Daniel chortled. "Not unless that rumor pans out. In the meantime, I'll see what I can do to make it up to him. Maybe he'll settle for whupping some fish out the river."
The next morning Daniel walked the children to the fort to pick up some nails the blacksmith had waiting for Daniel. The lean-to roof was in need of repair and with Adam to help him, the task would go much faster. Rebecca remained behind to start on her own chores with orders from Daniel that Adam was not to follow the trio to the fort, if he should make it an issue.
Soon after her family departed, Rebecca prepared a big breakfast for Adam and kept it warm by the hearth. She knew he would devour it when he awakened.
Completely immersed in rolling out dough for bread, Rebecca failed to hear Adam's approach. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Boone," he said softly so as not to startle her.
"It's morning, Adam," Rebecca informed him pleasantly, looking into the eyes of the now alert corporal fully regaled in his disheveled uniform. He still looked slightly tired but much improved since the day before.
"Morning? What happened to the afternoon?" he asked.
"You've been asleep since yesterday afternoon. I trust you slept well?" Cleaning her hands of dough on a towel, Rebecca moved to the hearth to bring Adam's breakfast to the table.
"I must have since I slept practically an entire day away," he informed her.
"Then you'll be hungry. I have your breakfast ready," she said, placing the plate and utensils on the table.
Eyeing the copious amount of food, Adam felt overwhelmed. "Mrs. Boone, you are a wonderful woman," he complimented her, taking a seat. "Has anyone ever told you that before?" "A few," she admitted. "I expect you to clean that plate proper, young man. Is that understood?"
"Yes, ma'am," he replied enthusiastically and began eating after saying a silent blessing for the food and Rebecca Boone who was quickly becoming one of his favorite people in Kentucky. "Is the Colonel about?" he asked.
"He and the children went to the fort. They should return before long," Rebecca told him.
Adam came to his feet in a flash. "He went without me? Mrs. Boone, if you don't mind I'll finish breakfast when I get back."
"I do mind. I very much mind," Rebecca said sternly. "You'll finish your meal...now."
"But, Mrs. Boone, I have orders to protect your husband," Adam tried explaining.
"Yes, you do and you are to finish breakfast," she said firmly. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to use this but you've given me no choice, Corporal. Colonel Boone ordered you to remain here. You are not to go to the fort."
"Did he really order that, Mrs. Boone?" he asked incredulously. "Or are you just saying that to get me to finish eating?"
"Those are his orders, Corporal," she confirmed. "Care to take a chance to prove me wrong?"
Adam sat back down. He was pleased he could eat rather than head to the fort. Although, he felt a little guilty about it there was nothing he could do. The Colonel had ordered him stay at the cabin and he had to obey those orders. "In that case, Mrs. Boone, I will finish my breakfast."
"Excellent choice," she said, pouring herself and Adam a cup of milk and then sat across from him. "Adam, I don't mean to pry but..."
"Yes, you do," he said with a laugh.
"I guess I do," she agreed. "How old are you? You seem terribly young."
"Sixteen. Almost seventeen," he answered between mouthfuls. "I've been in the army a little over a year."
"You are terribly young," Rebecca commented with a shake of her head while sipping her milk, glad that her son was of an age that he couldn't possibly go off to war. "How did your family feel about you joining the army?"
Adam snorted. "Since they're Tories I doubt my enlistment in the Continental army filled them with glee. New York is filled with Tories and I couldn't abide living among them any longer. I expressed to my father my desire to fight with the patriots and he exploded in anger. Understandable, I suppose. He told me if I committed such a treasonous act, then he would be forced to disown me and my inheritance forfeited. I then left a note for my parents informing them of my plans to join the Continental army and when the war was over, I would visit them then. That done, I slipped away in the middle of the night and never looked back. Maybe it was cowardly of me not to tell them personally, but I knew my father would try to stop me and my mother would have cried her eyes out. It seemed better to sneak out. Anyway, I'm committed to see this war to its conclusion whatever that may be."
"In effect, you've cut all ties with your family," concluded Rebecca sadly.
"When I decided to go against my family's expectations, I knew our relationship would never ever be the same, but I couldn't deny what I believed was right for me to do. I hope to reconcile with my family when the war is over. Mrs. Boone, I'm fighting for a cause, a just cause in my view, and it might cost me plenty but not everything," Adam said with conviction.
"There's no doubt where you stand, Adam. We're fortunate to have you on our side," Rebecca told him proudly.
A smile crossed Adam's face. "Thank you," he said simply. "And I'm fortunate to have come to know your fine cooking, Mrs. Boone. This kind of fare is scarce in the army. Have you ever considered enlisting?"
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