An Honorable Soldier in General Washington's Army: Chapter 11
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.
Jemima stood beside Adam on the porch as they watched Daniel and Israel wrestle in the front yard. It seemed little Israel was getting the better of his father. Adam offered Daniel assistance, but the big frontiersman refused.
"Hi, Cincinnatus," Jemima said as the tavern keeper approached which prompted the end to the wrestling match.
"Didn't mean to interrupt," Cincinnatus stated. "Who was winning?"
"I was," Israel said proudly. "We're showing Adam how to fight because he can't do that very good."
"I see. Better luck next time, Dan'l," Cincinnatus said. "I came by to tell you and Adam that Mr. Markes is asking all the men to come to the tavern at dusk. He's buying drinks for everyone. He paid some boys to spread the word but he told them not to tell you or Adam."
"Do you know what this is all about?" Daniel asked.
"He didn't say and wouldn't tell me. Just wanted to know if there was enough rum and ale to go around," Cincinnatus explained.
"Adam, got any ideas as to what he's up to," Daniel asked.
"No, sir," Adam replied. "Except to say he's buying them off to do his bidding. Whatever that may be."
"We'll be there, Cincinnatus. Thank you for coming by," Daniel said.
"If I hear anything else, I'll let you know," Cincinnatus assured them.
"Thanks again, Cincinnatus. See you tonight," Daniel said.
At dusk, Daniel and Adam stepped into the crowded tavern. Drinks were flowing freely and heavily as Cincinnatus filled mugs at every turn. Markes stood by the bar talking with Caleb Rand who turned away from him shaking his head. Spotting Daniel and Adam near the door, he joined them.
"My father's drunk," Adam said with disgust.
Daniel had observed the same and proceeded to greet Caleb Rand. "Caleb. Been here long?"
"Long enough. That man is wicked, I tell you," Caleb remarked. "No offense, Adam."
"None taken, Mr. Rand. I couldn't agree with you more," Adam told him.
Markes vaulted on top of the bar and called the men to order. The room quieted down, drawing their attention to the finely dressed man. "Good evening, gentlemen. Welcome to all," Markes said, surveying the room. It was then he saw Daniel and Adam. "Well, my son and the frontiersman have joined us. So much the better," Markes said as the crowd looked in Daniel's direction. "Gentlemen, I present this evening an employment opportunity for as many men as will sign up. All you must do is help me escort my son to my home in New York. Everything will be provided for you on the trip. You'll want for nothing. I will pay one hundred pounds for each man."
An angry Adam began to approach the bar but Daniel held him back.
"Why you payin' so much to lead you and your boy? 'Fraid you'll get lost?" one man asked which got the expected reaction. The room filled with laughter and even Adam was amused by it.
When it was quiet again, Markes answered, "I'll not hold back on you, gentleman. My son probably won't willingly go with us so he'll give us a little trouble. Who'll be the first to sign on?"
"How do we know you got this much money?" a man asked.
"You'll be paid seventy-five pounds up front with the other twenty-five pounds upon our safe delivery to my New York home," Markes answered. "That, gentlemen, is more that fair."
"That's a lot a'money. But I don't like the idea of takin' that boy someplace he hasn't a mind to go," another man said. "It's like kidnappin' or somthin'."
"Sir, there's no kidnapping involved here. You'll simply help return a son to be reunited his mother. A woman who hasn't seen her only son in over a year." Markes appealed on a sentimental level.
"You make it sound good, Mister," yet another man said. "But it 'pears he's wearin' a uniform. Won't the army come after us?"
"No, the army will never learn of my son's return to my home. You have nothing to fear from anyone. Our journey will be uneventful, I assure you," Markes said.
"Dan'l, what do you have to say about this," another man asked.
"Daniel Boone is not the concern here," Markes angrily said. "I merely want to hire men to escort my son and me."
"I want to know what Dan'l thinks about this," the man insisted. "Go ahead, Dan'l."
"As most of you are aware, Mr. Markes' son, Adam, is a soldier in the Continental Army. He's here by order of General Washington and is under my command. He's been a welcomed guest in my home since his arrival. In my opinion, Mr. Markes is unjustified to hire anyone to haul this soldier to New York against his will," Daniel said with conviction.
"That's what I thought," the man agreed.
"Now, gentleman," Markes said, trying to salvage this opportunity, "just because Daniel Boone does not support my plan is no reason not to hire on. I offer you British pounds not those worthless Continental dollars. Money you can use to improve your lives and those of your families."
"It's blood money!" Caleb Rand shouted, which brought murmurs of agreement.
"No!" Markes returned just as loudly. "All I want is to bring my son home. Who among you wouldn't do the same? I need help in doing that."
"Well, I for one, ain't no Judas," a man said who was standing near the bar. "I'm goin' home and you all should do the same." He set his mug down and slapped Adam on the arm when he exited with a few others close on his heels. They wished Adam well before they left. Adam stood amazed at this reaction.
"Gentlemen, please!" Markes said desperately. "I'll pay two hundred pounds. Did you hear that? Two hundred pounds!"
"Mister, you could offer a thousand pounds and we ain't going to take you up on it," a man said standing by the fireplace. "We'll have to cross Dan'l Boone and none of us are that stupid."
Again, the room was filled with laughter, with both Daniel and Adam joining them.
"Even if we could get Dan'l out of the way, there'll be Becky Boone to contend with. I don't want to have anything to do with her. She can be a real she-bear when she's riled," a man standing near Caleb remarked.
When the laughter died down, the men began leaving the tavern and they, too, wished Adam all the best and shook his hand. Adam thanked them sincerely.
Markes removed himself from the bar and drank heavily from his mug. Adam glared at him wishing he could wink him out of existence. He decided to concentrate on the good that had happened this evening rather than getting angry all over again. "Colonel, I never realized I had so many friends in Boonesborough."
Cincinnatus joined them and had heard Adam's remark. "I guess you weren't paying too close attention, Adam. You've made a lot of friends here. Your father didn't realize that either or he wouldn't have tried such a scheme but it sure put a lot of money in my pocket," Cincinnatus said, laughing.
"Good for you, Mr. Cincinnatus," Adam told him smiling broadly. "I've never seen my father's money not buy what he wanted. This is very unusual."
"Just shows you, Adam, when you make friends rather than buy them, you reap the reward," Daniel explained. "It works that way most of time."
"Yes, sir, it does and I am grateful to the loyal people of Boonesborough," Adam said.
"Let's go home, Adam. Good night, Cincinnatus," Daniel said.
"Good night, Mr. Cincinnatus," Adam said.
"Good night," Cincinnatus told the departing pair. There were a few lingering about the tavern including Markes draining mug after mug at the bar. "You've had enough," Cincinnatus took the mug away from him.
"You seem to forget that I paid for that," Markes told him.
"No, you didn't," Cincinnatus told him. "Everything you bought is gone. I'll not be serving you anymore tonight."
"You can't do that," Markes protested.
"Yes, I can. It's my establishment. I do what I want," Cincinnatus said firmly.
Markes didn't argue further. His whole effort tonight was met with futility. He had to plan his next maneuver. His son was coming home to New York somehow someway. He just had to find what worked in this wilderness.
A few days later Adam was once again helping neighbors with an increased fervor since they had shown themselves to be true friends. He would do anything for these people. The Boones were gathered at their home.
"Pa!" Israel shouted as he raced inside the cabin to come to Daniel's side at the table. "Adam's father's comin'. Can we whup him, Pa?"
"Israel!" Rebecca scolded. "What have I told you about talk like that?"
Daniel was already at the door. "Mr. Markes, welcome. Come in," Daniel greeted their guest amicably.
Markes entered and roamed the cabin with his eyes but kept his face neutral so Rebecca couldn't judge what he was thinking. She imagined her home didn't measure up to Markes' standards but it measured up to hers and that's what counted. His son certainly had no complaints. "I've come to make a request of you, Mr. Boone," Markes said.
Daniel was a bit startled. First of all, this was the first time Markes had used a respectable title with his name. Secondly, Markes was asking him for something and that was unusual. "Please sit down. What's your request, Mr. Markes?" Daniel asked.
"Talk to my son. Urge him to come home with me. He won't talk or listen to me anymore, but he will listen to you. He respects you immensely. I can tell," Markes said as he sat with Jemima sitting at the other end of the table. "All the pretty words I could muster won't convince him. Adam's made up his mind. There's no turning him from it," Daniel explained.
"Coming from you, Mr. Boone, he will listen. I've seen the admiration in his eyes he holds for you. You can persuade him. I believe this," Markes stated.
"Dan's right," Rebecca chimed in. "Adam's staunch in his beliefs. Dan can no more move him than he could move you to give up this quest to see him home."
"I'm older and wiser than my son, Mrs. Boone," Markes pointed out. "I know what's best for him. He's just a boy on some foolish lark. It's time he came home and learned to take his place at my side. I've groomed him for this since he was born."
"Apparently, you forgot to ask Adam what he wanted," Rebecca said. "He wants no part of you. It's time, Mr. Markes, you got on with your life and Adam with his."
"You, as a mother, Mrs. Boone, would surely agree with me. I want only to protect my son. To keep him from dying in a war that is doomed," Markes said.
"I wouldn't want that for Adam either," Rebecca admitted. "But no one is going to stop him from being a part of this war. He's made his decision. He's committed to the cause of liberty. He won't give up. The best you can do, Mr. Markes, is pray that your son is safely brought out of this war."
"Mrs. Boone, I would very much like to have this conversation with you when this boy of yours," Markes said, pointing to Israel who left the confines of his mother's arms and went scampering to the window, "is of soldiering age, joins the army, and sees battles. I'd like to hear how you feel then. You will live day to day wondering if your son is lying dead on a battlefield somewhere or if he lived another day. I believe you would try everything in your power to do as I am doing now."
"If that time should come, Mr. Markes, I will let my son go, not because I want it, but because I know I can't keep him from it. You should do the same," Rebecca strongly suggested.
"You don't understand, Mrs. Boone. But it matters not," Markes said before returning his attention to Daniel. "All I ask of you, Mr. Boone, is speak with my son. Will you do it?"
"I don't see the point, Mr. Markes. It'll be just a waste of time," Daniel said, hoping Rebecca's appeal would bear fruit, but it hadn't.
"Pa, Adam's comin'," Israel announced from his perch by the window.
Daniel considered Markes' request and changed his initial decision. "All right, Mr. Markes, I'm going to prove to you right now that even I can't persuade Adam to renounce his beliefs. Wait here and listen," Daniel ordered as he made for the door.
Adam was just a few yards away when Daniel appeared on the porch leaving the front door opened so the conversation could be heard inside the cabin. Adam waved and broke into a smile when he saw Daniel who groaned inwardly thinking what he was about to do. When Adam knew his reasons for it he would understand. Then again maybe he wouldn't.
"You're just the young man I wanted to talk to," Daniel said as Adam had reached the cabin. He gestured for Adam to have a seat on the porch.
"What do you want to talk about, Colonel?" Adam asked with concern.
"Your future," Daniel began. "Adam, I've been doing some thinking on what lies ahead of you and I've had a change of mind."
"I don't follow you, Colonel," Adam said confused.
"Adam, you're young and your future can be bright if you plan well for it now. Serving in this war can get you killed," Daniel explained. "And none of us know how this war will turn out. Your father, on the other hand, can provide you with education and employment. That's something to hang your hat on, son."
The shocked look on Adam's face was almost unbearable to behold. Daniel felt as if he had figuratively stabbed the boy in the back. "Are you suggesting I willingly return with my father?" Adam asked in total unbelief.
Daniel nodded. "I think it's for the best, Adam. You're much too intelligent and talented to waste your gifts on a war whose outcome is uncertain."
"I mean no disrespect, Colonel, but have you been drinking some of Mr. Cincinnatus' bad rum?" Adam asked, searching for an answer to Daniel's strange advice.
"I assure you I'm quite sober," Daniel said. "Go back with your father, Adam. He offers you so much more than the army."
"Colonel, do you know what your asking me to do?" Adam began. "I will have to live as a Tory. Deny my own convictions as a patriot. Pretend I don't care what becomes of this country. I can't do that and I won't. Don't you understand? I can't be what my father wants me to be or wants for me. It goes against everything I believe in."
"You can redirect your thinking, Adam," Daniel advised. "Immerse yourself in your father's desires for you. He can show you how to be powerful and successful."
"That's not what I want for life, Colonel," Adam explained. "I'm an honorable soldier in General Washington's army and there I intend to serve until we win this war. It's not an easy life and I never expected it to be. I don't care to be powerful or successful as some define it. Someday I just want to settle down with a wife, raise my children to be good Christian Americans, and farm right here in Kentucky."
"Sounds much like my life, Adam," Daniel observed.
"If it's good enough for you, Colonel, why isn't it good enough for me?" Adam asked.
"I think you're destined for better things, Adam. God's granted you many gifts. Gifts that your father has means to develop and be profitable to our fledging country. What I'm trying to explain to you is that some are meant to be common soldiers and some are meant to be leaders of a new nation. You fall into the latter group. With your natural abilities, an education, and all the other things your father can teach you, you can emerge as an influential leader. A leader that can help direct our country if this war is won. We'll need stronger leaders like you when that time comes. Sitting out the war now you'll find a greater challenge and be better able to serve your country after the war," Daniel expounded but judging from the look on Adam's face he wasn't buying it.
"Unless you've turned prophetic, Colonel, you don't know what my future holds anymore than I do. What I do know is that I enlisted in General Washington's army to do what I could to see that we will have a new independent nation you're talking about. I have to do my part now, not leave it to others or leave it undone," Adam explained.
"You have tremendous potential that shouldn't be wasted soldiering -" Daniel began.
"Sir, you're starting to sound like my father," Adam interrupted and then an idea struck him. Eyeing the open door, he jumped to his feet and ran inside.
Daniel started to stop him but it was too late, so he followed Adam inside.
Standing by the table, Adam stared at his father sitting there. Daniel moved to Rebecca's side near the fireplace.
"This is your doing, isn't it?" Adam accused. "What's the next tactic? You've tried browbeating, cajoling, shame, humiliation, intimidation, and bounty hunters including buying off the Boonesborough men who would have nothing to do with your game. Now you have implicated Colonel Boone. Nothing worked. Nothing's going to work. I will not return with you ever. I will not give up soldiering! I am a patriot! Go home and leave me alone!" Adam then quickly exited the cabin.
Wordlessly, Markes stood and left the cabin, where he found Adam leaning against a column on the porch. He passed his son without speaking and headed in the direction of the stockade.
Daniel came alongside Adam throwing an arm across the young soldier's shoulders. "I apologize for playing into your father's hand, Adam. He needed to understand that even I with all my powers of persuasion," Daniel said in jest, "couldn't convince you to turn from your beliefs."
"Colonel, in all honesty, if I held any doubt, I would have packed up and gone with him. You were that convincing," Adam said with a smile. "It took me awhile but I came to realize something peculiar was going on. Things weren't adding up. Why would you just now encourage me to go with my father? It didn't become an issue until he showed up so it stood to reason that he was involved somehow. I understand why you did what you did."
"No hard feelin's then?" Daniel asked.
"Of course not, Colonel," Adam replied. "I have something to brag about to the fellows in my unit. Even the great Colonel Boone couldn't persuade me to quit the army."
A few moments passed when Adam added, "What's it going to take, Colonel, for him to let me live my life without his interference?"
"I wish I knew," Daniel stated. "He's gone to extreme measures to return you to the fold and has failed at every step. Until he realizes he's lost you, he won't give up."
"Maybe you could use those powers of persuasion on my father," Adam suggested.
"I did. I made just as much headway with him as I did with you," Daniel said.
"Us Markes or former Markes are a stubborn lot," Adam said. "I do have to know one thing. What would you have done if I had bent to your argument?"
Daniel chuckled and replied, "Gone looking for a lawyer."
"A lawyer?" Adam asked, puzzled and searched his brain for an answer but couldn't come up with one.
"To defend me at my trial because once General Washington learned that I talked one of his soldiers into leaving the army he'll have me up on charges of treason," Daniel explained.
Adam laughed and added, "Your trial comes right after mine for desertion. Mind if I borrow your lawyer?"
It wasn't long before Rebecca and Adam completely recovered from their wounds. Neither bore bruises., Adam's soreness was gone, and Rebecca's cut healed nicely. Except for the continued presence of Markes, there were no worries. That was about to change as Mingo raced for the Boone cabin.
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