“No, I have me a card.” Jeremy pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. “Signed by the governor’s deputy—or at least, it looks like his signature—saying I’m exempt from conscription because I’m a teamster hauling cotton. As a matter of fact, I’msupposed to be off the day after tomorrow with a load headed for Eagle’s Pass.”
“Only, your load isn’t going to make it to Mexico?”
Jeremy grinned. “I’m sorry to say, the whole cotton train, ten wagons strong, will be hit by a squad of Yankees if I can help it. It’s about time we started setting things right in this state.”
Devon punched his friend’s arm. “With such good work, you won’t need me. I was coming to tell you about the new routes to Laredo and Eagle Pass.”
“I’m hungry for all of the information you have. I don’t know much beyond where my mules are told to go.” Jeremy dug a piece of dried beef out of his pocket, broke it in half, and handed Devon a portion. “Besides, you’re the one sitting within striking distance of the mother lode.”
“I’ve information for you.” Devon sat on a gnarled root. His boot heels dug into the soft mud. A month from now, it’d likely be frozen. He worked his foot free of boot and sock. “Numbers of troops, sketches of fortifications, routes and more. I didn’t know if you’d be here in person.”
The dampness of the night descended around them. Jeremy sat down beside him, undid his top trouser buttons, and tucked the rolled notes into a secret slit in his waistband.
Devon leaned forward, forearms on his knees. “There’s two encampments in the Columbus and Alleyton area. A regiment of cavalry and one of infantry. Probably more coming. The Rebs are mighty nervous about their cotton. They’ve added an extra train engine at the depot, in case they need to get the troops somewhere in a hurry. And don’t expect any more cotton to be coming your way down in San Antonio after what’s already on the road gets there. Confederate headquarters sent orders in the last week to shut down the shipments until further notice.”
Jeremy finished off his beef. “You’re in the perfect place. All you have to do is wait for the right time.”
“Yeah, I figure there’s still bales on the way to Alleyton, already on the road before the order went out. Not all of it comes by train. Some planters from Arkansas and western Louisiana haul it by wagon.”
“Let the bales stack up for a while. The best time to hit would be if you could get word of when they plan to start the shipments south again and strike right before they move it out.”
Thatwouldbe the best time. And befriending Moyer or encouraging his courtship of Morning Fawn would be the perfect way to learn such information. Right. About as likely as Lincoln calling the troops home and letting Jeff Davis have his way. “We’ll see.”
Jeremy quirked his eyebrows. “I’m counting on you. For every bale that doesn’t make it to market, it’s hundreds of dollars the Rebs don’t have. Wagon loads of guns and ammunition the enemy can’t afford to purchase.” Jeremy met Devon’s gaze. “How are things going with your accomplices?”
“Good.” Devon shifted on the log, striving for a spot that didn’t bore into his backside. A late-season tree frog chirped nearby. “Dr. Schramm and his daughter are capable and eager to help. They’ve had experience in hiding escaped slaves and helping to move them to Indian Country. They even have a secret hold beneath the floor in his office. Hid a slave there for two weeks one time.”
“Excellent. What’s the plan?”
“I used the excuse of my eye to visit the doctor. That’ll work for a couple of times, but then to avoid suspicion, the plan is for me to call on Miss Frieda. Take her strolling down by the depot end of town. A couple so distracted by each other they couldn’t possibly notice anything else around them.” He groaned within. How in the devil was he going to keep Morning Fawn from hearing rumors of the alleged courtship? If it came to it, he’d have to make his affection for Frieda look real. He raked his fingers through his hair.
Jeremy leaned back against the tree. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Is there a problem?”
“Nothing I can’t take care of.” A mosquito buzzed near Devon’s ear. He swatted at the creature. “An added bonus is that a couple months back, the Rebs unloaded twenty wagonloads of gunpowder in Brownsville. Sent it up to Alleyton by way of the Cotton Road. Much of it has already passed through to the army in Louisiana, but there’s enough still there to make the prettiest firework show you ever laid eyes on, courtesy of the cotton warehouse.”
“Make sure you get out before the show starts. You owe me another card game back in New Orleans.”
“That’s the goal.” Devon slapped him on the shoulder. “But I’ve had enough of cards and New Orleans. No use retreating to our old encampment. Why don’t we plan on meeting up for a beefsteak dinner after our men take Galveston?”
“Sounds good to me.” Jeremy smiled. “But I want to hear about that girl before I go.”
“Which girl?”
“That spunky captive you rescued. Is she still living with her uncle?” Jeremy rubbed the back of his neck. “Did I tell you my friend from West Point married a captive he rescued? Though from what I’ve heard of it,rescuedisn’t a word his wife would agree with.”
“What’s his wife’s name?”
“One you won’t forget.” Jeremy smiled. “Eyes-Like-Sky.”
Morning Fawn’s sister had married a Federal officer and gone east. But LeBeau had only called her by her English name, Margaret Logan. “The girl I rescued? She’s so thankful, she could wring my neck. But she has a sister who was a captive. Reclaimed a couple of years earlier than Morning Fawn. Maybe when you get back to Federal territory, you can write to your friend and see if his wife has a sister.” It could be what he’dbeen looking for, a safe place to send Morning Fawn where she wouldn’t have to marry for her freedom. Get her away from the likes of LeBeau and Moyer.
Only, he had a cotton warehouse to blow up and a German girl to faux court first. He had no business getting himself entangled with honey hair and a pair of hazel eyes. No business making promises.
CHAPTER 17
