Semple’s smile faded and he took a letter off a pile on his desk. He held it out for Arran. “Read for yourself.”
Arran wasn’t prepared for more bad news, but it wouldn’t do to be ignorant. He took the letter and lowered himself to a chair.
“There’s a report that the North West Company is sending an army of voyageurs to Assiniboia from Fort William.” Governor Semple leaned back in his chair. “They intended to use Fort Gibraltar as a base to attack our colony, so I was forced to dismantle their fort.”
“Do you ken how angry they’ll be when they arrive? Fort Gibraltar was one of their wealthiest posts.”
“Without a fort, how will they attack us, I ask?” Semple smiled, clearly pleased with himself. “It was a preemptive strike, and I have won the battle.”
Arran rubbed his temples, a headache forming at an alarming speed. “What is being done to guard Fort Douglas?”
“As you can see, I have men keeping watch around the clock. Everyone is on full alert. Should our enemy approach, we have our six fieldpieces poised and ready to defend.” He waved his hand as if to push the topic away. “But I do not believe it will come to that.”
The man was ignorant, which gave him false courage. Arran had witnessed the same in Macdonell.
“It will come to a fight.” Arran was convinced there was no way to avoid a conflict. “With men approaching from the west and the east, we will be completely outnumbered, not to mention, there will be women and children within the fort to protect.” How would he get Eleanor and Miriam out of the colony now? There might not be enough time.
“This fort is the property of the Hudson’s Bay Company, which is protected under the Royal Charter of 1670. I am the governor in charge of all their holdings. They will not dare to attack His Majesty’s loyal servants, nor come against my authority.”
“They will do anything and everything they can. They do not consider themselves under any law.”
“Then we will show them differently.”
“How?”
“We are all men, are we not? Rational discourse will be my tactic, if necessary.”
Arran stared in disbelief. It was clear he would not convince Semple. The man would have to meet his enemy before he fully understood. And then it would be too late.
“The colonists are arriving.” Arran stood. “Several had planned to return to their homes in Colony Gardens, but it will not be safe to leave the fort. I will try to convince them to settle within the stockade.”
“I don’t think that will be necessary.” Semple took the letter Arran had been reading, as if the whole matter were settled. “By the way, I plan to take leave of the fort within the next four or five days and you will be in charge once again.”
Arran stared at the governor. “You’re leaving?”
“I have business at York Factory in Hudson Bay. I will try to return by winter.”
Shock was not a strong enough word for how Arran felt at hearing the news. “You plan to leave the colony now?”
“Not now, but soon. I would like to be gone by mid-June.” He rearranged several papers on his desk, seemingly unaware of how preposterous his plans were. He looked up at Arran, expectation on his face. “Was there something else you needed, Mr. MacLean?”
Arran could only shake his head. How could the governor leave now, when they needed him more than ever before?
James stood outside the governor’s office waiting for Arran.
“It isna good?” James asked as soon as Arran stepped out.
“No.” Arran shook his head. “Cuthbert Grant is approaching with an unknown number of men from the west and there’s an army of at least a hundred approaching from Fort William in the east.”
James lifted his eyebrows.
“And the governor plans to leave the fort and travel to Hudson Bay this week, and doesn’t plan to return until just before winter.”
“What?” James stared in disbelief. “You’ve got to be jesting with me.”
“I wish I was. Either he doesna ken the seriousness of the situation, or he’s running away because he does.” Though Arran suspected the former to be true. With Semple gone, the responsibility of the colony would fall on Arran’s shoulders. It was a duty he would undertake with pride, but he would not have the same authority or power as Semple. It would put everyone in the colony at more risk. And with all that Semple had done to anger the North West Company, it meant war.
The eastern gates were opened, and the colonists began to enter. With the voyageurs, company men, and settlers, there were now over two hundred men, women, and children at Fort Douglas. A meager number compared to the hundreds who would be descending upon them soon.
