By: Julie Dieck
Chapter 3 “The Leave”
Thirteen years later … Fort Worth …
“Sergeant Branegan!”
Alan turned to see Captain Collins striding across the compound towards him, sunlight reflecting off the gold bars on his shoulders. He saluted as the tall man approached. “Sir.”
“At ease, Sergeant.” The captain retuned the salute and stood relaxed with hands behind his back. “Is everything going smoothly?”
“Yes, sir.”
Collins nodded approvingly. “Very good. I just wanted to talk to you about those reports you’re making out on yesterday’s drills. Wanted to let you know there’s no immediate rush on them. Just have them on my desk by tonight or tomorrow morning and that will be sufficient.”
“Yes, sir. They be almost done now, sir.”
Collins looked pleased, a light smile on his face. “Very good, Sergeant. Then carry on.” With that, he strode away.
Alan watched him go with a feeling of admiration. Captain Collins was a good leader and he was honored to be in his regiment. Just then, he heard footsteps behind him and turned to see his friend Daniel come wondering up, fixing the knot of his yellow neckerchief.
“Hi, Alan.”
Alan put his hands on hips, affecting an expression of disproval. “Now is that any way ta’ be speakin’ to yer ranking noncom, Corporal Wade?”
Daniel’s chin snapped up. He stood ramrod straight and over pronounced a salute. “Good afternoon, Sergeant, sir!”
“Now that be better.” Alan began to grin and neither could keep it back as they both laughed. He tapped a finger on the two brand new stripes on his friend’s sleeves. “I gotta’ say, ya’ look mighty good in them stripes, lad.”
Daniel squared his shoulders a bit more. “Thanks. I sure worked hard enough for them.”
“Now ya’ just watch, lad. Pretty soon you’ll be wearin’ three of ‘em stripes; and before ya’ know it, you’ll be havin’ two of them pretty gold bars on yer shoulders and orderin’ me around.”
“Sounds nice, Alan, but you’ll still be ordering me. By the time I reach lieutenant, you’ll be a major.”
A rich hearty Irish laugh rang out and Daniel smiled wide. It was just the way he had known it would sound, and it never failed to make him smile whenever he heard it.
Still chuckling, Alan tapped him with the back of his hand. “Now hold on there, me bucky! Let’s not fly up the ranks too fast, ya’ know. Took me eight whole years just ta’ git these here stripes.”
“Sergeant!” a harsh voice barked.
The cheeriness of the moment popped like a bubble. A heavy sigh that sounded more like a groan of disgust growled in Alan’s throat.
“Uh oh,” Daniel muttered under his breath. “Here comes Mr. “Nice Guy”.”
There was a tramping of boots and the tall poised uniform of Lieutenant Somers appeared before the two noncoms. Somers had a reputation for his strict by-the-book disposition and quick temper; and also for his natural ability to needle those around him. It seemed to give him great pleasure in finding any tasks, no matter how small, for the men under him to do; even if it wasn’t a necessity at the moment. Unfortunately, one of his favorites to do this to happened to be Alan, and it took all Alan had at times to keep his own hot Irish temper from belting the man in the mouth. Quickly, he and Daniel straightened with a salute. Somers gave one back then directed his words at Alan.
“Do you have those reports ready from yesterday’s drills?” Before he could get an answer he added sardonically, “That is if you’ve even started them and haven’t been wasting your time.” He glanced at Daniel.
Alan forced his jaw not to tighten as he answered. “No, sir. I been workin’ on them steadily.”
That must not have been the answer Somers was hoping for. His face twisted into what could have been interpreted as a disappointed frown as he mumbled a short, “Oh.”
“They practically be finished. They be on the captain’s desk by tonight.”
Somers’ face lit up – but not in a good way. His head cocked slightly as he peered coldly at Alan. “Oh? And if they’re so finished, why aren’t they on his desk now?” He seemed pleased with himself that he’d found a flaw – even if not important – in the sergeant’s actions.
Alan pointed towards the headquarters office. “But the captain–”
“Are you back talking your superior officer?” Somers snapped and Alan instantly grew quiet. “I want those reports to the captain immediately. Is that understood?”
Alan bit his tongue and saluted. “Yes, sir.”
Somers didn’t reply, but his smug expression told of his pleasure at winning the round. Chest puffed and head high, they watched him march off in a haughty huff, as he usually did.
A moment had passed when Daniel randomly stated, “Do you realize that if you switch the “om” in his name and put a “th” between the “o” and “e” and take off the “s” it becomes “Smother”?”
Alan’s head slowly turned. There was a beat of silence before he finally asked, “How long did it take ya’ ta’ figure that out?”
Daniel shrugged. “It was just a passing observation I had the other day.”
Alan laughed without amusement. “Fittin’ in a way. I’d like ta’ smother him sometimes. A bigoted insolent that one is. Lad, I tell ya’ it rubs me fur the wrong direction at times. T’ain’t bad enough we got ta’ stand him just bein’ here, but he’s got ta’ be holdin’ a grudge again’ everyone and everythin’ as well; ‘specially me. Always hated me ever since I come here; and I know why too.”
Daniel looked up at him. “Why?”
“Because I be Irish, that’s why. He don’t hold with foreigners. Even if I be from here, it’s the blood in me veins that he hates. I canna’ do anythin’ right in his eyes. He questions everythin’ I do and say.”
“Maybe he can’t understand your accent.”
Alan shot him a dark look. “And just what is that suppose ta’ mean, now?”
Daniel quickly held up his hands. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just trying to relieve the tension.”
“Well, yer goin’ by it in ah’ mighty strange way.”
“Sorry, Alan. It wasn’t a nice thing to say. I wasn’t thinking.”
Alan patted his friend on the back. “Ah, it’s alright, lad. If I been in a better mood I probably wouldn’t’ve takin’ it that way.” He shook his head as he glared in the direction the lieutenant had gone. “Sometimes I just git mighty fed-up with him. Too bad I t’weren’t his superior officer; I’d give him somethin’ ta’ gripe about; and he wouldn’t be able ta’ do a single blessed thing about it neither.” He grinned as he hooked his thumbs in his suspenders. “Alan Branegan givin’ Old “Spit and Polish” Somers orders. Now that I like the sound of.”
Daniel chuckled as he pictured it. “Yeah, that’d get him alright.”
Alan gave his friend a slap on the shoulder. “Well, I better git those report ta’ the captain ‘fore the lieutenant decides ta’ Court Martial me. I’ll be seein’ ya’.”
A while later, Alan was knocking at the captain’s office door. A voice from inside told him to come in and Alan entered. He spied the captain behind his desk and strode over with a salute.
Collins looked up. “What can I do for you, Sergeant?”
Alan held out a small neat stack of papers. “I be bringin’ the reports ‘bout yesterday’s drills, sir.”
Collins expressed surprise as he took them. “I said you didn’t have to finish them right away. Tomorrow would’ve been fine.”
“Well, you might be sayin’ I had a bit of … an urge ta’ finish ‘em.”
The captain’s brow puckered a moment, then understanding crossed his face as he read the sergeant’s expression. He didn’t need any further explaining. “Oh, I see,” was all he said. He skimmed over the report before looking back up. “Well, you’ve done a good job on these, Branegan. Even in the short time you finished them. Thank you.”
“Welcome, sir. That be all, sir?”
Collins leaned back in his chair, a smile at the corners of his mouth, though it was slightly hidden behind the dark mustache. “For right now, yes. And since you don’t have these to finish up tonight, why don’t you take that time and enjoy yourself in town. You haven’t been out in a while and you deserve it.” He gave a salute, telling him he was dismissed.
Alan’s eyes lit up as he returned it. “Thank ya, sir. That’s mighty nice ah’ ya’.”
He quickly made his way out of the office at a lively pace and didn’t stop till he’d reached his horse. He mounted and wasted no time getting to town for an enjoyable afternoon.
The next day, Alan brushed his wavy blond hair carefully before a small mirror on the wall in the noncoms’ barracks. He was about finished, when the door opened and Daniel walked in. The corporal threw out a casual hello as he took off his gun belt and hat and laid them aside, having just come off-duty. Noting his friend’s behavior, and the dress uniform, Daniel paused behind him so he could see Alan’s face in the mirror.
“Why the extra grooming?” he asked the reflection.
“Maybe I just like ta’ look better than me horse,” Alan tossed playfully back as he put the brush down and then fitted his hat carefully on his head.
Daniel shook his head as he watched Alan smooth his shirt and tug at his neckerchief. “Uh uh. If your horse looked this good, he’d be pretty enough for a general to ride. Besides, it normally takes three men nearly holding you at gunpoint to force you into that dress uniform. Now, what’s going on?”
Alan casually wiped a speck of imaginary dust off his sleeve. “Well, ya’ see, when I went ta’ town on that leave the captain give me, there be this pretty lass that I just happin’ ta’ meet at the saloon. We had a few drinks and a friendly chat and kinda’ got ta’ know one another.” He grinned suavely at his friend. “And with her bein’ so nice ta’ me, I thought the least I could do was to be askin’ her ta’ have dinner with me sometime. She said she would, so I be takin’ her out tonight.”
Daniel grinned and ribbed Alan with an elbow. “So that’s why you came back happier than a man who just found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. You on your way now?”
“That I be, lad. That I be.”
But the smile on Alan’s face was short-lived when there was a marching tramp of boots on the deck outside.
“The dainty stepper approaches,” Daniel muttered as the door opened and Lieutenant Somers entered, but made sure he was soft enough that Somers wouldn’t hear. He had no want to end up in the guard house for insulting an officer.
Somers wasted no time as he walked right up to Alan. “Sergeant, I’ve been looking for you.”
“I be right here,” Alan replied blandly.
Somers stiffened, but kept going. “I’ve come to tell you that I’ve put you on scouting duty along with Privet Young. You’ll be leaving in twenty minutes and be back before nightfall.”
“But I be goin’ inta’ town tonight, Sir.”
Somers almost leered at him. “Was going, Sergeant. You can waste the army’s time another day. I’ve put you on scouting duty and that’s that.” He turned with his usual haughty sneer and strode out.
“Now there goes a man that’s all heart,” Daniel overdramatized.
Alan glowered at the closed door. “I believe that man goes out of his way ta’ make me life as hard as he can.”
“Bet you anything he heard about your date and did it on purpose,” Daniel put in irritably.
“I don’t have ta’ bet; I know.” Alan scratched his chin in thought. His eyes suddenly lit up and he turned to his friend. “Say, Daniel, I’m wonderin’ if you could be doin’ me a favor.”
“Sure, Alan. What?”
Alan hooked an arm around his friend’s shoulders. “Well, I was wonderin’ … it’s allowed that ah’ man can switch duties with those of another. And I was wonderin’ if – since yer off-duty – if ya’ could maybe be takin’ me place – just for tonight, that is. Not that I’m tryin’ ta’ push ya’ into anythin’.” Alan looked at his friend hesitantly, waiting for the reaction, but quickly relaxed when Daniel laughed aloud.
“Is that all? Sure, I don’t mind covering for you. You’ve done me enough favors, I owe you a big one anyway. I didn’t have nothing planned nohow.”
Alan grabbed the corporal by both shoulders with glee. “Danny me boy, you’re a fine lad! I’ll never be forgettin’ this!”
Daniel flipped a hand. “Ah, forget it, Alan. We’re buddies, aren’t we?”
“That we are, lad; and no man could have better.”
(Chapter 4 will be released next Saturday, December 2, 2023)
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