By: Julie Dieck
Chapter 9 “The Girl in the Captain’s Quarters”
The men in the privets’ barracks had quite the shock the next morning when they awoke to found Alan snoring away in his bunk. They joked that it had been vacant for so long they’d forgotten what it looked like filled. They readied themselves for the new day, trying to stay quiet as possible to give him every minute of sleep they could before Reveille sounded. That is until Foster dropped the wash dish on the floor with a loud clattering and Alan never even stirred; then they didn’t bother keeping quiet. It was two minutes before Reveille when Alan finally opened his eyes and the others thought he wouldn’t be ready in time. They began to apologize for not waking him sooner and were a bit puzzled when Alan didn’t seemed bothered by the dilemma. Then, when the blanket slowly peeled off, they saw that he’d slept in his clothes with only his boots, belt, and hat to put on. Half a minute later, he was lined up with all the rest when the bugle sounded. Though having only gotten a few hours’ sleep, he felt quite refreshed and awake, and after a quick breakfast in the mess hall, Alan headed straight for the captain’s quarters. Just as he reached it, a voice that he recognized as Sergeant Bates’ called to him from behind.
“Branegan!”
Alan turned with the customary salute. “Mornin’, Sir. Somethin’ ya’ be needin’?”
Bates walked all the way up before speaking. “Yes. I’ve been wanting to talk to you about that girl.”
Alan folded his arms. “Well, go ‘head.”
“You do realize that the captain could be back any time now?”
“Aye.”
“And you realize the girl is still in there?”
“Yer point is?”
“You gotta move her.”
Alan stood unperturbed. “Why?”
Bates voice went to a pitch higher as he pointed at the building. “Can’t you get it through your head, Branegan?! Those are the captain’s quarters! Do you really think the captain’s going to approve of this?” It wasn’t a question as more of a sarcastic remark.
“She ain’t hurtin’ nothin’. She’s out of the way for now and will be for a while to come. She ain’t ready ta’ be moved yet and even if ya’ could,” Alan leaned closer, “where else would ya’ be putting’ her, now?”
“The guest’s quarters.”
“T’ain’t fixed yet.”
“Then …” When nothing came out, Bates shut his mouth. He tried again, but got no better results, so he shut it again. He finally sighed with a shrug. “I have no idea.”
“There ya’ be.”
“But I’m telling you: the captain isn’t gunna like this,” Bates said in a sing-song kind of way.
“Look,” Alan started with a stubborn but playful edge to his voice. He hooked an arm over the sergeant’s shoulder, leaning on him slightly. “This be the way I figure it. It’s our job ta’ protect the citizens here ‘bout and that’s exactly what we’re doin’ – protectin’ a citizen. The captain can’t object ta’ us doin’ our duty if we be doin’ it ta’ the best of our abilities, now can he?”
Bates looked not-at-all convinced. “Maybe so, but he’s still not going to like it, and I’m glad I’m not going to be a certain privet when he has to explain it all to him when he gets back. And I’m warning you, Branegan,” he held up a finger, “I’m not taking responsibility for this. I am ranking officer and I clearly told you not to do it. So if the captain does happen to object, despite your reasoning, I’ll say that you specifically disobeyed my direct orders!”
Alan patted the sergeant’s chest. “Now don’t go poppin’ off yer buttons, Sergeant; they be easy ‘nough ta’ loose as it is. There be nothin’ ta’ worry ‘bout. I’ll handle it all and Miss. Linda’ll back us up if need be. And what can the captain say if she be on our side?”
“Well, you’re going to have the chance to find out real soon.” Bates pointed toward the open gates. “Here he comes now.”
Alan looked up to see Captain Henderson riding in and hastily stopped leaning on the sergeant. All too quickly, Henderson had reined up at the corral, handed his sweaty mount off to one of the soldiers, and was headed straight for them. As he approached, suddenly the captain looked much taller and intimidating than usual. Both men stood at attention and saluted their commanding officer. Henderson returned it.
“At ease, men.”
“How was your trip, Sir?” Bates asked.
Henderson sighed long and loud. “Everything went very good, Sergeant; but it’s been a long ride and I’m ready for a break of just some regular routine. I’ll talk to you about your report here later. Right now, all I really want is a nice sleep and a good meal in my quarters.” He started forward, but found Alan was suddenly in his path.
“Before ya’ be goin’ in there, Sir; there be somethin’ that I need ta’ be tellin’ ya’,” the privet quickly said, then paused.
Henderson backed up one step so he wasn’t so close. “Well, I guess if it can’t wait. What is it, Branegan?”
“Well, you see sir, there be … ah …” Suddenly the words didn’t want to come out. Alan glanced at Bates, but the sergeant was intent on observing something in the sky. No help there and the captain was still staring. He tried again. “Well, Sir, it be like this … there’s ah’ … ah’ …”
Just then Karson marched briskly by. “There’s a girl in your quarters, Sir,” he spouted and was suddenly gone as he scurried off.
A hand slapped over Alan’s face with a groan. Henderson glanced repeatedly from Alan to Bates in bewilderment.
“A girl?!” He looked to the sergeant, who only held up his hands and shook his head, clearly emphasizing he wasn’t responsible. The captain turned back to Alan with hands on hips. “Alright. Just what’s going on here, Branegan?”
Alan scratched his neck. “Well, it t’were the best place ta’ be puttin’ her, Sir. Ya’ see, three days ago –”
“Three days?!”
Just then a voice called from inside. “Alan!”
“Was that your ‘girl’, privet?” Henderson asked roughly.
Alan wished a hole would appear beneath him, so he could fall in and disappear. Why did the captain have to phrase it that way? Over the captain’s shoulder, Alan could see Bates trying to suppress a grin; at least someone was getting enjoyment out of this. Karson was probably back in the barracks that very minute laughing his head off. “No, Sir. That be yer daughter.”
Before the captain could ask anything else, the door to the quarters opened and they all turned as Linda came rushing out onto the porch. At first Alan thought something had happened, but relaxed when he saw the smile on her face.
“Alan! Wonderful news!” Then she saw her father standing there with them. “Oh! Hello, Dad. When did you get back?”
Henderson eyed the men around him. “Maybe just in time by the sound of things.”
Not really listening, Linda turned excitedly to Alan. “Her fever broke a little while ago. I think she’ll be fine now.”
“Fever!” Henderson barked. “You mean you’ve got a sick woman in there?!”
Alan suddenly realized he’d forgotten to state how old this “girl-in-the-captain’s-quarters” was. “Oh no, Sir! That ain’t entirely right. Ya’ see, it aint exactly a woman.”
“What?”
“No sir. She be no more than four and half feet tall at most.”
“You mean it’s a child?”
Linda nodded as she answered. “Yes, Dad. Her wagon and parents were attacked by Indians and she was the only survivor. Alan found her wounded, so he brought her here. Alan and I have been caring for her.”
“Well why didn’t somebody just come out and say so in the first place instead of running me round in circles?” Henderson grouched, then his brow went up, “So it’s “Alan” now, huh?”
Alan didn’t think he could get any redder than he probably was at that moment. He was glad when the captain changed the subject – until he heard the whole thing.
“Well, I’m sorry to hear about that and I’m glad we could help. But why my quarters? What’s wrong with the guest quarters?”
The argument of a dusty atmosphere and a leak in one corner suddenly seemed like a very shallow argument to give a captain; but it was the only one he had. Alan opened his mouth, about to give his wobbly defense, when Linda interrupted.
“But Dad, we couldn’t put her in there. It’s in need of repair and it’s much warmer in here. It’s no place to put a hurt child and we just can’t move her yet. It won’t be for long, Dad; just until she gets better and we can fix up the guest’s quarters.”
Henderson made a few growly noises for a moment as his daughter looked on with large brown puppy eyes. He glanced around at the others who watched intently with begging eyes. He finally let out a relenting sigh. “Oh … very well. There’s not much that I can do about it now anyway, and I guess it’s for a good cause. But just where am I supposed to sleep? Anyone thought of that?”
“You can bunk in the noncom’s quarters, Sir,” Bates offered, still smirking. “We’ve got an extra bunk if you want to rest, and I can have your meal brought there.”
Henderson nodded grudgingly. “Very well, that’ll do I guess. But I want you to get a detail working on fixing up the guest’s accommodations right away, and as soon as possible she’s to be moved in there. I have no intentions of giving up my quarters permanently.”
Linda happily jumped off the porch and gave her father a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, Dad!” He grumbled something that was undistinguishable as she took his arm and pulled him up the steps. “Now why don’t you come in and see our little patient. She’s one of the prettiest little girl’s you ever saw. We were afraid she wouldn’t make it, but Alan and I have been …” Whatever was said after that the others couldn’t hear as they disappeared inside and the door closed.
Alan hooked his thumbs in his suspenders and turned with a cock of his head to Bates. “Well now. What’d I tell ya’?”
Bates just stared back; arms folded, eyebrow quirked up.
“I said I’d handle it and we came out just fine now, didn’t we? Trouble with you, laddie, is yer always lookin’ on the cloudy side ah’ things. Ya’ gotta have more faith in yer friend Branegan.”
Stare.
Alan’s smugness twisted to a scowl. “Ya’ best be glad yer a sergeant, lad! Ya’ wouldn’t be feelin’ too sprightly this very moment if ya’ weren’t!”
Bates nodded.
Alan jabbed a finger against the sergeant’s chest. “Just ‘cause ya’ are don’t mean ya’ have ta’ go sayin’ things like that!”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“T’ain’t true! For not sayin’ anythin’ I heard ya’ mighty clearly! But I haven’t the time ta’ stand here listenin’ ta’ any more of yer thoughts nohow! I got a duty in there that needs watchin’!”
With that, Alan sulked up the steps and into the captain’s quarters. Behind, he could hear the sergeant chuckling softly to himself.
By the next morning, the rugged flame of life began to flicker brighter. Only a short while later, two glassy blue eyes opened to see the tired but happy faces of a fine-looking Irishman and a pretty woman hovering overhead with relieved smiles; plus an older man in a captain’s uniform peering over the foot of the bed.
(Chapter 10 will be released next Saturday, January 13)
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