Welcome aboard, Private."
Jacob accepted his handshake, struggling to keep the hatred in his soul from leaping out through his eyes as he stared into the face of the Long Hair. This was the moment he'd been preparing for, the beginning of the end for this foolish leader and all like him.
A spasm ricocheted up Jacob's spine as the reality, the enormity, of his mission overcame him. He pumped the general's hand, surprised at first to find the soldier shorter than he was and smaller of stature than Lakota warriors had assumed. But Jacob quickly realized that wiry frame hid a deceptive strength as Custer's grip tightened, cutting off his circulation. A test?
Equal to the task, Jacob increased the pressure of his own grasp and smiled broadly. He stared into the ice-blue eyes, made a note of the florid, splotchy complexion of a man whose skin was at war with the sun, and admired his thick, curly hair. That red-gold mane streaked with flaming strands and his bravado were the things that separated the general from all other soldiers. Jacob smiled into Custer's sharp features. When this was over, he would bring that colorful scalp back to his village as a gift for his father.
Custer stared into the private's eyes, gauging the man's intelligence. Pleasantly surprised by the soldier's tenacious hold on his hand, for most were too intimidated to respond to his challenge, Custer released his grip. As far as he could tell, the new enlistee was not lacking in any department. "Have you been thinking of joining the cavalry for some time?"
"No," Jacob answered easily. "I searched for gold until the Sioux murdered my partner and took me captive."
Custer stroked his mustache, appraising the man's talents, wondering where a strapping man like this would best serve the army. “If what Lieutenant Woodhouse tells me is true, you reduced a whole camp of Sioux warriors to whimpering women."
As he stifled the urge to snarl, Jacob's dark blue eyes glittered and he lifted one corner of his mouth. "I did little. We were lucky."
"You are too modest. Lieutenant Woodhouse tells me he was knocked cold shortly after you two sneaked out of your tipi. You dispatched the guard, then dragged your unconscious companion to the horses and made sure he was lashed down. I'd say that took a little more than luck . I'd say your actions were worthy, had you been in uniform, of a medal, sir."
Unsure how to respond to such accolades from the commanding officer, Jacob merely shrugged and averted his gaze.
Impressed by the soldier's modesty, Custer said, "Nevertheless, sir, we are in your debt. I'd like to meet with you for a full report on your abduction at a more convenient time, Private. For now, I wonder if you can give me some clue as to why the Sioux kept you alive for so long. Barney's under the impression he was kept around as dog food, but I hardly think that is the case. What purpose could there be in keeping a soldier and a fortune-seeker locked up in a tipi for several days?"
Again Jacob shrugged. "Barney said the Sioux had escaped from a reservation in the Black Hills. Maybe they hoped white captives would keep them safe from attack."
" Humm , possible, I suppose. Yet still ..." Custer kept the rest of his thoughts to himself and turned his attention back to Barney. "Lieutenant, see that your new friend has his fill of refreshments. The ladies will be joining us soon. I'd best be at the door to greet them." With a nod, he made his exit. "Private, I still want to have that long talk, perhaps tomorrow. Lieutenant, enjoy yourself ."
The men saluted their commanding officer as he retreated. Then Barney excused himself, leaving Jacob to wonder if Custer had believed his story. Was the Lakota plan too feeble to get past a shrewd soldier like the Long Hair? On edge, he pushed out a pent-up sigh, knowing there was little he could do but proceed as planned and hope his purpose was not discovered.
Jacob ran his hand through his short-cropped hair as he waited
Jacob accepted his handshake, struggling to keep the hatred in his soul from leaping out through his eyes as he stared into the face of the Long Hair. This was the moment he'd been preparing for, the beginning of the end for this foolish leader and all like him.
A spasm ricocheted up Jacob's spine as the reality, the enormity, of his mission overcame him. He pumped the general's hand, surprised at first to find the soldier shorter than he was and smaller of stature than Lakota warriors had assumed. But Jacob quickly realized that wiry frame hid a deceptive strength as Custer's grip tightened, cutting off his circulation. A test?
Equal to the task, Jacob increased the pressure of his own grasp and smiled broadly. He stared into the ice-blue eyes, made a note of the florid, splotchy complexion of a man whose skin was at war with the sun, and admired his thick, curly hair. That red-gold mane streaked with flaming strands and his bravado were the things that separated the general from all other soldiers. Jacob smiled into Custer's sharp features. When this was over, he would bring that colorful scalp back to his village as a gift for his father.
Custer stared into the private's eyes, gauging the man's intelligence. Pleasantly surprised by the soldier's tenacious hold on his hand, for most were too intimidated to respond to his challenge, Custer released his grip. As far as he could tell, the new enlistee was not lacking in any department. "Have you been thinking of joining the cavalry for some time?"
"No," Jacob answered easily. "I searched for gold until the Sioux murdered my partner and took me captive."
Custer stroked his mustache, appraising the man's talents, wondering where a strapping man like this would best serve the army. “If what Lieutenant Woodhouse tells me is true, you reduced a whole camp of Sioux warriors to whimpering women."
As he stifled the urge to snarl, Jacob's dark blue eyes glittered and he lifted one corner of his mouth. "I did little. We were lucky."
"You are too modest. Lieutenant Woodhouse tells me he was knocked cold shortly after you two sneaked out of your tipi. You dispatched the guard, then dragged your unconscious companion to the horses and made sure he was lashed down. I'd say that took a little more than luck . I'd say your actions were worthy, had you been in uniform, of a medal, sir."
Unsure how to respond to such accolades from the commanding officer, Jacob merely shrugged and averted his gaze.
Impressed by the soldier's modesty, Custer said, "Nevertheless, sir, we are in your debt. I'd like to meet with you for a full report on your abduction at a more convenient time, Private. For now, I wonder if you can give me some clue as to why the Sioux kept you alive for so long. Barney's under the impression he was kept around as dog food, but I hardly think that is the case. What purpose could there be in keeping a soldier and a fortune-seeker locked up in a tipi for several days?"
Again Jacob shrugged. "Barney said the Sioux had escaped from a reservation in the Black Hills. Maybe they hoped white captives would keep them safe from attack."
" Humm , possible, I suppose. Yet still ..." Custer kept the rest of his thoughts to himself and turned his attention back to Barney. "Lieutenant, see that your new friend has his fill of refreshments. The ladies will be joining us soon. I'd best be at the door to greet them." With a nod, he made his exit. "Private, I still want to have that long talk, perhaps tomorrow. Lieutenant, enjoy yourself ."
The men saluted their commanding officer as he retreated. Then Barney excused himself, leaving Jacob to wonder if Custer had believed his story. Was the Lakota plan too feeble to get past a shrewd soldier like the Long Hair? On edge, he pushed out a pent-up sigh, knowing there was little he could do but proceed as planned and hope his purpose was not discovered.
Jacob ran his hand through his short-cropped hair as he waited
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