Antebellum BK 1 (48 page)

The telegrapher shook his head. “I can’t send a message that’s signed by somebody who claims to be somebody else.”

“
Why not?”

“
It’s a company rule.”

Nancy bit back an impulsive reply and continued in a reasoning tone. “I’m not claiming to be Anna Van Buskirk, sir. I’m identifying the source of the information. A.M. Van Buskirk is a byline, not a person’s name. AM VB is an identifier.”

“
The rule says I gotta verify the sender’s identity.”

“
You know who I am. You’ve seen me here with Anna a dozen times.”

“
That’s not what the rule means.”

She was struggling to maintain her temper. “This makes no sense at all.”

“
Well just sign your own name and be done with it.”

“
The telegraph clerk at the newspaper in New York doesn’t know me,” Nancy argued. “The message might get thrown away or misdirected.”

He shook his head. “Can’t send it.”

“
Can you send it if I sign it Nancy V for AM VB?”

“
I’ll have to charge you for the extra letters.”

“
Fine. Fine. That’s just fine.” She took a deep breath. “Read it back to me, please.”

“
Okay. Let’s see. ‘Pro-Slavery Mister Franklin N. Coleman who is alleged killer of Free-Stater Mister Charles W. Dow surrenders to Territorial Governor Shannon.’” He looked up at Nancy. “If you’d leave out
who is
, abbreviate
mister
,
territorial
and
governor
you’d save yourself a heap.”

“
No. That’s the form the editor insists upon. All individuals must be identified and all titles must be included and spelled out.”

“
Including
mister
?”

“
Yes.”

“
Okay.” He shook his head. “It’s your money. Let’s see. Where was I? Okay, here. ‘Stop. Key witness who is Free-Stater arrested by Territorial Legislature appointed Sheriff Samuel J. Jones. Stop. Bond is set impossibly high.’” He looked at Nancy again. “
Too high
would say the same thing as impossibly high.”

“
I appreciate your concern but
impossibly high
is more accurate.”

“
I don’t see how?”

“
Please.”

“
Okay, okay. Let’s see. ‘Stop. Key witness was rescued by Free-State company. Stop.’”

“
Wait. Please change that to ‘Key witness was rescued by a company of Free-State men.’”

“
That’s a lot more words.”

“
I’ll pay.”

“
You could just say Free-Staters.”

“
I’ll pay for the extra words and extra letters.”

“
Okay. It’s your money. ‘Key witness was rescued by a company of Free-State men. Stop. Governor has mobilized all forces and has requested three thousand reinforcements from Missouri. Stop. War seems imminent. Stop. Nancy V for AM VB.’”

“
Good. How much is that?”

“
Let’s see.” He shook his head sadly as he counted. “Four dollars and nine cents. I warned you.”

Nancy pushed five silver dollars across the counter. “Keep the change.”

“
I can’t do that. The company don’t allow it.”

“
Then please give it to someone else.”

He looked at the coins.

“
You’ll send that right away?”

“
Yup.” He put a dollar in his pocket.

“
Thank you.” She hurried outside, then crossed the street to the boarding house. Robert, wearing civilian clothes, was sitting at a table in the dining room. “That telegrapher is insufferable, Robert. He should be fired,” she said.

Robert stood up and pulled out her chair for her. “That’s his position of power.”

She sat down and let him push in her chair. “What do you mean?”

“
He’s an unimportant man in an unimportant job. Making life difficult for others makes him feel self-important.” Robert reclaimed his chair. “Tea?”

“
I’ll pour.”

“
Nothing from Anna, I gather?”

She shook her head.

“
Looks bad.”

“
Never give up on Anna,” Nancy said. “She never gives up on anything until she gets her way.”

“
Can I ask you a personal question?”

Nancy almost spilled her tea. “Of course.”

“
How do you make a living?”

Nancy giggled. “Oh my. I thought it was going to really be personal.”

He shrugged.

“
My father’s estate provides me with a substantial income,” she said.

“
I thought your father was still alive.”

“
My father died when I was ten and my mother remarried less than a year later. Her husband has been on his deathbed for months, but the bastard’s too inconsiderate to do everyone a favor and die.”

“
Oh.” Robert took a moment to regain his train of thought. “Does Anna reimburse you for the expenses you incur on her behalf?”

“
I don’t need it. I never spend even half of my monthly allowance.”

“
Still, you shouldn’t be spending your money for her business.”

Nancy looked puzzled. “What’s this sudden concern about money?”

“
I don’t want my sister taking advantage of my future wife.”

Nancy choked on her tea, knocked over her cup and groped for her napkin.

“
Not the reaction I’d hoped for,” Robert said.

It took some time for Nancy to recover enough to reply. “Do I have anything to say about this?”

“
No.” He signaled the waiter. “We have a spill here.”

“
How mortifyingly clumsy.” She blotted up tea, then moved back to give the waiter room.

Robert waited until the tablecloth had been changed and the settings replaced. “You can say no, but please don’t.”

She looked him in the eyes. “I won’t say no, but I won’t say yes until we’ve been to bed together a few times.”

He chuckled. “I thought the whole idea of…”

She raised her hand to stop him. “I lost my virginity and my innocence when I was eleven.” She leaned closer to him. “I like you, Robert. I like you a lot. I always have. But if we’re not good in bed together, we’ll never be more than friends. Okay?”

“
Okay.”

“
No argument?”

“
No. It makes sense. But… It makes sense.”

“
Good. Pay for our tea. My landlady is an old prig. We’ll have to use your hotel room.”

“
Now?”

“
Why not? You might as well see the woman you’ve proposed to naked in broad daylight.”

“
Waiter?” Robert raised his hand. “Check, please.”

December 1, 1855

Lawrence, Kansas

S
amuel J. Jones, sheriff of Douglas County, pounded on the hotel room door. “I know you’re in there, Colonel Van Buskirk. Don’t make me bust this door down.”

The door opened violently and Robert Van Buskirk pushed the muzzle of his pistol into the sheriff’s surprised face. “Go away.” Robert was wearing only a pair of unbuttoned trousers.

Jones staggered backward. “I got orders from the Governor to…”

“
I don’t care about your orders or the Governor. My orders come from Washington and neither you nor the citizens of Lawrence will get any U.S. troops. I’m not involved. Is that perfectly clear?” He pushed with the pistol.

Jones backed up until he bumped into the door of the room across the hall. “You’re involved whether you like it or not. We’ve got this whole town surrounded. We can hold it under siege or destroy it.”

“
I’m here on my honeymoon. Besiege Lawrence or destroy it as you will. But I’ll kill the next man that disturbs me and my bride.” He slammed the door, locked it and propped a chair against it.

Nancy was sitting up in bed with a pillow covering her bare breasts. “Maybe we should find another hotel in another town.”

“
I’ve got orders to stay here and monitor the situation.” He put his pistol on the nightstand and dropped his trousers. “What were we doing before we were so rudely interrupted?”

She tossed the pillow on the floor and held out her arms to him. “We were making up for all the lost years that we didn’t spend together. I think we’re caught up to about 1840.”

Robert started to reach for her but stopped short when someone knocked on the door. “Shit.”

“
Colonel Van Buskirk,” a man called through the door. “This is United States Congressman James Henry Lane.”

“
Double shit.” Robert sat down on the edge of the bed and began pulling on his pants.

“
I’ll go.” Nancy bounded out of bed, ran naked to the door, kicked the chair out of the way and swung the door open just far enough to peek around it. “Yes.”

“
Uh, Ma’am. I’m sorry to intrude on your honeymoon, but the situation here is desperate. The town is about to erupt in violence. This hotel will be a primary target for cannon fire.”

“
Thank you for telling us. Good bye.” She started to push the door closed but the congressman blocked it with his foot. Nancy peeked out again. “You are being a pest, sir.”

“
We need the army,” Lane said. “I am ordering your husband to mobilize the troops at Fort Leavenworth.”

“
Tell him that he’s a civilian and that I just told Sheriff Jones that I don’t take orders from civilians,” Robert shouted.

“
My husband says that he doesn’t take orders from civilians,” Nancy said.

“
There are five thousand Pro-Slavery men out there,” Lane insisted. “We have only eight hundred Free-Staters to defend this town and the people in it.”

“
Your men are armed with Sharps rifles,” Robert answered. “Sheriff Jones knows that and he knows that you have cannon. He might probe a bit with skirmishers, but he’s not going to attack. In a few days, the Governor will send a negotiating party. When he does, I advise you to make peace and let the people of Lawrence go on with their business.”

“
Are you just going to layup here in this hotel room forever?” Lane challenged angrily.

“
Not forever,” Robert replied, “but for another fifteen years, at least.”

“
What?”

Nancy pulled the door open and stepped toward Lane. When he fell back in shock, she slammed the door. “Where were we?”

“
1840,” Robert chuckled and pointed to Nancy’s breasts. “I never knew that those things could back a man up as quickly as a six-shooter.”

“
The direction men go depends upon how they’re used.” Nancy was halfway back to the bed when there was another knock on the door. “What?” she shouted.

“
Telegram for Mrs. Van Buskirk,” a timid male voice replied.

Nancy looked confused. “She’s not here.”

“
Yes she is,” Robert called. “Slip it under the door and see the desk clerk for your tip, please.”

Nancy went back to the door and knelt to retrieve the telegram. “Why did you tell him that…” She laughed as she read the form. “Mrs. Nancy Van Buskirk. That’s me.”

“
I know. Who’s it from?”

“
Anna.” She tore it open. “Congratulations, Sister. Tell Jack good news coming soon. Love, Anna.”

“
Get back in bed,” Robert said.

She shook her head. “We need to tell Jack.”

Robert reached over his head and pounded on the wall. “Jack?”

“
What?” came a muted reply.

“
Did you hear that?”

“
No. I’m trying not to hear.”