The Last Patrol

[Elegant Ella]

"Carrie Moore never did exist," responded Ella.  "It is unsatisfying that Moore will not be blamed for murdering the children, but too many people would consider that they were his property to dispose of as he saw fit.  You are right that it is better to close the story with Carrie left in peace with her family here."

[Scarlet Angel]

The group mounted up and moved out. It was already afternoon and Black beard wanted to make to a safe place to camp before dark.

He looked over at Scarlet who rode next to him. "Do ignorant questions bother you?"

She looked back. "Only ignorant one is the one that goes unasked I been told."

"Well this is going to be one." He said almost to embarrassed to ask.

"I'm sure I'll come up with some for you sometime." She responded.

"I've never met women like you and Ella. I'd hate to see the two of you gang up on Marshal Ross. You speak your mind and are smart enough to make a point hard to argue if need be. Most women are so quiet. What I mean is the only smart ones I have ever met have been teachers, some nurses but many of those take orders from the Drs you don't realize they really do know much more. Why are women so quiet and let folks think they are not smart."

A soft smile played on Scarlet's lips. "Most women are raised to be seen and not heard. Their opinions only matter to most men when they are behind closed doors. My mother is not like that. She didn't raise me to be that way, although I do know when I should only be there to decorate the surroundings. They are sent to schools and educated, have opinions on many subjects." Scarlet leaned close to him. "You should meet his wife. Want to talk about an educated woman with opinions she is not afraid to share."

Black beard chuckled. "I would like that sometime."

"You've never asked a woman her opinion on something?"

"To long riding with a bunch of men Scarlet. My ma had opinions but she was a teacher. She taught me to be respectful to the ladies. Spending so much time in the saddle there are only a few things a man seeks a woman's attention for, her opinions are not one of them."

"One of these days maybe you'll have more time to seek conversation with the ladies."

"You two ladies intrigue me and I may just do that."

"Were your marriages prearranged? I ask because of the way you speak of women being viewed as property."

"No, I married for love and I think I was lucky to find that a second time."

"You're father approved though?"

"The first time yes, the second took some convincing but I think he is glad he approved."

"He didn't like your second husband?"

"He didn't think he liked the color of my husband's uniform." Scarlet lowered her voice quoting her fathers words. "It's one thing to ride with them and fight with them but to   
marry one into the family."

"Miss Scarlet are meaning to tell me a daughter of the south married a Yankee soldier?"

The thought of Fritz made her smile and her eyes seemed to dance.

"Well if the very thought of him brings a smile like that to your face then I can tell you why your father approved."

[Elegant Ella]

The banter between Black beard and Scarlet was lightening Ella's mood.  By comparison with women in eastern cities, women out here in the West got more respect from men.  Maybe some of that was because a wife's homestead claim could double the size of the ranch, and her labor in the fields and corrals could make the difference between success and failure. 

Ella had heard some of the hands at the Starr talk about other places they had worked.  The quality of the food had come right after the reliability of payday in determining how desirable an employer was to work for.

"Black beard, one problem you might have seeking conversation with the ladies is that one look at you, and every man in the area is going to be hiding his womenfolk away, to protect them from being carried off by a pirate!" called Ella cheerily.

[Scarlet Angel]

"And that they should Lass." He laughed mischievously. "but apparently rogues who the womenfolk are told to stay away from hold some appeal to the fiery beauties."   He laughed again.

[Elegant Ella]

"You should be just as happy that the menfolk can filter out women who would bore you. A woman who obeys a command to stay away from possible danger is not a good candidate for a pirate queen." 

[Scarlet Angel]

"Well now" Black Beard said running his hand through his beard. "You make a good point their me beauty. You know I would offer to buy one of ya, or both would be even better, from yer husbands but I overheard the lesson on property. For which you two proud beauties are not so I be guessing you cannot be purchased. I will have to continue to seek one who is available." He looked back at Ella with a grin that told her he was enjoying the conversation. "I am happy my two sisters are watchin' out for me and any potential queen of mine will have to be able to pass their approval."

[Elegant Ella]

"You will have to come visit El Paso," replied Ella, thinking of some rancher daughters, the sister of one rancher's wife, and a couple of the working girls at the Ace.  "I know a few candidates for you."

[Scarlet Angel]

"Ahh another invite to this place called El Paso." He winked. "These candidates are they as pretty and firery as the two of you? You know my name sake was said to have many wives. I don't think I want to many at once. I'm still trying to figure out how the Marshal there survives working with a group of headstrong women and goes home ta one to boot."

[Elegant Ella]

"Pretty is a matter of opinion.  Some of these candidates may need a little encouragement to shed the shackles of conventional behaviour, but the potential for being fiery is there," replied Ella.  "But you wouldn't want to be married to more than one fiery lady at one time.  You have to pick docile women if you want multiple wives.  No firey lady would accept being second in your affections."

[Scarlet Angel]

"Docile women don't hold my interest for very long." He said reining his horse in. "We'll stay here tonight, cold camp. You mean to tell me you ladies don't like yer man to share his affections."  He said teasingly.

A snort escaped Tensleep as he dismounted.

"As willing to be second in a husband's affections as you would be willing to share a wife's attentions with another man." Replied Ella.

"Sharing my husband's affections is not an option." Scarlet retorted.

They all shared a laugh.

[1stSgt Fritz King]

Bill walked into his tent.  Fritz started to stand, but Bill waved him down.

Bill was carrying a bottle...not a good sign.  He sat heavily in the camp stool next to Fritz's field desk.

It was then that Fritz noticed the straps.

"I don't believe it!"

Bill sighed.  "Neither do I.  Most of my career I've been..."

Fritz finished.  "...a long-service Captain!"

They shared a laugh.  Fritz dumped the contents from his tin cup as Bill pulled the cork.

"So you're a Major now.  That'd put you in command of the Regiment, right?"

"Yeah," Bill answered.  "And you know how much I hate politics."

Fritz took a sip.  It was good stuff.  "So, who'll take the Company?"

Bill set his old Captain's straps on the desk.  "You will."

Fritz blinked.  He didn't know what to say.

"Captain...I mean Major...this isn't what I came here for."

"Fritz, I need someone I trust to command I Company.  You've done it before."

"But that was ony because you were wounded," Fritz replied.

"Don't sell yourself short.  You were the right man after the Shenadoah, and you're the right man now."

Reluctantly, Fritz picked up the straps.  They seemed heavier than they really were.
 

[Elegant Ella]

After a bit more banter, they settled down for the night. 

Ella was on watch when she heard Scarlet struggling with a dream.  She touched her shoulder and called her name, "Scarlet, wake up."

Scarlet opened her eyes, "I was dreaming about Moore.  Carrie's testimony was kinder to his memory than he deserved!  If she had not kept her spirit and endured his abuse, we might have had to track down a sadistic rapist."

"Oh, yes," agreed Ella, "I asked Carrie some more questions while I was examining her, but she said she didn't want to repeat that testimony in front of her husband or any men.  I wrote it down in case we need it later."  Ella sighed, "The only thing that kept her alive and sane was her love for her children.  I dreamed of a happy future for Carrie, with three more children that she will insist learn to speak and read English."

"Do you want children, Ella?"

"Honestly, I don't know.  I grew up expecting to have some, because producing children is a religious duty for a Jewish couple.  I worried about never getting pregant, but Deborah checked me over and said there was no visible problem preventing it.  I tried all the fertility treatments I had during the second and third year we were married.  Once Alan was working to save money to get to Vienna, I stopped trying so hard."  Ella sighed, "Barrenness, defined as no children after 10 years of marriage, is easy grounds for a divorce.  The cast-off wife is pitied by the congregation."

"How long have you been married?"

"10 years as of last week."

"But how many of those years has Alan been away?"

"Just the last three.   The rabbis probably would take that into account, but they might also decide I had deserted Alan by refusing to come to Boston when he summoned me.  If Alan wants a divorce, I have to expect that the rabbis will grant it."  Ella shrugged, "I don't think my relationship with the congregation in El Paso would change.  They appreciate my healing skills, and the training I have given the other midwives.  Based on records, my presence in El Paso County has significantly reduced the number of mothers and babies lost in childbirth," Ella said proudly.

Scarlet smiled "I would not worry about your standing in the community of El Paso, and you will not have to worry about where you will go or how you will survive if you or Alan wants a divorce.  So what does your church say if it is the husband who is infertile? Is he cast off and pitied by the congregation?"

"I don't think anyone ever thinks that the husband might be the reason for the lack of children.  Only a husband can divorce his wife.  If a wife has good reason to divorce her husband, such as infidelity or cruelty, she can ask the rabbi, maybe asking by way of his wife, to intervene.  The rabbi can then convince the husband to give his wife a divorce.  'Give a divorce' is really how it works.  The rabbis issue a divorce document, but it does not take effect until the husband hands it to his wife."

"No wonder there are women like Carrie out there," Scarlet snorted.

"At least the Jewish marriage laws do provide a mechanism for a wife to escape an abusive or a drunkard or a spendthrift husband.  Carrie would have had to complain to a judge, who could easily take Moore's word over hers, even if she had obvious signs of abuse.  The only real protection a woman has against an abusive husband is being part of a community, so that her word is supported.  And that isn't much protection, as long as so many men and women think a husband has a right to beat a disobedient wife, and that any wife who gets beaten must have done something to deserve the punishment."

[Scarlet Angel]

Scarlet got up and rolled up her bed roll. "Carrie reminds me a lot of Trixie. Hopefully none of Moore's friends will hunt her like an animal until she finds someone who will protect her. I hope she finds peace here. We all deserve that."

She noticed Lucky watching something in the distance. His head was raised, one ear was forward while the other rotated back and forth. His nostrils were wide, there was something definitely in the wind.

"Is that hunting party we talked to out there." Scarlet asked Ella.

[Elegant Ella]

"I don't know," replied Ella.  "Tensleep spotted their fire and said they let it go out while he was on watch.  Black beard said he thought they had not noticed us.  But Lucky is acting like someone is moving closer.   I have some of Doctor Bill's illumination shells for my shotgun, if we want to shed some light and make it obvious that we are here and alert.  Let's waken the others." 

[Scarlet Angel]

"If they don't know we are here I wouldn't want to let them know by shooting off one of those illumination shells. If they are headed in." Scarlet paused and looked over at Lucky again. He had turned to face a different direction, both ears rotated now. She narrowed her eyes in the direction of Lucky's. "If they are watching us it might give they an advantage, I'm not sure."

Lucky swung his head and snorted. Scarlet buckled on her gun belt and picked up her rifle then woke up Tensleep and Blackbeard.

[Elegant Ella]

Once the others were up and looking to see if they could spot anything, Ella slung her rifle over her back, and started saddling Aaron.  "I don't know if we're going to need to hide, talk, fight or run," she said quietly, "but running is the option that needs the most preparation." 

[Scarlet Angel]

Scarlet put Lucky's saddle on and pulled the cinch snug. The stallion dipped his head and pinned his ears then flipped them forward.

"Hello." The voice came as the man rode in.

Tensleep and Black beard faded into the background hoping they'd not been seen.

The man looked like he hadn't seen a bath in some time.

Ella had finished saddling Aaron. Lucky was missing a bridle as were Tensleep and Black beard's horses.

"What can we do for you?" Ella asked looking the man over. He looked like he'd recently been in a fight but didn't require any medical attention.

"You have any coffee? Been on the trail for a long time."

"You alone?" Scarlet asked.

"Yes ma'am" he said removing his hat.

The way Lucky was still watching the distance and rotating his ears Scarlet figured the man for a liar.

"I'm sorry we don't have anything." Ella replied.

"You ladies alone?" He asked.

"We don't have anything mister you might as well keep moving." Ella responded.

As Scarlet watched the man she wondered if Ella was smelling the same thing she was, most likely what Lucky had been smelling for some time that had made him nervous. It was faint from where she stood but she'd smelled burning human flesh enough to not mistake it for anything else, even a faint smell of it. 

[Elegant Ella]

She and Scarlet must have been talking too loud, and the breeze had carried the sound towards the fire that Tensleep had noticed. 

The smell coming from the man was making Ella feel queasy.  Some people said that human flesh smelled like pork cooking, but they must never have actually encountered a burnt human being. 

Well, it sure wasn't the first time an outlaw had arranged to be reported dead while he changed territories and laid low.  Ella was confident that Scarlet had already identified their visitor as Firehorse Charley.  There weren't any stages out here to rob, but he had found some poor soul to burn alive.  Probably an Indian. 

Ella slipped her left hand into the opening that gave her access to her hidden gun while she put her right hand on the grip of the pistol in the cross draw holster and repeated firmly, "There is nothing here for you.  Move on."

She was trying to keep his attention on her while listening for sign that Scarlet, Black beard and Tensleep had found the others.  Probably only one or two others, she thought.  Having Aaron at her back was a comfort, since it reduced the chance that someone was sneaking up behind her, but it also limited her ability to dodge if he grabbed for her.  If she couldn't dodge, she would have to shoot. 

[1stSgt Fritz King]

Bill stuck his head out the tent flap, and motioned for the orderly.

"Find Trumpeter Sergeant Powell, and have him sound 'Assembly.'"

The young man saluted and was off.  Bill put his slouch on and asked, "Are you ready for this?"

Fritz buckled his prairie belt over his hips.  "If I said no, would it make any difference?"

"No."

Bill left the tent.  Fritz fell in a step behind and a step to the left.  As they walked, the familiar sound of 'Assembly' played.  Men grabbed carbines and saber belts and ran for the parade deck.  Fritz heard Scott getting the men in line.  By the time the final note fell, the formation was 'dress right dress.'

Scott stood at attention, centered and six paces in front of the formation.  Fritz approached, and Scott rendered a salute.  "Sir, the Company is formed," he said.

Fritz returned the salute and replied, "Take your post, First Sergeant."

Scott stepped off, taking his place behind the formation.  Fritz executed an about face, and waited for Major Schurmann.  The process was repeated, however, this time Fritz boxed the Major, standing once again, one pace to the left, and one to the rear.

"Stand at ease men," Bill called.  Once the men relaxed, he continued.  "As you can see, the unthinkable has occurred."  The older men laughed.  The younger ones weren't sure of what to make of it.

"I've been promoted to Major.  As such, the Company will need a new Commanding Officer.  I've promoted Lieutenant King to Captain."  The older men nodded approvingly.  The young men were still lost.

"He commanded the unit in my absence in '64 and '65, and did an outstanding job.  I know he'll do the same now.  I trust you will give him the same courtesy and respect that you have always given me.  Captain King...front and center!"

Fritz stepped forward and stood before his old friend, rendering a salute.  "Your orders, sir?"

"Take charge of your Company...and get those straps mounted.  You're out of uniform."

Fritz nodded.  "Aye, sir."

Bill dropped his salute and marched away.  Fritz faced about, looking at expectant faces.           
 

[Scarlet Angel]

"Maybe you ladies could use an escort." He responded to Ella.

Ella was doing a good job keeping Charley's attention.

"Mr. she said you could move on." Scarlet said.

Charley looked in Scarlet's direction. He was surprised to see the barrel of a large bore rifle leveled over the horse's saddle. He shifted in his saddle irritated he'd missed the movement of the woman who stood on the other side of the horse, more irritated he couldn't get a good look at if she wore a belt like the woman he had been talking to.

"That's a hell of a gun for a lady." He said turning his head to see if she had seen one of his partners. "Are there buffalo out there, maybe we'll have something to eat after all."

"Mister if that's yer boy out there you better call him in or ride out of here with him, other wise I'm gonna put a hole through his chest." Scarlet replied pulling the hammer back.

"How you know there is someone out there and what makes you think he's with me?"

"I can smell him and the glowing end of that cheap cigar he's smokin' makes a perfect head target when he sucks on it. Ever seen what one of these will do to the head of a human. Tell him to keep his hands where I can see 'em too."

"He's not with me." Charley said.

Scarlet's eyes narrowed he was irritating her. "Mister, been my experience only people followin' you would be your partners or the law. That ain't no law man out there."

"What makes you think the law would be following me?"

Scarlet saw Black beard's figure sneak up behind the man who was watching her from the shadow. The cigar fell to the ground and the man was pulled from the horse, the light from the cigar went out.

Scarlet swung the sharps at him. "You're wanted in seven states Charley, you've never been known to ride alone. How many are with you?"

Charley glared at Scarlet then at Ella wondering who they were.