The North needs that cotton. They want Texas so bad they’ve gathered a
campaign together to try and take her. They want the cotton, the shipping yards, and control. All but Galveston Bay has been secured, and that is only a time element there. But in the meantime, Arkansas has taken a beating. We’ve lost men we can’t afford to lose. Men from many states have died on this soil.”
The general wasn’t telling him anything new. It had spread through camp how Arkansas had practically been taken over by the Federals. He’d helped bury them; he’d seen it firsthand. All the men were restless at this point. A victory sure would help.
But Jesse knew there was something the general was trying to hint at, so he remained silent and attentive.
“In short we must not let the southern half of the state be dominated by Federals, no matter the cost. The Red River Campaign must be stopped and pushed back. There is a big movement planned. They call it the Red River Valley war. At all costs we must save Texas from being overrun. Texas offers not only the cotton, but the shipping means for the north if they get a hold of it.” The general cleared his throat and began looking at his maps. “Arkansas must hold what we have left. We cannot under any circumstances lose the rest of this state. If we do we might as well consider the war lost on this side of the Mississippi.”
“Yes, sir.”
“But there are some elements to our fight that some are not aware of. One of the elements is a woman. A beautiful woman called The Black Widow.”
“Yes, sir. I’ve heard of her.” Jesse cleared his throat remembering the vision at the creek and the sergeant’s words.
“Do you know anything about her?” The general looked curious.
“No, sir, I mean, I was told about her not in detail, but that she was a spy.”
“That’s the truth. She is a spy for the Union forces and somehow she always seems to know where we are going and what we are doing and informs on us. At least in this neck of the woods. If we can stop her, we can stop some of the casualties. Naturally, that’s not to say there haven’t been mistakes made by some of our leading generals, but we’ve got to push them back.”
“Yes, sir,” Jesse stirred restlessly in the wooden chair, wondering where the conversation was going. “But exactly how are you plannin’ to stop her, sir?”
“This is where you come in, Lieutenant.” The general smiled coyly.
“Beggin’ your pardon, sir. I don’t understand.” Jesse stirred restlessly.
“Of course you don’t. But you will. You see, you are gonna be
our
spy, and you are going to intercept her and hopefully bring her to trial.”
“I’m what, sir?” Jesse gulped and jumped to attention, sure he hadn’t heard the general correctly. “You want me to spy, sir?”
“That’s right.” He glanced up with a chuckle. “Not an entirely unpleasant experience, I assure you, if you’ve seen The Black Widow.”
“I’ve gotten a glimpse,” Jesse answered, but mulling over what the general expected of him, he was still puzzled.
The general moved about the tent restlessly, his hands behind his back.
Jesse would have paced and argued, too, had he had any preparation. But of course this was a general and arguing the point could prove to his disadvantage.
If the order came down from such a rank, the plan was already in force and he could do nothing but go along. The last thing he wanted on earth was to harm the beautiful creature at the creek.
“But why me, sir?”
“You were chosen for two reasons, son. You are known for keeping your mouth shut, a trait not many carry these days, and you’re quite possibly the best-looking man in our troops. You see, we officers took a vote, and you won, hands down.”
The general laughed as though it were some kind of private joke.
“You’re kidding, right, sir?”
“Not at all.” The general stared at him with puzzlement.
“But a spy, sir? I’ve never done that kind of work. I’m in the infantry,” Jesse added as though the general didn’t know where he belonged.
“I’m well aware of that. It doesn’t take an expert to romance a woman, Lieutenant. And I would presume in your position that that would be the best and easiest way to handle the situation.” The general replied. “Of course if you can figure out another way, fine. She is holed up here.” He pointed to a place on the map of northern Arkansas with a long stick. Jesse stood and studied the map.
He’d been about the area many times as a picket and skirmisher. It was full of
thickets and hard to move through. “You’re job will be to gain her confidence and try to bring her in.”
“But, sir….”
“You see, this is about the last thing she’ll be expecting. With her out of commission, it will be one less hassle to deal with.”
“What will happen to her if I do manage to somehow bring her in?”
“She’ll be imprisoned until trial. What happens next depends on how it goes.
The courts are easier on a woman in the south who is working for the North.
Usually, that is.” The general smiled at him.
Jesse had never refused an order, and he reckoned he wouldn’t be refusing this one, but he certainly didn’t want to obey it. He came to fight, not romance a woman. Besides, she was more experienced than he at espionage. How could he outsmart her?
“Wouldn’t Captain Barnett be a better choice than I, sir?” Jesse offered. “If I’m not mistaken, he’s from this area, and he outranks me, too.”
“Barnett is a married man. We couldn’t ask him to do such a thing.” The general shook his head. “I’m afraid you are the most appropriate pick among the troops. Handsome, tight-lipped, and honest. How could she not fall for you?”
“You think she’s gonna fall in love with me?” Jesse almost laughed at such a presumption.
“Of course, if you play your cards right. We figure you might need to be wounded. You know, to play on her sympathy. If you succeed, you will get a promotion for your fine work. Being a woman, naturally she’ll nurse you back to health, and that’s where you pour on the charm and entice her. Once you have her trust and vulnerability, she should be easy to take.”
“Wounded? But, sir….” The idea sounded crazy to Jesse. He’d become an expert rifleman. He had handled guns since he was a kid. He had even moved up in rank to lieutenant, but spying didn’t appeal to him, and he wanted more than anything to refuse the position.
“Lieutenant, there is an officer’s commission waiting for you if you succeed.
Understand?”
“Yes, sir. I guess I do. But wounded? Romancing a woman?” Jesse wished he could get out of the assignment but the adamant way his commander talked, he couldn’t object much more without a problem.
“It’s a perfect cover. She’s a woman. She’ll have to take you in. You’ll be given further orders as we near her campgrounds. She’s a squatter on an old farm property and works from there. At least this is the information we have at the moment. But she moves from time to time so you will have to get word to us. All this will be explained later. Just relax. In four days, you will meet the Black Widow. We can’t anticipate how long it will take you to gain her trust, but we aren’t that worried about the time as you will keep her busy until you arrest her anyway.”
“Does she have a name?” Jesse asked. “I mean a real name?”
“You’ll have to ask her.” The general smiled. “Don’t worry, son. I have all the confidence in the world that you can handle this.”
Jesse wasn’t convinced. “Excuse me, sir, but I don’t even have a girlfriend.”
“That’s even better. No jealousy to worry over. You are perfect for the job. Now that I’ve met you, I am certain of it. Just perfect. Don’t look so discouraged. Most men would jump at the chance to romance her and bring her in. She’s very beautiful.”
“Well, of course sir, but….”
The general smiled confidently. “It’s much easier to get involved when you’re not already involved, Lieutenant. I almost envy you. She’s so lovely.”
Jesse tried to relax, but he already didn’t like his assignment.
“Despite your reluctance, I like your style, Lieutenant. You are perfect for the job. Yes, sir, you’ll do just fine.”
Jesse walked out of the tent in a daze. How had it happened? How had he managed to get an assignment with the most beautiful woman in the world, and how was he supposed to bring her in? It didn’t make sense. How could he do something like that? How could he hurt her so?
***
“Maggie, we better get out of here. They’ll be comin’ back to bury their dead. I told you before, we got just a few minutes after they quit firin’ to get this done,”
Old Crazy Harry muttered as he scrambled through another dead soldier’s clothes. The old black man looked up then continued to rummage through each pocket. When he dug out some money, he bit into it and found it real. He stuck it in his coat. Pulling a watch out, he put that in his pocket, too. Then he glanced at Maggie again.
“I done showed you everything I knowed about robbin’ the dead, and was happy to do it fer ya, but you done lost your mind, girl.” Harry shook his head at her. “I told you, you can’t get involved with any of these men. They are all soldiers, rebels in fact.”
“Harry, I don’t think this one is dead.” She eyed the slight movement of the wounded man’s chest.
“Girl, what you thinkin’? You better get your head on straight because they gonna be movin’ this way any time now. I’m outta here. You wanna stay, you’ll be caught, ‘cause I ain’t hangin’ around fer it. You’re gonna have to get out of here, too.”
“I hear ya, only, Harry, he’s still breathing,” Maggie cried out as she stared down at the rebel lying in the tall weeds. His shirt had been ripped open by a bullet. Powder marks blackened his skin near his bleeding shoulder wound. Her first thought was that he'd been killed at close range, then she thought she saw him draw breath. She stared at the massive, bulging muscles. When he moaned, she squatted to feel his heart, her hand caressing his big chest as ripples of awareness shot through her. Awareness that both shocked and pleased her. She smiled. Her reactions startled even her.
She’d lost her mind. The routine was simple. Wait until the army was gone, then go through the pockets of the dead to take anything of use or worth selling.
It never amounted to much, but it helped keep her alive. No one had ever caught them. Old Crazy Harry had been the only friend she had on the mountain, a crafty thief who had survived through the war so far. But even he was skeptical of helping a dying reb. Maggie couldn’t take her eyes from this soldier, young and handsome, and not dead.
The soldier’s eyes opened to slits and he looked at her. “Are you an angel?” he managed to mutter.
Maggie nearly laughed. “No honey, I’m no angel.” Her hand remained on his chest. His heartbeat quickened for a moment.
“I’m getting’ out of here and if you know what’s best, so will you,” Old Crazy Harry told her. “This was just a bunch of skirmishers. The rebs will be out to bury their own. We gotta move.”
Grateful for his knowledge and craft of stealing from the dead, Maggie easily forgave Crazy Harry for not wanting to linger. At his age he couldn’t afford to get caught. He’d probably die in jail.
“He’s alive. What if no one shows up for him, or worse still, the federals get to him first. We can't just leave him here…can we?” Maggie protested. “I need help.
He’s too big. I can’t lift him alone. You got to help me, Harry.”
“Lawdy, Miss Maggie, you done lost your mind. If he’s alive, let them take care of him.” Harry stuffed his pockets and moved quickly to the next soldier as he spoke. “Besides, the Federals catch him in your place, they’ll have you for supper.”
“Help me get him up there, please,” she pleaded. Her eyes filled with unshed tears as she tried to pick the soldier up herself.
Old Crazy Harry stared at the man, then at her. The big man didn’t budge despite her determined efforts. “They’ll kick you out of that place. You been livin’
around here nigh on to two years now. Wasn’t for the Federals, you’d have been hauled off by the Confederates to jail and you knows it. Everything is going fine, and you want to mess it up with this man. You gonna ruin it all for a reb? A white man at that.”
“It ain’t like that, Harry, but I can’t leave him to die!”
“Damnation girl, I’m not blind. I know what’s goin’ on.” Old Crazy Harry shook his head and bent to carry the man to her cabin just so she’d hush up, she reckoned. “I want no part of this.”
The soldier squirmed and fought in delirium, so she hit him on the head with the butt of her gun.
Harry stared at her in disbelief. “You tryin’ to kill him? That don’t make no sense. I ain’t never gonna do this again, you hear me, girl? Never.”
“Just help me get him to my place is all I ask. We gotta hurry, you said.” She checked the stranger, and he moaned softly, but did not open his eyes.
“I must be crazy, too! Look, you send him on his way once you heal him. You hear? Or you are gonna have some trouble, girl. I knew somethin’ like this would happen sooner or later. You stuck up here on a mountain, by yourself, with no family. You was bound to latch on to someone in all this time, but why didn’t you get yourself a black man?”
Maggie put her hands on her hips and stared at Harry. “Well, there ain't many black men fightin' for the South, not like the Yankees got.”
“I done seen it in your eyes. You got eyes for this one.” Harry grunted.
“I just want to help him. But thanks, Harry, and you keep quiet you hear?” she warned him.
“I don’t want no trouble. I didn’t see nothin’,” Harry exclaimed as he toted the soldier to her cabin in the woods. “No, sir, I didn’t see nothin’.”
“Thanks, Harry, I owe you,” she whispered as the big black man hauled the soldier into her shack.
He laid him on her bed and looked at her. “It’s your neck. I warned you. But, I reckon everyone is entitled to some companionship. A body gets lonely in these hills.”
“I don’t.” She stopped. She didn’t rightly know why she needed to save the wounded man. “I can’t help it, Harry. There’s somethin’ about him….”
“You’re crazier than me. Yes, sir, you are.” Harry moved to the door. “I didn’t see nothin’.”