Baptism Of Fire (Reuben Cole - The Early Years Book 3)

Book summary

In "Baptism Of Fire," set amidst the turmoil of the Civil War in 1863, Reuben Cole, a young Union scout stationed at Fort Nelson, becomes entangled in the mysterious murder of his Native scout friend, Given Sky. Amidst a backdrop of treacherous renegades and a conflicted commanding officer, Cole embarks on a perilous journey to capture Confederate fugitives, uncovering the truth about Given Sky's death and uncovering hidden facets of his own character along the way.

Excerpt from Baptism Of Fire (Reuben Cole - The Early Years Book 3)

1863 Kentucky

As the years rolled on, so did the War. Reuben Cole, still young, grew into a hardened, successful scout, trusted by those who rode alongside him, by the men who served in the ranks and by the officers who looked to him for help and guidance. Honing his skills, both in scouting and fighting, he donned buckskin clothes and exchanged his old Paterson for a brace of 1861 Navy Colts that several of his fellow troopers preferred. It was this gun that helped him overcome a desperado named Shapiro.

By now Cole was based in Camp Nelson in Kentucky, a sprawling collection of hundreds of buildings. Not only were there the usual barracks, mess houses, a makeshift hospital and jailhouse, but there were also additional constructions set up by private individuals. Saloons, eating houses, fruit and vegetable stalls, all thrived alongside the most popular of all businesses – the photography studio. Young recruits, eager to send mementoes back to their folks in faraway New York and Chicago, stood in long lines dressed in freshly pressed uniforms, some with their naturally blond hair dyed dark brown to show up in the final prints. Cole would watch them from afar, amused and always detached. He had no desire to have any memories of this ghastly war and his part in it.

Summoned to his Commanding Officer’s quarters one morning, he stood with his hat clasped in front of him, studying the green-jacketed Sergeant-Major standing a little away from the Colonel’s desk.

“This is First-Sergeant Cavendish of the Second Regiment of Sharpshooters,” explained the Colonel without any preamble. “He and his men have been seconded to this post to aid us in the capture of a bunch of Rebel vagabonds who are raiding Union supply wagons and selling their wares to the Confederacy. So far, we have lost guns, ammunition of all types, and horses, of course. They need to be stopped.”

Cole nodded. “And you want me to track ‘em?”

“That’s about it. Once they are located, Cavendish and his men will take charge. His orders are to destroy this gang with all due thoroughness. In other words, Cole – the Army wants them dead.”

The Sergeant cleared his throat. “If I may, sir?” Colonel Mathieson nodded and sat back in his chair. “Except for their leader,” said Cavendish, his voice unemotional. “A man called Shapiro. He is to be taken alive, if at all possible, and put on public trial so that the Rebs know we have broken up their operation.”

“All right,” said Cole. “Do we have any idea where these raiders might be?”

“Quite aways,” said Mathieson.

“Mexican border was last we heard,” said Cavendish.

Cole blinked and had to swallow hard before continuing. “Mexican … but we can’t go down there, Colonel! It’s a journey of—”

“I know how far away it is, Cole,” said Mathieson, leaning forward. “News came through from numerous sources so we’re pretty sure it’s accurate. Shapiro is holed up in a bordello not far from the Mexican border. It’s in what we have come to know as the New Mexican Territory. You will travel with Sergeant Cavendish here and you will find him, extricate him, and bring him back. There is no other way to say this Cole – you have your orders, now get to it.”

Cole had grown friendly with the small group of Indian scouts who were attached to the regiment. They were tough, small in stature but huge in courage. Most of them were Crow but one of them was Arapaho and his name, loosely translated, was Given Sky. It was always a name that intrigued Cole and when pressed, the young Indian finally relented and explained. “My mother would leave me in the center of our village when I was a tiny child, the world moving all around me without me noticing anything. All I would do, every day, was stare at the open sky. I felt so calm, the blueness so beautiful. I would never cry, not until she lifted me in her arms and took me into the wikiup. Then I would wail like a mad coyote. As soon as she took me outside to watch the sky, my cries would cease. She said, ‘I will give you the sky’ and that is what she did, through my name.”

Cole loved that story. He loved those scouts, their easy manner, their calm resilience. When out on the trail, forever watchful, concentrating on every single blade of broken grass, every scuffed-up area of dirt; he’d learned so much from them. In the evenings they would sit, often not talking, and sink within themselves, pondering on the day they had spent and the next one to come. He liked that. It struck him that this kind of quiet reflection made them better scouts so he too took to following their example. The results, although not instant, certainly seemed to confirm his initial thoughts and as his skills developed, he honed to such a degree that even the Native scouts bowed to his greater insights and acknowledged him as the best among them.

It was a cold, grey morning a day or so before he was meant to leave when he came across Given Sky’s body, stuffed behind some packing cases next to the Fat Belly Saloon. Wide-open eyes stared out from a stone-white face and the blood, which had spilt down from his ripped-out throat, dried black over his chest.

They said a wild dog, gone mad with disease, was responsible. But how could a dog then drag him behind those crates, thought Cole perplexed, as if hiding him from discovery?

“You found him easily enough, didn’t you,” asked Colonel Mathieson when Cole reported the Arapaho’s death.

“It was dogs that led me to him.”

“Well, there you are then,” said Mathieson, leaning back in his chair, smiling like someone who had won first prize. “It’s like I told you, them dogs, they can—”

“No,” Cole snapped. Mathieson frowned. “No, the dogs did not kill him. I saw them sniffing around those crates, crates arranged in such a way to keep the body hidden from sight. Deliberately.”

“You’ve been smoking with them savages too much, Cole. You know the stuff they put in them pipes makes you go loopy.” To add emphasis, he put an index finger to his temple and made circular motions with it.

“So, you’re not going to investigate it?”

“Investigate what, Cole? A drunken Indian set upon by a mad dog?” He leaned forward, gathering some papers as if suddenly they were his most pressing job. “Close the door on your way out.”

“I’ll take this to a US Marshal if I must.”

Mathieson’s eyes came up, narrow and dangerous. “I’ll tell you what you will do, Corporal, you will keep your fat face shut. No one cares about some drunken savage, and I don’t understand why you do.”

“He was my friend.”

Shocked at first, Mathieson’s expression slowly changed to appalled. “I don’t like you, Cole. I don’t like the way you do things and I don’t like the way you hang around that Redskin bunch the way you do. The only reason I don’t pack your ass back to Kansas is that you are a damned good scout and we need you, more’s the pity. Take my advice: go back to your bunkhouse and keep yourself low. I reckon if word gets out that you is preparing to bring in the law to sort this out, your life won’t be worth a plug nickel.”

“Is that right?”

“It sure as hell is! Now get out of my office!”

Outside again, Cole caught the eyes of three troopers glaring at him. He recognised them. A surly bunch who spent their days kicking the ground, playing cards and counting the days until they were discharged. He did not flinch from their glares. Instead, he stepped casually towards them, studying each one in turn. “If I find out it was you,” he said, his voice low and steady, “I’ll make sure justice is served.”

“And how are you gonna do that, Cole?” asked the lean, dangerous-looking one in the center.

“I have my ways, Johnson.”

“Oh yeah?” Johnson looked left and right to his surly companions. “My advice is to look out for yourself while out on the trail, Cole.”

“Yeah,” said one of the others, “all sorts of things can happen out there.”

They all sniggered.

Cole waited until they were quiet again before adding, “Strange how you know what I’m talking about, isn’t it Johnson?”

Johnson’s face fell.

Cole turned about and, raging inside, strode back to his bunkhouse.

The following day the fort was full of the story about the troop of green-jacketed Sharpshooters who were going down south to sniff out Quantrill and his raiders. Cole did not enlighten them any further but wondered where the story had come from. As various ideas tumbled around inside his mind, he busied himself in preparing for the ride into Texas. As he checked through his saddle, Staff Sergeant Winter stepped up next to him. Winter was Cole’s immediate superior, former Sergeant Burnside now fighting with the army in the east since his promotion. Cole immediately brought himself to attention.

“At ease, Cole.” Winter reached out and smoothed his hand across the flank of Cole’s horse. “I hear there was some nastiness the other night? You found a scout, murdered?”

“I believe he was, Sergeant, yes.”

“You voiced your concerns to the Colonel, so I understand.”

“Yes … he, er, did not quite believe me.”

“He’s a busy man and has a lot on his mind.”

“Yes, I expect he has.” If Cole did not sound convinced, then that was precisely how he felt. He wanted to say more but kept his thoughts to himself for now.

“I’m not doubting you, Cole,” continued Winter, “but if you can, put this to the back of your mind until your return. If foul play has occurred, I’ll get to the bottom of it, have no worries about that.”

Cole nodded. Winter spoke sense but Cole feared that if he managed to get through the hell that awaited him, the whole incident would have been conveniently forgotten. “If you wouldn’t mind, sir, I’d like to make a report for the United States Marshal’s office.”

“We can handle this ‘in-house’ Cole, but if you are not satisfied with my own investigations, then you are free to do as you choose. I respect you immensely, young man, and your service is well-proven. So, let’s see how it all pans out on your return.”

Cole set his jaw, saluted, and watched the tall, lanky Sergeant stride across the parade ground. As he started to return to preparing his horse, he saw the three toughs who had already confronted him, leaning against a nearby hitching rail. Johnson chewed thoughtfully on a strand of dry grass. His companions, thumbs in belts, glared. Johnson turned to a green-jacketed Sharpshooter close by and said something. They all laughed.

Ignoring them, Cole took his horse by the reins and led him gently away to where the hunting party was gathering.