FIGHT FOR HONOR: Colonel Ulysses S. Grant

Trafford Publishing

Chapter One

Clint Williams was taking a tour of the Freedom Ranch. He knew that he had to get on his way soon to return the two mules, Abner and Balaam, to Reverend Jonathan Thomas in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He had borrowed the mules from the Reverend when he had gone to Mississippi to buy two slaves and bring them back to Bernalillo to free them. The two former slaves, Molly and Callie, were the wife and daughter of Clint's friend Moses. He had had enough money to purchase the young girl, Callie, but not enough for her mother. Molly had run away from the plantation and joined Clint on his trip west.

Jim, Missy, Toby and Beulah were four slaves that had "joined" his group and returned with him to Bernalillo. Traveling across country with one slave he had purchased legally, Callie, and five escaped slaves was an exciting and dangerous adventure. The group, which had named themselves the Freedom Band, had purchased a ranch using money they had earned by capturing three bank robbers. They had done an admirable job of repairing the ranch house and the surrounding out houses and collecting and branding their small herd of cattle.

When Clint went back into the ranch house, he could smell the aroma of cooking venison and hot coffee. He would miss the Freedom Band but he knew that he had other things he needed to do. He kept hearing news of an escalating threat of a conflict brewing between some Northern and some Southern states. He needed to return the two mules and collect the two horses he had left in Fort Smith with Reverend Thomas. He was thinking of going back to Indiana to visit his family and seeing if there might be a future there for him. He was a trained lawyer but wasn't sure he wanted to work in that profession anymore.

Beulah was the first to see Clint come in the front door. "Mister Clint, there's hot coffee on the fire! Come on in here and get some."

Clint had to smile. No matter how hard he tried, Beulah would never call him anything but Mister Clint. All of the rest of the Freedom Band just called him Clint. He poured himself a hot cup of coffee and went to sit at the table.

"Jim and Moses are working on the fence around the garden plot. They should be in soon," said Clint.

"They'll be hungry," said Beulah. "They'll want some of that coffee too! I'd better make some more."

Clint was fond of the old woman. He didn't know how old she was but she had to be at least in her late sixties. She had taken on all of the chores of cooking and cleaning. She was a short woman in stature. She had lived her entire life as a slave in various southern states until she had escaped with Clint when he was traveling back to New Mexico. It was she who had named their group the Freedom Band, and the ranch The Freedom Ranch.

Jim's wife, Missy, was in her mid-twenties and helped keep up with the two children, Callie and Toby, and worked alongside the two men in the yard. Moses, Molly and Callie lived in Bernalillo where Moses was the town blacksmith and ran the stable, but they spent most of their time on the ranch helping out. Both Molly and Callie were part owners of Freedom Ranch so had every right to be there.

"Where are Callie and Toby?" asked Clint.

"They was, I mean they were, studying but went out to get in the way of the workers. They'll be in soon."

Beulah was an avid listener to the lessons the children studied and was trying hard to learn to speak correctly. Math was especially hard for her but she was making real progress.

At that minute, a laughing and giggling mob came through the door. Youthful voices were mingled with the older voices of the adults as each tried to get in the door first. The two men went straight to the coffee pot while the youngsters crowded around Clint each wanting to brag on how much work they had done. Molly and Missy just rolled their eyes and tried to get them herded back outside.

"Wash your hands and faces and then come in here and get ready to eat," said Molly.

"You men go out and do that too!" said Beulah.

"Yes ma'am," Clint, Moses and Jim said in unison and started for the door.

It was just a few minutes before the group returned to the kitchen. Missy and Molly inspected the children's faces and hands and pronounced them 'passing clean'. They took their accustomed places around the table while the ladies passed out plates and eating utensils. Beulah began to bring the food and set it in front of Clint. It embarrassed Clint that Beulah insisted that he always be served first but knew it was no use arguing. Following the blessing of the food, he took portions of each dish and passed the platters on around the table.

The chatter centered mostly around the progress they had made during the day on their various projects. The men had been working to complete the ground work where the new building would be. They were justly proud of their accomplishments. Toby and Callie were working on a garden patch to be planted in the spring and embellished their work progress with their vivid imaginations.

When they were finished and it was apparent the group was going to be moving on to other activities, Clint asked for their attention.

"It's starting to get warm and spring is just around the corner. I have to take the mules back to Arkansas and retrieve my horses. I also need to go home and see my parents in Indiana. Missy, I want you to have the white pony. I haven't named him so you'll have to do that." The white pony had been one that Clint had wanted to use to propose, in the Indian way, for the hand of a maiden in the nearby tribe.

"Jim, I trust you to make what ever changes you feel are necessary on the ranch. If you have any problems, ask Moses for his advice. I'll plan on leaving the day after tomorrow. I have to go into town and take care of some business before I go and I'll do that tomorrow. I will miss you all."

They had all known that this day was coming but knowing and being prepared for it were two different things. They sat silently as his words began to sink in. Callie started to sniff.

"Let's not be getting sad," said Beulah. "He ain't going away for always."

Toby said quietly, "'Ain't' ain't a proper word."

"Hush child!" said Missy. This broke the tension and they all began to laugh.

The next morning Clint saddled Miss Long Legs, one of their horses, and rode into Bernalillo. He left the horse with Moses at the barn. His first stop was to the General Store. Months before, Clint had ordered a winter coat from Joey Miller, the owner and operator of the store. Deliveries were slow but Clint knew a supply wagon had arrived over Christmas and he was hoping that his coat would be among the items delivered.

"Good morning, Clint. Good news. Your coat has arrived! I'll get it for you." He went into the store room and returned with the heavy coat that Clint had ordered over a year ago. It was just what Clint had ordered! It was a heavy wool coat with a hood. It was dark brown in color and had deep pockets on the sides with flaps that covered them and another pocket on the inside that could hold things safe from the weather.

"Alright! That will come in handy while I travel. It's still pretty cool during the early and late hours."

"You're leaving?" asked Joey.

"Yes, I'll be pulling out in the morning to take back the mules and...