"That's a good question, Caroline. Well, they did send me a man to help me with the balloons and 'protect' me while I'm operating them, but he turned out be more trouble than he was worth, he kept on sneaking off and spending all his time in a certain saloon."
Caroline still was bothered, what difference would one man make if a war party of Indians came after the poor young lieutenant. What were all the rest of those soldier boys doing in that fort that they couldn't spare a bunch of troopers?
"In fact, you probably know him, Corporal Rice... well, Private Rice now." he corrected himself "He sneaked off once too often, so I broke him and sent him back to the fort."
"Oh yeah, I know who you mean. Ralph was quite curious how that jasper got to spend so much time in the saloon. Normally we don't get a lot of soldiers as customers cept once a month when yer colonel allows them a Saturday night to spend their monthly wages. And spend it they do alright," Caroline responded with a grin.
"So is it just the Indians that's putting you off?" he asked.
"JUST the Indians? Seems to me them Indians made quite the job of it with yer General Custer and his men? I ain't riding about out there with an escort of one," Caroline pointed out.
She also added she was a city girl and did not actually know how to ride a horse, both true facts.
"Oh well. At least let me teach you how to ride. It's a pretty easy two-step process: number one, get on, number two, don't fall off," he offered.
"I'm thinkin' it's a mite harder than that and if I fall off and break my leg I can't go up on stage and do my job and my boss might just fire me," Caroline retorted.
"What're you doing tomorrow?"
"So yer sayin' you soldier boys can just up and leave the fort and do whatever you want when you want? I would not have guessed that," she was surprised.
"Er, would you fellers mind awfully standing to attention?"
"JUST the Indians? Seems to me them Indians made quite the job of it with yer General Custer and his men? I ain't riding about out there with an escort of one," Caroline pointed out.
Greene shook his head. "General Custer was a brave and experienced officer with a magnificent war record who led three companies of the 7th against four thousand Sioux warriors led by Crazy Horse." he gave a brief summary of the battle of the Little Bighorn.
"Now me, I'm an inexperienced and very scared young officer who's never seen a shot fired in anger. If I see an Indian, I'm running, not attacking. I don't care how old that squaw is." he joked. It wasn't the sort of thing to encourage Caroline to come with him on one of his balloon jaunts, though.
Neither would she let him teach her how to ride, despite his assurances that it was as easy as falling of a log. Or a horse.
"I'm thinkin' it's a mite harder than that and if I fall off and break my leg I can't go up on stage and do my job and my boss might just fire me," Caroline retorted.
He shrugged.
"What're you doing tomorrow?"
"So yer sayin' you soldier boys can just up and leave the fort and do whatever you want when you want? I would not have guessed that," she was surprised.
"Ha! Not most of them. I'm special. Because of this balloon business, I'm based in the Town for the duration of the detail: I have to telegraph the reading direct to Washington..." he frowned "... say, you're not a Canadian spy are you?"
Satisfied she wasn't, he went on.
"I'm staying at something called The Wigfalls. The Army won't pay for a hotel like this." he informed her, waving a fork at the ceiling. "You know any of that tribe? Kinda... loud. The girl's very attentive though, Jemima. Least, I think she's a girl."
The young lieutenant then summarized, "General Custer was a brave and experienced officer with a magnificent war record who led three companies of the 7th against four thousand Sioux warriors led by Crazy Horse."
Caroline just smiled, "Well...you sound like you were there to know all that. So did you count all them Indians yerself?"
She was just teasing him now for fun. If the man couldn't take a little teasing then that was his tough luck. Though she did like his company he was not going to convince her to be ridin' around on horses. That was not a part of her life, no thank you! Least he took that little defeat like a good sport. Same with going out there with him alone to launch balloons in the middle of nowhere. Nope, that was his job and he got paid to do it. She didn't belong to the army.
She did laugh at his own tease about her being a Canadian spy, "No, hon, I don't even know any Canadians."
Now it surprised her to find out he was actually currently staying in a boarding house? Not like the fort was that far from town? Interesting indeed. Wait...he asked her a question about the Wigfalls?
"Umm, kinda loud could describe a lot of folks, especially in my business. Jemima? Oh that could be one of Arabella's friends? Well, her best friend...by far...is this Jew girl...Miriam though not Jemima. Hey! Maybe you ask this Jemima to go launch balloons with you?"
"Er, would you fellers mind awfully standing to attention?"
Caroline just smiled, "Well...you sound like you were there to know all that. So did you count all them Indians yerself?"
"I read the reports" he shrugged "Just glad they didn't send me with the Montana Column to count 'em for myself. Give me the balloons any day."
She did laugh at his own tease about her being a Canadian spy, "No, hon, I don't even know any Canadians."
"You sure?" he asked "We're pretty near the border here." He was vaguely aware that Canadians heading for the goldfields might pass through this way. "Would you know one if you met one?"
Now it surprised her to find out he was actually currently staying in a boarding house? Not like the fort was that far from town? Interesting indeed. Wait...he asked her a question about the Wigfalls?
"Umm, kinda loud could describe a lot of folks, especially in my business. Jemima? Oh that could be one of Arabella's friends? Well, her best friend...by far...is this Jew girl...Miriam though not Jemima. Hey! Maybe you ask this Jemima to go launch balloons with you?"
"Ha, no thanks, she might say yes. On the other hand, she'd probably be more protection against the redskins than Corporal Rice." he chuckled. He enquired no further about Arabella and her friends, he'd had enough of giggling, or weeping, teenage girls and their friendships with his sisters.
He was interested in full grown women, like Caroline.
"They look after you alright at that saloon?" he asked. "Someone said there was a new feller in charge who might be changing things around a little."
"You sure?" he asked "We're pretty near the border here. Would you know one if you met one?"
"Don't they wear something on their clothing that sez 'I'm a Canadian'?" Caroline quipped.
They were having fun with each other now, which was what Caroline had hoped for agreeing to go with him on this dinner date. He then had a new topic it seemed.
"They look after you alright at that saloon?" he asked.
"I can tell you never met Ralph. He's the bartender and he's sort of like a big ol guard dog when it comes to my safety. Only a dog would only bite you, Ralph can do a whole lot worse. Regular customers all know not to mess with Ralph," she smiled, "So yeah I'm fine. Besides I'm pretty good at takin' care of myself too I'll have ya know."
"Someone said there was a new feller in charge who might be changing things around a little."
"Oh yeah. Miss Devereau sold out to this new fella, new in town. Frank Fortner is his name. So far he's kept things pretty much the same as far as how the saloon operates. He kept on all four employees. Seems nice enough. Though there is somethin' about him that ...well...can't put my finger on. I'm not meaning he's dangerous or anything. But the money he offered Ralph as bartender....no bartender ever makes that kinda money even back East. It's....well, it's just suspicious is all," she shrugged.
"Oh and he wants to make me inta a star or somethin' like that. Not sure of the details but we'll see."
"Don't get me wrong though, I like 'im so far. "
"Er, would you fellers mind awfully standing to attention?"
"I can tell you never met Ralph. He's the bartender and he's sort of like a big ol guard dog when it comes to my safety. Only a dog would only bite you, Ralph can do a whole lot worse. Regular customers all know not to mess with Ralph," she smiled, "So yeah I'm fine. Besides I'm pretty good at takin' care of myself too I'll have ya know."
Greene pondered. "Maybe I met him at that barn dance: I think the saloon had a kinda sutler's tent outside o' the place selling booze. Flanders? Ralph Flanders? Yeah, said he was a fellow cavalryman. Saw the elephant in the late unpleasantness." he nodded, remembering.
"Someone said there was a new feller in charge who might be changing things around a little."
"Oh yeah. Miss Devereau sold out to this new fella, new in town. Frank Fortner is his name. So far he's kept things pretty much the same as far as how the saloon operates. He kept on all four employees. Seems nice enough. Though there is somethin' about him that ...well...can't put my finger on. I'm not meaning he's dangerous or anything. But the money he offered Ralph as bartender....no bartender ever makes that kinda money even back East. It's....well, it's just suspicious is all," she shrugged.
Joseph grunted. That did should fishy. "Like he wants him to do something... or not do something; look the other way about something?" Greene smiled "I like a good mystery! You'll have to keep me up to date on the gossip on this one.
"Oh and he wants to make me inta a star or somethin' like that. Not sure of the details but we'll see."
The lieutenant frowned "I thought you were a star already: Caroline Mundee, the Chicago Nightingale! You don't mean I'm dining with a non-star? what'll they say back in Vermont?" he wondered in mock horror.
"Don't get me wrong though, I like 'im so far."
"So far, so good." Joseph nodded "Like this place!"
The waiter arrived with food. "Mess call!" beamed the Lieutenant.
Greene pondered. "Maybe I met him at that barn dance: I think the saloon had a kinda sutler's tent outside o' the place selling booze. Flanders? Ralph Flanders? Yeah, said he was a fellow cavalryman. Saw the elephant in the late unpleasantness." he nodded.
"I hadn't arrived yet but yep, that's Ralph alright. He told me he was in the Army of the Potomac," confirmed Caroline.
Topic went to her new boss, Fortner. She told him a little about the jasper, he seemed to agree that perhaps her suspicion might be worthwhile. Not like she was going to do anything about it. Fortner owned the place now and she worked there so that meant he was the boss. It's how it worked.
Then she threw in something else, "Oh and he wants to make me inta a star or somethin' like that. Not sure of the details but we'll see."
The lieutenant frowned "I thought you were a star already: Caroline Mundee, the Chicago Nightingale! You don't mean I'm dining with a non-star? what'll they say back in Vermont?" he wondered in mock horror.
"For yer information, I never called myself anything other than Caroline Mundee," she wanted him to know.
And that was about the time the waiter was back and with a wide tray he set down like it was fine crystal, lifting the gleaming cover, the pair were treated to the mouth watering smells and sights of two plates of golden browned half ducks surrounded by potatoes.
"That looks just divine! I think I'm gonna inhale that whole thing," she grinned like a school girl. Caroline had always been a good eater.
"Er, would you fellers mind awfully standing to attention?"
"I hadn't arrived yet but yep, that's Ralph alright. He told me he was in the Army of the Potomac," confirmed Caroline.
Joseph nodded, that'd be right. Just about every man in his outfit had been in the Army of Something: Army of the Potomac; Army of North Virginia; Army of the Tennessee; Army of Mississippi... one feller had even been in the God damn Papal Guard. Some fellers in their twenties had missed the war but at least fought a redskin or two. Himself and a few equally fresh faced young troopers hadn't seen the elephant yet, though.
But when it came to the entertainment world, Caroline was the veteran of many campaigns. But apparently, not yet a 'star'.
The lieutenant frowned "I thought you were a star already: Caroline Mundee, the Chicago Nightingale! You don't mean I'm dining with a non-star? what'll they say back in Vermont?" he wondered in mock horror.
"For yer information, I never called myself anything other than Caroline Mundee," she wanted him to know.
He shook his head "I've just got this memory of walking past the Saloon one evening and hearing this teeth-rattlingly loud voice hollering 'And here she is, the Chicago Nightingale, Miss Caroliiiiiine Mundeeeeee!" You know, like how they announce the pugilists at a boxing bout."
The food came, which stopped the chat for a second.
"That looks just divine! I think I'm gonna inhale that whole thing," she grinned like a school girl. Caroline had always been a good eater.
"I'll say! Beats army chow. Even the stuff we get in the Officer's Mess is, well, kind of a mess!" he grinned. "Mrs Wigfall's a pretty good cook, though. Who cooks at the Saloon? Not you, I'm guessing." he said with a twinkle in his eye, he just couldn't imagine the sultry singer fussing over a pan of steaming dumplings.
"I've just got this memory of walking past the Saloon one evening and hearing this teeth-rattlingly loud voice hollering 'And here she is, the Chicago Nightingale, Miss Caroliiiiiine Mundeeeeee!" You know, like how they announce the pugilists at a boxing bout."
She smiled, "Yeah, yeah, I've been announced like that but it's never me doin' the announcing. That's other folks. And the only boxing bouts I've been involved in a saloon, nobody announced me at all. One or the other just started swinging. I learned quick. Always hit them before they get a chance to hit you."
Then the food arrived, roasted half ducks with potatoes. Looking and smelling just great too! She voiced her eagerness to eat the whole thing.
"I'll say! Beats army chow. Even the stuff we get in the Officer's Mess is, well, kind of a mess!" he grinned. "Mrs Wigfall's a pretty good cook, though. Who cooks at the Saloon? Not you, I'm guessing."
"Ohh, so you sayin' I can't cook?" she gave him a frown but then giggled, "Yer absolutely right. Can't cook worth a shit."
"We got a negro mammy who is a fine cook though. She was there before I arrived. You stop some day and have the beef stew. Amazin'."
"Now, you gonna quit jabbering and lemme eat?" she grinned then taking knife and fork dug in.
"Er, would you fellers mind awfully standing to attention?"
"Ohh, so you sayin' I can't cook?"
He nodded "uh huh!"
She gave him a frown but then giggled,"Yer absolutely right. Can't cook worth a shit."
"And not Mr Flandry. Arabella? Fortner?" he guessed.
"We got a negro mammy who is a fine cook though. She was there before I arrived. You stop some day and have the beef stew. Amazin'."
"It's a date!" he smiled.
"Now, you gonna quit jabbering and lemme eat?" she grinned then taking knife and fork dug in.
"Oh yeah!" he laughed "I'm so busy looking at you, I forgot about the food." He tucked in, too, but soon after the waiter came up and gave a polite 'Ahem'.
"I dooooo beg your pardon, Sir, but there is a military looking gentleman in the lobby who is desirous to seee you." the waiter drawled.
"Oh damn it, I left word I'd be here." he frowned at Caroline, he patted his mouth with his napkin and stood "Sorry, Caroline, I won't be a minute. He'll just want me to sign something." he apologised and went with the waiter.
As soon as he was out of sight, a Pixie-like face appeared around the side of one of the nearby Corinthian columns that gave the room such a fancy appearance, and in a blur of gingham Arabella was sitting right opposite Caroline.
"How's it going?! I come over to keep and eye on you in case he tried to drag you off to a hotel room and radish yuh." she informed her musical partner "Did he propose yet? What's this yer eatin'?" she asked, looking down at Lt. Greene's plate. She stuck a fork in a big piece of duck and crammed it into her mouth, giving it a chew. "Oooh, yummy!" she declared with her mouth full.
"Has he gone for a wee wee?" she asked, although the question was muffled because she was speaking with her mouth full.