Two for Home

Chapter 5-2

Sharps climbed out of the hack, took his saddlebags and haversack, and paid the driver. The man tipped his hat and snapped the reins. As his horse trotted down the road, the driver whistled one of the songs Sharps used to play on his harmonica for the men just before they turned in for the night.

“Zach? Oh my God, Zach!”

Sharps looked behind him to see who his pa was hailing, then laughed sheepishly. It had been a long time since anyone had called him by his Christian name. Even he thought of himself as Sharps. “Hello, Pa.”

“You’re home.”

He dropped his haversack and saddlebags, but before he could do more than take a step toward Pa, Pa swooped down on him, moving quickly for a man with a wooden leg. He caught Sharps in a tight embrace and pounded his back. Although he was a short man, he was still taller than Sharps

“I’ve missed you, son. How have you been? Where have you been?”

“I’m sorry, Pa. As I told you in a letter, I got a position with a former officer. I did some odd jobs for him.” Sharps sagged in Pa’s hold. Not only had it been a long four years—even longer than the three that had gone before them—but it had been a long trip home, and he was worn out.

“Face it, Zachary. You’re not the most diligent letter writer. I thought sure once the war was over you’d return home, but when you didn’t, I was afraid you’d inherited my wanderlust, and I wouldn’t see you again.”

“I wrote you—”

“Twice.”

“I’m sorry, Pa.”

Pa shook his head and smiled. “I know my son. I’m just happy you’re home now. Here. Give me your saddlebags.” Pa took them and slung them over his shoulder. “Captain Marriott came by to see you. He was surprised you weren’t here.”

Sharps felt his stomach lurch. The cap had actually stopped by? “I’m sorry I missed him. When was this?”

“Shortly after the war ended. He brought something for you. Come around out back.”

Sharps caught up his haversack and followed Pa. “Did the cap say where he was being stationed?”

“He’s no longer in the army. He resigned his commission.”

“Oh.” He reckoned the cap was as tired of war as he was. “What will he do?”

“He said something about leading wagon trains west from Missouri—out of St. Joe and Independence. There’s been a wave heading west.”

“Will he be back?”

“As to that, I’m afraid he won’t be.” Pa looked sad. “With all the men returning from the war, there weren’t many jobs available in the city.” He looked even sadder. “Even now, I don’t know if you’ll be able to find anything local. I’d wanted more for you than to be a gunsmith, but that might be what you’ll have to settle for.”

“I don’t see that as settling, Pa. You’re a skilled gunsmith, and if I can be half as good as you, I’ll do all right.” In addition, he’d learned a lot under Colonel Sebring. If a job in the city didn’t work out for him, Sharps would visit with Pa a while, and then he’d head west and see about finding his captain.

Pa clapped him on the back, and then led him past the shed to a fenced-in area at the rear of the property.

“What…?” Standing under a chestnut tree was a beautiful buckskin mare.

“She’s called Salida. The captain told me her entire name is Otra Salida del Sol—it means another sunrise. He wanted you to have her.”

“He did?” Sharps felt a burning behind his eyes.

“Yes. He’s a good man.”

“He is. I’ll tell you what he did for me at supper.”

“That sounds worrying.”

“It was at the time. Thanks for keeping her for me, Pa.”

“You’re welcome, son. I’m not much for riding anymore, but I’ve had one of the neighbor boys exercise her. Her saddle is in the shed.”

Sharps let himself into the paddock, closed the gate behind him, and approached the mare. Her ears were forward, indicating her curiosity, and her eyes were calm and accepting.

“Oh, you are beautiful.” Sharps ran a hand over her neck, shoulder, and side. “If only I had something to give you, my pretty.”

“I’ll fetch something.”

Before Sharps could tell him that wasn’t necessary, Pa had gone to the house, and Sharps smiled after him. Even with a wooden leg, Pa did move fast.

He returned in a matter of minutes. “Carrots and sugar, son. She does have a taste for them.”

“Thanks, Pa. Y’know, I wish I had something to give the captain in return.”

“As a matter of fact, I had a feeling you’d say something like that if you ever came home.”

“Pa—”

“I won’t tease you about it.” He looked thoughtful. “I’ve done a lot of traveling, son, and I know the ways of the world. I could tell there was something you weren’t telling me in the two letters you managed to write, and it was obvious to me you felt it was important.”

“Thank you, Pa.” He wondered if he would ever tell Pa about what he’d done for Colonel Sebring.

Pa smiled and shook his head. “Now. I’ve been working on something for Captain Marriott. I’m almost finished with it. When you’re done making friends with this lovely lady, come in the house and I’ll show you. And I’ll feed you,” he called over his shoulder as he hobbled back to the house.

“All right.” But Sharps found his attention drawn to the mare.

Whoever the captain had gotten Salida from had treated her well, because it didn’t take long to win her over, just the carrots and the sugar cube and finding the spot under her chin that made her close her eyes in bliss.

He didn’t want to take the time to get the saddle. Instead, he put his weight on her back, and when it became obvious she was willing to accept it, he swung onto her and rode her bareback around the pasture. She had a sweet gait, and Sharps was more determined than ever to find Captain Marriott. A man who gave a gift like this…It had to mean something more than friendship, but even if that was all it was, Sharps intended to thank him, and possibly become partners with him. They could travel the country together. Sharps would make a good scout to the cap’s wagon master, or even segundo to his ranch foreman.

Finally, he slid off the mare’s back and patted her neck. He hadn’t ridden her hard enough to work up a sweat, so he just left her in the paddock and headed for the house. Not only was he hungry, but he was interested in seeing what Pa had made for the captain.

As it turned out, the banjo was the most amazing thing Sharps had ever seen.

“I remember you saying in one of your letters back during the war how the two of you would play for the men at night.”

The smooth, lacquered veneer and the abalone highlights were just part of it. Pa had added a few other embellishments that Sharps would never have spotted if Pa hadn’t pointed them out—the barrel concealed in the neck of the banjo, the small panel that, when pressed, allowed the trigger to drop down.

“I don’t have words for this, Pa. How did you figure how to make it?”

“It took a lot of doing.” Pa touched the side of his nose and grinned, and Sharps knew he wouldn’t reveal his secrets. “Come have supper, son, and tell me why Captain Marriott gave you a horse.”

Sharps stroked the shiny wood, then returned the banjo to its case and washed his hands at the pump in the kitchen. He was about to sit down at the table when he saw the frame on the wall and he crossed to examine it.

For meritorious achievement in the superior performance of his duties while serving under Colonel Beaumont Sebring, it gives me great pleasure to formally and publically commend Sergeant Zachary Taylor Browne. Sergeant Browne’s exceptional performance was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Federal Army of the Potomac.

With the Nation’s deepest gratitude for your service,

Andrew Johnson

“Oh, Pa.” It was the commendation he’d been given. He stroked his fingers along the wood of the frame. “This must have cost you a pretty penny.” He took his seat at the table.

“It doesn’t matter.” Pa smiled at him. “A paper that important deserves to be shown to advantage.” Pa put a plate of stew in front of him, and Sharps inhaled the heady aroma.

“I’ve missed your cooking,” he said in hopes of distracting Pa so he wouldn’t ask what Sharps’s meritorious achievement might be.

Pa teasingly cuffed his head. “Scamp.” He sat down, said grace, and picked up his fork. “Well?”

“Well?”

“Don’t make me take down your britches and tan your hide, young man. You promised to tell me what Captain Marriott did for you.”

Sharps grinned at him, then sobered and began to tell Pa about what had happened after the Second Battle of Bull Run.