Edge: Killer's Breed

"I'll take six men and close in," he said at length, pulling down his cap to shade his eyes. "With any luck we'll be able to get close enough to make an estimate and then back again without being spotted. You wait here with the rest, unless you hear gunshots. Then come at the gallop. If I consider we need more help I'll send one of my group back to McClellan."

Hedges nodded, accepting the order without question and, in truth; finding no fault with it. Leaman picked the scouting party from his own troop and immediately led them off in a column, slanting southeast from the railroad and following a rutted trail towards a wooded hillock from behind which the smoke was rising.

"Dismount," Hedges commanded as soon as Leaman's party had gone from sight and the. Men obeyed gratefully, many of them beginning to roll cigarettes. Hedges slid from the saddle and while holding the reins of his horse with one hand, drew a sealed envelope from his hip pocket.

It was addressed in small, neat handwriting to: Lieutenant J. Hedges, Army Camp Parkersburg. It had been handed to him by one of the sentries just before the advance groups had left camp and. this had been his first opportunity to open the envelope. Inside was a single sheet of notepaper, folded twice, and a few lines in the same neat handwriting as on the envelope: Just to say thank you once more for your gallantry last night. Because of what you did my opinion of soldiers has been changed a lot. My sister is much better after her medicine. We live in the house behind the stage depot and you will always be welcome to visit us there. Gratefully yours, Jeannie Fisher.

Hedges read the note through three times; savoring every word, feeling as indebted towards the girl as she was obviously beholden to him. It was the first letter he had ever received from a woman. He recalled her gentle smile and felt a warm glow spread across his face, but then her naked body intruded and the warmth sank to his loins and became a burning heat. Suddenly he was ashamed and glanced guiltily around the men, as if fearing they could read his thoughts. But they were sitting or lying in attitudes of strained relaxation, not talking, but concentrating upon the hill shielding Philippi as they tried not to show their fear. Hedges refolded the letter in its creases and put it back in the envelope. He was just pushing this into his hip pocket when the volley of gunfire sounded distant and almost innocent in its muted key. But unmistakable for what it was and the direction from which it came.

"Mount up!" Hedges yelled as he leapt astride his own horse and dug his heels into the mare's flanks.  

The animal broke at once into a gallop and the men streamed in her wake; faces tense and some yelling—as much to urge themselves forward as their horses. As he entered the fringe of the trees covering the hillside, Hedges unbooted the Spencer repeater and rode with it across his chest. Behind him some of the men unholstered sidearms while others made ready with the motley selection of muzzle and breech loading rifles they had brought into the war with them. It was hard riding up the west side of the hill, following the trail which meandered through the trees like a wild stream, but when they reached the crest and started down the going made for greater speed. It was warmer now, with the sun streaming through the foliage on to the troopers. And the rifle fire was louder; then became a cacophony as the troopers burst from the trees to race across the stretch of open ground to the town. They had passed no messenger. It was only a small settlement of houses and shacks, a church, a saloon and a few business premises. There was no sign of human life among the buildings, but three bodies were sprawled in the center of the town's single street, two dressed in blue and one in gray. Three chimneys continued to give out smoke from early morning fires, but other smoke, puffing from the center of orange bursts of exploding powder, could be seen dotting the town.