The Black Jacks

"No."

"Some hot coffee, then? It be almighty brisk out here."

Houston glowered. "By God, no, Esau. What I need are a few brave men to rescue the Republic of Texas from certain destruction."

Esau blinked and went back inside. The Old Chief was in one of his earthshaking moods, and at such times it was wise to leave him be.

With a sigh, Houston moved to an old rocking chair at the end of the porch. The Telegraph and Texas Register, dated February 18, 1840, was anchored against the caprice of wind by a hickory can sporting a staghorn handle. Houston picked up the newspaper and cane and sat down. Sitting in the rocking chair made him feel old and useless. His blue eyes swept the tree-covered point of land which he had purchased three years ago. He had pla

Tom Blue, his other servant, came trotting around the corner of the cabin.

"Riders comin', Marster Sam."

Houston strode to the edge of the porch and peered up the lane at the three horsemen coming through the cedars. He squinted to identify them, but his eyes weren't what they used to be. I am just a broken-down old warhorse, he thought bitterly. One of the horsemen was leading a riderless pony—a fine-looking colt. Then Houston recognized the gray hunter beneath the saddle of the man in the lead, and his heart soared with joy. Only one man in Texas rode such a splendid thoroughbred.

As the riders drew near, Houston saw that he was right. The man on the gray was Captain John Henry McAllen. And that was Dr. Ashbel Smith with him! Houston smiled. He had just told Esau that he needed a few brave men to save Texas. Well, by the Eternal, here were two who fit the bill perfectly!

"Ashbel!" exclaimed Houston as the riders reached his cabin. "What a pleasant surprise! What brings the two of you out this way?"

Ashbel Smith glanced at McAllen. "By a happy coincidence, we were both in Galveston at the same time and met at the bar in the Tremont. John Henry was on his way here and permitted me to accompany him."

Sam Houston turned his attention to John Henry McAllen as the latter swung down from the saddle on the gray hunter. The man was tall, sinewy, broad in the shoulder, his hair black as the ace of spades beneath a straw planter's hat sporting a broad crimson band. He wore a black frock coat and doeskin trousers tucked into blucher boots. A handsome man of about thirty years, his features bespoke character and iron will, while his steady gaze was that of one who by nature was forthright and honest. There was a scar on his cheek, just to one side of a stubborn chin, on the chiseled jaw line; Houston knew McAllen had a habit of stroking that scar with his thumb when deep in thought. It only added to that air about McAllen which warned every observant person who met him that this was a man it was better to count as a friend than an enemy.

"If you remember, General," said McAllen, "a couple of years ago you were eloquent in your praise of Escatawpa." He patted the gray hunter's wither.

"He is undoubtedly the finest horse I have ever seen."

"And I promised you one to match him."

"I had forgotten," confessed Houston.

"I didn't forget." McAllen gestured at the colt. "Escatawpa has sired this splendid fellow. You would honor me by accepting him as a token of my esteem."

Houston was deeply moved. "Apart from those brave men who gave their lives so that Texas could be free, no man has ever given me a finer gift. But please, my friends, come in. You have had a long journey in poor weather, and you know Esau is the best bartender in the republic."

"I've heard a rumor you've forsaken strong spirits," said Ashbel Smith.

"That's one rumor concerning me that is true," replied Houston gravely. "But it doesn't mean my good friends must abstain when they call upon me. Come in!"

McAllen turned to the third rider. "Joshua, see to the horses, and find a blanket with which to dry the colt."

The man named Joshua nodded. As Houston stood aside to permit his guests to precede him into the cabin, he spared this man a glance. Joshua was the son of a runaway slave and a Seminole warrior. A boy caught up in the whirlwind of war in the Florida glades, he now served McAllen with undying fealty. McAllen had saved his life, and now they were inseparable. Houston had heard that the slaves on McAllen's Grand Cane plantation feared Joshua. Some of them were convinced that the half-breed was the devil incarnate. Gazing at the fierce cast of the young man's dark countenance, Houston could understand why they thought so. Joshua was like Escatawpa in some ways. The gray hunter and the savage boy showed deference only to John Henry McAllen. No other mortal could safely deal with either. It was said that McAllen's wife had tried to persuade her husband to rid himself of Joshua, but McAllen had adamantly refused. He was, in his way, as devoted to Joshua as Joshua was to him.

In spite of his boast regarding Esau's prowess as a drink maker, Houston lacked many of the ingredients necessary for such popular concoctions as the gin sling, whiskey punch, mint julep, Virginia fancy, smasher or cock tail, all of which Esau could produce, given the chance. Ashbel Smith settled for French brandy, while McAllen opted for a dose of Te

"You must tell us more about this young lady," said Smith, as they sat around a small, lopsided table. "She must be quite extraordinary, to have convinced you to forsake the 'nectar of the gods.' "

Houston's smile was rueful. "Had things gone according to plan, she would be here today, and you would have seen for yourself that angels do indeed trod the earth."

"What happened that your plans went awry?"

"I thought it was arranged that she would come to Texas with her family. In her last letter to me, Margaret even identified the vessel which would bring them from Mobile. A week ago I was in Galveston when the ship docked. Margaret's family was aboard, true enough. But Margaret was not."

"I hope she wasn't ill," said Smith, alarmed.

Houston grimaced. "It was all her mother's doing. Nancy Lea is a force to be reckoned with. 'General Houston,' she said, 'my daughter is in Alabama. I have resigned myself that her marriage to you will take place. But I forbid my daughter to go forth into the world to marry any man. Even you. The one who receives her hand will receive it in my home and not elsewhere.' "

"My, my," said Smith, trying to suppress a smile. "Your future mother-in-law sounds to me like an extremely strong-willed person. What did you do?"

"What could I do? I tried my utmost to conceal my disappointment. I spared no effort—and no expense, I might add—to show Margaret's family a good time while they were in Texas. At least I can say that I persuaded them to make investments in the development of East Texas town sites. As for Margaret, I must go to Alabama if I want to marry her." Houston leaned forward, struck by an idea. "Ashbel, will you go with me? I would like for you, my old friend, to act as my second in this affair."