McNamara #10

Zeke followed the ragged man, who called himself Jeff, for two days. They camped where a creek with no name joined the White River the first night. Zeke, not trusting the man tied him to a tree. Judy Carol thought that was being "particully ornery" seein as how the fella was leading them to the General. Zeke wonder why she had decided to come along instead of waiting for her pa to get back and he asked her about it.
"Pa may take a notion to go to Fort Smith for all I know, he may not come back til fall and maybe not even then." was her response.
Jeff did not have much to say, especially after being tied to tree all night.
"You'd no call to tie me up Deputy, warn't me that took them shots at you, why I ain't had me a rifle gun since Shiloh and what lead and ball I got I made myself. Too dern hard to come by for wastin"
"Well I got me some sleep, you may have lost some. Besides you said we would meet up with this General today. You can go take a nap once we get there."
They had followed the river or at least kept it in sight, it was the only way Jeff said he could find his way. It was almost evening when Zeke smelled smoke and with in a few minutes they were overlooking a camp located where the Kings river joined the White. It was layed out like an army camp, with pickets standing guard at 25 foot intervals. Zeke could see what looked like rifles stacked near each cluster of tents. There were several small fires burning with men moving around preforming cook chores. In the center was a larger tent with a Confederate Battle Flag and another flag standing on either side of the open flaps.
Judy Caroll suddenly disappeared from Zekes side and Jeff rode down a game trail and entered the camp with Zeke behind him. They rode up to the flagged tent and Jeff dismounted.
"I'm back General, I brung hm like you said"
"Well done Jeff, your dismissed came a voice from inside the tent. Jeff lead his mount off turning and giving Zeke a dirty look as he left.
Zeke keep his eye on the tent. The rattling of a saber as it was belted on and the snap of a holster cover did not go unnoticed.
A rather tall man wearing the broad brimmed hat of a Confederate officer came into view, his face covered by the brim. His uniform carried the insigna of a General, however the tailoring was more or less added to a worn suit coat. His pants were gray, with a dirty yellow stripe down the sides. The saber was more like a sword with a thin blade sheathed in a round copper tube, His boots were black and polished to a high sheen. He exited the tent and raised his head, a full beard came into view along with a set of ice blue eyes. Zeke stood a few minutes staring into those eyes. Nothing was said until the General smiled and showed a set of almost perfect white teeth.
"get down Zeke, its been awhile"
"Virgil Taylor, you are dead." came Zekes reply.
"Naw, I ain't dead, why you should know that no Yankee Red Leg could kill me....they killed my horse though and that was a good horse."