Bloodshed of Eagles

easy.”

“Another seven hundred dollars, you say?”

“Seven hundred dollars, and it’ll be the easiest money you ever made,” Harris said.

Potter drummed his fingers on the table for a moment before he replied. “What do I have to do?”

“I need a couple of Gatling guns.”

“What?” Potter said so loud that several other saloon patrons glanced over in curiosity.

“You want to stand up on the table and make a speech, do you?” Harris asked sarcastically.

“No,” Potter said, lowering his voice. “But you just asked for the impossible.”

“I ain’t askin’ you to do it for free,” Harris said. “I told you, there’s seven hundred dollars in it for you. And all you have to do is locate them for me.”

“Well, that ain’t goin’ to be all that easy to do,” Potter said. “We don’t have any Gatling guns assigned to us.”

“Ain’t you in position to order some?”

“Maybe,” Potter admitted. “But there’s no way I can misdirect the shipment again—not after what happened with the rifles. If we ordered Gatling guns and they never showed up, they’d turn heaven and hell upside down to locate them.”

“All you have to do is get the guns shipped to you,” Harris said. “Then give me the particulars and I’ll take care of the rest.”

Potter stroked his chin.

“Seven hundred dollars, you say?”

“Seven hundred dollars,” Harris repeated.

Potter nodded. “All right, I’ll get it all set up. But that’s all I can do. The rest will be up to you.”

Harris laughed, then reached across to put his hand on Potter’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry, cousin,” he said. “You just give me the particulars, and I’ll take care of everything.”

Chapter Four

April 24,1876

New York

From the New York Standard

Amusements

Audiences have delighted in the Edward E. Rice production of Evangeline, performed on the stage of the magnificent Niblo’s Garden, located at Broadway and Prince.

Of particular delight to the audience is the skillful manipulation of mechanical devices representing a spouting whale and a dancing cow. Andrew and Rosanna MacCallister call upon their skills as both musical and dramatic performers to make the play the most popular in New York.

Falcon had utilized his time in New York to visit his brother and sister and to attend, as their guest, tonight’s performance. He was seated in a private box, looking at the show bill when there was a light knock on the door.

“Yes?” he said.

The door opened and one of the theater ushers stepped inside. “Excuse me, Mr. MacCallister, but your brother asked me to give you this note.” He handed a folded piece of paper to Falcon.

Falcon,

My dear brother, I ask you to please accept as a guest in your box the person of General Custer. The gallant general has been kind enough to invite Rosanna and me to a command performance at Ft. Lincoln. And, as you know, both Rosanna and I will take any opportunity to visit the West.

Andrew

After reading the note, Falcon looked up at the usher. “Is General Custer nearby?”

“Yes, sir, he is waiting just outside,” the usher said.

“Please, show him in.”

Falcon had expected to see Custer in uniform, but Custer was wearing mufti.

“Mr. MacCallister,” Custer said, extending his hand. “I thank you, sir, for your hospitality.”

“I welcome the company, General,” Falcon replied.

As they were now within a minute of the rise of the curtain, the volume of the music increased abruptly— martial, insistent, strident, and loud. It soared above all conversation, seizing attention and making conversation in the audience completely impossible.

The curtain rose, and the audience applauded.

Both Falcon and Custer were invited backstage after the final curtain. Falcon had been backstage before, so the controlled pandemonium was not new to him—actors and actresses scurrying about, still in costume and