“Are you sure you want to do that, Custer?” Taft asked. “If I understand you, you have not yet made a courtesy call on the president.”
“Oh, I’ve called all right,” Custer said. “The president didn’t receive me, but I called. In the meantime, General Sherman has approved my departure. So unless you, Mr. Secretary, give me a direct order to remain in Washington, I will leave this very evening.”
“I will not order you to stay,” Taft said. “But I’m sure you understand that no authorization of mine can override the president’s wishes.”
“The president has not specifically ordered me to stay,” Custer said…Custer looked over at Falcon and smiled. “What route will you take back?”
“Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver,” Falcon said.
“Good, good, we’ll be together as far as Chicago,” Custer said.
At Chicago, Falcon and Custer were due to go their separate ways, Falcon to St. Louis and Custer to St. Paul. They were standing on the depot platform when an army captain, in uniform, approached.
“General Custer?” the captain said as he saluted.
Custer returned the salute.
“General Sheridan’s compliments, sir, and he asks that I give you this telegram.”
Custer looked at the telegram. “This is from Sherman to Sheridan,” he said.
“Yes, sir. But as it pertains to you, the general asks that you read it,” the captain said.
TO GENERAL SHERIDAN
FROM GENERAL SHERMAN
I AM AT THIS MOMENT ADVISED THAT GENERAL CUSTER LEFT WASHINGTON FOR ST. PAUL AND FORT ABRAHAM LINCOLN STOP HE WAS NOT JUSTIFIED IN LEAVING WITHOUT SEEING THE PRESIDENT AND MYSELF STOP PLEASE INTERCEPT HIM AND AWAIT FURTHER ORDERS STOP MEANTIME LET THE EXPEDITION PROCEED WITHOUT HIM STOP
Custer handed the telegram to Falcon. Falcon felt a little self-conscious in reading it, but since Custer had handed to him, he thought he had no choice.
“Am I under arrest, Captain?” Custer asked.
“Arrest?” the captain replied, surprised by the question. “No, sir, you aren’t under arrest.”
“So, if I told you that I intend to proceed on to St. Paul to plead my case with General Terry, you have no authorization to stop me?”
“No, sir,” the captain said.
Custer took the telegram back from Falcon and handed it to the captain. “Then kindly inform General Sheridan that if he wishes to see me, he can contact me at St. Paul.”
“Very good, sir,” the captain replied, saluting once more.
As the captain walked away, Custer bowed his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. He was quiet for a long moment, and Falcon avoided looking directly at him because he was sure he could see a sheen of tears in his eyes.
Custer blinked several times, then cleared his throat.
“You were there, Falcon,” he said, finally finding his voice. “You saw what happened. What did I do wrong? Can you answer that for me?”
“As far as I could determine, you did nothing wrong,” Falcon said.
“I wonder if you would testify to that effect at my court-martial,” Custer asked. “I mean, if it actually comes to that.”
“I don’t think it will come to that,” Falcon said. “But yes, if it does, I would be glad to testify on your behalf.”
“Board!” the conductor called.
“That’s my train,” Custer said. He stuck his hand out. “We’ll meet again, Falcon,” he said. “The best thing about meeting new friends is the opportunity to make them old friends.”
The ringing of the telephone interrupted Falcon’s story, and he looked toward the instrument.
“I’ll get it, Big Grandpa,” Rosie said, walking over to pick up the receiver and hold it to her ear. She leaned toward the wall-mounted box so she could speak into the mouthpiece. “Hello?”
Falcon, Libby, and Zane Grey could hear someone talking through the receiver Rosie held to her ear, but none of the words were audible.
“Yes, I’ll tell him,” Rosie said. “Good-bye.” Rosie hung up the phone, then returned to her seat. “That was Mr. Bar-kett,” she said. “He’s finished with the repairs to your saddle.”
“Good,” Falcon said, nodding.
“Getting back to your story, Falcon, what happened next?”
Falcon chuckled. “To be honest, I never did learn what happened between Custer and General Terry. I just
