Chapter 1: The Rooster Takes Flight

The Civil War is over. The Union has won and the Confederate States of America are no more. For the Confederate veterans, there isn't much to do anymore. Some of them choose to still resist the Union while the others give in to the new government. Two young Confederate veterans just received news that the war is over. Their names are Reuben "Rooster" Cogburn and Harold Potter. Rooster is a fiery one who often gets into trouble and is as stubborn as a fourteen-year-old girl. Deep down inside though, he is a softy. Potter is a calm soul whose vigilance is matched only by his loyalty to his friends.

"What do we do now that the war is over?" asked Potter. "We have no money and not many are too willing to give a couple of Confederates a job, much less one missing an eye."

"Hell, I don't know," said Rooster. "Shooting is about all I know how to do. That's why I signed up for the war in the first place."

"I know it may be hard for you but first we need to get over the whole Confederate business and get used to the new government."

"Damn those Yankees! If I didn't lose an eye and we were still with Captain Quantrill, we would've swept the Yankee line in Kansas City. But I guess you're right. I'll just have to suck it up."

"That's the spirit. We're coming up on a town right now."

They came up to a town called Independence, where Federal officers were looking to round up the last of the Confederate guerrilla soldiers. An officer approached the two men.

"Are you boys Confederates?" asked the officer.

"Yes. We've come to surrender our arms and swear loyalty to the government," replied Potter.

"You've come to the right place. You two follow me to my office. We can start the ceremony and do all the formal stuff there."

Rooster and Potter followed the officer until they came up to a relatively large wooden building. On the side of the building was a small stable with some mules inside. The group entered the office and the Federal officer walked into the back room. He returned with a few papers and a pen.

"Ok you can start by swearing this oath out loud to me. Then you have to sign a few papers," said the officer.

Rooster and Potter swore the oath and signed the papers. Rooster angrily grumbled the oath and spilled the pen ink by "accident".

"Alright, now the business part is over with," said the officer. "Now you boys have a one-day parole to wait for. Tonight we have a major from Kansas coming in to weed out any of you bushwhackers so don't think about leaving town. Come back here tomorrow morning. Until then you can stay at one of the inns in town."

The officer walked into the back room again.

Rooster whispered to Potter, "I don't like the sound of that big shot major. And what the hell is a bushwhacker?"

"I don't know but it sounds a bit fishy to me too. I doubt they'd be too kind if they found out we rode with Bill Anderson and Captain Quantrill. Maybe we ought to leave before anything gets nasty," said Potter. "But what do we do without our weapons?"

Rooster replied, "I saw the officer put his revolver in the desk drawer. We could take that for protection. Then we can go around to the stable and take a couple of mules and book it out of town."

"Ok but we need to do this quickly and quietly."

"You think I can't do that?"

Rooster and Potter smiled at each other then tiptoed around the officer's desk. They quietly slipped the revolver out of his drawer and snuck out before the officer came back. They proceeded to creep into the stable where the mules were tied up. Rooster untied two mules from their posts but left their mouths tied so they wouldn't make as much noise. Without looking suspicious, the two veterans walked out of town with the two mules and a new revolver.

About eight miles out of town, Potter spotted some figures in the distance.

Potter pulled Rooster to the side and said, "Wait a second. I see some people coming up on us."

"You think they came for us?" asked Rooster.

Potter shook his head and said, "No. They came from the opposite direction of town so I don't think they would've come so fast. They look like they're carrying something though."

"Alright then what do we have to be afraid of? If we act natural then we shouldn't have any problems."

Soon they approached the figures. There were four of them riding on horses. They were all wearing Federal uniforms. One of them had the uniform of a Union Captain and carried large sacks on his horse.

The captain asked them, "Hello there gentlemen. Would either of you two know where Kansas City is?"

"We wouldn't know," replied Potter. "But there's a town a few miles down the road that may be able to help you. If you don't mind me asking, what's taking you to Kansas city?"

"We have some gold to deliver to the reserves there. That's why I have these four guards," answered the captain.

Without a word, Rooster and Potter looked at each other and instantly hatched a plan. Rooster jumped at the captain and grabbed his gun. At the same time, Potter knocked one of the guards in the head with the stolen revolver. Then they held the captain and the other guards at gunpoint.

"Don't move an inch!" yelled Rooster. "If one of you moves so much as a finger I'll blow your hand clean off! Now drop your guns and get off your horses!"

The captain and the two conscious soldiers dropped their rifles and dismounted. Potter quickly grabbed the rifles. Rooster jumped onto one of the horses and grabbed the reins of another. Potter followed suit. The two veterans turned bandit rode off down the road and left the Federates stranded.

After riding a few miles down further, Rooster and Potter stopped to count their loot.

"Looks like we got ourselves a few thousand in gold Potter!" exclaimed Rooster.

"Ya. Looks like we did," Potter said solemnly.

"Buck up Potter. It was just some government money. What's a few thousand gold to them? They have plenty and we don't have any."

"But now they'll be after us. I think it's best if we don't ride together for awhile. At least until we get the heat off of us."

"I suppose you're right. What'll you do?"

"I think I'll ride down south to Arkansas. I know the area well enough. I was thinking about settling down after the war anyhow. What about you?"

"I don't know. I figure I'll ride east and see where that takes me."

"Try not to start too much trouble over there. I hear the law is tougher on the east."

"Since when do I start trouble?"

They both looked at each other and smiled. After splitting the gold, Rooster and Potter parted ways.