The Treasure of the Penelope
By
UCSBdad
Disclaimer: You may already know I don't own Castle. Rating: K Time: Following my story Into Africa.
This is a sequel to Into Africa. I've tried to explain the backstory, but you might want to read it if you haven't already. Don't worry, I'll be right here and won't start this story until you're back.
SIX MONTHS LATER
Someone knocked on the door of the RV parked at Queenstown Point State Historical Park.
"Major Rodgers, you'd better hurry. Congressman Johnson is about ready."
"I'm hurrying, but I'm much more used to undressing my wife than dressing her." He leaned in and kissed the back of Kate's neck. "Why do these dresses have so many buttons? Why not use a zipper?" He asked, only half done with her dress's buttons.
"That wouldn't be realistic. We're supposed to be dressed as people from the American Revolution era. We're here to celebrate the opening of the wonderful Queenstown Point State Historical Park, courtesy of Congressman Johnson and a trove of British gold. I'm your lovely wife and you're Major Rodgers of the Queen's American Rangers. And you look very dashing in your green coat and white pants."
"At least I didn't get stuck wearing a red coat like George and Bob did."
"I wish you had been chosen to be a part of the Highlander company of the Queen's Rangers. Of course, Buddy, being of Scots descent got the part. His legs look very nice in a kilt, but I think yours are better."
"But yours are spectacular, Mrs. Rodgers."
"I am glad that George talked Sissy out of wearing a kilt. No one would have looked at anyone else. And everyone would have wanted to know what the Scots wore under their kilts. In her case, nothing."
"Sissy?" Rick said innocently. "Is she here? I just don't notice any other women since I met you."
She slapped him lightly on the chest.
"Flattery will get you everywhere with me."
There was another knock on the door.
"Rick, you'd better hurry. The King's Representative, also known as Congressman Johnson, is looking at his anachronistic wrist watch and the powder from his white wig is starting to run due to sweat. He can't wait to brag about how he did this all by himself."
"Last button, Ron. Here we come, ready or not."
Rick opened the door of the RV to find Ron Fields dressed in a fine scarlet uniform coat with white breeches and riding boots.
"Okay, Ron, let's go."
"Major, don't you think you should refer to me as colonel?" He pointed to his insignia. "I am a colonel in the King's American Dragoons for today."
Rick smiled. "And it is just for today, Ron."
Ron gave a theatrical sigh. "I had hoped you'd get in the spirit of things."
With Ron were the rest of the dig crew. Buddy, or Sergeant MacNeill, as he was called was dressed in the green coat of the Queen's Rangers but wore a kilt of the government sett, better known as the Black Watch tartan. In spite of what she'd told her husband, Sissy was similarly dressed although her kilt was much shorter. George Grey, as well as Charlie and Bob Ford wore the red coat of the King's American Regiment. The African Americans were dressed and armed as the Queenstown militia would have been.
Rick noticed there was a new person there. A young man dressed in buckskins with his face painted, and carrying a Kentucky rifle.
"Who's this?"
"Major, this a buddy of mine from the Army. He's a genuine Cherokee and today he goes by the name of Waya, that means wolf. He heard about this little get together to open the new state park and decided to drop by."
Waya nodded. "Glad to meet you, Major Rogers, Mrs. Rodgers. I should mention that his Cherokee name is Buddy, which means White Boy Who'd Get Lost In A Forest With Just Two Trees." He said with a smile.
"Just for that, you buy the beer." Buddy muttered.
Rick put his arm around Kate's waist.
"Okay people, the ceremony is about to start. Let's get going."
As they walked off, Kate whispered in Rick's ear.
"I'm glad you'll be at Fort Bragg for the next couple of years. I've had about all the excitement I can take."
"Me too. At least nothing can possibly get us into trouble in the next couple of years. I mean, what's the worst that could happen?"
The End
Author's note.
I do like to have some historical accuracy in my stories such as this. Slaves owned by Patriot masters did flee when the British army arrived and the British did free them and recruited some into their army. They took most of them away to Canada and elsewhere when they lost the war.
The British did have privateers, but not nearly as many as the Americans. Doubtlessly, some would have been crewed with some ex-slaves, however the story of Queenstown is entirely fictional.
There were American Loyalists who fought for the British and the units mentioned did exist.
I'm still working on Into the East, another story of Lord and Lady Castle during the Italian Renaissance. I'm at about 33,000 words and it'll be done…when it's done. I have a couple of ideas for other stories that I'm thinking about.