Lorenzo's Revolutionary Quest Read Free Page B

ironic smile. “Or stupid.”
    â€œWe are neither.” Lorenzo liked the fellow less and less. Slowly, making no threatening moves, he reached around and untied his saddlebag. He drew out the small leather satchel Colonel De Gálvez had given him as a birthday present.
    The lieutenant frowned to see the Gálvez family crest tooled on the front. He carefully read the page Lorenzo handed him.
    Written and signed by Colonel Bernardo De Gálvez, the governor of Louisiana, it authorized Captain Lorenzo Bannister to buy five hundred head of cattle and drive them east to New Orleans.
    The page gave no hint they were being purchased by George Washington. It also implied that Lorenzo and his men were attached to the Spanish army, not the American one. When people noticed his men’s shaky command of the Spanish language, they would no doubt assume they were mercenaries. Every army hired foreign soldiers. German-speaking Hessians fought for the British. The Spanish army brimmed with Irishmen.
    The lieutenant offered a courteous bow. “I am Lieutenant Miguel De Santoro. Your servant, sir.”
    Miguel De Santoro, Lorenzo silently repeated. Where have I heard that name? “Call off your men, Lieutenant.”
    At his shrill whistle, soldiers stowed their pistols.
    Lorenzo found the lieutenant less than likable, but couldn’t help admiring how well he had trained his men. Lorenzo suddenly remembered him. “Laredo! You were my father’s patient!”
    The lieutenant’s eyes widened. “You’re Dr. Bannister’s son. Yes. Of course.”
    For years, Lorenzo and his physician father had traveled from presidio to presidio to visit patients.
    One day a lieutenant showed up in the waiting room. “Dr. Bannister said to come for a physical exam.”
    Lorenzo led him into his father’s office and preparedto assist, as usual.
    â€œLeave the room, son,” his father said.
    Surprised by the order, Lorenzo did not budge.
    â€œI must examine Lt. De Santoro in private,” his father explained in an uncharacteristically gruff tone as he pushed Lorenzo out the door. “This is not a sight for a young boy’s eyes.”
    For several minutes, Lorenzo stood outside the closed door, wondering what hideous malady the lieutenant had. As a physician’s apprentice, he had seen it all. Wounds squirming with maggots. Gangrene. Amputations. What could be worse than that?
    After the examination, his father refused to discuss Miguel De Santoro’s condition. Overcome with curiosity, Lorenzo searched the pharmacy book where his father recorded medicine or treatment prescribed. There was no entry for Miguel De Santoro. Apparently, his condition was untreatable.
    That happened nearly three years ago, which meant Lieutenant De Santoro was now about nineteen years old. Lorenzo puzzled over this. Maybe the lieutenant looked like a boy because he had a rare medical condition.
    He was still a lieutenant, but that was hardly odd. Promotion came slowly in the Spanish army.
    Miguel shifted uneasily. “Did Dr. Bannister tell you . . . anything?”
    â€œNo. He said there were secrets between doctor and patient that should never be revealed.”
    â€œThat’s good,” Miguel said, visibly relieved. “Tell me about your encounter with the rustlers.”
    â€œSergeant O’Shaughnessy was with me at the time.” Lorenzo signaled for Red to join them.
    He spurred his horse forward until he was facing Lorenzo and the lieutenant. In short order, he and Lorenzo related what had happened.
    Miguel listened carefully. He took a card from theleather pouch around his neck, crossed through two names, and put the card back. “Only five more to go. We’ve been after Chien d’Or and his band of renegades for a long time.”
    â€œChien d’Or?” Lorenzo said, surprised by the name. It meant Gold Dog in French.
    Miguel nodded. “Cattle rustler,