Old Friends & Good Time

Prologue

“We should get there before noon tomorrow, Mingo, I think” said Daniel Boone to his tall Cherokee friend, as they ate the hare Mingo had snared while Daniel set camp.

“I think so too, Daniel. You know how I feel around roads, and how they distract my sense of direction; but I also think we’ll get there tomorrow.”

They drank large cups of coffee, watching the sky, ever more so vigilant as they were camped not far from the main road that leads to Virginia’s largest city.

Daniel watched Mingo as he ate and drank in silence; he wanted to ask him how he felt about the meeting that would happen between him and his father. While Mingo had invited him to trek alongside, he hadn’t shared anything about the invitation he received from his hailing father.

“Won’t your father want to see you alone, Mingo? I have an old friend in Alexandria who would be happy to see me for a few days; and if not, I can lodge at the Dark Knight’s Inn,” inquired Daniel.

“No, Daniel, there is more than enough room at my father’s friend place. As my friend, you are welcome,” simply answered Mingo in a very soft voice.

Daniel wanted to speak more of this but a sharp noise on the road had both men getting up hastily and lifting their rifles. They went toward the curve of the road.

A small man, with flowing hair and impeccable dress, except for his very dirty boots, was walking alongside a limping horse.

The gentleman raised his own pistol when he saw the two men coming toward him.

A nudge of moonlight made his face clear to Mingo who suddenly exclaimed “John! John Nelson! Lord John Nigel Nelson, old friend, what are you doing in this country.”

Mingo walked closer to the smaller man, the man addressed as John took a step up, his pistol sturdy in his hand, ready to shot the red skin man.

“Who are you to dare call me by name?”

“John, it’s been years. I’m known as Mingo here, but you knew me in London as Christopher; your old friend, Christopher. Lavender House. John, don’t you know me?”

Lord John Nelson was stunned and using the same trick of moonlight to stare at the tall native in front of him, stared at him good and steady and then dropping his pistol to the ground, letting go of his horse bride, he calmly yet quickly walk to Mingo, embracing him firmly and said “Chris, I have missed you.”

Much to Daniel’s surprise, the two men started kissing, deeply, profoundly, with a passion he hadn’t shared with Rebbecca for quite a few years.

“John,” Mingo said at last, after he released the Englishman from his strong arms. “May I introduced you to an old friend, Daniel Boone. Daniel, this is Lord John Nelson, who was an instructor for a while at the Royal Academy when my father was of a mind to buy me a commission”.

On that note, Daniel offered his right hand to John Nelson, they shook firmly, and then Daniel asked, “Will the two of you tell me more about this?”