Save My Child

Save My Child

Suzanne Marsh

"Sue, Sue hurry! The Mexicans are upon us. Grab the babe, hand her up to me then

jump on the horse behind me."

"Almeron, go, go! I see the dust toward the south."

"Yeah, Sue those are the Mexicans!"

"Why can't I stay at Musquez house, I know we would be safe there."

"Sue, Santa Ana is nearing, if he found you or the babe or both he would kill you.

You both are safer in the Alamo. We have a room in the chapel. Please don't make such a

fuss. There are other women in the Alamo. You'll make friends. Sue, we are going to have

to cross the river NOW! The Mexicans are here."

"Slide off the horse and I will hand down the babe. Here is chapel, our room is here."

"Almeron, what am I going to feed the babe, there is no food."

"I will take you to where the other women are Sue, I have to return to my post. Colonel

Travis was kind enough to let me bring you back here. I have duties that I must complete

before the Mexicans attack. Come on Sue, when you go outside where the other women are

go down this corridor, you turn left here. This brings you out into the court yard. The women

are over there. I have to go Sue. I will see you later tonight."

"Hola, I am Juana Alsbury, this is my sister Gertrudis, we are here to care for my brother- in

law Senor James Bowie.

"Gertrudis, there is Ana Esperaza, I knew Gregorio would fight, he considers himself a

Tejano."

"Senora Esperaza, we are glad to see you. Would you help Senora Dickinson, she has no idea

where to find food for the nina."

"Si, I will do that. Who is her esposo?"

"Captain Dickinson"

"Si, mi Gregorio is posted up on the roof of the chapel with him."

"Senora Dickinson? I am Senora Esperaza, will you please come with me?"

"Why, my husband brought me here with our babe. There is no food for the babe. I don't

understand we have to hole up in this old adobe mission. I am cold and afraid."

"Senora Dickinson, get a hold of yourself, if not for yourself then for the sake of your

espousal and nina. I will help you. I have made tacos and there is a cow for milk for her.

Come with me and I will show you.

"Thank you Senora Esperaza, why don't you call me Sue?"

"Sue, I am Ana."

"Howdy Ms Dickinson."

"Howdy Congressman Crockett."

"Not anymore they call me Colonel Crockett."

"Why are you here; inside this horrible old mission?"

"Simple, Ms. Dickinson, Texas is fighting for her freedom. This is where I belong. Oh, before

I ferget, could you do some washing for me? My white linen shirt, I'll be awearin my

buckskins until this little brawl is over."

"I'll do it today. You can pick it up later today."

"Thanks Ms. Dickinson."

"Colonel Crockett, do you really believe the Mexicans will attack?"

"Yep, I do. I heard talk that Santa Ana is readying his troops. There are still battalions

comein up. It won't be long."

"I know there are not many men here in the Alamo, are we going to get reinforcements?"

"I hear tell that Colonel Fannin is comin. He is about three days hard march from here in

someplace called Goliad."

"Do you think he will get here before Santa Ana attacks."

"That Ms. Dickinson is hard to tell, my best gander is that yes, he will be here.

I have to get back to my post."

"Almeron, I was talkin to Colonel Crockett, he says that Fannin is on his way.

He thinks Fannin will be here before Santa Ana attacks."

"Sue, that is true, but Fannin should have been here by now. There is some commotion

out in the courtyard, maybe that is Fannin. He is bringing about three hundred and fifty

men. That should even things out."

"Almeron, I am so scared, not just fer me but fer you and the babe, for everyone in this

old adobe mission. Can't we just leave here?"

"No, Sue I am in the Texas Army, I can't just up and leave. I am a Captain in the Artillery,

I can't just up and leave, Colonel Travis wouldn't take kindly to that."

"Oh, Almeron, I am sorry I know I should just obey you. I did promise that when we

wed. My place is here with you and our babe."

"I best be goin Sue. I'll let you know what I find out"

"Sue, Jim Butler just returned, Fannin is coming. He brought men with him from

Gonzales. That brings our strength up to one hundred and eighty six."

"Almeron, that is not enough men to hold off all those Mexicans. I have eyes, I

see we are outnumbered."

"Sue, I still have to do my duty. Now, stop making such a fuss. What happens, happens;

I just can't leave. We are surrounded. "

"Surrounded, do that mean what I think it means?"

"Yep Sue it do."

"Ana, we are surrounded."

"Si, that is what Gregorio says."

"What is goin to happen to us?"

"We are fighting."

"Si, but our men are. In the eyes of Santa Ana, that is the same thing Sue."

"I worry about Almeron."

"Si, I worry about Gregorio. You see that red flag hanging over yonder?"

"That flag says that Santa Ana will show no quarter, no mercy. We must

pray that is not the case Sue."

"Do that mean we will all die including the children?"

"That I can not answer Santa Ana will do as he choses."

"Almeron, why didn't you tell me about that red flag, Ana Esperaza said that means

we all die here in the Alamo. Please Almeron; we can still leave."

"Sue, NO, my place is here in the Alamo as is yours. Stop making such as fuss. Now let's go to

bed. I have to up before dawn tomorrow."

"Almeron, you have been a good husband and Father. I don't want you to die. I can't

help how I feel. Surely Santa Ana will spare the women and children."

"Sue, I have no idea what Santa Ana will do. Now go to sleep."

"Ana, it is so quiet. Something is going to happen isn't it?"

"Si Sue, the deguello has stopped. Santa Ana will attack soon."

"Ms. Dickinson, are you all right?"

"No Colonel Travis I am not. I am dirty and scared. I know what it means when that

wretched Deguello stopped. It means the Mexicans are going to attack."

"Yes it does. I want to give you something for the babe. Keep it safe and if you need

it sell it. This ring is very special to me, I don't want it to fall into Mexican hands."

"You have my word, I will keep it safe."

"Thank you Ms. Dickinson."

"Ana, Ana what is happening? Go to your room; hide yourself and the babe. Do not make

a sound, no matter what you hear. I must go and care for my own. Good Luck."

"Great God, Sue, the Mexicans are inside our walls! If they spare you save my child!"

"Almeron, Almeron don't leave me."

"I love you Sue."

"If you wish to save your life, follow me. I would ask Senora Dickinson that you not

look around as I escort you out of here. It would be very offensive to your sensibilities."

"Where is my husband Colonel Almonte?"

"I do not know; now follow me."

"Colonel Almonte, bring Senora Dickinson to me now. I will spare her and her child.

Is she not a muy bonita nina?"

"Si Generalissamo, she is."

"Senora Dickinson, please come with me. The Generalissmo wishes to see you."

"Very well."

"Ah Senora Dickinson, I have been sitting here with su nina. Su nina es muy bonita.

I would like to take her back to Mexico. I will raise her as my own, she will have

all the privileges."

"No General, gracias no."

"How will you support her? You have no money."

"I will find a way."

"Si, I am sure you will. Very well, I give you a letter for General Houston, a blanket and

two silver coins. I wish you well Senora."

"Help me, Oh God someone help me!"

"Ms. Dickinson is that you?"

"Yes, they are all dead, my Almeron is dead. I have a letter from General Santa Ana

for General Houston."

"We'll take you to the General. You done good."

"General Houston, General Houston, we found Ms. Dickinson."

"Found her, what do mean found her?"

"Sir, she said: "they were all dead."

"Bring her here right quick, Deaf."

"Ms. Dickinson, come on in."

"General Houston, Santa Ana gave me this letter for you."

"Deaf tells me that one hundred and eighty six men perished in the Alamo."

"Yes General. My husband Almeron, Colonel Crockett, Colonel Travis and Colonel Bowie." "I am so sorry Ms. Dickinson. We are leaving Gonzales very soon, you will be coming

with us. That way I can protect you until we defeat Santa Ana."

"Thank you General Houston."

"No Ms. Dickinson, we should be thanking you for your sacrifice for Texas freedom."

"General I need to tend to my babe."

"Yes, we will speak again."

"Well Almeron, I save your child, she will know you because I will tell her. I will

always love you."