A Ballad of Love and Glory(59)
After the review, Santa Anna called a meeting with his council of war, where he berated Ampudia for the loss of Monterrey. General Mejía didn’t translate for Riley all that was said, but there was no need. The commander was in a furious passion. Ampudia spoke quickly and, from what Riley could catch of the Spanish, was simply repeating what he’d told the troops back in Monterrey—that he’d surrendered to prevent further injury to innocent people. Though Riley believed his words had merit, he suspected that Ampudia had not been worried solely for the people’s safety. No, first and foremost, the general had saved himself.
“It was an honorable capitulation,” Ampudia insisted.
“?Basta! There’s nothing honorable in a capitulation, ?imbécil!” Santa Anna spat, ripping off the gilded epaulets on Ampudia’s uniform, proceeding to chastise him further. Ampudia swallowed his words and lowered his head.
Riley had learned from General Mejía that their new commander was drafting the men in the city and the surrounding areas and had sent an order out to all the states to send him their forces. Santa Anna planned to build the biggest army Mexico had ever seen. “The next time we face the enemy, we will run them off our land once and for all,” he said. “The boundary between Mexico and the United States will be determined by me—and the muzzles of my cannons.”
Throughout the following days, Riley learned more about the general from Juan Cortina and Ximena. Neither of them liked or trusted the man. They talked about the Texas Rebellion that Santa Anna had failed to suppress and the bitter times that followed. Later that week, Riley found himself being observed by the commander-in-chief during morning drills. In the following days, Santa Anna would come out to watch him training the artillery crews to man the cannons. Riley wasn’t surprised when, by the week’s end, he was summoned to the government’s palace and escorted to the general’s headquarters.
“His Excellency will see you now, teniente Riley,” Santa Anna’s attendant said to him. As he walked into the room, Captain Moreno smiled and beckoned him over. Riley liked Moreno, who had been born and reared in Florida. He could speak English as well as Spanish, and they’d become friends.
Santa Anna stood by his desk wearing a white uniform covered in gold—gold galloon, gold epaulets, gold silk sash, and gold buttons engraved with the Mexican eagle. His black hair was perfectly groomed, and despite his sallow complexion, the general was quite a striking man—elegant, poised, and taller than many of his compatriots. He was sporting a walking cane with a golden handle in the shape of an eagle with ruby eyes.
The general didn’t speak English well, but Captain Moreno was there to offer his services.
“I have heard good things about you, teniente Riley,” Santa Anna said, giving him a wide smile and a firm embrace. Riley was taller than the general by four inches, and yet he felt dwarfed by the man’s stance, full of confidence and regal authority.
“?’Tis an honor to fight for you, General,” Riley said. By now he knew that many of the officers in the Mexican Army were men of fortune who had gotten their commissions through family ties or political connections, not because of their skills and knowledge of the military profession. He’d heard that some generals had attained that rank without ever passing through the lower ranks. But the man who stood before him was different. Santa Anna began his military career at fourteen as a cadet and saw action as young as seventeen. He had risen in rank through sagacity and savage determination. Despite what anyone said were the general’s failings, Riley believed Santa Anna was likely to prove to be a formidable foe to the Yankee generals. With him, Mexico might stand a chance.
The general poured himself a glass of brandy and another for Riley. Then he said something and waited for Captain Moreno to translate. “The commander wants to know how you are liking our country.”
Before Riley could answer, Santa Anna interjected in his limited English. “Good food, no? Pretty se?oritas?” He laughed.
Riley thought of Ximena, the gleam of starlight upon her breasts. It’d taken every ounce of willpower to resist, but the image had haunted him every night since. He shook his head to free himself of it.
Captain Moreno and Santa Anna chuckled and exchanged glances. “Ah, I see that our women have made a great impression on you already.”
Riley took a drink of the brandy and felt his throat burn. He let the alcohol relax him and said, “I have eyes, and I’ve had occasion to observe the beauty of which you speak, your Excellency. I cannot deny there are many beauties in your country. But I have a wife back home, and I won’t forget my duty as a husband.”
“And so you won’t. Wives are meant to be treasured, but we must not deny ourselves a little pleasure once in a while, especially when we are at war. When you live your life one day to the next not knowing if you will live or die, a woman’s arms can be of great comfort. Don’t you agree?”
“The love of a woman is indeed a great gift.”
The general took a seat behind his desk and placed his cane beside him. He motioned for Riley to take a seat as well. Captain Moreno came to stand behind the commander to continue translating for him. “Tell me, Lieutenant, what made you desert the Yanqui army? Why are you here in Mexico?”
Riley was surprised at the commander’s bluntness, but he knew that the general had every right to ask. He, too, would be wary of foreigners in his ranks. “I assure you, General, that even though I’m a turncoat and have violated my oath to the United States, I’m not a man who easily abandons his obligations. My loyalties are with Mexico.”