1824: The Arkansas War

S EPTEMBER 30, 1824

Maria Hester opened the door herself. She must have seen him coming.

"I've missed you so," she said, before he swept her into his arms. Then, laughing: "Sam! Stop it! Right in public!"

He growled something incoherent, lifted her into the house, and closed the door with his boot heel, never relinquishing the embrace or leaving off with the kisses. "Missed you, too."

"Father wants to see you," she mumbled. "As soon as you arrived, he told me."

"Can wait till tomorrow."

"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!"

Sighing, Sam set his wife down. Maria Hester was grinning up at him. "The president of the nation might have to wait a day, but your son won't."

Lurking just beneath the surface of her bright eyes was the same anticipation that was practically flooding him. The boy was only four years old, after all. Four-year-olds need a lot of naps.

A moment later, Sam had little Andrew Jackson Houston hoisted up. His son was beaming at him, too.

"Would you care for some whiskey, sir?" asked a servant, coming into the foyer.

"Of course not. It's only afternoon."

1824: TheArkansasWar

1824: TheArkansasWar