And Union No More: A Novel

Praise for And Union No More—a must-read for history lovers: “Stan Haynes uses a turning point in the evolution of America as the template for this thrilling adventure. His storyline infuses actual flashpoints in history in such a fluid manner that it is practically impossible to tell them apart. The characters are unique in every sense of the word . . . The subplots flow naturally and fit into the overall story arc like cogs on an effective wheel . . . I daresay And Union No More is a story without comparison in its genre.” —Readers’ Favorite (5-star review) “[A] novel rich in US history, providing the reader with something enticing that is also highly educational . . . Haynes . . . is able to mesh fiction together with historical record, creating a piece that is well worth the reader’s time . . . While using history as a guide, there are some twists embedded within the larger story that help keep the reader on their toes . . . Kudos, Mr. Haynes, for keeping me highly entertained and educated throughout this novel.” —Reedsy Discovery “Haynes does a splendid job of portraying the tense circumstances that enveloped the Kansas Territory during its journey to becoming a state. The characters he introduces, along with the historical figures, are immersed in a death struggle for the soul of the nation . . . Historical fiction fans will likely find much to enjoy in this novel that explores events that will eventually lead to one of the most devastating chapters in the nation’s history.” —US Review of Books Reviews of Stan Haynes’ prior novel, And Tyler No More: “Haynes paints a historically authentic and dramatically gripping tableau of the tumultuous politics of the time . . . This is a rigorously researched novel . . . [A]n impressive literary feat . . . .” —Kirkus Reviews “Haynes’s accomplished debut novel sets an arresting historical mystery during the administration of President John Tyler when the federal government was in the process of annexing Texas . . . The question . . . ‘What if thousands of enslaved people, if not those living now, at least their children or grandchildren, could be brought closer to freedom by a single death?’ Haynes establishes the stakes and context with clarity and power, threading a wealth of fascinating history into his telling . . . History enthusiasts will ponder ‘what if’ in this memorable novel . . . .” —BookLife “Washington hasn’t changed all that much since the 1840s–it was just as nasty and . . . perilous back then. This is a well-written, well-paced tale with a nice feel for the times. It’s history that goes down easy, my favorite kind.” —Burt Solomon, author of The Murder of Willie Lincoln and The Attempted Murder of Teddy Roosevelt Other books by Stan Haynes: President-Making in the Gilded Age The First American Political Conventions AND UNION NO MORE A NOVEL STAN HAYNES This is a work of historical fiction. Where historical figures appear in the story, they are portrayed fictitiously, with details and events that are products of the author’s imagination, and should not be construed as real. AND UNION NO MORE A NOVEL Copyright 2023 by Stan Haynes All rights reserved SMH Publishing Cover design by White Rabbit Arts ISBN: 978-1-7377669-2-6 (print) ISBN: 978-1-7377669-4-0 (e-book) Printed in the United States of America To Nate and Katie CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 9 CHAPTER 10 CHAPTER 11 CHAPTER 12 CHAPTER 13 CHAPTER 14 CHAPTER 15 CHAPTER 16 CHAPTER 17 CHAPTER 18 CHAPTER 19 CHAPTER 20 CHAPTER 21 CHAPTER 22 CHAPTER 23 CHAPTER 24 CHAPTER 25 CHAPTER 26 CHAPTER 27 CHAPTER 28 CHAPTER 29 CHAPTER 30 CHAPTER 31 CHAPTER 32 CHAPTER 33 CHAPTER 34 CHAPTER 35 CHAPTER 36 CHAPTER 37 CHAPTER 38 CHAPTER 39 CHAPTER 40 CHAPTER 41 CHAPTER 42 CHAPTER 43 CHAPTER 44 CHAPTER 45 CHAPTER 46 CHAPTER 47 CHAPTER 48 CHAPTER 49 CHAPTER 50 CHAPTER 51 CHAPTER 52 CHAPTER 53 CHAPTER 54 CHAPTER 55 CHAPTER 56 CHAPTER 57 CHAPTER 58 CHAPTER 59 CHAPTER 60 CHAPTER 61 AUTHOR’S NOTES ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR CHAPTER 1 May, 1856— A cool, late-spring dawn had just broken over the Kansas prairie. Monty called Robert’s name, quietly, a couple of times. With everything that had gone on in the past few days, he knew that startling a man sleeping with a loaded pistol at his side was not a good idea. He saw Robert’s eyes dart open and the instinctive grab for the weapon, stopping when he recognized Monty standing next to the pile of straw that he had been resting on. He and the younger Robert had become close friends after both had arrived in Kansas several months ago. “Get up, we need to go!,” said Monty. “Something terrible has happened. I’ve already got the horses saddled.” He shoved a cup of hot coffee into Robert’s hands. “Drink fast, and grab your gear.” “What now? What is it? Where are we going?,” asked a puzzled Robert. “I’ll tell you once we get going.” Monty watched as Robert gulped down the weak coffee and pulled on his boots. Having slept in their clothes, both were already dressed. He looked in his saddle bag and the only extra clothes he had brought along, a few shirts, some drawers, and a couple of pairs of socks, were still there. The events of the last few days raced through his mind. It was Monday, he was pretty sure. It had been less than a week since it all began. Last Wednesday, the long-anticipated attack on Lawrence, the town that served as the headquarters of the free-state movement in the Kansas Territory, had finally occurred. He had seen it all, crouched beside Robert, as they hid in a shed. Proslavery thugs from neighboring Missouri, with the backing of federal authorities, had stormed into the town. They called themselves a “sheriff’s posse,” but