_No

in the sense that open derision could be called skeptical.
"It's true!" Driscol insisted stoutly. "The potatoes in my family's patch quaked at my coming. I can still hear their shrieks of fear. Course, I slaughtered them without pity, nonetheless. Skinned 'em myself, too."
Houston chuckled. "Well. You'll think of something."
He went off, then, to see to the final preparations. Driscol remained behind, his mind still blank as a field of snow.
Well, not quite. He knew what a deer looked like. A very small, skinny cow. With absurdly complicated horns.
"Well, that's it, then." Monroe extended his hand. "You've done exceedingly well as an aide, Captain Ross, and I shall miss you."
John returned the handshake. "It's been a pleasure serving you, Mr. Secretary."
That was no more than the truth. Monroe was one of those men who carried authority with such ease and grace that they never felt it necessary to run roughshod over their subordinates. Whatever might come in the future, whatever clashes John Ross and his people would have with James Monroe—and there'd be many, certainly, if Monroe came to the presidency—John would always respect him as a person. Like him, for that matter.
"You understand," Monroe continued, "that my offer for correspondence was more than a polite formality."
"Yes, sir, I do—and I shall. Be assured of it."
Monroe smiled. "I suspect I may come to regret that offer, from time to time. But it stands nonetheless. I want to establish my own conduit to your people."
"You understand on your part, Mr. Secretary, that I can speak only on my own behalf. I hold no formal position among the Cherokees."
"No formal position." Monroe shrugged. "I don't claim to know your nation, Lieutenant—but I'd be very surprised if it's all that different from my own in many regards. One of which is that formal position and real influence are not the same thing." His hand waved toward the window of the temporary office he'd set up close to the Capitol, while work began on rebuilding the president's mansion and its adjoining executive offices.