#73
Andy and Donny were welcomed home by their adoring throng of young boys. "Tell us about the lion and the tiger," the chant was repeated and repeated. "Is it a really big one? How big was the lion? Didja hafta kill the man that owned them? We heard him once last night, it was really scary."
"It was not," Robbie protested hotly. "I wasn't scared, not one bit."
Of course, when Robbie announced he wasn't disturbed by the startling close roar, neither were TJ, Barry, and Eddie. "Well, I was;" Tony said aloud. "All the rest of you guys are faking."
"Hey guys," Donny hushed the quarrel. "You had better be scared. We saw what that tiger did to a horse, and was it ever a bloody sight. Killed a man also; tore one of his arms off to eat it."
That information silenced the group, each one looking out beyond the wagons to see if they could spot the man eating animal. "I don't suppose you'd better be talking about this in front of Lyric or the triplets. That would probably get us all in trouble; but you guys keep your heads up as you walk around. We can be sets of extra eyes and ears for the protection of everybody. You guys have slingshots and pocket knives?"
Everyone answered yes, even Eddie, and everybody knew he didn't have his knife. Accusing eyes turned his way. "Yer fibbin," Robbie said low. "Lying will get you in a lot of trouble. "
"Hey," Eddie interrupted, "That's Mr. Seamus's wagon coming in, I bet Calvin, Punky and Max are with him, let's go see."
That maneuver got Eddie out of the hot seat for the moment, and he led the charge to find out if the next three boys were indeed in the wagon.
Andy and Donny smiled at each other and went to put their horses up. "Storm comin in," Andy observed. "I'm gonna put my saddle under the wagon and get my slicker out. I think I'll stay with my horse, in case he gets spooked."
"Good idea," Donny loosened his cinch and slipped the saddle off. Unlatching the saddle bag, he found his horse brush and went to grooming his sweaty gelding. The animal grazed, walking ahead slowly and Donny walked with him, brushing and praising the animal for his good performance.
Andy did the same, and when the boys were through with their horses, they went to help Seamus unhitch and brush his teams.
Seamus was quiet, until he heard the wailing of a far off bagpipe. Frozen to the spot, he was totally alert, listening. "Oh me ears, dinna I hear a set of pipes? There, I hear it again. Oh, tis heavens music to me ears."
Seamus had his head turned in the direction of the valley, standing still with his eyes closed, soaking in the strains mournfully splitting the air.
"There are two families up there, clan Mackay, and clan MacDonald; and we are looking to buy additional teams from them." Mark's voice intruded into Seamus's reverie. "Seamus, I hate to hurry you, since you just got here, but there is a fierce storm headed this way. We need to get you water, wood and get your food cooking, unless you want to do that in the rain."
"No," the thick brogue betrayed the extent of Seamus's emotion upon hearing familiar sounds of his homeland. "I'll be busy right away."
"We'll help," Andy and Donny went for the axes in the back of the smaller wagon. "Tell ya what," Andy bartered with Donny. "You cut wood and I'll put the canvas up on the smaller wagon so we can sleep without getting wet."
"Deal, hey Eddie and Robbie come help. TJ and Barry, you guys be our guards while we are out away from the wagons."
That saved Eddie's bacon; as he had forgotten about Phoebe's decree, and he worked diligently to make a good showing and save his hide from a scolding.
Abby had stacked plenty of wood under her wagon, and she and Millie supervised the triplets as the boys carried sticks as their contributions to the fire. It was slow going work, easier to do by themselves; but so necessary to instill good work habits in the littles.
Chuck and Jerry hauled wood, water and made sure the canvas was tight on Mark's wagons. Clora came from the hospital wagon and checked on the coffee. "Help yourselves," she invited, "it won't be long before the storm hits, the wind is picking up."
"Thanks," Jerry accepted for both of them, "we will as soon as we check with Toby and Milo and see if they need anything." Clora nodded and went to get a sweater. The day had been stifling hot, but the temperature had dropped considerably and the wind was blowing cold shivers along her arms.
The younger boys brought in armfuls of wood, then went to help Andy who was having trouble securing the canvas tight in the wind. "Thanks guys, I sure appreciate your help." Andy's quiet praise was so much like Mark's and it made the younger kids puff up with pride.
Corbin had pulled up to the back of the general store and eager hands helped unload the much needed supplies. The first and second wagons were unloaded and they had started on the third, when the wind picked up and the first raindrops spattered on the canvas.
"Double time guys, we're gonna get wet for sure. George, you pull out and get us some grub started. See those wagons in the circle, the first two are friends, you can use their fires." Corbin was keeping close track of the unloaded supplies. He didn't trust the shifty eyed nephew of the store keeper. There had been slight differences in the final count and the invoices, and he suspected the kid was pilfering the higher dollar items last time.
George wandered over to the Linderman camp and inquired politely about using the two fires to cook the stew in the amounts he needed. Tess and Millie both instantly agreed, and invited George to move his cook wagon close.
Tidy and concise in his actions, George got down to the business of cooking his men supper.
Just to be friendly, Millie stayed and chatted with the newcomer, all the while observing and vetting the cook to make sure he was doing the right thing.