A Time to Slaughter by William W. Johnstone

Author:William W. Johnstone [Johnstone, William W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.
Published: 2014-03-15T04:00:00+00:00

Finally they reached the far corner of Dromore, a tall, rangy old-timer wearing chaps and a sheepskin coat, a raggedy man whose entire wardrobe was probably worth fifty cents, and between them, Shamus. Though his mouth was grim from pain, he never took his eyes off the snapping flag.

Jacob said, “Now we’ll help you back, Pa.”

“I’ll do it myself,” Shamus declared boldly. “Step away from me, son.” He turned and stumbled forward again.

Led by Samuel and Lorena, the entire staff of Dromore, from butler to scullery maid, stood outside in the snow and watched Shamus’s struggle.

“I’ll help him,” Patrick said, stepping toward his father.

Samuel put out an arm and stopped him. “No, you won’t. Pa has to do this himself.”

Lorena was alarmed. “Samuel, he could get hurt.”

“That’s a chance he’ll have to take.”

The crowd around the door watched in silence. No one cheered Shamus on, but two dozen people willed him to make it. A couple vaqueros in from the range sat their horses and watched. Like everyone else, they remained silent.

Finally Shamus made it to the door and Lorena moved quickly to his side. To her husband she said, “Help me get him into bed,”

The colonel grinned, his teeth chattering. “No bed, daughter-in-law. Get me into my chair and bring me a brandy.”

“Somebody bring the colonel’s wheelchair,” Lorena said.

“The hell with that, woman,” Shamus roared. “Help me to my chair beside Saraid’s pink hearthstone.” He turned and looked at Jacob. “We’ll walk again tomorrow.”

“That we will, Colonel. And the next day.”

Shamus turned to his longtime friend. “Sergeant Ironside, put our flag away with honor. We won’t need it again.”

“Yes, sir, Colonel,” Ironside said, giving the old, palm-forward salute of the Confederate cavalry.

Shamus looked from Ironside to Jacob. “Well done, you scoundrels. Well done, both of you.”

“Well done your ownself, Colonel,” Ironside said.

Shamus smiled. “All in all, I did pretty well, didn’t I?”

“Damn right you did.” Ironside’s eyes were moist. “Damn right you did, Colonel O’Brien.”

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