Chip Shatto (Perry County Series) by Chandler Roy F

Author:Chandler, Roy F. [Chandler, Roy F.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Katherine R. Chandler
Published: 2013-10-23T16:00:00+00:00

BOOK TWO

Chapter 11

Supper over, the men went out onto the porch where they propped their feet on the railing and leaned back to enjoy the evening cool. Along the creek bullfrogs had begun their nightly chorus and locust still sang in the fields. Birds completed unknown missions before finding perches, and a cow lowed and was answered by the rest of the herd gathered in a fence corner.

Within the house, Doug Fleming expounded to Amy and old Widow Oakes about something he had seen while riding and they both sounded as amazed as he. Chip guessed there wasn't much in Perry County that Amy Shatto hadn't seen and Widow Oakes was so deaf he doubted she understood much of the boy's rapid fire exclaiming.

He studied Carter's boots, old Rob's boot and peg foot, and his own worn moccasins with a sense of comfort.

At home, with a full belly, family close-by, and a friend handy seemed just about the way it ought to be. A small euphoria enveloped him and he shrugged comfortably, enjoying it.

His father was also looking at the lined up footwear. "Thought you were getting out of those moccasins."

"Still plannin' on it, Pap, but every morning my hand just reaches past those boots like you'd go over turnip greens for apple pie."

"Moccasins are right for hunting but otherwise you'd best get boots on. I made the change, so I expect you can."

"He just don't want the locals to forget that he used to be a hairy old mountain man, Pap." Carter Roth had taken to calling Rob, Pap, just as though he was family, but he should have been silent as old Rob hopped right on him.

"And you ought to get that ring out of your ear, Carter, or don't you want the locals to forget you were one of those wild old sea captains?" Chip's snicker went unanswered, as Carter was quick with his own retort.

"Well, this ring was given by the only woman that I ever loved and I promised never to take it off.

"Anyway, it's not like that gold ring you wrapped around that peg foot so none of the locals would forget how it got shot off."

Chip interrupted their new laughter. "Got to watch him, Pap. He's got a barbed tongue. Fact is, he once claimed that ring was for roundin' the Horn, an' another time he told a great windy about taking it off some dead pirate called Jose Gaspar. Oh he's a horrible liar when it comes to that ring, Pap."

"Huh, think I didn't know that?" They fell silent listening to the sounds of the evening.

Carter finally broke it. "That canal interest I looked into came to nothing, Pap."

"Thought it mightn't. The canals are about licked. They haven't been able to compete with the railroads for the last twenty years."

"Oh, it isn't just that. A man could make a good living for a spell yet. Trouble is that those people aren't sailors or even boat people. They're just merchants using a barge instead of a wagon or a train.

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