Riding Shotgun by Rita Mae Brown
Author:Rita Mae Brown [Brown, Rita Mae]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-57390-2
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2009-10-20T16:00:00+00:00
20
Happily worn out from the hunting, the festivities, and the ride back home, Cig, Margaret, and Tom rested before the fire. Each cat had chosen a human lap, snuggling in the warmth, tail curled around her nose.
“Who is Patrick Fitzroy?” Cig asked, absentmindedly stroking Little Smudge.
“A damned Irishman.”
“Tom,” Margaret admonished.
“For an Irishman he’s—” Tom held up one palm indicating the man was acceptable, “but he’s poor.”
“Well born though. The younger son of a great lord in the south, I hear.”
“I don’t believe that. The man’s a blacksmith.”
“That’s a useful occupation,” Cig commented.
“That’s why I don’t think he’s high born,” Tom said agreeably.
“You don’t believe any Irishman is high born.”
“Must you point out my failings, my love?” Tom stretched out his legs, greatly disturbing Nell Gwyn who slid off his lap. She wedged herself between his thigh and the high-backed chair.
“There’s not enough time.” Margaret smiled impishly.
Cig laughed.
“Two against one. All right, ladies, be cruel to me. Abandon me to your depredations.” He laughed with them then softly said, “Remember how Braxton complained? How he’d run to Mother crying, Two against one,’ and it usually was, poor fellow.”
“God needed musicians.”
“Ah, Sister, if only I hadn’t made light of that. I criticized him for not studying medicine or law… even surveying.”
Margaret soothed him. “He was a most forgiving young man… and he loved you. Don’t dwell on it, Husband, there’s nought you can do.”
Cig changed the subject. “When all the men gathered to smoke, what did they say about the murdered Indian?”
Gingerly Tom tried to step around it. “Not much.”
“All those men standing around—who had seen the body—Edward Hill, Daniel, Lionel, and no one said much? I don’t believe it.”
“Pryor, there’s nothing to fret over.”
“Then why don’t you tell me what the other men thought?”
A flicker of irritation played over Tom’s face. “You don’t have to know everything. This is men’s business.”
“I think not.” Anger flashed in Cig’s eyes.
“Tom.” Margaret lowered her voice. Tom knew that tone.
“All right then.” He stood up before the fire while Nell remained in the chair. “Some think it was individual revenge. Others remember 1622—when the Indians attacked on Good Friday… almost as though they knew it was a day of suffering. All were slaughtered at Bermuda Hundred. Odd,” he put his hand on the mantelpiece, “that rich land at the mouth of the Appomattox River—no one will go near it.”
“1676,” Margaret added, “more horrible killing.”
Cig leveled her eyes at Tom. “Are the Indians gathering together? Do you think they’re getting ready for war?”
“Hard to tell. William Byrd and Lionel deVries don’t believe we’re in danger. They report no preparations for war or movement of their peoples but I think the Indians could gather before even they would know.”
“They can move farther west. There’s enough land for all.” Margaret innocently thought this seemed reasonable.
“But more of us will come here.” Cig put her hands behind her head. “How long before they want to drive us back into the ocean?”
Both Tom and Margaret considered this disturbing thought. Cig
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