When the Splendor Falls by Laurie McBain

Author:Laurie McBain [McBain, Laurie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-03-20T04:00:00+00:00

Seventeen

Thou hast given him his heart’s desire.

Psalm 21:2

“Wish we had some more of that hot broth right now. Would taste mighty good,” the Bucktail said wistfully.

“Wish we did too, Bucky, just to keep your stomach from rumbling so loud,” the sentinel about to relieve himself agreed as he heard the loud grumbling from behind his turned back. “Sure to give us away to any reb patrols nearby,” he commented, selecting a couple of green leaves and thinking they would do nicely.

“Reckon they’ll jus’ think it’s thunder.”

“What was that?” his friend asked, jerking up his breeches. “Wouldn’t you know, after all the battles I been in, the rebs would finally catch me, and me with my breeches down ’round my ankles,” he said, humiliated.

“Didn’t hear nothin’,” the Bucktail said, gazing into the darkness beneath the stone bridge. “Gettin’ light,” he said, glancing at the gray clouds, tinged with pink, overhead.

“Wonder how long the cap’n’s goin’ to stay holed up here.”

“Reckon till some of them reb patrols get tired of bumpin’ into themselves comin’ and goin’ and findin’ nothin’ of the Bloodriders. Besides, McGuire and the lieutenant wouldn’t be able to get far, ’specially if we had to make a run for it. McGuire’s been feverish the last two nights. Never heard such babblin’. Lil’ reb knew what she was doin’, though, ’cause the cap’n says McGuire’s wound ain’t festerin’ none. Wish Jimmy was doin’ as well. Too bad, him havin’ that attack of swamp fever. Thought he was lookin’ a bit peaked. Kept gettin’ the shivers yesterday. Came down with it last summer. Remember when we were in White Oak Swamp? Didn’t think we’d ever get out of there to Seven Pines, then, couldn’t believe all that marshland north of Fair Oaks Station. Never thought we’d make it to the banks of the Chickahominy, and Jimmy comin’ down sick with that fever and rebs swarmin’ all over the place. I sure thought he was over it. Would’ve brought along a tin of quinine if I’d known.”

“Wish we had a fire. It’d help poor ol’ Jimmy stop shakin’. Don’t think he’s goin’ to have any teeth left. Say, you remember them ash cakes we had a while back?” the other one asked, thinking of the cornmeal they’d mixed with water and salt and some beef drippings. Patting the mixture into cakes, then wrapping them up tight in wet cloth, they’d buried them under hot ashes. “Nice an’ crunchy, remember? Now that’d make a tasty breakfast this mornin’. Figure we’ll be chewin’ on beef jerky. Least it ain’t rainin’.”

“Ought to have wars just in summertime. Figure the best time for fightin’, and bein’ out in the countryside, is in late summer or early autumn, ’cause there’s plenty to eat. You remember that cornfield? We took them ears of corn and roasted them right in the shuck. Best tastin’ I’ve ever had.”

“Only wish we’d had some butter.”

“Yup, would’ve too, ’ceptin’ for you makin’ eyes at that farmer’s wife. Shouldn’t have done that, Bucky. ’Specially

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.