Latchet by R. A. Currier

Author:R. A. Currier
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: border reiver, Renaissance fiction, Black powder warfare, Baskethilt, Sociopath protagonist
Publisher: R. A. Currier
Published: 2017-08-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Gentry rode one horse to near to death. He stole another after a quick decision that battering for a horse with what little his mother could spare would barely feed him and might only get him a slow animal, so would have to steal another and be remembered as the “lad looking for a horse.” He found one with a back and carry like his own to fit his saddle and cloth upon. He mounted, he rode; He arrived just in time of the day and for a small line of men lined up at the gallows.

He spied near the back of the small courtyard a gang of familiar faces. The lads were all there minus a few faces: David, Keening, “Strap”/Gerrard, and “Pinkie”/Edward. The lads didn’t use his name “Gentry” or acknowledge him until he stood beside them all them armed.

“He killed David, Gentry,” said “Mouse” looking to the gallows and with a look Gentry knew he was meaning Armstrong.

“Strap didn’t but he already hanged for it,” said Oliver.

Gentry looked at his scuffed boots and pulled at his scabbard below the strapping checking what he knew was secure then looked up to the line to hang and spied a stiff looking Armstrong. Brave. That’s good. He didn’t care what had transpired since he left them, but he did wonder what Armstrong would think of being family. Best not tell him. Let him go easy. Too late, he thought as the men awaiting the ropes all walked up, “What’s he up there for?”

“We don’t know,” a few of them said.

It would be a hell of a thing to introduce myself as, but not with the guards.

The drop came quick and Armstrong dangled despite his weight kicking and twitching for some time. The gang dissolved slowly and all met in a tavern some time later. All eyes came to Gentry and as they filled up the table he began to notice the nods and their conversations were idle but often went to who would lead them, if they would continue.

Gentry prepared himself for a fight as they talked, slowly, moving casually his chair for a draw of sword and dagger both as he looked to Oswyn, “I married the lass.”

Oswyn looked up from a plate of cheese and bread, “Aye?”

“The fiery one, by any account, Anny— she’s my wife.”

He went back to eating. Gentry decided to use all his coin on getting his companions drunk. He pieced together that “Keening” (A Bell) left because of Oliver (A Graham) and suspected Strap was killed because of “John” Armstrong taking money to start a feud and using part of the gang to do it and he got in the way but no one mentioned “Pinkie.” He hoped someone would talk as he ran out of money and they all used their own brass, but he was not brought up.

Gentry excused himself on the pretense and truth of needing to sleep so he could get back to his wife and family and see about his business there.

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