Part 7 (2/2)

Boyd had stretched out only a hand's length from Drew. There were dark smudges under his closed eyes, hardly to be told from the smears of dirt on his round cheeks, but there. He rolled his head on a hammock of gra.s.s and scowled at Kirby.

”General Grant can--” he added a remark which surprised Drew into opening his eyes. Kirby shook his head reprovingly.

”Now that ain't no way for a growin' boy to talk. An' it sits on your tongue as easy as a fly on a mule's ear, too. What kinda company you bin keepin', kid? Rennie, this heah colt ain't got no reason to cram grammar into a remark that way.”

Drew stretched, folded his arms under his head, and answered, in a voice he tried to make as blighting as possible: ”Thinks it makes him sound like a man, probably. He's findin' out the army ain't quite what he expected.”

”You shut up--!” Boyd might have added something to that, but Drew had moved. He leaned over the youngster, his hand hard and heavy on Boyd's shoulder. And it was plain that, much as he wanted to, the other did not quite dare to move or shake off that grip.

”I've had about enough,” Drew said quietly. ”The next town we hit you're goin' to stay there, until someone comes from back home to collect you.

n.o.body knows you're with us, and you can go back to Oak Hill without any trouble from Union troops.”

Boyd's eyes blazed. His mouth wasn't shaping a small boy's pout this time; it was an ugly line tight against his teeth.

”I ain't goin' home! I said you can't make me, 'less you tie me on a horse and keep me tied all the way. And I don't think you can do that, Drew Rennie. I'd like to see you try it; I sure would!”

”He's got you on a stand-off, I'd say,” Kirby remarked. ”My, ain't he the tough one though, horns sticking up an' haired all over!

Gentlemen--” he had glanced over their shoulder and was watching whatever was there--”company comin'. Mind your manners!”

Drew looked around. His hand clamped tighter on Boyd, keeping him pinned on his back. If he only had time ... but there was no way of disguising the younger boy. And Thomas McKeever, strolling with Captain Campbell, had already sighted them, stopped short, and now was moving swiftly in their direction.

”Boyd Barrett!”

Drew had to release his hold and Boyd sat up, brus.h.i.+ng bits of gra.s.s from his s.h.i.+rt sleeves even as he returned Mr. McKeever's stare with composure.

”Yes, suh?” Boyd was on his feet now, making his manners with the speed of one harboring a guilty conscience.

”What are you doing with this gang of cutthroats and banditti?” Mr.

McKeever had an excellent voice to deliver such an inquiry; it could rattle the unaware into confusion, and sometimes even into quick confession, as he undoubtedly knew.

”I'm with General Morgan, Mr. McKeever.” Boyd did not appear too ruffled.

”I refuse to believe that even that unprincipled ruffian is robbing cradles to fill up his ranks, depleted as they may be--”

Boyd reddened. ”General Morgan ain't no ... no unprincipled ruffian!”

”Yeah,” Kirby drawled. As the other two, he had risen to his feet on the approach of the older man. ”Them's pretty harsh words, suh. Cutthroat now--I ain't never slit me a throat in all my born days. What about you, Rennie? You done any fancy work with a bowie lately?”

Mr. McKeever favored the Texan with a pa.s.sing frown; then his attention settled on Drew. ”Rennie,” he repeated, and then said the name again with the emphasis of one making a court identification. ”Drew Rennie!”

”Yes, suh.” As Boyd had done, Drew answered to the indictment of being where he was and who he was.

”I am most unhappy to see Alexander Mattock's grandson and Meredith Barrett's son in such company. Surely”--he turned to Captain Campbell--”these boys are not your regular prisoners--”

Campbell shook his head gravely. ”Unfortunately, sir, they are indeed troopers with Morgan. And, as such, they are subject to the rules of war governing prisoners--”

”That does not prevent my seeing what I can do for both of you,” their host said quickly. ”At least, Boyd, you are young enough to be released by the authorities. Be sure I shall do all I can to bring that about.”

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