"Eric Flint - TOG 02 - 1824, The Arkansas War" - читать интересную книгу автора (Flint Eric)

midafternoon.тАЭ




тАЬHi, Sam!тАЭ

тАЬHi, Sam!тАЭ

He grinned at the twin girls scampering around the front yard of Blue Spring Farm, as Richard M.
JohnsonтАЩs house and plantation were called. тАЬSettle down, will you? YouтАЩre making the horse nervous.тАЭ

The admonishment had as much effect as such admonishments usually have on twelve-year-old girls.
Fortunately, SamтАЩs horse was a placid creature.

He decided to try the tactic of parental authority. тАЬAnd you know your daddy doesnтАЩt like it when his
girls donтАЩt act proper. Him being a United States senator and all.тАЭ

That had no effect, either, not to SamтАЩs surprise. Richard Johnson was a genial man toward just about
everybody, especially his own daughters. Threatening them with his wrath was as useful as threatening
them with a snowstorm in July.

In fact, they started laughing. And they werestill bouncing up and down.

Fortunately, the girlsтАЩ mother emerged onto the front porch.

тАЬSettle down!Right this minute, Imogene, or IтАЩll smack you proper! You too, Adaline!тАЭ

That did it. In an instant, the girls were the very model of propriety and demure behavior. Their father
might be easygoing, but their mother was not. Julia Chinn was so well organized and disciplined that she
almost managed to keep the senator from losing his money.

Almost, but not quite. But Sam didnтАЩt think anyone else could have kept him from going broke years
earlier.

Sam got off his horse and handed the reins to Chester, who began leading the horses to the barn around
the side. Sam stepped up onto the porch and took off his hat. He gave a polite nod to the two disabled
veterans sitting on chairs further down the porch, and then turned to the lady of the house.

тАЬAfternoon, Julia.тАЭ

Her stern look vanished. тАЬHello, Sam. ItтАЩs so nice to see you visit again. ItтАЩs beenтАжwhat? Over a year,
now. You shouldnтАЩt stay away so long.тАЭ

Before he could answer, she waved a hand. тАЬYes, yes, I know. YouтАЩre a frightfully busy man.тАЭ
Richard Johnson came out onto the porch just in time to hear the last words.

тАЬFrightfully busy troublemaker, more like,тАЭ he said gruffly. But he didnтАЩt even try to disguise the smile
with which he said it.