Part 33 (2/2)

”And this is my son Darby and that's Dan driving the jugheads. Say 'Howdy,' boys.”

”Howdy,” they each answered.

”Howdy, Darby. Howdy, Dan. Monty, is Mrs. Montgomery with you?” I nodded at the wagon, still did not attempt to see into it-a man's wagon is as private as his house.

”Now why would you be asking that?”

”Because,” I said, still holding onto mv friendly-idiot look, ”I want to trot back to the house and tell Mrs. Smith how many there'll be for supper.”

”Well! Did you hear that, boys? We've been invited to supper. That's mighty friendly, too, isn't it, Dan?”

”Right, Pop.”

”And we most kindly accept. Don't we, Darby?”

”Right, Pop.”

I was getting tired of the echo, but I kept my sweet expression. ”Monty, you still haven't told me how many. many.”

”Oh. Just three. But we eat enough for six.” He slapped his thigh and laughed at his own joke. ”Right, Dan?”

”Right, Pop.”

”So you stir up those jugheads, Dan; we've got reason to hurry now.”

I interrupted the echo to say, ”Hold it, Monty. No need to overheat your mules.”

”What? They're my mules, son.”

”So they are and do as you please about them, but I was sent out ahead so that Mrs. Smith would have time to be ready for you. I see you're wearing a watch”-I glanced at my own-”your hostess will expect you in one hour. Unless you need more time to get there and unharness and water your mules?”

”Oh, them jugheads will keep until after supper. If we're early, we'll set awhile.”

”No,” I said firmly. ”One hour, no sooner. You know how a lady feels about guests arriving before she's ready for them. Crowd her, and she might ruin your supper. Do as you please about your mules-but there is an easy place to water them, a little beach, where the river-comes closest to the house. Nice place to spruce up a bit yourself, too-before dining with a lady. But don't come up to the house short of one hour.”

”Your wife sounds mighty particular . . for way out here in the wilds.”

”She is,” I answered. ”Home, Beulah.”

I moved from a trot into Beulah's fast lope and did not get over an uneasy feeling between my shoulder blades until I was certain I was too far away to be a target. There is only one dangerous animal, yet at times you're forced to pretend that he's as sweet and innocent as a cobra.

I didn't stop to unsaddle Beulah; I hurried inside. Dora heard my slam-bang arrival, was at the compound's door. ”What is it, dear? Trouble?”

”Could be. Three men, I don't like them. Nevertheless, I've promised them supper. Have the kids eaten? Can we put them right to bed and convince them that if they so much as let out a peep, they'll be flayed alive? I didn't mention children, we aren't going to mention them, and I'm going to take a fast look around to make sure there is nothing in sight that says 'kids.' ”

”I'll try. Yes, I've fed them.”

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Right on the hour Lazarus Long met his guests at the door of the compound. They drove and rode up from the direction of the beach he had described, so he a.s.sumed that they had watered their animals, but he noted with mild scorn that they now did not bother to unharness their team for what was sure to be a long wait. But he was pleased to note that all three Montgomerys had made some effort to spruce up-perhaps they were going to behave; perhaps his sixth sense for trouble was hypersensitive from too long in the wilderness.

Lazarus was dressed in his best-kilt with full kit save that the effect was marred by a faded work s.h.i.+rt of New Pittsburgh origin. But it was indeed his best, worn only for children's birthdays. On other days he wore anything from overalls to skin, depending on work and weather.

After Montgomery dismounted, he paused and looked over his host. ”My, aren't we fancy!”

”In your honor, gentlemen. I save it for very special occasions.”

”So? It's mighty nice of you to honor us, Red. Isn't it, Dan?”

”Right, Pop.”

”My name is Bill, Monty. Not 'Red.' You can leave your guns in your wagon.”

”Well! Now that's not very friendly. We always wear our guns. Don't we, Darby?”

”Right, Pop. And if Pop says your name is 'Red,' that's your name.”

”Now, now, Darby, I didn't say that. that. If Red wants to call himself Tom, d.i.c.k, or Harry, that's his choice. But we wouldn't feel dressed without our guns, and that's the truth, uh, Bill. Why, I even wear mine to bed. Out here.” If Red wants to call himself Tom, d.i.c.k, or Harry, that's his choice. But we wouldn't feel dressed without our guns, and that's the truth, uh, Bill. Why, I even wear mine to bed. Out here.”

Lazarus was standing in the opened door of the compound. He made no move to step aside and let his visitors in. ”That's a reasonable precaution . . on the trail. But gentlemen don't wear arms when they dine with a lady. Drop them here or put them in your wagon, whichever you wish.”

Lazarus could feel the tension grow, could see the younger two watching their father for instructions. Lazarus ignored them and kept his easy smile on Montgomery, while forcing his muscles to stay loose as cotton. Right now? Would the bear back off? Or treat it as a challenge?

Montgomery split his face in his widest grin. ”Why, sure, neighbor-if that's how you want it. Shall I take off my pants, too?”

”Just your guns, sir.” (He's right-handed. If I were right-handed and wearing what you are wearing, where would my second gun be? There, I think-but, if so, it must be small . . either a needle gun or possibly an old-fas.h.i.+oned snubnosed a.s.sa.s.sin's gun. Are his sons both right-handed?) The Montgomerys put their gun belts on the seat of their wagon, came back. Lazarus stood aside and welcomed them in, then slid the bar into place as he closed the door. Dora was waiting, dressed in her ”party dress.” For the first time since a very hot day on the prairie she did not wear her rubies at the evening meal.

”Dear, this is Mr. Montgomery and his sons, Darby and Dan. My wife, Mrs. Smith.”

Dora bobbed a curtsy. ”Welcome, Mr. Montgomery, and Darby, and Dan.”

”Call me 'Monty,' Mrs. Smith-and what's your name? Mighty pretty place you've got here . . for so far out in the country.”

”If you gentlemen will excuse me, I have a couple of things to do to get supper onto the table.” She turned quickly and hurried back into her kitchen.

Lazarus answered, ”I'm glad you like it, Monty. It's the best we've been able to do so far, while getting a farm started.” The back wall of the compound had four rooms built against it: storeroom, kitchen, bedroom, and nursery. All had doors into the compound, but only the kitchen door was open. The rooms interconnected.

Outside the kitchen door was a Dutch oven; in the kitchen was a fireplace used for other cooking and for all cooking when it rained. That and a water barrel were as yet Dora's major kitchen equipment-but her husband had promised her running water ”sometime before you are a grandmother, my lovely.” She had not pressed him about it; the house grew larger and better equipped each year.

Beyond the Dutch oven and paralleling the bedrooms was a long table with matching stools. At the other wall by the storeroom was an outhouse; it and a water barrel and two wooden tubs made by cutting another barrel in two const.i.tuted, so far, their ”bathroom-toilet-refresher.” A pile of earth with a shovel stuck into it was by the outhouse; the cesspit was being slowly backfilled.

”You've done pretty well,” Montgomery conceded. ”But you shouldn't have put your privy inside. Don't you know that?”

”There is another privy outside,” Lazarus Long told him. ”We use this one as little as possible and I try to keep it from being too whiff. But you can't expect a woman to go outside after dark, not in loper country.”

”Lots of lopers, eh?”

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