Part 34 (1/2)
”Not as many as there used to be. Did you see any dragons as you came through the valley?”
”Saw a lot of bones. Looked like a plague had hit the dragons hereabouts.”
”Something of the sort,” Lazarus agreed. ”Lady! Heel!” Heel!” He added, ”Monty, tell Darby that it's not safe to kick at that dog; she'll attack. She's a watchdog, in charge of this house, and she knows it.” He added, ”Monty, tell Darby that it's not safe to kick at that dog; she'll attack. She's a watchdog, in charge of this house, and she knows it.”
”You heard what the man said, Darby. Leave the dog alone.”
”Then she had better not come sniffing around me! I don't like dogs. She growled at me.”
Lazarus said directly to the older son, ”She growled because you kicked at her when she sniffed you. Which was her duty. If I had not been present, she would have taken your throat out. Leave her alone and she'll leave you alone.”
Montgomery said, ”Bill, you had better put her outside while we eat.” Phrased as a suggestion, it was made to sound like an order.
”No.”
”Gentlemen, supper is served.”
”Coming, dear. Lady. High sentry.” The b.i.t.c.h glanced at Darby but immediately trotted up the ladder to the roof, using the rungs without hesitation. There she made a careful fullcircle scan before sitting down where she could watch both outside and the supper party below her.
The supper party was more successful as a supper than as a party. Conversation was limited mostly to small talk between the two older men. Darby and Dan simply ate. Dora answered briefly sallies that Montgomery made at her and failed to hear any that she regarded as too personal. The sons seemed surprised to find their plates set each with knife, fork, chop tongs, and spoon, then relied mostly on knife and fingers; their father made some effort to use each eating tool, getting quite a bit of food into his beard.
Dora had piled the table with hot fried chicken, cold sliced ham, mashed potatoes and chicken gravy, hot corn pone and cold whole wheat bread with bacon drippings, a mug of goat's milk at each place, lettuce-and-tomato salad with grated goat's-cheese-and-onion dressing, boiled beets, fresh radishes, fresh strawberries with goat's milk. As promised, the Montgomerys ate for six, and Dora was pleased that she had provided a plenty.
At last Montgomery pushed back his stool and belched appreciatively. ”My, that hit the spot! Miz Smith, you can cook for us all the time. Right, Dan?”
”Right, Pop!”
”I'm pleased that you enjoyed it, gentlemen.” She stood up and started to clear the table. Lazarus stood and started to help her.
Montgomery said, ”Oh, sit down, Bill. Want to ask you some questions.”
”Go ahead and ask,” Lazarus said, continuing to stack plates.
”You said there was no one else in the valley.”
”That is correct.”
”Then I think we'll stay right here. Miz Smith is a very good cook.”
”You're welcome to camp here overnight. Then you'll find excellent farmland farther down the river. As I told you, I've homesteaded all of this.”
”Been meaning to talk to you about that. Doesn't seem right for one man to grab all the best land.”
”It isn't the best land, Monty; there are thousands of hectares just as good. The only difference is that I've plowed and cultivated this part.”
”Well, we won't argue about it. We outvote you. Four voting, I mean, and us three all voting the same way. Right, Darby?”
”Right, Pop.”
”It's not subject to vote, Monty.”
”Oh, come now! The majority is always right. But we won't argue. Been a nice feed, now for some entertainment. Do you like to ra.s.sle?”
”Not especially.”
”Don't be a spoilsport. Dan, do you think you can throw him?”
”Sure, Pop.”
”Good. Bill, first you ra.s.sle Dan-out here in the middle and I'll referee, keep everything fair and square.”
”Monty, I'm not going to wrestle.”
”Oh, sure you are. Miz Smith! Smith! Better come out here, you won't want to miss this.” Better come out here, you won't want to miss this.”
”I'm busy now,” Dora called out. ”I'll be out shortly.”
”Better hurry. Then you ra.s.sle Darby, Bill-then you ra.s.sle me. me.”
”No wrestling, Monty. Time for you folks to get into your wagon.”
”But you want want to ra.s.sle, young fellow. I didn't tell you what the prize is. The winner sleeps with Miz Smith.” His second gun appeared as he said it. ”Fooled you, didn't I?” to ra.s.sle, young fellow. I didn't tell you what the prize is. The winner sleeps with Miz Smith.” His second gun appeared as he said it. ”Fooled you, didn't I?”
From the kitchen Dora shot the gun out of his hand just as a knife suddenly grew in Dan's neck. Lazarus shot Montgomery carefully in the leg, then even more carefully shot Darby -as Lady Macbeth was at his throat. The fight had lasted under two seconds.
”Lady. Heel. Nice shooting, Dorable.” He patted Lady Macbeth. ”Good ”Good Lady, Lady, good good dog.” dog.”
”Thank you, darling. Shall I finish off Monty?”
”Wait a moment.” Lazarus stepped over and looked down at the wounded man. ”Got anything to say, Montgomery?”
”You b.a.s.t.a.r.ds! Never gave us a chance.”
”Gave you lots of chance. You wouldn't take it. Dora? Do you want to? Your privilege.”
”Not especially.”
”All right.” Lazarus picked up Montgomery's second gun, noted that it was indeed a museum piece but did not seem to be hurt. He used it to finish off its owner.
Dora was peeling off her dress. ”Half a moment, dear, while I get this off; I don't want to get blood on it.” With the dress out of the way, her pregnant condition showed a little. She also showed several other weapons as well as a gun belt riding low on her hips.
Lazarus was getting out of his kilt and other finery. ”You don't need to help, sweetheart; you've done a full day's work -and a fine one! Just toss me my oldest overalls.”
”But I want want to help. What are going to do with them?” to help. What are going to do with them?”
”Put them into their wagon, take them far enough downriver that lopers will dispose of them, drive back.” He glanced at the Sun. ”An hour and more of daylight left. Time enough.”
”Lazarus, I don't want you away from me! Not now.”