Brings the Lightning (The Ames Archives Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

If you figure he’s the right man for her, that’s all that matters to me.”
    His father smiled with relief. “I’m glad you see it that way, Walt. You’re not upset at my telling them they can have the farm when I’m gone?”
    “You thought I was dead when you promised it to them. I can hardly blame you for that. Besides, I don’t think I want to stay here. I’ve seen too much, maybe done too much. I don’t think I could settle down behind a plow now.”
    “Do you have to leave so soon?” His father’s voice cracked a little. “I just got you back, Walt. Can’t you stay a while?”
    Walt shook his head. “I wish I could, Pa, but… it’s like I got a wild hair in me. There ain’t no peace for me around here anymore. I got to make a fresh start somewhere my memories won’t haunt me.”
    His father’s eyes met his and held them, until Walt had to look away. “The war. What did it do to you, son?”
    Walt took a deep breath, then shook his head. He couldn’t tell his father about what he’d done and the men he’d killed. He’d done what he had to do to survive, but Pa hadn’t ever fought. He wouldn’t understand that sometimes a man had to do what was needful. “Can’t rightly talk about it. It’s still too fresh.”
    His father sighed. “I won’t press you. A man has to keep his own counsel. Will you be able to come back and visit us?”
    “Soon as I can afford it and can spare the time. Maybe in a year or two. I’ll wait until feelings about the war have died down. They’re running too high right now in these parts.”
    “I suppose so. I don’t have much money, Walt, but I’ll give you something for the road. That’s the least I can do, to help you make a fresh start.”
    “There’s no need, Pa. I brought back some money I picked up here an’ there. I’ll have enough for what I need. I won’t even take my horses with me—they’re plumb worn out. I’ll leave them here for Katie and Jim as a wedding present. Two of them are good mounts, the best the Yankee army had to offer. The third one isn’t as good, but he’s serviceable. After a few weeks’ rest, good grazing, and some grain, they’ll be fit and frisky again.” He grinned suddenly. “All three are spoils of war. They’ve got U.S. Army brands. You’d better ask Jim Webber to write you an official letter before he’s discharged, saying you own them legally; then you can give them to him and Katie at the wedding.”
    His father laughed. “I’ll do that. They’ll be glad to have them. You’re not going to stay for the wedding?”
    “I reckon not, Pa. I need to move on.”
    “I wish you wouldn’t, but I guess I understand. If you’re leaving your horses here, I’ll have Mose drive you to Nashville in our wagon. It’s a three-day journey.” He raised an eyebrow. “You said the horses were ‘spoils of war’?”
    Walt shook his head. How could he tell his father that he’d taken them from men he’d killed? “Yeah, but I’d rather not go into it, Pa.”
    His father sighed again. After a moment, clearly trying to get off potentially dangerous ground, he smiled and said, “Your Ma always said I was too curious for my own good. Now, will you please trim that great big bush of a beard and get a haircut? I hardly recognized you. You look like the heathen offspring of a broom and a mop!”
    Walt laughed. “All right, Pa. I’d been planning on doing that anyway. I’ll get Katie to trim my hair and beard, then have them more properly seen to in Nashville. I’ll have to ask a barber to shave me. I lost my razor somewhere in Virginia last year, and never got round to buying another.”
    He extended his glass as his father offered the stone jug.
At least I’ve seen Pa, and made him happy. If I get stuck out west, it may be a long time before I can get back here—and with him lookin’ so poorly, I may never see him again.
It was a painful thought.
     
    ―――――

    Two days later Walt rode the three miles