Moon Racer Read Online Free PDF Page B

irony. "As I
remember it-correct me if I'm wrong your greatgrandfather served under General Washington and
distinguished himself at Yorktown. Your grandfather
graduated from West Point with the highest honors
ever achieved and went on to serve in Congress. Oh,
yes, I almost forgot your father was one of General
Grant's officers and was decorated by Abe Lincoln
himself and is now a retired general."
    "As I recall," Jonah said, "I bared my soul to you,
somewhere between the good brandy we started out with and the foul-tasting swill we ended up buying
from the trading post. I have a vague memory of
confessing that the general had my life all planned
out for me before I had even taken my first step."
He imitated his father's voice," `All Tremain men
go to West Point and pursue a military career.'"

    "Until that night I thought you liked being in the
cavalry. You're certainly good at it look how high
you've risen in rank in just the last two years."
    "I might have chosen to join the cavalry on my
own, but I'd have liked to have been given the
choice."
    Quince nodded in agreement. "I know what you
mean; life sometimes has a way of choosing for us."
    Jonah decided to move on to another subject.
"You look fit and hearty for a man who's just
become a husband."
    "Jonah, my friend, you are looking at a happy
man. But then, you've already met my Glory, so
you know how fortunate I am that she chose a
saddle bum like me."
    "Wild, untamable Quince, his wings clipped by a
woman." Humor twinkled in Jonah's eyes. "I'll
venture to guess you haven't told her everything
about your past, such as how the women at the post
always gave you... the eye."
    "Sometimes, when you're dealing with women,
the past is better left to the past." Quince leaned
against a fence and crossed his arms. "I'm anxious to
meet the woman who's about to clip your wings."
    Jonah didn't want to talk about Patricia-today.
Sometimes, like now, he had difficulty even remem bering her face. But she was the woman he would
marry... because it was expected of him, just as
he had been expected to go to West Point. He had
no objections to Patricia; she would make an
admirable officer's wife. "I suppose we all
surrender to the inevitable in the end. Look at you,
choosing marriage over scouting."

    Quince shook his head and held his hand out at
shoulder level. "The reason is about this tall, and has
red hair and dark eyes." Then Quince motioned, indicating that Jonah should follow him. "No offense,
Major, but I don't miss eating dust and spoiled food,
and fighting heat, renegades, and snakes."
    "I feel a -calmness in you that only a good woman
can bring out in a man. You are fortunate, my
friend," Jonah told him.
    Quince knew there was certainly no calmness in
Jonah. It had always mystified him why the major
never spoke of the woman he was to marry when
everyone down to the newest recruit knew he was
soon to marry. "What is your business in Diablo?"
he asked curiously.
    "It has to do with the missing payrolls meant for
Fort Fannin. Both times our payrolls were hit, the
shipment originated in Diablo. It could be a
coincidence, but I am looking into every aspect of
the robberies, no matter how small the lead."
    "You don't have much to go on, do you?"
    Jonah unbuttoned the top button on his uniform
jacket. "The trail gets colder with each passing day."
    "What about Victorio? I know you were tracking
him up in New Mexico territory."

    "Colonel Grierson is on his trail at the moment.
At last report he had driven him back into Mexico.
But we all know you can't keep Victorio where he
doesn't want to be. He has sworn that he will fight
to the death, and I believe him."
    Quince was glad he didn't have to go chasing after
the Apache chief. "Such is the life of a soldier."
    Jonah nodded in agreement. "You sign up for the
glory; you stay for the fight."
    "Yeah. That's one reason I quit. There was no
glory, and there was always a