Ole Devil at San Jacinto (Old Devil Hardin Western Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page B

is
concerned.’ His gaze turned to his nephew and he continued,
‘Company “C” is to be detached on special duty, Captain Hardin.
They will leave tomorrow at dawn.’
    ‘ Yes, sir,’ Ole Devil responded, still
conscious of Dumoulin’s scrutiny. ‘They’ll be ready.’
    ‘ May I have your permission to depart,
sir?’ the Frenchman requested, after giving what might have been a
nod of approval for the young Texian’s unhesitating acceptance of
his superior’s orders. ‘As my regiment will also be leaving in the
morning, I have many things demanding my attention.’
    ‘ You may go, Colonel,’ Houston
authorized.
    ‘ My thanks for being so
understanding —Jules,’ Colonel Fog said, stepping around the table and
behind the General.
    ‘ It is regrettable that
the need should have arisen —Edward,’ Dumoulin answered, accepting and
shaking the small Texian’s hand. ‘Au revoir, gentlemen.’ His gaze once again swung in
Ole Devil’s direction and he went on, ‘May our next meeting be in
more pleasant circumstances, Captain Hardin.’
    ‘ Thank you, sir,’ the
young Texian replied, still unable to detect any trace of the
other’s sentiments, but believing they were favorable to
him. ‘I’ll do my best to make sure that it is.’
    Throwing a smart salute to Houston, the
Frenchman turned and strode from the Texian’s presence without a
backward glance.
    ‘ He ain’t such a
bad hombre, considering he’s a Frog,’ Smith commented after Dumoulin
had gone beyond earshot. ‘I’d’ve thought he’d start to screech like
a knife-struck hawg when you told him’s he’d got to take his
soldier-boys down to Harrisburg and guard good old Davey Burnet’s
bunch.’
    ‘ Well he didn’t,’ Houston
answered, eyeing his lanky chief of scouts sardonically. ‘And
now, if it’s all right with you, I’d like to hear from Captain Hardin not how, but why all those
remarkable accidental injuries happened.’
    ‘ With all respect, sir,’ Ole Devil
said, showing no more emotion than was being expressed by the three
older men. ‘No excuse.’
    ‘ It wouldn’t have had any
connection with the way in which those six young
foo — gentlemen from New Orleans have been casting doubts on the courage of
an officer under your command,’ the General suggested. ‘Would
it?’
    ‘ Again, with respect,
sir,’ Ole Devil began, h is voice unemotionally polite. ‘I can’t add
anything to—’
    ‘ Very well, captain,’
Houston interrupted, drumming his fingers on the top of the table
for a moment. There was a frosty glint in his eyes as he started to
speak again. ‘I’m not an over inquisitive man, nor do I have a
suspicious nature.’ He darted a glare at Smith, who gave a muted
snort of disbelief. ‘However, I do try to keep in touch
with everything that goes on in my command—’
    ‘ That’s another way of
saying he’ s nosy,’ the old chief of scouts explained, sotto
voce,
    ‘ For instance,’ the
General continued, as if he had not heard Smith. ‘I’ve been told
that, because Lieutenant Paul Dimmock was fortunate enough to have
escaped from the massacre at Goliad, certain of our esteemed
supporters from New Orleans have raised what might be considered as
doubts regarding his personal courage and integrity. Not
unnaturally, he is said to be taking very grave exception to such
imputations.’
    ‘ That’s a real fancy way of putting
it,’ Smith drawled. ‘But he sure’s hell can’t be blamed happen he’s
getting riled over what they’re saying.’
    ‘ Where is Mr. Dimmock now, by the
way?’ Houston inquired, taking no more notice than he had of the
scout’s previous comment.
    ‘ I sent him out in command of a
foraging detail, sir,’ Ole Devil explained. ‘He won’t be back
before nightfall, if then.’
    ‘ And while he’s away,’ Houston said
drily, ‘you have a quarrel with the second-in-command of your
Company which has resulted in every one of the men Mr. Dimmock
might have wished to