The Reckoning Read Online Free PDF Page B

pigtails yawned. “My daddy says that books're full of lies writ by people what couldn't get an honest job.”
    â€œI wouldn't want to argue with your father, but if you do enough research, and compare facts, you often can tell who's lying and who isn't. The importance of an education is that it teaches you to evaluate information. I think that all of us should go home tonight, look through the printed material in our homes, and bring in everything about the Army that we find. Then, tomorrow, we'll have a reading session, and find answers to our questions!”
    A skinny little boy, wearing thick eyeglasses, wrinkled his nose and crossed his arms over his birdlike chest. “Why don't we just ask one of them soldiers to tell us about the Army?”
    â€œI'm sure they're much too busy ...”
    Mrs. Gibson interrupted her. “On the contrary, they seem to have quite a lot of time on their hands. I believe they're waiting to join up with another detachment, and it's two days late.”
    â€œProbably massacred by injuns,” the boy in the thick eyeglasses said confidently.
    Vanessa wondered how the teachers at Miss Dalton's School would handle the situation. Shewanted them to actually learn about the army, not listen to old barracks tales from the mouth of a drunkard who'd fought against the South during The Recent Unpleasantness. But on the other hand, it could enable me to establish better rapport with my students.
    â€œSounds like a good idea,” she said. “The next order of business is to elect someone to go to the commanding officer and ask him to deliver an address to the class. Do I have any nominations?”
    Every little finger in the room pointed to the new schoomarm, and every little voice shouted in unison, “You!”
    The soldiers’ tents were lined in a row next to a stream at the edge of town. Wet clothing hung from guylines, while a detail of soldiers repaired a wagon, and others cleaned rifles, mended harnesses, and sewed clothing, everybody keeping busy, but not so busy that they didn't notice the attractive blond woman strolling into their detachment area.
    A sergeant with curly red sideburns shot to his feet in front of her. “Can I he'p you, ma'am?”
    â€œI'd like to speak with your commanding officer.”
    â€œI'm Sergeant Mahoney, ma'am. Right this way.”
    He led her toward the largest tent, its front and rear flaps open. Inside, seated behind the desk, she could see the commanding officer.
    â€œWait right here, ma'am. I'll be out directly.”
    She glanced at the soldiers, all of whom stared at her as though she were delicious. She'd sung tosoldier audiences during her stage career, and knew that they were lonely men, with harsh lives and little money.
    Sergeant Mahoney returned, and stood at attention before her. “The lieutenant'll see you now, ma'am. You can go right in.”
    She entered the tent, where Lieutenant Dawes stood behind his field desk. “Can I help you, ma'am?”
    He had bronzed features, a solid jaw, and wore eyeglasses, which made him appear studious. Evidently he'd been writing something. “I'm the new schoolmarm,” she began, “and I'm afraid that I have a rather unusual request, sir.”
    He raised his right hand. “The name's Dawes. Have a seat. Can I get you some coffee? I don't suppose you'd care for whiskey.”
    â€œWouldn't be schoolmarm here long if I did. I'm Vanessa Fontaine.”
    â€œYou're just about the most beautiful woman that I've ever seen in my life, Miss Fontaine. What can I do for you?”
    Vanessa smiled politely. “My students have invited you to speak to them about what it's like to be in the army.”
    Lieutenant Dawes opened his mouth to render an unequivocal no, but possibly General Sheridan would pass through Shelby someday, and the pretty schoolmarm might tell him about kind, helpful Lieutenant Dawes. “I'd be happy to speak before your