Brings the Lightning (The Ames Archives Book 1) by Peter Grant Page A
Authors: Peter Grant
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claws on a new leather thong, tying knots between them to space them out evenly.
He’d just finished when there came a tapping at the connecting door to the next room. He opened it to find Rose standing there, pink with excitement, wearing a new blue dress. Her hair had been put up in the latest fashion, too. She beamed at him. “You were right! The dress shop owner was haughty and distant at first, when she saw my old, unfashionable clothing; but when I mentioned that I needed four new outfits right away, and would pay in gold, she couldn’t help me fast enough. Thank you so much for your generosity! They measured me for this one first, then adjusted it while I tried on lots of other things. The rest of my order will be ready in two days.”
“Not many people can afford to buy so much these days, or pay in good Yankee gold. I’m not surprised the owner changed her attitude so quickly. I must say, you look very pretty in that dress, with your hair up like that.” He stepped back, indicating his own finery. “What do you think?”
“Why, sir, I think you’re the handsomest man I’ve seen in a long time! Put on your jacket, so I can see you properly attired.”
He slipped it on, and she walked around him, inspecting critically. “That suits you very well. I’m glad you had the barber shave your beard. You look quite the man about town now.”
“Why, thank you. I expect I’ll look even more so when my new boots, shoes and belts are ready.”
“Yes—and just wait until you see the rest of what I bought! We’re going to be the envy of the other passengers on the riverboat, looking like this.”
“Did you buy the tickets?”
“I’ve got them in my reticule. I booked adjoining staterooms, as we did here, with a connecting door, telling them you were my nephew as you advised. They were terribly expensive—twenty gold dollars each! It’s scandalous!”
“Well, the
Cumberland River Queen
is said to be the best of the riverboats on the St. Louis route, so her fares are naturally higher. When do we leave?”
“Three days from now.”
“Good. That gives me time to buy a few more things, and to test my new guns. I bought one for you, too.” He described the Colt Pocket Police revolver. “A Southern lady should be able to defend her honor. You already know how to shoot, I’m sure.”
“Why, I should think so, Mr. Ames! I’ve shot many a raccoon or possum or thieving bird, and also rabbits for the pot.”
“Good. You can come shooting with me in the fields outside town. I’ll show you how to load, fire and clean your revolver.” He took his watch from his waistcoat pocket and glanced at it. “It’s after five, and we’re already well dressed. What do you say we dine a little early, then take in a show? We may as well display our finery to the rest of the city.”
“Why, thank you, Mr. Ames! I accept with pleasure. Let me get my new cape.”
“Cape?” he said, wonderingly. “Well, I never.”
“Welcome aboard de
Cumberland River Queen,
suh. My name is Jason. I’ll be your cabin servant durin’ de run to Sain’ Louee.” The smartly uniformed servant smiled, his brilliantly white teeth dazzling against his dark lips and black skin.
“Thank you, Jason.” Walt dug in his pocket, found a half-eagle, and flipped it to him. The man’s eyes widened in astonishment as he caught the five-dollar gold coin, and instinctively he raised it to his mouth and bit it. Walt couldn’t help but smile to see it. “Yes, it’s real. Look after me and Mrs. Eliot in the cabin next door, and there’ll be another one when we get there.”
“
Yassuh!
You’se gonna be de bes’ looked after people on dis boat, you jus’ wait an’ see!”
“Good. We want privacy, you hear? No one wandering in and out of our cabins, and no one looking in the windows or doors either. I know some bad characters have been known to tip servants to let them into staterooms. If that happens to us, you’ll be food for
He’d just finished when there came a tapping at the connecting door to the next room. He opened it to find Rose standing there, pink with excitement, wearing a new blue dress. Her hair had been put up in the latest fashion, too. She beamed at him. “You were right! The dress shop owner was haughty and distant at first, when she saw my old, unfashionable clothing; but when I mentioned that I needed four new outfits right away, and would pay in gold, she couldn’t help me fast enough. Thank you so much for your generosity! They measured me for this one first, then adjusted it while I tried on lots of other things. The rest of my order will be ready in two days.”
“Not many people can afford to buy so much these days, or pay in good Yankee gold. I’m not surprised the owner changed her attitude so quickly. I must say, you look very pretty in that dress, with your hair up like that.” He stepped back, indicating his own finery. “What do you think?”
“Why, sir, I think you’re the handsomest man I’ve seen in a long time! Put on your jacket, so I can see you properly attired.”
He slipped it on, and she walked around him, inspecting critically. “That suits you very well. I’m glad you had the barber shave your beard. You look quite the man about town now.”
“Why, thank you. I expect I’ll look even more so when my new boots, shoes and belts are ready.”
“Yes—and just wait until you see the rest of what I bought! We’re going to be the envy of the other passengers on the riverboat, looking like this.”
“Did you buy the tickets?”
“I’ve got them in my reticule. I booked adjoining staterooms, as we did here, with a connecting door, telling them you were my nephew as you advised. They were terribly expensive—twenty gold dollars each! It’s scandalous!”
“Well, the
Cumberland River Queen
is said to be the best of the riverboats on the St. Louis route, so her fares are naturally higher. When do we leave?”
“Three days from now.”
“Good. That gives me time to buy a few more things, and to test my new guns. I bought one for you, too.” He described the Colt Pocket Police revolver. “A Southern lady should be able to defend her honor. You already know how to shoot, I’m sure.”
“Why, I should think so, Mr. Ames! I’ve shot many a raccoon or possum or thieving bird, and also rabbits for the pot.”
“Good. You can come shooting with me in the fields outside town. I’ll show you how to load, fire and clean your revolver.” He took his watch from his waistcoat pocket and glanced at it. “It’s after five, and we’re already well dressed. What do you say we dine a little early, then take in a show? We may as well display our finery to the rest of the city.”
“Why, thank you, Mr. Ames! I accept with pleasure. Let me get my new cape.”
“Cape?” he said, wonderingly. “Well, I never.”
“Welcome aboard de
Cumberland River Queen,
suh. My name is Jason. I’ll be your cabin servant durin’ de run to Sain’ Louee.” The smartly uniformed servant smiled, his brilliantly white teeth dazzling against his dark lips and black skin.
“Thank you, Jason.” Walt dug in his pocket, found a half-eagle, and flipped it to him. The man’s eyes widened in astonishment as he caught the five-dollar gold coin, and instinctively he raised it to his mouth and bit it. Walt couldn’t help but smile to see it. “Yes, it’s real. Look after me and Mrs. Eliot in the cabin next door, and there’ll be another one when we get there.”
“
Yassuh!
You’se gonna be de bes’ looked after people on dis boat, you jus’ wait an’ see!”
“Good. We want privacy, you hear? No one wandering in and out of our cabins, and no one looking in the windows or doors either. I know some bad characters have been known to tip servants to let them into staterooms. If that happens to us, you’ll be food for
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