Davy Crockett by Robert E. Hollmann Read Free Book Online

and the group of riders saw a lot of pretty countryside. Yellow flowers covered the prairie like a carpet. Sometimes blue or red flowers joined the yellow ones to make the landscape look like a picture. The tall grass provided plenty of food for the horses, and the men were able to provide their food from the different types of game that roamed the plains.
    The children enjoyed seeing Texas in this new way. Dylan shifted in his saddle and said, “I never realized how pretty the country could be. When you are driving seventy miles an hour down a paved road, it all looks different.”
    “Sure does,” Braden agreed. “I wonder where Davy is going?”
    “I don’t know,” Addie said. “We have been following this road for a couple of days. Some of the men said it goes to San Antonio.”
    Dylan looked at Addie. “San Antonio. That’s where the enemy army is heading. I thought Davy didn’t want to go there.”
    “I don’t know,” Addie said as she looked at a covey of quail that flew from the grass. “I am just guessing. If Davy thinks it is right to fight for Texas, then he will.”
    Davy was riding in front of the group. He pulled his horse to a stop and looked at a small cabin nestled in a group of trees. Smoke was coming from the cabin, and several children were playing in front of it. Davy and the others rode up to the children and pulled their horses to a stop.
    Davy smiled down at the oldest boy. “Howdy. My name’s David Crockett. I’m from Tennessee. My friends and I are exploring Texas. I wonder if your folks are at home so I could visit with them.”
    The boy looked up at Davy. He glanced at the other men. “My pa’s gone. My ma’s here. Wait and I will go get her.”
    The boy disappeared into the house. Shortly he came back leading a woman by the hand. He stopped in front of Davy.
    “Ma, this is Mr. Crockett from Tennessee. He and his friends are exploring the country. He wants to talk to you.”
    The woman stared straight ahead. As Davy looked at her, he realized that she was blind. He got down from his horse and walked to her.
    “Howdy, ma’am. David Crockett. These are my friends. I was wanting to ask some questions about the country around here.”
    The woman held out her hand. “I have heard of you, Mr. Crockett. Have you by chance seen my husband? His name is Isaac Millsaps. He left some time ago to go to San Antonio.”
    Davy shook his head. “No, ma’am. I haven’t seen your husband. But we haven’t been to San Antonio. We have come from the East.”
    Mrs. Millsaps smiled. “I will be happy to talk to you. I don’t know that I can be of any help. Won’t you and your friends get down and join us for supper? I am sure we can put something together for you.”
    “We would enjoy eating with you. Don’t worry about food. Hunting has been good. Texas is loaded with game. We have plenty of meat to share with you and your family.”
    After supper, Davy and Mrs. Millsaps sat outside the cabin. The children sat nearby listening. Davy looked at the clear, star-filled sky.
    “You said your husband went to San Antonio. Did he go to join the army there?”
    “Yes. He and several neighbors went together. A messenger came through one day saying the army needed men. Isaac and the others felt they should go do their part to protect our home. The night before he left, we sat right here and talked. We talked about the old days in Mississippi. We talked about how much we liked it in Texas. We have made a new start here. It is our home now.”
    “Yes, ma’am. From what I have seen, Texas is a real pretty place. A nice place to make a home.”
    “Isaac and me used to sit out here and he would describe the country. The flowers, the wildlife, and the sunsets. I wish I could see them, but when he described them to me, it was like I could see them, and they were beautiful. Mr. Crockett, if you do happen to see my husband, would you give him a message from me?”
    “Why, I would be happy to,