Lone Star 04 by Wesley Ellis Read Free Book Online Page B

air. “It is exquisite, but a very light and airy wine—”
    â€œNo, please!” Jessie laughed and held up a protesting hand. “I’m about to pop right now, Gustolf. Don’t know where I got it, but I must have some Hungarian in me somewhere.”
    Gustolf blinked in surprise. The gloomy Zascha scowled and shook his head.
    â€œDid I say something wrong?”
    Gustolf caught her bewildered expression and laughed. “Is nothing, lady. You could not know, yes?”
    â€œWhat he’s trying to say politely,” grinned Feodor, “is that you have insulted him greatly, but he forgives you.”
    â€œNo, no,” Gustolf protested.
    â€œListen, I’m sorry,” Jessie began.
    â€œWe’re Hungarians,” Feodor explained, “as far as the rest of the world sees, but we, ah . . . don’t acknowledge the Hungarian government. We’re Transylvanians. And before that, Rumanians.”
    â€œOh,” Jessie said contritely.
    â€œIt goes back a long way, and gets a little confused,” said Feodor. “To make a long story short, we came here because there’s no longer any place for our people in the old country.”
    â€œWell, I think you came to the right place,” said Jessie. “Most everyone here had some good reason for leaving Europe.”
    â€œIt’s a good place to be,” Feodor agreed fiercely. “A man has a chance, by God, and there’s no one to stop him but himself!”
    â€œHah!” Zascha gave him a scornful laugh and downed his wine. Jessie noticed that most of it dribbled down his chin. “You are a young fool, Feodor.” He leaned forward and focused awkwardly on Jessie. “It is no different here, boy. There are nobles like her, and peasants like us. Who do you think gets the land in the end?”
    â€œZascha!” Gustolf jolted the table with his fist and went livid. He jerked out of his seat and faced the man in a rage. “This noble, as you call her, is a Starbuck. And who do you think pays your way from New York and helps you buy the land you sit on, eh? By God, you insult the guest who fills that fat belly of yours!”
    â€œFor her own profit, you can be sure!” roared Zascha. “There is always a reason someone gives you something, Gustolf. So they can someday steal it back, yes?”
    Feodor came out of his chair, but Gustolf’s big hand held him back. “No. It is my house, and I take care of it. Leave, Zascha. Now. You shame me at my table. You shame us all.”
    Zascha muttered to himself, but the look in Gustolf’s eye brought him quickly to his feet. He lurched away from the table and slammed the heavy door behind him.
    â€œI offer my apology,” Gustolf told Jessie. “He . . . has no understanding. I am afraid many of my people do not.”
    â€œIs that why some of them are determined to sell their land?”
    For a moment, Gustolf was taken back. “So. We are back to this again, are we not?”
    â€œYes, Gustolf,” Jessica said evenly. “We are. As I said before, it’s none of my business what you do, but I’d like to know why. The loans you have from the Green River Land Company are low-interest, with a long payoff. And you’ve got our ironclad promise to buy your wheat at a very good price.”
    â€œYes,” Gustolf said wearily, “this is all true.”
    â€œAnd yet some of your people are willing to give that up and sell out? At ridiculously low prices?”
    â€œMore than some of them, I’m afraid.”
    Jessie looked at him. “What do you mean?”
    â€œI think you’d better go ahead and tell her,” Feodor said softly.
    Gustolf tried to face Jessie, but couldn’t. “It is nearly all of us, Miss Jessica. The whole village wants to get out of Kansas and move west.”
    Jessie came suddenly alert. “You too?” She spread her hands in frustration.