The Bloody Ground - Starbuck 04 by Bernard Cornwell Read Free Book Online Page B

Ton my precious soul, ma'am, it's a fact. The Reverend Potter did say as how his son was married and was bringing his good lady here, but he never did say just how pretty you are." Holborrow shamelessly leered down to judge Sally's figure before grasping her hand and giving it a firm kiss. "Sure pleased to meet you, Mrs. Potter," he said, still holding on to her hand.
    "Pleasure's all mine, Colonel." Sally pretended to be nattered by Holborrow's admiration and left her hand in his.
    Holborrow leaned his cane against his hip so he could fold his other hand over Sally's. "And you were upset by the punishment, ma'am, is that it?" he inquired solicitously, massaging Sally's hand between his.
    "Reckon I was, sir," Sally said humbly, then sniffed.
    "Right upsetting for a lady," Holborrow agreed. "But you have to understand, ma'am, that this lunkhead prisoner struck Sergeant Case. Struck him! A serious military offense, ma'am, and your husband here had no business interfering. None at all. Ain't that the case, Sergeant Case?"
    "Sir!" Case snapped, evidently his way of articulating an affirmative to officers.
    Holborrow let go of Sally 's hand to step closer to Star buck. "Sergeant Case, boy, is from North Carolina, but he spent the last fourteen years in the British army. Ain't that the case, Case?"
    "Sir!" Case snapped.
    "Which regiment, Case?" Holborrow asked, still staring into Starbuck's eyes.
    "Seventh, sir, Royal Fusiliers, sir!"
    "And while you were still sucking the milk from your mother's titties, Potter, forgive me, ma'am, Sergeant Case was fighting! Fighting, boy! Ain't that the case, Case?"
    "Battle of the Alma, sir! Siege of Sevastopol," Case snapped, and Starbuck got the impression that he was listening to a much practiced dialogue.
    "But Sergeant Case is a patriot, Potter!" Holborrow continued, "and when the Yankees broke the Union by attacking us, Sergeant Case left Her Majesty's service to fight for Jeff Davis and liberty. He was sent here, Potter, to turn the Yellowlegs into a proper regiment instead of a bunch of schoolgirls. Ain't that the case, Case?"
    "Sir!"
    "And you," Holborrow sp at at Potter, "dare to counter mand a man like Sergeant Case! You should be ashamed of yourself, boy. Ashamed! Sergeant Case has forgotten more about soldiering than you ever learned or ever will learn. And if Sergeant Case says a man deserves punishment, then punished he shall be!" Holborrow stepped back and took Sally's hand into his again. "But seeing as how you're a ray of Georgia sunshine, ma'am, I'll spare you from seeing any more unpleasantness this afternoon. I think your husband has learned his lesson, so thank you, Sergeant Case." Holborrow nodded to the sergeant, who scowled at Starbuck, then marched stiffly back to the parade ground. Holborrow ordered the freed prisoner to make himself scarce, and then, his grip still enfolding Sally's hand, he turned back to Starbuck. "So where have you been, boy? Your father wrote that you'd left Atlanta ten days back. Letter got here, but you didn't! Ten days! It don't take ten days from Atlanta to Richmond, boy. You been drinking again?"
    "It was my fault," Sally said in a frightened little voice. "I had the fever, sir. Real bad, sir."
    Lucifer giggled at Sally's invention and Holborrow's head snapped round. "You snigger once more, boy, and I'll whip the flesh clean off your black bones. Is he your nigger?" he asked Starbuck.
    "Yes," Starbuck said, wondering how the hell he would back out of this deception.
    "Yes, sir," Holborrow said, correcting him. "You forgetting I'm a Colonel, Potter?"
    "Yes, sir. I mean no, sir."
    Holborrow, still holding Sally's hand, shook his head at Starbuck's apparent confusion. "So how is your father?" he asked Starbuck.
    Starbuck shrugged. "I guess," he began, then shrugged again, suddenly bereft of imagination.
    "He's mending," Sally said. She was enjoying the playacting much more than Starbuck who, though he had started it, was now regretting the