Quicksilver Passion (122 page)

In the background, the hammering pounded rhythmically and the
Effie Deans
churned her way through the muddy water.

He had to keep the boy’s mind off what those carpenters were building. Cherokee put his hand on Dowdy’s broad shoulder.
If we had that dinner, would you rather have fried chicken or ham?”

The boy considered seriously.
Nobody cures a ham like my daddy, all slow-smoked and done with brown sugar. For dessert, I’d like either pecan or sweet potato pie, Cherokee, finished off with some of that strong Cajun coffee like the Louisiana boys drink.” He sighed.
Finally, I’d like a big slug of corn likker.”

Sounds good. Even the whiskey. But I swore off that and I’m honor bound to keep my word.” Cherokee leaned back against the rail and listened to the sawing and hammering from the other end of the deck.
And afterward, maybe we’d entertain some pretty belles out in the porch swing.” He thought about Silver.
You got a girl, Bill?”

The other shook his head.
There’s a girl I favor; but I was always too shy to press my case. Don’t reckon she’s still waitin’.”

I’ll bet she is,” Cherokee said.
When we go back after the war, I’ll speak your part to her and see what she says.”

Dowdy brightened.
Would you, Cherokee?”

What are friends for?”

Friends
. Tso-ga-li-i. He knew what friends were for, Cherokee thought bitterly. They were to keep you talking and remembering so that time passed; to drown out the sound of the hammering and sawing on your crude wood coffin, and to keep you from dwelling on what was coming on the morrow.

At approximately noon on September 9, 1864, the
Effie Deans
moored up along a riverbank in the desolate area above the settlement of Omaha, Nebraska Territory.

While the other soldiers watched in sullen disbelief, a squad of soldiers marched Private William Dowdy off the boat and formed an open-sided square.

Cherokee watched in amazement and disbelief.
Dimon won’t really do this,” he grumbled.
He’s trying to scare everyone, that’s all. At the last minute, he’ll call the whole thing off.”