Into the Wilderness
Page 26

Elizabeth glanced at Richard, but his large, round face was completely serious. How could it be possible that Hawkeye and Nathaniel might not have a shilling between them? But before she could think of a way to put this question, Billy Kirby began calling out.
"Come on, then, come on, the finest bird you'll see this winter, I will put odds on it. A shilling a go, a shilling a go. A mere eighth of a Spanish dollar why he would cost you ten times that, and he'll feed the family for the week—two weeks, if your woman's the housekeeper she should be. Who'll be first?"
He cast his eyes over the crowd and then smiled.
"Hawkeye! Yes, the man himself a shot like no other!"
Before Hawkeye could reply, Billy Kirby was at him again.
"But then maybe not, maybe not, you're not the youngest anymore—" There was a good—natured laugh at this, and Hawkeye turned to the crowd, his white hair lifting in the breeze.
"Don't doubt it," he called. "The boy tells the truth. Once I could of took the horn button off his mangy old tricorn at a dead run, but time creeps up on all of us. Though to be honest I am tempted—"
"Well, of course you are, it's a fine bird an' all," interrupted Billy.
"—by that button," finished Hawkeye.
Billy Kirby flushed at the crowd's laughter, and his watery blue eyes fell on Nathaniel. "Well, then, what about the son, then? What about you, Nathaniel? Got your father's sharp eye, now don't you, know a good thing when you see one. But then maybe you don't want to part with the price," he said with a nasty grin.
"He's got a bullet hole in his shootin' shoulder," called someone from the crowd.
"Well, this is bad news for a games man like myself." said Billy. "The two best shots in the area and neither willing to take the chance. If you won't try this bird, who will? You really going to let a little lead in your shoulder keep you from this bird?" Billy said with a wink to the crowd.
"I'll have a go," called Richard Todd, moving past Elizabeth. The crowd turned to him, and Elizabeth's eye met Nathaniel's. He nodded at her, smiling grimly, and then turned his attention to Richard, who was reaching inside his coat for the required shilling. At length he produced a handful of coins, and with a flourish he held one up so that it flashed in the sunlight.
The crowd was moving forward, and Elizabeth found herself propelled closer to the makeshift shooting stand. Richard checked the load and the flash pan and made himself comfortable with the target, while the crowd gave him a good deal of advice. Elizabeth turned to her neighbor, remembering him from the difficult first encounter at the trading post.
"Mr. LeBlanc," she said. "Will you have a try at the bird?"
"Sure, Charlie will have a go, he contributes his shilling every Christmas, don't you, Charlie?" said Hawkeye good—naturedly.
Elizabeth was a little startled to find the Bonners so near, but she managed to greet them without drawing attention to herself. She wondered if she should expect Nathaniel to speak to her, and what he might have to say. Then, irritated with herself she turned to watch Richard Todd adjust his sights.
"Well, maybe this year I'll have a chance," said Charlie. "As Nathaniel's got a sore shoulder. Although it's a damn skinny target to put my silver on, rare as it is."
"Waall," drawled Hawkeye, grinning. "A hundred yards is a short distance for a long rifle, after all. We may still give you a run for your shillin'. That turkey would be welcome with all the folks we got to feed these days."
"Is it true, then? Is Chingachgook come to stay?"
Nathaniel, who had kept his attention focused on Richard, now glanced up. "It's true enough," he answered for his father. "Falling—Day's two youngest along with him."
The crowd moved in even closer, bringing Elizabeth near enough to Nathaniel to touch him. She wondered if people were watching her, and if they were, what they might see on her face.
"Heads up! Heads up! Mr. Turkey, pay heed!" called Billy Kirby as Richard set his sights. And he let out a tremendous whoop just as the powder flashed in the pan, whether to upset the shooter's concentration or make the turkey jump was unclear.
The cloud of smoke rose away from the shooting stand. There was a sudden quiet and then another whoop when the turkey raised his head over the stump and glared.
"What a bird!" shouted Billy. "What a bird! Sorry, Doc, he's too fast for you. Unless you want another shot?"
But Richard Todd had opened the floodgates, and now other men crowded up to have their go, placing valuable coin in Billy Kirby's grubby hand one by one, and one by one adding to his delight in the whole undertaking.
Elizabeth found herself surrounded now by Hawkeye, Nathaniel, Richard Todd, and Charlie LeBlanc, who seemed determined to keep her entertained throughout the process.
"Couldn't hit Half Moon if he fell out the boat," Hawkeye said of the skinny red—haired Cameron, who was just about as long as his musket. He rubbed one large, flat hand over the white stubble on his face and smiled.
"Now, old Jack MacGregor," said Hawkeye as a man about his own age came up to the shooting stand. "Jack once was a fine man with a rifle, but he's past his prime."
Nathaniel snorted. "He's two years younger than you at least."
"But he's got old eyes," Hawkeye replied, not put out at all. "My eyes are still good, better than most."