Snippet #896492

Frank was barely paying attention when someone came over and started helping him. It was a girl, he judged by the sound of their voice,

"Oh," He looked over at the person, recognizing Bob Bretter's girl, Lee. In that moment, Frank observed that Bob was a fat man; the stature must have slipped his mind all these years. "howdy, Lee. I appreciate your help; just like your daddy, y'know that? Why, I tell ya," Frank was packing the items he had collected closest to him inside his pack tightly. "Your daddy's a good man. I remember he saved my ass down in New Mexico during the war." He then observed his dropping of his syllables, notably in 'Mexicuh'. "I ever tell ya about that?" He didn't wait for a response.

"We was down near this town called Glorieta Pass, and there were about 1000 Rebs down in there trying to hold it. Now, your daddy stood behind me in the battle line, he always fired his rifle right over my shoulder, and we're moving out to flank these Rebels, and they've got guys all perched up on the walls of this canyon. Now, they're mainly trying to pick off our artillery men, because they're putting a beating on the main Confederate lines, so we come in to try and get them down or away or something, and these sons of bitches get lost or something, and we wind up right on top of them. So, they're coming at us with their big Texas knives, and we don't have time to fix our bayonets on our rifles, so we get caught by surprise. I'm fighting this big ol' Indian man, and I swear, I thought I was gonna die right the on that ridge, and in comes Bretter, clonking this man right across the jaw with his shovel. He goes flying off of me, and your daddy chases this guy around with this rusty old shovel for about a minute before they're all either dead or gone."

Lee had collected the rest of his things, and he presented his pack to her, holding it open wide. He grunted in a sudden embarrassment.

"Sorry, Lee, you've probably heard that story before. Your dad worked hard in the war, and I remember him for it. Sorry if I bore you sometimes; old timers like myself can't help but live in the past. The war was a big part in our lives. And Goddammit, if he wasn't the best shot in the whole Frontier Brigade; we don't forget things like that."

He smiled at her, looking with tired eyes into her youthful ones.

"I do appreciate the help, either way, little lady; helping out this old fart must run in the family."