Heart of the Sandhills Read Online Free

inherent interest in the weather, he commented on the season’s early snow even as he limped to the front of the wagon and hitched his team before heading toward Ludlow’s Variety Store.
    But Abner Marsh was not about to engage in meaningless small talk about the weather. “Got somethin’ to talk to you about,” he said. “Thought you’d be in town, it bein’ Saturday and all.”
    Jeb hesitated before following Marsh to the side of the building. He nodded toward where a group of men were unloading bricks. “Good to see the town gettin’ built up. Bodes well for the future.”
    Abner cast a brief glance toward the pile of bricks. He could hear the sounds of hammering and sawing from somewhere nearby. But where Jeb saw progress, Abner saw a need to rebuild a town that had been a prime target of Sioux attacks in the uprising of 1862. “How long you gonna keep Injuns on your place?” Abner asked abruptly.
    Jeb pulled on the brim of his hat, scratched his ear, and seemed to be considering the question. “Can’t say as I’m keepin’ any now, Abner. Daniel and Robert are workin’ for me. They more than earn their way. Reckon they’ll stay as long as they want to stay.” He squinted up at Abner. “I’m personally hopin’ that’ll be a long time.”
    “Government gave ‘em a reservation out in Nebraska. That’s where they should go.”
    “Why should they do that, Abner?” Jeb asked quietly. “Minnesota’s always been their home—for longer than you or me been here, even.”
    “I got a wife and two girls to worry about,” Abner grumbled. “We got to be careful. That trouble last spring proves it.”
    “Daniel and Robert got nothing in common with them hostiles that caused that trouble.” Jeb forced a smile. He put his hand on Abner’s shoulder. “You can’t just lump people all together like that. I never liked Germans much ‘til one saved my hide at Shiloh.” He waved his hands around him. “Now I’m livin’ near a whole town full of Germans and it don’t bother me at all.” He thumped Marsh on the back. “Give it time, neighbor. You’ll see’ there’s nothin’ to worry about.”
    Marsh’s spittle stained the light covering of snow at Jeb’s feet. He wiped his mouth with his shirtsleeve. “I’ll give you ‘til spring plantin’ to get ‘em off your place,” he said. “Come spring, if they’re still there, I won’t be responsible.”
    “You threatenin’ my friends, Abner? That ain’t neighborly.”
    “It ain’t only me, Jeb,” Abner said.”I been talkin’ to Baxter and Quinn. They don’t like it either. We kinda got you fenced in on this, Jeb.”
    Jeb looked past Abner toward his wagon. If Baxter and Quinn agreed with Marsh, he really was fenced in—literally. Between the three, they owned all the land surrounding Jeb. And he had been wanting to buy one of those sections from Earl Baxter. Trouble over Daniel and Robert took on a new level of importance. “Just calm down, Abner,” Jeb said. He put one foot up on the boardwalk that stretched in front of the store. “I got to get my supplies and get home. Why don’t you and Sally come up to the house after church on Sunday? Meet Daniel and Robert and their wives.” He nodded. “We’ll invite the Baxters and the Quinns, too. Once you all meet the Two Starses and the Lawrences, you’ll know for sure there’s nothing to get all riled up about.”
    Marsh shook his head. “Sally was in a family way when the mess happened back in ‘62. Lost the baby. Never been the same since. And she won’t be makin’ Sunday calls on some of them that done it.”
    “I’m sorry about what happened, Abner. I truly am. But we got to move on. Quinn was on the other side in the Rebellion, but I don’t hold it against him. We’re all Americans again and I’m willing to let it go.” Jeb stepped up on the boardwalk just in time to see Reverend Donohue coming out of Ludlow’s. “Let it rest, Abner. Everything will be fine.