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Show Page 74 "I doubt it will be finished ere next spring," answered Walter. "We are much too busy this time of year and will only have free time to work on it come winter." "A place to worship would be welcome," said Anne. "A place to baptize wee babes," smiled Cisly, reaching out a hand to her. "A place to be joined in matrimony," added Margaret, looking from Richard to me. I lowered my eyebrows at her. Richard cleared his throat and pretended not to have understood. "Will Mister Harwood bring more settlers with him?" I asked hurriedly, thinking to change the subject and wondering if there would be more children to tutor. As the head of the hundred, it was likely Harwood would bring many people with him. "I know not," Richard answered, tamping a fresh dottle into the bowl of his clay pipe. "If he does, I pray he brings extra arms, for I fear our ordnance would not be adequate. Of powder and shot there is plenty, yet we would be short of muskets. And eighty thousand acres is a large area to protect, though few people live outside the town itself." A whippoorwill called and we fell silent. At length Richard's voice split the stillness. "Methinks I saw two graves near the gully as I approached," he said to Margaret. "Has a shadow been cast before your door?" |
