“Cowpens!” exclaimed a necktie drummer who was stopping at the Rye House for a day or so, “I thought Cowpens was a battle fought between the United States and the English back in 1781.”
“Sure, sure!” agreed Pete, “I was a mere lad, but I was there.” 14
“It was in January, too,” persisted the drummer.
“Of course, but we made it so hot for the—for the other side that this June weather is nothin’ to it.”
There was a general laugh and moving of chairs out of the rays of the inconsiderate sun.
“By golly, we’re just in time,” said Colonel Crutcher. “There comes Miss Ann Peyton’s rockaway. Where do you reckon she’s bound for?”
“Lord knows, but I hope she’s not in a hurry,” said Judge Middleton—judge from courtesy only, having sat on no bench but the anxious bench at the races and being a judge solely of horses and whiskey. “Did you ever see such snails as that old team? Good Golddust breed too! Miss Ann always buys good horses when she does buy but to my certain knowledge that pair is eighteen years old. Pretty nigh played out by now but I reckon they’ll outlast old Billy and Miss Ann.”
“I reckon the old lady has to do some scrimpin’ to buy a new pair,” said Major Fitch. “By golly, I remember when she was the best-looking gal in the county—or any other county for that matter. She was engaged to a fellow in my regiment—killed at Appomattox. She had 15 more beaux than you could shake a stick at, but I reckon she couldn’t get over Bert Mason. She wasn’t much more than a child when the war broke out, but the war aged the girls as it did the boys.”
“I hear tell Miss Ann is on the move right smart lately,” ventured Pete Barnes.
“So they tell me,” continued Major Fitch. “I tell you, havin’ comp’ny now isn’t what it used to be, what with wages up sky-high and all the niggers gone to Indianapolis and Chicago so there aren’t any to pay even if you had the money, and food costin’ three times what it’s wuth. I reckon it is no joke to have Miss Ann a fallin’ in on her kin nowadays with two horses that must have oats and that old Billy to fill up besides.”