“Her grand-nephew,” corrected his mother. “He is Captain Landray's son.”
“A soldier in the late war?”
“Yes.”
Rogers hit the table sharply with his open hand.
“I swear then he's the man I met at Appomattox! You've seen him, ma'am, of course? What's become of him?”
“He's dead; he died years ago out in Kansas.”
“And only Mrs. Landray and his son's left?”
“Yes, least I never heard of any others.”
“Sort of makes me feel like the last leaf on the bough,” the colonel stroked his grey beard reflectively. “This all fits into what I can call up. You know after the Indian fight, I was taken in and brought up by old man Raymond—Tom's father, Riley—you ain't forgot Tom?”
Reddy shook his head. Rogers chuckled.