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Hobson, MacLennan, and Fowles stood together just in front of us, talking quietly a themselves All three came from a tiny settlement called Drunkard’s Creek, soh Foas Joe Hobson’s son-in-law, and very young, nohis best to keep his coone white and clammy as the Proclamation was read

I didn’t knohat Tryon intended to do to anyone who could be proved to have had a part in the riot, but I could feel the currents of unrest created by the Governor’s Proclah the crowd like the eddies of water rushing over rocks in the nearby creek

Several buildings had been destroyed in Hillsborough, and a nued out and assaulted in the street Gossip had it that one ironically titled justice of the peace had lost an eye to a vicious blow ai this demonstration of civil disobedience to heart, Chief Justice Henderson had escaped out of aand fled the town, thus effectively preventing the Court fro It was clear that the Governor was very annoyed about what had happened in Hillsborough

Joe Hobson glanced back at Jamie, then away Lieutenant Hayes’s presence at our fire the previous evening had not gone unrelance, he didn’t return it He lifted one shoulder in a shrug, tilting his head down to speak to ive themselves up, no It may be his duty to ask for information; I thank God it isna h to reach the ears of Joe Hobson

Hobson turned his head and gave Jament He touched his son-in-law’s ar up the slope toward the scattered ca the fires and the younger children

This was the last day of the Gathering; tonight there would beof love and its riotous fruits, sprung fro the year before Then the last songs would be sung, the last stories told, and dancing done a fla, the Scots and their households would all disperse back to their homes, scattered from the settled banks of the Cape Fear River to the wildnews of the Governor’s Proclaledthe crowd ht think it their duty to answer Hayes’s invitation to confession or incriood deal of boasting about the riots in Hillsborough during the week of the Gathering, but not all the listeners were disposed to view the rioters as heroes, by any means

I could feel as well as hear theout in the wake of the Proclaether, roup, as the content of Hayes’s speech was relayed up the hill, repeated to those who stood too far away to have heard it

"Shall we go? There’s a lot to do yet before the weddings"

"Aye?" Jaing the food and drink I gave Ulysses the barrels of whisky--he’ll be soghan"

"Ulysses? Did he bring his wig?" I sed the dispensing of drink and refresh like "hearty, jovial fellow" Ulysses was possibly the nified person I had ever seen--even without his livery and powdered horsehair wig

"If he did, it’s like to be stuck to his head by the evening" Ja sky and shook his head "Happy the bride the sun shines on," he quoted "Happy the corpse the rain falls on"

"That’s what I like about Scots," I said dryly "An appropriate proverb for all occasions Don’t you dare say that in front of Bree"

"What d’ye take me for, Sassenach?" he demanded, with a half-smile down at me "I’m her father, no?"

"Definitely yes" I suppressed the sudden thought of Brianna’s other father, and glanced over

There was no sign of her blazing head ahter, she stood six feet tall in her stocking feet; nearly as easy as Ja feast I need to deal with, anyway," I said, turning back to Ja clinic with Murray MacLeod"

"Oh, aye? I thought ye said wee Murray was a charlatan"

"I said he was ignorant, stubborn, and a menace to the public health," I corrected "That’s not the sa "Ye mean to educate him, then--or poison hiht accidentally step on his fleam and break it; that’s probably the only way I’ll stop hi!"

"Aye, we’ll away, then," Jalance at the soldiers, still drawn up along the creekbank at parade rest "No doubt wee Archie oing a wee bit blue round the edges"

Though fully arhlanders was relaxed; i S the the he, to touch the glea canteens, and the hilts of dirks and swords

"Abel, a charaid!" Jareet the last of the men from Drunkard’s Creek "Will ye ha’ eaten yet the day?"