Billy Green Saves the Day Read Online Free Page B

relaxed into a rocking chair. Levi Green, Billy’s twenty-five-year-old brother, soon appeared with their brother-in-law, Isaac Corman.
    â€œThanks for dinner, Adam,” Isaac said, leaning against the wooden railing.
    â€œIt was Keziah’s cooking, not mine,” Adam said, rubbing his stomach.
    â€œI’m not so sure you should thank my father, Isaac,” Levi said, slapping his brother-in-law in the gut. “It’s his daughter who’s fattening you up.” The two of them playfully exchanged punches, and Isaac put him in a headlock.
    â€œYou’re not exactly starving yourself,” Isaac said, poking Levi in the stomach.
    Billy strolled onto the porch and sat on the steps, lost in thought.
    Isaac leaned over and felt Billy’s arm. “You could use a little more meat on your bones, boy.”
    Billy pushed Isaac’s hand away. “I’m not a boy!”
    Mocking Billy’s attitude, Isaac said in a high voice, “All right, sir , I surrender.”
    Levi laughed.
    â€œShut your mouth!” Billy snapped at his brother.
    â€œMind your tongue, Billy,” Adam said sternly. “We don’t speak like that around here. Apologize.”
    â€œSorry,” Billy mumbled.
    â€œYou hardly touched your supper,” Isaac said, lightly tapping Billy with his foot. “Your sister’s cooking isn’t that bad, is it?”
    Levi grinned, pretending to shoot a musket. “He’s just mad because he can’t fight the Americans.”
    â€œThat’s enough out of you, too,” Adam said sharply to Levi.
    Isaac rolled up his sleeve. “Let me tell you something, Billy. War isn’t what you want it to be. When I fought at Queenston Heights, well, let’s just say I saw men die horrible deaths.” He pointed at an awful scar. “This is what a bayonet can do to a man.”
    Billy jumped to his feet. “Do you always have to show me that stupid scar? You’ve had your turn! This war will be over by the time I see any action!”
    Adam stared hard at his younger son. “Watch your tongue! I’m not going to tell you again. Understand?” Billy lowered his head as Adam leaned forward in the chair. “Let’s get something straight, Billy. You’re not going to fight. That’s the way it is and that’s the way it’s going to stay. This family has suffered enough at the hands of the Americans.”
    Billy paced the porch. “You can’t have it both ways, Pa. You despise them, but you won’t let me fight!”
    â€œThe subject is closed,” Adam said, and began rocking again.
    Slapping one of the beams holding up the roof of the porch, Billy said, “You’re the one who’s always telling me how your brother died and how the Yanks stole your land. I want to join the army!”
    â€œMaybe I shouldn’t have told you all those things. It was wrong ... I guess. But this much I do know, you’re not going to be in this war.” Adam relit his pipe as his eyes drifted off. “I made a promise to your mother. I took an oath on her deathbed that you would be free from the horrors of war, and I intend to keep my word.”
    â€œI’m so tired of being babied by you. It’s well within my rights to fight the enemy, for God’s sake!”
    Adam leaped from the chair and gripped Billy by the collar. He pushed his son to the wall and lifted him off his feet as Levi and Isaac tried to pull him off. “You will not take the Lord’s name in vain again. Your mother died from years of child-bearing. You owe it to her to stay alive.”
    Billy wrestled free and gasped for air. “She was your wife. You want me to pay a debt I have nothing to do with. I didn’t ask to be born!”
    The last comment crushed Adam, and he slowly sank into the chair as Isaac and Levi looked away uneasily.
    â€œI’m ... I’m sorry, Pa. I didn’t mean