The Fighting Kentuckian Page #2

And it being a special occasion,

announcing the coming wedding

of Miss Fleurette and Mr. Blake Randolph,

ain't nobody barred

from having a good time.

That includes you and the river men,

Carter Ward.

I don't know any better way to get started

than with a little singing.

Oh, this war is mighty hard on feet

And we sure never get enough to eat

And a belly full of colic

doesn't help a man to frolic

When there's 600 miles more to go...

Soldiers coming!

Round up the strays!

Only 600 miles more to go...

Oh, excuse me, Mama.

And if we can just get lucky

We will wind up in Kentucky

Only 600 miles more to go

Only 600 miles more to go

More to go

Only 600 miles more to go

More to go

And if we could just get lucky

We will wind up in Kentucky

Only 600 miles more to go...

Column ranks...

ho!

Kentucky... halt!

Forward right... turn!

Kentucky...

halt!

Shoulder... arms!

At ease!

Phew.

Sorry to interrupt you

this way, gentlemen, but...

Mr. Randolph, isn't it?

John Breen is a friend of yours.

Howdy, Mr. Randolph.

May I present Captain Carroll

and John Breen, sir?

Gentlemen, your host - Paul De Marchand,

general of a division

of the armies of France,

lately commanding the Emperor's Guard.

- Emperor Napoleon, sir?

- Yes, Captain.

Kentucky, hut!

Present arms!

Order... arms!

Thank you, Captain, and welcome.

- The bar is right over there.

- Dismissed!

Thank you, sir.

Here's something for your throat.

Well, thanks, Willie.

- Ahh.

- Mmm, that's right soothing.

Yeah, considering

how far we've marched.

But for downright drinking,

we've got something in Kentucky...

Here.

Take care of Betsy-Anne for me, will you?

Miss De Marchand?

Why, of course! Monsieur Breen.

I should have recognized the song.

Yes, ma'am. That's why I was singing.

Hello, you.

Hello, John Breen.

Oh, Mama, may I present

John Breen of Kentucky?

- How do you do, monsieur?

- Charmed, ma'am.

Meet another Kentuckian - Captain Carroll.

- Captain, Madame De Marchand.

- My pleasure, ma'am.

Are you two gentlemen

old friends of my daughter?

Well, not exactly.

- We met in Mobile.

- 10 days ago.

You both know

Monsieur Randolph?

Yes, ma'am.

Seems like the wrestling's

been decided in a hurry.

There being no other contestants,

this gallon of rum is awarded to Jacques.

Hold it right there, mister.

Did you say "gallon of rum"?

Yes. The first prize for the wrestling

is a gallon of Jamaica rum,

donated by Mr. Blake Randolph.

What do we have to do to win it?

Just throw Jacques.

If one of you gentlemen

would like to try it, just step this way.

Let's get in on this.

Oh, they're just horse playing, General.

All right, ladies, here come

the broken heads.

- Captain Carroll? Captain Carroll?!

- Yes, sir.

- Your men.

- Yes, sir!

Kentucky, come on, break it up!

Have you any idea who you were hitting?!

Stop them, John Breen, please.

They'll spoil everything.

Oh, it's nothing but a little...

Excuse me, ma'am.

Willie! Willie!

Blow!

- No, the bugle. Blow!

Come on, Kentucky!

- What in the world was that?

- Mess call.

- What?

- Mess call.

Mess call?! Mess call!

Kentucky, get in line!

Let me down, oh, hangman

Please let me down a while

I think I see my lover comin'

Ridin' many a mile

Oh, lover, have you brought me gold?

Enough to set me free?

Or have you come to see me hangin'

On the gallows tree?

Who, uh... who is she?

Oh, that's Ann Logan. She arrived

during dinner with George Hayden.

The big fella that rode with you

and Blake Randolph?

- That's the man.

- I saw him over there.

She works for him at the Hawk and Horn.

- That's a tavern.

- Oh.

I, uh, notice that the ladies

didn't crowd around.

I don't suppose she has a very good time,

yet Hayden takes her everyplace.

- Does he go everyplace?

- Oh, yes.

He is a very important man.

He's in charge of the river traffic

and the men who handle it.

Those river men can be annoying

when in large groups.

Yes, I thought that little scuffle

over the jug developed mighty fast.

It's exactly what I mean.

I understood that, uh,

Randolph owned the riverboats.

He does, but Hayden controls the men.

Yes, we get along very well with the

settlers, the people who live around here,

but, you know,

those river men just seem to resent us.

You were quite a handy man with

that bugle this afternoon, John Breen.

- Too bad you're not here permanently.

- But I am, sir.

I'm arranging to get mustered out here.

Oh, I know this is not Kentucky

but it's mighty fine country.

And I know I'm gonna like the people.

That's fine, John Breen. That's fine.

We need friends like you.

Have the people heard about it?

- Well, not yet.

- Excuse me, then. I will go and tell her.

'Made up your mind

in a hurry, didn't you?

"'Lt's not Kentucky

but I know I'll like the people."

'Who do you think you're fooling?

'You're leaving the regiment

and everything you've known

'just because you kissed a girl in Mobile.

'Uh-oh, here she comes.

'Tell her.

Tell her the Colonel misunderstood.

'Blame it on Captain Carroll, anything.

Only get out of here.

'Go on, now. Tell her.

'Tell her goodbye. She's just another girl.

'What are you shaking about? '

Good evening, ma'am.

Good evening, John Breen.

Your Willie Paine's

a handy man in the kitchen.

Did you see Colonel Geraud?

Yes. You mustn't do it.

- Mustn't do what?

- Stay here.

- Have you talked to Captain Carroll?

- No, but I will.

No, don't.

Leave with your regiment in the morning.

- But Maam, I thought...

- Let's not talk about it tonight.

Not talk about it? We've got to.

I couldn't wait to find you.

And today I know you were glad to see me.

Tonight here you are close to me,

wanting to be kissed,

and tell me to march away

in the morning - we gotta talk.

All right, then, listen to me.

John Breen of the 2nd Kentucky passing

through, you are adventure, romance.

- Day after day, what will you be?

- Adventure, romance.

You can't come charging

into a well-ordered life...

A well-ordered life?

From the way you hold your head, the shine

in your eyes, everything hollers for...

- I'm going to marry Blake Randolph.

- You are?

He's building our home.

The furnishings are chosen.

My whole life is arranged, settled.

Does that mean so much?

What else is there?

There's this.

I hope you know what you're doing.

Hope so. Nobody back in Kentucky.

Gotta make a fresh start someplace.

Well, we'll be in Catawba

for the next three days.

Andy Jackson's gonna make a speech.

And if things don't pan out the way

you expect, you come a-running.

Thank you!

Good luck, Breen!

Tell those Frenchies they're all right.

Drat the luck.

Five years with Andy Jackson

and look at me -

late for formation.

Phew.

I was laying up under that big sycamore

just as comfortable as could be.

Didn't even hear first call.

You can catch them if you hurry.

That's what I'm fixing to do.

Soon as I catch my wind.

Maybe we could chase after them together.

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