They Died with Their Boots On Page #5

- Go on. It's all right.

- Oh, feet, keep me from slipping down.

Get my rabbit's foot.

Brother rabbit, work your charm

Keep this child away from harm

Ain 't got time to kneel and pray

Don 't you let me down today

Here he is, Miss Libby, here he is.

Just like the dead

riding up and saying howdy.

What's the matter, Miss Libby?

You got your wish, and you're standing

like your feet is glued in molasses.

Please, Callie.

- This gentleman, Mr...? Mr...?

- Why, Custer, ma'am.

Mr. Custer hasn't stated

what he's here for.

I have a letter to your father

from General Sheridan.

- My father will be home soon.

- And an apology for you.

- Isn't it a little late?

- A little late?

Three o'clock on a bright,

shiny afternoon?

Don't get uppity, Miss Libby.

Because the tea leaves never forgets

and they never forgive.

If you'd care to wait for my father,

I'll show you into the drawing room.

But, Miss Bacon.

It was really you I came to see.

- But why?

- Because, ma'am...

...I can't imagine anything worse

than walking through life without you.

Don't propose you come strolling by

and find me sitting on the porch again.

I'm sorry. Won't you forgive me?

It really wasn't my fault.

I'm not really angry. I just thought

I should pretend to be.

I knew you when you didn't come back

you had good reason.

Yes. I had to report to Washington,

barely had time to catch the train.

And a train won't wait,

but a woman will.

Thank you, ma'am.

I was hoping you'd say that, ma'am.

Tell me, have you always lived

in this big house?

- Yes. Why?

- Oh, nothing, except I remember it well.

I'd ride by when I was a little fellow

on my way to go swimming.

There was a sassy brat

who used to hang on the gate...

...and stick her tongue out.

I pulled her pigtails for her once.

Was it you who pulled my pigtails?

Was it you who owned them?

- Oh, dear.

- What is it?

I don't see how I can smell onions

from the kitchen but...

Onions? Onions? That's funny. I don't

smell them. Don't you like onions?

Oh, I love them. I just thought that

maybe you didn't like them.

Oh, no. No, I'm very fond of them.

Callie, will you go

to the kitchen, please...

...and bring us back some of those

green spring onions?

- Onions?

- Yes, onions. You know I love them.

I knows what you love, honey.

It ain't onions.

Pardon me.

I didn't mean to touch your hand.

It's a pleasure to find somebody

who appreciates onions.

I was reading how Marshal Murat used to

demolish a whole plateful for breakfast.

Please, don't take that one.

Here's a better one for you.

See the fine, long grain in that one?

Good smell to it too. Try it.

That'll have a bite to it.

I said to the general,

"All I want is two things.

A week's leave and a letter

of introduction to your father."

Now...

...when you see Father,

all you have to do is say to him:

"May I return and call on Libby?"

No, you better say "Miss Bacon" first.

- Yes, that'd be better.

- Don't be afraid of him.

Afraid?

You're talking to a soldier, ma'am.

- Why, you's back early, Mr. Bacon.

- Yes, I am.

Oh, here comes Father now.

He's really a darling, though he looks

severe, so just speak up.

I will, ma'am.

- Father, dear, I'm so glad to see you.

- My dear.

- I want you to meet Lieutenant Custer.

- Custer?

- Yes. He has a letter from Phil Sheridan.

- General Sheridan. Must be important.

- How did this fellow get into my house?

- He has a letter from Uncle Phil.

So I'm a fat little pipsqueak, am I?

- I'm a sanctimonious old skinflint, am I?

- But, Father...

Hold your tongue. How dare you

come from that den of iniquity...

...that haunt of debauchery,

to pollute my home?

- Sorry, but if you'll allow me to explain...

- There's no explanation for your conduct.

- None that's fit for her ears.

- Sir, I have a letter of introduction...

...from General Sheridan...

- A letter from the president...

...would be equally offensive.

Get out of my house.

- Go on.

- I'll show him out, Mr. Bacon.

Right this way, and good riddance.

The idea of you aggravating

quality folks like them.

Mr. Bacon done ordered you out,

and out you going right now, sir.

But not for good. You is coming back.

Nine o'clock at the gate.

Brother rabbit, work your charm

And keep that big boy out of harm

Libby.

It ain't unless you's colorblind.

Where is she? I thought you said...

Her papa's home with

his special kicking-out boots.

- Libby's locked in her room. Come on.

- That ugly old fossil.

He can't do that to her.

That's what she said as he turned that

lock. They had a difference of opinion.

Now she's upstairs with her opinion,

and he's downstairs with his.

- Can you climb?

- Up there? Sure.

Wait a minute. I don't want

to cause her more trouble.

We better arrange a signal

in case he comes out.

- I can hoot like an owl.

- You can?

Oh, that's fine.

- George.

- Libby.

Oh, George. Isn't it awful?

It's worse than that. Just when I have

a chance to see you, I get orders.

- What orders? I meant Father.

- Well, I meant Uncle Sam.

I've got to rejoin my regiment.

- Oh, no. When?

- Tonight.

You can't. You'll be killed.

I won't let you.

- Who's out here?

- Just us owls, sir.

- Who?

- Just me and an old owl, Mr. Bacon.

- Seen anything of that scoundrel?

- Ain't seen hide nor hair of no scoundrel.

- Well, keep your eyes open.

- Yes, sir, that's just what I'm doing, sir.

- He's gone?

- I think so.

There's always the chance

he may come back again.

Oh, Libby.

- Will you marry me?

- Yes, George.

- What did you say?

- What? I said, will you marry me?

- When I'm a general.

- Oh, lieutenant.

Oh, it's easy to become a general.

Then that old crab... I mean, that nice

old father of yours will be proud...

...to have me in the family. He'll be at

the station with hat in hand.

Yes, general.

The old owl.

Holy smoke!

It's your father. Goodbye.

What did you have to wake up for,

you old devil?

Don't you wink at me.

Take an order, corporal.

Commanding officer,

Sixteenth Ohio Infantry.

You're required to report immediately

the percentage of...

...A, Methodists, B, Baptists, C,

other denominations among recruits.

Using form AGO 117

less Section 12 in compiling the return.

By order, et cetera, et cetera,

and initial it.

From the colonel

of the 2nd Cavalry.

He refuses to send back your horse

until Custer's return.

- That's tomorrow, sir.

- Does he?

Honor among horse thieves, I suppose.

We'll see about that. Take an order.

Lieutenant George Armstrong Custer,

2nd Cavalry.

Taipe, Lee gave us the slip.

Don't know where he's heading.

Put every cavalry unit in GHQ

in reserve on the remove.

- Get them going, Taipe.

- Yes, sir. Take an order, sergeant.

Form AGO 21.

No, use the new form AGO 201.

It isn't issued. Get it from supply.

Take his desk, Smith.

What's the Michigan Brigade

doing at Hanover?

Refitting. They lost their commander

and haven't a brigadier.

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