Beginning Again Read Free

our own property,” Cade agreed. “And those trees! They must be six feet thick at the base, some of them.”
    â€œI hope you're not planning to cut all of them down,” Mama said. “That would ruin the look of the place.”
    â€œOf course not,” Papa said., looking over his shoulder. “But we'll have to cut some in order to plant crops. We'll use them to build our raft, and we'll keep enough trees for plenty of shade.”
    Mama was smiling as we beached the boat on a small crescent of sand. Meanwhile the canoe was being lifted from the water amidst Captain Sherwood's shouts to the boys with him not to damage the delicate birch bark. Once we were all ashore we were ready for introductions. Papa began with Mama, over whose hand Captain Sherwood gallantly bowed. Then he turned to smile at Elizabeth.
    â€œMy older son Samuel,” Captain Sherwood said as a lanky dark youth bowed to Mama. “And Levius, my younger son,” he continued as a slightly shorter fair-haired boy stepped forward. “It seems we have boys of about the same age, Mr. Seaman.”
    â€œCaleb Junior, or Cade as we usually call him, is sixteen, nearly seventeen,” Papa said. Our Samuel, at home, is fifteen. Nehemiah, or Ned, is thirteen.”
    â€œSo'm I,” Levius broke in, sizing me up. “You're not very big.”
    â€œSmall but tough,” Cade answered for me, an icy edge to his voice, ever the protective older brother.
    â€œHow old is your other son Samuel, Captain Sherwood?” Mama enquired hastily. I knew she was hoping to distract Levius from trying to find where I'd fit in the pecking order.
    â€œSamuel is fifteen but he seems older because of his height,” that officer replied.
    Now the fun began as we started to explore! Mama set a slow pace, Stephen and Sarah capering around her as she guided Robert's steps beneath the tall white pines and overhanging oaks. Elizabeth trailed Cade, with Smith running to keep up. Because of a look Papa gave me, I played host to the Sherwood boys. Leaving them on their own would have been rude. While Captain Sherwood and Papa went to inspect the wooden stakes that marked our boundaries, Samuel, Levius and I explored the shore.
    Cade's words in mind, Levius decided to be friendly. In fact I thought I could land him fairly readily for he was so slender. “You've got some nice beaches,” he said. “And the fishing's good. Lots of underwater grass where pike like to bask. And some bare rocks where you can dive into deep water.”
    â€œI like what I've seen so far,” I agreed.
    The shore was a delight, and we waded in shallows, the golden sand kind to our bare feet, minnows scattering as we moved. Goggie, who had left Elizabeth's side for once, was fascinated. He stood with one front paw raised, stock still. Then when the minnows swam close, he would lunge in a vain attempt to catch one. Up he came, muzzle dripping, a look of bewilderment on his black and white spotted face.
    â€œWe once had a dog that did that, too,” Samuel Sherwood said. “Never did catch anything.”
    â€œDo you help your father with the surveying?” I asked them.
    â€œIn summer,” Samuel replied. “We have to go to school for part of the year.”
    â€œSchool? Where?” I enquired in alarm. I did not know of any school within miles.
    â€œAt Kingston,” Levius said, pointing to the west. I reckon it's some thirty miles that way.”
    â€œI suppose it's expensive,” I went on, still apprehensive.
    â€œYes,” Samuel agreed. “About the only folks who can afford schooling are the half-pay officers like our Pa.”
    â€œThen I guess I won't have to go,” I said gleefully.
    â€œI wish I didn't,” Levius added gloomily.
    â€œBy the bye, what do you mean by half-pay?” I asked now.
    â€œThe government sends him half the sum he received as a captain in the Loyal Rangers,”