Ben and Cam were soon the center of attention for the younger crowd. Bill asked Tom about arrangements."Well Bill, we more or less carry our stuff and...put extras on the wagon. We can sure make room for medical supplies." Fair enough. And I wanted to let you know, we spied a couple of loose horses a few miles from here. We had no way to corral them but maybe we can work it together. Might let us add another wagon. My boys are hard workers if you need them for anything. I try to mind my hands if. I had plenty of money to spend, hard money for the most part, and was my own boss. The temptations of the city were many, and except for the pharo gambling, I gave in to most of them at one time or another. As usual I started by attempting to cultivate tavern owners or the girls who worked at the inns, at least the pretty ones and those that I hoped I could trust as well as mount. I also found a few patriots in the tobacco shops and bootmakers' stalls and one bookseller. But that town was full. " Joannie wouldn't let me look." Come over here and see what my daughter looks like."If my mom wasn't there to hold me up I would have fainted."That can't be me?" Yes it is. Just wait till the boys get a look at you when we go out tonight." What do mean go out tonight?" For your birthday dinner. Maybe a little shopping afterwards."Looking like this. You want me to go out in public. What if someone recognizes me?" "Certainly, looking like that. Looking the way you do. No one in their right mind. M.S. Saracen', just out in paperback. But his books are all getting a bit the same." I know, the hero gets sent to a new ship because his wife is having an affair, he meets ice-cool admiral's daughter, has a close-run thing with a superior force of German ships but emerges bloodied and victorious, gets awarded the V. C. and lives happily ever after with said daughter." Exactly! You know just what I mean. Still, it's pure escapism! And of course you get the odd little titillating snippet of.