CHAPTER 2 FATHER’S SECRET Father I gasped tugging his arm Redcoats are in the woods Hold on tight Father warned He slapped the horses flanks and they reared into a gallop I clutched the seat for dear life my heart thundering The wagon whooshed along the road We were almost home Any minute now the house would appear and we could rush to the stables and hide until the redcoats left Please let us make it I whispered Halt a voice cried A dozen redcoats rushed from the trees and spilled onto the lane
Father pulled up on the reins The horses neighed and skidded to a stop If I say run you run Father whispered to me I nodded scanning the woods The redcoats had come from the right and I didn’t see a lick of movement on my left I knew the woods inside and out and I knew its hiding places too If I got enough of a lead I could easily lose anyone who tried to follow And then I could rush to the house to find help for Father How may I be of service my father called pleasantly The officer in charge marched toward us He grabbed the reins and commanded Take leave of the wagon I scrambled out but Father moved more slowly He swiveled on the seat nonchalantly but his eyes darted about His hand inched toward the wagon bed His lips moved Run I darted into the woods I expected to hear soldiers steps crashing behind me But instead I heard another
noise a terrible noise A gunshot Then another shot cracked the air Furious shouts erupted The sound jerked me to a stop I clamped my teeth around my knuckles to keep from crying out Please not Father I whispered Suddenly I didn’t care if I lived or died The redcoats could string me up in a tree and leave me for wild animals for all I cared I could not I would not leave Father I stumbled through the trees until I could see the road Father lay upon the ground and a soldier stood glowering over him musket aimed at his chest Sorrow leaked deep into the marrow of my bones Please don’t be dead I prayed As though he felt my prayer Father lifted his head Do not move the soldier commanded Father’s head fell back onto the dirt Two other soldiers moved quickly to the wagon bed and lifted the tarp Colonel Bellingham
one of them shouted This fine gentleman appears to be carrying a stockpile of weapons A militia man eh Colonel Bellingham strode to the wagon knocking my father’s head with his boot as he passed Your militia will never lay a finger on these weapons Militia My heart sank like a doomed ship I realized then what my father’s business had been that day and why he hadn’t wanted me along He was delivering weapons to the local militia Darkness swirled about my eyes and I clutched the tree trunk so I wouldn’t swoon What would the British do to my father We shall give this traitor the fine reward he deserves Colonel Bellingham said The soldiers snickered and one cocked his gun I made to break from the trees to shout at them to stop them but Colonel Bellingham spoke again Don’t kill him he ordered He might have information of use to us
