Boone Cabin, Kentucky Territory
The young man opened his eyes and started to raise his arms over his head, but thought better of it when pain shot through the right shoulder. He just lay still for a moment feeling the softness of the cover and the coolness of the sheets.
He breathed in deeply and could smell the fresh bread baking. He could hear Mrs. Boone bustling around the kitchen. He closed his eyes and tried to remember every detail. Despite the fact that he was technically a prisoner, these had been the happiest, and ironically, most liberating twelve days that he could remember.
For almost two weeks he had been allowed to just be himself – not the insignificant fourth son of a British Lord; not the son of a man who seemed to harbor resentment toward him because his wife had died giving him life; not a ensign in an army that would forever be his surrogate family; not the ensign who was wanted by the rebel army for some reason. For twelve days, he had been just Andrew.
The young man sighed; all that was to end today. He moved the covers and softly padded with bare feet to the alcove curtain and gently pulled it aside. The sight of the warm, comfortable home made him smile.
Becky saw him standing there smiling and she grinned back. "Good morning, Andrew," she greeted, as she had almost every morning.
"Good morning," he returned. "Do you need to change the bandages again or can they be removed?"
The redhead wiped her hands on her apron. "No, they need to be changed. You must keep that wound covered until it has completely scabbed over." She grabbed the medical supplies from the cabinet and followed him to his alcove.
When she had finished her ministrations, the young man started to dress. The uniform that he had worn with pride for the past several months now felt stiff and uncomfortable. Mrs. Boone had done an admirable job getting all the stains out of his whites. He pulled on his boots, put on his red jacket, and grabbed his hat before exiting the alcove.
"Are you ready for breakfast?" Rebecca asked when she heard him. "Mingo brought me some honey …." She trailed off when she looked up and saw him in his uniform.
"What?" Andrew asked, leaning forward to inspect himself, wondering if something was amiss.
"Nothing," Becky said, turning back to the table to hide the tears that were threatening. He still looked way too young to be an officer in any army. "As I was saying, I have honey and biscuits if you are interested."
"Yes, Ma'am," the ensign said enthusiastically. He took off his jacket and laid it on the bed with his hat.
"Is Mr. Boone here?" he asked as he carefully dribbled honey on the still warm biscuit.
"No, he's gone to the settlement to take care of some business and wait for…"
Andrew nodded; he knew who she meant. He decided to focus his attention on his breakfast instead of the man who was coming for him. He closed his eyes when the biscuit melted in his mouth.
"Good?" she asked with amusement seeing the expression on his face. She placed a cup of tea in front of him.
"Yes, Ma'am," he responded, dabbing his mouth with a napkin.
When he was finished he stood and picked up the plate and cup, and like every other morning, the frontierswoman took it from him.
"Mrs. Boone?"
"Yes," she said, while stirring the pot that was simmering in the fireplace.
Andrew took a moment to gather his thoughts. "I want to say thank you for your hospitality and the kindness you have shown me during my stay. You have gone out of your way to see that I was comfortable and to tend to my recent injuries. I shall not forget."
Rebecca smiled, determined not to cry. "I should be thanking you for all the work you did around here. I have been after Dan for weeks to get some of that done."
"It was my pleasure," Andrew said with an extravagant bow. He glanced up and gave her a huge smile.
…..
Boonesborough, Kentucky Territory
Dan was at the tavern, talking with Cincinnatus when the door opened and a burly man in buckskins came in. The tall frontiersman recognized him immediately – Captain Perry McAllister, one of Washington's intelligence officers and fiercest enforcers.
The two men had first crossed paths in the Seven Years War and later when on assignments for the Commander-in-Chief. This man was unpredictable and dangerous, but he usually got what he wanted, which was why Washington kept him in his service.
"Boone," he said, when he saw Daniel. "Quaint little hamlet you have here in the middle of this God-forsaken wilderness." He reached out his hand and the woodsman shook it.
"McAllister," Dan said shaking his head. "I'm surprised to see you come all this way for one British soldier. I would've thought you would have other more important things to do."
The captain's smile looked more like a sneer. "I hear tell that he's a slippery one. I wanted to make sure he didn't disappear before we've had a chance to… chat."
The hairs on the back of Dan's neck stood up; he didn't like the feeling he was getting from this man.
"Now, Boone, let me buy you a drink, and then you can show me where you have your prisoner squirreled away."
…..
Boone Cabin, Kentucky Territory
Andrew was helping Becky by making the beds when she heard voices outside. Looking out the window, she saw Dan approaching with another man. When the young man looked up expectantly, she nodded. He took a deep breath and put on his jacket, smoothing the material with his hands.
Daniel opened the door and came in with McAllister on his heels. He was about to introduce the man to his wife when Andrew's reaction caught his attention.
The young man's eyes were as large as saucers and his mouth was hanging open slightly. He had paled as white as a sheet.
"Well, well," McAllister clucked. "We meet again, Ensign Lindsay." As he walked slowly toward the soldier, the young man involuntarily took a couple steps backwards. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
The Boones exchanged a look of confusion and concern.
"Uh, you know each other?" Dan asked, trying to distract the older man.
McAllister was not dissuaded. He looked like a wolf closing in on its prey. "Oh yes, we've met."
"But… but… I thought you were…" Andrew stammered.
"Dead?" the captain finished, tilting his head slightly, his bushy eyebrows raised. He continued to move slowly closer to the Englishman, but abruptly turned when he was about six inches away.
"The young ensign here," he said to Daniel, "was present when his brother and his henchmen decided to 'ask' me a few questions. When I regained consciousness, I was chained up on a filthy, stinking prison ship off the coast."
Andrew cleared his throat, hoping that his voice did not sound as shaky as he felt. "I…I had no part in your treatment."
McAllister whirled to face the officer and just stared for a moment. Suddenly he rushed across the room and roughly pinned the young man against the wall. He had a knife to the Redcoat's throat before anyone even realized.
Becky gasped and Daniel moved to pull the older man away.
"You didn't have a part? You didn't have a part? You think that matters to me?" he spat. "You're from the same devil spawn. I should kill you right here." The knife wavered, the point just barely touching the ensign's skin.
Suddenly, McAllister seemed to regain control. He let Andrew go and turned toward the Boones. "Forgive my manners. I don't think you have introduced me to your lovely wife."
…..
Boone Cabin, Kentucky Territory
When McAllister excused himself to take care of personal business, the British soldier pushed away from the wall. "Mr. Boone, if you are at all merciful, you will kill me right now; I have no intention of going anywhere with that man. He is a lunatic."
Dan sighed. "I agree, but I have no choice but to turn you over to him. Those are my orders."
"Then let me go. Now, while he is indisposed," the young man pleaded.
The woodsman shook his head. "You know I can't do that."
The ensign hung his head. "Yes, I know. I apologize for asking."
"Is what he said true?" Daniel questioned. "You were there when the captain was interrogated? By your brother, Major Lindsay?"
Andrew nodded. "Yes, that I will not deny, but my orders were simply to scribe the notes. I swear to you, I had no involvement in what took place, other than as a bystander. I did not agree with my brother's tactics, but I was in no position to defy him. I had only just arrived in America and he was my superior. I was horrified by the ill-treatment, but I did not know what I could do to prevent it."
"You know this puts me in an awkward position," Dan said. "He is Washington's man. I have to abide by his wishes, but I also know his reputation. He is dangerous."
"Dan?" Becky questioned, coming to his side. He raised his hand before she could continue.
The young man nodded, resolute. "So it appears we are at an impasse. Your responsibility for me is concluded, Mr. Boone. I will go with the captain, but I will not agree to cooperate."
The men were so involved in their conversation that neither noticed when McAllister came in through the door.
"Oh, you will cooperate, Ensign," the stout man boasted. "One way or another."
The officer stood as straight as he could. "What do you want anyway, Captain? Are you here just to torment me or is there a specific purpose?"
McAllister strode until he was inches from the officer; this time the young man did not back away.
"So you do have a spine." The captain laughed sadistically. "What I want is information; information that you have here." He jabbed a stubby finger on the ensign's forehead.
The young man slapped the other man's hand away.
In an instant, McAllister grabbed Andrew's right arm and wrenched it behind his back. The young man's knees buckled from the pain.
"Stop!" Rebecca pleaded. "He's wounded."
"So I've heard, Mrs. Boone," he said pulling the younger man's arm tighter. "I learned from the friendly inn-keeper that a couple of locals tried to do their patriotic duty."
"McAllister, enough," Dan said, moving to tower over the older man. "There is no need for this."
The captain smiled, but it didn't seem genuine. "You are right of course. Even in the wilderness one must be civilized." He roughly pushed the British officer away from him.
Andrew stumbled forward and Becky put out her hands to stabilize him.
"Now, Mr. Boone, if your wife would be so kind as to provide us with a quick morsel," McAllister said, looking at Becky, "then my prisoner and I will be on our way."
"Of course," Rebecca nodded.
As they waited for his wife to pull something together, Daniel came to a conclusion.
"Captain, I think I will travel with you to Philadelphia. Washington will be wanting a report, so I might as well deliver it in person."
Becky looked up from slicing bread. She always hated to see her husband go, especially all the way to Philadelphia, but she was glad that someone would be there to keep an eye on things. Andrew and Mr. McAllister had already gotten off to a rocky start.
"Do as you please," McAllister said. "Just remember, I am in charge."
The redhead set a plate of bread, ham, and cheese on the table for their meal. "I hope this will be satisfactory," she said, addressing the older man.
McAllister nodded. "All I need now is a pint of ale."
Rebecca stared at him, unsure if his comment was said in jest. "I'm afraid I don't keep ale in the house on a regular basis."
The captain frowned. "Alas, the rigors of the frontier." He plopped himself onto a chair at the table and began stuffing food into his mouth. Andrew looked away in disgust.
"I'll ready your pack," Becky told Dan. "You had better eat something before you go; you as well… Ensign Lindsay."
The two men nodded and sat at the table. The young officer shot the frontiersman a questioning look and Daniel returned with raised eyebrows.
Andrew grinned. In truth he was pleased that Mr. Boone would be accompanying them. He did not trust McAllister any further than he could throw him; which considering the captain's bulky form, would not have been far at all.
Half an hour later, the three were ready to set off. Dan had given his wife a message for Mingo to keep an eye out for British patrols in the area. He had the feeling that they had probably figured out by now where their missing officer had been imprisoned for the past few days.
McAllister thanked Rebecca for the meal, and then ordered the ensign to turn around. He produced a set of iron handcuffs from his pack and attempted to secure Andrew's hands behind his back. The young man struggled to break free, but the older man grabbed his wounded shoulder and squeezed tight.
"I'd quit fighting if I were you," he threatened. "Unless you want this shoulder ripped from its socket."
The Englishman stopped the resistance and let himself be cuffed. He bit his lip, refusing to give the captain the satisfaction of hearing his pain.
Daniel gave his wife a kiss and promised to return as soon as he could. Andrew looked on and smiled.
As they were about to exit, Rebecca stepped in front of the young man and pulled him into an embrace, being mindful of his wounded shoulder. "You take care of yourself," she whispered in his ear. "And do everything that Dan tells you; no matter what. Do you hear me?"
Andrew nodded.
McAllister stopped by the front door, watching the exchange. "Seems as if some fraternization with the enemy has taken place between you and Mrs. Boone during your stay," he said to the British officer in a tone laced with insinuation. "Makes one wonder just how much?"
Andrew glared at the older man, his eyes shooting daggers. He moved in close to the other man and put his face inches away. "Do not ever speak of Mrs. Boone in that manner again."
"Or what?" McAllister challenged. "I was merely making an observation that I thought her husband might find interesting."
"Andrew, don't," Becky cautioned.
The older man raised his eyebrows in mock surprise. "Andrew, is it?"
Angrily, the young officer tried to knock McAllister over by ramming him with his body. The older man stumbled back momentarily, but then immediately grabbed the Englishman by the jacket lapels. "Don't even go there with me, Ensign. I could snap you in half like a twig."
Dan saw the argument brewing from the porch and put a hand in between to separate them. "Can we at least go an hour before you two are at each other's throats? At this rate, we won't be to Philadelphia by Christmas."
As the young officer was pushed toward the door, he turned back and gave Becky a huge smile. She instinctively returned it, but had the feeling that she would never see the genteel young man again.