French Kisses

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Liberty's Kids and the wonderful characters belong to DIC entertainment. Lisette is rightfully mine, but I give permission for anyone to use her. ~WordBird500

Chapter 2

Henri pulled the last of the bookshelf away. James and Sarah gasped. Henri stared at the room in front of him. "Well, what are we waiting for?"

The three kids stepped into the room. James lit a match. Henri gazed around. There was a desk and... were those iron bars? Henri motioned Moses to come closer.

Then Henri saw a horrible thing.

A little mop of brown and yellow sat in the corner, like a little doll. Then it sat up.

"Sacré bleu," whispered Henri, without realizing. He covered his mouth. But the girl heard.

"Vous parlez français aussi mon ami?"

"Oui," said Henri."Parlez vous anglais?"

"Yes," said the girl. "My name is Lisette. My parents are in France still and are waiting for me. I was to work on the ship of another Captain, but he imprisoned me here. Can you help?"

"Oui- I mean – Yes." Henri whirled around and opened his mouth to speak, but Sarah silenced him, mouthing a "We heard." Henri nodded. Lisette motioned to the padlock, but James shook his head. "I don't know, Henri- how to open the cage, that is."

Lisette said,"Shhh, you don't have to free me. The stakes are great."

Sarah was retying her bun and a couple hairpins fell out. She picked one up from the floor and examined it closely. "You can use it," she told James. "To pick the lock."

James took the pin and tried to unlock the padlock. "My fingers are too big," he told Henri. "You do it."

"Me?" said Henri in his thick French accent. "No, I can't."

"Why not, Henri?" said James.

Henri wanted to say that he was too shy to, but when Lisette smiled a sugar–sweet smile, he gave in. "Oh, all right."

Henri unlocked the cage. Then Lisette was put into the crate with the lever. It reminded Henri when he was freed.

After what seemed like forever, Henri, Sarah, and James reached the Gazette. Lisette jumped out of the box and hugged everyone. Moses set about with writing another letter to Dr. Franklin. Sarah cooked up a delicious meal and everyone went to bed with of both excitement and a full belly.

EDITED JULY 2019