Rebellious Heart by Jody Hedlund Page A

to let happen.
    “Miss Smith.” Lieutenant Wolfe gave a strained smile, one that was more of a grimace. “I would expect nothing less of this community than its utmost allegiance to His Majesty, King George the third. This is to be expected.”
    “As it should be,” she said, tipping up the brim of her lovely hat.
    “Parliament has commanded that General Gage search out and destroy any sedition. He’s been given the power to send any man involved in plotting revolt back to England to stand trial.”
    Susanna’s response stalled as she glanced at Ben.
    He wanted to frown at her, to tell her to continue with her passionate soliloquy of loyalty rather than giving the lieutenant more reason to suspect Ben’s seditious leanings. An arrest by the lieutenant would put a certain end to all his aspirations and hopes, for a trial in England would be nothing but a parody followed by certain death on the gallows.
    Lt. Wolfe’s lips curled into a disdainful smirk. “Miss Smith, since you are such a loyal subject of the Crown, I expect you will be the first to report any signs of treachery.”
    Ben’s pulse quickened. Susanna wouldn’t share her suspicions about him with this officer, would she? Surely she had more class and kindness than to betray him.
    Susanna looked beyond the lieutenant to the young sergeant. He had the youthful features of a boy with freckles sprinkled across his pale face. Sprigs of wiry red hair had come loose from the tight braid at the back of his neck. His eyes held an apology, as if he was embarrassed by the lieutenant’s interruption of what probably appeared to be an intimate moment.
    “How long will you and your soldiers be in Weymouth?” Susanna asked.
    “As long as it takes,” Lieutenant Wolfe replied, his eyes fixed on Ben.
    Ben smiled back at the lieutenant, hoping to prove to the proud man that he wasn’t so easily intimidated.
    “Rest assured, Lieutenant,” Susanna said, “I will be the first to alert you should I have any knowledge of illegal activities.”
    Irritation slithered through Ben. From everything he’d learned so far about Susanna, he had a feeling she truly would be the first to notify Lieutenant Wolfe of any smuggling, which meant he would have to guard what he said around her much better than he had so far.
    The lieutenant only nodded at her briefly before spurring his horse and kicking more sand at them.
    Once Lt. Wolfe had ridden away, Ben leaned back, rested his head against the blanket, and closed his eyes.
    For a long moment, Susanna didn’t speak.
    The gentle rush of ocean waves filled the silence between them, along with the occasional cry of a sea gull.
    “Mr. Ross,” she started softly.
    “Don’t ask me any questions. It’s quite clear the less I say around you, the better.”
    “But you heard the lieutenant. Those harboring thoughts of rebellion against the king will only put themselves in grave trouble.”
    “Then you have nothing to worry about, do you?”
    “But you do.”
    “I can take care of myself.”
    “Hence I prefer not to know your involvements. If I remain unaware, then I won’t have to report anything, will I?”
    He snorted. “How very noble of you.”
    “As opposed as I am to any kind of sedition, I certainly don’t want to see trouble befall you.”
    “Liberty must be supported at all hazards,” he said, “even to life and limb.”
    “But we already have liberty.” Her fervent voice hung above him.
    He opened his eyes and found her leaning over him. In spite of his irritation, he couldn’t keep from admiring her pretty face above his, her flashing eyes and the sincerity of her expression. Did the narrow crease between her brows mean she was worried about him?
    “We have only as much liberty as the king is willing to give,” Ben said, unable to restrain his tongue even though heknew he should. “And true liberty shouldn’t be handed out by a king at his whim. Freedom is an inherent right we all have derived from our