I can imagine the promise of freedom was too big a pull for him and Jinnie.”
“God damn it! I didn’t ask for a lecture from you, Hannah! I just want to know word for word what exactly happened,” he snapped.
Tears welled in her eyes. She uttered, “I have told you, Father. They weren’t expecting us. They were mad because the house was supposed to be empty. It must have had to do with Uncle Richard. I’m sure of it, Father.”
“Hannah, I’m not asking for your opinion. You shot one?” he asked again. She nodded, irritated with having to repeat herself once more, and knowing nothing she said would make her father feel better.
“Did they say anything else?” he drilled her.
“Father, I have told you all,” she responded. She worried, though, since she had never seen him like he was.
He dismissed her. “Go to bed. Get some rest.” He gave her pause before she exited the door. He hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head.
“If anything had happened to you—”
“It didn’t, Father,” she said in a low tone. She gripped him tightly. “I’m sorry, Father. I’m sorry they got away.” She buried her head into his shoulder.
“All will be right,” he said simply touching her cheek. “Take care, Hannah. You are reckless at times. It worries me. You don’t know what you mean to me and your mother.”
She kissed his cheek. “I promise not be so anymore, Father.”
* * * *
A full moon shone down over the brisk night’s air. It boded well for Colonel Marcus Durham. He lay in wait alongside his men scattered among the trees. He had a clear view of the road ahead of him. If his intelligence was correct, he would soon have the last piece of information he needed to complete his mission. Then he could return back to New York.
Waiting was the hardest part. Six hours since his informer sent word that John Corbett was set to depart for Philadelphia. It meant only one thing. Corbett had the schematic for the device. Having relieved Corbett of the device, Marcus needed only the paperwork to decipher the gadget.
With each minute passed, Marcus’ frustration grew. If he had missed the opportunity, there would be hell to pay. Then it came. A whistle. The signal for approaching riders.
Marcus watched with anticipation. A moment later, two riders rounded the bend and immediately pulled their horses back in front of the fallen tree his men had strategically placed. The riders hadn’t a chance. His men waylaid the men, grabbed hold of their mounts and roughly pulled them to the ground. The captives didn’t even have the opportunity to reach for their weapons.
Marcus trotted over to his detainees. He studied the men while his men searched their belongings. A moment later, one of his men held up the much sought after papers.
“Got ‘em, Colonel!”
Durham accepted the papers and glanced over them quickly. “Good work, Lieutenant. Our mission is complete.”
Tucking the papers securely away, Marcus dismounted. No longer did he wear the dressings of a simple civilian of the colonies. He wore his British uniform of his rank in King George’s Army.
John Corbett didn’t say a word. Neither did he utter any pleas on his behalf. He held his head proudly. Marcus studied the man before him. He sensed the anger brewing inside of him. Without question, Marcus respected Corbett, but it mattered little. He had his orders.
“The question lies with what to do with you,” Marcus said and walked over to the elder Corbett. “These papers I hold are for one purpose and one purpose only. In that you are being arrested in the name of King George. You realize the price for treason.”
John swallowed hard. He replied without a trace of emotion. “William had nothing to do with my actions. He was escorting me, but he hadn’t an idea what my purpose was.”
“I’m not leaving you, Father,” William cried indignantly.
Marcus pressed his lips together. Corbett’s fate was sealed; his son’s lay in the
“God damn it! I didn’t ask for a lecture from you, Hannah! I just want to know word for word what exactly happened,” he snapped.
Tears welled in her eyes. She uttered, “I have told you, Father. They weren’t expecting us. They were mad because the house was supposed to be empty. It must have had to do with Uncle Richard. I’m sure of it, Father.”
“Hannah, I’m not asking for your opinion. You shot one?” he asked again. She nodded, irritated with having to repeat herself once more, and knowing nothing she said would make her father feel better.
“Did they say anything else?” he drilled her.
“Father, I have told you all,” she responded. She worried, though, since she had never seen him like he was.
He dismissed her. “Go to bed. Get some rest.” He gave her pause before she exited the door. He hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head.
“If anything had happened to you—”
“It didn’t, Father,” she said in a low tone. She gripped him tightly. “I’m sorry, Father. I’m sorry they got away.” She buried her head into his shoulder.
“All will be right,” he said simply touching her cheek. “Take care, Hannah. You are reckless at times. It worries me. You don’t know what you mean to me and your mother.”
She kissed his cheek. “I promise not be so anymore, Father.”
* * * *
A full moon shone down over the brisk night’s air. It boded well for Colonel Marcus Durham. He lay in wait alongside his men scattered among the trees. He had a clear view of the road ahead of him. If his intelligence was correct, he would soon have the last piece of information he needed to complete his mission. Then he could return back to New York.
Waiting was the hardest part. Six hours since his informer sent word that John Corbett was set to depart for Philadelphia. It meant only one thing. Corbett had the schematic for the device. Having relieved Corbett of the device, Marcus needed only the paperwork to decipher the gadget.
With each minute passed, Marcus’ frustration grew. If he had missed the opportunity, there would be hell to pay. Then it came. A whistle. The signal for approaching riders.
Marcus watched with anticipation. A moment later, two riders rounded the bend and immediately pulled their horses back in front of the fallen tree his men had strategically placed. The riders hadn’t a chance. His men waylaid the men, grabbed hold of their mounts and roughly pulled them to the ground. The captives didn’t even have the opportunity to reach for their weapons.
Marcus trotted over to his detainees. He studied the men while his men searched their belongings. A moment later, one of his men held up the much sought after papers.
“Got ‘em, Colonel!”
Durham accepted the papers and glanced over them quickly. “Good work, Lieutenant. Our mission is complete.”
Tucking the papers securely away, Marcus dismounted. No longer did he wear the dressings of a simple civilian of the colonies. He wore his British uniform of his rank in King George’s Army.
John Corbett didn’t say a word. Neither did he utter any pleas on his behalf. He held his head proudly. Marcus studied the man before him. He sensed the anger brewing inside of him. Without question, Marcus respected Corbett, but it mattered little. He had his orders.
“The question lies with what to do with you,” Marcus said and walked over to the elder Corbett. “These papers I hold are for one purpose and one purpose only. In that you are being arrested in the name of King George. You realize the price for treason.”
John swallowed hard. He replied without a trace of emotion. “William had nothing to do with my actions. He was escorting me, but he hadn’t an idea what my purpose was.”
“I’m not leaving you, Father,” William cried indignantly.
Marcus pressed his lips together. Corbett’s fate was sealed; his son’s lay in the
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