American Challenge

by Susan Martins Miller

  Kate grabbed her arm. “Please, Sarah, tell me what’s wrong.”

  “It’s the Gifts Committee you help with. My family is using some of the food and firewood people have donated. I’m so … ashamed.” Tears ran down Sarah’s freckled cheeks.

  Kate stared at her, openmouthed.

  Colin cleared his throat. “It’s not your father’s fault the king took away his job when the harbor closed. All the Patriots have to stick together and help each other through these hard times.”

  “Right now your family needs things other people can give them,” Kate said. “Another time, your family will be helping someone. That’s the way it works.”

  Sarah blinked at her tears. “When the tea was thrown into the harbor and later when the port was closed and the Patriots were all saying they’d starve before they’d pay for the tea, it felt so brave to be a Patriot.” She brushed a hand over her eyes and sniffed. “It doesn’t feel brave when you’re begging for food.”

  Kate rubbed a hand on Sarah’s arm. She wished she could make her friend feel better.

  Sarah jerked away from Kate’s touch. “It’s Loyalists like your family who have made so much trouble for Boston.”

  “But Mama and Father didn’t throw the tea in the harbor!”

  “They didn’t stand up with us, either.” Sarah’s voice jerked angrily. “If the Loyalists had stood by the Patriots, everything would have been fine. The king wouldn’t have shut the harbor if everyone stood up to him together.”

  Kate stared at her. “Sarah, that’s silly. You can’t know what would have happened. No one can. Everyone has to do whatever they believe is right. That’s what Father says.”

  Sarah sniffed. “I don’t care what your father says. He’s a Loyalist, and it’s his fault everything is so terrible!” She sounded as though she might cry, but she held her head high and glared at Kate. “I don’t want to be friends with you anymore, Kate Milton. I only want Patriots for friends.” Sarah stormed out the door.

  Kate turned to Colin. “I wish I could tell her,” she whispered. “Maybe she wouldn’t be so mad at me if she knew I was helping the Patriot cause.”

  Colin shook his head. “You know you can’t tell anyone. The redcoats have to believe you’re a Loyalist just like your parents. Then they’ll never suspect you.”

  Kate frowned. “Sarah isn’t right, is she? It’s not the Loyalists’ fault.”

  “No, it’s not their fault. She’s just hurting and doesn’t know what to do about it.”

  Kate blinked away tears. “Well, hurting me won’t help.”

  “No.” Colin put his hand on her shoulder, then went back to his work.

  Kate looked around the room. In all the jars of herbs, was there anything that would heal the wounds she and Sarah were feeling in their hearts? Was there any medicine for a broken friendship?

  November moved into December. Days went along like usual until one evening during the second week of December, when Colin was again staying late at the apothecary shop while the officers played cards, smoked their long pipes, and visited.

  Kate and Colin were trying to read a new medical book by candlelight, but Kate’s eyes kept closing. Mama was already sleeping, and Father had sent word that he was delivering a baby and likely wouldn’t be home until morning. Kate wished the redcoats would leave so Colin could go home to bed. Then she wouldn’t feel guilty going to bed herself.

  Suddenly, she heard words that wakened her like a clap of thunder: “Fort Harrison and Mary.”

  She nudged Colin. “Did you hear that?”

  He nodded. On tiptoe, they moved to the closed library door and leaned their ears against it. Kate held her breath so she could hear better. What she heard set her mind whirling. British troops were being sent from Boston to Fort Harrison and Mary in New Hampshire!

  “Harrison and the Observers need this news right away!” Colin whispered. He took one step toward the front door, but Kate grabbed his arm.

  “You can’t leave yet!” she hissed. “The officers might suspect something.”

  Chairs scraping against the library floor sent them dashing back to their chairs. Kate dropped her head and arms on the table and closed her eyes. After a moment, Colin pretended to be asleep, too.

  Officers filed into the room, joking with each other. Kate’s heart raced. Beside her, Colin was breathing as hard as if he’d just raced back from the Neck. She nudged him and made herself breathe slowly and deeply, as if she were sleeping.

  Boots stopped beside the table. “Time to wake up, lad.”

  Colin blinked, sat up, and looked at the officers. He stretched his arms over his head. “Leaving?”

  “Yes, lad,” Captain Ingles answered. “Ye’d best see to banking the fireplace.”

  Colin pretended to yawn. “See you tomorrow night.”

  He and Kate stumbled toward the library while the officers left. He made quick work of banking the fireplace, while Kate snuffed the candles. Even with such an important message to deliver, they didn’t dare leave the fire and candles burning.

  “I’m going,” Colin said, throwing his wool jacket around his shoulders.

  Kate grabbed her cloak, as well. “I’m coming, too!”

  Colin frowned at her and shook his head, but Kate knew he didn’t want to take the time to argue.

  Snow and ice made it hard to hurry along the dark, narrow streets. Only the moon and stars lit their way. A lantern might have been seen by soldiers or others. They didn’t want anyone to remember seeing them on the street so late at night. Not when they were carrying an important Patriot secret!

  Colin’s house was dark and quiet when they reached it. The family was already in bed. Colin lit the candle on the hall table and carried it with them so he wouldn’t fall and make noise. They didn’t want to wake Lieutenant Andrews or Lieutenant Rand!

  Kate’s mind kept saying, Hurry! Hurry! but she walked slowly. She tried to remember which steps and which floorboards squeaked.

  Creak! She and Colin froze. Kate’s heart slammed against her chest. She wasn’t as familiar with the creaks and squeaks in Colin’s house as she was with her own. Had anyone heard her?

  No one stirred. Colin slowly opened Harry’s door.

  While Colin shook Harry’s shoulder, Kate held the candle high so Harry could see who it was. She put her finger to her lips.

  Colin whispered in Harry’s ear that he had news he must tell him right away.

  “Kitchen,” Harry whispered back.

  Together they went downstairs, stepping over the squeaky places. This time, Kate was as silent as Colin. When they reached the kitchen, Harry opened the barrel of apple cider beside the back door. Taking the tin ladle hanging on the wall, he dipped the cool cider into three pewter mugs.

  He handed mugs to Kate and Colin. “If anyone walks in, we’ll say I woke up thirsty. I came down for a drink and met you two coming in.” He cocked an eyebrow at Kate. “I take it you’re spending the night with Susanna?”

  “That’s right.” Kate felt guilty now that she had insisted on coming with Colin. If they were discovered, her presence might look odd to the officers. And if Mama woke up and found her gone, she would worry.

  “I know you said we aren’t to tell Patriot news in the house,” Colin whispered, “but this is too important to wait until morning.”

  They stood close together beside the fireplace, where they could still feel a little heat from the banked ashes. Kate shivered at the eerie sound their whispers made in the large, dark room.

  “What’s your news?” Harrison asked.

  Colin told how they’d overheard the officers. “General Gage is sending redcoats from Boston to Fort Harrison and Mary at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. They’ll go by sea.”

  “Why?”

  “There’s only a few redcoats at the fort. General Gage wants more soldiers there in case the minutemen try to take the fort’s gunpowder.”

  In the light of the candle Colin had set on the mantel, Kate could
see excitement dancing in Harry’s eyes. “The minutemen must get the gunpowder before the soldiers from Boston arrive.”

  “To do that, they’d have to go into the fort and take the powder from under the redcoats’ noses,” Colin said.

  “Yes.”

  “But if the soldiers catch them, they might be shot.”

  “Yes,” Harry agreed.

  “I mean,” Colin looked as though he were trying to put his worst fears into words, “if the redcoats and minutemen shoot at each other, war could start.”

  “Yes. Mark my words, if General Gage keeps taking Americans’ guns and ammunition to use against us, war will surely start. If not at Fort Harrison and Mary, then somewhere else.”

  Hopelessness filled Kate’s heart. She didn’t want war. She wanted peace with the king and his troops. She knew that most Patriots only wanted the king to listen to their complaints so that things would go back to being the way they had once been. That was all she wanted, too.

  “If this news gets to the minutemen,” Colin said slowly, “then Kate and I could start the war because it’s our secret.”

  Harry’s fingers squeezed Colin’s shoulder tightly through the wool jacket. “This might be the most important news the Sons of Liberty have discovered. The Patriots must hear it.”

  “I thought the Continental Congress said the Patriots’ army wasn’t to shoot at the redcoats unless the redcoats shot first.”

  “That’s right. But if the redcoats take all our ammunition, we won’t be able to fight. We’ll have to do whatever the king says, no matter how wrong it is.”

  Colin nodded slowly. Kate hadn’t thought of that.

  Harry rubbed a fist across his stubbly chin. “We need to tell Paul Revere. Portsmouth is sixty miles north, and the roads are covered with snow and ice. Paul’s the only man we can count on to get through in time.”

  Kate saw Colin swallow hard. “Do … do you want me to tell him?”

  Kate shivered. Would they have to sneak into Mr. Revere’s house tonight?

  Harry shook his head, his brown hair brushing his shoulders. “No, it’s too dangerous. Even though you’re only children, if you were caught entering Paul’s house, the British might become suspicious. Mark my words, when they find the Portsmouth minutemen know the redcoats are being sent from Boston, General Gage will try to find how the news got out. We don’t want anyone to remember you two from both Uncle Firth’s house and Paul’s the same night.”

  Colin yawned and picked up the wool blanket that was folded neatly at one end of the tall-backed settle. Kate yawned, too. Now that they’d passed the news and worry on to Harry, she was tired again. “I’m going to bed,” Colin said, and Kate decided she would climb into bed with Susanna. She would be sure to wake up early in the morning so Mama would never know she was gone.

  But Harry grabbed Colin’s arm as he started to lay down on the settle. “Oh, no, you don’t. You need to go back to Uncle Firth’s and sleep in the library. That way the officers will find you there in the morning. No one must know you came home tonight. We don’t want anyone to think you had a chance to tell Father and me what the officers said.”

  Colin sighed. Kate didn’t want to go out in the cold and snow again any more than Colin did, but she knew Harry was right. They slipped quietly out the back door while Harry went to dress.

  CHAPTER 14

  The Raid

  Harry got the message safely to Mr. Revere. Kate wondered what excuse Mr. Revere used to get out of town. General Gage didn’t let people into or out of Boston without a pass anymore. To get a pass, you had to have a good reason to leave. Kate smiled at the thought of Paul Revere saying, “I’m off to warn the minutemen that you’re sending soldiers to Fort Harrison and Mary.” No, Mr. Revere would have come up with another reason.

  Three days later, Colin told her Paul Revere was back. Kate was surprised he’d made the dangerous ride so quickly. Every day he was gone, Kate had prayed that Mr. Revere would be safe, the message would get through, and war wouldn’t start.

  Mr. Revere told Harry what happened at Fort Harrison and Mary. Harry and Uncle Jack printed the news in the Boston Observer.

  Paul Revere had reached the minutemen before the soldiers from Boston arrived at the fort. In the middle of the night, the minutemen went to the fort in Portsmouth Harbor in boats. The British captain in charge of the fort fired three times at the minutemen, but he hit no one. The captain knew he didn’t have enough soldiers at the fort to win a battle, so he surrendered.

  Patriots, Loyalists, and redcoats in Boston were all shocked when they heard the news. Minutemen had taken a British fort without anyone on either side being wounded or killed!

  Harry grinned when he told Colin and Kate the news. “The minutemen carried away ninety-seven kegs of gunpowder and about one hundred guns and hid them. The minutemen need those guns and ammunition. They wouldn’t have them without you two.”

  Kate couldn’t help but be proud as she heard the town talk about the minutemen’s raid. Lieutenant Rand and Lieutenant Andrews told the family that General Gage was mad that news of his plans had leaked out.

  Mr. Revere made Colin and Kate gifts: small silver whistles shaped like spy glasses with the words “Boston Observer” carved on their sides. Kate carried hers with her everywhere. She would stick her hand in her apron pocket, feel the satiny smooth silver, and smile at the memory of Mr. Revere’s and Harry’s praises.

  Kate’s parents didn’t like the news about Fort Harrison and Mary one bit. Mama was at the apothecary when Colin told them what had happened at the fort—without telling his and Kate’s part in it, of course. Mama set the blue bottle she was dusting back on the shelf with a thud. “The minutemen must have known General Gage was sending soldiers to the fort.” Her lips were pressed tight with disapproval.

  “I suppose so,” Father agreed.

  Kate was checking the wooden medicine box Father kept in the trunk on the back of his carriage. It was her chore to keep the box stocked with twine, splints, bandages, sponges, medicines, and things to make pills and powders. She kept her eyes on her work, afraid to look up at her parents’ faces.

  The feathers in Mama’s duster fluttered over a row of large jars with curving blue letters. “A spy must have told them.”

  Kate’s heart lurched against her chest. She opened her mouth, but she couldn’t say anything.

  “Maybe one of his own soldiers,” Mama continued. “I think it’s awful, a British soldier betraying his country.”

  “Maybe it wasn’t a soldier,” Father said. “Maybe it was a Patriot who overheard the plans.”

  Kate glanced up quickly at her father, but he seemed absorbed with the medicine he was measuring.

  Mama picked up a small metal scale in one hand, dusted the cupboard beneath it, and slammed it back down with a crash. “Citizens shouldn’t betray their country, either,” she snapped. “I’m just so tired of this terrible—” Her voice caught, and she broke off without finishing the sentence.

  “Surely whoever told thought it was the right thing to do.” Father’s voice was grave.

  “People like Jack and all the other Patriots always think they’re doing the right things. But look what a mess they’ve made of Boston and of our lives!”

  Colin shifted his shoulders uncomfortably. “They haven’t done anything but ask the king to put things between England and the colonies back the way they were years ago, before the Stamp Act and the Tea Act, and—”

  “They haven’t done anything?” his aunt interrupted him, her voice shrill. “They’ve done everything! It’s because of them the harbor is closed. I’m tired of making do with whatever food we can get. I want sugar and molasses instead of dried pumpkin for baking. I want new clothes for my family.” She snatched up Kate’s quilted skirt between her thumb and forefinger. “Look at this old thing! I’ve mended a dozen holes in it this winter, and it’s too short for her. I’d be able to buy Kate a new dress if the port opened.”

 
; “But dear—” Father tried to hush his wife, but for once Mama wouldn’t listen to him.

  “I’m tired of sharing my house with strangers, too. I’m tired of our families arguing. Remember the good times our families used to have together? Now you and your brother-in-law don’t even talk to each other!”

  Father’s lips curled just a little. “That’s not the Patriots’ fault, dear.”

  “Everything is the Patriots’ fault!” She stamped her small slippered foot on the wooden floor. Kate had never seen her mother so upset.

  “But, Mama,” Kate said, “even Father says the king is punishing Boston more than is fair.”

  “I don’t care. If I knew who the spy was that told General Gage’s plans for Fort Harrison and Mary, I’d turn him in myself.”

  The marble pestle Colin had been holding hit the countertop and rolled onto the floor.

  Father looked down thoughtfully at the pestle that had landed by his feet. Then he turned back to his wife. “You don’t mean that. The spy could be someone you know, maybe even someone you care about.”

  Mama picked up the pestle and slammed it down on the counter. Her blue eyes were almost black with anger. “Spies make things worse. I want life to go back to the way it used to be.”

  “Turning against our neighbors isn’t the answer.”

  Mama tugged at her lace-trimmed mobcap. “You call yourself a Patriot,” she said to Colin, “but I know you also believe in doing what’s right. Wouldn’t you turn in a spy?”

  “Maybe not, if he was someone I knew.”

  Mama threw up her hands in exasperation. “You’re just as stubborn as your father, Colin Lang! You may not have joined the rebels who threw the tea in the harbor, but you’re a Patriot just the same. Can’t you see that all of you Patriots are hurting Boston?”

  “I don’t believe that,” Colin said softly. Kate knew her mother’s sharp words had upset him. Still, his voice sounded calm and reasonable.

  But Kate knew her mother had refused to listen to reason.

  Feelings grew worse between the redcoats and Patriots during the winter. The redcoats were afraid the Charles River would freeze over and that the minutemen would cross the ice to attack the troops.