by Becky Lower
Patterson grinned. “See you soon, then.” He slipped away, and she headed down the hill and into town, quietly letting herself in the back door. She tiptoed up the stairs and fell into bed without removing her clothing.
Her mind flashed back over the eventful night and she smiled. Welcome to the Revolution, Patterson had said. Every muscle in her body ached, but she continued to smile. She was now an American. A rebel. A colonist. A freedom fighter.
Exactly what she was doing. Fighting for her freedom. She was home.
She offered up a short apology in her mind to Uncle Walter for betraying him. He’d been nothing but kind to her throughout this whole experience, unlike her father, who still planned to use her as chattel. She had not seen her father in days, ever since he’d reduced himself to beg for money from Walter. And she hadn’t seen Daniel in nearly two months. She hadn’t located either him or Ben among the thousands of men who were frantically digging.
With or without these men, she’d set her course this evening, and it felt right. She ran her hands down her arms, which had developed goose bumps again and closed her eyes.
America. It had a nice ring to it.
• ♥ •
Daniel had stared down hurricane-force winds while navigating his ship on the high seas. He’d been through many sleepless nights after laying Gladys to rest and then being forced from his home. He’d narrowly escaped being unmasked for the spy he was time and again. But he’d never been this bone-tired before. The journey from Fort Ticonderoga, with forty sleds, eighty oxen, hundreds of men, foot-deep snow and frozen lakes had taken their toll. He and the other men were haggard and on their last ounces of stamina. But the most hazardous part was yet to come.
General Washington’s troops had situated themselves in Cambridge, and were about to engage the British in a diversionary battle. While the Brits were occupied with the skirmish, fifty cannons would slide into Dorchester Heights and be reassembled before being positioned toward Boston harbor. The rebel forces only had enough ammunition to fire a warning shot or two, so they were betting on a bluff in order to end the siege of the city, which had grown ugly in the past few months. If the British spotted the cannons and the men before the diversion, all their hard work over the past two months would be for naught.
Daniel took the dipper from Ben and drank some of the clean, cold water.
“Almost done, Cap’n.”
Daniel took another sip from the dipper. “This is only the start, Ben, not the end. If we’re successful in chasing the British from Boston, they’ll just set up shop somewhere else. They have no plans to abandon the colonies. The potential is too great.”
“So we take it one day at a time, one skirmish at a time, one year at a time. I have faith.” Ben's gaze slid over the tired men and animals. “All men should be free.”
“And children, don’t forget.” Daniel smiled. “This is for Emma.”
“And women, too,” Ben replied. “Look at how far Lady Pippa has gone to secure her freedom.”
Daniel stifled a groan. Ben did have to mention her name. “Lady Pippa, unless I miss my guess, will be on the first ship to set sail in the spring, back to England.”
“I hope yer wrong, Cap’n. You haven’t ever been so interested in a woman before.” Ben ran his hand over his throat. “I mean, since Gladys, anyway.”
“Kind of hard to be impartial when you’re sharing quarters with the woman for two months.” Daniel’s eyes grew moist and he blinked.
Ben’s eyes burned into him. “Aye, Cap’n.” Then, he winked at Daniel.
Cheeky bastard.
Shots rang out from the direction of Cambridge.
“The distraction’s begun, men,” Henry Knox called out. “Let’s get these cannons to Dorchester.”
Daniel glanced up as the snow swirled around the line of sleds and oxen. Several thousand men, by his rough estimate, had come together to help and were lending a hand at each sled. “Thank God. We have reinforcements.”
Ben chuckled. “The Brits won’t know what hit ‘em.”
With little fanfare, the men started reassembling the cannons and rolling them into place. The gunshots continued to ring out from Cambridge. With any luck, the cannons would be in position before the fighting stopped.
They unloaded one sled after another, and the oxen were led away to the closest farm with a corral large enough to hold them. The oxen’s hard work was finished, but the waiting men, and the cannons still had work to do. The gun battle whimpered to a close and the cannons were all in place. The fake guns, made from painted logs, had been placed in the farthest spots, but they appeared real enough, at least from a distance. Daniel ran his hand down one of the logs, admiring the ingenuity.
“I painted that one myself.”
He’d recognize that voice anywhere. Daniel wheeled and Pippa stood next to him, dressed in her cabin boy clothing and with a smirk on her face.
He grabbed her elbow. “What are you doing here?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m doing my part for the Revolution.” She wrenched her elbow away from his grasp. “I’ve decided to side with America instead of England.”
Daniel’s drooping body was like a plant which had just been given a healthy dose of water. He straightened and stared at her. Even in her boy’s clothing, with her hair tied back in a queue, she was exquisite. “So you’re not running back across the Atlantic at your first opportunity?”
She shook her head. “No. I’ll need to take care of my business from afar, and hope for the best. But no, I can’t side with the British anymore.”
“What changed your mind?” Daniel placed his hand on her elbow again, and this time, she didn’t shrug him off.
“I noticed the markings in the closet where you’d recorded Emma’s height each year, and started to piece things together.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I insisted that Uncle Walter tell me the entire story. The British have treated you and your family horribly, and I’m sure your story is only one of many similar claims.”
“What do you propose to do here in the colonies?”
Her saucy grin kicked up a notch. “I was hoping you’d do the proposing.”
• ♥ •
Despite the cold air, sweat poured off Daniel and his voice cracked. “Are you sure about this? It’s not just me. Emma has to be considered, too.”
Pippa untied her hair and took off her cap. The dark locks danced around her face. “I can never replace her mother, but I’ve experienced losing a mother while I was still young, too. I hope to be the female influence she needs.”
Daniel’s hand slid from Pippa’s elbow to her waist, and he drew her closer. “You are aware this is only the start of America’s battle for freedom. We could be at war for years.”
“Then I’ll donate a portion of my inheritance to the cause. Freedom is invigorating.” She tugged his dirty face down and kissed him, in front of all the men standing about.
“What will your father say about you marrying a merchant sailor?” Daniel didn’t care that it might appear as if he was kissing a boy. He didn’t plan to stop.
“As soon as he runs through the money Uncle Walter gave him, he’ll be happy to head back to England. There are a lot of people he can beg from there.” Pippa wrapped her arms around Daniel’s shoulders.
“But won’t he want to keep you by his side, now that you’re about to become a wealthy woman?”
“All the more reason to stay in America. I don’t ever plan to give Father a farthing, since he’ll only spend it on drink or gambling. I won’t be a party to his demise. Now, drop to one knee and propose to me.” Pippa let her lips linger on his.
“I have no ring for you. And I’d prefer to propose in private.” Daniel took a step back.
She handed him the ribbon she’d used for her hair. “This will do for the ring. As for proposing in private, I can’t grant you that. There’s no better place to ask than right here, right now. We’re hoping to force the British to leave Boston. I wi
sh to be emancipated along with the city.” She tapped him on the shoulder. “So, drop, young man, and make me yours.”
He kissed her saucy lips again and did her bidding. “You’re right. We should commemorate the day and there’s no better way than to officially request your hand in marriage. But make no mistake. You’ve been mine since your first day aboard the Gladys Maria.” He wrapped the ribbon around her finger and she drew him up for yet another kiss.
A smattering of applause broke out from the tired men surrounding them. The cannons were in place, finally, and the colonists had put the British on notice. Daniel was well aware of the meager ammunition they had and hoped the bluff would pay off. His own fireworks had only begun.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Pippa longed to stay in Daniel’s arms, but she had work to do. She needed to slip back into Uncle Walter’s house and take a bath before she took a well-deserved nap. They were arm in arm as they strolled back into town.
“I hope you don’t mind that I used your shovel.” Pippa nodded toward the implement over her shoulder.
“Of course I don’t mind, but I am curious how you found out about the mission at all. Surely, your uncle had no advance notice, did he?” Daniel nudged her neck with his nose.
“No, I didn’t hear about it from Uncle Walter. I’m sure until the skirmish took place, he had no clue what was happening. I hope he and his fellow officers are now quaking in their boots.” Pippa laughed. “I got into my cabin boy clothes and headed to the tavern, so I could smoke in peace, without having to hang my head out the window.”
“You did what?”
She shrugged. “It’s not the first time. But this time the Sons of Liberty weren’t holding court there. The place was near empty, except for Patterson, who was recruiting men to help with the cause.”
Daniel shook his head. “You could have been in so much danger. Not just from the tavern regulars, either. Being alone on the streets at night is not a good idea, even if people do mistake you for a lad.” He glanced in her direction. “Although how anyone could mistake you for a lad is beyond me.”
“You did, for a time.”
Daniel deposited her at the doorstep to his house. “I need to get to the harbor and get my ship relocated, in case the British need a warning shot to prompt them to exit the harbor with their ships. The Gladys Maria can’t suffer too much further damage.”
“I want to go with you, be back on the ship again.” Pippa nestled in his arms.
“And I want no distractions as I navigate my ship out of the busy harbor. Besides, you need to tell your father and your uncle of your change of heart.” Daniel placed a hand on the small of her back and shoved her gently forward.
She replaced the shovel in the shed and let herself in the back door. She’d referred to it in her mind as Uncle Walter’s house, but in reality, it was Daniel’s house. If the British left Boston, Uncle Walter and Aunt Bernice would go with them. Would Daniel be able to reclaim his home then? Would this be where they would set up housekeeping? He’d built the house for Gladys. Would he be uncomfortable sharing it with Pippa instead? Was there room in her new country for such sentiment?
She wanted Emma to come back to the house, to once again settle in her room, to add her new measurements to the closet jamb. Pippa washed her hands and face before sliding between the sheets of her bed. Emma’s bed. She whimpered as she rolled to her side. Her entire body ached. She’d take a full bath later. Right now, she needed a few hours of sleep before she faced her father.
What would he do to her when she told him of her wish to stay in the colonies? Kidnap her and force her to return to England? What a fruitless endeavor that would be. She’d only turn around and come back to Boston. If she were a married woman, or if she had muddied her reputation, perhaps her father would give up. It was definitely an idea worthy of consideration.
She’d work toward that end, then. Despite her exhaustion, her nipples hardened and her body tingled at the thought of making love with Daniel, and finishing the job. She’d brook no interruptions this time.
As soon as she got a few hours’ sleep, she’d track down his ship and let him make a disreputable woman out of her.
• ♥ •
Pippa had no sooner washed up and hit the pillow before the entire house erupted in a series of yells and boots running through the downstairs hallways. Pippa had a fairly good idea what all the screaming was about, but she dutifully donned a day dress and joined her aunt.
“What’s going on?” Pippa whispered to Aunt Bernice as the soldiers hastily ran from the house.
“Those damnable colonists found some cannons and positioned them last night. They are overlooking the harbor, and our ships can’t defend against them. We don’t have weapons that can fire high enough to take them out.” Bernice wailed and wrung her hands.
“So what will happen?”
Bernice placed an arm around Pippa’s shoulders. “My guess is the ships will leave the harbor, which will break the blockade, and we’ll be leaving Boston.”
They strolled together into the breakfast room, where Pippa’s father sat, gloomily eating eggs and bacon.
“William! Why are you sitting in the dark?” Bernice leaned down and bussed her brother’s cheek.
“Matches my mood, Bernice. I’ve had it with this uncivilized country.” William stuffed his mouth with a forkful of eggs.
Bernice laughed. “I see your bad mood hasn’t slowed your appetite at all, though.”
William threw his fork on the table. “This is no laughing matter! Lord Wolfson has probably found some other young lady who is a bit more pliable than my wayward daughter.” He shifted his focus from Bernice to Pippa. “So we’ll have to find you a suitable gentleman here. General Henry Clinton will do nicely. His wife died several years ago. He certainly appreciates women, if the passel of children he had with her is any indication. And when he returns to England, once he quells these upstarts, he’ll become a member of Parliament.”
“But Father, isn’t he an older gentleman? In his late 40s?”
William rose from the table, his appetite soothed for the time being. “Not so old as to be immune to your considerable charms, my dear. He’ll do nicely. Now we just have to arrange a meeting between you.” He shifted back to Bernice. “Can you orchestrate it, sister?”
Bernice busied herself arranging a plate of breakfast offerings. She tossed a muffin onto her plate before facing William. “In case you haven’t noticed, my husband and his men hurried out of here this morning because the rebels have the harbor under siege. I’m certain finding a replacement wife and mother for his children is occupying very little of General Clinton’s thoughts today, or for the near future.”
William gave his sister a sidelong glance before stuffing a muffin in his pocket. “Surely, our forces can subdue these wearisome rebels, can’t they? They’re just a motley bunch of fools.”
“A motley bunch who are fighting to preserve their way of life, William. They aren’t playing by the rules of proper military engagement, and it’s got our forces scrambling.” Bernice glanced from her brother to her niece. “I almost admire them.”
Pippa nodded. “Me, too, Auntie. Will the troops now sail their vessels to a safer place?”
Bernice wiped the tears from her cheeks. “If they do, we must relocate with them. And this is such a comfortable home, even if it is a modest dwelling and not at all what we’re used to.”
Pippa held her tongue. Nothing would please Daniel more than to retake possession of his house.
“Well, there’s the proof!” William glared at the two women. “You two have truly lost your minds. The sooner we can leave this unruly country and get back to England, the better for all of us.” His focus shifted to Pippa. “You’d rather marry for love than money, but I can tell you from first-hand experience, money can make your life so much easier. I’m counting on you to provide a source of income for both of us, Pippa. If it means marrying an old man, so much the better.
He’ll die off and leave you a wealthy woman. Then we won’t have any money woes ever again.”
Pippa drew a deep breath. She’d defied her father by coming to America in the first place. Now, she was about to do it again. “I disagree, Father. You will continue to have money woes as long as you insist on spending every penny that comes into your hands on drink and gambling. I will not be a contributor to your debauchery, regardless of whom I marry.”
William’s hand whipped out and he slapped Pippa across her cheek. She cried out and placed a hand to her stinging cheek as tears filled her eyes.
“William! How dare you!” Bernice placed herself between Pippa and her father.
“I won’t harbor insolence in my child, Bernice.”
“Our father did not raise you to be disrespectful to women.” Bernice tugged on Pippa’s arm. “Come along dear, let’s get you a cold compress for your cheek.”
“Our father didn’t have such a disrespectful child either, Bernice. Teach her to respect her father as you did ours.” William stormed out of the room.
Pippa allowed Bernice to lead her away. Her mind buzzed. She still had fifty-four days before her twenty-first birthday. Could she make it to her goal?
• ♥ •
Daniel sailed into the safe harbor at Cambridge and then returned to his daughter’s side in the home of Gladys’s parents.
“Papa. You’re finally home!”
He picked her up and spun around the room with her. “I swear, you’ve grown inches since I’ve been gone.”
“Tell me what you’ve done. Did Ben go with you? And Sam?” Emma kissed him on both cheeks before lowering herself to the floor. She smelled of peppermint.
“Yes, Ben was with me. Sam’s back in Philadelphia again. We had some oxen, too.”
“I love animals. Did the oxen work hard, too?” Emma danced around the room.
“They did the really hard work, Em.” Daniel sat, his legs finally giving out. “Come here, honey.” He opened his arms to his little girl, and she leapt onto his lap.
“Do you recall the day we were on the ship together and that fancy lady boarded?” Daniel rested his chin on the top of Emma's head.
