Liberty and Destiny by Jessica James

Author:Jessica James
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical fiction, historical romance, revolutionary war, american revolution, spies, espionage, war, military, army
Publisher: Jessica James
Published: 2017-10-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot.

— Thomas Paine

Colonel Morgan paced the length of his headquarters with the piece of blue ribbon in his hand, muttering under his breath. At last he sat and pounded its surface with a fist. “What were you thinking, Sophia Adair?”

He had known instantly the ribbon contained something significant, but why had she taken such a chance? The note he had discovered between the linings of the fabric had been comprised of just seven words, obviously hurriedly scribbled: Supplies arriving by River Rd in morning.

Morgan knew the road well and comprehended at once how easy it would be to ambush a supply train. Paralleled by sloping hills and forests, large numbers of troops could be easily blocked in a small area.

The advance notice was all he had needed to position his men in such a way that the wagons were cut off from reinforcements behind. He had not lost a man, and the resulting victory could justly be considered one of the most successful of the war.

But the hands holding the ribbon began to tremble when he thought about what would have happened if the British had caught her writing the note—or had checked the ribbon after she had given it to him. Her task had required calmness, courage, and resolve—but it had also required a recklessness that could have placed her neck in a noose. In doing what she regarded as her duty she seemed to have no fear—or sense.

Thoughts of Sophia Adair had crossed Morgan’s mind often, but meeting her like that, face-to-face in the home where she resided, had enlightened him to traits in her character he had never suspected. When with the British she acted like one who moves only in refined circles, all grace and sophistication, giving the illusion she did not like to dwell on serious matters or concern herself with thoughts that did not involve her own gratification. Her observant eyes never seemed to be looking at anything, and she had even been able to demolish Colonel Tyndale’s defenses with a mere smile.

Morgan understood now how completely fooled the British really were by her supposed loyalty and her lack of wit or will. She relied heavily on the importance of being underestimated—and she played the part well. Despite the tremendous obstacles she faced and the weight of responsibility that clouded her eyes, she showed no signs of slowing down or giving up.

Putting down the ribbon and standing, Morgan began to pace when he thought of the new danger she now faced. His scouts had reported that the British were pulling out of the region, moving closer to the coast where they could be more easily supplied. Staff officers, quartermasters and commissaries, together with clerks, aides and soldiers, were on the move with their baggage to the small coastal town of Duncannon. One person was responsible for their move, and that person was Sophia Adair.

That alone would be good news, but this was war, and there could never be an action without a reaction.

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