Scarlet RIbbons by Judith E. French

Author:Judith E. French
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: patriot, revolutionary war
Publisher: Judith E. French

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In late afternoon of the same day, before Forest returned from his hunt, a man arrived at King's Landing driving a team of horses and a wagon, demanding to speak with Mistress Turner at once.

"I'll send him on his way, if ye want, ma'am," Gideon offered. "He looks no account to me."

"It's all right," Sarah said, laying a half-finished wreath of crowfoot on the table. "I'll see what he wants." She glanced at her son, sitting by the fireplace, intent on weaving a holly-and-mistletoe ball. "You stay here, Joshua," she ordered. She took her cloak from the hook, draped it around her shoulders, and stepped into the muddy yard. Both adult hounds rushed past her, barking furiously at the newcomer.

"Hush, now," Sarah commanded the dogs above the din. "Down, Rock. Down, Flirt. Quiet!"

An unshaven man in a red wool hat stared arrogantly down at her from the wagon seat. "Isaac wants ye to bring food and blankets. Some corn fer the horses, too." He climbed down and untied a saddle horse from the back of the wagon. "Ye know the way to the camp. Yer to come alone, he says. Leave that one-eyed bastard here or he'll skin him alive and serve him up fer supper."

"And where am I supposed to get these supplies? Isaac stole everything that wasn't nailed down last time he was here," Sarah said angrily.

The man leaned over and blew his nose through his fingers and then swung up into the saddle. Sarah's stomach turned over as he wiped his dirty hands on his breeches.

"Well?" she dared to say. "Does he expect me to make flour out of dirt?"

"Save yer whinin' fer somebody who gives a damn," the man snarled. "We got ears. We hear what eats yer givin' travelers who come through here. Ye got food fer them, ye got it fer King Georgie's loyal soldiers." He yanked the horse's head around viciously. "Tomorrow, Isaac says. You don't come, he says he'll send someone to get the boy. It's time he spent time wi' his lovin' uncle."

Fear knifed through Sarah, but she refused to let Isaac's henchman know it. She shook her head stubbornly. "Tomorrow's Christmas Eve Day. I'll not leave my son on the eve of our Lord's birthday. Tell Isaac I'll come on the twenty-seventh if the weather is good."

"He ain't gonna like it," he warned.

"Like it or not, that's when I'll come." She straightened her shoulders and gave him a withering look. "And you tell your master that next time he should send a man to carry his messages. I don't take orders from scum like you."

With a foul curse, the man lashed his horse and galloped out of the farmyard. Sarah sighed and took hold of the near animal's bridle. Carefully, she backed up the team and led them around to the barn.

She was unharnessing the second animal when Forest entered the stable. "Here, I'll do that for you," he offered, leaning his rifle against the stall door. He eyed the stout wagon with its high yellow wheels.

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