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Kitty dropped her hands in her lap, heris our ruler, our protector You of all people should know that” Sitting straighter, she exhaled and shifted the reticule in her lap to ease the budding tension “Youas a traitor”

“Harsh words, Kitty” A knowing smile lifted his mouth and he patted her hand with a quiet chuckle “Just because I believe in soht to defend themselves doesn’t mean I’m a traitor You’re a oman, Kitty You know no one can be forced to cos That comes in God’s time This conflict is crucial, and someday you’ll come to see that truth as well”

Truth The word ra the tea and crea’s breakfast sour in her stomach Eliza claimed their Father had wanted them to discover the truth, that he had wanted them to embrace th

e cause of liberty, but Eliza was

I’ll honor you, Father I know this is what you would want me to do

Henry cleared his throat and pointed out theon her side of the carriage “See that building there?”

Kitty peered out the clouded glass “Aye” The s set-back froe black eyes, and a sturdy wooden door in the center of the stone walls appeared unhinged Kitty blinked and squinted to see lass and strearound beside the door and she strained to ave up the atteain

“That’s the town’s a out the oppositethen down to his hands again, his voice taut “It seeent need to defend the decide toAs all powder is reat care in protecting what little they have for they believe it belongs to the believes differently”

Kitty touched the wet sleeve of his red coat and tried to allow a s will happen, Henry This trouble will die down soon enough We must be patient”

“I’ in and around Boston You know that, Kitty, you saw such first hand” Henry’s tone dropped and his stare split through her “Your sister has embraced the patriot’s cause with passion, and it is a valiant cause, Kitty Keep your heart open to the possibility that you may do the same”

She jerked back, as if his hateful words roped her to the seat “I will never co any of this, Henry Never”

A brief sigh passed his lips that were twisted in a wry sed her as an older brother ht have done, had he lived

“Let’s not argue,” he said His warm voice dulled the blade in the air “You know I support you, as I do your fae and he cleared his throat as if to purge the undeniable e more for myself than for you Be that as it may, there will come a time ill be called upon to act in defense of the cause we believe in It won’t be enough to ht for us”

His words acted like pointed barbs, piercing her through to the fragile center of her soul Watching out theas they passed rain-soaked trees, Kitty drove a spike of deter anyone could say or do to , noHer father had raised her honorably, and that was how she would live

No matter what anyone did to persuade her, she would never conform to the beliefs that ran rampant as pestilence Kitty Campbell would be a Tory until the end of her days

Biting spring raindrops plunged fro Nathaniel’s face Fists clenched, he raced over the round This cannot be! His aze on thein his hand, he ground his teeth and tore ever harder across the rain-soaked road

Glancing at his friend beside him, Nathaniel spoke between hurried breaths “How badly is he hurt?”

“I cannot say” Thoainst the rain “His father is with him now”

Shards of anger, like pieces of shrapnel, drove deeper into Nathaniel’s gut Caleb was only a boy, no uarded the building alone

Nathaniel glared ahead as he ran Tories Growling in his chest, he pushed harder as the realization hit with the sa as the cold rain Who else would steal the precious munitions from their onspeople?

He increased his speed another er Oliver, held his son’s bleeding head in his lap, his weathered face scrunched in an anxious scowl

Nathaniel skidded to a stop beside theround He bit his tongue to keep froround beside his patient