“You will be able to protect us and our belongings?” trilled Bethany.
“Have no fear,” Allerton said as if he divined the secrets of the universe. “Your goods will not be plundered nor will your person be molested or damaged. My men will be on hand to protect you should the savages be foolish enough to threaten this valley. I must say I find it inconceivable Thayendanegea, Onontio and the British soldiers would ever consider attacking us. This isn’t a unit of green militia. These are regular soldiers of the Continental Army seasoned and accustomed to fighting.”
Allerton rocked up on his toes. “To prove my confidence in the strength of our position and unlikelihood of any sort of attack occurring, my men will arrange quarters for themselves within the stockade. My officers and I will take up lodging in the homes of the citizens. My lieutenant and I, for example, will lodge with Mr. and Mrs. Powers.”
“I had no idea. You would live here?” Mr. Powers choked out. “I assume there will be added protection for my home and family?”
Bethany waved an airy hand. “Of course, dear.”
“You think it wise not to be stationed at the fort?” said Joshua. He sensed Juliet come up beside him.
Allerton waved an uninterested hand in Joshua’s direction. “Who are you to question a colonel of the Continental Army?”
Joshua said nothing.
“Joshua is a trapper,” said Bethany in haughty tones.
Allerton’s lips pressed into a thin smile. “A trapper?”
A vein pulsed at the base of Joshua’s throat while Allerton’s gaze made a drawn-out trail from Juliet’s face down to her bodice. Hot blood shot through Joshua’s veins. How long would it take to scalp Allerton? Two seconds? Three seconds?
“There were many a raised brow in Albany and the assumption was the promotion you received came from connections,” said Joshua.
The colonel’s jaw clenched tighter than a whore’s fist over a coin. “You dare to question my qualifications?”
Joshua focused his gaze on Allerton. “I’m not questioning your qualifications. I’m refuting the existence or your abilities.”
“Perhaps you are a spy to create havoc and doubt,” snarled Allerton.
Joshua made a broad sweep of his arm. “The good people of Blackberry Valley should be aware that neither you nor your Massachusetts regulars have any experience in Indian warfare.”
Allerton smirked as if he understood so much more. “I have won recognition from my superiors as early as the siege of Boston.”
“The men underneath you deserved the credit. It was their creativity and bravery that saw the light of day. You took the glory.”
Allerton leaned in to assign a confidential tone, his hard blue eyes locked on Joshua. “I could have you arrested for insubordination, thrown in chains.”
Joshua stepped deliberately to within inches of Allerton. “You could try but it wouldn’t work out for you.”
The colonel’s mouth opened and closed a couple of times before he sputtered, “You risk making such a contention?”
“How dare you speak to Colonel Allerton in such a shameful manner.” Bethany sailed forward, mimicking the forward thrust of a fully rigged ship. “Perhaps you are a spy.”
“He is not.” Juliet’s voice dripped with her ire. “He is as dedicated a Patriot as everyone else in this room. How easy it is to speak your mind, Bethany, when there is no one to hear you but the wind.”
Joshua lifted an eyebrow. Juliet was quick; she had her answers ready.
Apparently, Bethany didn’t have any answers ready.
Bethany sputtered.
Finally, the woman spat out, looking at Juliet, “Possibly, you are a spy, too!”
The ladies in the room gasped.
“I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent,” Juliet said.
Joshua held back a smile. His Juliet didn’t just bite, she took a chunk out of Bethany, and the fool woman strolled away smiling like an idiot, believing she’d been complimented.
