“Of course not! I came to get your assessment of these colonials. Will they be ready to fight when the time comes?”
“Aye. As we discussed, I’ve checked their rifles and fire-locks, seen to it every man among them has powder, fresh flints, and shot as is fit for his weapons. Most are solid marksmen and will have no trouble—”
“Fire!”
The shout came from the music bastion.
Nicholas climbed the embankment, saw a column of thick, black smoke rising from the forested hill to the east.
Écuyer labored up behind him, stood beside him, fought to catch his breath. “They’ve attacked another farmstead.”
Nicholas shook his head. “They’re just trying to get your attention. I suspect they’re hoping you’ll order a detachment to repulse them.”
“An ambuscade?”
“Aye.”
Lieutenant Trent shouted from below. “Should I sound the alarm, Captain?”
“No, Lieutenant. This is of no concern to us. Back to work!” Écuyer faced Nicholas again, the fire apparently forgotten. “I want you to assemble a force of twenty men to serve as escort to the farmwomen, who are to turn out to cut spelt and gather what vegetables—”
“Women, Captain?” Nicholas couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You would send women outside these walls?”
Écuyer glared at him. “Under armed escort, Master Kenleigh. Is it not their job to do such chores at home on their farms? Let them prove their worth by offering some service to their sovereign.”
Nicholas crossed his arms over his chest, looked down at the older man. “I doubt there’s a man here who would willingly send his wife—”
“Any woman who refuses is to be locked in the guardhouse! Be ready by noon. Is that understood?”
“No, sir. If I do this, I do it my way—colonial volunteers, men of my choosing, and no bloody drum and fife. There’s no reason to warn Shingiss we’re on our way out.”
“You try my patience, Kenleigh.”
“I’m certain I do. But you don’t know these ‘colonials,’ as you call them. I do. Lock their wives up, and you’ll have a riot. Send women up against seasoned Delaware warriors, and you’ll lose the respect of every frontiersman here.”
Écuyer’s jaw clenched, and he lowered his voice. “Very well, Kenleigh. Noon.”
***
Nicholas entered the darkness of the underground passage that led through the east ravelin, nodded to the fifty-odd men who stood crowded together, sacks, scythes, and weapons in hand. Most were German farmers, stout men and strong.
“We’ll need a picket at the wood redoubt and two or three men to join me in keeping watch on the forest to the east. The rest will move quickly row by row, first cutting the spelt, then, if we have time, harvesting whatever is ripe. If we fall under attack, make an orderly retreat to this spot. No one is to pursue the Delaware into the forest, is that clear?”
The men nodded gravely.
“Two hours. No more.”
***
Bethie closed the front of her gown, handed a well-fed and contented Belle across the table into Annie’s arms. ’Twas Annie’s custom to visit with her after the midday meal if she could spare the time. “The truth is, Annie, I dinnae know that much about him. He willna speak of his travail with the Indians, willna tell me what happened.”
Annie cuddled Belle against her shoulder, patted the baby’s back. Her face grew grave. “All I know is what I’ve heard others say. ’Tis said he was taken captive by the Wyandot while tryin’ to save the lives of two young soldiers.” Then she lowered her voice, leaned toward Bethie. “The two young soldiers were burnt alive, they say, while he was tortured and made to watch. They say he’s lived alone in the wild since, mad from pain and grief.”
Bethie felt her temper quicken. Who dared say such a thing about Nicholas! “He’s no’ mad!”
“’Twas not I who said it, lamb. He’s a good man, to be sure, and a brave one. Why, when I heard he was leadin’ the men out into the fields today, I—”
“What?” Bethie’s stomach dropped to the floor.
