Read Online Son of the Revolution by June Venable - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: June Venable
Tags: young adult historical
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silver.
Elizabeth strained at her bonds and shook her head.
“Probably part of her dowry,” the man laughed. “Just you calm down, miss.” Turning to Caleb, he explained, “The young lady tried to raise an alarm when she saw you come down the drive. Guess we fixed her though. She can’t warn anybody now.”
His remarks made Elizabeth struggle harder against the ropes holding her.
“Stay here, Colby,” commanded the man who held the gun. “Keep an eye on ’em. The women probably won’t give you any trouble and the one with the broken shoulder looks like a proper wind would blow him over.” Frowning, he waved the gun at Elizabeth. “She’s the one you’ll want to watch.”
The one called Colby nodded and let his eyes roam around the parlor. Probably deciding what else to steal thought Caleb, who noted that the man also held a pistol.
“Come along then, Larkin. Let’s see what you’re hiding. You too, ‘friend.’ I think you need to come with us.”
Caleb followed Mr. Larkin and the man up the stairs and into a large sunny bedroom. The man gazed around, unable to contain his envy.
James Larkin walked over to a chest and drew out a cherry wood box. Reaching into this pocket, he took out a key. Before he opened the box, he looked at the man. “How do I know you won’t harm my family or burn our home when I give you the contents of this box?”
Caleb saw the man’s evil smile as his eyes fixed on the box. “You don’t know. But since I have a gun, you’ll have to give me the money anyway, won’t you?” He rocked back on his boot heels and with a satisfied expression, held out his hand.
James Larkin lifted the polished wood lid of the box. Caleb then saw his friend’s father look into the eyes of the man who stood before him.
“No, I do not have to give you anything.”
With that, the older man pulled out a gun and threw the empty box at the surprised intruder, knocking the man’s pistol from his hand.
Caleb quickly scooped up the weapon and leveled it at the man. Looking directly into his face, he realized why the man seemed familiar. He was the same ruffian who held Major Hunt at bay on the road to Charleston. So, he hadn’t killed him, only wounded him.
Footsteps pounded on the stairs and the one called Colby appeared in the doorway. “What’s going on?”
The words barely left his tongue when James Larkin fired. The gun flew from Colby’s hand and he yelped in pain. He turned, ran down the stairs and out of the door.
Caleb dashed over and retrieved the second gun. He trained both on the man whose face registered surprise at the unplanned change of events.
“Well, seems we’ve turned the tables, lad. You’re a handy one to have around. Now, if you’ll go down to the east corner and get the constable, we’ll take care of this one. Better use the back stairs in case his friend might be hiding close by. I’ll keep this gentleman occupied.”
Keeping his eyes and the gun trained on the hooligan, James called down to his family. “Is everyone all right?” Seth’s voice assured him they were.
Caleb gave a last glance at the thief. By the look on James Larkin’s face, Caleb knew the fellow best not make a move.
He soon returned with the constable who listened to the story. “Good work, James, I’ll take this one and lock him up. We’ll keep an eye out for his companion. This war brings out the worst in men sometimes, but here’s one who won’t harm anybody for a long time.”
When the constable left with his prisoner, James Larkin turned to Caleb. “We’re a good team, Fields. Now, let’s see what’s happening to the rest of the family.”
Halfway down the stairs, they met Mary Larkin, who threw herself into her husband’s arms.
“There, there, Mary. We’re all right. Private Fields and I took care of things. How about the children?”
“They’re fine, James,” she said shakily. “Seth thought we should remain where we were in case any more ruffians were
Elizabeth strained at her bonds and shook her head.
“Probably part of her dowry,” the man laughed. “Just you calm down, miss.” Turning to Caleb, he explained, “The young lady tried to raise an alarm when she saw you come down the drive. Guess we fixed her though. She can’t warn anybody now.”
His remarks made Elizabeth struggle harder against the ropes holding her.
“Stay here, Colby,” commanded the man who held the gun. “Keep an eye on ’em. The women probably won’t give you any trouble and the one with the broken shoulder looks like a proper wind would blow him over.” Frowning, he waved the gun at Elizabeth. “She’s the one you’ll want to watch.”
The one called Colby nodded and let his eyes roam around the parlor. Probably deciding what else to steal thought Caleb, who noted that the man also held a pistol.
“Come along then, Larkin. Let’s see what you’re hiding. You too, ‘friend.’ I think you need to come with us.”
Caleb followed Mr. Larkin and the man up the stairs and into a large sunny bedroom. The man gazed around, unable to contain his envy.
James Larkin walked over to a chest and drew out a cherry wood box. Reaching into this pocket, he took out a key. Before he opened the box, he looked at the man. “How do I know you won’t harm my family or burn our home when I give you the contents of this box?”
Caleb saw the man’s evil smile as his eyes fixed on the box. “You don’t know. But since I have a gun, you’ll have to give me the money anyway, won’t you?” He rocked back on his boot heels and with a satisfied expression, held out his hand.
James Larkin lifted the polished wood lid of the box. Caleb then saw his friend’s father look into the eyes of the man who stood before him.
“No, I do not have to give you anything.”
With that, the older man pulled out a gun and threw the empty box at the surprised intruder, knocking the man’s pistol from his hand.
Caleb quickly scooped up the weapon and leveled it at the man. Looking directly into his face, he realized why the man seemed familiar. He was the same ruffian who held Major Hunt at bay on the road to Charleston. So, he hadn’t killed him, only wounded him.
Footsteps pounded on the stairs and the one called Colby appeared in the doorway. “What’s going on?”
The words barely left his tongue when James Larkin fired. The gun flew from Colby’s hand and he yelped in pain. He turned, ran down the stairs and out of the door.
Caleb dashed over and retrieved the second gun. He trained both on the man whose face registered surprise at the unplanned change of events.
“Well, seems we’ve turned the tables, lad. You’re a handy one to have around. Now, if you’ll go down to the east corner and get the constable, we’ll take care of this one. Better use the back stairs in case his friend might be hiding close by. I’ll keep this gentleman occupied.”
Keeping his eyes and the gun trained on the hooligan, James called down to his family. “Is everyone all right?” Seth’s voice assured him they were.
Caleb gave a last glance at the thief. By the look on James Larkin’s face, Caleb knew the fellow best not make a move.
He soon returned with the constable who listened to the story. “Good work, James, I’ll take this one and lock him up. We’ll keep an eye out for his companion. This war brings out the worst in men sometimes, but here’s one who won’t harm anybody for a long time.”
When the constable left with his prisoner, James Larkin turned to Caleb. “We’re a good team, Fields. Now, let’s see what’s happening to the rest of the family.”
Halfway down the stairs, they met Mary Larkin, who threw herself into her husband’s arms.
“There, there, Mary. We’re all right. Private Fields and I took care of things. How about the children?”
“They’re fine, James,” she said shakily. “Seth thought we should remain where we were in case any more ruffians were
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