Read Online Son of the Revolution by June Venable - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: June Venable
Tags: young adult historical
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about. Elizabeth is voicing her displeasure.”
“I’m quite certain you’re right, my dear. Our daughter does not hide her feelings. Now, why don’t you see how Charity and the girls fared? Perhaps they could fix a little something to eat since we missed our breakfast and it’s now past noon. We’ll all feel better then.”
Mary Larkin left to supervise the meal while Caleb and James Larkin checked on Seth and Elizabeth. Seth fumbled with the ropes that held Elizabeth. His injury made it difficult to use his arm. Even at that, he didn’t look too anxious to release his sister.
“Untie me at once, Seth,” his sister demanded.
“I’m hurrying, Bess. You know I have a sore shoulder.”
Rolling her eyes, Elizabeth wiggled impatiently.
Caleb offered his aid. Bending down to loosen the ropes on her ankles, he felt her soft breath on his cheek as she whispered in his ear. “Don’t mention anything about the night I found you, please.”
A knock on the door startled them all after the recent events.
James Larkin opened the door to find the constable standing there holding the box of family silver that the thief must have grabbed on his way out. He also held Caleb’s saddlebags.
“We caught the second man not ten minutes ago. He didn’t get far. He stole these saddlebags, too. I figured they belonged to this young man.” He nodded at Caleb.
While the Larkins rejoiced over the return of the silver, Caleb grasped the saddlebags. He thanked the constable and turned to Mr. Larkin. “Sir, I’m sorry. In all the excitement, I forgot that I have a message for you.”
A shadow crossed James Larkin’s face as he read the message. He looked at his son. “Seth, Major Hunt’s been captured along with several of his men. He’s in jail in Charleston.”
“How terrible. Can we help?”
“The message comes from General Marion. He wanted to help the major, but our troops to the north needed the supplies he carried, so he had no choice but to go on. He felt I could do something. I must think. Meanwhile, I believe I hear Charity in the dining room. Let’s have some food, and then we can make plans.”
The midday meal was quiet. At last, Mary Larkin stood. “I am going to send Charity and the girls to rest. They’ve had an upsetting day too. Elizabeth, please help me take the dishes to the kitchen. The men need to talk.”
Caleb knew Elizabeth wanted more than anything to stay and listen. He could see she did not relish being banished to the kitchen. Even with the circumstances, he smiled when he heard her heave a great sigh as she followed her mother from the room.
Turning to the two young men, Larkin said, “I think I can enlist the aid of several men. The jail in Charleston seems well secured except for the night watch when some of the guards visit the tavern. The general’s message told me that much.”
“I want to help, Father. I consider Major Hunt my friend as well as my superior.”
“Count me in too, Mr. Larkin.”
“Thank you, both. Let’s sleep on this tonight. Perhaps a plan will come to us by tomorrow.”
Later, they decided a light supper and an early bedtime would help after the day’s nerve-wracking events.
“Seth will show you to your room, Caleb. Please consider this your home as long as you like. Now, do go quietly, boys,” Seth’s mother urged. “I imagine Elizabeth’s fallen asleep long ago.”
Seth took a candle and led the way up the dark staircase. The two young men fell silent when they reached the landing. Caleb jumped when a figure materialized from the shadowy hallway.
“What kept you two?” Hands on her hips, Elizabeth confronted the boys. “You know we have plans to make.”
“Not this time, Bess. This is man’s work.” Seth’s tone sounded stern as he warned his sister.
“Seth Larkin, if you leave me out I’ll never speak to you again!”
“Will you put that in writing? Caleb here will serve as my witness.”
Turning on her heel, Elizabeth stomped
“I’m quite certain you’re right, my dear. Our daughter does not hide her feelings. Now, why don’t you see how Charity and the girls fared? Perhaps they could fix a little something to eat since we missed our breakfast and it’s now past noon. We’ll all feel better then.”
Mary Larkin left to supervise the meal while Caleb and James Larkin checked on Seth and Elizabeth. Seth fumbled with the ropes that held Elizabeth. His injury made it difficult to use his arm. Even at that, he didn’t look too anxious to release his sister.
“Untie me at once, Seth,” his sister demanded.
“I’m hurrying, Bess. You know I have a sore shoulder.”
Rolling her eyes, Elizabeth wiggled impatiently.
Caleb offered his aid. Bending down to loosen the ropes on her ankles, he felt her soft breath on his cheek as she whispered in his ear. “Don’t mention anything about the night I found you, please.”
A knock on the door startled them all after the recent events.
James Larkin opened the door to find the constable standing there holding the box of family silver that the thief must have grabbed on his way out. He also held Caleb’s saddlebags.
“We caught the second man not ten minutes ago. He didn’t get far. He stole these saddlebags, too. I figured they belonged to this young man.” He nodded at Caleb.
While the Larkins rejoiced over the return of the silver, Caleb grasped the saddlebags. He thanked the constable and turned to Mr. Larkin. “Sir, I’m sorry. In all the excitement, I forgot that I have a message for you.”
A shadow crossed James Larkin’s face as he read the message. He looked at his son. “Seth, Major Hunt’s been captured along with several of his men. He’s in jail in Charleston.”
“How terrible. Can we help?”
“The message comes from General Marion. He wanted to help the major, but our troops to the north needed the supplies he carried, so he had no choice but to go on. He felt I could do something. I must think. Meanwhile, I believe I hear Charity in the dining room. Let’s have some food, and then we can make plans.”
The midday meal was quiet. At last, Mary Larkin stood. “I am going to send Charity and the girls to rest. They’ve had an upsetting day too. Elizabeth, please help me take the dishes to the kitchen. The men need to talk.”
Caleb knew Elizabeth wanted more than anything to stay and listen. He could see she did not relish being banished to the kitchen. Even with the circumstances, he smiled when he heard her heave a great sigh as she followed her mother from the room.
Turning to the two young men, Larkin said, “I think I can enlist the aid of several men. The jail in Charleston seems well secured except for the night watch when some of the guards visit the tavern. The general’s message told me that much.”
“I want to help, Father. I consider Major Hunt my friend as well as my superior.”
“Count me in too, Mr. Larkin.”
“Thank you, both. Let’s sleep on this tonight. Perhaps a plan will come to us by tomorrow.”
Later, they decided a light supper and an early bedtime would help after the day’s nerve-wracking events.
“Seth will show you to your room, Caleb. Please consider this your home as long as you like. Now, do go quietly, boys,” Seth’s mother urged. “I imagine Elizabeth’s fallen asleep long ago.”
Seth took a candle and led the way up the dark staircase. The two young men fell silent when they reached the landing. Caleb jumped when a figure materialized from the shadowy hallway.
“What kept you two?” Hands on her hips, Elizabeth confronted the boys. “You know we have plans to make.”
“Not this time, Bess. This is man’s work.” Seth’s tone sounded stern as he warned his sister.
“Seth Larkin, if you leave me out I’ll never speak to you again!”
“Will you put that in writing? Caleb here will serve as my witness.”
Turning on her heel, Elizabeth stomped
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