Free Kings of the Boyne by Nicola Pierce Page B

disguise?’
    ‘Well, yes,’ said Henry. ‘There’s no other way, is there? You have to get inside the house and look for a red coat or something like that.’
    ‘That’s settled then,’ said Robert, as he dusted himself down and prepared to take his leave. ‘It’s all right, Daniel, you stay here. I’ll do it.’
    ‘Wait,’ said Daniel.
    He wasn’t sure how he felt or what he believed but he wished to spare the Watson children any unnecessary upset. He felt he owed Marian and her siblings that much. He sighed heavily and said, ‘You lost your temper with her. She’ll let me into the house quicker than she’d let you. I’ll go.’
    Henry blocked his way. ‘Take your gun with you. If she’s a Jacobite you need to arrest him … or kill him if he resists.’
    Robert was suddenly unsure. ‘I should come with you, Daniel.’
    Thinking fast, Daniel told his brother, ‘No, we need to hide this from Reverend Walker and everyone else in case it’s nothing. If it is as Henry believes, then I’ll come straight back for you and Henry.’

Chapter Ten
Returning to the Watsons’
    S ometimes when Daniel was alone he imagined that his dog, Horace, was with him.
    Indeed, there were times when he found himself on a street in Derry looking around to confirm that his pet had not come back from the dead, because he thought that he’d heard the familiar pattering of four scruffy paws against the cobbled stones.
    How Horace would have loved this , thought Daniel as he retraced his steps down the long country road, hoping he could remember where the widow’s cottage was. It was not difficult to picture Horace scampering in and out of the puddles, barking loudly in great excitement.
    Maybe he would tell the widow about Horace to show her that she wasn’t the only one to lose an animal in the name of King William. Or he could ask her advice oncooking potatoes. Different scenarios were conjured up as he prepared for his mission. He needed to come up with something special in order to be invited into her home.
    A part of him wanted to curse Henry, but what if he was right? She was strange to look at, what with her immense tallness and the fact she was wearing men’s clothing along with those mucky boots. Plus what Robert said was true; she did keep her voice low even when she was angry about losing her horses. Any other woman would have cried and made a terrific scene.
    He found the field and the cottage and made his way to it, wondering if he should have let Robert come with him. What if she was a Jacobite who felt she had been rumbled and was waiting for him to come back to arrest her? She could be hiding at the window, a loaded musket in her hand, watching his lonely approach. Well , he thought, I’m hardly going to turn back now . There was nothing for it but to keep up a steady pace until he reached the front door.
    As he approached the cottage, he heard sobbing inside and had no time to consider how this might affect his visit. He knocked and placed his musket in the crook of his arm … just in case. Suddenly nervous, Daniel asked God to protect him as the door was slowly opened just enough to allow Marian to use one eye to identify him.
    She had to raise her voice above the noise of the cryingand wailing to ask him what he wanted. She looked scared and upset.
    â€˜I’m looking for your mother. Can I talk to her?’
    â€˜No. She’s not here!’
    Inside he could hear little voices crying, ‘Mama!’ and ‘Where’s Mama?’
    Daniel imagined Henry whispering to him that this was all part of an elaborate act to make him leave.
    Marian wiped the tears from her eyes and blurted out, ‘It’s all your fault!’
    â€˜What do you mean? Where is she?’
    Wait a minute , thought Daniel. No, she couldn’t be .
    Samuel appeared beside Marian and, on seeing Daniel, bawled at him, ‘You took our horses. I hate you!’
    Daniel ignored him and asked