girl, well, as you appear to be a man acquainted with military matters, I need not tell you of certain indecencies the British have taken of late in this prov ince. What I said before is true; there are strong rumors of redcoat raids this evening."
But her father's opinion and Alison's reasons for wearing breeches were perhaps not in total harmony. For the girl clearly chafed as he spoke.
"I'm not afraid of any British soldier," she declared. Her pants were a size or so too big, as was her shirt, but Jake judged that she would soon burst out in ways that shorn hair and rough clothes could not disguise. "I am as brave as any boy, and twice as strong."
Jake smiled at her.
"I am, sir. And I am as great a lover of freedom as anyone in the country, of any gender. I wish to serve the Cause and enlist. Other women have done so, and helped out quite handsomely."
"Hush now, Alison. Let the man eat."
"Please, sir, if you know General Washington, take me to him. I would like to be a soldier."
"Alison!"
Jake looked up from his food, bemused. "A strong patriot, eh?"
"As strong as anyone."
"You make good beans."
"Do not try to sweeten me with your tongue, sir. I know that is what spies are always doing."
"What makes you think I am a spy?"
"With a note from General Washington and a direc tion toward New York, what else would you be?"
Jake winked at her father. "I wouldn't think of join ing the army if I were you," he said. "Sleeping on the ground night after night puts a sharp kink in your back. And the food is not as good as this."
"You mock me, sir." Alison stood before him at the table, hands on her hips.
"I do have need of a guide," said Jake, addressing her father. "I would like to find the most inconspicuous way to a ferry near Perth Amboy. I realize I'm quite a distance off."
"You are indeed, sir," whistled the keeper. "You'll never make Perth tonight, and would spend a good portion of tomorrow, if not the next day. It's in British hands, besides."
"I need to be in Manhattan by daybreak."
Brown shook his head. "There are ways to the island, but tonight —"
"I can take him, father. He should cut straight to Torman's, descend the Palisades, and find a boat there."
"Hush, dear, we don't want to interfere in the man's business."
"Actually, sir, I'd be happy for your help," said Jake. "And another share of this food."
Alison took the plate and refilled it.
"You are asking much," said Brown. "My home would be undefended. Even some of my neighbors covet it."
"If you can spare a few hours to guide me," Jake told him, "you would do our Cause a great deal of good."
"Let me go instead, father. You have to mind the inn. I know the way as well as you, and shortcuts be sides."
A complicated series of looks crossed the poor innkeeper's face. While his instincts told him the man before him was in great need, he had no real proof that he should trust him beyond the letter from Washing ton. Truly, such a document could be easily forged; nei ther Brown nor his daughter had the vaguest notion what Washington's hand was like. But the tavern keeper was a strong patriot, determined to see the Cause prevail. Sacrifice was demanded of all, and chances had to be taken or the British would never be beaten. He could guide Jake to the river and be back by daybreak — a small risk, surely.
"I will take you," Brown finally decided. "As soon as you are ready."
"I am ready now," said Jake, taking a last bite and then draining the cider. "Let us get something for my horse and be off."
"Father, please take me, you must." Alison wrapped herself around her father like a snake around a tree.
"It is too dangerous," said Brown, but it was clear from his voice that he was wavering.
"Listen to your father," suggested Jake.
"I have the gun," Alison told her father. "I am the best shot in the neighborhood, you know it."
"Better for you to stay."
Alison took a shy glance at Jake, then put her arm gently on her father's arm. "But, papa,
But her father's opinion and Alison's reasons for wearing breeches were perhaps not in total harmony. For the girl clearly chafed as he spoke.
"I'm not afraid of any British soldier," she declared. Her pants were a size or so too big, as was her shirt, but Jake judged that she would soon burst out in ways that shorn hair and rough clothes could not disguise. "I am as brave as any boy, and twice as strong."
Jake smiled at her.
"I am, sir. And I am as great a lover of freedom as anyone in the country, of any gender. I wish to serve the Cause and enlist. Other women have done so, and helped out quite handsomely."
"Hush now, Alison. Let the man eat."
"Please, sir, if you know General Washington, take me to him. I would like to be a soldier."
"Alison!"
Jake looked up from his food, bemused. "A strong patriot, eh?"
"As strong as anyone."
"You make good beans."
"Do not try to sweeten me with your tongue, sir. I know that is what spies are always doing."
"What makes you think I am a spy?"
"With a note from General Washington and a direc tion toward New York, what else would you be?"
Jake winked at her father. "I wouldn't think of join ing the army if I were you," he said. "Sleeping on the ground night after night puts a sharp kink in your back. And the food is not as good as this."
"You mock me, sir." Alison stood before him at the table, hands on her hips.
"I do have need of a guide," said Jake, addressing her father. "I would like to find the most inconspicuous way to a ferry near Perth Amboy. I realize I'm quite a distance off."
"You are indeed, sir," whistled the keeper. "You'll never make Perth tonight, and would spend a good portion of tomorrow, if not the next day. It's in British hands, besides."
"I need to be in Manhattan by daybreak."
Brown shook his head. "There are ways to the island, but tonight —"
"I can take him, father. He should cut straight to Torman's, descend the Palisades, and find a boat there."
"Hush, dear, we don't want to interfere in the man's business."
"Actually, sir, I'd be happy for your help," said Jake. "And another share of this food."
Alison took the plate and refilled it.
"You are asking much," said Brown. "My home would be undefended. Even some of my neighbors covet it."
"If you can spare a few hours to guide me," Jake told him, "you would do our Cause a great deal of good."
"Let me go instead, father. You have to mind the inn. I know the way as well as you, and shortcuts be sides."
A complicated series of looks crossed the poor innkeeper's face. While his instincts told him the man before him was in great need, he had no real proof that he should trust him beyond the letter from Washing ton. Truly, such a document could be easily forged; nei ther Brown nor his daughter had the vaguest notion what Washington's hand was like. But the tavern keeper was a strong patriot, determined to see the Cause prevail. Sacrifice was demanded of all, and chances had to be taken or the British would never be beaten. He could guide Jake to the river and be back by daybreak — a small risk, surely.
"I will take you," Brown finally decided. "As soon as you are ready."
"I am ready now," said Jake, taking a last bite and then draining the cider. "Let us get something for my horse and be off."
"Father, please take me, you must." Alison wrapped herself around her father like a snake around a tree.
"It is too dangerous," said Brown, but it was clear from his voice that he was wavering.
"Listen to your father," suggested Jake.
"I have the gun," Alison told her father. "I am the best shot in the neighborhood, you know it."
"Better for you to stay."
Alison took a shy glance at Jake, then put her arm gently on her father's arm. "But, papa,
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