Free Lorenzo's Revolutionary Quest by Lila Guzmán Page B

is in Philadelphia. It’s a prime target for the British.”
    She stroked his cheek and smiled reassuringly. “You can’t worry about what
might
happen.” She stood on tiptoe, kissed him, and headed up the gangway.
    Her escort, the Martínez family, waited for her on deck. They were headed to Philadelphia to visit friends and relatives.
    The first relay of vaqueros finished a two-hour shift and returned to camp, pulling Lorenzo from thoughts of Eugenie. A second group moved out.
    Far away, a coyote yipped at the full moon. He was answered by a mournful cry from the next ridge. Lorenzo hoped it was a coyote and not the Apache woman sending a signal.

    Molly swept leftover cornbread from the general’s supper into a burlap sack and carried it to the clearing. She crumbled it and scattered it for the birds. Staying perfectly still, she waited.
    Before long, cardinals, crows, and sparrows landed and pecked at the ground. A blue jay carried off a large piece.
    Molly scanned the dark forest around them. She sure hoped there would be enough game to feed an army of ten thousand. That’s how many she guessed were in camp.
    â€œSis,” a voice whispered. Her brother, Bill, eased up behind her to keep from scaring the birds. Instead of his usual buckskin, he wore a blue brocade coat, embroidered white waistcoat, knee-high black boots, and white breeches. Strangest of all was the white powdered wig beneath a three-cornered hat.
    â€œYou look like a Brit.”
    â€œVery funny. Listen, Sis, I’m leaving for a little while.”
    â€œWhere are you going this time?”
    â€œTo Philadelphia. You mustn’t tell anyone.”
    She nodded, understanding the importance of keeping secrets during wartime.
    â€œI’ll be back in a week or so. Mrs. Washington said she’d look after you while I’m gone.”
    â€œI heard you were going down river with some soldiers.”
    His lips parted slightly in surprise. “Yes. After I get back from Philadelphia. How’d you know?”
    â€œPeople talk. They say you’re going to New Orleans.”
    He squinted at her. “Yeah?”
    â€œYeah. Why are you going there?”
    â€œIt’s a secret.”
    â€œIs it legal?”
    â€œCompletely.”
    That was a relief. Before the war, Bill had smuggled French contraband into the English colonies. Once hewas almost hanged.
    â€œTake care of Long Shot for me, all right?” Bill asked.
    Long Shot was Bill’s horse, a bay mare he had bought three years earlier.
    â€œAnd stay out of trouble,” he added.
    â€œI think you’re the one about to get in trouble.”
    Bill’s sudden laughter sent the birds exploding into the sky. “You worry too much. I’ll be fine.”
    Molly threw her arms around Bill and hugged him tight. She walked with him to the main road.
    A beautiful lady with flaming red hair and flawless, creamy skin sat in Dr. MacGregor’s buggy. She wore a silk bonnet, a short black cape, and the fanciest dress Molly had ever seen. Made of dark green silk, it had a tight-fitting bodice and a full skirt.
    â€œWe must hurry,” the lady said to Bill. She sounded French, just like the Marquis de La Fayette.
    Bill climbed in the buggy and sat beside her. What was he doing with a French woman? He had a steady girl. And why was he using the doctor’s horse and buggy?
    The lady flashed Molly a disarming smile. Her green eyes showed intelligence and kindness. Molly liked her at once.
    â€œStay out of trouble, Sis.”
    â€œYou already said that.”
    Bill grinned. “It bears repeating.”
    The buggy rattled away, trace chains chinking merrily, horse’s breath misting in the cool air.
    Molly noticed that her brother didn’t introduce her to the French woman, and wondered if she might be General Washington’s female spy, the mysterious 355. It was just a camp rumor, but Molly hoped it was true.
    She felt