Free Paper Woman: A Mystery of the American Revolution by Suzanne Adair Page A

  By lantern light, she opened the book to
page seventeen and brought the paper with the column of figures close while he
spread the translation open on her desk.   "You see, the third letter of the fourth word is a 'd,' and if you
turn to page twenty-five, the third letter of the sixteenth word is an
'o.'"
    "I see
that.   Where is the location of the 'old
fort' specified in the translation?"
    While heading
up the stairs, she'd decided it would be a cold day in hell before she let
Fairfax in on her hunch about St. Augustine.   "Did I receive all the cipher to translate?"
    "Yes, of
course."
    "Then
that's the full message.   I see no
destination."
    Angelic
radiance transforming his expression, he stepped toward her, but she refused to
retreat.   His gaze tarried over her
face, as if her resistance intrigued him.   "Are you being honest with me?"
    "Work it
out for yourself.   No destination is
mentioned."
    He regarded her
a moment longer before sitting at the desk.   While he flipped pages in Confessions , she walked to the window
and leaned on the sill, longing to feel a breeze on her skin.   After a few minutes, he stood and tucked the
papers into a breast pocket.   "Thank you very much."   He swept from her room.
    She descended
to the shop in time to hear him tell Baldwin and Barrows, "For no reason
must she leave the house tonight."
    Eyes wide with
incredulity, she stomped toward them.   "I've performed my duty!   I'm no longer under arrest.   I
must pay my respects to Jacob Hale."
    "You'll
stay in the house.   Conditions have
changed."
    She balled her
fists.   " What conditions?"
    "Someone
manufactured a rumor about the garrison that those idiotic savages believed and
took issue with.   Major Hunt's
orders.   You remain in the house until
he resolves the matter.   On the morrow,
I'm sure you'll be allowed to pay your respects."
    The story was
the biggest pile of hog dung Sophie had ever smelled.   The Creek near Alton were of White-Stick persuasion, not
Red-Stick.   They'd been a peaceful
people during her whole lifetime.   Were
that not the case, she and other residents of Alton would never have received
invitations to join the Creek for certain festivals.   No, she was still under house arrest.   Fairfax had merely dressed it up in
different clothing.   "I must talk
with Major Hunt."
    "I shall
relay your message.   We protect the
King's friends, Mrs. Barton.   Remember
that Baldwin and Barrows are here as a service to you.   Good night."   With a bow, he was out the front door, only to return in seconds,
a clay flowerpot in his hand.   "This was on your front porch.   Someone sending condolences, I presume."
    "Widow
Flannery.   Last night she promised to
send me something for my garden."   Sophie retrieved the pot from him, yellow daisies in dark soil.   Odd, she could have sworn Mrs. Flannery had
told her she'd send herbs , not daisies.   "Thank you."   Then she
watched Fairfax leave again and finally let out that slow breath of relief.
    Chapter Seven
    MARY WAS FETCHING
water from the well out back near the kitchen building when Sophie noticed a
sliver of oiled paper protruding from the soil in the flowerpot.   She held the pot closer to the lantern in
the dining room, dug out the oiled paper, and unfolded it to find a strip
inside displaying a cipher similar to the one she'd just decoded.   Bewildered by the find, she jumped at the
sound of Mary clattering to the back step with a full bucket and jammed the
oiled paper and cipher in her pocket.   Her expression composed, she stretched while the maid set the bucket on
the table.   "I'm for bed.   Turn in after you've watered these
daisies."
    "Are those
two soldiers spending the night?"
    "Yes."
    "Well,
then, at least we won't have to worry about Spaniards or Indians causing us a fright
in the wee hours of the morning."
    Hearing the
clack of dice on the counter in the shop, Sophie smiled with irony.   "Such a comfort."
    She poked