The Shadow Fox paced the barn. There was a deserter who needed rescuing. She needed a plan--a good plan.
They were expecting her, but she couldn’t just leave the deserter. Besides the fact that the girl didn’t want to see him hanged, his escape would also give others the courage to do the same. Men deserting King George’s army would help the continental army.
So, the Shadow Fox would have to pull off something brilliant. But what?
As she paced, Ben strode into the barn. He observed her in silence for a few minutes before making his presence known. ”What are you planning?” he called from where he was leaning against the wall.
Robyn waved a hand dismissively and continued to mutter under her breath and trod down the dirt and straw floor of the barn.
“I know you’re planning something,” Ben said. “I just want to know what it is.”
Instead of answering, Robyn asked, “If you were to break into the jail house when someone was expecting you do so, how would you go about it?”
Ben blinked a few times, before replying, “I wouldn’t. Who’s in the jail house that you think you need to break out?”
“A deserter.”
Ben thought for a few minutes before saying anything else. “I understand why you want to rescue this deserter. If it were anyone besides my little sister, I would tell them to do it. Robyn, you have to see this is dangerous. I understand that you want to help out. I just think you need to something less life-threatening.”
The Shadow Fox listen to her brother’s speech in silence. He had a point, of course, but no one else seemed to have the courage to do what she had been doing.
Seeing Robyn’s stubborn expression, Ben added, “If you were just baffling the Redcoats, I would stay silent, but you have Agent Chaplen on your tail. He is here merely for the purpose of seeing the Shadow Fox hanged. Quite frankly, Robyn, I don’t want to see the Shadow Fox hanged.”
“And you won’t.” She smiled. “I don’t plan on getting my neck stretched, Ben. Trust me. All I need is your support, ears, and advice.”
He knew there was no way he could win. When Robyn got an idea into her head, she stuck obstinately to it. Letting out a long sigh, Ben Rivers gave in. “Alright, but do not get your beautiful neck stretched, alright?”
Robyn smiled. “I won’t, big brother.”
~~~~~~
While talking with Ben had been nice, the girl still had no idea how to rescue the deserter. After many endless hours or pacing the barn, dusk arrived. The Shadow Fox still had not been hit by any solutions. She huffed in frustration. There was not going to be any jail breaking this evening. The only thing she would be doing was quickly preparing a dinner.
Luckily, Agent Chaplen and all the officers were out waiting for the Shadow Fox, so Robyn only had to cook for herself and Ben. It was a quiet dinner because both were tired. Murmuring a goodnight, the girl’s brother slipped out to the barn. Robyn yawned and made her way up to her attic room.
Sleep refused to come to the tired girl. She tossed and turned until she heard the agent and his men return. They weren’t exactly attempting to be quiet. They stomped up the stairs and talked in loud voices. Robyn slipped out of her bed and silently pressed her ear to the floor.
“That was a ruddy waste of time,” one officer grumbled to another. “The lad did not appear.”
“Probably sound asleep in his bed,” his partner replied. Robyn chuckled.
A door opened and the two complainers fell silent. After a few seconds, the first on asked, “Agent Chaplen, why didn’t the Shadow Fox attempt to break the deserter out?”
There was a mirthless chuckle, then Chaplen replied, “Simple, he knew we would be waiting for him, so he decided to bide his time.”
Robyn chuckled again. She just hadn’t come up with a good enough plan.
“You really think the boy is that clever?” the second one asked.
“Oh, indeed.”
The Shadow Fox let out a snort of laughter. The two officers and the agent looked around the room. “What was that?” the first officer asked, voicing everyone’s thoughts.
Robyn had a firm hand over her mouth. She let out another giggle as she pictured their faces.
“Most likely one of the sleepers snoring,” Chaplen’s voice answered. After a pause, he continued, “I was reconsidering the placing of the men around the jail house. I decided to move you two to the windows. I doubt he would even consider entering the front door.”
Both men acknowledged this and the door opened and closed. A few minutes later, when Robyn was about to climb back into bed, some one sighed. Agent Chaplen was still in there. She realized that her attic room was directly above her parents’ room, which was where the agent had claimed as his bed chamber.
Smiling sleepily, the girl slid into bed. She would need to see inside the jail, of course. Luckily for her, Ben had heard of a newspaper printer who had been arrested the day before, and would be inside the jail house for another two days. Robyn decided that he needed some of her bread and a blanket.
----
Ahem.
Sorry guys. Yesterday was--wow. I'm surprised I got it all done. Today.... well... today has been a not good day. However, I am posting, so you have that to be thankful of. And me--I do, too.
Anyway, Yay, excitement is starting to build. I'm excited, are you guys excited? You should be. *hits dramatic music button*
See ya'll next week!!
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