The Scarlet Coat

by Angela Couch

  My name. Rachel’s gaze darted to where she’d last seen Daniel. No sign of him. Or Joseph. She looked back at the officer. It was hard to take a breath. “I’m Rachel Garnet. I was told my brother is being held here.”

  “Ah,” was all he said.

  “I am here to speak with Colonel Gansevoort.”

  The smile pasted on the officer’s mouth distorted slightly. “Why don’t we go into my office, then?”

  35

  Andrew glanced back toward the fort. Tucked behind a row of American soldiers, he hadn’t gotten a good view of the riders, but one was a woman. It had to be Rachel. If only she had arrived a half hour earlier, he could have seen her one last time. Disappointment left a sour taste in his mouth. Other than the armed escort, there was no reason not to have her in his arms right now.

  “Move along.” A guard prodded him with the butt of his musket.

  Andrew climbed into the flat bottomed Schenectady boat. He stepped around another man to where Derek and Stephen sat.

  “Get distracted?” Stephen questioned.

  Andrew stole one last look at the fort, but said nothing.

  Another rider approached. He slowed his horse as his face turned toward the prisoners and their guards, then redirected down the slope, laying his heels to the animal’s ribs.

  Andrew ducked down slightly, but didn’t remove his gaze from the man. Rodney Cowden. But what was he doing here now? And where had Andrew seen him before?

  “Whoa.” Cowden pulled his horse up, only sending a quick glance over the prisoners. He focused on the Americans. “Where’s Colonel Gansevoort? I have an urgent message for him.”

  “He just returned to the fort,” one of the lower officers said.

  Cowden’s eyes again flitted over the prisoners. This time he met Andrew’s gaze and the corners of his mouth tipped down. “What’s their destination?”

  “Down river to Albany for now.”

  Cowden gave a nod, and then jerked his horse’s head to the side, spurring back toward the fort. Toward Rachel.

  Andrew looked at Derek. “Do you know who that man was?”

  Stephen motioned him to lower his voice. “Of course we do.” He glanced at the guards.

  Andrew blinked, everything becoming clear. Of course. He’d seen Cowden in their camp less than an hour before St. Leger had sent the detachment of Tories and Iroquois to intercept the American reinforcements at Oriskany. Though, Molly Brant’s runners had warned St. Leger first, Cowden had brought them the news, too. He had betrayed his country and his neighbors. “But what sense does that make?”

  “What?” Derek leaned near.

  “He was the most intent to have me hanged. If he is spying for us, why would he want me dead?”

  “Maybe he thought you would give away his secret.”

  Andrew blew out his breath. As the driving force behind hanging the British ‘spy’, Cowden would both secure his own secrets and solidify in the minds of his neighbors that he was a patriot. But what was he up to now with an important message for the Continental Army?

  It had to be a trap. False information, at least. Something that would affect this valley and the Garnets. Joseph and Rachel were in the fort with that scum.

  Andrew couldn’t sit back and hope for the best. He couldn’t risk her safety.

  Their guards climbed into the two Schenectady boats. His was in the front. Perfect. He turned to Stephen. “Thank you.” Andrew clasped his brother’s shoulder. “I wish you and Miss Grenville every happiness, but my duty is now elsewhere. Tell mother I will send word...if I survive this.” He stripped off the red coat and passed it to his brother.

  “Andrew, what are you doing?” Stephen’s voice became raspy as he tried to whisper.

  “A distraction would be helpful.”

  His eyes widened. “Andrew, no.”

  “Please.”

  The boat jostled as the soldiers pushed away from the shore. Stephen jerked to his feet, half stumbling over someone as he pulled Derek after him.

  “What are you doing?” the older man demanded. Others shifted, trying to get out of the way. The boat shook as Andrew plunged over the edge.

  ~*~

  “Sir, my brother is not a Tory, and definitely no traitor.”

  Colonel Peter Gansevoort shook his head. He was a tall man, almost unusually so, with a commanding presence. The gentle structure of his face and kind eyes only added to his striking appearance. What was most surprising, however, was his youth. He was the commander of this fort and yet he appeared to be in his twenties. “As you have said. However, before he arrived here with the prisoner, someone had already reported that he’d been harboring a British officer. It’s evident that the only reason your brother turned him over to us was the insistence of the mob. I’ve heard a full report.” Gansevoort studied her for a moment and frowned. “It would be wise for you, Miss Garnet, not to interfere in this matter.”

  “But, Colonel, my brother is not a traitor. He has risked his life more than once to defend this valley. Our own father was killed by the British and the Tories.” Rachel’s face burned with frustration.

  Daniel touched her shoulder.

  She forced her voice to calm. It turned to pleading. “Colonel Gansevoort, my brother is a religious man, but a true patriot. If you will hear me, I’ll tell you the whole truth of our involvement with the British captain.”

  “Rachel.” Daniel’s voice warned her not to continue.

  She stepped forward, pulling away from his touch as she began to rehearse the events that had brought the British captain into their home. Who would have known how dearly she would come to care for that man.

  “Joseph was of the mind to kill him then and there, but I wouldn’t let him. The man couldn’t hurt us now. I talked Joseph into taking him home to die in some form of comfort. We knew he couldn’t last the night—he’d already lost too much blood. He was barely alive.”

  “You’ve had this enemy officer hidden on your farm for two months?” Gansevoort raised a brow. “Why did you not turn him over to us when you realized he would live?”

  “That was the plan, sir,” Rachel admitted meekly. “But I couldn’t. He didn’t even remember who he was until a short time ago. Even now, he doesn’t remember everything. He was no longer a soldier—no longer a threat. And now I think he’s even begun to see why we’re fighting for this land and our freedom.”

  “And so you kept him hidden away in hopes that he would want to join us?” Gansevoort finished with unmasked mockery.

  Rachel folded her arms tight against her abdomen, bracing against a wave of despair. “The important thing is we never meant to harm this country. We love it with as much passion as anyone could. We’ve prayed long for our freedom and are grateful for each victory we’ve had. We’ll be just as grateful as you when the British finally return to England and leave us be.” The last words caught in Rachel’s throat.

  “I can vouch for them, Colonel Gansevoort.” Daniel stepped again to her side. “I’ve known the Garnets for years.”

  Gansevoort turned away and walked to the large fireplace, holding his hands out to it as though to warm them, despite the already comfortable temperature of the room. “Miss Garnet, would you step outside for a short time?”

  She glanced from the colonel to Daniel, and then left. Though she closed the door behind her, Rachel took only a few steps, before looking back. Silently she returned, and pressed her ear against the cool wood.

  “Miss Garnet is an attractive girl.”

  “That she is,” Daniel’s voice answered.

  “I must admit I found it hard to tell whether her worry was more for the sake of her brother or...the British captain.” A deep chuckle resonated. “You see, Reid, I am still attempting to discover your involvement in all of this. You were the one who initiated the gathering of a mob to go after the British ‘spy’. Yet with the same token, here you are, defending Joseph Garnet and standing by his sister. Most peculiar.”

  �
�I was only trying to protect our interests, not cause anyone harm.”

  “You were trying to protect our interests, or yours?” A pause followed the colonel’s words. “Don’t be offended. I am merely musing.”

  Daniel started replying, but she heard no more. The plodding of hooves drowned him out and pulled Rachel’s gaze back to the gate and Rodney Cowden.

  He reined his horse as his gaze fell on her. His lip curled into a snarl. “Why, if it isn’t Miss Garnet.”

  ~*~

  Andrew grabbed for the rock and mud, fighting the pull of the water as it worked to force his body back to the surface. He kicked his legs. The current grew stronger the farther into the river he swam. He needed the momentum.

  A musket ball hissed past his ear and dug into the bottom of the river, churning up a small cloud only inches from his shoulder. A second one struck several feet to his right. He wasn’t as strong a swimmer as he remembered.

  As the popping of muskets continued overhead, Andrew gave up trying to keep to the bottom in exchange for putting quicker distance between him and the soldiers. His lungs already begged for air, and he didn’t need a ball through the head—or any other part of him. He stayed under until his vision began to haze before breaking the surface. He gasped a lungful of air as he glanced behind.

  The boats sat in the middle of the river now, men perched on the bows with weapons, searching the water.

  Along the shore, more soldiers ran downstream, but still yards back, with the gap lengthening as the current sped his way.

  With one last breath, Andrew dived again, just as a ball cut through the ripples at his left. He began working his way to the bank. The next time he came up for air, the boats were hardly visible behind a long curve in the river. He allowed his head to remain above water as he swam to an outcropping of rocks, the current washing him out of sight of the soldiers.

  By the time he reached dry land, his hip screamed and his body shook from both cold and fatigue. Andrew staggered into the woods, the sound of the soldier’s boots growing louder as they ran through the brush edging the river.

  36

  Rachel pushed back into the building. “I will not wait out there with that man.”

  Daniel spun. “What man?”

  She hurried to his side, giving Cowden as much clearance as she could.

  He stepped into the room and nodded to the other two men. “Fancy seeing you here, Dan. Still chasing Miss Garnet’s petticoat?”

  “Shut up, Rodney.” Daniel’s hands formed fists. “You’ve already caused enough trouble.”

  “If you don’t want to hear me talking, you’d better take a step outside. I have an urgent message for Colonel Gansevoort.”

  The colonel stepped forward. “And what would that message be?”

  “I just intercepted a friend from the Weiser settlement north-east of here. Joseph Brant is raiding the area and they beg for assistance.”

  The colonel sat on the edge of his table, his arms folded, his eyes thoughtful. “Where is your friend now? He didn’t come with you?”

  “I promised him I would come for help, and left him to return to his family. You must send men.”

  “Yes, I suppose I must, though right now is not the ideal time to be dispatching a force of any size as some of my men are accompanying the British prisoners. I cannot leave the fort unprotected.”

  “If you need men,” Daniel said, straightening, “I volunteer, as I’m sure Joseph Garnet will. He’s fought Brant’s raiders before.”

  “Yes.” Rachel’s voice echoed in her head. If anything happened to Joseph...but what other choice was there? “Please let him prove himself.”

  ~*~

  Andrew stumbled, his foot catching on a branch. Blood rushed in his ears. He didn’t have to look behind.

  The soldiers were on his heels, their approach racing with his pulse.

  He should have thought before jumping into the river. He wouldn’t do anyone any good if he got killed. A ball whizzed over his head and he dove to the ground, the hole in his sleeve catching on a branch and ripping the length of his arm. Pressing his forehead against soft dirt, Andrew closed his eyes. “God, do not let me die out here. Not until I have warned them. Not until Rachel is safe.”

  He rolled over and looked through the red and gold leaves at splotches of blue sky. A breeze brushed across his face, still wet. The fort was too far away. He would never make it there without being caught, or shot, and even if he did, they would have him as soon as he reached the gate. He raised his hands to his face, wiping his palms over his eyes and back through his hair. “I surrender,” he yelled out, still fighting to catch his breath. As the soldiers approached, Andrew sat up but kept his hands near his head. “I need to see your colonel. Please. I have information for him.”

  “To your feet,” a soldier ordered. “What sort of information?”

  Andrew pushed up, but took another minute to brace against his knees and breathe. “There is a man who has been selling information to us and the Loyalists. Rodney Cowden. He is even now at the fort.”

  “You expect us to believe you would betray your own spy?”

  Andrew met his gaze. “There are people I care for in this valley. I do not want them to get hurt.”

  “Fine, I’ll pass along your message to Colonel Gansevoort, but you are going back on that boat.” He forced Andrew around so his hands could be bound. The rope bit his already bruised wrists. “Now try swimming.”

  “Please allow me to return with you to the fort. I do not wish to go to Albany with the others.”

  “That’s not my problem.” The soldier pushed Andrew back in the direction of the river. “We have enough to worry about besides British captains with a death wish.”

  ~*~

  Rachel rushed to Joseph as he was led into the open area of the fort. She wreathed his neck with her arms and planted her face in his chest. “I’m so sorry.”

  His hands braced her shoulders. His body remained tense. “What are you doing here? Rachel, this is an extremely dangerous situation.”

  “That’s why I’m here.”

  “Well, you shouldn’t be.” Joseph’s face hardened as he touched the bruised area near her eye. “What’s this from?”

  She winced. It was still tender. “After you left, some drunken idiots came to cause trouble.”

  “What? Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine.” Especially considering how much worse it could have been if Daniel and the others had not come. “Really, I’m fine.”

  “What did they do?”

  The image of the ash and singed wood made her want to cry. All his hard work. It wasn’t as if she could hide it from him indefinitely. “The barn. They burnt down our barn. There is nothing left of it.”

  Joseph stared for a moment, his face stricken. “What about the stock?”

  “They’re fine. The Adlers are looking after them for now. The garner was singed on the closest wall, but most of the seed should still be good.”

  He looked as though he’d been kicked by an ornery cow. “For eating, maybe, but not for planting. We couldn’t risk it. We’ll have to somehow trade for seed...and feed for the livestock.” The back of his hand crossed over his mouth. “So much for an easy winter.”

  Rachel pulled away. “It’s all my fault. If you’d brought him here as soon as his life was out of danger, everything would have been all right. We risked everything, even Andrew, because of me.” She ran her teeth over her bottom lip, fighting the desire to clamp down. “I’m sorry.”

  Joseph gripped her arm. “We did what we thought was right. Let’s not regret that.”

  She managed a nod, and then stepped aside.

  Daniel and Colonel Gansevoort moved to them.

  “You were told about the raid?” the colonel asked.

  “Yes, and I willingly volunteer,” Joseph said. “I am an American and shall continue to fight for our independence.”

  “Well spoken, but we shall see, shan’t w
e?” Colonel Gansevoort turned to say something to Daniel.

  A shout rang out.

  A small troop of soldiers entered through the main gate.

  Breath caught in Rachel’s throat.

  Andrew was in the midst of them, favoring his right leg as he limped toward her. He resembled a cat dipped in a stream, but there had never been such a handsome one. Her father’s shirt clung to his chest and his hair was partly plastered to his face, partly tousled. His mouth twitched a smile as his gaze met hers.

  “Isn’t this the British captain?” Gansevoort demanded. “What in the world is he doing back here, and looking like that? What happened?”

  One of the soldiers stepped forward, saluting. “He tried to escape into the river and—”

  “I was not trying to escape, sir. I wanted to warn you.”

  The colonel’s eyes narrowed. “About what?”

  “About him.” Andrew motioned in Cowden’s direction. “He’s a spy for the British.”

  “That’s peculiar, seeing that is what he was trying to convict you as.”

  ~*~

  Andrew leaned forward, working his fingers through his hair. It felt mostly dry now, a testament to the hour or so he had been sitting in this room while one of Gansevoort’s men interrogated him. He had not even had a chance to talk to Rachel yet. It was she with whom he needed a private interview. And perhaps Joseph as well. It only seemed proper, without her father present to grant permission.

  The door creaked open, and the colonel stepped in. “The men are ready to leave. What do you make of what he’s been saying?”

  “I honestly don’t know. He seems earnest, but it is also incredible. What if he’s trying to delay us for Brant’s sake?”

  “And how I’d love to put him out of business.” Gansevoort sighed. “Cowden hasn’t flinched in his story either. The man is frantic that we hurry.” He looked Andrew in the eye. “Can you tell me one thing, Captain Wyndham? Why? Why would you risk your life coming back here and then turn traitor on your army and country? Why?”

  “Because there are people I care for in this valley.”