“That’s not what we heard,” Van Ness said coolly.
“Whoever your source is, is lying,” Philip said, still not meeting the captain’s gaze.
“Corporal Brooks.” Captain Van Ness inclined his head toward Philip.
“Yes, sir,” Rusty said, stepping forward.
“Would you do the honor of sharing with this traitor what we feel about his lies?”
“My pleasure, sir.” He held his hand to Bart, who had remained mute.
Bart handed over his rifle.
“No!” Charlotte screamed and fell to her knees.
Emily lowered beside her and tried her best to comfort Charlotte.
Rusty cocked the rifle and shot Philip’s shoulder.
Philip jerked backward as a spray of blood spattered the wagon. He cried out, “My arm, my arm.”
“Let me try again, Mr. Weston,” Van Ness said. “Are you working alone or with someone? If you don’t tell us the truth, the next bullet will be aimed at one of your daughters.”
“I’m working with the British Army,” Philip said, gasping for air. “They give me all the weapons, and I distribute them to the tribes.”
“That’s a good start, Philip,” Van Ness said. “So, you’re admitting you’re a spy. A traitor. An enemy to the Americas. But I still have a feeling you’re not telling us everything.”
“I swear that’s it. I don’t know anything else.” Philip had turned the color of clouds, and a dark stain of crimson bloomed on his sleeve.
The sky was now pitch black, and the light from the lanterns made the soldiers look like ghouls.
“Do you still have weapons in your possession?”
“No! I swear I don’t,” Philip said, swaying where he sat.
“Rusty,” Van Ness said.
“Yes, sir,” Rusty said.
“Do you think Mr. Weston is telling us the truth?”
“No, sir, I do not.” Rusty trembled as he clutched his weapon like a Doberman waiting to be unleashed upon an intruder.
“Would you see if you could jog his memory to see if he forgot anything?”
“Of course, sir. It would be my pleasure.” As he lifted his gun, Emily let out a small cry.
Another bullet struck Philip’s other shoulder.
He toppled over backward, howling and writhing in pain.
Charlotte let out a piercing scream.
I squeezed my eyes shut. I’d landed in as brutal a place as Rome, and I was helpless to doanything.
“Did that jog your memory?” Van Ness said to Philip, who squirmed below him.
“I’ve got a whole cache of weapons. It’s at my plantation. In a barn. A big barn.” He was wheezing now, blood bubbling from his mouth.
