The Rebels of Cordovia Read online

  As she made her way toward them, Robin saw a fire blazing in the distance. When she came within fifty feet of their camp, she stood behind a tree watching and wondering who they were. She could hear their voices plain enough.

  Instantly a man clapped his hand over Robin’s mouth and pulled her down to the ground. Her eyes widened as she struggled to free herself.

  “Shh, it’s me!” whispered Daniel as he released her. “Don’t move. They might see you.”

  She turned to him with a questioning look.

  He put his finger to his lips and then whispered in her ear, “I’ve been watching them for about twenty minutes. I counted four soldiers and three young boys who are prisoners.”

  “What’s happening?” she mouthed.

  “Well, from what I can tell, the soldiers think these boys are rebels. They’ve been questioning them but stopped just a while ago.”

  Daniel looked at the soldiers. They were sitting around the fire and talking among themselves. After a while they stood up and approached their prisoners. Since the boys’ hands and ankles were tied, the soldiers had to pull them to their feet.

  Then the leader began yelling at the boys. “I know you’re rebels. Otherwise why would you be in these woods? I know the rebel camp is somewhere around here. So there’s no use lying to us.”

  “We’re not rebels,” said the tallest young man.

  The leader slapped him across the face as he said, “Every time you lie to me, you’ll get a beating. Understand?”

  Robin gasped as she turned to Daniel and whispered in his ear. “That’s Matt. Beside him is his brother Johnnie. They’re Betty’s neighbors. When we were visiting one time, Matt said he wanted to join the rebels.”

  Daniel turned to her and said, “How old are they?”

  “Matt is seventeen and Johnnie is fifteen. I don’t know the other boy. He’s probably a friend.”

  The leader started walking back and forth in front of the boys in an intimidating manner. After a while, he turned to them and said, “Why were you out here in the woods?”

  “We were hunting,” said Matt.

  The leader swatted him once again. “You’re lying. If you admit that you’re rebels, then I’ll stop beating on you.”

  Robin was upset at what she was witnessing. Matt’s face was bruised and his eye was swollen. This made her angry. She turned to Daniel and whispered, “Why is he so persistent about them being rebels? What’s going on?”

  Daniel narrowed his eyes at the soldier and then whispered to her, “They get a reward for every rebel they bring in. And no rebel gets a trial, either. You know what they do to rebels?”

  Robin’s eyes widened as she held her hand to her mouth. “Oh, no!”

  The soldier now stood in front of fifteen-year-old Johnnie and growled, “You’re a rebel, ain’t you, boy?”

  Johnnie winced when he saw the leader’s hand rise in the air. He quickly said, “Yes, I’m a rebel and I’m proud of it.”

  The leader laughed. “I knew it.”

  Matt yelled with anger, “That’s a lie. He’s not a rebel.”

  The leader hit Matt across the face, making him lose his balance and fall.

  When the leader turned to Johnnie, he said, “Is that true, boy?”

  Johnnie hesitated when he saw Matt shake his head, giving the message to not answer.

  When the leader raised his hand in the air, Johnnie yelled, “Stop! I’ll tell you the truth.”

  “Go ahead,” said the soldier.

  Sticking his chest out, Johnnie said, “I consider myself a rebel.”

  “Consider? Explain yourself, boy.”

  Johnnie swallowed nervously and then said, “Well, we’re not exactly rebels yet. But we’re going to be. We’re going to join up as soon as we find them. That’s why we’re here. So my answer is yes! I consider myself a rebel.”

  The questioning stopped as the leader chuckled. “We’ll take them in tomorrow and get the reward.”

  The soldiers sat the boys down on the ground and then left to sit by the fire. The defeated look in the boys’ faces made Robin want to weep.

  Daniel turned to her and said, “He’s brave. As I see it, we can’t just waltz in there. They’re carrying muskets. Do you have any ideas?”

  Robin shook her head.

  “Well, we’ve got a while to come up with a plan. We’ll wait until they fall asleep before we make a move.” He looked down at her bow and quiver and smiled. “Good thing you brought that along. We’ll figure something out.”

  “What about Hanna?”

  He smiled. “She’s safe enough. The shack is down in a valley and hard to get to.”

  She nodded and leaned against him as he put his arm around her. Then he pulled her head against his shoulder.

  “Just rest a bit,” whispered Daniel. “I’ll wake you when it’s time to make a move.”

  She closed her eyes. How she wished he would always hold her like this… to be owned by him and to own his love! Robin knew there was no other man for her but Daniel. He was everything she desired. He was gentle and patient with her.

  Robin realized she could not dwell on such things. They had a mission to accomplish. That was why Daniel had said they would discuss their feelings for one another at another time, after Hanna had testified to the people. There could be no distractions whatsoever.

  Robin tried to relax but found it impossible. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly would probably help. After trying it a few times, she sighed. It didn’t work. She tried a new position but nothing seemed to help her relax. She was feeling too anxious.

  When she felt Daniel’s hand gently rubbing her arm in a soothing manner, the motion began relaxing her. She gradually felt the anxiety in her begin to leave. The caressing motion of his hand helped to relieve the tension inside her. As Robin snuggled against him, she gradually slipped into a world of dreams.

  Chapter 21

  When Daniel heard loud snoring coming from the soldiers and noticed only one soldier standing guard, he awoke Robin and said, “It’s time. I’ve come up with a plan.”

  “You have?”

  Daniel nodded. “Can you cry like a little child?”

  Robin smiled. “Of course.”

  He got to his feet and pulled her up. Then he led her to a tree surrounded by shrubbery. He instructed her to sit on the ground next to the tree. At his signal, she would begin crying. Quickly he grabbed his weapon, which was a large limb. Then he climbed a nearby tree that was in the pathway leading to Robin. He looked at the guard who sat near the boys and then gave a nod to Robin.

  As she cried, Daniel noticed the guard took notice of it and stood. He grabbed his musket and walked toward the edge of camp and said, “Who’s there?”

  When no one answered, he began walking toward the sound, asking once again, “Who’s there?”

  When he came upon Robin, sitting on the ground and weeping, he walked toward her and asked, “Where did you come from? Are you lost?”

  Right at that moment, as the soldier stood under the tree that Daniel was sitting in, he brought his weapon down upon the soldier’s head and he crumpled to the ground. He then jumped out of the tree and smiled. His plan had worked beautifully. Now they would release the boys.

  Just as he thought all was going so smoothly, a soldier awoke and stood beside his bedroll. Apparently, he must have heard the guard talking and awoke from his sleep. The rest of the men were sleeping soundly and snoring.

  As Daniel crouched beside the guard, he put his finger to his mouth and gave a nod to Robin. He quickly pulled the man toward the tree and leaned him against the trunk. Then taking the man’s arm, he wrapped it around Robin.

  When she wrinkled her nose, he smiled and whispered, “On my signal, begin crying. Hopefully this will work twice.”

  He then grabbed the musket and hid behind the same tree that he had climbed before.

  The soldier looked around camp, and seeing that the guard wasn’t there, he wa
lked toward the boys and asked, “Where did Pete go?”

  When they pointed in the direction he had gone, the soldier walked to the edge of camp and searched the darkness. Finally, he said, “Pete? Are you out there?”

  Trying to remember the tone of the guard’s voice when he called to Robin, Daniel cupped his hands over his mouth to muffle the sound and mimicked his voice. “Out here.”

  “Where are you?” asked the soldier.

  “Over here,” he said softly. “See what I found.”

  The soldier started walking in the direction of Daniel’s voice. As he got closer, Daniel nodded to Robin and she began weeping once again. The soldier picked up his steps when he heard Robin cry. As he approached her, Daniel made sure he was hidden well.

  When the soldier finally got to Robin and stood in front of her, he exclaimed, “What in tarnation?”

  Just then, Daniel whacked the soldier on the back of the head with the musket and he crumpled to the ground. Robin quickly grabbed her bow and quiver and stood. She dusted herself off and then looked up at Daniel, wondering what his next plan of attack was.

  He pulled a small knife from his pouch and handed it to her. “You cut the boys loose while I take care of business.”

  He took Robin’s hand and led her to the boys. While she was cutting them loose, he walked toward the two men sleeping soundly. Seeing their swords and muskets lying beside their bedrolls, he quietly picked them up and walked to the boys. He looked at the four swords in his hands and the boys in front of him, and then gave a nod.

  As each boy stood, Daniel offered him a sword and said, “If you want to be a rebel, then you have to act like one. Take this sword, stand with your feet apart, and hold it like you know how to use it. Got it?”

  The boys nodded.

  “All you have to do is stand in back of me, as if you’re ready to attack. But please don’t. Just watch my back. That’s all. Got it?”

  The boys nodded once again. When he offered a musket to Robin, she shook her head and raised her bow in the air. He nodded as she pulled an arrow from her quiver.

  Taking the last sword in his hand and dropping the muskets to the ground, he walked toward the leader. Glancing at the sleeping soldier, Daniel noticed he was still snoring. No need in waking him. He had some business to attend to with the leader.

  Daniel poked the miscreant a couple times with the point of the sword, trying to wake him.

  After a while, the leader groaned and pushed at the sword as he said in a raspy voice, “Leave me alone, Pete. Just guard the boys. That’s all I ask.”

  Daniel poked him again and the despicable man opened his eyes. The soldier gasped when he looked up and saw a tall muscular man standing before him. When he saw the boys standing behind Daniel with swords in hand and their feet spread apart, his eyes widened. When he saw Robin with her bow and the string stretched to its limit with an arrow pointing right at him, he began to tremble.

  The soldier stumbled to his feet and said, “We have no money, rebel. You’re just wasting your time.”

  Daniel stepped forward and glared at the man. Then he pointed to Matt and said softly, “Do you see that boy?”

  The soldier nodded.

  “Do you see his black eye?”

  The soldier didn’t say a word but scowled at the boy.

  Daniel slapped the man across the face. “Do you see his bruised cheek bones?”

  The soldier ground his jaw with anger.

  Daniel smacked the man’s face again and made him flinch. “Do you see his swollen lip?”

  The soldier glowered with vehemence as if he was ready to pounce on Daniel.

  Once again he struck the soldier and said, “Do you see that boy next to him? He’s only fifteen years old. I noticed how you raised your hand to him, ready to strike him if he didn’t confess to being a rebel. Are you so greedy that you would beat a child just so you could get your reward?”

  The man stared at Daniel as he clenched his fists.

  Daniel hit the soldier with more force this time. “What do they do with the rebels who are brought in for a reward?”

  “Hang ‘em,” said the soldier as he looked at the boys. “They’re thieves.”

  “These boys aren’t thieves. They’re not even rebels. But they believe in a cause and you have no right to beat them for their beliefs.” He turned to Johnnie and said, “Throw your sword to this soldier and we’ll see how good he can fight.”

  The young boy nodded and tossed his sword to the leader. The boys then moved so they would not be in the way.

  Daniel then ordered, “Pick it up.”

  The soldier stooped down and grabbed the sword. He grinned and said, “We’ll see who’s the better swordsman, won’t we? You rebels know nothing of fighting. We’ve been trained by the best. When I’m done with you, then I’m taking the whole lot in for a reward, including that woman since she’s a rebel, too.”

  Without another word, Daniel swung his sword toward the soldier and snapped off the buttons on his uniform. The man gasped at his quick movement and then became angry and struck his sword against the metal of Daniel’s. Again and again, the soldier moved about, trying to overtake his opponent, but without success.

  Parrying and sidestepping, Daniel was able to evade the soldier’s advances. Once again, Daniel sliced the man’s uniform, making him angrier and causing the man to loose his temper. Daniel pushed the man back further and further until he was finally leaning against the trunk of a tree.

  At that moment, Daniel swung his sword with great strength and hit the man’s weapon out of his hand. He grinned as he pointed his sword at the man’s throat. Now what? Daniel looked him up and down and then his grin widened. He quickly sliced at the man’s belt and his pants fell around his ankles.

  The soldier glared at him and ground his teeth with rage.

  Daniel turned to the sleeping soldier who was still snoring loudly and shook his head. The man could sleep through anything. Daniel never raised his voice while talking to the leader, but only talked gruffly. The only other noise was metal striking metal. What would it be like to sleep that soundly?

  He turned to Robin and said, “Get some rope and we’ll tie him up good.” Turning to the sleeping soldier, he added, “I don’t see any reason to wake that man over there.”

  Robin quickly got the rope and handed it to Daniel as she begged, “Leave this man’s clothes on this time. I don’t want to see another naked soldier. All right?”

  He laughed as he stuffed the cretin’s mouth with a dirty handkerchief. Then he tied him up, both hands and legs. Then he pulled the man’s legs backward so they touched his hands and tied the two ropes together. He stood back and looked at his fine job and smiled.

  Next he led the boys to the horses and said, “Each of you take a horse and get out of here. I don’t want to see you in these woods again. You hear?”

  “But…” said Johnnie. “I want to be a rebel.”

  Daniel shook his head and said softly, “If you want to support our cause, then attend the meeting we’re having on Saturday at the outskirts of Charlottesville. We’re going to dethrone King Rupert.”

  The boys’ faces brightened and they nodded their agreement. After leading the horses to the road, the boys climbed on and took off.

  Daniel smiled as he took Robin’s hand in his and led her into the woods. They had three miles to go before reaching the shack.

  As they walked, he turned to her and said with a grin, “You snore!”

  “What?” said Robin with surprise.

  Daniel chuckled and squeezed her hand. “Well, it’s not exactly snoring. It’s more like breathing heavily. But you do talk in your sleep.”

  “I do?” she said curiously. “What did I say?”

  He smiled. “You don’t want to know.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  Daniel shook his head. “No, you don’t.”

  With that answer, Robin’s eyes widened and she felt alarmed. What on earth had she sa
id in her sleep? Should she press the issue? No, it might be too embarrassing. When she glanced at him, Daniel’s eyes had a hint of mischief in them. He could be teasing her but what if he wasn’t. It would be best to ignore him.

  By the light of the moon, Daniel led Robin toward the shack. It only had one room with one bed, big enough for the two women. He would sleep on the porch. It was the only proper thing to do. He chuckled to himself. The proper thing? He hadn’t been proper with her since he met her. The way he kissed her was completely improper. And the way he watched her in her unmentionables? He should have turned his head. As he thought about it, how could he have helped the defenseless women with his back turned the whole time? It would have been impossible to not look.

  He laughed softly. Yup, he was a rebel, a scoundrel, and a rogue. He glanced at her and smiled. How this rebel adored the woman walking beside him!

  No, she hadn’t talked in her sleep. He just felt mischievous and couldn’t help teasing her. The only thing that happened without her knowledge was when he kissed her cheek a couple times. He couldn’t help it. She had cuddled up to him and fallen asleep in his arms.

  He had resisted kissing her while she was awake on purpose. But after Robin had fallen asleep against his shoulder, he had given in to his desires and kissed her a couple times. The amazing thing was how she had smiled and sighed when he brushed his lips against her cheek. She had slept right through it, but it was best.

  Daniel smiled as he wrapped his arm around Robin’s shoulder. When she looked up at him, he resisted taking her into his arms and smothering her with kisses. It was long after midnight and he knew his mind wouldn’t be thinking right. Besides, they had a mission to concentrate on and he didn’t want to be distracted. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out as they continued on their way.

  Chapter 22

  Hanna had worried about the couple but was so relieved when they finally walked through the door. The following morning, everyone slept in. When Robin finally awoke, it was around noon. She splashed water on her face to revive her, and then washed her arms and neck. What she really wanted was a bath but there was nowhere to go. This would have to do.