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Your ob’t servant,

Willia of the cauldron over the coals in the hearth Outside, I could hear the worunts of effort, and the s with the scents of stew and rising bread

Jamie looked up at Husband

"Ye ken what this says?"

The Quaker nodded, the lines of his face sagging in sudden fatigue

"The er told me The Governor has no wish to keep his intent secret, after all"

Jalanced at me No, the Governor wouldn’t want to keep it secret So far as Tryon was concerned, thefor Salisbury with a largeof a specific date Any wise soldier would prefer to intiiven that Tryon had no official troops, discretion was certainly the better part of valor

"What about the Regulators?" I asked Husband "What are they planning to do?"

He looked , it is presuhtly sardonic tone to his voice Husband heard it, but didn’t take exception

"Certainly there is purpose," he said, drawing hih thee is mistaken to say these men are mine, in any way save that of brethren, as are all men But as to purpose, it is only to protest the abuses of power as are all too coal taxes, the unwarranted seizure of--"

Ja him off

"Aye, Hers about it And if that is the Regulators’ purpose, what is yours?"

The Quaker stared at him, thick brows raised and mouth half open in question

"Tryon has no wish to keep his intentions secret," Jaulators’ interest that those intentions be carried out, after all" He stared at Husband, rubbing a finger slowly up and down the long, straight bridge of his nose

Husband raised a hand and scratched at his chin

"Theethat"--he nodded toward the letter, which lay open on the table--"when I ht have suppressed it?"

Jah, and stretched hi audibly S like saside any consideration of the honesty of such conduct, friend JamesI did say that it was thy friendship that would be of most use to me"

"So ye did" The hint of a smile touched the corner of Jauulators," Husband suggested "Is it to the benefit of the Regulators to face men who do not know thehbors, who know them and are perhaps in some sympathy with their cause?"

"Better the Devil ye ken than the Devil ye don’t, eh?" Jaested "And I’m the Devil ye ken I see"

A slow s the one on Jamie’s

"One of them, friend Jain one house and another, across the western part of the colony The Regulation makes no threat, seeks no destruction of property; ish only that our complaints be heard, and addressed; it is to draw attention to the widespread nature and the justness of these co at Salisbury But I cannot well expect sympathy from those who lack information of the offense, after all"

The smile faded from Jamie’s face

"Ye may have my sympathy, Hermon, and welcome But if it comes to itI am Colonel of militia I will have a duty to be carried out, whether that duty is tothis

"I would not ask thee to forsake duty--if it comes I pray it does not" He leaned forward a little, across the table "I would ask soh My wife, my childrenif I must leave hurriedly"

"Send them here They will be safe"

Husband sat back then, shoulders slu He closed his eyes and breathed once, deeply, then opened theh to rise

"I thank thee As to the mare--keep her If my family should have need of her, soreatly prefer that thee have the use of her, rather than so to protest, and laid a hand on his leg to stop him Hermon Husband needed reassurance, much ood care of her," I said, s into his eyes "And of your family, if the need comes Tell me, what is her name?"