10
Abagail watched Skenan’s hand as he held the locket in one hand while he gently ran his fingers over the raised image of the design on the outside of the locket. His fingers were strong and quite handsome, really. But, there was something about the care he took with the necklace that caused her to wonder how it would feel if he were to touch her in a like manner.
No!
She forced her mind back to the present and away from the necklace. Especially this was so, knowing he would be leaving her at the fort soon, he to go his way and she to go her own.
Indeed, she did not wish to find him too attractive or to become too attached to him. She was already beholden to him. She didn’t wish to come even more into his debt. And so, she looked away.
But, she gazed back at him when she heard him press the clasp of the fine jewelry, opening the locket. She caught her breath. There was a picture inside; a tiny painting of a lovely young girl.
And, although the girl in the tiny painting appeared to be dressed like an aristocrat, it still made little sense as to why Miss Stockenridge had felt it necessary to whip Abagail because of the jewelry’s finery. Or was there more to it?
“May I look at the locket?” she asked Skenan.
“Of course,” he replied, handing it over to her.
“Perhaps,” she said, “there is a secret compartment in it. After all, this necklace seems to be rather too thick to contain one mere image. Perhaps if I—“
Turning the portrait one way and then the other, she saw a clasp revealed underneath it, and pressed it. Abagail gasped as an entirely new compartment opened up within the locket.
“What is this?” She touched a tiny piece of paper with writing upon it. “Do you know how to read, Mr. Skenan?”
“I do not have the skill you suggest. Do you know how to read?”
“A little,” she said as she leaned down to look carefully at the writing.
We dfd in sh. Ct gt ts to yu. Ak On to hp.
“What does it say?” asked Skenan.
“I do not know. There are no words in this message. There are letters, but no words. Perhaps it is written in a code? Do you think it could be encoded? This land is, after all, engaged in war.”
“What means this word, ‘encode’?”
“It means to send a message that someone on the other end can understand, but no one else can. Oh my. I think I begin to understand, at last. Mr. Wilson put this locket into the pocket of my apron, and he sent you after me to ensure I arrived alive and well at Fort Stanwix. Mr. Skenan, this message might be important. And, if it be…”
“If Mr. Wilson thinks this is important, then… We must leave here at once.”
“But, you are not well yet. We cannot go anywhere until you are fully recovered,” she countered.
“I am well enough. Something has happened. I know not what this is, but if this message is important enough to cause Mr. Wilson, a Patriot, to put this locket into your apron, then… After all, a war is being fought near here. Mr. Wilson was obviously keeping this necklace out of the hands of Miss Stockenridge.” Skenan paused. “Who does Miss Stockenridge favor in this war?”
“I have not thought she was on either side,” answered Abagail.
“She is a spy. I am certain of it,” Skenan said. “And, this is why she was so cruel to you. Come, we must leave here at once and go to Fort Stanwix with all possible speed. Mr. Wilson told me to ensure you arrive there safely, and also he told me to take you to the commander once we arrive there. Nyoh, yes, it all makes sense now. Come, let us work fast to erase our stay here, and then we must go.”
“Erase our stay?”
“Indeed, we must do this so that even the enemy scouts will not know we were here. We must get to Fort Stanwix at once, and we must get there safely… We will do this by going over this country as scouts.” He jumped to his feet.
“But, I say this again, you are not well enough to leave here yet.”
He turned back toward her and grinned. Then he winked at her and asked, “Does it matter?”
“I say it does,” she answered.
“But, I disagree,” he said. “We are in a war for your people’s independence from a king who is oppressing them. This king is telling your people they must obey him and not God. What matters most is that we get this locket to the fort as quickly as possible. Do you agree?”
“No, not really,” she answered. “But, if you are determined to leave, despite your injuries, I will follow you.”
“Good,” he said, and he winked at her.