Once a Soldier (Rogues Redeemed) Read Online Free PDF

swallowed hard. “You are right. Those godless brutes did not destroy the holy spirit of this place.” He knelt and crossed himself. Will stepped back as the other members of the troop did the same. One of the older soldiers spoke a prayer of thanksgiving for their safe return home.
    But when they rose, one by one, their expressions had lost the earlier jubilation. They were steeling themselves to face what other damage their country might have suffered.
    The mood of the Gabrileños was grim as they rode down into the valley. Dusk was starting to fall. The gathering darkness combined with the fog made Will feel as if he was riding through a haunted land.
    The track led into a grove, and vicious oaths rang out at the sight of the blackened trees. One of the men snarled, “They torched the cork trees, the bastards!”
    Another man said, “Cork trees recover from fire better than any other trees. Look, there is new growth coming.” He spat. “But may the Frenchmen who did this pay the price for their sins by never having a decent bottle of wine again!”
    Will smiled a little. In this wine-loving part of the world, that curse was more ferocious than rotting in hell.
    A quarter mile farther along, a young man called Ramos said tensely, “Soon we will come to my family home. I pray God they are safe and well!”
    Ramos spurred his way to the head of the group. When he reached a lane leading to a farmhouse, he turned onto it. The house at the end looked abandoned, with no lights or other signs of life.
    As the troop followed Ramos, Will saw that the structure was solidly built of local stone, but one end was charred and the roof in that section had collapsed. Ramos urged his horse into a gallop, crying, “Mamá! Papá!”
    Grimly Will loosened his lightweight, accurate carbine in its saddle holster as he approached the farmhouse. Though the house looked deserted, a soldier who wanted to survive learned to take nothing for granted.
    The shutters in a window opened a little, showing parallel bars of light from inside. A woman shrieked, “Julio, mi hijo!”
    As people rushed from the house, Ramos vaulted from his horse, calling, “Mamá! Mamá! ”
    As soon as the young man touched the ground, he was engulfed in family. Will sighed with relief and settled back in his saddle. This was one story that wasn’t ending in tragedy.
    Ramos’s father gave his son a long, bone-crushing hug as silent tears ran down his cheeks. Then he stepped back so other family members could greet their returning son.
    Will led his horse over to the patriarch, saying, “I’m glad to see this reunion, Señor Ramos. We saw some of the marks of war on our way down the mountain. How is San Gabriel faring? Your soldiers have had little news from home.”
    The older man turned and recognized Will’s scarlet uniform with a nod of respect. “It has been difficult since the French pig Baudin stormed through our valley. Very difficult.” He gazed at his son, his heart in his eyes. “But with our young men returning, surely we will rebuild and grow strong again.”
    That sounded more like hope than optimism. Will said, “This is only the beginning. In a few weeks, the rest of your soldiers will also be home.”
    He took his leave of Señor Ramos, then returned to his horse and collected the other riders to resume their journey. Since the mountain night was growing cold, he tugged on his greatcoat, which was warm and many-pocketed and designed for riding.
    He and that coat had gone through a great deal together. With luck, he wouldn’t have to sleep in it tonight. But as he guided his mount deeper into the misty valley, he wondered what he would find at Castelo Blanco.
    * * *
    Weeks had passed since news of Napoleon’s abdication had reached San Gabriel. Unfortunately, it had not been followed by any news about the captured king and prince. There were occasions when no news was good news, but this wasn’t one of them.
    Unable to sleep, Athena rose and