Once a Soldier (Rogues Redeemed) Read Online Free PDF Page B

donned her robe and sheepskin slippers against the cold. Though her room had a fireplace, fuel was in short supply and not to be used without good cause.
    She opened her notebook, which grew larger by the day. She had lists of things that must be done, broken down by their urgency, followed by more notes about possible solutions.
    There were other, shorter lists of resources. Isolated in the mountains, San Gabriel has always been largely self-sufficient. There were no reserves of money in foreign banks. Much of the country’s treasure had gone to outfitting the troops sent to war. General Baudin had stolen anything of value he could get his greedy hands on. There wasn’t much money left here.
    Plus, having so many men go off to war had created a severe shortage of labor. Those Gabrileños left—women, children, young and old—had worked hard, but there weren’t enough people to do all the planting, harvesting, and maintenance.
    She frowned at her notebook and wished she knew when the surviving soldiers would return. While fighting the Corsican Monster was no doubt brave and noble, Athena, as a woman, couldn’t help thinking that staying home and doing the unglamorous work of raising food and running the farms and vineyards would have been more useful.
    Where did one seek help for a damaged, remote little kingdom that most Europeans had never heard of? Her annual allowance was enough to provide her independence and the freedom to travel, but it didn’t go far in a place with so many needs. She’d used a whole year’s income in advance to buy food over the recent winter.
    Her mouth tightened when she thought of her father. He could help if he wanted to, but he’d never want to. That had been established long ago.
    If San Gabriel’s soldiers returned home soon, might some of them bring loot that could benefit their family and friends?
    She was smiling wryly at the thought when a scream brought her to rigid attention. It was followed by more shouting, barking, and cries as if a battle was raging right here in the castle. Could bandits have broken in? The castle was virtually impregnable; but in these quiet days, the only guard on the gate was a twelve-year-old boy, Señor Oliviera’s youngest son.
    Athena reached for her rifle, sure the disturbance was in the Olivieras’ apartment. She checked swiftly to see that the weapon was properly loaded, slung her ammunition bag over one shoulder, and raced from her room to the stairs.
    Sofia emerged from her room, blinking awake and looking worried. “What’s happening?”
    “I don’t know,” Athena snapped. “But stay back, and be prepared to run if necessary!”
    She hurtled down the first flight, spinning around a corner to the second flight down. Athena wasn’t much of an army, but she was the closest thing to it in the castle.
    * * *
    By the time Will and his two remaining companions reached the Castelo Blanco, he’d been witness to numerous joyous reunions, but even they paled compared to Sergeant Oliviera’s welcome. When they reached the gate in the curtain wall that led into the castle courtyard, they were greeted by a very young Oliviera brother who was standing guard. The boy had peered out through the small window in the middle of the door, then flung it open, crying, “Gilberto!” in a voice so high-pitched it almost disappeared.
    Laughing, the sergeant leaned from his saddle and pulled his brother up onto the horse with a fierce hug. “I hardly recognize you, Albano! When we leave our horses in the stables, can you feed and bed them down while I take my friends inside? We’ve all had a long journey.”
    “Oh, yes!” Grinning ear to ear, Albano bounced on his brother’s leg as they rode their horses halfway around the castle to the stables behind.
    Will was glad to dismount, and he looked forward to sleeping in a real bed in a real building. After tending to his horse, he slung his saddlebags over one arm and took his carbine in the other hand; it