Son of the Revolution Read Online Free PDF Page A

He dug the bullet from Bell’s leg and tied it with strips of cloth he carried in his saddlebag. Bell fainted since they had nothing to lessen the pain. Today, he sat astride his horse, pale but upright.
    The morning brought a surprise. Seth Larkin’s hair looked like a red flame in the dawn, while copper colored freckles dotted his nose. Caleb grinned at the image.
    Seth laughed when he noted Caleb’s amazed look. “They’re from my mother’s Irish kin. I have a younger sister who looks like our father, with light hair and green eyes. She’s about your age, a bit younger, but you wouldn’t like her.”
    “Why?” Caleb questioned. He had no brothers or sisters, but thought anyone who did must feel especially close to them.
    “She’s too bossy. All the young men fall in love with her though she’s too much of a child to pay them any mind yet. She’d rather join the army.”
    Caleb felt amazed to know a girl could act so brash. The young women he knew at home had downcast eyes and shy manners. At church meetings, they studied their prayer books and during infrequent socials, sat together and stitched samplers under the watchful eyes of the older women.
    “Tell me about your family, Seth.”
    “My mother is beautiful. She manages our home and plays the spinet. Father practices law and Elizabeth, as I’ve mentioned, does just as she pleases. I call her Bossy Bess. Seth grinned, warming to the task of describing his younger sister.
    “You call her what?” Caleb laughed, recalling a milk cow of the same name his father had owned.
    “Bossy Bess. And when I call her that, she gets furious and chases me. I tell you, I have to do my best to outrun her. King George might do well to withdraw his troops if she ever enlists.”
    Caleb knew that despite the frivolous talk, Seth held much affection for his sister.
    “Why, at five years of age, she…hold up, Caleb. Look!”
    Caleb’s eyes followed where Seth pointed. The quiet of the countryside suddenly shattered as a squawking flock of crows rose from a stand of live oaks. Their raucous noises continued as they flew into the cloudless sky.
    “Birds sense danger,” Seth began when a volley of shots rang out. Horses reared and threw their riders.
    Major Hunt shouted orders as the men struggled to control their steeds while they searched for the direction of the attack.
    In the midst of the confusion another volley exploded into the group. Corporal Longworth fell from his horse. Several of Major Hunt’s men went down. Fire seemed to come from all sides. Turning back to his companion, Caleb gasped. Seth lay slumped across his horse, as a wide red stain soaked his shirt.
    Grabbing the reins of Seth’s horse, Caleb led her to the side of the road and into the shelter of some tall brush. He jumped from Victory’s back and tied the reins of both horses to a sturdy tree. “Quiet, girl,” he cautioned Polly, Seth’s chestnut mare.
    Caleb slid the young soldier from the horse and placed him on the ground. He pulled a shirt from Seth’s saddlebag and held it to the angry wound to staunch the bleeding. A low groan told him the boy had regained consciousness.
    “Be still, Seth. I don’t think they’re Red Coats. I heard Major Hunt say we could avoid the British on this road. They’re probably a renegade band and we rode right into their trap.”
    “My shoulder hurts something fierce. How does it look?”
    “Not too bad,” Caleb answered, not really knowing the extent of the bullet wound.
    “Funny. With all the action I saw last year, I never took a hit. What do we do now?”
    “You stay put. I’ll get some help. Polly and Victory will keep you company.”
    Swallowing his fear, Caleb crept back to the road taking Seth’s weapon with him. Peering from behind a tree, he spotted Major Hunt attempting to fend off a ragged looking fellow holding a club in the air. The major’s gun lay at his feet. Caleb lifted the heavy pistol, took aim and fired. The ruffian dropped