The only freedom from such troubling thoughts for Nathaniel was his time spent with Henri. While at times they were sent away on different errands or to meet certain informants, many nights they were together in the hut in the kitchen garden. They shared their fears and concerns with each other frequently, and eased each other's worries as well. Time spent with Henri was a balm to Nathaniel's wounding fears. With just a touch, or a kiss, or a simple word Henri took away all his unease. All was right in the world until the morning light sent them back to their new duties.

Of course, Nathaniel often found himself worrying over Henri when they were separated for their own tasks. He always believed Marie was safe in the house, but when Henri went to pass messages or meet with those who had information to give, Nathaniel always worried for him. Each time Henri returned safe and unharmed, Nathaniel always felt foolish for worrying, until the evening Henri stumbled through the front door of the house two hours past the expected time, bleeding.

It was Elizabeth who retrieved Nathaniel from the rear yard of the house where he was teaching the boys more about caring for their weapons. The daylight was fading quickly and he was intending to finish the lesson momentarily. He had been expecting Henri to join them before long and was startled by Elizabeth calling his name from the kitchen doorway.

"It's your friend, Henri," she said when he approached the door. "I don't believe he's badly injured," she hastened to add, "but he must have encountered some trouble."

Nathaniel pushed past her, concerned despite Elizabeth's assurance that the injury wasn't serious. He found Henri in the sitting room being tended by Marie, who was holding a cloth to his left arm. The sleeve was stained with a line of blood from the cloth Marie held at his shoulder to his elbow. Nathaniel barely prevented himself from rushing to embrace Henri, he was so deeply relieved.

"It isn't all that bad," Henri was telling Marie. "Where is Jacob?"

"He's at Watertown," one of his sons, Anthony, replied. "With the Congress."

"I certainly wish I had known," Henri muttered, clearly annoyed. "I passed just by there. He needs to know what I learned from the man he sent me to meet." He noticed Nathaniel approaching and offered a small smile. "Don't fret over me. It's nothing serious."

Nathaniel grasped Henri's unwounded shoulder. "I'm happy to hear that. What happened?"

"It seems the man I went to speak with had already been found out by the British inside the city," Henri explained. "I didn't notice the three soldiers until they seized us. Rather, they seized the other man. I was able to avoid them rather easily. The agility required for dancing and acting can have other benefits, as well. They did try to stab me in my escape. Thankfully, they only caught my arm. It didn't appear too terrible, despite all the blood. I need to pass my message to Jacob."

"Tell it to me and I'll go," Nathaniel replied. "You are more likely to faint if you keep bleeding."

Henri sighed, and surprisingly did not argue. "It might be best to have a second person with you," he warned. "I believe the soldiers are still searching. There were at least three of them. I led them on quite the trek, but they may still be looking for me or the house, if the patrols haven't found them."

"I would come," Anthony said, "but if they may find the house I must stay here to defend it. There are only two of us here tonight besides the boys."

"I'll go."

Nathaniel turned to see that Thomas had followed him into the house. The other boys were watching from the doorway, but Thomas had stepped forward into the room.

"Thomas, no," Elizabeth said, shaking her head. "I won't allow it."

"I know how to shoot now," Thomas argued. "I'll be with Mr. Hill. Please, I can't know my father is somewhere in the countryside fighting for us and not do something to help."

"There are two horses available," Anthony said. "They can make quick work of it. Watertown is hardly very far by horseback."

"There is no one else to spare," Thomas continued to argue.

At last, Elizabeth sighed. "Go, then. But take care," she added, looking at Nathaniel.

Nathaniel nodded. "As careful as can be," he assured her.

Thomas hugged his mother, then moved to stand beside Nathaniel.

"How are they dressed?" Nathaniel asked Henri.

"They took no pains to hide who they are," Henri answered. "Red coats and all."

"And what is the news?" Nathaniel questioned.

At that, Anthony commanded everyone to leave the room. "At this time it is imperative that as few people as possible know this message," he explained, meeting Marie's glare levelly. "I doubt no one's loyalty here, but certain things must be kept close at a time of war. I'll talk with Henri later and determine if the details can be more well known and if Henri can tell you himself. We are at war and all our lives may ride on nearly any bit of information."

Marie nodded and left, though she stopped first to embrace both Nathaniel and Thomas, wishing them a safe journey.

After even Anthony left, Henri pressed the bandage on his arm tighter and nodded to Nathaniel and Thomas. "The man I met with was a deserter. He wanted to inform us that the generals in Boston are planning to reach out of the city and secure the heights. He mentioned Dorchester and Breeds Hill as possible choices. If there were more details of the plan he wished to pass along, the soldiers following him prevented it. He didn't know when they planned to strike, but it is imminent."

"Make certain you remember those details," Nathaniel told Thomas.

"Why won't we write it down?" Thomas asked.

"We could," Nathaniel answered, "but I wouldn't want the soldiers to find us with that information if they are still looking for Henri. It's brief enough to remember."

"If the deserter had written it down for me, he didn't have the opportunity to pass the message," Henri added. "I considered returning to his body – yes, I saw them kill him – but I was certain the soldiers would have searched him before I returned. I was forced to flee and lead them on a chase in all directions before returning here."

Nathaniel nodded. "We will give what information we know."

Henri stood and embraced him tightly. "Be safe," he murmured. "I don't wish to go searching for your corpse."

Nathaniel chanced a quick kiss on his cheek as he ended the embrace. "You, as well. I don't wish to return to a house that has been found." He said no more for the sake of Thomas still nearby, but the thought of soldiers forcing their way into the house and killing everyone inside weighed on him.

He and Thomas retrieved their muskets and made certain they had some ammunition in the event they were found out along the way. Then they mounted the horses Anthony had ordered readied for them and cantered toward Watertown. The sun had since set for the night and the waning moon was bright, helping to illuminate the land. Nathaniel could see the fires of the militia camps around them and only slowed his mount to a trot as they passed through one such camp where most of the soldiers who weren't in their tents hardly paid them any mind. The patrols they passed also recognized them and only nodded as they passed. Nathaniel considered alerting them to the possibility of wandering British soldiers, but did not want to waste another moment in reaching Jacob.

They reached Watertown swiftly and without encountering any other travelers. Locating Jacob's lodgings was a small challenge until one of Jacob's sons, Joseph, who had traveled with his father, recognized them. 

"I expected your friend, Mr. Fortier," he said, nodding to them.

"He was injured in acquiring this information," Nathaniel told him. "I offered to continue here in his place while he rests. He was attacked by British soldiers."

"Is he badly injured?" Joseph asked, and his concern seemed to Nathaniel to be genuine.

"Not very," Nathaniel replied.

"I'm glad to hear it."

They arrived then at the room Jacob was lodging in. When Nathaniel told him what Henri had passed along, Jacob was far from surprised or excited.

"My apologies," he said with a sigh. "We learned this just recently, as well, from another source. I do thank you and Mr. Fortier for the service. My hope is that the next person spoken to might known when these events might be taking place."

Dismissed shortly thereafter, Nathaniel and Thomas returned to the horses and started back to the house at an easier pace.

"So the message wasn't important after all," Thomas said, sounding slightly crestfallen as they left the town.

"It was," Nathaniel assured him. "Another person simply passed it to the correct people sooner than we could. You know now what it entails to be a courier."

"And I was able to leave the house for some time," Thomas said, smiling. "I thought for certain I'd be shut up forever. I envy my father just a little, even if he said when he visited it's all a bore and nothing happens most days."

Nathaniel shook his head. "He could have been telling you that so your mother didn't worry. It is very dangerous to be a soldier or a militiaman. Horrible things happen during war."

Thomas sighed. "He did say he was only allowed to visit to assure us he was alive after the battles. But how do you know what war is like? I thought you were never a soldier."

"I was never a soldier because my father was an officer in the Royal Navy," Nathaniel explained.

"Did he fight the French?" Thomas asked. "Father told me about the last war, though not about his fighting in it."

Nathaniel nodded. "Yes. He was in the Navy for a very long time. He often told my brothers and I all about the battles he saw, even the most horrible parts. It is why I never wanted to be one of those fighting in any war. I consider myself only someone who is helping here, not someone who is a part of any army."

"I understand," Thomas replied. "Or, I believe I do."

"Your father is certainly courageous," Nathaniel added. "I don't mean to say you shouldn't join the fight if you truly wish to. It isn't terrible to wish to be as courageous as he is, though you can certainly be so without entering the militia or the new army, as it is."

"As long as he is happy with me," Thomas said. "That is all I ever hope for."

Nathaniel knew too well the anguish of not receiving the praise of a difficult father. He hadn't thought Thomas's father as harsh as his own was when he'd met him, but what child didn't long constantly for a father's praise?

"Well," Nathaniel told him honestly, "I believe you are courageous and that offering to come with me was very brave."

Before Thomas could speak, the sound of a gunshot tore through the night, very close at hand.