"So ye can soft-talk Charles into doing ye'r bidding—and leave me to face Master Otis alone?" Deborah's defiance was magnificent and Justin put an arm around her.
He said to Ortine, "Since time is of no account to you, perhaps you'll give us a little of it together."
"As you wish." Ortine shrugged and turned to leave. "I shall await your summons."
"What did he mean?" Deborah asked Justin, when he had gone.
Justin studied her briefly, kissed her, then said, "Debby, just how did our friend explain himself to you?"
"Oh...." The girl looked vague for a moment. "He told me that if I failed to heed Master Otis' plea the redcoats would come to Boston and burn my home and kill my father and mother and brothers—aye, and ruin me."
Suddenly Deborah's arms were around him tightly, her worried face peering searchingly into his. She said, "Through my willfulness will all these dreadful things come to pass, Charles darling?"
"Debby," he told her gently, "I don't know. But I'm going to find out."
"Ye'll not desert me?" she pleaded.
He smiled down at her. "Debby, I don't think I could desert you if it meant the end of the world—and it may yet."