"That you're decidedly not, sir. So we'll not be requiring your services here tonight."
"What's the difficulty?" Winston was still walking directly toward them.
"It's a matter of the safety of Barbados. I've said it doesn't concern you."
"Those indentures concern me. I don't want them shot."
"Tell that to the Assembly, sir. We came here tonight offering to take Dalby Bedford under our care, peacefully. To protect him from elements on the island who're set to disown Parliament. But some of the hotheads in there mistook our peaceful purpose and opened fire on us."
"Maybe they think they can 'protect' him better than you can." Another round of fire sounded from the doorway of the Assembly Room and thudded into the log barricade. When two of the planters cursed and fired back, the door was abruptly slammed shut.
"It's the Assembly that's usurped rightful rule here, sir, as tonight should amply show. When they no longer represent the true interests of Barbados." Briggs glared at him. "We're restoring proper authority to this island, long overdue."
"You and the Council can restore whatever you like. I'm just here to take care of my indentures, before you manage to have some of them killed."
"They're not yours yet, sir. The situation's changed. We're not letting them go whilst the island's unsettled."
"The only unsettling thing I see here are all those muskets." He reached into the pocket of his jerkin and lifted out the leather packet containing the sight drafts. "So we're going to make that transfer, right now.''