Matthias figured this was his cousin's tactful way of saying Marion could hardly read. When Richard pointed out the tent, Matthias entered and found Marion and Major Munro seated at a table with a stack of papers in front of them.
"Captain Thomas." Marion glanced up. "I've been looking at your report."
Major Munro stood and skirted the table with a hand outstretched. "I thank you for finding my daughters."
"My pleasure, sir." Matthias shook his hand, careful not to wince from the Scotsman's tight grip.
Marion leaned back in his chair. "I see you captured supplies at Kingstree without any casualties. Well done."
"Thank you, sir." Matthias was uncomfortably aware that the Scottish major was inspecting him closely. "Without the ferries and bridges, the British have been forced to rely on barges. I have their schedule here." He removed the folded paper from his coat.
"Good lad." Major Munro snatched the paper from his hand and passed it to Marion. "How did ye acquire the information?"
"The redcoats have taken over my home, a plantation on the Black River, midway between Charles Town - "
"Wait." Major Munro raised a hand to interrupt. "Did ye no' write that my daughters were staying at yer home?"
"Yes, sir, they are, but they're safe."
The major frowned. "I'll be the judge of that, laddie."
"They are unharmed, sir. My mother is there also. I wouldn't have left them if I thought it too dangerous."
"Enough." Marion waved the schedule in the air. "How did you acquire this?"
"Captain Hickman has commandeered the library as his headquarters. I went in at night and copied the schedule."
"How many soldiers are there?" Munro asked.
"There were six, but now there's only the captain and two infantry. Of course, whenever a barge comes, the number will increase."
Marion frowned. "Weren't they suspicious of you?"
"They never knew I was there, sir. The house has a secret passageway they know nothing about."
Marion exchanged a look with Major Munro, then rose to his feet. Planting his palms on the table, he leaned forward. "You can access their headquarters unseen?"
"Yes, sir," Matthias replied with an uneasy feeling.
Marion circled the table. "Can you keep your presence there a secret?"
"You're sending me back?"
"Of course. 'Tis too good an opportunity to pass up. You'll need to choose a courier to deliver your messages." Marion stopped in front of him. "Can you do it?"
Matthias took a deep breath. "Yes, sir." He understood the penalty for spying, but the odds of dying in battle were just as bad. At least he'd be there to make sure Caroline didn't risk her neck.
Marion whisked a paper off the desk. "Considering the risk you're taking, I'm promoting you to a major."
Matthias blinked. "Thank you, sir, but hiding in a secret passageway is hardly a heroic act."
"It is when you're that close to the enemy. Particularly in your case." Marion handed him the paper.
Matthias stared at a crude likeness of himself. At the top of the printed handbill, the title read, Wanted for Treason and Murder - Matthias Murray Thomas.
Damn it to hell. There was a reward on his head.
"Congratulations. I dinna know ye were such a valuable man." Munro took the handbill and set it on the desk. "Do my daughters know who ye are?"
"No, sir. I . . . never told them." Matt's face grew warm.
Munro narrowed his eyes. "What did ye tell them?"
"As little as possible, sir."
"A good strategy," Marion said. "He must be careful. Good luck, Major."
"Thank you, sir." Matthias exited the tent. A wanted man. A spy. He'd be lucky if he saw his twenty-ninth birthday.
This was terrible timing. He couldn't continue to see Caroline when he was a wanted man. She'd suffered enough from losing that Roger fellow. But how could he avoid seeing her when he had orders to spy at the house?
"Well?" Richard asked. "What happened? You're staring at the clouds."
Matthias looked at his cousin. "I have to go home."
"But the redcoats are there."
"That's my new assignment. I'm to spy on them."
Richard sucked in a long breath. "That's dangerous."
"There's more. There's a price on my head."
Richard nodded. "I know. I saw my father yesterday. They posted one of the handbills on his church door."
Matthias closed his eyes briefly. How had the British figured out who he was? "You know the way to Loblolly. Will you be my courier?"
"All right. Where and when?"
"The orchard. The peach tree that was hit by lightning." This was Tuesday, Matthias thought. "Come every Wednesday and Saturday evening."