Redemption of a Fallen Woman Page 0,26

a woman was prepared to fight the French he was prepared to let her.' She smiled faintly. 'I think he was a man ahead of his time there.'

'That's one way of looking at it, I suppose.'

'Do you disapprove?'

'I cannot like the idea of women standing fire, but in this instance I have no right to pronounce on the matter. Were the situation here to be repeated in England, I have no doubt that there would be women aplenty who would take up muskets and pistols to defend their own.'

'The French were foolish. They left people with nothing to lose, and men with nothing to lose are truly dangerous,' she replied. 'Montera understood this very well and used it to good effect.'

Harry paused, framing his next words carefully. 'It sounds as if you respected this man.'

'I did. He was a clever strategist. He also knew the area like the back of his hand so that his force could strike and retreat before the enemy even knew what had hit them. Montera always made sure of his escape routes too.'

'An able commander by all accounts.'

'And wise enough to listen to what others had to say before making a final decision. Even women had a voice in his camp.'

His curiosity was whetted now. 'He seems to have been a remarkable man.'

'In many ways he was, but then war brings out unsuspected qualities in people, does it not?'

'Indeed.'

'I could already shoot accurately, but with the guerrillas I learned how to fight as well, how to kill a man silently, how to plant booby traps or lay an ambush. It stood me in good stead.'

Harry regarded her askance. 'Remind me never to make you angry.'

She returned a wry smile. 'It is all very shocking, is it not? Yet it is part of who I am now.'

'It is part of who you were then,' he replied. 'What happens from now on is for you to decide.'

Her pulse quickened a little. 'The past is not so easy to let go of, however much we might wish to do so.'

Silently he acknowledged the truth of this. The words he had spoken to her held good for him too, and for the first time he caught sight of a different future from the insular, work-orientated one he had envisaged. It was a tantalising vision. At the same time he felt guilty for even entertaining it.

'No,' he said. 'It isn't easy.'

Elena eyed him curiously, sensing layers beneath those words. She wanted to know more, to understand exactly what he meant by them, but before she could say anything else he got to his feet.

'We should move on. I want to cover some more miles before we stop this evening.'

Clearly the conversation was over for now. Feeling slightly cheated, she nodded and made to rise, then checked to see the outstretched hand. For a brief moment she hesitated but then her own went to meet it. That strong clasp sent a shock along her skin. He drew her easily to her feet. Having done that he made no attempt to retain his hold and she was free. The sensation should have been relief but it felt oddly like disappointment. In confusion she averted her gaze. Together they rejoined the others.

Chapter Eight

When they made camp that evening Elena and Concha tended their horses and then set about collecting wood for the fire. When they had amassed a suitable pile Concha laid the base and then took out tinder and flint from the leather pouch on her belt. Within a short space of time she had the fire started.

Jack, who had been watching quietly, nodded approval. 'You've done that before, haven't you?'

'Once or twice,' said Concha.

Elena grinned and handed her some more sticks.

'Can you use that pistol an' all?' he continued.

Concha glanced up and met his eye. 'With perfect accuracy.'

'Oh, aye? Shot many men, have you?'

The scepticism in his tone was not lost on his audience. The two women exchanged glances.

'Yes,' replied Concha, 'but not nearly enough of you.'

Jack grinned. 'Frenchies, I'll be bound.'

'Frenchmen, of course, though nationality does not always govern the choice of target. I'd be just as willing to shoot an annoying Englishman.'

Harry's eyes gleamed. 'You'd best take heed, Jack, if you want to keep a whole skin.'

'Aye, my lord. I'm trembling in me boots here.'

'Nice boots too,' replied Concha. 'If anything untoward were to happen to you, I'd get a good price for those.'

Elena turned away to hide welling laughter. 'I'll go and fetch some water.'

'Let me help