Her War

Chapter 2

"You wished to see me..." Sabrina walked into the stuffy tent, and to her surprise infront of her stood General Washington, Nathan Hale; a patriot spy, and the Marquis De Laffeytte; a French general who had come to assist in the war! Her job couldn't get much easier! The three most war informed people in the world were standing in front of her!

"Yes Jacob, come in. We have something very important to ask you, the choice is completely up to you. Please don't feel any pressure, okay?" Washington explained

"Sir?" Did he know she was with the British?

"You are good at spying, aren't you?" The general asked. Sabrina's head spun, the punishment for spying was hanging. How did he know?

"I-im sure I don't understand, sir"

"Of course you do, you brought us information on British plans" Lafayette reminded her in his hard to understand french accent, confused. Sabrina sighed in relief, that spying.

"I want you to spy for us more, if you are willing?"

"Spy on the British?" Sabrina asked, trying to keep in her happiness. This way she could find out all of Washington's plans and instead of telling them false plans she could tell the actual ones directly to the British and they wouldn't suspect a thing.

"But, lad, understand this, if you life is in danger get out and don't go back"

"Yes sir! It would be an honor to assist you in this dreadful war" Sabina stammered excitedly.

"Pack your belongings then come back here and we will talk about what you must do." Lafayette smiled. As Sabrina looked back she saw Nathan Hale, who was silently sitting in shadows until this point, looking at her, an unreadable expression on his face, but as she left she caught a glimmer of emotion across his face; disappointment. She ran out quickly, heart pounding.

"Do you trust him?" Nathan asked the other men in the tent.

"Of course, do we have a reason not to Nathan? He's just a child after all!" George asked curiously.

"Just thinking out loud, these are troubled times, I guess I just don't know who I should trust, I am a spy, it's my job to be suspicious" Nathan mumbled.

"Qui, it is difficult times Monsieur Nathan" Lafayette placed a comforting hand on the spy's shoulder.

"I have to go." Nathan said after a moment, shook him off and stood to leave.

"Did I say something?" the french-man asked, confused.

"Nay, he's just stressed." Washington assured him.

"Who are you!" Nathan pushed Sabrina into the forest area behind the camp.

"What do you mean?" Sabrina felt her blood run cold.

"The information you gave Washington was false! You are a spy and a liar!" Nathan screamed at her.

"I- I don't know what you mean!" Sabrina felt close to tears.

"Liar!" He shook her harshly.

"Stop!" she shouted at him, and tried to shove him away from her, to no avail. "Please! I have no idea what you mean! Leave me alone!" In her anxiety she forgot she was supposed to be a man, her voice was high and girl-like. Her cover was blown. Nathan took a few steps back in surprise.

"Y-your a..." Nathan stammered, running his hands nervously through his hair.

"Yes, I'm a girl. Yes, I'm a spy! And yes I'm a liar! Yes, I betrayed my country just to be free!" Sabrina crumpled down to the ground and covered her face. While Nathan stood by wringing his hands, not knowing what to do.

"I- uh, sorry I shouted at you, it's just...you know." Nathan stumbled over his words, he reached down to help her up, she took it and for a long moment they stood there, two spies, enemies facing each other. The same thought running through each of their heads, would the other tell the enemy about their false loyaltys. If Sabrina told the British about Nathan's espionage, Nathan would be hanged, if Nathan told Washington about Sabrina, she would probably be imprisoned...at the very least.

"W-what's your real name?" Nathan asked at last.

"Sabrina, Sabrina Redgrave, sir" Sabrina told him after a moment's thought eyes downcast

"Well Miss Sabrina, we both have a choice to make."

"I've made mine," she turned her big brown eyes towards him, as she did Nathan realized how young she was 16 at the most. Nathan gestured for her to continue, heart pounding, his life may lay in the hands of a teenage girl.

"I show no loyalty to Britain, I'm an American, I agreed to spy for them in exchange for my freedom" Sabrina explained.

"I'm afraid I do not understand, a-aare you a slave?" Nathan asked, eyes wide.

"No, sir. I am an apprentice. I've worked since I was 5 years old for a cruel man named Dammon Thaddeus, to work off my fathers debt, but I ran away a few weeks ago, until General Cornwallis found me a threatened to send me back if I didn't spy for him" Sabrina explained, shaking slightly from the cool night air and the memory.

"Aye, that must have been a difficult decision" Nathan agreed gently, understanding dawning on his face.

"I feel awful sir, but what else could I do?" she didn't even attempt to hide the tears running down her face she gently wiped her face with shaky hands.

"You're freezing!" Nathan exclaimed only now realizing how shaky the young girl in front of him was.

Nathan unbuttoned his navy blue overcoat and draped it around her shoulders.

"There, is that a bit better lass?"

"Aye, thank you sir,"

"You may call me Nathan if you wish, I guess sir makes me feel old, I'm only 21," he chuckled, but without any real humor, "Well we still need to decide what to do, we are both under threat of hanging if our espionage is discovered."

I'm leaving, goodbye Nathan" Sabrina told him abruptly

Nathan grabbed her wrist. "What are you going to tell Cornwallis?"

"Whatever it takes to survive, sir" Sabrina walked into the woods then paused and turned, "Watch your back Nathan, i'll see you around"