Miranda made a face as though someone had just scratched metal shards together. "Not what I meant..." she whispered. She sat down, to make it look like she was sick, and watched from inside the house, all the time keeping her revolver and kitchen knife close.

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Elizabeth looked at the soldiers and Tavington said, "Take this one to Camden, he's a spy. He will be hung."

Her eyes widened and she looked at Ben.

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"No!" said Miranda, audible only to herself, Gabriel, and Elizabeth. She jumped up and pulled out her knife, taking her place beside Elizabeth. She looked up at her.

"He is no spy!" said Ben.

[Sorry if I'm doing a crappy job. ]

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The children looked out the door and Elizabeth saw them. She moved toward them and Tavington had a few soldiers get Gabriel.

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Miranda couldn't be still a moment longer. "No!" she cried, and ran toward the redcoats taking Gabriel, but was held back by Elizabeth, and blocked by Ben, in addition to Ben, Elizabeth, and Gabriel shouting, "No!" She looked at Gabriel for a second, but the British dragged him further away. Miranda struggled once more, but Ben told her,

"No, Miranda, don't. It won't help." Ben said.

[Would you play him for right here? I feel really bad. ]

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Elizabeth looked at Gabriel and then she said, "Colonel, he's a dispatch rider and that's a marked dispatch case. A dispatch rider with a marked case cannot be held for spying."

Gabriel looked at her. "Elizabeth, don't."

Tavington said, "So he does know you.."

She glared up at Tavington.

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"Of course," said Miranda. Elizabeth and Gabriel looked bewildered at her. "He was one of her charges. He was wounded and came to our house. It is not our custom to turn away those who need help." When Tavington opened his mouth, she knew he was going to say that they should only house British, but she thought of a block story. "It was my idea. If anyone is to be punished, let it be me."

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"Miranda, no." Elizabeth whispered.

Tavington looked at both females and then he said, "What are your names?"

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"I am Miranda Cook," said Miranda. She was dead anyway, what was the use hiding her name? "Her name does not matter," she said, indicating Elizabeth.

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He ignored the last part of her statement and looked at Elizabeth. She glared at him, and said, "Elizabeth Holmes."

His eyebrows raised. "Is your cousin Captain Andrew Holmes?"

"He was.."

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Miranda glared at Tavington with her eyebrows raised and eyes full of hate.

"Enough," said Ben, but Tavington silenced him. They had given him bait, and he would not pass it up.

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Elizabeth looked at Miranda and then at Tavington, her brown eyes staring at his blue ones.

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Miranda exchanged a look with Elizabeth. What none of them knew was that Miranda had heard that Tavington himself had murdered her father. She would do anything to keep Gabriel out of his hands.

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Elizabeth looked at Tavington and he motioned for the soldiers to release Gabriel.

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Miranda breathed a slight sigh of relief, and would have smiled at Gabriel, but could only make a second's eye contact before another voice brought her down to earth.

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Gabriel looked at Miranda before whispering, "Why, Randa?"

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