“Dangerous Allies”-

“So, are you going to tell me what happened between you and Tyson?” Sharlotte asked several hours later. The girls were in their tent lying on their velvet hammocks.

“What do you mean?” Leandra asked innocently.

“Yesterday you hated him, then today you’re kissing him.”

“I don’t know,” she sighed. “We were talking then I was just looking into his eyes, then we were….kissing.”

Sharlotte smiled dreamily. “It’s so romantic.”

“I don’t know what it is…”

They were both silent.

Leandra turned onto her side and stared at the tent wall. She didn’t know why she had kissed Tyson. She sighed inwardly. She always made a mess of things.

She was just starting to fall asleep when she heard a rustling sound. She sat up and peered into the darkness.

She didn’t see anything so she lay back down. Then it sounded again. This time it sounded closer. She lay still and listened until it came very close. She opened her eyes and gasped in shock.

The shadow of a man was silhouetted against the tent wall. A moment later a knife cut into the thick fabric. She screamed and struggled to untangle herself from her blankets.

Everything blurred as she heard men shouting and Sharlotte’s worried cries. She felt strong arms lifting her and looked up to see Tyson’s worried face.

“What happened, Leandra?”

“There was a man. He had a knife.” She pointed to the tear in the tent fabric. Tyson set her down beside Sharlotte and turned to examine the tear. “Sharlotte?”

She stood. “Yes?”

“There’s a group of men right outside see if Walter’s among them.”

She nodded, grabbed her cloak, and slipped form the tent.

Tyson turned back to Leandra. “Are you all right?”

“Just a few bruises from falling off the hammock…..Who do you think it was?” She asked quietly.

“One of Byron’s men….” He said grimly.

The tent flap opened and Sharlotte reentered with Walter.

“What happened?” Walter demanded.

“Someone tried to enter the tent.” Tyson replied seriously.

Walter frowned. “Is that all? It was probably just some drunken soldier. Besides, if you were doing your job he wouldn’t have even gotten this close.”

With that said Walter turned and stormed from the tent.

Sharlotte’s mouth hung open in shock and Tyson stared after him in cold fury.

“How dare he?” Sharlotte asked.

Tyson shook his head, “Something’s wrong. He was nervous and didn’t seem to care at all…”

Sharlotte nodded.

“Where were you, Tyson?” Leandra asked suspiciously.

“Dennis insisted I…” his voice faded.

“How would someone know which tent we were in?” Sharlotte questioned.

“Unless someone gave them the location of your tent and ordered me away.” Tyson stated quietly.

Leandra frowned. “If Walter and Dennis are in on this…”

Sharlotte gasped. “What about Gunter? Is he in on it too?”

“He’s with Uncle Joseph; you don’t think he’s betrayed him do you?”

Tyson groaned. “This is a mess.”

Both girls nodded.

“All right, I’m going to get my bedroll; then I’ll be back.” Tyson stood and left the tent.

While Sharlotte got a piece of fabric to cover the tear, Leandra righted her hammock and re-organized her blankets.

Tyson shoved his bedroll into the tent; then followed it.

Sharlotte was already settled back onto her hammock. Leandra just sat on hers. “Do you think it’s safe here?”

Tyson shrugged. “I don’t think anywhere is particularly safe right now.”