“You are a most stubborn woman, Miss Bainbridge,” Colonel Laxton said. “Only when you disagree with me, Colonel,” Rose said. She saw Margaret looking at her, and gave the girl a smile. Margaret almost smiled back. Rose’s smile faded and she again made a silent promise to kill Thomas Ducoed. Margaret and Janett sat in the corner on wooden chairs. Neither girl had said anything since they had come into the room with Rose. The colonel had looked sharply at Janett, then at Rose, but had made no attempt to send the girls away. He had only sent the private back to his sitting room to retrieve chairs for the girls. “It seems you are determined to do disagree with me at every turn.” Colonel Laxton stood flanked by Majors Eason and Haley, with Captain Keele and two Leftenants that Rose had not been introduced to. The men stood on one side of the long table. Chal and Rose stood on the opposite side. A surveyor’s map of the river, fort and hill lay on the table.
