Mission of Hope by Allie Pleiter Read Free Book Online Page B

we’re here,” Bauers declared. “Major Simon,” he said in a lower tone, “has agreed to be in on our little scheme.”
    Quinn looked at the man. He was fit but a bit on the heavy side, somewhere in his late thirties from the looks of it and alarmingly serious. He didn’t seem at all like the scheming type. “The Bandit—”
    â€œIs not a name I’d mention in loud tones around here,”the major cut in sharply. “Not everyone in the army is a fan of such…resourceful measures.”
    â€œI think you’ll find Major Simon a most extraordinary fellow.” Reverend Bauers walked over to a large sack Quinn only just then realized sat on a table in the center of the room. “With some very considerable resources.” He pulled open the drawstring and tilted the top for Quinn to peer inside.
    The sack held half of what had been on his list. On Nora’s list, that is. Bandages, iodine, salt, a few tins of meat, needles and thread and half a dozen other various supplies. Major Simon went up a few notches in Quinn’s book, to be sure. More than a few.
    â€œWhere’d you get all that?”
    â€œNo need for you to know,” Simon said slyly.
    â€œYou stole it. Why else would you answer like that?”
    â€œWould you take it no matter where it came from?”
    â€œI’m smarter than that. I don’t know you, even if Reverend Bauers does.”
    â€œThey were ‘procured,’ perhaps, or more precisely, ‘diverted,’ but ready for you to put to good use.” Simon pulled the string shut, placing the sack into a crate that sat under the table. “And no, you don’t know me. Yet.”
    â€œThe major has arranged a discreet drop-off point,” Bauers said, clearly enjoying the adventure of it all. With that look in his eye, Quinn could easily imagine the days when Reverend Bauers had been the Black Bandit’s trusted accomplice. He seemed delighted to step into those shoes again. “You’re to return tonight and get it back to camp by…well…whatever means you find necessary.”
    His first mission. It hummed through Quinn’s veins.Suddenly, he couldn’t get the Bandit’s old gray shirt on fast enough. He longed to strap on the sword and take the world by storm. Now.
    â€œYou have a fire in your eye, Freeman,” Major Simon said to him. “I’ve found our friend the reverend is rarely wrong on such things. But you’ll need far more than good intentions if you really want to do what you say. You’ll need training and cunning and several very particular skills. Skills I’ve offered to teach you. But you’ll have to be both patient and discreet.”
    â€œI am.”
    â€œYou don’t strike me as patient in the least.”
    â€œWould you be patient if your family didn’t have enough to eat or a real roof over their heads?”
    Simon chuckled and clapped Quinn hard on the back. “Bold as brass. You’re right, Bauers, he’s just the man for the job. If he doesn’t get himself killed first.”
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    â€œYou’ve no idea where all this came from?” Nora asked as she peered at the supplies that had appeared overnight at the Freeman shack.
    Mrs. Freeman squinted at the cut on Sam’s foot, paused, and then dabbed it with a bit more iodine. “None at all,” she said over the resulting protests from Sam. “Quinn said he’d put the list up on a fence post across the street last night, asking for help. That’s all we know.” She turned to the boy. “Hush, lad, it’ll hurt far more than that if it don’t heal properly.” Her words were harsh, but her eyes were kind.
    â€œIt is amazing, isn’t it?” Nora examined the items again, grateful her father had allowed her to come over to Dolores Park to inspect this surprise package—provided, of course, that she was properly