The outlaws showed little mercy to Jeffrey and Sybil as they tugged and pulled the stricken young people across the sodden road. Now that they had two horses and the rain had slowed to a drizzle, they were going to make an escape and plot out a ransom. Sybil was oddly subdued, fearing the rugged backhand of her captor should she try and scream again. Jeffrey, however, squirmed and cried out for his release, repeating a name over and over.

“Bogg! Bogg! Help us!” Jeffrey shouted into the woods.

“Shut up, boy, or I’ll slice ya!” James warned.

Out in the distance they faintly heard a deep voice echo in response.

“I’m coming! I’m coming!”

James tore at Jeffrey’s coat and lurched him back when the boy nearly made a run for it. He raised a fist and was ready to wallop him when they all hushed at the sound of beating hooves. Jeffrey and Sybil gasped. Through the shrouded mist, Star was charging toward them at full speed. James pulled the musket off his shoulder and Jeffrey gripped it tightly.

“No! You can’t shoot him! Put that down!”

“Get your hands off, boy! Out of my way!” James bellowed.

He shoved Jeffrey hard onto the mud and raised his weapon at the horse’s rider. Without flinching, he fired a deafening shot and the rider was immediately blown off.

“Aahhhhh!! Nooooo!!!! Bogg!!

Jeffrey’s face went ashen after his initial scream of shock. He opened his mouth again, but no sound would come out. Only his eyes could react, and they brimmed over with tears. He crawled forward on his knees, gasping for breath. Phineas couldn’t be dead. Star bucked and came to a standstill near Sybil and her captor, Phillip. He held the horse steady. James reset the musket. Sybil stared at the scene with astonishment and flickers of grief crossed her face. Her rescuer had given his life to help her. James lifted Jeffrey up by his curls and half dragged him across the road to where the body lay. Jeffrey shivered from head to toe as he stared at the motionless form; it appeared face down in the wet dirt and grass. His rage boiled within him and he tearfully attacked the outlaw.

“You dirty, rotten creep! How could you?” He fumed. “That was my…my best friend!”

Forgetting about the weapon in James’ possession, Jeffrey continued to seize upon on him. James tossed up his hands and attempted to defend himself. His other partner, Trent, left Sybil and Phillip, and hurried to subdue the boy. He yanked Jeffrey off Phillip’s back and tossed him on his hands and knees alongside the body. Jeffrey threw himself over it with sobs and wails.

After a moment, he grasped at his back and his fingers squeezed against a soft spot, too soft. He tapped his fingers along the body and then dug into the large bullet hole that had invaded both sides of the still form. He felt something grainy and sticky on his palms. The ‘body’ wasn’t Phineas at all, but heavy burlap sacks of cornmeal and sugar roped tight and stuffed into clothing. They were covered over with the coat Phineas took from the soldier. The head was just a worn pillow shoved under a hat. Jeffrey buried his face, but couldn’t contain his smile. He wiped his eyes and sat up. The stupid bandits didn’t even think to check on the condition of the body. Sybil let out a scream and fought with Phillip to release her, but he held her closely.

“Jeffrey look out! No! Don’t shoot him!”

Jeffrey slowly turned his head and his gaze met the barrel of the musket. James finger was poised to go over the trigger. He had a devilish smirk on his face. Jeffrey’s crying reduced to sniffles. He was thankful that Phineas had cleverly survived. He would save Sybil and carry on just as he had before he met him. The voyages had been fun, but now the danger had caught up to him. He closed his eyes and waited for James to do his deed.

“I’ve decided we can’t have you slowing us down, boy! You can join your friend, wherever he is!”

-Oo-

“I’m right here!” Phineas’ voice resounded from the shadows.

Phineas raced toward them with Sybil’s staff in hand. He thrust it into the ground and pole vaulted into James upper body, knocking the musket straight out of his hands. Phineas didn’t let up. He immediately raised the staff and swung it against Trent, who was momentarily stunned by his appearance. The squat outlaw had the wind knocked out of him when the blunt end of the staff met his jaw. Phineas staggered back with a laugh when Jeffrey rushed into him for a solid hug.

“Bogg! I thought you were…were…” Jeffrey refused to say the word and he just leaned against his friend for dear life.

Phineas tucked the staff under his arm and he brushed his hand over Jeffrey’s hair and rocked him. Seeing the musket aimed at the boy had made his blood run cold. He didn’t know what he would do without Jeffrey’s companionship. He loved Jeffrey as dear as a father would a son, even if he stumbled over telling him.

“No, Jeff. I promise you, I won’t go out that easy…and I…I won’t leave you…not yet anyway!”

Jeffrey peered at Phineas and smiled crookedly. He had to learn to stop underestimating his friend’s prowess in the face of danger. They nodded to each other with an unspoken affection and Jeffrey pulled away, relieved.

Jeffrey looked down and then scrambled for the musket and picked it up. He turned it upon Phillip.

“You let her go, right now!” He demanded.

“Jeffrey! Be careful where you point that thing!” Phineas called to him with surprise.

The surge of adrenaline and power he felt holding the weapon was intense, but he also recollected on Phineas’ earlier warnings about guns in the back of his mind. Jeffrey wagged it at Phillip, careful to keep his fingers away from the trigger, but close enough to bluff a threat.

“Didn’t you hear what I said? Release her!”

Phillip immediately tossed his arms up and Sybil rushed out of his clutches. She ran to Star and petted his muzzle. She led him back onto the path she had been following. Phineas resumed his attack on the others. He had the upper hand with the staff and brandished it against James, knocking him all over every time he tried to lunge for him. He backed away toward Jeffrey. Phillip ran to help James up and the three bandits recoiled before the Voyagers. They were too intoxicated to continue their fight and didn’t want to get shot at.

“All three of you get out of here! If you know what’s good for ya, you’ll hustle! Move it!” Phineas nearly growled and Jeffrey kept the musket pointed.

The outlaws knew they were defeated. They turned quickly and raced back into the woods toward their campsite. The danger of their presence had finally passed. Sybil leaned against Star with deep relief and hugged his neck while she cried. Phineas pulled off the omni and showed it to Jeffrey. The light was green. They both smiled, knowing their voyage had come to an end. Phineas lowered the staff and came toward Sybil. He put a hand upon her upper arm.

“Sybil, you must carry on this ride. You have nothing more to fear from them, they’ve gone. Are you okay?”

Sybil turned to him tiredly, but nodded. She still had a few more homes to reach if she wanted to make it back to her family by dawn. Her face blushed under Phineas’ intense, but sympathetic expression and she hugged him.

“Mr. Bogg, I cannot thank you enough, you and Jeffrey…for saving my life this night. Those outlaws intended to hold me for ransom.”

Phineas pulled away kindly and helped her mount Star. He gentlemanly held her hand as she positioned herself.

“Our thanks are knowing you are safe and that you will finish this important ride.”

Jeffrey approached them and handed her the musket. “That’s right. America needs you right now, Sybil. Whether you know it or not, you’ve made a great contribution.”

Jeffrey finally remembered what little facts were known of Sybil’s historic ride. The following day Ludington’s four hundred soldiers and other American troops would take the victory over Britain’s drunken thousands and drive them back to the Long Island sound. General Washington would personally come to Ludington’s home to thank and commend Sybil for her bravery.

Phineas gave her back the staff. “This really came in handy, I might have chipped it some on the vault. What do you think, kid?”

“I’ll say it was a 9.7, Bogg, great job! Those skills will really be useful if you wanna join a circus act.”

“Neat, we can make a pit stop and talk it over with Barnum.” Phineas joked.

Sybil laughed slightly not sure what the numbers meant or who Barnum was. “I don’t care if it broke in half, Mr. Bogg, just as long as it served its purpose.” She leaned down and patted Jeffrey’s cheek. Jeffrey smiled shyly and savored her touch.

“Thank you for your comfort, Jeffrey, and for holding that wicked bandit off.” She shuddered.

Sybil straightened her shoulders and looked on ahead of her. It was time to continue. Phineas pulled Jeffrey away and then slapped Star from behind.

“Go, boy! You can make it!”

Star grunted and rode off with Sybil fearlessly shouting once more,

“Muster at Ludingtons!”

The End.