I lifted my hat and scarf combination from my pocket. “Look what Mrs. Olofsson made me.”
“What is that?” Her eyes narrowed, trying to see in the dim light.
“It goes over my face, so no one will know it's me.” I took off my cloche hat and coat and laid them on top of a bush to gather up later.
“I only have this.” Nora put a man's hat over her head. A rather small head, now that I looked at her more carefully.
“That thing covers most of you.” I tugged the hat over my head and pulled the scarf portion up over my mouth and nose, then buttoned them together.
“You look like a monster,” she said.
“Good. Maybe we'll scare the thugs away.”
“Come on. It's almost eight.”
We strode down Barnes Avenue and then jumped into one of the alleys to take the back way to school.
“Thanks for what you said about Flynn today,” I said.
“You're welcome.”
I caught a glimpse of the front of the schoolhouse as we crossed behind some bushes toward the playground. The steps were empty. If our resident thugs knew anything about what our dances were really like, they would know this was suspicious. Usually, people spilled out onto the steps laughing and chatting in clusters. Nora and I ran across the playground to the back door. I put my finger to my mouth, and we entered as quietly as we could. What seemed to be the entire male population of Emerson Pass waited together in the room we'd occupied earlier. They were quiet, the tension thick as the air before a storm.
We slinked into one of the corners, hoping neither of the Olofsson brothers would notice two slight figures in the back of the room. The stifling scent of men filled the room.
I looked at the clock on the wall—two minutes until eight. Papa made his way to the front of the crowd, gave everyone a wave, and stepped into the hallway.
Viktor, Phillip, Theo, and Isak went to the front windows to look out. From what I could tell, Theo was supposed to give the signal for when the masses were to descend on Rossi and Chetta.
A stir of energy traveled the room. I felt for my pistol in my pocket.
“Do you have a weapon?” I whispered to Nora.
“Nothing but a pair of pruning shears.”
“What are those supposed to do?”
“I don't know. It was all I could think of.”
“You better stay close to me then,” I said.
Theo's hand went up, motioning that it was time to go. With only the sound of boots shuffling across the floor, the men exited the room until most everyone was in the hallway in front of the double doors. Nora and I were at the very end of the line. We kept our heads down, hoping no one would notice us.
“Now,” Theo called out from the front of the crowd. Phillip and Theo each flung open one of the doors. Viktor and Isak led the throng of men out of the building. I could see only a wall of bodies. We followed blindly. I had my pistol cocked and ready and held it high above my head. We moved fast, splitting off into two groups, one to the left and the other to the right.
Nora and I went with the batch that veered to the left. I caught a glimpse through the crowd of Papa standing with Rossi and Chetta as the men surrounded them. Guns, knives, and a few pitchforks, plus Nora’s gardening shears, were raised. Strangely, the crowd was eerily quiet, other than heavy breathing.
“What’s this?” Rossi asked.
“We want you to leave our town.” Usually I couldn’t hear Papa’s British accent, but tonight I did. “And we’re prepared to fight you for it.”
I ducked between two men to get to the front. Rossi and Chetta had cocked their rifles and waved them around as if trying to decide who to shoot first.
“Put down your guns,” Theo shouted to them. “And no one gets hurt.”
Rossi shouted an expletive. A recklessness in his eyes reminded me of a rabid squirrel I’d once seen in our yard. Beyond caring if he lived or died, he would take out as many as he could before he went. He lifted his gun, aiming it at Theo. Without thinking, my hand having a mind of its own, I pulled the trigger of my pistol, aiming at Rossi’s thigh. I got it just right. The bullet ripped through his flesh. He dropped his gun and fell to the ground, writhing with pain.
“Good Lord,” Nora muttered. “Where did you learn to shoot like that?”
I started shaking. I’d never shot anything living in my life. Only the target the boys had set up in the woods. I couldn’t bear to kill an animal. “My brothers taught me.”
Chetta tossed his gun away and put up his sausage-fingered hands. “Don’t shoot. I surrender.”
Viktor and Isak moved in, shoving Chetta down and tying his hands behind his back with a piece of rope. Theo returned to being a physician, fulfilling his vow to heal the sick, no matter who they were or who wounded them. In this case, his sister dressed as a boy.
He and Dr. Neal knelt over Rossi. The snow had turned scarlet around the injured man. Would he bleed to death? From my wound? He’d tried to shoot Theo, I reminded myself. I turned away, unable to look.
Viktor ran to my side. Everything had happened so quickly, I’d completely forgotten my disguise. But as he drew closer I could see he knew it was me. Of course he would. He’d seen me all fall in these knickers.
He didn’t grab me or acknowledge who I was, simply leaned close and said, “Heck of a shot.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
Papa gathered the discarded guns before turning toward me. For a second, I could see he didn’t realize it was me. Soon, though, the look of recognition crossed his face. He said something under his breath. I couldn’t be sure, but I think it was a bad word. Not a good sign. He gave Isak the guns.
I’m sorry, Papa, I thought.
He sprinted over and took me by the arms. I braced myself, ready for a tongue-lashing. Instead, he pulled me against him in a rough hug. “My sweetheart,” he whispered. “My baby girl. What am I going to do with you?”
Meanwhile, the men had all turned to see who had shot Rossi. Given Papa’s reaction and subsequent embrace, they all figured out it was me with no trouble. Whispers went through the crowd. Cymbeline Barnes. Dressed as a boy. Shoots like a soldier.
“So much for your disguise,” Nora said.
Papa turned to her. “Nora Cassidy, what are you doing here?”
“Same as Cym. Standing up for my town.”
Isak ran over to us. “Nora, I had no idea that was you.”
“You should have. You’ve seen me wear these same clothes every day I’ve worked my father’s farm.” She grinned at him cheekily.
“I’d scold you, but I know it won’t do any good,” Isak said.
“I’d scold you, but I know it won’t do any good,” Nora echoed back.
Viktor put his arm around my shoulders. “So much for keeping your disguise a secret.”