Caroline sighed, "He pulled out his pistol and shot an eleven-year old boy."

"Oh No," moaned Elizabeth. "Did the boy die?"

"Aye. Now they think my father is an informer."

"But Matthew is not an informer, he is a . . ." Mary stopped.

Caroline softly said, "A smuggler? That is what I think, though he does not admit it." .

Matthew downed the last of his wine and set the glass on the table, "I sent word to MacGreagor. He'll find the truth of it. For all we know, they burned the house and all that is in it." Matthew narrowed his eyes and glared at his new son-in-law. "What's to become of the Colonies now? How do we stop the madness? What are we to do, Alfred, go to war?"

In a month's time, MacGreagor came to get them. The house had not been burned and the servants were safe. Matthew's name had been posted in error and the Son's of Liberty regretted it. But Etta would never be the same. Sometime in the night of their arrival, she suffered a mild stroke and the right side of her face drooped.

Parliament repealed the Townshend Act in March of 1771, save for a slight tax on tea. The tradesmen lowered their prices, declared the Sons of Liberty far too dangerous, and the Colonies heaved a collective sigh of relief -- all but the Sons of Liberty who waited to see what tax the King would impose next.