There’s a part of George that wants to throw the girl out of camp and leave her for the wolves. Another smaller part wants to have her flogged because if she wants to parade herself around like a man, he will treat her as such.
But her last statement is so familiar, so determined, that he forces himself to stop and think.
Because Washington is not a foolish man. He knows that every good stratagist takes into count every possible variable and proceeds with the knowledge that it might someday occur. Riley and her true sex is a variable he never considered and that is where he made his mistake.
Women and their tactics have always had an adaptability that is rare to find in a man. Where men are solid like oak, women bend easily like blades of grass. Just because a man can take more abuse than a woman, that doesn’t mean a Lady’s flexibility is not beneficial.
The whores that patrol the camp use their bodies to distract from their bright minds. The spies of the opposite sex gain information by being unassuming. And Riley-
Riley saw that to gain her freedom, she needed more than flexibility and cunning wits. She needed the natural respect gained through manhood.
Washington sighed, feeling extremely tired all of a sudden. He silently wished that his wife was hear for council.
You already know what she would say though. She would scold you for underestimating the capability of a woman and tell you to stop being so prideful. He covered his mouth with his hand to hide the smile that appeared at the thought.
Once he had recovered from the brief lapse in proprietary, he dropped his hand and looked back at Riley. “I believe I understand why you did it. But that does not make me comfortable with the fact that it was done.” He spoke slowly, trying to piece together his thoughts.
“We both know I cannot report you without damning myself as well. So we are trapped in simply proceeding with how we have been so far.”
“That,” he raised his voice slightly when it looked like Riley was about to speak. “does not mean our relationship will remain how it is now. Professionally or privately. You have broken laws that could have you killed and myself shamed for life. There needs to be a new strategy for how we will proceed.”
His eyes hardeneded. “Because if I can discover your secret, so can others.”
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