Where the Germans are

The girl motions for me to come to the counter,where another lady has a glass water waiting for me."Sorry we can't provide anything more than water to drink, we have very little left!"

"Nothing wrong with water!" I say as i pick up the glass and sip a bit of it. "Thank you!" Turning my head i spot my second in command looking through the window "Miss is it alright if my men join us inside?"

The other ladies tries to move behind the counter as the doorknob turns. The girl translates my question to the others,a visible sigh of relief comes from all the women. Shaking her head yes, I motion for him to get the others and enter,guns down. A less than two minutes all ten of us are in the eatery with a glass of water to drink.

"Miss can you tell us if the Germans have been this way?" i ask her.

"Yes they came and took the children away with them.He have taken over the town hall,three blocks over from here!" a tear comes to her eye. "They told us that they are being followed by the enemy and plan to ambush them when they are on the outskirts of town. They claim that your men were a day behind them!"

To a man we hand back our glasses,thanking them in English and French. Sergeant Murphy takes me aside "Well it seems your little idea of skipping the road may have help us catch up to those Krauts, Now what?"

The girl comes over to where we're talking "If this help we counted twenty-five German as they went through. One man said if we are good,they would comeback tonight to keep us warm!" She shivers at the thought of what that meant.

Doing a fast count of our own,there are thirty females left most over the age of thirty. "Miss do these women live alone?"

"Please I"m Anna Muis and yes all but and my mother Annis.Why?"

A smile comes to my face and i rub my hands together,which causes my men to perk up. Turning to address everyone,"Well Miss Muis can you ask these ladies if they would like a houseguest for the night?"

A look of fear comes over her face but she does as i ask. Soon all the women are fearful of us. Some start to cry as i speak again. "When the German returns to keep you company,we will give them a reception that they'll never forget!" Again Anna translates,possibly adding more than what i said since all the women comes out from behind the counter and kiss each of us on the cheek.

Turning to Anna,she whispers in my ear what she told them. That we Canadians would stop the Germans from when they try to take them. Smiling at her "Are you a mind reader by any chance?" She smiles back at me,and my heart melts!