Chapter One<br > H ansi Verin was a child of the sunrise. Ever<br >since childhood， she would perch on her sacred rock， facing the<br >Virginia mountains on the eastern horizon， and wait for the<br >instant when light pierced the Ohio River forest. A few minutes<br >later， as she knew very well， the night watch changed along the<br >fort s high stockade walls， and ff she was lucky， she might catch<br >a glimpse of the commander， Lieutenant Colonel Shelby<br >Cameron.<br > Newly arrived from the British command post at Fort Detroit，<br >Shelby Cameron was the first true gentleman that she had<br >ever seen.<br > Across the clearing， in front of the heavy， palisaded gates，<br >Hansi moved in the direction of the river to get a better view<br >of the soldiers manning the towers and patrolling the corner<br >lookouts.<br > On this lovely spring morning in<br >long minutes before the morning<br >changing of the guard. Around her<br >1775， Hansi had to wait ten<br >gun went off， signaling the<br >the sun rose above the thick<br ><br >