PROLOGUE

April 1767 Savannah, Georgia

The school mistress rang the bell, and watched as the children stopped their playing and hurry towards the door. The young woman smiled as she watched the younger children tried to run and keep up with the older ones. As the dust settled from the children's running, she saw a figure sitting on a log. The school mistress rolled her eyes in exasperation and walked over. As she got closer, she could see that it was one of the older children, a girl. As she got closer, she could see the girl's nose buried in a huge book, her long, light brown hair was braided and pinned up. Her dress sleeves were rolled up; the spring had not been very kind lately.

She bent down and noticed that once again, her prize pupil had borrowed one of the town doctor's various medical books and had spent her entire recess doing nothing but reading it intensely. Her lunch pail was seated next to her, untouched. The school mistress sighed and took the book from the girl's hands.

"Augusta Ladley, this is the third time this week." The school mistress sighed. "You haven't touched your lunch, you don't play at all anymore." She stood up and put her hands on her hips. "Your mother wouldn't be very happy if she knew her daughter's lunch had gone to waste." She closed the book and cradled it in her arm.

"Ma'am I am sorry." Augusta closed her eyes. "Recess goes by so quickly it seems like." She stood up slowly and brushed the back of her dress off. "It won't happen again." She looked into her teacher's eyes.

"You said that yesterday." She said a little more sternly. "I really do not want to use the strap on my best student." Augusta's eyes rounded in fear. "Oh, please don't!" She gasped. "I promise this time, I-"

The school mistress put her hand up to silence her. "After school, take this back to Doc." She motioned to the book. "I won't use the strap…this time." She raised an eyebrow. "Let's go inside child." She watched as Augusta hung her head in shame and followed the disgraced girl towards the small school house. As she walked inside, she felt all eyes on her as she immediately sat down in the back. Augusta took her slate and placed it on her lap.

"I guess Doctor Augusta is going to get the strap." Augusta's face reddened as she heard some of the other students giggling. She looked over at the source of the remark. Her name was Polly Samuels, one of the older students, Augusta's age. Her family had a very prominent plantation and name around the parts. She had the prettiest dresses, dolls, but the most conceited disposition.

"Shows you just how much you don't know." Augusta retorted. "Why can't you stay out of other people's affairs?" Another girl, who sat beside Polly gasped in shock. This however didn't stop Polly from. "That is because Mistress pities you." She sneered. "You really think you are going to become a doctor as a girl?" She emphasized. "You are as dull as the animals on your father's farm."

Augusta threw her slate aside and ran over to Polly, striking her in the face. Some of the older boys began to laugh as Augusta pulled Polly to the ground, by the hair. The younger children watched in awe as the two girls became an entangled heap on the ground. The school mistress stood up and rushed over. Two boys had made their way over to help the older woman try and pull Augusta off.

"That is enough!" The school mistress exclaimed. One of the older boys managed to pull her off of her antagonist. Her hair was out of place, her face was crimson and brimmed with tears. She tried to kick at Polly, barely missing her. The teacher helped Polly on her feet. Polly's blonde curls and decorative bow were completely messy. Augusta tried to catch her breath while at the same time trying not to cry again. The school mistress looked over at the boy holding Augusta. "Peter, please take Augusta to the creek so she can wash her face and clean up." The boy nodded and took Augusta by the arm, which caused her to recoil from his touch.

"Polly, your teasing and bullying is not funny or charming. "She looked down at the girl with disgust. "Sit down and please continue with your lesson." She walked back over to her desk and noticed that almost all of the children continued to stare at the Samuels girl. "ALL OF YOU!" She snapped. The children jumped in their place and immediately obeyed.

Augusta briskly walked past the creek and continued on; Peter picked up his pace to try and keep up with her. "Where are you going Gussy? You passed the creek." She ignored him as she continued to walk away. Peter caught up with her and grabbed her shoulder. She glared at him in response. "Go back Peter, please." She cried.

"Not without you, Mistress Sims will tan your hide!" He pleaded. "Ignore that stupid girl, she is just jealous of you is all." Augusta looked up at him, nervously tucking a strain of hair behind her ear. "Peter Nathan, you shouldn't speak such nonsense." She couldn't help but feel a small amount of validation. Peter was the eldest boy in school and to her, he was the most handsome in all of Savannah.

"It's true Gussy." He stepped closer to her. "You have this." He pointed to the side of her head. "And this." He then pointed to her heart. "She thinks her self-worth is what her parents buy for her." He added. Augusta rolled her eyes. "She will never talk to you again if she knew what you were saying to me." He cocked his head to the side. "What do you mean?" He put his hands behind his back. She licked her lips. "She fancies you, and I know you secretly fancy her."

He laughed in response. "You are silly." He kicked some pebbles around with his foot. "I am not fond of Polly Samuels. She is not exactly my ideal lady." He wouldn't look Augusta in the eye. "You of all people should know that. We have been friends for a long time." She looked at his face, she could see a hint of blushing. His blue eyes fixated on his tattered shoes kicking the dust around on the road.

"Peter, look at me." She commanded. He hesitated before eventually obeying. "Yes?" She cupped his face and stroked his cheek with her thumb. "You are sweet for saying those kind words." He looked into her brown eyes, the eyes he fell in love with when they were both nine years old. He cupped her cheek in return and gently placed a kiss upon her lips. She instinctively closed her eyes and melted into what was her first kiss, at thirteen.

"Augusta Ladley, I love you. Forever." She squeezed his hand in response. "You will become a doctor one day."

I…I

Augusta walked onto her family's farm, later that day after school. Her and Peter had decided to take the rest of the day off and go to the lake near their families' homes. He had lied to their school mistress about Augusta being ill and he had volunteered to escort her home. Mistress Sims allowed him to accompany her. They spent the remaining afternoon wading in the cool water and chasing each other around the woods. She saw her father milking one of their cows and her mother feeding the chickens.

Her mother looked up at her daughter and noted her appearance. "Augusta your hair." She put the chicken feed down and walked over to her. She wiped her hands with her apron. "What happened to the braids I put in?" Augusta looked up at her and shrugged. "It was hot today mother, and I wanted to put it up more."

She nodded in understanding. "Well get out of your school clothes and help your brother with the table." Augusta smiled. "Yes 'em." She climbed down into the cellar and secured the door in place behind her. The cellar was the Ladley family's kitchen; she moved through the various baskets of items and up a steep ladder into the family's small dining room. Her brother was busy setting the table and folding napkins.

"You were out with Peter again weren't you?" Her brother whispered. He placed the silverware on top of the folded napkins. Augusta looked at him and swallowed. Her older brother, Michael, was nineteen and had recently stopped going to school to help on the farm. She looked down at the tablecloth and toyed with the strings in the fabric. "Yes."

"I saw you two." He put the last of the silverware down. "You don't need to be missing school Gussy." He looked at her sternly. She pursed her lips together. "I don't need to be learning about agriculture and homemaking Michael. I want to know about the human body and why we built differently." She watched his face turn softer. He walked over to her and took her hand. "Little sister those are beautiful ambitions but you are probably going to be a farmer's wife one day. Peter probably won't want you tending around or being someone's midwife."

"That's just it! I don't want to be a farmer's wife." She clenched her fists. "Besides Peter believes I will be a doctor. He has said it over and over." She looked around and then whispered into his ear. "I got into a fight with that Samuels girl over this." Her brother rolled his eyes. "You need to learn how to control that temper of yours. Just ignore what she says, that family of hers are nothing but fools."

Augusta burst out into laughter. "That didn't stop you from asking Mr. Samuels to see to her older sister!" He frowned. "Lydia Samuels is different, she is the salt of the earth." She in turn rolled her eyes.

"Whatever you say, I am changing then I will start peeling the vegetables." She walked away and down the hall into her room. She shut the door behind her and took a seat on her bed. She heaved a sigh and laid down, turning herself to face the wall. She shut her eyes and smiled as she repeated Peter's words in her head once more.

"I love you Augusta Ladley, forever."