"Why did you run away from home? You girls are from the wealthiest city in at least a hundred miles." Laurens asked as I took a deep breath.
"It was getting too dangerous in Manhattan. Our father to spare our lives became a supporter of the crown, then he became a supporter and became like those monsters. He was going marry us off to some high ranked Brits and we could not do it. We have seen what those animals have done…" I said softly as I shook my head.
"What do you mean, have they hurt you two?" Lafayette asked protectively.
"Woman are treated like property. We can't go outside without an escort; we have no voice at all. We can't even be in the same room as other women without their escorts and ours. Woman can't have any contact with their families. If you made a mistake you were beaten and in Manhattan… Seabury would have whip people till they screamed for mercy and were within an inch of their life. It's horrible" Angelica said as I nodded.
"So you thought it was best to run?" Mulligan asked as I nodded and brush a lost strand of hair behind my ear.
"We were going to run as far as possible, we were on our way to the engagement ball for our father to show us to our new "husbands" but he left before us and we found our chance and ran. We made it far till a sentry saw us, he tried to chase us down… till we ended up face to face with two armed soldiers at the creek. Peggy ran one way and Eliza and I ran a different way somehow. We don't even know if she is still running…" Angelica explained as I looked at her sadly.
"We will find her." I said as I touched her shoulder gently. "What about you three?" I asked as they looked away.
"Well… we all fought together in the first revolutionary war. But when it failed we ran in different paths till Alexander found us." Lafayette said as I leaned against the wall.
"What if we won the war the first time?" I thought to myself as I heard Alexander groaning upstairs. "I'll be right back." I said as I walked back upstairs and to the room where Alexander was resting to walk in and find him up and hunched over. "What are you doing!" I exclaimed as he looked up to face me.
"I needed to get up." He said as I touched his arm as he winced at my touch. "You need to rest." I said as he looked up at me and finally I saw his face in full detail. He's lively brown eyes were dancing as they stood out against his face as it looked worn from the hard times our country had face. He had smile lines around his mouth as he gave me a small smile. He tried to speak but he couldn't find the right words. "You know; you don't have to do this…" He said breathily as I nodded.
"Yes I do… you saved me and my sister." I said as I helped him lay back down on his bed and sat on the side of his bed. "Why did you save us? Lying to Seabury will get you killed. Trust me I've seen it time and time again…" I said as I watched his eyes closed.
"Because no one should have to run from their home because of men like that." Alexander said softly as he drifted back asleep. I patted his hand gently and watched his face soften at my touch. I smiled at him and then got up. I covered him up as he grabbed my hand and stopped me. "Don't leave me please?" He whispered as I froze.
"You need to sleep." I said as he nodded sleepily and I pulled away from him gently. "Get some sleep Alexander…" I said as I walked out softly and closed the door. I turned around to close it as I felt someone behind me. I turn and came to face with Laurens.
"How is Alexander doing?" Laurens asked as I shrugged my shoulders.
"He is resting right now." I said as he looked at me.
"I'm sorry about what happened to you and your sisters." Laurens said as he walked with me down the hall.
"It's okay, we will make it through. After all you guys are going to rebel and win back our country." I said as he shook his head.
"That's only if we can get the general here without him getting killed, that would be step one." He said as we walked downstairs and saw Angelica by herself.
"Where are Hercules and Lafayette?" Laurens asked as Angelica got up from her spot.
"They said they are going to get the General… they are taking a different path and I don't know when they will be back." She said as John shook his head and ran out the door.
"Stay here with Alexander. Do not open the door for anyone!" Laurens said as we nodded and watched him run into a barn and then come out on a horse a few minutes later. We watched him ride off into a fiery gallop as I faced Angelica.
"Well…" I said as she pulled me inside and locked the door.
"Well, I am going to close the curtains and find some candles and you are going to find us something to eat." Angelica said as I nodded and walked into what was supposed to be a kitchen.
"Yuck…" I said to myself as I started to clean up the room. I finished clean up slightly as I found some salted meat and beans in the chest in front of me. I pulled it those out and grabbed one of the pans and lit the stove. I put the meat down on the hot pan and started to cook it as I hummed. It almost felt like home, I almost expected Peggy to come running in with something to add for dinner. I sighed as I thought about Peggy and started to wonder if she was okay wherever she was right now and that she was safe and away from the British. I finished the meat and poured some of the beans in as I grabbed some broth and smelled it and poured a bit in, I finished cooking as someone walked in behind me.
"It's smells good." Alexander said as I jumped at the sound of his voice and turned to see him leaning against the door frame.
"Alexander Hamilton. Am I going to have to tie you down to your bed?" I asked crossing my arms. He gave me a side smirk as he chuckled.
"That's some kinky stuff." He said as I blushed bright red.
"Go sit down. Now." I said sternly as he looked down and padded out of the kitchen. I tried to pull some plates down from the shelf above me as it nearly fell on me. I pulled down three plates and scooped the food onto the cracked plates. I walked out with Alexander's and Angelica plates and placed it in front of them. "Here you go." I said as Angelica smiled at me as I walked back into the kitchen and from some broke forks and grabbed my plate.
"This is the best thing I have had in almost a year." Alexander said digging into his food as I blushed and sat down next to Angelica.
"Thank you Alexander. That's very sweet of you." I said as I took a bite of the warm meat and beans. "Angelica, do you mind cleaning up while I go and clean Alexander's wounds?" I asked as she nodded and Alexander got up and started to walk upstairs as I followed him slowly. I felt pain throb through my ankle as I winced and made it up the stairs. I walked into Alexander's room as I watched him take off his shirt and I caught sight of his lean frame. I blushed bright red and busied myself as I winced at the lashes that now have slightly healed but were sticking out against his tan skin. I grabbed the bottle of alcohol and a wet rag and started to dab his wounds as he winced. "You need to stop moving please…" I said quietly as he kept fidgeting as I finished. "Now put your shirt back on and lie down and go to sleep." I said as I started to clean.
"Thank you Eliza." He said as I looked up at him and smiled.
"It's nothing." I said as he closed his curtains and I watched him turn to face me.
"Your very sweet Eliza. I am going to promise you this now. Once I am able to walk without being in such pain. I will help you find your sister." Alexander said as my heart burst with joy.
"Really? Oh, Alexander. I don't know what to say." I said as he smiled at me. "Well. You must be getting some rest now. Good night Alexander." I said as I gave him a small curtsy and walked out quickly as Angelica stood in front of the door cheekily.
"What is it?" I asked as I closed the door behind me. "You and him are totally helpless for each other." She said amused as we walked to our room.
"What?!" I exclaimed softly as she closed the door and place the candle on the small table by the window. "He was looking at you all through dinner. He blushes red at your touch. Eliza, he is helpless for you." Angelica said as I scoffed.
"Angie, now is not the right time for a courtship." I said as I started to unbutton my dress and folded it neatly as I took off my corset.
"I left some food out for the other boys for when they return." Angie said as I pulled out my hair ribbon and pushed my dark brown hair behind my ears.
"Do you think Mulligan would be upset if we steal a bit fabric to make us new dresses?" I asked as she shrugged.
"Well, considering that we need to wash these tomorrow, then it wouldn't kill to find some." She said as she brushed her hair out with her fingers.
"Well, I am going to sleep. Good night Angie." I said as I pecked her cheek and grabbed into bed.
"Any luck finding any fabric that does not make us look like traitors?" I asked as Angelica put her hands on her hips.
"Nothing yet Eliza. I'll keep looking while you go check to see if Alexander isn't hurting himself in the barn." Angelica said as I walked outside into the warm fall air as I walked into the old rickety barn.
"Alexander?" I called out as I heard him silently swear to himself. "Alexander, where on earth are you?" I asked as I saw his head pop out from a stall.
"What are you doing outside?" He asked worried as I crossed my arms.
"I could ask you the same thing. Alexander, it has barely been twenty-four hours since you have been whipped. You must take it easy." I said as he walked out of the stall leading a horse that was geared up and ready to ride. "What are you doing?" I asked as he tried to mount the horse.
"I am going to find the others." He said as he got on as he gave a small groan of pain and I stood in front of his horse.
"No. You are going to get yourself killed!" I said as he motioned the horse to move on as I moved out of the way before being stepped on.
"Eliza, I promise I will be fine. I just need to find them. I'll be back before you know I was gone." He said as he gave the horse a quick kick in the side and he took off.
"Alexander! Stop!" I shouted after him as he rode away. "Damn it!" I yelled as Angelica ran outside.
"What is going on?" She asked as I turned to face her.
"Alexander has decided that he is going to ride and find his friends while he still can barely walk!" I said as she shook her head.
"Come on and get inside. Before we get ourselves killed." Angie said as I nodded and followed her inside. "It's been two days. I hope they are all right." I said as Angelica put her hand on my shoulder.
"I am sure they are fine. Come on, let us sew new dresses for ourselves to take minds off it." Angie said as we walked inside the house and locked the door up tight. I walked over to the couch and sat down and pulled up a thing of light cream colored fabric into my lap and felt the soft fabric.
"Oh Angie, where did you this fabric. It's gorgeous." I said as she opened a curtain behind us and the sun light poured into the room.
"I found it in a trunk upstairs. It must have been forgotten for a British wife. I found this beautiful tan fabric in the trunk where I found that fabric." Angelica said as I threaded the needle and started to cut it as I sighed in the silence.
"I wish Peggy was here. She could play music for us on the piano or find some way for it not to be so quiet." I said as Angelica shook her head and started to cut the rest of the fabric.
"We will find her soon enough Eliza." Angelica said as we sat in idle quiet for the next few hours as the sun began to fade.
"Well, how does it look?" I asked as I held my cream-colored dress against me.
"It looks wonderful Eliza." Angelica said as she finished the sleeves of her dress. "Now, I am going to go find us something to eat and you are going to clean up." Angelica said as I got up and started to fold out dresses neatly as I picked up the scraps of fabric and started to clean up as I heard horses galloping towards the horse. I dropped the sewing basket in shock as I ran to the window and peeked out the curtain to see Laurens and Lafayette riding with Hercules, Alexander and another man as I jumped for joy.
"Angie, they're back!" I exclaimed as I hurried and picked up the rest of the fabric and put it aside as I ran outside to see Alexander get off his horse. I tightly embraced him as he froze. "You scared me half to death you idiot!" I exclaimed as I pulled away from him. He looked at me shocked as I turned to the other three men. "You three boys scared us. You were gone for two days and I was praying the Brits didn't find you." I said babbling on as I heard the stranger clear his throat.
"It's not really their fault. We had to take a longer passage because the original was covered with the British." He said as his deep, commanding voice seemed almost soothing as I nearly fell over in embarrassment.