Chapter Two

Why are You So Mean?

"Margaret, the butter's come," called Katherine, watching the yellow gobbles bob in the pale milk and winced at a cannon blast louder than usual, if such circumstances could be considered 'usual'. Abigale brought out the large wooden trough that they poured out the churn into. "Where's Margaret?"

"I sent her out to gather the boys down by the river," answered Abigale.

"The River!" Katherine shrieked. She told them to stay close to the house! Practically leaping off the porch, Katherine sprinted across the field separating the house from the river. Skidding down the bank, she slid to a stop beside the seemingly frozen children. Floating down the Santee were bodies, some mutilated beyond recognition as human bodies, the cool, clear water of the river now red with their blood. She spotted the Stallion by the water and knew why they were down here int he first place. "Go back to the house. I'll get him." When they didn't move, Katherine gave Nathan a little push. "Nathan, get Margaret and Samuel back the house, now."

Nathan jumped like she had just pricked him with one of her pins and grabbed his siblings hands, leading them back to the house while Katherine made her way down the last bank. "Woah, Boy," she whispered, slowly tiptoeing toward the skittish animal. Carefully, she laid her hand on the halter and patted the spooked horse. "Good Boy." Watching her steps, Katherine led the horse up the bank and into the stable.

Jonah grabbed the halter from her. "Thanks, Ma'am."

She smiled stiffly. "You're welcome, but Jonah, but next time there's a battle heading for the farm, get it yourself." Jonah looked at the ground and nodded, sheepish.

Katherine slowly made her way back to the house, picking some wildflowers and thinking on the bodies in the river. Passing the workshop, she noticed Benjamin working on a rocking chair again with Susan silently watching him. The entire two years Katherine's lived here, Susan hadn't said a word. Turning toward the shed, Katherine entered. "Susan," she smiled holding out the flowers, "why don't you go put these in water for me while I talk to your papa real quick. Dinner should be ready any second." Susan scooted off her perch and took the flowers. Katherine watched her meander for a few moments before returning her attention to Benjamin. "Benjamin."

He didn't look up. "Hmm."

Katherine sighed. "There are bodies in the river."

That got his attention. "What?"

"Samuel and Nathan accidentally let Courage out. They chased after him and saw the river. Abigale sent Margaret to get them and she saw it too. Courage is back in the barn and the children in the house." She waited quietly while he looked in the direction of the river.

"What side?" he asked, his voice nearly a whisper.

Katherine bit her lip. "Plenty of both. Maybe more blue."

He sighed and pulled his hand over his face. Abigale rang the dinner bell. Benjamin put down the tools, put his arm around Katherine, and together they walked to house.

After lunch, with the cannon louder than ever and even the occasional patter of gunfire, everyone gathered in the house. Katherine quietly watched the boys whisper over their toy soldiers and Margaret working on her sampler with Susan silently watching. She walked into the kitchen where the men where and Abigale was washing the dishes and starting supper. "Abigale, how's our medical supplies?"

The men looked up at her. Abigale pulled out a basket. "Here it is."

Katherine pursued it. "We're going to need more bandages and hot water."

Benjamin frowned and leaned back. "Why?"

She looked up. "The battle's going to pass very close to, if not right through the farm. I at least expect some skirmishers. There will be wounded and I'm going to help them."

He stared at her for a few moments. "Alright. You can use the sheets on the mending pile and Abigale?"

"Yes Sir?"

"If you can, start a pot of water."

Abigale smiled. "Yes Mr. Martin."

Katherine started to head to the Sitting Room before changing her mind and trotting upstairs. Reaching the girls' room, she slid a bag out from underneath the bed and bounced back downstairs. Walking outside to the large oak, she slipped the bag into a small hollow at about waist height. With a sad sigh, she slid back inside and sat down to shred the sheets and roll them into bandages. All activity stopped in the room at the sound. Soon, the boys were clamoring to be able to tear something up. Laughing, after giving some instructions, Katherine gave up the task. Sitting next to Margaret, Katherine pulled up a torn petticoat and pulled out her sewing basket. Benjamin and the hired men gradually made their way into the room, drawn by the shrieks and laughter. As the sun began to set, Katherine set down her work and went to Abigale with supper. For once, everyone gathered around the table and despite the chaos about descend on them, the laughter and talk flowed freely. However, that all ended to soon.

"They're going to come," whispered Samuel to Margaret and William in the hall.

Margaret hissed, "Quiet!" She saw Katherine glance at them.

"We're going to have to fight them off," continued Samuel.

Margaret rolled her eyes, but William pipped up confidently, "Father will do that."

Samuel continued like nothing had happened. "They'll probably kill us men and Lord knows what to you women."

"Samuel!" screeched Margaret. This time Katherine didn't just look up, she got up and started to come over. Margaret heard a sound behind them. She looked and screamed then the boys saw him and cried out. There was a man in uniform with a gun!

Benjamin slipped past Katherine and pulled a hidden pistol out, cocked it and aimed it at the man. "Hands up," he ordered calmly, but just then the man stepped into the light.

Katherine gasped. "Gabriel!" Benjamin caught his wounded son as he collapsed. Rushing to his side, Katherine called out, "Abigale, hot water and the bandages, quickly!" Mica and the other hired men helped to move Gabriel into the guest bed on the ground floor while Katherine carried his gun and the dispatch case.

Thomas asked excitedly, "The battle, were you there?"

Katherine exclaimed angrily, "Thomas, get out of here! Go do something! Anything!"

Gabriel tried to sit up, but she pushed him down. "Have you seen any Redcoats?" he gasped as Katherine tore off his shirt to see his side wound.

Benjamin shook his head. "Not yet. What happened?" Abigale brought the supplies and Katherine dove into them before Benjamin could. A brief smile crossed his face and he decided to just let her dress Gabriel's wound.

"It wasn't like Saratoga. There, we stayed in the trees, but this time Gates marched us straight at the Redcoats. They fired two volleys into us and we broke like straw. I was given these dispatches…" He hissed as Katherine manipulated his wound. "I saw the Virginia Regulars surrender…" Another hiss. "…as they laid down their weapons the British Green Dragoons rode into them and hacked them to bits…" Gabriel choked on his emotion. "…killed them all, over two hundred men."

Katherine and Benjamin sat back appalled. She softly ran her hand over his brow as she quietly confirmed, "All of them?" At his nod, she gasped, tears coming to her eyes.

"They had surrendered?" asked Benjamin slowly. Again Gabriel nodded and he was stunned.

Gabriel tried to rise again. "Oh no you don't, Mister!" Katherine exclaimed, pushing him back down.

He shook his head. "I have to get these dispatches to Hillsboro."

Benjamin placed his hand on Gabriel's shoulder. "You're in no condition to ride."

Gabriel shook his head, gasping, "I can't stay here…. It's not safe for any of you and I must get to… I…" Gabriel passed out.

"Finally," whispered Katherine, sighing sadly. Suddenly, there was a volley of musket fire. Benjamin and her ran to the front door and saw men clashing in their very front yard. Screams and hollers echoed across the field with more shots and the clang of steel.

Benjamin reacted quickly. Heading for the gun cabinet, he ordered, "Margaret, take William and Susan down to the root cellar. Abigale, go with them. Thomas, go to the back porch. Nathan and Samuel, the side windows. Katherine, go with Samuel and everyone, stay out of sight." The people remaining upstairs each grabbed a musket and shot and made their way to their positions. Benjamin took two pistols and two muskets before standing behind the door.

Thank the Lord, no one attempted to enter the house during the battle. While the little one huddled in the cellar, the older ones kept watch silently in the dark. Only the flash of muskets briefly displayed the carnage. Then shortly before dawn, it ended as abruptly as it started. Benjamin sneaked out of the house to see who was out there. Most of the wounded had been left behind. A man in a red coat reached out to him. Benjamin knelt at his side for a moment, only compassion on his face. "I'll be right back." He raced back. "Katherine, Thomas, Abigale, there are lots of wounded. Thomas, come help me move them into the yard. Abigale, go wake the men. Are you ready, Katherine?" She nodded. The men raced off to gather the wounded and Katherine quickly gathered the supplies she would need.

Out in the yard, Thomas and Benjamin set down that first red coat and Katherine quickly knelt with a lantern. "Water," the man croaked. She held up the dipper full of water that he greedily drank. She took it from him and deftly cleaned and bandaged his arm and leg wounds. "Thank you," he whispered as she reached for the next man, Continental. She smiled back at the Redcoat.

That sad scene was repeated the entire morning over and over. Benjamin and Abigale soon joined her, bandaging and soothing the soldiers' wounds. Sometimes it would only be a small wound, quickly bandaged, but more often it was great. And a few times, Katherine gently held them in her arms as they slowly died. By mid-morning, she was covered in blood and sweat, but kept going. At least now, they had gathered all the wounded in the fields and now had to only care for them. Slowly, Katherine started to hear the tramp of approaching troops. They watched a platoon of British infantry came out of the trees and corn and down the road. Katherine slowly rose to her feet and walked to Benjamin's side on the porch.

A young, bewiged Lieutenant approached him. "Thank you for the care of His Majesty's soldiers."

The group suddenly hears the quick tramp of horses approaching and all eyes turn to the road. Around the bend at a gallop came the British Green Dragoons. Quiet gasps were heard and the young children gathered together. Katherine moved a little closer to Benjamin and glanced at Gabriel. He looked back at her, worried. The Dragoons pulled into the yard, the leader, who must be Colonel Tavington, riding a little closer, looking down at it all. The young lieutenant immediately went to his side.

Tavington ordered, "Lieutenant, have a detachment take our wounded to our surgeons at Winsboro."

The young man nodded. "Yes Sir!"

Then Tavington sneered, "Fire the house and barns."

Katherine's heart dropped. She gripped Benjamin's arm and whispered, "What?" How could he order that!

Tavington continued matter-of-factly, "Let it be known that if you harbor the enemy, you will lose your home." Susan ran up to Katherine and she scooped the little girl up where she buried her head in her shoulder. Appalled, Katherine was about to say something when he continued smugly, "By Order of His Majesty, King George, all slaves of the American Colonies that fight for the Crown shall be given their freedom."

Joshua took off his hat. "Sir, we're not slaves. We work this land, free men." He backed up as soldiers approached them.

Tavington looked off annoyed, then replied menacingly, "Then you will have the opportunity and the privilege of serving in the King's Army, aren't you?"

A soldier ran past them holding Gabriel's dispatch case. "Rebel dispatches, Sir."

He looked at them. "Who carried this?" he asked rather mildly. Looking around when no one could or would answer, he shouted, "Who carried this?"

Gabriel moved forward, shrugging on his uniform coat, answered, "I did, Sir." Everyone stared at him. Katherine gasped softly. He walked down the steps. "I was pained and these people gave me care." Benjamin followed him slowly. "They have nothing to do with the dispatches."

Tavington handed back the case. "Take this one to camp. He is a spy. Hang him and put his body on display." Everyone was thunderstruck, but when Katherine was again about to say something, Benjamin did.

"He's a Dispatch Rider," He pointed to Gabriel as the soldiers grabbed him. "And that's a marked case." Katherine noticed that he was starting to panic. Her heart clenched.

Tavington ignored him. "Destroy the livestock. Save the horses for the dragoons," he ordered.

He sneered as Benjamin started again. "Colonel, this is an uniformed dispatch rider carrying a marked case," He stepped up to the horse's head. "He cannot be held as a spy."

Tavington smiled at the simple colonial farmer. "Oh. We're not going to hold him. We're going to hang him." Katherine's eyes watered. That sarcasm was so cold it burned! If this wasn't what this was she would have laughed and she still wanted to because this was so surreal it seemed like a movie.

Thomas stepped down. "Colonel…" Benjamin started.

But Gabriel hissed, "Father."

Katherine almost saw a lightbulb turn on over Tavington's head. "Oh," he exaggerated, "I see. He's your son. Perhaps you should have taught him something of loyalty."

Benjamin tried again. "Colonel, I beg you, please reconsider. By the rules of war…"

Tavington interrupted him incensed. "By the rules of war?" He pulled out and cocked a pistol, pointing it Benjamin's face. "Would you like a lesson, Sir, in the rules of war?" Benjamin looked straight up the barrel without flinching. The Colonel changed tactics. "Or perhaps your children would?" He smiled and moved his aim to them on the porch. Benjamin ran back and flung his arms out. Katherine dropped Susan and pushed her and William behind her, using her own body as a shield.

"No lesson is necessary!" exclaimed Benjamin, panicking.

Tavington lowered and uncocked his pistol, smirking.

The Lieutenant pipped up, "Sir, what of the Rebel wounded?"

"Kill them."

The young man looked down and murmured, "Oh."

Benjamin turned away defeated and the soldiers dragged Gabriel from the house. Thomas fidgeted. "Father, do something!"

As soldiers came up with torches, Benjamin hissed, "Be quiet!"

Katherine watched Thomas shuffle as he watched Gabriel being tied to a wagon. "Thomas…" she started to warn. Thomas streaked toward Gabriel. "Thomas!" she screamed, starting forward but Benjamin pushed her back starting himself.

He ran straight into the soldiers screaming, "Run Gabriel, run!"

Benjamin sprinted forward screaming, "Wait!"

Tavington raised his pistol and fired, shooting Thomas directly in the back. Gabriel shouted, "NO! No, Thomas!" as he was dragged away.

Benjamin caught Thomas before he hit the ground. Katherine ran off the porch and to his side, Margaret right behind her. Katherine stroked the side of Thomas's face. "Oh, Thomas," she whispered. He had the cheekiness to grin before wincing with the pain. Benjamin and Katherine looked up and Tavington as he passed.

"Stupid boy."

Katherine looked down at Thomas and said loud enough for Dragoons and Thomas to hear, "No, Thomas, you aren't stupid, only very very brave. Braver than anyone I've ever seen." Thomas grinned once more and then his body relaxed. Katherine sobbed once as the shots that killed the wounded were fired and again and again. It hurt just as much as if Thomas was her true brother. She held Susan close, hiding at least the views of the carnage. Her eyes met that of the young Lieutenant. Why you do you have to be so mean?

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