Author's note: Hey there people, I know some of you have been reading this cause I can see the number of views this story gets.
Alec: And we would also like to thank you for coming back for our second chapter.
James: *seething*
Aralyn: James I'm warning you, if you kill Alec, or seriously maim him, I will kill you.
James: I'm out of here.
Alec: Say hello to Sarah and Henri for me.
James: *slams door behind him*
Aralyn: Alec, you're not helping. *rolls eyes* Ok, onto the disclaimer: I do not own James, Henri, Sarah, Moses, ect. I only own Alec, and Alexandra. Hope you like this chapie!
Liberty for All
It was an average evening in the print shop of the Pennsylvania Gazette, Sarah was upstairs writing to her mother, Henri was sneaking around the kitchen for leftovers, and James and Alec were helping Moses with the printing press, or at least trying to.
"Moses it did it again!" James complained as the press splattered ink over the two teens.
"Maybe it just doesn't like you." Alec smirked as he tried to rub the ink from his face.
James scowled as he batted at the lever on the press, "This old thing is a hunk of junk." Only to have the lever swing around and hit him in the head, causing Alec to chuckle under his breath. "How are we supposed to get out the latest news from Boston if our press keeps breaking down?" James questioned, rubbing his sore head.
"James I think this old press is ready for retirement. There' just one thing we need." Moses smiled as he gently patted the old press' wooden frame.
James immediately perked up, "Great what do you need? A wrench? A hammer? I'll fetch it for you!"
Alec face palmed himself, "He said retirement, James, not refurbishing." He mumbled, more to himself rather than James.
"A wagon." Moses said firmly.
"A what?" James asked, not sure if he had heard correctly.
"A big sturdy wagon." Moses confirmed. "I made an offer on a new press; we just have to pick it up." He explained.
"Great," James smiled, "Where is it? Market Street?"
"Williamsburg."
"Williamsburg? Williamsburg, Virginia?!" James' voice cracked in surprise.
"We leave at the first light of day." Moses nodded.
For a second neither James or Alec said a word, they simply stared at Moses.
"But, but, but Moses…" James started as he made his way around the press.
"But nothing." Moses replied sternly, "We must have a dependable press, the people count on us for their news. Besides you never know what news you'll uncover in a different colony."
"Yes, but is it safe, I mean for you. Slavery is everywhere in Virginia, it's not like Boston, or even here in Pennsylvania."
"Moses I have to agree with James," Alec said, stepping forward, "Perhaps James and could go down to Williamsburg and retrieve the press for you."
James grimaced at the thought of having to travel to Williamsburg and back with Alec. It was bad enough that they had to share a room; James couldn't even think of how torturous it would be to travel alone with him.
"These are dangerous times for everyone, and I'm willing to do what I can for the common cause." He patted James' shoulder, "And I won't be without protection, I have this letter from Doctor Franklin. It attests that I am a free man, I carry with me always."
"Moses if the colonies had ten thousand men as brave as you parliament wouldn't dare mess with us." James complimented.
"Speaking of mess…" Moses trailed off as he looked at the two ink cover boys.
"Oh right," James smiled sheepishly, "Where's the soap?"
"You don't know?" Moses asked in disbelief.
"Well, let's see," James thought out loud, "I used it just last Saturday."
"More like last January." Moses commented, half-jokingly, causing Alec to snicker.
"Alright Mister Smarty Pants," James poked at Alec as Moses went back to his work at the table, "Why don't you tell me where the soap is."
"Easy, it's by the water basin in the kitchen." Alec smiled confidently as he crossed his arms, "If you had washed your hands after working all afternoon in the stables you'd know that too."
James was about to give back a smart retort when Sarah and Henri entered the room, "Still working?" she asked, "At this hour?"
James ignored her questions, "Sarah, Henri, big news I'm going with Moses to Virginia to buy a new press."
"I believe I was going too." Alec grumbled, arms still crossed.
"And leave me here alone with her?" Henri complained.
"And leave me here alone with him?" Sarah countered.
"I'm going with you." They smiled in unison.
"Looks like we're all going." Alec grinned.
"Come on James put your back into it." Alec snapped as he, James, and Moses pushed on the back of the wagon.
"What do you think I'm doing?" James retorted with a grunt.
"Not pushing hard enough."
"I hope this new press is worth the money Moses." James groaned, choosing to ignore Alec as the three of them went back to pushing the wagon up a rather tough hill.
"Doctor Franklin always says a penny saved is a penny earned. And this new press will save us a very pretty penny." Moses reassured.
"How much longer until we get to Williamsburg?" Sarah asked, looking back.
"Yeah," Henri whined, "I'm hungry!"
"You're always hungry." James and Alec said in unison, causing James to glare at Alec in annoyance. "I hope we get there in time for the session of the House of Burgesses, I want to hear Patrick Henry speak."
"Patrick who?"
"Patrick Henry, he's a lawyer from Virginia and a delegate to the first continental congress. What a speaker." James explained.
"Don't tell me this Patrick Henry is a rebel?" Sarah questioned worriedly.
"He's not a rebel Sarah, he's a patriot. He wants the southern colonies to join the cause with New England."
"Why would a colonist of Virginia care about what happening in Massachusetts?" Sarah went on, "It's a completely different country."
"With men like Patrick Henry it might just become one country."
"Well, rebel or patriot, you can't very well write about what Mister Henry says if we don't have a new press for you to print it on, now can you?" Alec smirked, causing James to frown again.
The two of them were locked in a staring contest for a few seconds until they heard Sarah, "Look a farm!" and with a firm tug of the reins she urged the horses to stop, causing Alec, James, Henri, and Moses, all to run into the back of the wagon.
"Those workers will know how far it is to Williamsburg." Sarah guessed, looking over at the field of workers hard at work.
"Uh, Miss Philips…" Alec trailed off, a nervous pit forming in his stomach.
"We won't be stopping at that farm Sarah." Moses said firmly.
"Why not?"
"Because those workers aren't just workers," Moses explained, "They're slaves…Let's go."
And with that they all climbed into the wagon and, in grim silence continued onto Williamsburg.
As the wagon pulled into town all the teens looked around in fascination and excitement.
"This must be Williamsburg." James smiled, glad that their long trip was at least half way over.
Meanwhile Henri's nose was hard at work, "I smell ham!" he exclaimed, "I also smell mutton, roast beef, pudding and pie! Oh, I love Williamsburg!"
"Henri," James laughed, "You're part bloodhound."
"Think you could point me towards those pies you were talking about?" Alec asked eagerly.
"It is quite beautiful…civilized." Sarah remarked, admiring the town. "It reminds me of the English countryside."
Alec smiled, glad to be over the whole slave thing from a few miles back, but that smile faded when he heard a voice coming from up ahead, "Sold!"
"Oh no." Alec shuddered.
"Oh my goodness,"Sarah gasped, "Is that…?"
"Yes Sarah, the auction block." Moses said, refusing to let it faze him, "This is where my people are sold like cattle to the highest bidder. I was sold on the block in Charlestown South Carolina, but they're all the same."
"It's barbaric!" Sarah protested turning away, "I cannot look at it not another second. I want to leave this place."
"The print shop is right across the street." James sighed, "Come on Moses, let's pick up the printing press and get out of here."
"No James, you're a journalist, you have a job to do. I'll get the printing press; you get over to the House of Burgesses and find out the latest news."
"But-"
"No buts," Moses stopped James, "Each of us must do his part."
"Is it safe here for you Moses?" Sarah asked, concerned for her friend.
"As long as I have this letter I'll be fine." Moses reassured her, patting his pants pocket.
James and Henri left reluctantly, while Sarah and Alec went with Moses to the print shop to pick up the press.
By the time Alec and Moses had lifted the heavy wooden press onto the wagon several thing began to happen, first it began to rain, and second James and Henri came running back, shouting something about the meeting with Patrick Henry moving to Richmond.
Everyone piled into the wagon and Moses made his way back to the road that they had been on when they first entered town, only to stop.
"Moses?" Alec asked uncertainly.
"What's wrong Moses?"
"That's what's wrong." Moses said sadly, motioning to the auction block from earlier.
"He looks scared." James said, referring to the young man who now stood before the crowd, waiting for the bidding to begin.
"He's my brother."
"He's your brother?"
"His name is Cato, we were separated when we were young but I'd know his face anywhere."
"We have to do something." Sarah insisted.
"Yes, but what?" Henri asked.
"We can buy his freedom." She replied confidently.
"With what?" James asked, slightly doubtful such a plan would work. "We spent all our money on the printing press."
"I have some coins." Sarah offered.
"As do I." Alec concurred.
"I'll sell this wagon, these horses and carry the press home on my back if I must." Moses declared, "But I will not sit here while Cato is sold like a sack of flour."
Alec remained behind while he watched the others go into the crowd, at first he heard Moses' bid, then protests from another bidder who was a bit on the round side, who had started the bidding to begin with. Sarah stepped in only to have the man brush her aside like she was of no consequence.
Alec could feel his blood beginning to boil as the men at auction refused to listen and ignored the papers that Moses displayed, proving his freedom. Instead the man who started the dispute raised his walking stick and ripped his papers into shreds.
Moses glared at the man and struggled as four men attempted to overpower him. Fortunately he was able to get them off and walked away in silent frustration.
Cato was sold for fifty pounds to the original bidder, who was a foreman for a plantation in Richmond. They had planned on going there anyway, now they had all the more reason to go.
As Moses drove out of town Henri made himself comfortable and fell asleep leaning against Alec, who didn't seem to mind, but seemed troubled by something else.
"Alec?" Sarah asked as she sat down next to him, "Is something the matter?"
Alec gave a small sigh, "Moses finding his brother reminded me of my family." He explained sadly.
James looked back and after a second made his way back to where the others were sitting, Alec didn't talk much about his life before, and as much as James disliked the young man, he still wanted to get to know him better.
"Before I met Mister Franklin I lived with my family, my mother, father, and twin sister Alexandra. We lived just outside of Boston but we were going to visit some relatives of ours who were making a home for themselves in the wilderness. However while we were there a group of Indians attacked the house, and set fire to it. I managed to get out alright but my parents and my aunt and uncle, they didn't make it." Alec finished softly, hanging his head.
"What about your sister?" Sarah inquired, "Did she get out?"
"Yes she got out…but I've never seen her since that night, we got separated in the chaos and we never found each other. Everywhere I go I look for her, hoping that I'll find her, she's the only family I have left." Alec whispered pulling a silver pocket watch out from his vest pocket, opening it he showed a small portrait that was inside to Sarah and James. Like he had said, a mother, father, and a young girl who looked quite a bit like Alec, except she looked kinder, and here hair was down.
"I'm sorry about your family Alec," Sarah said as she placed a comforting hand in Alec's shoulder, "But maybe someday, like Moses, you'll find your sister. You never know."
Alec managed to giver Sarah a small smile in thanks, "You're right Miss Philips, and one can always hope for tomorrow."
The next morning Moses pulled the wagon to a stop in front of St. John's church, in Richmond.
Moses left while ordering Alec, James, Sarah, and Henri to stay and listen to Patrick Henry speak, but things seemed to quickly spiral out of control when Sarah found Moses' tattered papers still in the wagon. "James, Alec, look his letter!"
"Well, it doesn't take four of us to copy down a speech." James reasoned.
"And I can barely write my name." Henri stated, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically.
"True." James thought, "But you are world class sneak. Henri tail Moses, keep your distance so he doesn't know he's being followed."
"But at the first sign of trouble fly back here and get us." Sarah added, "Do you understand?"
"Certaimo! Maybe I cannot write English but I understand it plenty." And with that Henri jumped from the wagon side and began running after Moses.
"I'm going with him, just to make sure he stays out of trouble." Alec said as he hoisted himself out of the wagon.
"Be careful Alec." Sarah called after him.
"Certainly Miss Philips." Alec said as he turned and quickly gave a small bow in farewell before racing after Henri.
Alec and Henri where successful in tailing Moses to the plantation but soon after Moses had gone in to get Cato the same foreman who had been at the auction burst into the small cabin and discovered Moses.
Without hesitation him and his men captured Moses and Alec grabbed Henri and made it out of there as if the red coats were on their heels right then and there. They needed to tell James and Sarah.
"James! Sarah!" Henri shouted as he and Alec vaulted over the short brick wall surrounding the church.
"We have to hurry!" Alec urged, grabbing Sarah and James' hands.
"Moses has been captured by the plantation men." Henri explained.
"No." Sarah gasped.
Quickly all four of them ran for the wagon and before you could say lobster backs, James had the horses racing to the plantation at top speed.
When they reached the main house they all knocked frantically on the front door until the owner opened the door with a less that welcoming mood, "Yes, how may I help you?"
"We're looking for our friend." James answered sternly.
"Moses," Henri snapped, "His name is Moses, now let him go!"
Alec and James held an angry Henri back while the plantation owner scowled at them, "What makes you think I have your friend, this Moses character?"
"We saw you foreman Everson take him prisoner." Henri accused, motioning that Alec had witnessed the event as well.
"The runaway caught causing trouble?"
"Yes sir." Sarah confirmed. "He is our friend, only Moses is not a runaway. See for yourself." With that she handed over the papers Moses had forgotten.
"What is this?"
"That is a letter from Doctor Benjamin Franklin of Philadelphia."
"I am aware of Doctor Franklin, but why is this any of his business?"
"Because as a man of honor you have no right to keep that which does not belong to you." Sarah reprimanded.
"And this Moses, he belongs to Doctor Franklin?"
"Moses belongs to himself." James corrected his tone harsh.
In the end Moses was released without any more problems, but they would return to Philadelphia without Cato. But James got his story, even if Sarah didn't agree with the message.
"It's all a bunch of hogwash." She protested.
"Hogwash? Sarah, it was greatness!" James argued.
"All that talk of freedom and liberty. What about what happened to Moses?"
"Yeah and what about Cato?" Henri added.
"Yeah Moses what about Cato?" James repeated, starting to wonder the same thing.
"Look." Moses pointed forward.
Up ahead on a tree was flyer advertising the release of any slave who would fight against the rebelling colonists. Cato had chosen his own path to freedom, and Alec wished deep down that Cato would have his freedom someday but he also hoped that Cato would not have to come to fighting, though they both seemed unlikely.
When they finally arrived home Alec couldn't sleep, he lay in bed, wide awake, and with something he had heard Sarah say echoing in his mind.
"Freedom will not come cheaply, it never does…"
Aralyn: And that is so true, freedom is never cheap, there is always a price to pay for it.
Sarah: So why bother paying such a steep price just so you can say you are free.
Alec: No offence to you or your country Miss Philips but we are Americans. True, with some of us our roots are british, but we as individuals want to stand on our own, to be our own people, and to be recognized as such by other nations.
James: For once I have to agree with you Alec. 'Never thought I'd say that.'
Sarah: Well, I may not agree with it but that was very well put Alec.
Aralyn: Awwww! Ya'll all getting along!
Alec, James, and Sarah: *look at each other and then return to what they were doing before*
Aralyn: And that moment flew out the window. Thank you readers for sticking with us and I hope you will review and let me know your thoughts. I love compliments, appreciate constructive critisism, and would really like it if we stayed away from flames. Thank you all and have a simply amazin' week!