One Week Later...

In a day's time, the girl and her father made it to the manor on the hill. From there, they got directions to the homestead where they would make their new home. Unfortunately, Katherine didn't see the man who saved them that day.

"I'm so stupid. I should have asked him for his name. He's just a Native man in a white hood. Well, that is mighty extravagant. Don't see things like that every day."

"Kitty?"

"Yeah, Pa?"

"You thinking about something?" asked George.

Katherine leaned on her hands. "The man who saved us. Do you think we'll see him again?"

"Do you want to see him again?"

"Well, I don't want to be in trouble, but I do want to see him again. Maybe he'll come to our new farm?"

"If he's willing, maybe he'll marry you!" George said.

"Pa! Every time I talk about a man, you think I'm trying to marry him! I'm just...interested in him, that's all," Katherine said, playing with her fingers.

"Of course...you never been interested in Sam or Willie. What makes this man so special?"

Katherine balled her hands in her lap. "He's just interesting, that's all! Wouldn't you like to at least know the name of the man who saved your life?"

"Don't go chasing after him now. If he is willing to marry you, you'll scare him off before he gets his foot in the door," George teased.

"I'm not trying to marry him, Pa!"

George smiled at his daughter. "We'll see about that. I know you."

April, 1775

The new farm was performing amazingly well. For once, George let Katherine splurge a little in the neighboring town. On the way to the general store, she passed by three boys, playing in the street. At the sight of her, they began to play around her on the foot path.

"Aren't you boys just the sweetest things?"

Katherine knelt down, placing a coin in each of their hands.

"Go spend it on whatever you want!"

"Thank you, miss!" the boys cried happily, running off to spend their newly given money.

She continued on, passing by a group of patrolling Redcoats. She kept her head down, slipping into the shop.

"You a customer?"

Katherine's head snapped up from the floor. "Oh! Yes. I wanted to buy something for my Pa."

"Looking for something specific?" asked the keep.

"No..."

Out of the corner of her eye, Katherine spotted a gold pocketwatch.

"Oh! Pa would love this! How much for the pocketwatch?" asked Katherine.

"A hundred pounds," said the shopkeep.

"Why...that's all I got."

"That'll do if you really want to get your father that watch."

Katherine smiled. "Well, since it's for my Pa, I don't mind parting with the money."

She placed the money on the counter, the man placing the watch in her hand.

"Ain't got a box for it."

"Oh, it don't matter! Pa'll like it either way! Thank you!"

She placed the watch in her pocket, hoping to hurry home soon to see the look on her father's face.

On the way home, an errant wind blew the girl's bonnet off.

"Oh! My hat! Pa gave me that hat!"

Before she could pick up, a hand grabbed it and held it out to her.

"Is this yours?"

Katherine recognized that voice.

It was the same man, the one in the hood who saved her.

"It's you!" she cried.

The man's brows furrowed as she put the bonnet back on.

"You're the man who saved me and my Pa from those Redcoats!"

"Oh. You're that girl."

The hooded stranger looked around.

"It isn't safe to speak here. Too many eyes. Follow me."

Normally, Katherine wouldn't follow a strange man down murky side streets. This time, she followed behind the stoic man. Once they were safely out of view, only did he turn to her.

"You were saying?"

Katherine stammered, blushing wildly. "Oh, wow. I didn't really have anything prepared to say to you. I just...never thought I'd see you again."

The man nodded. "Yes?"

"Uh...my Pa and I moved to the Homestead like you said. We really like it there."

"That so?"

"Yeah! It's quiet and pretty at night and nobody bothers us or steals our chickens," Katherine said.

The stranger was a good listener.

"I'm so rude. I'm Katherine," she said, holding out a dainty hand. The man took it gently and hesitantly, her blush deepening.

"Connor. Pleasure to meet you."

"Connor..."

"Strangely normal name for a Native." she thought.

He let go of her hand.

"I didn't mean to stay this long."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know you were busy. I wouldn't have bothered you."

"You aren't a bother," Connor reassured her. "I must go."

"Y-yeah. I've got to get back to my Pa. No doubt he's worrying his breeches off!"

"Hm. You'd do best to get back to him. I'll lead you back to the main street so you can find your way."

"That's mighty kind of you, Connor. Thank you," Katherine said, curtsying to the kind man.

Silently, she followed her now-known savior. She found a sudden liking in watching the man's strong back.

At the split in the road, Connor pointed up the hill.

"Homestead is that way."

"Thank you again. I should be able to find my way from here," Katherine said. "It was nice seeing you again."

"Hm."

Connor turned his back, prepared to walk back down the road. Suddenly, he turned back around.

"Could you do me a favor?"

Katherine perked up, blushing. "Anything!"

"Could you not tell anyone you saw me? Keep this meeting between us."

She had no idea why, but she figured she'd better listen to him.

"Sure! My lips are sealed."

"Thank you. Take care."

"Uh...you too."

She watched him leave before turning herself and returning home.

George looked up from his book as the door opened.

"Pa! Pa! You'll never guess who I ran into in town!" Katherine cried, hanging up her bonnet.

"Sit down. Catch your breath, then tell me who you saw," George said.

Katherine sat in a chair across from her father. "Really, Pa! Guess who I saw?"

"Who?"

"The man who saved us! He talked to me and everything!"

"Is that so? Did you get his name?"

"I did! His name's Connor!"

"That's a nice name."

"But," Katherine said, putting a finger to her lips. "He said I couldn't tell anyone that I saw him."

"But, you just told me, Kitty," George laughed.

"Yeah...but now, you can't tell anyone!"

George shook his head. "Oh, dear. What did you get from the store?"

Katherine looked down at her feet. "I spent all the money you gave me, but I hope you like it."

"You hope I like it?"

She pulled the pocketwatch out of the pocket of her apron, handing it to her father.

"It was a hundred pounds, Pa, but I wanted to get it for you."

"Katherine...it's magnificent, but you didn't have to."

"I wanted to, Pa. For everything you do for me."

"Spent all your money on me. Girl, you'd probably give someone the shirt off your back," George said, hugging his daughter. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Pa."

George ushered his daughter from the living room. "Go rest. I already did the work."

"Pa, you know you ain't fit for all that work!" Katherine cried.

"Oh, hush, child. I'm fine."

"You won't be in the morning when your back is killing you and you can't stand up."

"So, about your 'Connor'. Think he'll be willing to settle down with you?"

Katherine covered her ears. "Pa! Stop it! Stop talking about me marrying him!"

George knew just how to get under his daughter's skin.

Katherine lay on her bed, smiling into a pillow.

"You know...marrying him wouldn't that bad, but I just met the man. Surely, he won't marry me without meeting my Pa first or without knowing me more."

Katherine shook her head.

"Why am I thinking about marrying him?"

Eventually, Katherine rolled over, falling asleep.

"Connor?"

"Katherine. Thank you for meeting me here."

"Where are we?"

Connor led her to a river bank, helping her into a wooden boat.

"I never been in a boat before."

"Glad I could be your first."

Katherine blushed. "You're a right gentleman, Connor."

"I try."

They silently rode down the gentle river, Katherine sneaking glances at Connor.

"What's this all about, Connor?"

"I just wanted to do this for you."

"But, why?"

"I'm...you're interesting, is all. I haven't been able to stop thinking about you."

"Me neither. Er, thinking about you, that is!"

Connor smiled beneath his hood, Katherine's blush growing and heating her ears.

"Katherine..."

"Yeah..."

He leaned in to her, their lips mere inches away. She could feel his heavy, but even, breathing against her lips as he brushed his bottom lip against hers tentatively. Her eyes slipped shut as their lips fully met in a chaste kiss. Slowly, she opened her eyes. Connor hadn't pulled away yet. She took the moment to study his face. Faintly flushed, but oddly tense. Had he never kissed a woman before?

Finally, Connor pulled away, releasing a breath he'd been holding.

Katherine touched her lips. "That was my first kiss."

"Mine as well. I'm glad I got to share it with you."

"Oh...Connor..."

"Katherine..."

Katherine's eyes snapped open, her face turning beet red. She rolled over onto her stomach, pressing her hot face into her pillow.

"Oh, my God! I'm dreaming about him!"