Chapter 4:

Two Fathers

The next day the martin family started their journey to Charlestown. As usual that morning Roxanne and her father had fought about what she wore and how she got to Charlestown. Gabriel walked out of the house shaking his head. "Are they coming ?" Thomas inquired. Gabriel just rolled his eyes just as they heard. "A PROPER LADY WEARS DRESSES AND RIDES IN CARRAIGES, A LADY DOES NOT WHERE BREECHES AND RIDES A WILD ANIMAL." "WELL WOULD YOU RATHER ME BE A PROPER LADY SO THAT MEN WHO ACT LIKE WILD ANIMALS CAN JUST RIP MY DRESS UP AND DEFLOWER ME! I DON'T THINK SO! AND KING IS NOT WILD HE IS JUST PICKY ABOUT WHO RIDES HIM!" "Come on", Gabriel said to everyone outside, "They are about done and we should be ready to leave so Father does not get more upset." The family nodded as they climbed into the wagon as Gabriel mounted his horse. A few seconds later Benjamin walked out of the house his face beet red from anger as Roxanne bounced out of the house in her usual black breeches and white shirt with her hair pulled back out of her face except for a few wild hairs that she could never tame. "I can see your horse is not here nor ready and we will not wait for you," her father snorted. Roxanne just smiled and let out a loud whistle. Almost instantly King appeared tacked and ready to go. Not even retorting back to her father she jumped on to king indian style and rode up to Gabriel. Gabriel just shook his head as he looked at his older sister. "What?" she inquired to her brother. "Only you can make him that angry and he still smiles at you when you do that." Roxanne just laughed as she kicked King into a trot as they made their way, finally, to Charlestown.

When Charlestown came into view Roxanne kicked King into a gallop passed her father egger to see aunt Charlotte. Once in Charlestown she rode King to a small stable down the street from her aunt's. "Well if it isn't trouble?" She heard as she dismounted. "Me trouble surly you jest Mr. Brown," Roxanne retorted to the elderly short portly man who owned the stable. "Boy, ever time you bring King into my stable it upsets me that I let you have him." Mr. Brown said longingly as he eyed the huge stallion. "Mr. Brown you would have never been able to raise him after his mother passed." She replied patting King. "Still a shame, when will you let me have him to breed my mares?" he asked as the blonde started to untack the horse. "Soon, he is only four years old he will be around for awhile. " Mr. Brown smiled at the young girl. "So are you ever going to get married girl, your father must be chomping at the bit so to say," "Oh you no there is no man in my life except for King." She said as she closed the gate to the stall. Mr. Brown laughed. "If I ever had a daughter I think she would be just like you. Makes me happy I never had anything but sons!" Mr. Brown howled with laughter. Roxanne giggled a little at this. She thought of Mr. Brown as a father figure for he had always been good to her and he gave her king and tack for him. "Well I'm afraid I must go and meet my aunt." Roxanne said as she gave him a hug. "Will you come by later there is something I want to give you that do not fit my sons anymore." He said as she went to leave. "Of course I will see you later." Roxanne replied as she headed to her aunt's.

Roxanne arrived at her aunt's house just as soon as the rest of the family had. The children all ran to embrace their aunt egger to see her. "My god, they're huge what have you been feeding them," Aunt Charlotte said. "Well they're from good stock from their mother side of course." Benjamin replied. Roxanne smiled she could see that her father and her aunt loved each other but they could not see it. All the children ran inside to find their presents as Roxanne came up to hug her aunt. "Roxanne look at you, you look more like your mother everyday." Roxanne smiled as her father said, "And she gets more of my attitude every second." Roxy smiled at her father knowing that there fight at the house did not matter anymore. "I have something for you as well Roxanne." Aunt Charlotte said as she pulled a necklace from her pocket. It was a silver horse on a silver chain. "It's beautiful." Roxanne gasped as she put it around her neck. "I saw it in a window and I knew you had to have it." Charlotte said smiling. "Thank you I will wear it always." Roxanne replied hugging her aunt. Suddenly she heard a crash. "I guess I better settle the hooligans down." Roxanne sighed as she left her father and aunt to talk.

Later that evening Roxanne walked around with Gabriel as they observed the craziness that Charlestown was in. Everywhere guns were going off as people burning scarecrows shaped like redcoats and people making speeches. "Look there is Anne Howard." Roxanne said to her brother as she ran to her friend. "Anne." Roxanne said as she came closer to her. "Roxanne," Anne exclaimed as she hugged her friend. "How are you?" Roxanne asked. "I'm well..," Anne was interrupted by Gabriel. Roxanne smiled as she ducked away from the two. She knew that Gabriel fancied Anne and figured it was best to leave them two be. Roxy made her way to Mr. Brown's house as she had promised to visit him. "Miss. Martin," she heard a sly voice behind her. She turned to see Mr. Wilkins smiling at her. "Mr. Wilkins," Roxanne replied coolly. She had never liked him and he had recently been making sly hints about courting her. "I'm afraid I cannot speak with you as I have other engagements elsewhere." Roxanne said as politely as she could. "But…." Mr. Wilkins had begun to say as soon as she had disappeared. He looked around but he could not locate her. Shaking his head he continued to the whore house where he was planning to release some tension.

Roxanne quickly made her way to Mr. Brown's and thankfully was not stopped by anymore men wanted her affections. "There you are," Mr. Brown said as Roxy walked into his home. "Sorry I was delayed." Roxanne snorted. "Ahh by more suitors no doubt." Roxanne rolled her eyes and sat across from the elder man. "Here," He said after she sat tossing her a package. Roxanne opened it to find a pair of black riding boots, several pairs of breeches, shirts, socks and even a nice pair of wool lined leather gloves. Roxanne was flabbergasted. "I I I I can't accept these," she stuttered slipping on the gloves which where soft to the touch and warmer than any pair she owned. "Now now you are like a daughter to me and they don't fit my sons and I would rather see them put to good use. I know you will be cold out in the wilderness with the militia." Roxanne stopped looking through the package at this statement. "How did you know?" she finally asked. "I talked to Colonel Burwell he told me." Roxanne shook her head. "How do you plan to tell your father?" Mr. Brown asked finally. "I'm not sure yet." Roxanne said putting her head in her hands. "Well I will tell you something pet." He said softly. Roxanne looked up as he said, "No matter what you say or do your father will love you no matter what." Roxanne smiled at this. "Well I must be going it is late." She replied after awhile gathering up her gifts. "Wait one more thing." Mr. Brown got up from the green armchair. He went to his gun cabinet and pulled out a array of items. "Take these with you I want you to be well protected." He said handing her a saddle bag with two rifles, three pistols, a knife to put into her boot, and a axe he took of a Indian from the war along with a array of ammunition. Roxanne nodded as she set it with King's tack that was in the house as Mr. Brown had been cleaning it which was normal when Roxanne was in town. "One last thing he said pulling a small oak box out of a drawer. It held a diamond and sapphire hair clip." Roxanne gasped at this gift. "My wife wore this when I met her and the day we were married. I have not much longer to live and I want you to have it so that maybe someday you may get married to the love of you life as where this on that special day that you marry him." Roxanne began to weep as she embraced the man. Stepping back she nodded and smiled. She walked out the door hoping against hope that she would see him after the war was over and that he would make it to see her wedding day.

Roxanne came into her aunts house to find her father sitting in the library. "Hello father" Roxanne softly said. Benjamin smiled and motioned her to sit next to him. Roxanne sat and put her head on her father shoulder as he put his arm around her. After a few quiet minutes Benjamin finally said, "I'm sorry," "For what?" Roxanne inquired. "For yelling at you this morning. I know better than to make you into something your not." Roxanne replied, "I know you want me to be married and have children and be a lady, but that's not me." "I know and that is why I love you so much. You will always be my little girl. I love the way you do things on your own in your own way. I was so proud the day you learned how to shoot a gun. I was proud of you when you dragged that scraggly mangy foal home and nursed him back to health. I was proud when you broke him to ride and the joy I saw in you the first time you rode him bareback in the field. I know that no matter what you do in life that you will be ok. But I still want to be your rock but I know that you don't need me." Benjamin finished. Roxanne sat up and looked at her father. "No matter how old I get or what I accomplish in life I will always need you and I will always look up to you. I love you dad." Benjamin smiled at his daughter's statement. "Well we have a long day tomorrow you need to get your rest." Roxanne nodded as she rose from the couch and went to bed. When she arrived into the guest room she sighed thinking, "What am I going to do?" she lay down in her bed knowing what lay ahead for her and worried what will happen. She closed her eyes and drifted to sleep.