Sorry it has taken me so long to update. Between holidays and life in general. Thank you to everyone who is reviewing. You guys are the reason I keep writing. Here's a new chapter hope you enjoy!
Chapter 7: General Cornwallis
"Don't stop running!" Roxanne thought as she ran through the woods, across creeks. She turned to see a dark figure on horseback behind her. She could see nothing beside the figures ice blue eyes. Suddenly she fell into a hole. "I'm going to die!" Roxanne screamed in her mind. She looked up to see the figure holding a gun pointed at her head.
"NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Roxanne screamed as she sat up in bed broke out in a cold sweat. She went to reach for her gun but cried out as she grabbed her arm. It was bandaged but there was no bleeding through the cloth. "Where am I?" she whispered to herself. She was in a large room with wood floors and a few bits of furniture. She looked under the blanket to find her in some nightclothes that were not hers. She slipped out of the large bed to investigate her new surroundings. She looked out the window and saw several British soldiers in formation and around the building was a large wooden fence. "I must be at the British fort?" Roxy responded with herself. "but why am I still alive?" That was the real question. She turned back to the room and saw a large ceramic water basin on top of a oak cabinet. She grabbed a cloth that was next to the basin and put it in the water and began to wash her face. The water was fairly warm so she assumed that someone would be in soon. She sat on the bed and began to peel the bandage off of her arm. The wound was small more of a scratch. Flashbacks of her attempt to outrun the British came flooding back. Shaking her long blonde hair she began to inspect the wound more carefully. Judging by the scabbing she figured she had been knocked out for about three days.
"Oh miss we had been wondering if you would ever wake." Roxanne turned quickly to see a elder black slave holding towels. "The General will want to know that you have wakened immediately, but first I will get you some clothes." with that the slave turned on her heel and ran out the door before Roxy could ask her anything.
"Well wonderful, I'm just dying to get interrogated by the general." She shot at no one in particular. She sat down on the large comfy bed running her fingers through her long hair, "Well on the plus side if I don't die for treason today I can cut this hair." Roxy had always preferred short hair to long hair. For one it was easier to manage and it drove her father insane. Thinking of her father and her family she pushed back a tear. It had been about eighteen months since she saw them in Charlestown and she had not written them because her men were to well hidden and they didn't want to risk being found just to send a letter to her family. She brushed the tangles out of her hair and rubbed her neck. There she felt the necklace that her aunt had given her that day in Charleston. "OH NO KING!" She bolted from the bed and ran to the door just as it was opening. Roxanne slid to a stop just in front of the slave. "Oh miss you can't come out of your room much less dressed in that." She said smiling kindly. "No you don't understand I need to find King I have never not seen him everyday! HE NEEDS ME!" Roxanne exasperated.
The slaved looked at her with a thoughtful expression. "OH you must be speaking of the great black horse that followed the Green Dragoons in when they brought you here." Roxy nodded quickly. "Yes is he alright?!" "Oh yes miss he is just fine. I wish that could be said for the men who have been trying to tame him. He is a wild one miss. He is locked up in the round pen for now. The general plans to make him his new steed. But between you and me, miss, that horse don't want nothing to do with anyone. He has just been all in a frenzy. Crying in the middle of the night, running around the pen like he was some poor baby that lost his mama."
Roxanne sighed with relief, "At least he is here." She thought to herself. "Now miss we must get you dressed for the General he wants to see you immediately." She said setting the clothes on the bed. "I'm sorry but I did not catch your name." Roxanne said looking at the woman. The woman looked up at her with a shocked expression. "My name is Alice, but you don't have to call me that just holler and anyone of us will come running." Roxanne smiled, "I was not raised that way and I would prefer if you would call me Roxy, being called miss just makes me feel like an old woman." She finished with a laugh. Alice smiled at the odd young woman.
"Oh," Roxy said holding up the sky blue dress. "Is something the matter?" Alice questioned. "Yes, you see, alice, I haven't worn a dress since I was five and I don't plan on starting anytime soon. Is it possible you could bring me some trousers and a shirt."
"Well, Roxy, we had to cut up your shirt but I am sure I could find you another and I have your pants in a drawer downstairs. I will be right back." Alice said. "Thank you so much. Oh and one more thing could you perhaps find me a long piece of cloth." Alice was becoming more and more interested with the young girl by the second. She was definitely not like other girls but then again rumor around the fort was that she was a colonial colonel who was wounded in battle. She nodded as she left the room.
Soon she was back with Roxy's clothes and boots. "Thank you Alice." 'Not a problem some soldiers will be here to escort you to General Cornwallis's room." Roxy nodded as Alice left the room. As she dressed she felt naked still without her knife, axe and two pistols that she always carried on her person. As she tied a leather strap around her long blonde hair she heard a knock at her door.
"Come in." Roxanne said turning to the door. "Miss we are here to escort you to General Cornwallis's office." a brown haired private said. Roxanne smiled at the lad. "He must be about 16." she thought to herself. Walking out the door a redheaded freckled faced private who hadn't spoke reached out to grasp her arm. Quick as a cat Roxy dodged out of the way and swung her right fist into the privates face. The private doubled over clutching his nose. She looked over at the brunette private cocking an eyebrow at him daring him to try something. The private just smiled at her and said, "If you will follow me it's just down this way." Roxy smiled at the man as they got farther from the crumpled private the other replied, "You don't take a lot of crap do you?" She laughed, "Being a Colonel you can't." He nodded as they came to a large oak double doors. The private knocked as they heard a muffled "enter". The room was large and roomy. There were just a few chairs and a large desk that a very impressive looking man set. His hair was graying tho again that could be the powder that many Englishmen found in style, personally Roxy did not understand it but she was not exactly the classiest person in the world. He looked about 6 feet tall and probably about 250 pounds, obviously he thought war was a sporting event that one played and viewed on horseback, however she knew that he was a highly intelligent man in warfare for he had won every battle flawlessly.
"Hello I am General Cornwallis and if I have heard correctly you would be Colonial Martin of the South Carolina Militia." he said looking up at the young woman. "You hear a lot sir." Roxy replied as polite as she could. The general stared at the young woman. She was pretty in a wild sort of way. He had to admit she was a imposing figure. When he had heard of a female Colonel that had been nicknamed the Phantom, because of her inability to be seen or heard, he had figured she would be a older, butchier built of a woman. She was far from that with her long blonde hair, commanding blue eyes and her strong build. Cornwallis guessed she probably only weighed about 100 pounds and about 5 foot 4 but standing straight with her head held high she looked and acted about 6 foot. "Yes, you have also killed many of my officers and have prevented me from already winning this war." "Well at least I'm good at my job," she smarted back.
The General was taken aback at her smart mouth. "Well in civilized warfare" "I care not of civilized warfare when there is a war going on." she cut in. "Well I do and since you are my prisoner I will abide by the rules. Now would you care to tell me what I want to know." "And what would you like to know sir?" She replied sweetly. "How about where General Gates is and where he plans to attack?" Roxanne laughed at this statement. "Surly General you don't expect me to tell you. I would rather die then betray my country." She stated matter o factly. "Well my dear you cannot blame me for trying, he said smiling. "Until you decide to tell me everything you will be given quarters in this household and be a prisoner. However you being a woman complicates this." At this the general looked up to see her reaction unfortunately there was none. "So you will be treated like a lady and I will allow you one supervised outing onto the grounds, until you decide to tell me what you know you will remain in this household and if you try to escape I will have you hang. Do I make myself clear?" he finished. "Crystal clear sir." Roxanne replied. "Now since you have been bed ridden for a few days I will allow you to tour the grounds with one of my colonel's. Private!" he called and the man who escorted her came into the room. "Could you escort Colonel Martin to Colonel Tarleton room and tell him that he needs to show her the grounds." He finished waving them off. The private clicked his heels and she followed him out of the room.
"What's your name private?" she asked the boy as they walked down the hall. "Paul ma'am." he said. "The General is a strange man." Roxanne finally stated. "Well you are a strange case you know being a woman and a Colonel. Usually we just interrogate officers till they tell everything but I guess he thinks you will tell everything on your own just so you can be released." Paul said quickly. "Well he is in for a rude awakening because I am no ordinary woman." She said with a laugh.