Chapter 7
SURVIVOR
Lord Cornwallis was busily making arrangements for the engagement party. Major Bordon was surprised by this, but was perfectly happy to allow the Lord General to make plans for them. The Major had to keep his mind on being a Dragoon, but somehow his little princess was always in his mind. Cornwallis made it no secret that he wanted his little girl to have a wonderful party. He had no children of his own and in the weeks that she had been at Fort Carolina, Amanda had filled the spot well.
Amanda was often seen about the Fort. She always seemed deep in thought and so no one dared to interrupt. She walked in the gardens and paused by a great tree.
"You know the silent treatment won't get you your way William." She said softly.
Tavington, who was seated just above her on a thick branch hidden from view by the thick trunk of the tree, was still wondering how she knew where he was. She always found him. Even as a child she had found him.
She moved to face him reaching an arm up to rest on his leg. He glared down at her silently.
"Aren't you happy for me?"
"I'm happy I do not have to draw and quarter my second in command." He quipped.
"Good God William!" She said loudly. "Most brothers would be happy to see their sisters off and wed."
His face twisted. "Yes, but you aren't going off. You're staying here until this war is over and becoming Mrs. Robert Bordon." He said the last words sarcastically. He was really angry.
"What bothers you more William? The fact that I fell in love or the fact I'll no longer be under your protection?"
"That you can't escape I'm afraid. Big brother always watches you." He said with a smug look.
"Why are you so angry?"
"I want what is best for you and marrying Bordon may not be the best."
"I think I can decide that for myself now."
"Can you?" He asked. "I am the head of our household. I still have final authority."
"You would not dare stop me from being happy."
"But he is under you Mandy." He pleaded trying to get her to see his view.
"No he is under you. He is your subordinate. He comes from a good family and you know that. You've been friends with him for some time."
"That is why I don't think he is for you. I know what he is like."
She was losing patience with him. She reached up and grabbed his jacket pulling him earthwards. That caught him totally off guard. He tumbled down and landed hard on his bottom. He scowled up at her as she stood over him. "I came to ask you for your blessing and to ask if you would be Robert's best man."
"Blessing? You want me to give a blessing to a marriage I don't approve of?" he asked. She nodded her head.
"That was the idea." She said.
He rolled his eyes. He got to his feet. "Why are you doing this to me?" He asked.
"It is my life I thought." She said back.
"You are a woman. You have no life of your own outside of the family you are born to and later the family you marry into."
Her blood burned at that. She lifted her hand and slapped him hard and audibly. He was surprised at the strength she had behind the hand. The blow hurt and knocked his head slightly to the side. He looked at her. He was shocked that she would strike him for such a statement of fact.
"Father told Mother that and look how she wound up." She hissed.
He gazed at her. She had a very determined expression on her face. The look in her eyes ate away at his soul. It unnerved him how a simple look could cause him to change his mind. Damn women!
He closed his eyes and took a soothing breath. "You know, it is unfair to do that to a man."
"Do what William?" she asked innocently.
"Those eyes." He said looking away. He lifted his hands up towards Heaven as he looked up. "Lord give me strength."
She laughed and hugged him knowing that she had won yet again. He wrapped his arms loosely around her. "You know even though I will give your union my blessing, I still do not approve of it."
She leaned up and kissed his bruised cheek. He rolled his eyes cursing himself for his weakness.
"I love you William."
"What is this about being a best man?" He asked arching an eyebrow. "I thought I would be giving you away."
"Lord Cornwallis seems to think as my adopted father he needs to do it. Besides you get to make a speech." She said with a grin.
"You are really cruel at times." He said.
"I know. The engagement party is in a three days. Don't get yourself killed."
"Don't worry. I don't intend to."
She smiled and moved away from him. "Then I will see you later for tea?"
"No. Your fiancé and I must go out and patrol until this evening. Dinner perhaps."
She nodded. "Until then."
She walked off. She really is a Tavington, he thought to himself. More headstrong than a mule, but still had a heart of gold.
True to his word Tavington and Bordon had to leave soon. Bordon found his young fiancée. He kissed her goodbye and said he would be back by nightfall.
An urgent request came to her from camp, near Middleton Place. They had injured and she was needed. Dr. McKeean had asked for her especially.
Captain Fredrickson escorted her down. She arrived sometime later. She walked in, grabbing a newly washed apron as she did. Fredrickson told her there had been an attack on a patrol. He was not sure how many had survived.
McKeean and a young assistant were trying to hold a younger bloody man down on the table. She tied on her apron and walked to him. She laid her hand on his forehead and began to hum softly. The gentle song without words had a calming effect on the man. He relaxed and looked up at her. He had deep slashes about his chest and face. He had been through hell.
She gently cleaned his face as the doctor cleaned and wrapped the chest wounds. The patient looked up at her with large gray eyes full of pain. "Are you an angel?" he asked in a thick Scottish accent.
"No. I'm your nurse." She said.
He raised a bloody hand to her cheek and she looked at him. "It hurts." He whimpered.
"I know. Be strong." She said. She dabbed salve on his face and let him relax into the cot. McKeean was lifting a bloody bandage as she washed her hands.
She heard a familiar voice from outside. "Sir. We have he private the Cherokee scouts brought in." Bordon entered the tent followed by her brother. Both were not wearing their helms. Bordon was carrying his under his arm. He turned back slightly to his Colonel. Tavington paused a moment. His eyes flickered surprise when he saw his sister there, but then he regained his composer. He took a couple of steps forward. He put his arms behind him.
"Private. Private." He said softly, but firmly to get the young man's attention. He turned his head to the officer. "Colonel Tavington, Green Dragoons. What happened? Who did this?" He asked.
"Him…" The man started. He tried to sit up. Amanda came over and offered a supporting hand on his back. "It was mad. I couldn't really tell you what it was…" He said. He was becoming agitated. Amanda flashed her brother a look. The patient was weak enough. Did he really have to have him relive what he had been through now?
Tavington seemed to notice her warning stare. "Calm down. Calm down, man." He said holding out an arm and coming to the cot's side. "Now 20 of His Majesty's soldiers are dead…and I need to know how?" He asked gently. Amanda helped him ease back to a lying position.
"He said there were…"Bordon began coming forward.
"Were you there?" Tavington snapped over his shoulder. "Then let him speak!"
Bordon bowed his head at the command and stepped back. He looked at Amanda whose eyes were on her brother in a deadly stare. How dare he speak that way to Robert. His emotions about the marriage were tainting his judgement.
Tavington turned back to the man who was nervously looking up at him. "Take your time. Were they militia? Were they regulars?"
"I don't really remember how many. Maybe one."
"One man? Really?" Tavington blinked. He straightened up slightly.
"He was in the flank. Around us. Amongst us. I could barely see him. He was there and then he was gone."
"He just vanished. Sounds more like a ghost than a man." Tavington said with a slight smile.
"Yes a ghost. He was like a ghost." The man said pleading with the colonel to see.
Tavington looked forward. He saw the look on his sister's face as she turned to dab water on her patient's brow. She had noticed another man come in. He was tall and was speaking with Bordon.
"Enough." Tavington said. He took a deep breath. "Bordon…" Bordon turned to face him. "Take a patrol. See if we can't catch this ghost before word of his exploits spread. Who's this?" He said turning to the new comer he only just now knew was there.
"Sir." Bordon said. "This is Captain Wilkins. He was with the Loyalist Colonial Militia. I thought he may be of some use."
Amanda saw the tall man straighten in front of the colonel. He made Tavington and Bordon seem small as he stood at attention.
"Another Colonial." Tavington scoffed. "Tell me Captain Wilkins where do your loyalties lie?"
"To King and Country sir."
"And why should I trust a man who betrays neighbors?"
"Those neighbors of mine who stand against England deserve to die a trader's death ?"
"We'll see." Tavington said in his "I really don't care what you say because I hate you anyway" voice.
Bordon stood at attention as the Colonel walked out. He followed. Wilkins was standing still. He turned to leave just as Amanda got to the door. He nearly sent her sprawling. He caught her and held her upright. "I'm sorry Miss." He said softly.
She smiled. "You are pardoned." She said and moved out. She went to go find her brother and fiancé. There was rumor of a battle that was going to take place around camp. She wanted to see them before they were injured or worse in the battle.
