"Sam?" What are you doing here?" he asked rushing over to me. "Father what is the meaning of this?" He turned quickly around to face Ben.
"Like I said, we are going to join you," Ben answered.
"No, absolutely not. I don't know how you can even consider that Father. Samantha cannot fight in a war. Do you not remember how dangerous it can be?" Gabriel yelled.
"I know son and Sam is completely aware of what is going to be happening. But she is here not only for your brothers and sisters safety but also her own. If Tavington does remember her and who she is, he may very well use her against us," Ben reasoned.
Gabriel signed in defeat. He knew his father was right and didn't want to admitted it. He shook his head and turned his eyes to me.
"I don't like it," he started, "But Father is right. I couldn't live with myself if something were to happen to you or if that monster even comes close to you again. My one question is, how are we going to convince the Continental Army that she is a boy?"
"We have to be a bit creative," I answered. "We found some of Thomas' old clothing at your Aunt Charlotte's house. With other interesting measures, let's just say I make a very convincing boy. May I introduce myself? My name is Sam Martin." I gave a little bow.
"But one thing is the voice," Gabriel laughed and countered, "your voice is too high pitch. That is sure to give you away."
"Easy, I won't talk, unless its to you or Ben and only when we are by ourselves. I'll be a mute soldier."
Gabriel stood silently for a moment taking everything in. Finally he looked back at me and took my hands into his. "Sam, are you absolutely sure that you want to do this? We won't be able to act how we usually do around one another."
"I know Gabriel, but we have to for the safety of others and our own." He nodded and leaned down and kissed me passionately. We broke away and he placed his forehead against mine.
"I don't know when I'm going to be able to do that again," he laughed. "I'm okay with this, as long as you can promisee me one thing. The first time you get hurt you will go to my aunt's."
"Define hurt," I laughed. He gave me a look. "Okay fine, I believe that seems to be a reasonable bargain, don't you think Ben?" I turned to Gabriel's father.
"I do believe so. Well, you two, we should head down and find Harry to see where we should report to," Ben instructed.
We left the house and saddled our horses and headed toward the camp. White tents were set up in rows throughout the field. The sound of cannons could be heard in the distance. Some Colonial soldiers walked among the camp freely while others were not so lucky. Many tended to wounded soldiers as we neared the officers tent. Many of the soldiers were missing arms or legs or were just heavily bleeding. I had to turn my head away. When we reached the officers' tent, Ben quickly dismounted and head inside before Gabriel and I could follow. Before walking inside, I stopped to see a Colonial flag sitting in rags by the door. I picked it up to examine in and carefully placed it in my bag. A soldier sitting near by me looked at it with disgust.
"It's a lost cause," he said with a grunt.
I simply shook my head and looked to Gabriel. He lightly grabbed my arm and led me into the tent. Ben was already inside talking to his friend. I tuned them out as I looked around the tent. A man stood up and approached Ben and Harry who was dressed differently than the rest of the officers. I listened back into their conversation.
"You expect to hold Cornwallis here with just militia," Ben asked.
"Not me," Harry responded hunched over the table, "You."
Ben laughed. "Harry they are not soldiers but farmers. They'd be better off just letting the British march through. How many men does Cornwallis have under his command?"
"8,000 infirmity, around 600 cavalry. I'm giving you a field commission as a colonel."
"Sir I would like you to transfer my sons here under my command?" Ben asked.
"Sir, no I-" Gabriel came forward with the dispatches.
"Its done," Harry responded taking the papers. Gabriel gave his father a look.
"You said sons. I know this is Gabriel, but who is this one," Harry asked.
Ben went to respond but was interrupted by someone else calling my name. We turned our heads to the opening of the tent to see my father standing at the entrance with a confused look on his face. Ben was the first to respond to the shock and asked Harry to dismiss everyone from the tent. Once everyone was gone my father rushed over and embraced. He then turned to Ben and looked like he was about to attack.
"What is the meaning of this Benjamin? What is she doing here? In the middle of the war for goodness sake!" my father yelled.
"Wait a minute, she?" Harry asked.
"Yes, she," my father responded, "that boy you see standing before you is actually my daughter, Samantha."
Harry looked taken back. "Benjamin what is the meaning of this."
Ben sighed in defeat looking down at the ground. "A couple of days ago there was a battle fought on my plantation. Gabriel was in the battle and was injured and traveled home for care. Upon seeing him, we tended to all soldiers who were wounded, both Colonial and British. When morning came, the Green Dragoons came to the house. The Colonel gave the order to fire the house and barns, but that was after he found the dispatches in the house. Gabriel came forward saying that he carried the papers and the Colonel charged him as a spy and was taking him to Camden to be hung. After threatening my family, he noticed Samantha and called her to him. He recognized her but could not place where he knew her from. With all the commotion, Thomas decided he wanted to try to save his brother. In the chaos that brought, Tavington shot him while he tried to free Gabriel. The next thing we know is Sam is tied up along with Gabriel and being led away from the house by the British."
The tent was silent, until my father spoke again. "Benjamin, I am sorry for your loss of Thomas, but that does not explain what Samantha is doing here."
Ben looked to me and silently told me to tell my Father about the Butcher.
"Father, do you remember the night that Mother was murdered?" I asked coming forward. Harry looked a bit shocked that my voice was coming from me.
"You know I could never forget that night," he responded.
"The man who killed her…was…," I looked down, I couldn't get his name out. "It was Tavington."
"Are you sure," my father asked grabbing onto my arms.
"How could I forget those eyes? Once he started to recognize me, I knew that I would put the Martin children in danger. I begged Benjamin to take me with him, for their safety as well as my own."
My father sighed. He did not want me here in the midst of battle but he knew that this is where I would be the safest.
"And Gabriel you are okay with all this?" he asked, "You would think the man who is courting my daughter would be against her being here."
"Trust me sir," Gabriel spoke up from beside me, "I have tried to talk her out of it, but you know how stubborn she can be."
My father shook his head knowing this to be true. He turned to look at Harry. "Harry, as much as I regret on saying this, but I believe she would be the safest here. If Tavington finds her, who knows how he can use her against us. I also would like to asked to be transferred to the militia."
"I had a feeling that you were going to asked that," Harry answered. "Go then, but let only a few know who Samantha really is and only if necessary. If word gets out to the Dragoons she is with you, there would be no stopping Tavington from finding here."
"Yes sir," the men responded.
We made our way outside of the tent and to our horses.
"Jean and I will go and round up a rowdier bunch a little north of here," he nodded toward the French man who was in the tent with us, "Gabriel I want you to head to Pembroke and the towns along the way. Jonathan, take Sam to the old Spanish mission and begin to make camp. We will meet there once we round up some men."
We all nodded at Ben's command. "And be careful. You never know when Redcoats are going to turn up."
And with that we went our separate ways.
