Chapter 10 Of Prisoners And Officers

The next day after Melanie was brought back to the fort, at the behest of Major Bordon she identified the three men who had 'coerced' her with falsehoods into leaving. She did so from the safety of a room in the main house with a window that overlooked the prisoner's compound. Recognizing the men through Bordon's long glass, she pointed them out to him, not knowing what was in store for the rebels.

The Major, at the request of Lord Cornwallis, had the bunch apprehended and later questioned them. With his knack for interrogation tactics, he was able to force them to admit to being part of the band that had opened fire on the Prescott family.

The three rebels were hanged soon after in front of the other prisoners to set an example that extremism would not be tolerated. Miss Prescott passed on the invitation to attend the execution of her family's killers. She politely stated that public executions were barbaric and sickened her. She told the Lord General that she was not the vengeful sort and that the deaths of all the murderers would never bring back her family.

~/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/~

In the ensuing days after Melanie's return to the fort and subsequent hanging of the three rebels, she tried to make sense of the whole situation as she continued to grieve for her family, her old life, and her home. She felt useless just moping around her room in the fort and soon decided to try to find a way to be useful.

Miss Prescott soon found a way. She knew from hearing talk around the house that a Colonial surgeon had been captured and was made to doctor the rebel wounded and sick as they arrived, as well as take care of those already held in the prisoner's compound. So, Melanie went down to the prison camp, where she was let in by a rather green sentry, and volunteered to help with the rebel wounded. Her offer was graciously accepted, and her efforts helped to keep her mind occupied.

After a few hours in the surgery on this first day of helping, the girl was tired but happy to have been of some assistance to the weary surgeon. When they were through with the last patient, Melanie sighed and was glad for a lull in the activity, having thrown herself so totally into the task of nursing that she was now worn out.

"Well," the surgeon began as he covered the patient up, "we're through until the next load comes in."

Melanie Prescott smiled at him as she wiped her brow.

He continued. "The only reason the Redcoats keep me alive is because I am a doctor."

"This war will end some day," she replied in encouragement.

"Very soon, I hope," he added. "I think I shall go mad if I have to amputate another limb!"

She drew in a breath as she looked at the soldier being carried away to the recovery tent by the orderlies. "I'll fetch some clean water." Melanie picked up the two buckets, now full of blood tinged water and started toward the tent flap.

"Miss Prescott," the surgeon called. Melanie, still with pails in hand, turned back to look at him.

"While you're outside, would you please go to my hut and retrieve my field diary," he asked. "This last case was unusual and I'd like to note it in there while it's still fresh in my mind."

"Yes, I will," she nodded.

"It's on my desk."

Melanie smiled and disappeared through the door. Once outside the tent, she walked to the improvised gutter near the fence and emptied the pails. She made her way to the well and washed them out, then refilled them with water, lost in mundane thought as she did so.

Just as she picked up the buckets, Melanie remembered that she'd been asked to pick up the doctor's diary. Setting the full pails down beside the well, Melanie strode to the doctor's hut to retrieve the journal.

Inside his small hut, she found a few medical books lying around, as well as a copy of Paine's "Common Sense" lying open on the man's cot. She smiled at that, knowing the book was probably contraband, but thinking that the British most likely let him keep it just because they needed his services badly.

Melanie stepped over to the doctor's desk, which was against the back wall, and began moving some of the books and papers that littered it. She soon spotted the diary on the corner of the desk. As she reached to get it, she was unaware of the figure that lurked quietly at the door of the hut, leering at this vulnerable and pretty female.

"You're new around here, missy."

Startled, Melanie spun around to see a ragged rebel prisoner standing in the doorway of the hut.

"No...Uh...I...uh..," she stammered nervously. She felt afraid, not wanting to trust anyone these days after what the three rebel extremists had just put her through.

The man, older and hard looking, entered the cabin and walked toward her. He had an evil glint in his eyes. "Yeah, you are new. So, we should get to know each other."

Melanie gasped and backed away from the approaching menace. She found herself stopped by the wall, which she slid along, trying to keep distance between herself and her unwanted guest.

"Now, come here little girl," he smirked sinisterly, "and you'll soon be a woman."

Miss Prescott's eyes widened as she drew in a breath. The diary dropped from her hands as she went limp with panic. She tried to scream, but the sound laid mute in her throat.

The man suddenly lunged at her, just missing her as she jumped away. She ran to the door but felt herself yanked back hard. Her predator had a vice grip on her arm and pinned her to the wall.

"Help!", she screamed, finally able to dislodge a sound from her throat. Melanie soon went mute again in fear as she could see that her attacker was not pleased with her plea.

The man moved in a little closer to her. He reeked of sweat and whiskey. She turned her head away, not wanting to look at him. She whimpered as he squeezed her arm a little harder. With his other hand, he quickly fumbled with his trousers, trying to get them down.

"Help me!", yelled Melanie frantically. This time, the man seemed not to care that she had called out for he was too busy trying to yank his pants down.

Miss Prescott's jaw dropped as she saw a glint of steel. In a flash, she realized that the shimmer had come from a knife blade which was now pressed against the neck of the figure that loomed over her.

"You're so eager to thrust something," a deep voice said with pure control, "why don't you thrust yourself onto this dagger."

She immediately recognized the voice as that of Major Bordon. She drew a breath of relief inward, feeling safe now. As soon as the officer peered over the shoulder of the rebel at her, she felt secure enough to flee. Cautiously, she inched along the wall away from the two men until her body met the corner of the hut. She cowered there, thankful that Bordon had rescued her, but worried about an ugly struggle that might take place between her rescuer and attacker.

The door opened widely and two Dragoon privates entered, making much noise, looking about for their superior. The two had waited outside as their commander slipped quietly into the cabin after hearing and recognizing the screams of Miss Prescott.

Melanie looked at the men and was relieved that they were there to reinforce the Major's actions. Still tense though, her eyes darted back and forth from the privates to the Major and his captive.

"Bind him and take him to the cells," directed Bordon.

The privates obeyed, quickly binding the man and ushering him away. The Major went to the side of Miss Prescott. She was shaken and still standing against the wall.

"Are you hurt?" he asked with concern.

"No," she said, unable to even force a smile.

He took her arm and escorted her out of the cabin. Once outside, Melanie stopped mid step and looked back at the hut.

"Oh! The doctor's diary," she remembered. "I forgot it." She began to head back toward the surgeon's quarters but found herself gently restrained.

"I'll send someone else for it," said Major Bordon.

"Oh. Thank you," answered Melanie, a bit confused at his actions.

With this, the officer continued to guide her toward the compound gate, silent as he did. His hand was firmly holding her arm.

Just outside the gate, Bordon stopped and faced Melanie, still gently grasping her arm. "What were you doing down here," asked the officer.

"I was helping in the Colonial surgery tents," she replied.

"Well, your time could better be put to use in the British hospital tents," Alex retorted.

"I thought I could go where I please," she said, yanking her arm free of his hand. She cocked her head to the side, her eyebrows knitted in query as she challenged him.

"Not there," Bordon shot back as he looked down at her.

"Am I a guest...or a prisoner," she challenged, putting her hands on her hips.

Alex Bordon let out a sigh of frustration before he answered back. "A guest, of course."

Both stood for a few seconds as if squaring off with each other. Each waited for the other to issue the next bold words.

"Miss," Alex began, "We prefer that you not go to the Rebel Prisoner's compound."

"Why?" she queried.

"Because you seem to get into some kind of trouble every time you come down here!"

"What?", she asked, raising her eyebrows. "Trouble? What do you mean?"

"Well, that man tried to assault you, and here is also where you met the three rebels that told those awful lies to you about your family. You now know they were in with that bunch of men who attacked your home and family. They could have hurt you at that time."

"Well I would hope that you would have confiscated any weapons they might have," she shot back sarcastically.

"Yes, but contraband has been known to find its way in occasionally," stated the Major.

Melanie closed her eyes and sighed. She shook her head in frustration, once again feeling stifled and useless. She looked at the ground, dejected.

"Miss Prescott," Bordon continued in a commanding tone, "In the future, I advise you not to come into this area for your own safety. While we are still trying to capture the zealots that attacked your family, we have not yet found them all. And, it may not be revealed to us exactly who they are at the time, should they be captured. So, as a result, some of those men could be in here now. If they were to recognize you, I can't guarantee that me or one of my countrymen would be close enough to save your hide again. So please, stay out of this area and close to the main house."

She was stunned. She was a guest, but felt like a prisoner at that moment. The girl could only look up at Major Bordon with questioning eyes, too astonished to say anything.

Just then, a Redcoat private was passing by. Major Bordon handed Melanie off to the young man.

"Private, please escort Miss Prescott back to the main house."

The man led a mute Melanie back toward the house with Bordon watching behind them.