Chapter 10

Pain

Esperanza's POV

He held me as though I had been gone for years. I wasn't used to so much physical contact.

"We have to keep moving." Revere said.

Connor looked a bit annoyed but I just nodded. He put me on Shadow and then got back on the other horse. Revere took us to a large house. Connor took me off the horse and I kissed his cheek. We walked inside and found three men sitting around a fire. They looked at us as we walked in.

"Paul, Connor. Good to see you."

Connor pushed past Revere and walked to the man who had spoken.

"You need to leave. The redcoats are coming."

"Aye, so William's told us. Let them conduct their little search. They'll find nothing here."

"They're coming to kill you! You have to get out of here." I said.

His eyes went wide and he looked at Revere.

"I'm afraid it's true."

The man sighed and stood.

"I suppose we have no choice then, but to go. What of you three?"

"Dawes and I will continue on to Concord. Connor, it's best if you and Esperanza stay here and help our man John Parker hold the town. It'll give us time to spread the word."

He left and Connor and I looked at each other. I nodded and he took my hand.

We found John Parker that morning, a line of soldiers in front of him. He looked sick.

"Stand your ground men! Don't fire unless fired upon! But if they mean to have war, let it begin here!" he said.

Connor looked at the hill and I grabbed his arm to keep him from running.

"Pitcairn!"

They fired and many of the soldiers ran off.

"What the deuce are you doing!? Hold your positions!"

My eyes widened and Connor pulled him back as he kept shouting.

"They are not coming back. You will have to make do with those who remain." Connor said.

"Don't you lecture me on how- Return fire! Return fire!"

They started to fight back.

"You need to get to Concord and warn the others."

He reached into his coat and pulled out a piece of paper. He handed it to Connor.

"Show this to whoever leads there. Should be a man by the name of James Barrett. Go on now!"

We both mounted Shadow. We rode as fast as we could. Then I heard people shouting. They were taking hostages. I jumped off Shadow and he stopped.

"What are you doing!?"

"My job! Keep going! Strike Pitcairn down! Now!"

"No! Get back on the horse Esperanza."

I looked into his eyes and then looked at Shadow.

"Shadow ~get him out of here. No matter what he says or does, you keep going!~"

Shadow took off and Connor called for me. I turned and ran at the men taking hostages.

Ratonhnhake:ton's POV

Shadow wouldn't let me stop. Whatever she told him, he had no intention of disobeying. I found a man dressed in red. Shadow stopped and I jumped off him.

"Blood's been spilled in Lexington, and there's more to come. The regulars are on the march."

He just looked at me and slowly walked forward.

"You don't say? Why do you think I've men up here?"

I didn't answer.

"Go home, 'fore you get yourself killed. I've enough to worry about without some green boy looking to play hero."

He turned away but I grabbed him and turned him back.

"I won't leave! You can either help me or I'll do it myself!" I snarled.

He seemed very surprised.

"I can vouch for him."

I let him go and pulled out the letter.

"John Parker as well."

He took the letter and read it. I walked over to the man.

"Where's Revere?"

"Captured."

He said it as though it happened regularly.

"What?"

"Fear not. That man's no stranger to sticky situations. He'll be fine. I'm sure of it."

"Ahem!"

Barrett came back.

"You ladies finished gossiping? Parker seems to believe you're not completely useless. So I suppose there's a thing or two you might be able to help us with…" He looked to the bridge. "When the fighting starts, we'll need to hold those positions there. They're critical to the defense of Concord. Good boys, not used to soldiering. They need someone with experience to direct 'em. That something you can do?"

I wanted, no, needed to get back to Esperanza. However, I knew she would want me to help these men first. I sighed and nodded.

"You'd best be telling the truth."

I looked directly into his eyes.

"You have my word."

"Then I suppose all that's left to do, is wait."

I nodded and mounted Shadow.

Esperanza's POV

They kept coming and coming. People were screaming and running to find shelter. I found a boy trapped and rushed forward. There were ropes and debris all over him.

"As soon as I cut you loose I need you to run as fast as you can. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

I took my hunting knife and cut through the ropes. I moved the debris as quickly as I could and he ran. I ran with him, until I felt a searing pain shoot through me. I fell to the ground hard. I looked back and saw the Pitcairn man. He'd shot me through the side. The bullet went straight through. Soon I was being dragged away. The boy had come back to save me. He pulled me into what seemed to be a cellar. The pain was excruciating.

"Connor! I need….I need…Connor…."

"Who miss?"

"Connor…"

My vision was growing dark and I dug my fingers into the ground. I wanted to see him.

Ratonhnhake:ton's POV

We pushed back the redcoats.

"Fall back! Fall back!" Pitcairn shouted.

We'd won this battle, but we lost more. I looked at all the bodies, all the lives that had been snuffed out. John Barrett came up beside me.

"Takes a true monster to do something like this…At least they're gone."

"I should have listened to Esperanza, and struck when I had the chance. Do you know where Pitcairn could've gone?"

"Back into the withered bosom of the British no doubt- so that he might regroup and plan his next atrocity."

"I need to find him! Every day I wait more will suffer…"

"Chin up friend. Many who should've died now live because of you."

I looked at the bodies and pointed to them.

"And what of them?"

There was a sad expression on his face.

"We do the best we can with what we've got."

"It is not enough." I told him.

"Hm. It never is…"

He walked away and someone started calling my name.

"Connor? I'm looking for Connor!"

A young boy was running around and I ran to him.

"I'm Connor."

He looked at me and then held up a necklace. It was Esperanza's! I took it and he pulled on my sleeve.

"This way."

I followed him back into Lexington and to a house. I ran inside.

"Esperanza!?"

The boy took me to the next room and I found her laying on several blankets. Two women and a man were around her. There was blood, a lot of it.

"You must be Connor. She hasn't stopped saying your name sir."

I knelt down beside her.

"We stopped the bleeding. She'll be alright. She saved our boy."

I smiled a little.

"You are always thinking of others before yourself. You forgot to protect yourself." I whispered.

I put the necklace back around her neck and then picked her up.

"Thank you. Thank you for saving her."

"It was the least we could do." the man said.

I bowed my head and took her outside. I tried to put her on Shadow but she kept slipping off. Shadow walked over to a fallen horse and nudged the saddle. I set her down and leaned her against the fence. Shadow let me put the saddle on him and then knelt down so I could put Esperanza on his back.

"We need to get her home. Do you understand?"

He just stared at me. I had to trust him. He was very loyal to Esperanza. I found my horse and mounted him. I held onto Shadow's reins as we went home.