The next morning, Adella stood outside, watching as the Dragoons left. Borden left with them this time because he was finally released by the doctor. She was almost sad that his familiar face wouldn't be there in the coming days that she had Eli would be left alone. She was still so nervous about William leaving because of the possible dangers, but now she was also worried about what Cornwallis would order him to do. She didn't want to admit that part of her still hoped that William was telling the truth about the Martins.
William said they wouldn't be back for at least two or three days. She honestly expected it to be longer. She was preparing herself for that so she wouldn't be disappointed.
So she was beyond surprised when she heard a commotion that evening, right after she had put Eli down for bed.
She first heard yelling. She peered outside her window into the back of the Fort, noticing the commotion. People were running towards the front gate with lanterns and small torches.
Adella threw her coat on over her long gown and hurried towards the front door. She couldn't imagine what would be happening and even though she felt as though she shouldn't be running towards whatever was happening, she couldn't stop herself. Her imagination had been procuring too many bad scenarios while William was gone.
When she stepped outside with some of the house staff, she saw a few horses with a large group of people around them. There was a lot of frantic talking and orders being yelled out. A man was being lowered from a horse. For a moment her heart sank, but then as her eyes adjusted to the dark, she realized it was William who was lowering the man from the horse into the hands of about three men. His coat was unbuttoned and his white shirt torn and bloodied. His dark hair was down and tousled. The man who he had helped lower down from his horsewas limp.
William jumped down from the horse and watched helplessly as the men took the other Dragoon who did not appear to be moving at all.
A few soldiers took control of the agitated horses and began leading them away as a couple of men carried the injured man up the steps and into the large home. Adella glanced at the man as they passed with him. It was Borden.
"William?" Adella finally choked out. She couldn't force herself towards him. She was frozen in shock and fear. She was still trying to survey the damage and determine how badly he was hurt. But he started towards her as soon as he turned and saw her.
"You shouldn't be out here-"
"Wha-" She tried to force the words out as he reached her.
"We were attacked," he choked out. "We lost a lot of men."
"Your arm is bleeding," she choked out. She reached up towards a large gash on his arm, but he pulled his arm from her grasp.
"Its fine. Adella, I have to tell you something," She froze at his words. She tried to search his eyes in the dark.
"Come here," he pulled her gently, leading her a few steps away from the large porch and frantic people.
He stared at her for a few seconds before he spoke again. The time felt like an eternity to Adella.
"Gabriel Martin is dead." He spoke lowly.
Adella's entire body went rigid. Her heart felt as though it stopped in her chest. She knew it was bad news. And she really expected it to be Ben. But Gabriel?
"What in God's name?" Cornwallis's voice boomed above the commotion around them. "Tavington!"
William turned from her as the General made his way towards them.
"My Lord," William quickly regained his composure. "We were attacked as we were headed back from questioning the church in Pembroke," he added. "Martin's son led a group of their militia to attack us…We lost a lot of Dragoons."
Adella shook her head as she tried to comprehend what he said.
"My office, now!" Cornwallis ordered.
Adella glared at Cornwallis. It was obvious that William was injured as well, though up close it was obvious that most of the blood he wore was not his own.
"Dobbs!" Cornwallis turned and called to another soldier. "Come along to my office and dress the Colonel's wounds."
"I'll join you in a little while," William said softly as he returned his attention to her.
Adella watched as he followed Cornwallis back inside, leaving her standing alone in the crowd of soldiers and other onlookers.
Adella was curled onto her side, facing away from the door when she heard William finally come into their room. She'd been lying there in the dark, unmoving for what felt like hours.
"Are you awake?" he asked softly.
Adella didn't answer right away. She felt the bed shift as he climbed in beside her.
She heard him sigh aloud.
"Did you kill Gabriel?" She finally whispered when she felt him get still in the bed.
"Adella, He attacked us. He nearly killed Borden and then turned to me. I did what I had to."
Adella let out a light sob. She'd tried to contain it for as long as she could, but hearing him say it forced it out of her.
First Thomas and now Gabriel? She couldn't believe that he was gone. And she wasn't sure what she felt towards William. She couldn't be angry that he protected himself and returned home to her.
William was silent on the other side of the bed for a few moments before he spoke again.
"Adella, we did not engage them first. They snuck up on us."
"He was such a hard headed but loyal boy," Adella sniffled. "I'm so angry at him for doing what he did."
William wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer to him.
She let him but she made no attempt to snuggle closer to him. She was angry and sad at the same time. She felt betrayed. He had promised that he would not hurt the Martin's.
"How did you-" she stopped herself, not even sure why she was asking what she knew she wouldn't be able to handle picturing in her mind.
"Adella," he whispered her name cautiously.
She allowed him to continue holding her as the silence fell around them again.
"I did not want to do that," he murmured.
"Ben wasn't there?" she finally asked nervously.
"No."
Adella winced at the thought of Ben finding out what had happened to Gabriel.
"Thomas took after Gabriel. They were both so headstrong," she murmured back sadly. "What were you doing at Pembroke?"
"Cornwallis sent us there to question the people there. We thought that while they were all congregated in the church, we could question them about the Martin's whereabouts."
"No one at Pembroke was hurt?" Adella asked nervously.
"No. Of course not," he answered back quickly.
Adella couldn't help but wonder if William had made them feel threatened.
"William, Gabriel used to court a girl there from Pembroke. That's probably why they attacked first."
William did not answer her.
"Did you threaten them?" She asked cautiously.
"No one was harmed, Adella," He spat. She could sense that he was getting agitated with her questions.
She let the silence fall around them again. Although aggravated, he did not pull away from her. He kept her pulled close him.
"How is Borden?" she asked softly, changing the subject.
"He's not out of the woods, yet," he murmured. "I can't blame that boy for coming after me, you know."
"I really didn't expect Gabriel to go and do something like that. I just knew it had to have been Ben," she murmured softly.
"When I first arrived at their home…Gabriel acted so unaccepting of me being there. Ben told me that Gabriel was trying to impress me. And that he was jealous. It was odd that we were the same age nearly…. Ben said perhaps I should have come there to marry Gabriel and not him. He said that he had considered that before I arrived, but I know Gabriel would not have accepted the fact that I was already with child the way that Ben did. I know that."
She didn't know why she was rambling but William was staying silent so she continued. She needed to talk about it.
"You know, when Gabriel found out the truth about us and Eli a few months ago, he called me a whore and a liar," she could feel herself tearing up again. "But I couldn't blame him-"
"Adella, stop," William enveloped her into a tighter hug.
"But I didn't blame him for the way he reacted," she added.
"Stop. I'm sorry that it had to come to this. I've killed two of that man's sons."
Adella could hear the regret in his voice.
She gently rolled over to face him.
"I've killed men before. Too many to count, but this feel so different," he continued. "I guess because I have a son now…and I can't… No I mean I can imagine now what that could feel like to lose him."
"You're not going to," she scooted in closer to him, suddenly feeling as though he was the one that needed to be comforted.
She eyed the bandage on his arm and took notice of small scratches that littered his arms and lightly littered his face. She assumed it had to have been briars or brambles that caused those. The other was far too large to have been caused by brush.
"I wish I could speak to Ben," Adella said softly.
"That's not going to happen," William muttered. "Nor would it help anything."
Adella fell silent. She knew William would never approve of such.
"I've already decided that our son is going to be a painter and not a soldier, okay?" he said, changing the subject.
Adella forced a smile. "I'm absolutely fine with that."
She rested her head against his chest. His skin smelled fresh and clean, but the smell of blood was still fresh in her mind.
"I'm sorry," he whispered against her hair.
Adella suddenly felt guilty. She picked her head back up.
"Look at me. I know that you had no choice."
She stared back into his eyes. She wasn't sure what needed to be done, but she knew that she couldn't just sit around and wait for more bloodshed to happen.