Chapter 21 Redemption

Melanie Prescott snapped the yellow daisy off its long stem and sniffed it. She sat down for a moment on a nearby log and sighed. Tipping her head back, she let the hot summer sunshine fall on her face, warming her cheeks. The young woman closed her eyes and smiled, glad to be out this afternoon.

Once again, the girl had been fortunate enough to leave the fort, under guard, for the afternoon. The house and kitchen staff were scrambling to prepare a meal for a large contingent of visiting officers which had appeared unexpectedly at the fort. Melanie had volunteered to go with her friend Bridgett and some of the other servants to collect wild flowers and berries for the dinner.

So happy to be outside the fort, Melanie paid no attention to the Redcoat guard that stood nearby. Instead, she seemed to focus on the little things around her: the light of the sun, the gentle breeze, the smell of the wildflowers she had gathered.

The girl looked down into the large basket of flowers sitting beside her on the ground. As she gazed at the vivid floral colors, the sound of hoof beats nearing the area roused her attention.

Miss Prescott looked over her shoulder and saw a small group of dragoons enter the clearing. She turned back to her basket, looking intently again at the flowers. Suddenly, Melanie looked up in amazement as she realized that the approach of the cavalry had not fazed her. Just days ago, she'd shiver whenever she heard horses, worried that Major Bordon was with them and if—or what—he might do to her.

She thought for a moment and wondered how long it had been since that last, fateful night when the Major had attacked her. Five weeks, maybe six? She'd lost track. Melanie remembered the pledge he'd made: that he would not assault her again. It was a promise she'd never thought he'd keep. To her astonishment, he'd kept his word, avoiding and speaking little to her.

The young woman was relieved not to be living in fear. She marveled at the fact that she wasn't afraid of Bordon any longer. As she continued quietly contemplating her revelation, she failed to notice soft voices and footsteps coming toward her.

"Oh!," Major Bordon exclaimed as he rounded the bushes into the clearing. He wasn't expecting to see anyone sitting there.

Melanie gasped, clearly startled to see the officer standing within feet of her.

An awkward instance of silence and tension passed between the two. Melanie froze like a statue, and Bordon stood stockstill before her, neither knowing what to say or do.

The girl felt a cold shiver run quickly through her, like ice in her veins. The old feeling of fear came over her when she was once again in his presence.

Alexander could tell that the young woman was nervous and uncomfortable. He broke the silence.

"I'm sorry, Miss Prescott," he apologized. With a bow of his head, he started to turn to walk away. "Good day, Miss."

Confused and jittery, Melanie blurted out, "It's alright." She looked away, immediately feeling embarrassed at saying something so simple and stupid.

The Major turned back to her. "No, it's not," he replied. "I promised to stay away from you, and I intend to keep my word." The officer once again bowed to the girl and turned to trot away.

Melanie's mind was in a jumble as the officer walked away from her. She was still reeling from the astonishment of Bordon keeping his promise after his brutality. Her head spun for an instant, puzzled as to what to do or say. She loathed this awkwardness that was between them now and didn't know how long she could stand it. After all, she reasoned, she had no idea how long she'd be a prisoner at the fort or how long the war would last. The young lady felt the urge to put things right between them once and for all, so that they would not have to endure the discomfort of strained relations for the duration of her stay at the fort.

Miss Prescott jumped to her feet. "Major," she called after him, wandering a few steps from her makeshift bench. "I've forgiven you—" she said, suddenly stopping midsentence.

Alex turned back to look at her, puzzled. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Not wanting the Redcoat private nearby to hear anything, Bordon cautiously stepped back toward the girl. He was mute, not knowing how to respond.

Startled as she hadn't expected the man to come back, Melanie continued on in a stutter. "It's for the sake of my brother, who was a priest."

"I know he was," Bordon acknowledged in a quiet voice.

"Yes, of course you do," Melanie bumbled, remembering only then that he knew that already from intelligence in the area.

"He would not be able to rest easy," she continued. "He would want me to do the Christian thing."

Bordon stood dumbfounded and mute for a moment. Then he spoke up again. "How can you forgive me for something so abominable?"

"Because if he were alive," she began, "I would have confessed it to him, out of pure shame and sorrow. And he surely would have told me that God would want me to forgive you, no matter what."

Melanie turned away from him, taking a couple of steps toward a raspberry bush. She nervously fingered the apron she wore. The girl was revealing things to this man that she would never have said to another person before.

The young lady went on. "You see," she explained, "My brother believed that true healing could not begin for either party until the extension of genuine forgiveness."

Bordon stayed quiet, listening to Miss Prescott. He was astounded, not quite knowing the depth of her religious conviction.

"Thank you, Miss Prescott," he said, humbled. "I promise that it will never happen again."

"Yes, I believe you," she replied, "for you have honored your word." She smiled softly over at him.

With that, he nodded his head again and turned to walk away. An afterthought soon stopped him, and he turned back toward her. "Thank you…" he stammered, "for not reporting my actions to my superiors."

"I did," she confessed immediately before he could turn to walk away. He looked at her questioningly.

Melanie could not look the man in the face as she revealed this to him. She closed her eyes and sighed. "I tried to tell both Colonels Tarleton and Tavington." She paused for a moment. Bordon stood still and stunned at her revelation.

The young lady continued with her confession. "They didn't believe me," she said with a sigh. "Just like you told me they wouldn't."

Bordon's emotions were tangled in a sudden twinge of anger at her, which he suppressed, and relief that his commanders had not believed her. A flash of that night came into his mind: the sudden meeting called by Tavington; his knowing that someone had taken advantage of the girl; the Colonel reprimanding and then warning everyone to stay away from Miss Prescott. Alex wondered for an instant how Tavington had found out, since the officers didn't believe Melanie's report of the incidents.

Though Melanie professed to not being able to read minds, she guessed what Major Bordon had been thinking. "I believe that another person within the house alerted Colonel Tavington as to my condition that evening and brought him to my quarters where he saw it for himself. He demanded of me to tell him who had done the deed. I refused to tell him, assuming that he hadn't believed me before, and that he wouldn't believe me a second time. He must hold you in high esteem."

"He wouldn't if he believed what I had done," Bordon admitted with a sigh.

"Oh, so Colonel Tavington and Commander Tarleton are both saints?" she asked, a slight trace of sarcasm in her voice.

"No," Alexander replied, "We've all done things we shouldn't have."

"Of course," Miss Prescott comforted, wanting it to be perfectly clear to the officer that she had forgiven him. Also, some of her old feelings for him had begun to creep back into her heart. "This is war. Heroic—and monstrous—things happen every day."

Melanie sat back down on the log, looking resigned as she stared at the ground, as if at peace with the fate of that evening. Bordon's face flushed with shame, wishing he had not taken the woman against her will. He thought of the words she said moments before: that true healing could not take place until forgiveness was given and received. Alex suddenly felt grateful that he hadn't lost his position as an officer, and thankful that the young woman had forgiven him and held no grudge.

"If it makes a difference now," Bordon began in a humble tone, "I wish I could take back the wrong I've done against you. Actions overcame me and I wasn't thinking and I—"

"Major," she interrupted. Sincere and acquiescing, she went on in a calm, reassuring voice which seemed to melt Alex's heart. "I believe you're sorry and there's no need to explain things any further. Just be assured that you're forgiven and that I have faith in your word."

Caught off guard, Alex wasn't sure how to respond. He changed the subject. "What are you doing out here?"

"I offered to help the servants. Seems the fort has some unexpected guests for dinner tonight."

"Oh," he answered. "Well…. you could get hurt out here."

Melanie was puzzled. "But there's a private over there, and guards all around us here. And besides, one cannot be protected all the time." She reached down into her flower basket and continued pulling the leaves off the stems of the wild flora. She went on talking absently as she worked. "I can be hurt inside the fort just as well."

This statement hit Alexander hard. Just what did she mean? The girl had just taken the time to bid forgiveness and explain why. Was she now recanting her statement? Had she lied? Bordon suddenly felt confusion tinged with a small pang of hurt. Feeling like he'd been a fool to her words, he stood straight and rigid above her, as if in official officer stance.

"Well," he began with a hint of anger tinting his words, "I can see I have overstayed my welcome. Good day, Miss Prescott." With that, he turned brusquely on his heel and marched away.

Melanie, realizing what she had just said, heaved a sigh of exasperation at herself. She jumped off the log and ran after the officer. She caught his coat sleeve and stopped him. He turned suddenly, towering menacingly over her, looking down at her with a hint of irritation sparkling in those blue eyes of his.

Feeling badly, she apologized. "Major Bordon, I'm sorry. I didn't intend that to be directed at you. I meant that I could be hurt anywhere. Obviously, for I was nearly killed on my own plantation."

She felt the Major relent and sigh. With that and without thinking, she slid her hand down his arm and grasped his hand, just as she would anyone when trying to make a sincere point. "I meant what I said that I have forgiven you. My brother also taught me that when you forgive, you must do it with your whole heart. And that means not holding the misdeed against the person; that one must let the transgression go completely. And, for the duration of this war, we should be comfortable and civil in each other's presence."

"I agree," Bordon stated simply, a cautious smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Your brother was obviously a good and wise priest."

"Yes," Melanie agreed, bowing her head and sighing in sorrow. "I don't understand why the Lord chooses the fates that He does."

Alex only now realized that Melanie was holding his hand. It felt good to have her small, soft hand in his. He feared that she would start to cry, thinking of her brother's death, so he squeezed her hand reassuringly.

Melanie smiled up at him, her eyes glinting with the beginning of tears. She quickly blinked them away and her face lit up.

"Please," she began, tugging gently on his hand, "won't you come sit with me for awhile?"

The officer nodded, accepting her invitation. He let her lead him by the hand over to the log, where the two seated themselves.

"Maybe I shouldn't sit this close to you," he stated innocently. "I seem to be covered with this red Carolina dust that gets kicked up around here. I don't want it to sully your frock."

"You are quite dirty," she laughed. "Never mind about the dress and apron; they're old. I wouldn't wear my best ball gown to pick berries."

"May I have your handkerchief?" she asked.

The Major reached into his jacket pocket and retrieved it for her. Melanie then opened her small canteen of water and wet the cloth.

"Hold still," she requested. With that, she began to gently clean away smudges of dirt from the Major's face. He closed his eyes and sighed, luxuriating in the cool cloth and gentle hands touching his skin.

"There! All clean," Melanie squeaked.

"Except for the rest of me is going to have to have a dip in the old bathwater if we have guests at the fort tonight. I'm sure the Lord General will require all the officers to attend and look their best."

"I'm sure," she quipped with a smile. She then put the canteen up to Bordon's mouth, holding it as he took a couple of sips.

"Thank you," he said, clearly refreshed by the cool liquid. Melanie took a sip after him, then recapped the vessel.

"Well, what is for dinner tonight?"

"I don't know yet," answered Melanie. "But I've a basket full of raspberries and blackberries. And even a few Crabapples!" She showed him the baskets of the ripe fruits, proud of all that she'd collected.

"Oh, and look what else I found," she said excitedly, then stopped herself. She looked around and back over both shoulders. Bordon was puzzled as to what she possibly had. As he watched her hunch over slightly and slip her hands into her apron, he thought she acted as if she'd found His Majesty's gold or something as precious. He continued to stare perplexed at the girl.

From her pockets, she produced two handfuls of strawberries. She showed them to him with a large grin on her face. "A late batch. Probably the last of the season."

Miss Prescott smiled playfully at him again, which made him chuckle. "I thought you'd found the King's treasure maybe," quipped Alex.

"Not the King's bounty," she stated, "but the Prescott's treasure!"

"Hmmmm?"

"My family grew strawberries on our farm," she stated.

"Oh yes," Alex recalled. "And a vast orchard there, as well."

"Yes! Apples, peaches, pears, cherries. Father even tried growing lemons and oranges, but the weather isn't good for them here. They grow better farther south of here, in the Florida territory."

Melanie studied the berries in her hands, as if looking them over and assessing value. She continued on. "I helped in the fields alongside the servants and slaves. Father believed that we should all learn as much about the plantation as possible, for we would all help to run it if he passed on before Mother. I can't even tell you how many hours and days and years I spent on my hands and knees harvesting these things. And at the end of the day, my dress would have the tell tale blotches of red on it. And for days it seemed, my fingers would be stained red!"

Bordon stayed quiet as Melanie reminisced about life on her plantation. He liked hearing her voice and how happy she sounded weaving aloud her family's history.

Miss Prescott continued on. "We harvested all the fruits. We kept some for ourselves, but sold the bulk of them to Jim's—uh….I mean—Captain Wilkins' family. They had a winery and made a fine lot of it! It always sold well. They were far wealthier than our family was. We lived comfortably, despite having to help work our own fields."

Bordon smiled at her, and she returned a smile at him. The strawberries still in her hands, she made another confession. "I was hording these for myself," she confessed in a whisper. "There aren't enough here to make a dessert or even for a fresh fruit bowl. But, I'll share them with you." She grinned eagerly at him again.

"No," he refused graciously. "You found them. They're yours. Enjoy them."

He watched as her fingers deftly popped one of the stems from a large berry. "Here," she offered. "Try one." With that, she put the strawberry to Major Bordon's lips and gently pushed it into his mouth. The end of her sensitive index finger met the tip of his tongue. As his lips closed for a split second on her finger, she felt herself shudder with excitement. The girl pulled her finger quickly and innocently from his mouth. For an instant, she thought that maybe she shouldn't have done that. Melanie hoped the Major did not interpret her spontaneous playfulness as being too forward.

She looked away shyly and giggled. Then she looked back at the Officer, swallowing the last of the fruit.

"Good?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Yes!"

"Well, here then," she said, gently pushing one handful of berries into Bordon's hand.

"Thank you," he answered politely. "I shall surely enjoy."

Like a silly school girl, she put her finger to her lips and whispered, "Ssshhh. It's our secret."

"I won't tell a soul," he smirked, going along with the little game.

"Have you had one yet?" he questioned.

"No," Melanie answered. "I was going to try and wait until I got to my room and have them tonight as a late night treat."

Major Bordon twisted a stem off one of the berries and held it up to her lips. "I'm obliged to give you one of my berries since you shared one of yours with me."

Melanie smiled then opened her mouth slightly. Alex pushed the berry gently into her awaiting mouth. Not thinking, Melanie closed her mouth immediately, finding the officer's thumb and forefinger wedged sensuously between her lips. The man did not try to pull his fingers from her lips; he reveled in how soft and wet they felt around the digits.

Melanie touched his finger and thumb with her tongue, tasting salty sweat and sweet berry juice. She was surprised at how comfortable she felt to have his fingers in her mouth and she delighted in tasting them. Forgetting momentarily the tasty berry on her tongue, she instinctively sucked ever so lightly on his fingers.

Bordon sighed and closed his eyes, loving the feel of her warm wet mouth on his thumb and index finger. Melanie watched in awe as she saw that Bordon enjoyed this. She suddenly felt self conscious and pulled gently away from him, chewing the berry delicately and swallowing.

"Good?" Bordon asked in a whisper, a hint of controlled lust on his face.

The young woman nodded, still staring into Bordon's eyes. Alex saw the unmistakable look of innocent desire in her eyes.

Alexander felt the overwhelming urge to kiss her, and he could sense that she wanted his kiss. But he wasn't sure that he should. After all, he had promised to be chaste and gentlemanly with her. And, for some reason, he wanted her to trust him.

For a moment, the two sat quietly. Melanie replaced the berries back into her apron pocket, then folded her hands in her lap. She watched Bordon out of the corner of her eye as he produced a clean handkerchief from another pocket and wrapped the berries, save for one in it. She raised her head slowly and smiled at him as he tucked the package into a jacket pocket inside his coat.

The officer rolled the strawberry gently in his fingers, noting that it was as soft as Miss Prescott's lips. He popped the top off the berry.

"Close your eyes," he said whimsically, "I'm going to feed you another berry."

"Alright," Melanie complied in a raspy voice. She felt a strange anticipation to feel his warm fingers in her mouth again. She longed to taste them; she liked the manly salty taste of them mixed with the juice of the berries.

The girl closed her eyes, and opened her mouth slightly. Bordon stared at her parted lips for a moment, wanting to touch them with his fingers, his lips, and his tongue. But he didn't want to scare her.

Alex put the large end of the strawberry in his mouth, so that the small end protruded just beyond his lips. He slowly brought his mouth to Melanie's, barely touching the tip of the strawberry to her lips.

As she felt the tip of the strawberry on her lips, she opened her mouth slightly more to take in the berry. As she did, she felt Bordon's lips on hers. She softly bit off her end of the strawberry, pulling it into her mouth and her lips back onto Alexander's mouth. With the berries softening and melting on their tongues, they continued to kiss each other's lips softly, tasting the juice of the berry and the softness of each other's mouth. As the fruit slid down their throats, they each opened their mouths a little wider, to taste the heat and lingering berry within one another. They continued to brush soft kisses across each other's lips, as desire drove them both to kiss open mouthed now. The bliss of the sensual moment was soon shattered by a shout.

"Major Bordon?"

The man pulled away from Melanie with a frustrated sigh. He looked into her eyes and saw disappointment there as well.

"Yes," he answered. He stood up casually, straightening his uniform as he did. "What is it, Private Tracy?"

"Sir, we're ready to ride back to the fort."

"Yes. I'll be right there."

The Private turned and walked back toward the others.

Melanie smiled shyly and looked down at the ground. She was blushing.

Major Alex Bordon was sorry that the moment had come to an end. Seeing Melanie's embarrassment, he put his fingers under her chin and gently raised her head to look up at him. He smiled affectionately down at her.

"Thank you for the strawberries," he drawled sweetly and genuinely, lust nearly closing his eyes.

Melanie did not realize that she was panting aloud, in her own wanton. She gazed up at the officer, not bothering to hide the look of captivation with the man and her own lust for him. She could say nothing.

The major continued on, talking slowly, unable to help the measuring of his words. "They were the most delicious and sweetest tasting berries I've ever had."