"You certainly fooled Cornwallis with your plan," Gabriel said admiringly to his father after the older Martin arrived back at their prearranged meeting place, along with the released prisoners. "I have to hand it to you; I wasn't at all sure that your idea would work."
"Of course it worked, just as I knew it would," Martin replied. "After reading the General's diaries, I had a pretty good idea of how his mind worked, so I was quite confident of my plan. You should have more trust in your old father; I won't steer you wrong."
"You came just in time, too," Reverend Oliver put in. "Tavington was going to execute us all today if we did not give you up to him."
"I saw the gallows," Martin answered heavily. "As soon as we saw what those bastards did to Sam and Harry, I knew I had to quickly get all of you out by whatever means possible."
"Jim Wilkins claimed that they raped his sister that day at the Miller farm," Reverend Oliver told him hesitantly.
"I didn't see any such thing happen that day," Ben Martin doggedly insisted.
"Nor did I," the reverend concurred. "But I can't say that it didn't happen. Regardless, however, they deserved to have been tried before a court of law and did not deserve to be butchered as they were."
Martin snorted, but did not otherwise reply, at the thought of any of his men getting a fair trial under the British, especially where Tavington was involved.
"Enough about that for now," Martin told the group. "We need to start heading north as quickly as we can to meet up with Shelby and his men. I expect that most of the militia groups in both North and South Carolina are heading his way now."
As the men broke up camp and stowed their gear on their horses, a teenage boy from Pembroke came riding hard into camp. Looking around, he rode directly to where Rollins stood talking with John Billings.
"Mr Rollins!" Jeremiah Hawkins called out breathlessly. "Your sister sent me to fetch you back home, because your wife has gone into labour."
"Damn, she's not due for another month," the pock-marked partisan exclaimed "Are you sure she's really in labour?"
"Your sister seemed awful sure," the boy told him, shrugging.
"I suppose she must be, then," Rollins replied. "Because birthin' babies is something my sister knows all about, seein' as she has four of her own."
Benjamin Martin, who had overheard the conversation between Rollins and the Pembroke youth, put in, "Go ahead and tend to your wife, Rollins. We'll get along without you for this battle." Looking over at Billings, who was still suffering with tooth pain, he added, "You go on along with him, Billings, and have something done about that tooth for once and for all."
"Are you sure?" Billings asked. "I wouldn't want to leave you short or nothin'."
"I'm positive," Martin assured both men. "Shelby will be drawing in men from all over to help him and two men less won't matter at all."
"I'm much obliged to you," Rollins told Ben. "I'm kind of worried, as she's not had a baby yet that's lived more 'n a few days."
"Think nothing of it," Martin replied. "I had seven of my own, so I know how it is. We'll meet back up in Pembroke after we've helped Shelby track down Ferguson and have dealt with him."
Within moments, Rollins and Billings had collected their gear and had ridden off with Jeremiah Hawkins, heading back to Pembroke as fast as their horses could carry them.
Shortly after the two partisans had left for Pembroke, Benjamin Martin and the rest of his men finished breaking camp and headed in the opposite direction, riding hard to the north.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"I've consulted with Captain Wilkins and we now have a list of names and homestead locations for several of Martin's men," William Tavington told General Cornwallis a few hours later. "He was able to give me a definitive list after consulting with his sister, who was able to identify several men who participated in the raid on the Miller farm." After a pause, he added, "It will be enough to definitely make an impression on them. I would imagine that quite a few of his men will have to cease their rebellious activities for quite some time in order to properly resettle their families."
"That sounds like an good plan," Cornwallis said, giving his stamp of approval to it. "When do you plan to start?"
"First thing in the morning," Tavington told him. "The latest intelligence I've been given puts Martin and his group riding hard to the north, so this should allow us to cover the area I've chosen free of interference."
After moving on to discuss some routine matters with the Lord General, Tavington left to go find Charlotte, so he could spend some time with her before having to start his mission. He found her in the courtyard, coming up from the direction of the Bordons' quarters.
"Ah, there you are," Tavington said, as he planted a brief kiss on her cheek. "I was wondering where you'd gone, until I saw Ruth and she advised me that you'd decided to go visit Mrs Bordon for awhile. I trust that you enjoyed yourselves?"
"Oh, yes," Charlotte assured him. "Mary has been a good friend since she's come to stay at the fort. She's been a fount of knowledge for all my questions about motherhood and the care of babies."
The couple walked around the perimeter of the camp, as was their habit, as they continued their conversation.
"I'll be leaving in the morning to go on patrol again," he told her as they walked past the tent encampment. "The Lord General wants me to put more pressure on Martin's militia, so I'll be making raids on the homesteads of partisans, from the list that Mrs Bordon provided to us."
Charlotte remained silent for a moment, deep in thought.
"What are you thinking about?" her husband asked, noticing her pensive expression.
"Recently, I've been thinking that it's about time to make a check of the plantation again, to see how things are doing," she said slowly, not sure of how he'd react. "I also want to retrieve my maternity jumps and the baby linen I've been saving since my first baby died. It came from England and it cost very dearly, so I'd really hate to see it go to waste. Perhaps now would be a good time for me to go, before I get too big to travel."
"I'd feel better if you stayed at the fort," Tavington told her honestly. "But if you're determined to go, I would agree that this would indeed be the best time to go, when Martin's partisans are engaged elsewhere."
"Oh, thank you, Will," she said breathlessly, leaning up to give him a kiss on the cheek. "I think the trip will do me good, just to see somewhere different for a change as well."
"No doubt," he said, smiling indulgently. "I'll expect you to thank me more thoroughly once we get back behind closed doors."
"I intend to," she murmured, batting her eyes seductively at him, putting a hand on his arm.
"I can scarcely wait," he said lowly, leaning in to kiss her. They broke away from one another reluctantly when a group of foot soldiers passed by, moving on to continue their walk.
"When do we leave?" Charlotte asked him a few moments later.
"First thing in the morning," he told her. "Do you think you're up to riding or would you prefer to use a carriage?"
"I believe I'll ride," she said. "My morning sickness has largely abated, so I think I'll be fine."
"Ruth will need to come along as well," he decided. "And I will leave a couple of men at the plantation with you after we leave to do the raids. I expect that we'll be able to return to the plantation in the evenings to spend the night, but we'll be gone during the day. I've planned to take three days to make these raids, as the homesteads on the list are all fairly close to one another."
Charlotte nodded. "I'll be glad to have Ruth's company. And I'll feel more secure having the soldiers nearby."
As the couple returned to the main building, Tavington said, "I'm sorry, love, but I must go find Bordon and Wilkins and let them know that we'll be heading out tomorrow. I shouldn't be all that long and when I return, we'll have something to eat."
"That's fine, as I need to find Ruth and let her know we'll be going to the plantation," Charlotte said. "She'll need to do some packing for us for the trip."
"I'll see you soon, then," Tavington told her, giving her a peck on the cheek.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Ezekiel Rollins and John Billings slipped into Pembroke unnoticed early that evening. They'd made their way as much as possible away from the main roads, sticking to narrow trails, in order to avoid British patrols.
Rollins' second sister, Tabitha, and her husband Nathan Hudson, had a small house on the outskirts of Pembroke. It was situated in a clearing that was out of sight from the main road at the end of a narrow, twisting lane leading out from the road. Their house had been overflowing ever since Rollins' wife, Naomi, and his other sister Mattie and her four children had come to live with them. Tabitha was the oldest living sibling in the Rollins family and her five sons were all grown up and gone, which had been a fortunate thing when her in-laws had come to live with them.
As the two partisans entered the Hudson property from the woods side, Rollins noticed two of his young Draper nephews playing out behind the barn.
"Uncle Zeke!" the older boy, Daniel, called out as the two men approached. "What are you doing here? I thought you were off fighting redcoats."
"Never you mind, boy," Rollins growled irritably. "Where's your Ma?"
"She's inside the house with Aunt Naomi," the boy reported. "She sent us outside 'cause Aunt Naomi is having a baby and she didn't want us underfoot."
Before either Rollins or the boy could speak again, they heard an animal-like howl coming from an open window.
"She's been doing that for hours," the boy told him. "I remember my Ma doing that when little Georgie was born. It must hurt something' powerful to have a baby."
Rollins' pushed past the boy once he heard the scream, heading to the house. As he was about to open the door, it opened to reveal his sister Mattie.
"You're finally here," she said, giving him a sour look. "Took you long enough."
"I came as soon as I got your message," he told her. "You should know I can't just ride down the main road, what with these bastards like Tavington riding them all the time lookin' for folks like me."
"You'd best go on in there and see her," Mattie advised him. "Granny Holt's been with her all night and said she's in a bad way. The baby jus' doesn't seem to want to come out. Granny said the head's likely too big to fit."
"All right, I'm goin'," he said peevishly.
As Rollins opened the door to the bedroom, Naomi howled again, shaking the bed frame in sheer agony. Her lank brown hair was matted and stringy and the sweaty sheets were bloodstained, which bore witness to her lengthy travail.
"She's been callin' for you," Tabtha told him.
"More like swearin' about him," the elderly midwife put in under her breath.
As soon as the most recent wave of pain abated, Naomi Rollins noticed her husband standing in the doorway.
"Zeke Rollins, you miserable son of a bitch!" the suffering woman swore. "It's your fault that I'm havin' to go through all of this!"
"As I rightly recall, you didn't complain about it at the time," he faintly bragged. "In fact, you were beggin' for more."
"Never again!" Naomi vowed. "You'll be sleepin' in the barn from now in, I swear it."
"That's what you say now," Rollins shot back. "But you can't deny me my husbandly rights, no matter what you say."
"Ya'll need to hush up now," Granny Holt told the squabbling couple. "Naomi needs to save her strength if she's to get through this and have a live baby."
"Go on outside, Zeke," Tabitha told him. "I'll call you if you're needed. There's some stew heating, so why don't you go and have something to eat."
Rollins didn't need to be told twice. He went back outside, where Billings was waiting, talking to Daniel and his brother, Luke.
"How's she doin'," Billings asked as Rollins approached him.
"She's got a long ways to go," the smaller man replied. "Why don't you come inside and have something to eat before you go lookin' for the doctor?"
"Don't mind if I do," Billings said eagerly. "My stomach's been growling for about two hours now."
The two men trooped into the house where Mattie was dishing up stew onto pewter plates from the big iron pot hanging in the hearth.
"Mmm, this is good," Billings said a few moments later. "I don't when I've had a tastier meal."
"I thank you kindly," Mattie said, blushing.
"Mattie did always beat all making stew," Rollins agreed. Turning to his sister, he asked, "How have you all been getting along since I brought you here."
"About as well as you'd expect," she said, sighing heavily. "Tabby and Nathan have been as good as gold havin' us here, but we're mighty crowded and sometimes tempers get frayed about like you'd imagine." Heaving another sigh, she added, "Nathan is thinking about building a little cabin for me and the youngins, but I hate to put him to that much work as he's not as young as he used to be."
"You'll probably find yourself another man before this war is over," Rollins predicted. "Then you'll have another place of your own and probably more youngins to boot."
"I still wish I had the old man," Mattie grumbled. "I still miss Elijah something powerful. Damn that bastard Tavington for taking him from me!"
"I promise you, me and the boys will get him if it's the last thing we ever do," Rollins said seriously. "I'll have you dancing on his grave one of these days soon."
"I look forward to it," Mattie said grimly. "Nothing would make me happier, believe me."
"I'd best be going, if I'm going to find the doctor tonight," Billings said a few minutes later after he finished eating. "The sooner I can get rid of this bad tooth, the happier I'll be."
"Come on back here after you see him," Rollins told him. "You can bunk in the barn."
"Maybe by the time I get back, the baby will be here," Billings predicted.
"I certainly hope so," Rollins agreed.
After Billings rode off, Rollins went to sit on a fallen log down near the barn to enjoy his pipe for awhile to pass the time as he waited for the baby to be born. He felt a bit drowsy after finishing the contents of his pipe, so he ambled over to the barn to get a bit of a nap.
Several hours later, he was startled awake by an urgent voice.
"Zeke! Zeke!" Mattie called urgently. "You need to come now!"
"Hmm, wha-?" he mumbled as he shook the sleepy fog from himself. He looked up blearily to see Mattie standing there in her shift holding up a lantern in the darkness. Billings had returned, now asleep on a pile of hay a few feet away, softly snoring.
"Come on, Zeke," she urged. "You'd best hurry if you want to see Naomi alive one last time!"
Hearing the desperation in his sister's words, Rollins hastily scrambled to his feet and stumbled after her back to the house.
But it was too late. Granny Holt was standing in the doorway to the bedroom as they came in, bowed in sheer exhaustion.
"I'm sorry," she croaked. "We lost her. The baby was turned around all wrong inside of her and she lost too much blood."
"The baby?" he managed to ask, looking utterly defeated.
"I'm sorry," she repeated. "It was a boy."
He pushed past the old woman to take one last look at his wife, who lay still and at peace, with her dead babe beside her.
Rollins stared dumbly for a long moment, not quite registering what his eyes told him. It barely registered when his two sisters came to stand on either side of him in wordless comfort.
Finally, he spoke. "You know, I was always amazed that such a pretty girl wanted to marry an ugly old bastard like me. I'll be forever grateful that she did, but I'll never understand it."
After a long interval, his eyes hardened and he strode quickly from the room, wanting to be alone. Rollins headed straight for the barn, where he knew that Tabby's husband kept several jugs of moonshine. The diminutive partisan intended to get thoroughly drunk and stay that way until Ben Martin and the rest of the group returned.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Historical note: Jumps were a less restrictive form of stays, with little to no boning. They were chiefly worn by pregnant women , elderly women, and women with certain medical issues.