Chapter 55: The Battle of Cowpens

Jewel slowly opened her eyes as she sensed the sun coming up. She turned over and saw O'Hara was still sleeping. Not wanting to wake him, she quietly got up off the cot and walked out of the tent taking in the cool brisk air. It was a beautiful morning.

"Morning, beautiful," said O'Hara walking up behind her. She held his hands as he wrapped them around her stomach.

"Morning. I thought you were sleeping."

"I was just resting my eyes."

Jewel sighed then gave him a gentle kiss "Did you sleep well at all?"

"No. I hate those damned things. I'd probably sleep better if I was on the ground. You?"

Jewel shook her head "Hell no. All I could think about was today."

"That makes you and the rest of us," said Tavington as he and the others joined them on the hill.

Everyone stood there in silence as they watched the sunrise. Jewel sighed "Hard to believe so much bad shit will happen on such a beautiful day."

Haytham nodded "Aye...and on your birthday no less," he smiled.

Jewel scoffed "Thanks for the reminder, Haytham."

"Shit, it is your birthday. I can't believe I forgot," said Tavington.

"Well, we did have a lot more pressing matters on our minds," she chuckled as she looked at Continentials and militia.

"Well, Happy Birthday, sister," said Tavington and the others.

"Happy Birthday, Jewel." O'Hara kissed her cheek then whispered into her ear and made her smile.

"We should go to the tent and look over the maps again," said Tavington.

"I'll be there in a minute," said Jewel. She waited for everyone to head to the tent before facing O'Hara "I need you to promise me something."

"What is it?"

"No matter what happens, I want you to stay off the field. If you see Jack or my father come after me, you stay off the field."

"Jewel," he shook his head "I can't promise that."

"You must. Charles, listen to me, they want me, not you. If anything happens to me, if they succeed in what they want to do to me, I need you to take care of Kelly for me. She can be a handful I know, but she'll need help."

"Nothing will happen to you."

A small smile creased her lips "Just promise me that you won't come onto the field."

"I'm sorry, Jewel, but I won't do that. I will not make a promise that I may break. You're my wife. You want to protect me and keep me out of harms way, fine, but I'm your husband and I want to do the same for you. I'm sorry, but no. This request, I will not do."

Jewel sighed and nodded "All right, I understand. But if you do show up on the battlefield, I will kick your arse."

O'Hara chuckled "I can deal with that." She smiled then walked into the tent with the others.

Tavington looked up as Jewel entered "About time."

"Shut up," she threw a hankerchief at him.

"Hope that wasn't used."

"You'll never know."

He scoffed "All right, we will be up here, behind the infantry into these trees. Jewel, you said you were going to be over here, correct?"

"Yes. When you storm the field, we charge behind you."

He nodded and sighed "I still hate this plan. You do know that right?"

"Yes, I do, brother and I still haven't changed my mind either."

Cornwallis looked to Tavington "Remember what I said. Wait for my order."

"My lord?" questioned Jewel. He looked to her "What is it, Jewel?" Jewel sighed "With respect, My Lord, we will do whatever it takes to win the war and be done with it. It's not about who takes the glory from this battle, it's about winning the war. It's what we all want. So let's take it." She looked to everyone around her "Win or lose this war, ladies and gentlemen, it's been a hell of a ride and it's been an honor and priviledge to serve with you and I'm damned proud to fight beside you all."

"Hear, hear!" shouted Ban.

Cannon fire erupted the peacefulness. They all exited the tent and saw the Infantry being formed up and the Dragoons were getting ready. Tavington stopped over by Jewel gently grabbing her wrist "Please be careful out there. I won't be able to watch you like I want and protect you. If Jack is out there and our Father," he shook his head and gulped "Jewel, I really wish you would reconsider going out there on the battlefield."

Jewel hugged her brother tight "I'll be fine, William. They can't get rid of me that easy. You may be a soldier and I know you can hold your own, but I'll be damned if I lose anyone else I love to those bastards."

He gave a nod "I'll see you on the battlefield, Sister."

"On the battlefield, brother."

Tavington joined the other dragoons by the horses. Jewel gave a nod to them. She saw Janessa and the others get onto their horses. She whistled then Ranger came running. "Jewel, wait," said O'Hara walking up to her. He gave her a kiss "Please be careful. I'll be watching you. If you're in trouble-," he started but was cut off as she brought his forehead to hers and then laughed "When am I not in trouble, Charles?" He chuckled. Jewel gave him another kiss then climbed onto her horse then looked down at him "I love you, Charles." He kicked her feet then headed towards the others. O'Hara walked up to Haytham as he started to get on his horse "Haytham?"

Haytham looked down "Yes, General?"

"Please look after her."

"Always," he said then clicked his tongue and headed towards Jewel. O'Hara sighed then climbed on his horse and joined Cornwallis and the other Generals.

Jewel sighed as they sat on their horses and watched the infantry shout orders. They started marching in perfect formation towards the Americans. "Interesting," said Jewel.

"What?" asked Janessa.

Jewel looked through her spyglass "Well, unless I'm going mad, I see Militia forming at the center. It's awkward." She looked over towards O'Hara and sighed as she saw the worried look on his face.

"Charles?"

"Aye. He's worried about me. How's Ban taking things with you being in this fight?"

"He hates it, of course, but at the same time, he knows he won't win an arguement with me," she chuckled. "He says I've been around you too long."

Jewel chuckled "Good ol' Ban." She glanced back at her brother who was watching the battle intently "Then of course there is my brother who if he stared any harder, his eyes would pop out." She shook her head "Fucking war. Fucking militia. Fucking hell."

"Feel better?" asked Janessa.

Jewel shrugged "A little." Her attention was drawn back to the field as gunshots ringed the air. "Here we go." She kept her eyes on the field as men on both sides fell.

"Jewel. Your brother."

Jewel looked from the field to Janessa then to her brother. She grabbed her spyglass and looked through it "Oh, god, William, what are you doing?" She saw him mouth the words 'Prepare to charge.' Shifting her gaze back onto the battlefield, she saw Martin "Shit. He's spotted Martin." As she looked on down the line, her facial features changed to anger. "Son of a bitch," she whispered then drew out her sword "Prepare to charge!"

"Jewel?"

"Charge!" she shouted then followed her brother onto the battlefield.

Meanwhile back on the hill, Cornwallis shook his head "Tavington. Damn him! Damn that man!"

O'Hara was upset, but was more focused on Jewel. His attention was drawn back to Cornwallis "Bayonet charge. We'll see who takes the glory from this field." O'Hara gulped "My lord, I don't think he's after glory, Jewel said-"

"I don't care what she said. I gave you an order, General, now do it!"

Jewel watched as the rebels started to retreat and could hear voices screaming from behind. She knew that Cornwallis had given the order, thinking her brother was trying to take glory from the battle. "Damn him. Damn that man!" She spurred her horse harder then became wide eyed as she saw what was waiting at the bottom of the hill "Oh my god! Hold the charge!" She shouted. Her brother had done the same thing, but it was too late. Dragoons and Infantry charged down the hill. She looked to her brother and the others then headed back towards the rebels on the hill.

After killing many rebels, Jewel caught sight of Jack who was fighting with Bordon. She spurred her horse "Hyaa!" She sliced a rebel that got in her way. "Hurry, Ranger! Hyaa! Hyaa!" Jewel started to stand on the saddle as she got closer. She took a deep breath then jumped on Jack just as he was about to bring his sword down on Bordon, she grabbed Jack and tossed him over her. He slowly stood up as did she.

Jack laughed "Well, well, well. Now this is interesting. Jewel, back from the dead. You look good for a dead woman, I must say. So, how are you alive?" He asked as they began to encircle each other.

Jewel stared at Jack as they continued to circle each other "I'm a hard person to kill, Jack. You should know that by now, but you will never hurt any member of my family again, I can promise you that."

He laughed "First you, then the others."

"You were a lot of things, Jack, but never the monster you are now. It's bad enough what you did to me, but what you were going to allow to be done to Kelly. Our daughter, is a new low for you all together."

Jack clenched his jaw "I didn't allow anything. I told him I didn't want her hurt."

"They were going to rape her, Jack! I came in through the doors and shot them both. Trevor and Robert were their names."

"They were your father's men, not mine."

Jewel shook her head "It doesn't matter. What matters is, that you are no better than my father and today is your final judgement!"

Jack shouted then charged Jewel. He swung his sword at her left and right. Parry, Parry, thrust, thrust. She ducked at the oncoming blow, but Jack brought his sword back down, cutting her leg. He hit her hard against the face with the hilt of his sword, knocking her to the ground. "Mmm, mmm, you know, Jewel, I have to admit, you were a better fuck than Cici was." He walked closer to her and sighed "I just can't decide on what side I liked fucking more. "Oh well," he brought his sword up in the air and brought it down. Seizing the opportunity, Jewel wrapped her legs around Jack's ankle, twisting it, making him fall to the ground onto his back, she twirled herself upward, pulled out her dagger, and did an aerial cartwheel over him then stabbed him in the chest. His body lunged upward as he gasped for air, dropping his sword. Jewel stood up and looked down at him as he smiled at her, blood flowing from his mouth.

He laughed "You were still the best fuck," he sneered hoping to get a final rise out of Jewel, so she may lose her focus, if even for a second. She cocked her head to the side and smiled down at him "That's exactly what Charles tells me." She brought her foot up in the air and slammed her heel into the dagger in Jack's chest making more blood flow from his mouth. She stood over him, watching the life leave his eyes then pulled the blade from his chest "One less sick fuck in the world." Jewel looked over and saw Bordon who was still on the ground. She saw a rebel coming at her who was quickly killed. "Bordon?!" Jewel ran over "Bordon? You all right?"

"Jewel?" Bordon questioned as he began to regain consciousness. "What happened? Where's Jack?"

"He's dead. I killed him."

"Oh. All right," he nodded then began to slowly stand up "God...damn."

"You all right?" she asked.

"No," he shook his head as he was bent over holding his knees.

"Do you know where my brothers are? Have you seen them?"

Bordon shook his head "No idea."

Jewel looked him over "Oh shit, Bordon, you've been shot!"

"I know. It fucking hurts. Right in my fighting arm too."

"I bet. Move to your left."

He did then Jewel raised her pistol and shot a rebel running at Bordon. He turned around and saw the dead rebel "Thank you," he said looking at her."

Jewel nodded "You're welcome. Look, Bordon, you need to get to safety. If you can't fight, then you need to get off the field. I need to find my brothers. Jack is dead and I think my father is around here somewhere."

Seth came running up to Jewel and Bordon "You two all right?"

She looked to Seth "Can you do me a favor and get Bordon off the field?"

"I can take care of myself, Jewel," said Bordon. "Down." She dropped to the ground then Bordon shot a rebel coming up behind her "See?"

Jewel dusted off her pants "Thank you. But even so, you can't shoot everyone on this field. Humor me. I promised Lisa I'd look after your ass now don't make me into a liar, Bordon. Got it?" She looked into the battle and caught a glimpse of her brother fighting Martin "Shit." Jewel whistled for Ranger who rode up. She grabbed unto him without waiting for him to stop, flinging herself into the saddle "Hyaa!"

"Show off," Bordon chuckled. He turned to see a rebel running at him yelling, shaking his head, he lifted his pistol and shot the rebel right between the eyes "Shut up."

Jewel saw Martin on the ground, she kicked her heels "Faster Ranger!" She rode harder towards them, she started to stand on Ranger's saddle and in doing so, she could see what Martin was going to do. He ducked his head missing her brothers swipe with his sword, she jumped from Ranger knocking into her brother, pushing him out of the way, then felt piercing hot metal go into her side. She howled in pain upon hitting the ground. Jewel looked at her brother who was laying a few feet away from her. He had been shot and stabbed, but she couldn't tell how severe they were.

She shifted her gaze and saw Martin approach her, but before she could react with her sword, Martin stepped on her sword arm and held his sword to her throat.

"No!" Tavington yelled. "Martin, don't!"

Martin panted as he held the tip of the sword to Jewel's throat "Any last words? How about you Colonel? Any last words you want to say to your sister?"

Tavington shook his head "Don't. Look, I'm begging you, don't."

"You took both of my sons from me, it's only fair that I take someone from you. You should have just let me kill your brother, because now, you die." He dug his sword into Jewel's throat. Jewel gasped then kicked Martin's leg as hard as she could making him stumble backwards, but not before getting her throat cut a little as the sword was drawn away. She painfully stood up then looked to her brother who also stood up and limped over to her. Jewel looked to Martin as he approached her again, she had her sword ready as did her brother.

"Neither one of you are in a condition to fight me."

"Perhaps not, but I wouldn't try if I were you. I'm sorry about your sons, I truly am, but killing my brother or me, will not bring them back." She sheathed her sword "I know what it's like to lose a child. Only difference was, mine didn't get a chance to be born."

"Oh? And who did that?" asked Martin.

"Me!" shouted a voice behind Jewel and Tavington, but before they could turn around, they felt ropes flung around their necks then were dragged away from Martin. As they were being dragged across the field, Tavington tried to cut the rope, but lost grip of his sword. Jewel struggled as the rope tightened against her neck, she grabbed her pistol out of the holster. "One shot," she thought to herself. She fired her pistol, shooting the main part of the rope, releasing her and her brother. Tavington rolled in the opposite direction than her. Jewel gasped as she got the rope off her neck and coughed heavily as she gasped. "William?" she coughed. Jewel stood up "William!"

"Miss me, kids?"

Jewel looked to the voice and was punched in the face. She slammed against the ground on her side where she was stabbed by the bayonet "Ahhh! God!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Jewel, did that hurt?"

Jewel grunted as she pulled her sword out then painfully stood back up. She glared as she locked eyes with her father "I knew you'd be here," she sneered spitting out blood.

Garrick laughed then turned his attention "Well, well, well, William. Look at you in your dragoon uniform. Nice to see you again after all these years...son."

Tavington's lip quivered in anger upon the sight of his father. This was the first time he had seen him since he was a child. Hearing that he was alive and actually seeing him alive was two different things for him. He looked to his sister "Are you all right?"

"Oh, how sweet. You still care for her even after learning what she is. Pathetic. Well, now, it's a family reunion. Cole, isn't?"

Jewel and Tavington glanced over and their brother who was hurt as well.

Garrick laughed "My three children. All weak. Even together, you can't defeat me. You're all too weak. Especially you, Jewel. I heard about your near suicide experience. Although I was quite pissed off that you had survived. I mean, we did give you a good fucking, didn't we? I guess we weren't rough enough."

Cole snarled and charged his father "Bastard!"

"Cole, no!" Jewel yelled.

Garrick dodged Cole's slashes then grabbed his arm, twisted then broke it. Cole howled out in pain. Laughing, Garrick punched Cole in the face, knocking him to the ground resulting in him passing out.

"You asshole!" Jewel shouted.

Garrick smiled "How about it, William? Care to take a shot at me, you weak piece of shit? Come on, son! Let's see what being in the Majesty's army has done for you, because I swear this, if you fail to beat me, I will take your sister again! Only this time, I will make sure it lasts for weeks!"

"You filthy fucking bastard!" Tavington shouted then grabbed a sword off the ground, rushing his father. He slashed at his father and managed to get one cut across his arm, but was then punched in his shoulder where he was shot. Garrick then rammed his dagger into his son's leg then kicked him in the stomach, making him fall to the ground. He looked to Jewel who was looking at her brothers with sadness. It was now her and her father. She shook her head "Why? Why do you hate us so much?! Damn you, father, I will kill you for this!"

"Oh, Jewel," Garrick laughed "you can't fight me. You're too weak. You were always weak. Just like your brothers. And your daughter is weak. And your baby was weak. Sorry, your dead baby."

Jewel screamed and charged him with her sword swinging. Garrick blocked and dodged her swings. She took out her dagger then cut his arm, twirled around then slashed his leg with her sword, but Garrick saw his opportunity and quickly grabbed her sword hand after she tried to cut him again, then brought his sword around, thus cutting her back. She fell to the ground in tears. He held her sword and examined it "Hmm...interesting sword, Jewel. Beautiful in fact. The Phoenix emblem is a nice touch," he chuckled as he tossed her sword to the side

Jewel slowly got on all fours, only to be kicked in the side she was stabbed on, sending her rolling to land on her back. Jewel coughed then started to get back up again. Garrick shook his head "Why do you persist? You can't win, Jewel. As I said before, you're weak."

"No," Jewel said as she held her side "You're weak. Each time you have ever hurt me, I was vulnerable as well as my brothers. The lot of us have been shot and stabbed today, making us weaker. You and your bastard goons chained me up, beat me, and raped me. You call me weak?! Let's see how you would fair against us at our best, Father! What a hard man you are. The only piece of ass you could get, belonged to your own daughter. Me! You sick, miserable, worthless, son of a bitch! You stole my life!"

Garrick laughed "Come get it back then!"

Jewel started towards him, but stopped as she heard Haytham's voice in her head "Don't lose focus. That's what he wants."

"I've had enough of this," Garrick sneered then pulled out his pistol and shot Jewel in the leg, making her fall to her knees. He grabbed Jewel's hair and jerked it back, while holding a knife to Jewel's throat "Any last words?"

"Aye," she whispered while pulling out a small knife "You're the weak one, father." She screamed then rammed her dagger into Garrick's eye. He screamed as he stumbled backwards. Jewel tried to focus on him, but her vision was starting to blur. Her wounds were starting to overcome her and all the blood she was losing was making her light headed. Jewel tried to stand, but she only fell back over. The last thing Jewel saw was the British were retreating. "Charles," she whispered then passed out.

Jewel awoke to the sound of coughing. She herself began to cough and gasp. "Shit," she groaned in pain. Jewel looked around, she was in a medical tent, along with many other soldiers, men who she thought of as brothers. She saw a doctor come into the tent "Doc? Doc, what's going on?"

"You've been out for a week, Miss. Your wounds were great. They still are, I ask that you not move around a lot."

"A week?" Jewel shook her head "Where is everyone? My brothers, my friends, Charles, where is everyone?! Where are they?!"

"Jewel!" a familiar voice entered the tent.

"Haytham!" she cried.

He walked over to the cot then hugged her "It's all right. You have to remain calm. Jewel, your wounds were very bad. You almost didn't make it. You came really close this time. Too close and you cannot push yourself, your body can't take it. You understand?"

Jewel nodded "Haytham, where is everyone? Where are my brothers? Janessa? Ban? Charles? Where?"

"I'm right here, sister," said Janessa walking in. She sat down "I can't tell you how many doctors I had to threaten before they told me where you were."

"Should have said you were a witch, then they would probably have been scared enough to send you here right away," said Haytham.

"Or they would have set me on fire, Haytham."

Jewel sighed "Janessa, how many? How many of us fell?"

"Jewel."

"I need to know."

Janessa looked to Haytham then back to Jewel "Half." She sighed "6 of our sisters are gone. We buried them properly."

Jewel felt tears filling up her eyes "And what of my brothers? And Bordon? You still haven't told me about them."

Haytham sighed "Bordon, your brothers, Seth, Ban, and Wilkins, along with Charles and Lord Cornwallis aren't here. The battle of Cowpens is over, but the war isn't. Not yet."

"But they were hurt, Haytham," Jewel cried "They can't fight! Why wasn't I allowed to go?!"

"Jewel, you were dying. By O'Hara's order, you weren't to come. He wanted you to be taken care of."

Jewel sobbed "But the others were wounded too. Why didn't you convince him to let me go, Haytham?"

"Jewel, I promised O'Hara that I would take care of you and that's what I'm going to do. I've already arranged passage for us. We will be leaving very soon. When we reach our destination, I will go to where O'Hara and the others are at. They are going to need me anyway, once the war is over. I'm good with politics and bullshiting. Sometimes both of those are entwined...more often than I'd like really."

"There was something else, Jewel. It's Jasper."

"What about him? Did we lose him too?"

"Not exactly. We saw him leaving the field, but he wasn't alone. He was helping your father."

"What?! Are you sure? Father is alive? Why would Jasper do that?"

"I don't know, but it was, Jasper," said Janessa.

Jewel shook her head "It doesn't make any sense. He helped me. Saved my life." She sniffed "Wait a minute. He's playing sides."

"What?" asked Haytham.

"Jasper infiltrated my father's camp before and after he saw that my father didn't die, even after I ran a knife into the fucker's eye, he went back to be on his side to help us. That has to be why. Although...there is something."

"What?" asked Janessa.

"Father knew that I thought about killing myself and he wasn't too shocked when he saw that I was alive. He wouldn't have known that unless..."

"Unless there is another insider," Haytham sighed.

"Exactly," Jewel gulped. She shook her head then looked to Haytham "When are we leaving?"

"Let me make sure everything is ready, then we'll head out, all right?"

Jewel nodded "All right."

Haytham gave a nod to Janessa then left the room. Jewel looked to Janessa then hung her eyes. They lost sisters tonight and Jewel's father was still alive.

It was a 2 hour ride to the destination. Jewel had fallen asleep on Haytham's shoulder. "Jewel, we're here." Jewel sighed then slowly opened her eyes. Her mouth dropped "Oh my...how-" She couldn't get the words out. They were at the house, Jewel talked about wanting built. It had everything she imagined. The House had 3 balconies that attached via gate, pillars in the front, a fence that went around the house to keep out unwanted guests, a water fall, with a labyrinth out back. "How did you do this? When did you do this?" She looked up at the doors as they opened. Her mother, Kelly, and Lisa exited. Jewel smiled as her daughter came running down the steps then hugged her gently "Mother!"

"Oh my darling, daughter. Did you have a part in this?"

"Well, we all did. Janessa, had the men start on it awhile back and we enlisted others to help as well. Are you surprised?"

Jewel laughed "Yes! I'm more than surprised, I'm very happy. If only...Will and the others were here to see it as well now that it's finished." She looked sadly at her mother who embraced her "Oh, Jewel, they'll be home before we know it."

Lisa nodded "My brother is strong, just like yours are, Jewel. They'll come home to us."

Haytham cleared his throat "I must be off. I need to catch up to where they have gone to. I will send word when I can."

Jewel hugged her friend "Please be careful."

"I will," he smiled then climbed on his horse. "Hyaa!"

Jewel sighed as she watched Haytham ride off. "Come inside, mother," said Kelly happily "If you like the outside of this house, you'll love the inside even more." Anna, Kelly, and Lisa helped Jewel into the house hoping that the war will be over soon and their family can be reunited once more.