Color The Sky

by Mystic Blade

Connor's life at Davenport homestead brings a sense of family after leaving Kanathséton as he makes new friendships with the residents and finds himself slowly assimilating into one large family. He partakes in a part of life that isn't tied to the assassins while one young resident tackles the new wild frontier to carve a dream for herself as they cultivate their new community.

56. Runaway Bride

Music Inspiration: Two Steps from Hell- "I Love You Forever"

---

Runaway Bride

---

5 November 1777

Ratonhnhaké:ton and Caroline were on their daily perimeter check of the town. Their first stop had now become Martha's new home but the new bride settled into her home without a fuss. Being close to her family, they were a short walk away to settle her nerves and Caroline had dropped off a rabbit from a recent hunt. Animals were preparing to hibernate which meant the hunters of the homes had to take advantage. With neither Walter and Martha having the best experience at shooting, the outdoorsy couple had taken Walter under their wing. He was great at catching fish and setting traps but winter would freeze the rivers solid and Caroline was certain Martha would not be keen on dried fish and small game all winter.

"Thank you" her little sister spoke gratefully for the fresh meat since she didn't want to depend on the stock for the inn. That meat was for the patrons but Corrine always snuck them off a crate full of food. Being married less than a month, she was still waiting on her hens to lay eggs but she had made plenty of fruit preserves for the upcoming winter.

"Always, my dear sister" Caroline smiled warmly to brightening up her day since Martha's fresh pork was running low. She could use the last of it in a stew and add in the rabbit with fresh vegetables for a hearty soup. Martha had no idea how her mother and Corrine became experienced in delicious food but she would try until she matched them. Thankfully, Walter was kind and had yet to complain if she overcooked anything.

She was tidying up the house with the last morning chores before joining Walter at the general store. The dry goods he had ordered were coming in every day to ensure everyone had food to last the winter. Flour and beans were in heavy demand while Ratonhnhaké:ton footed the bill for fancier things like coffee and sugar. Walter promised they would have a glass jar full of it at home for the winter and although Martha didn't need it, she appreciated the sentiment.

Ratonhnhaké:ton repeated his partner's sentiment by meeting Martha's sheepish gaze to remind, "Fetch us if you need anything."

"You're spoiling me" she chuckled softly to the outpour of care from her family and counted herself absolutely lucky. Caroline waved a dismissive hand, laughing to her modesty, before beckoning her partner back onto the main road. Her little sister had chores to complete to stay on schedule and she wouldn't take up her time. Descending the porch steps from the cozy home, which had been painted a pretty pale blue, the couple waved in farewell to the brunette. Martha leaned against the doorway of her home with her new catch, keeping an eye on the two until they returned to the main road.

Caroline raised her arms in the air to pop her joints to wake herself against the lingering cold of the morning. The bright sun in the sky and the lack of cloud cover would soon dissipate the chill so they would hurry along. Adding a mental check in her mind, she proposed, "Seeing as we've checked off the inn and Martha, let's check the general store. I have to make sure nobody hassles our new brother."

"I doubt that would happen" he stated dryly to the safety of their town and the lack of danger from humans. It had become a scarce possibility with their power in numbers and ability to fight but Caroline wasn't leaving anything to chance. Ratonhnhaké:ton shook his head to her skepticism and pointed out, "We did convince him to keep a shotgun."

"We have to protect our little birds" she smiled fondly at the new role of not only an older sister but a protector. The burning flame of vigilance over her siblings as a child had shifted now that she was a woman. There was a maternal edge growing in her heart and she welcomed it, embracing the new emotion. If she could turn out like her mother who braved danger, traversed the Atlantic Ocean, survived the elements, and built a safe home- she would do fine.

He was about to remind her that they weren't exactly little anymore. Alice had barely reached his waist when they met and the brunette now brushed past his shoulder. Even Samuel was up to his chest and he was not finished growing which meant Catherine would need Ellen's help to keep up with demand. Before he could open his mouth to speak, two hands grabbed his shoulders from behind. With Caroline clearly at his side, it was not someone he allowed to breach his personal space.

Not knowing who it was, he wrestled the stranger to the ground but before they landed, he heard Caroline exclaim in complaint. Not at the newcomer but at him. Glancing down, he realized with embarrassment that he had flipped Norris onto the dirt. The miner was too overjoyed to care about the attack and threw up his arms while on the floor to exclaim happily, "My friend!"

Despite his cheerful demeanor, Ratonhnhaké:ton quickly grabbed him by the left arm to lift him onto his feet. Caroline was trying her best to ignore what happened and covered her face with both hands to fight back her burning cheeks. He didn't mean to throw him over his shoulder and shot his friend an apologetic look for the accident. His personal space was a very guarded zone and only Caroline was allowed, followed by Robert when at sea and her family at home. The miner, however, didn't bat an eye to what happened which led Ratonhnhaké:ton to inquire, "Norris, what are you doing?"

"She said yes!" he blurted with delight to tell his best friend the best news of the day. Although his courtship with Myriam had not been long like his friend's, he had loved her for years in pining silence. He had finally dared to ask the question last night after dinner at the Mile's End and a stroll under the stars. Whether she accepted or not, he had the pride in knowing he tried on his own this time. Thankfully for him, she had accepted on the condition that he allow her to continue her hunting.

"Myriam?" he asked with disbelief because he expected more resistance from the huntress. Like Caroline, they were both not conventional brides of their time and preferred living in an isolated wilderness.

This time, Caroline smacked him across the left shoulder to chide sarcastically, "Of course, Myriam, who else has he been chasing after?"

Norris clapped enthusiastically to reveal, ecstatic to tell the town, and declared with pride, "We are getting married!"

Myriam managed to catch up to her overly excited fiancé from behind, catching her breath, and shook a playful fist at him, "I told you not to touch him, Norris!"

Ratonhnhaké:ton tried not to recoil when he earned his future wife's wrath as Caroline lectured, "What did I tell you about flipping people in Davenport?"

He took a tentative step away from his redhead, choosing to evade her by focusing on the news at hand, and asked with surprise, "Is it true?"

Now, Norris tended to get ahead of himself when it came to Myriam. The poor man had created elaborate plans to simply ask to court her but it took over a year for him to gain the gumption to do so. The fact that their engagement was announced so soon led Ratonhnhaké:ton to gaze at Myriam as the logical one to take action. The huntress, however, beamed happily as she clasped her hands over her chest to declare with the same joyful emotion, "Yes!"

Caroline and Ratonhnhaké:ton gaped in amazement to the newly engaged couple in town. The redhead hopped in place excitedly, grasping his arm with a peppy grin, and he cracked his own smile to match their friends. Had love gotten into the water that year? There would be three weddings that year! The two darted forward to congratulate Norris and Myriam with handshakes on Ratonhnhaké:ton's part while Caroline was the happy hugger of the two.

Myriam grasped Caroline's hand between both of hers, earning a baffled gaze from the redhead, and she confided in their best friends, "We do have one favor, if you would oblige us?"

The new couple didn't even need to ask after Ratonhnhaké:ton and Caroline had spent most of 1776 figuring out how Norris would woo Myriam. At one point, they had conceded that neither of the four would end up with their respective crushes. Norris couldn't summon the courage, Myriam was too shy to ask, Caroline settled into the dreaded friendzone, and Ratonhnhaké:ton hesitated on rekindling the past. Each had its setbacks but now, it was clear that sunshine was in their foreseeable skies. They were more than happy to lend a helping hand to their friends and the two agreed in delighted unison, "Of course!"

Norris gazed at the ground sheepishly, rubbing his hands nervously, before confessing earnestly, "We don't have any family here so we asked Father Timothy for help with the wedding."

Like Ratonhnhaké:ton, the two were alone in the wilderness with no blood bonds in sight. They only had Martha's recent wedding to draw ideas from and Ellen's pretty catalogs. Myriam wasn't a dainty type of woman but she also felt that her future husband deserved her best foot forward. They would live in Norris' home but he would be building an addition to increase their space. Myriam's old home would be transformed into her hunting business for her catches rather than her cozy cabin. It was a large change for both of them and they hoped to have a little help from their friends if they could spare it.

The lack of a family had naturally drawn them to the other couple after their friendship failed to relent, treating them like siblings. Knowing how Caroline protected her kin and had brought Ratonhnhaké:ton to the Burnett fold, and Ratonhnhaké:ton's own kindness for others, they didn't feel so alone asking for help. Myriam chuckled awkwardly to settle her nerves and requested, "We would appreciate it if you could meet him while we head into Boston for supplies?"

"Of course" Ratonhnhaké:ton replied instantly to helping them in any way he could. They had never hesitated to help him around town and had risked their lives for him in New York. If there was anyone he would help without question, the two were on his list.

Caroline smiled eagerly at her friends to pry innocently, "When is the wedding?"

Norris clapped his hands to answer with renewed vigor, "End of the month!"

Myriam waved her hands to make light of the coming wedding and insisted, "It's a simple wedding, no pish or posh. Norris, however, wants the essentials."

"My bride deserves it!" Norris claimed proudly because he felt like the luckiest man in the world. He never expected a day like this to arrive and would provide the best for his future wife.

"I'm anything but a lady" she chuckled softly to her modest means and androgynous choice of dress. With winter almost in full gear, she had added comfortable furs around the shoulders and a hat. Caroline nodded with agreement because she dressed more like a man every day. The winter brought more chill and she finally understood why Ratonhnhaké:ton wore his Assassin robes more than anything else. The fabric that he had given Ellen for hers kept her snug against the elements and the tailored overcoat created the impression of a full skirt below the waist to avoid drawing curious eyes.

Ratonhnhaké:ton motioned for Caroline to follow him and informed the couple, "We will start right away."

Myriam's brow furrowed with concern and she asked carefully, "It's not a bother?"

The other couple disagreed instantly before waving at their friends in farewell, who smiled in relief. Norris and Myriam felt fortunate to have them in their lives but the other couple felt exactly the same. Caroline didn't know how many children would be in her future horizon but her friends would definitely be in the godparent running. While Norris and Myriam headed south to hitch their horses and prep their wagon for the trip to Boston, the other couple headed north to the church.

Crunching the morning frost under their feet, Caroline burst into joyful laughter to exclaim, "I can't believe it!"

"It is a happy moment" he agreed to the success of the courting couple and wished them the best on their wedding day. With him and Caroline on the job, they would ensure that it was a memorable day for both. He was not privy to the entire customs of colonial wedding traditions since Caroline had cut and modified a few to fit their ceremony.

He was glad to have Caroline by his side because he would be lost on his own. She had been privy to Martha's wedding planning while he simply showed up. Caroline had entrusted him to oversee the construction of their home more than anything. Their homestead would be their dream made reality and although their house was close to finishing construction, the entire plot of land would not be ready until the end of the month. Or so, Godfrey estimated.

Caroline pulled open the cherry wood door to enter the church, rubbing her hands to remove the bitter cold. He grabbed her hands in the hope of warming them but she laughed softly to his own freezing hands. The couple tried warming their hands but to no avail, opting for their wool-lined coat pockets. Heading to the front of the church, they found Father Timothy humming a hymn while sweeping the floor. Despite his elderly age, there was a youthful spark to his spirit.

He smiled with welcome to the couple, placing his broom against a pew, and clapped his hands to claim excitedly, "So now that you've been told, might I have a word? We have much work to do!"

He had only recently arrived in the town but having a church to hold services and conducting three weddings was an honor. The residents were incredibly kind and helped each other like family more than neighbors. He couldn't have asked for a better place to spend the rest of his life. Ratonhnhaké:ton nodded with agreement to the plan Norris had in mind for his wedding and spoke warmly, "Of course! What would you have me do?"

Father Timothy motioned for the couple to follow them, retracing their steps into the church, and he answered peppily, "Accompany me to the inn, I have business there."

With that said, he opened the door to enter the chilly morning air and crossed his arms as he headed to the Mile's End. Caroline and Ratonhnhaké:ton shared an amused smile to returning from where they came while the older man continued, "Norris is a stickler when it comes to tradition. Myriam knows not where her father is and they were hopeful that you might act his part at the ceremony."

Matching the man's stride, he walked alongside him to inform uncertainly, "I am not familiar with colonial wedding customs. I've only attended one wedding and even then, I didn't take part in the planning."

Caroline chuckled softly from behind the two and piped up helpfully, "You were probably the only one willing to, aside from Walter and boban."

The clergyman joined her merry laughter, billowing white smoke from his lips into the air to bite back the cold, and explained, "It means you will walk with her during the ceremony and give her to Norris as her father would. Just like Godfrey did with Mrs. Rolfe."

Ratonhnhaké:ton understood that perfectly and nodded quietly, humbled that Myriam held him with that respect. He and Caroline would complete every task required to give them a happy beginning. They had offered their help when Caroline announced their engagement and he already imagined the storage awaiting their hunting catches for both weddings. His redheaded bride sighed softly to hearing the new surname of her little sister and smiled forlornly, "Still getting used to that name."

"I would be honored" he accepted politely to bring Myriam the happiness that she deserved on her wedding day. She didn't have a family nearby, much like himself, but they made do with the people around them. The residents were anchored to him but he was hitched to Caroline and her family, who also bound themselves with him. It was an intricate web that brought security and trust for everyone.

Father Timothy clapped his hands to assigning a checkoff to the first task, "Wonderful!"

A sudden thought burst to mind at remembering Martha's wedding and he glanced over his shoulder to ask his partner, "Will we do this too?"

She shrugged innocently because it was a basic tradition in the colonies if the space could be afforded. If a wedding ceremony took place in someone's home, only the parents of the couple were in attendance until the reception. They were lucky in having the church nearby to invite the whole town and smiled, "Pretty much. We still have to tie in your traditions for a seamless blend."

"Can we make an appointment for this?" he asked hesitantly, turning to the father with expectant eyes. He didn't want to ruin any portion of the ceremony and wanted a copy of whatever list he had for Norris' wedding.

"Of course, now onto other business!" Father Timothy agreed instantly to help the couple with their religiously conscious ceremony. Caroline quickened her steps to pat her partner on the back with silent reassurance that everything would be fine. Her hearty pat didn't help for Ratonhnhaké:ton when the other man continued eagerly, "Our weddings are complex beasts and require many hands working together to execute flawlessly."

"They do?" he blurted unexpectedly to the daunting prospect of their wedding being heavier to bear than building a homestead. What happened to their low-key ceremony? He liked the simplicity of Martha's and hoped for something similar. Why was so much emphasis placed on the ceremony rather than the home?

His brown eyes only widened with each new task that Father Timothy revealed with enthusiasm, "We'll need Warren and Prudence to provide food, Ellen to make the appropriate clothes, Big Dave to smith wedding bands, me to conduct the service, and Oliver and Corrine to host a banquet."

Caroline looped her arm through his for emotional support because her groom was lost in putting together the ceremony. She wanted to take that hassle onto her shoulders while he focused on their home, which was more important to her. Ratonhnhaké:ton sighed softly under his breath before meeting her gaze with hesitation, "That is a lot."

Father Timothy came to a stop upon arriving at their first destination and smiled happily, "We'll start here."

---

After assisting Father Timothy with his entire list, the couple relaxed by the bridge that sat over the river between the Burnett homestead and Fortier farm. The river did not have its regular strength as the mountains began to conserve its water for frost and soon, the roaring river that ran between their town would resemble a stream. It would still be enough for boiling for use in town but Ratonhnhaké:ton would miss running his hands through it on his walks through town.

Learning against the wooden railing and peering down at the river, he asked nervously, "Will we have to do all that?"

The entire list had boggled his mind to hear aloud and he lost count on his fingers halfway through the trip. Had Martha done all of this with Walter? Had Caroline assisted her and not told him. Is that why she was handling most of the work for their wedding? Her response to his query didn't help when she leaned back against the railing to face him, "Possibly, why?"

"You made it sound so simple!" he declared awkwardly in a rare moment in his life and felt like he was courting her all over again. Caroline chuckled gently before turning around, leaning against him for support, and grasped his right hand between both of hers. Squeezing his hand tightly, she conveyed her affection to him and he smiled faintly when her ring glinted against the sunlight.

Caroline had taken care of everything with only a month left until their estimated wedding date. She didn't want him worrying about anything except for the ceremony where his traditions would be implemented. Brushing her thumbs over the top of his hand, she explained carefully, "Ellen can my dress after Myriam's, the Mile's End has been cleared for our day by Martha, Walter ordered my tablecloths, Myriam and Eliza are going hunting for the meat, I will help make the food with the ladies, Stephane has my backup platters, Ollie has my alcohol, Uncle Terry and Patrick are the entertainment, and your task is to have Big Dave make your band. That, and keep looking fine."

Her charming words did nothing to soothe his nerves this time. He balked at realizing he hadn't done that, especially after hearing her load of the work, and admitted shamefully, "I never put in the order."

"We'll put it on layaway" she forgave easily with a peppy grin that lightened his heart. The lack of activity near the bridge led him to kissing her temple and she took that as a positive sign. Her priority was their home, not the ceremony itself. It was an important part of their wedding but not the heart, in which the reception would be their highlight. Raising her left hand to let the sunlight strike her engagement ring, she admitted with fondness, "This ring is the one I value the most, so I don't need another. All I need is you."

With that said, she kissed his cheek just as he asked awkwardly, "We're serving alcohol?"

"Scottish tradition" she replied cheekily to the numerous ale sample Oliver had given her to try for her wedding. With her groom being the sober type, it was up to her to please the palette of her town. The look on his face, however, was not convincing her that her kegs of ale would be limitless. Wincing slightly, she squeaked out, "Ooh, not yours?"

"It's prohibited" he answered hesitantly to that particular tradition among his people and they sighed with dismay. Would their reception take a dent to conform to wedding tradition?

"Ahem, we Scots cherish our alcohol very greatly after the vows" she fibbed humorously, placing a hand on her chest to carry her point across. Pretty much everyone drank alcohol in the colonies! Fruit juices were gone already with the harvesting season and their choices were nonalcoholic cider, water, tea, and coffee. With the latter two being more expensive than beer, she highly doubted water would be great with the amazing food in store for them.

An awkward silence ensued before she began laughing and soon, he joined her. Their simple wedding was becoming more complicated than they wanted it to be. Releasing a breathy sigh, she snuggled against him to propose, "Can we make up our own wedding traditions? None of this checklist stuff?"

"What do you have in mind?" he asked curiously to the appealing sound to simply tossing aside everything to piece together their own wedding.

"Can we limit the drinks and we'll be sober?" she offered as an alternative to keep the mood festive because guests needed at least one ale. At least, that's what she told herself. She would survive her wedding day sober and it respected his own traditions. They could adhere to them but she wouldn't subject their guests to it. He approved of the alternative to provide everyone the freedom to celebrate and nodded to end the alcohol debacle. At least he wouldn't have to worry about a runaway bride if she drank herself into uncertainty. Snapping her fingers, she declared with confidence to the new plan, "I'll put Dave, Clip, and Patrick as our enforcers. I would use David and Richard but I don't peg them as the types to stay sober the whole night."

Unlike Martha's wedding that only included the community, she would be sending invites to their comrades in arms. Stephane had sent her cuisine ideas that he could make and transport to Davenport on the day of the wedding. Some of the French words eluded her so she had utilized Ratonhnhaké:ton French skills for translation. Her groom sighed under his breath to the minute details of the wedding and he admitted with a sullen frown, "Now I'm worried our wedding won't be ready."

"We have a month but I will marry you regardless" she promised fondly to her unwavering love, leaning in to hug him tightly around the shoulders. He was her sweet doting wolf and she would make their transition to marriage a breeze.

"I don't want you bearing horrible memories of it" he stated sheepishly because boredom on one's nuptials was also not ideal. Caroline came from a humble but high-energy family while he preferred to stick to the outskirts in that energy field. He could watch her dance to her heart's content but if she dragged him out to join her, he would stumble out of mortification. He still remembered stepping on her feet multiple times during Martha's wedding. Walter and Martha were covertly doing their best to teach him how to dance before the wedding but he didn't see much improvement.

Caroline blew a raspberry of amusement before chuckling against his shoulder to reassure, "Look, I'd marry you after a naval battle on the Aquila and it wouldn't be a bad day."

"That does lift my spirit" he remarked softly and hoped for the best, given that they would be sober. The whole wedding was hammering his heart more than the Templars!

A scandalous whistle broke the two from their private embrace and they heard the wheels of a wagon strike the wooden bridge. The couple turned to peer at the opposite end to see Patrick driving the wagon from the lumber mill with Samuel by his side. Her little brother had taken the advice to handle day-to-day chores and lend a hand at the mill with easy tasks. He would be entering adolescence next year to signal the end of their childhood years. With Martha married off, her family was branching off but still . . .

"Shut up, you little hooligans!" she exclaimed with embarrassment to silence their whistling and they laughed at her waving fist. Ratonhnhaké:ton turned around to place a hand over his face to his bride's uncensored words. Some things never changed.

---

15 November 1777

Ratonhnhaké:ton and Caroline were on their way to Ellen's hand in their bundle of decorations to accessorize her attire. They had collected a variety of snow white and speckled feathers while Ratonhnhaké:ton had painted several wooden beads to sew into braided twine to tie into her hair for the ceremony. He had always wanted to see feathers peeking through her auburn hair and she accepted the idea happily. That was their project as a joint couple, adding a twist to his tradition. The rest of the feathers would be attached to the ends of a wide satin ribbon that would go over her waist to be tied into a bow at her backside, leaving the ends to billow in the winter winds. Ellen had finished with her dress, leaving only the ribbon to be sewed, and the hooded cape to keep her warm during the chilly morning.

Ratonhnhaké:ton had commissioned the wool attire to help his new wife during the winter chores since she refused to wear bonnets of any kind. He figured the warm cape would be easier to throw on and while Caroline fussed about his spending, she adored that he watched over her. Just as she would use part of her attire for everyday life, she had commissioned Ellen for a new pair of wool-insulated leather boots to keep him warm. Unlike her, he was good at keeping his head covered against the elements.

The sight that awaited them on the road to Ellen's house, however, concerned them. Big Dave's home was the closest to Ellen's since she kept to the outskirts of the town, much like Norris and Myriam, and a small group of their neighbors was present. It was one thing to find a congregated group gathered by the road laughing their heads off but when they were wielding weapons, that beckoned investigation. When Caroline noticed her father among them with his handy axe slung over his shoulder, she quickened her step. Ratonhnhaké:ton followed to keep up with her and she whispered swiftly, "Did our town just become a mob?"

"Something is amiss" he reasoned because they would not gather with an arsenal of weapons for nothing. In the small crowd, Godfrey, Terry, Norris, Myriam, and Big Dave were gathered in an animated conversation.

David waved his arm to beckon their unofficial town mayor and called out, "Connor! Connor!"

Godfrey turned to the couple with a relieved smile and pointed to the tailor's home to explain, "Connor, Ellen's dullard of a man's trying to break down her door with his mates! We're on our way to stop it!"

Caroline stepped in front of her father to stop his impulsive haste because her dear father was no longer a young lumberjack like Patrick. Had he and her uncle Terry left Patrick to handle the mill while they did this? Why, she ought to smack all three over the head. She didn't want anything to happen to him and snapped tightly, "Boban, you're not a young man in his prime anymore!"

"I can still wield an axe like the best of 'em" he assured easily with a scoff because he wouldn't be scared away by younger hoodlums. While Caroline wondered about Patrick, he wouldn't risk his nephew's life after being entrusted by his brother to protect him.

"Father, that's not-" she tried to dissuade her father but he took off with the group. Was this how her parents felt whenever she ran off? Throwing her hands into the air, she sighed aloud, "When did I become the parent?"

With a disgruntled groan, she followed everyone as they all raced to defend Ellen's home from the attackers. It was an uphill road and she kept close on her father's tail to make sure nothing bad happened. She didn't know whether the strangers had weapons and a gun was the most dangerous weapon on the frontier. Ratonhnhaké:ton managed to outrun them all to stay ahead of his townsfolk to protect them and assess the danger at Ellen's.

There were six men in total and Ratonhnhaké:ton found her estranged husband among them. So, it was retribution from the angry lout. The men were trying to find a way inside the home through its doors and windows. Luckily, the homes of Davenport were built sturdy and Ellen didn't hesitate to yell at her ex-husband from inside to hit the road. He struck the closest man to him, throwing him onto the ground, before lunging at the one closest to the door. At seeing the group of townsfolk, the thugs decided to disperse with half attempting to keep them back.

The town had the power of numbers but keeping them away from Ellen's home was the priority. They appeared to be more into scare tactics than actual harm which led Ratonhnhaké:ton to using his physical strength to knock out the men. Norris and Myriam stuck together to pry one of them away from the window while Big Dave used the house itself to slam one of them against it. Caroline growled at seeing one of the thugs pull a knife on her father and she withdrew her pistol. Not one to play games, she stepped in between them to snap coldly, "Don't bring a knife to a gun fight, dear. I'd vamoose the other way if I were you."

When the man hesitated to attack, Terry struck the man with the blunt end of his hatchet. The thug collapsed on the ground while the redheads sighed in relief to taking out another one. Godfrey clasped his daughter's shoulder to compliment proudly, "You have more of your mother than me."

"I don't believe that" she chuckled nervously because she would protect her family and friends fiercely. Her future husband was perfectly capable on his end as he practically plowed through enemies with brute strength. Boy, how her heart fluttered easily for that man.

"You should've seen her shoot at chicken thieves" Terry laughed to the protective redhead that bounded them all together. If anything tried to steal her property, she chased after them with the ferocity of a bear. He still remembered her flying after a thief that took their chicken and before he and Godfrey could help, she saved Diana's prized hen.

Godfrey puffed his chest proudly to the fiery redhead, knocking another thug into David's path for a quick tackle into the ground, and told Caroline, "How I love that woman."

"You said she was alone!" the remaining thug called out helplessly when realizing that his friends were knocked out. He tried to wake them up with a kick but with the townsfolk closing in, it was impossible. Two men were a force to be reckoned with on their own while the rest used team tactics to pick them off. Backing away from the house, he left the ringleader alone and yelled, "They're practically a militia!"

"You've got one choice, buddy" David warned the man coldly, taking the lead of their ragtag group, and glared heatedly at the man. He wouldn't stand by and watch another man decimate a woman's life. One who was trying her best to earn a living for herself and her daughter. He would be better than the men present and offered the goon two choices, "Earn the beating of your life or run home to New York on foot."

The man didn't hesitate to run off down the main road, leaving his friends behind. Those who were half-conscious managed to scramble to their feet before stumbling off. Their departure made it easy for Ratonhnhaké:ton to pry off Quincent from the main door, which now sported splintered wood at the bottom. Grabbing the man forcefully from the neck, he picked up him up swiftly from the door to threaten him fiercely, "Ellen and Maria are free of you. I say so. The people behind me say so."

Tightening his grip on the man's collar, he finished gravelly, "Believe me when I tell you if I ever see you on this land again, I will end you."

Releasing him forcefully, Ratonhnhaké:ton blocked the main door to protect the duo inside. The sober man saw that none of his pals were nearby and seeing the lost fight against the larger number, waved his hand at them. Spitting at the ground, he grumbled distastefully, "You can have them."

The gathered watched him stumble away, keeping a vigilant eye for the other men that had fled. David would check the roads later to avoid any lingering thugs that wished them ill will. More than likely, Ratonhnhaké:ton would explore the forest for any unexpected campers. Once they left their town, all would be well again.

The door to Ellen's home creaked slowly and brown eyes peeked out to determine if the coast was clear. Myriam and Caroline waved with a friendly smile to let her know she was safe. Ellen was surprised to see the rally of her neighbors, humbled that they risked their safety to protect her family. It was a big change from her old life, where people turned a blind eye, and she held back tears as she addressed them with sincerity, "Thank you. All of you. Nobody has ever stood up for us before."

"We protect our own, Ellen" David promised because they looked after one another rather than leaving each to fend for themselves. It was why he decided to stay rather than keep moving to stay clear of the loyalist militia. There was hope for a new life in that town and everyone lent a hand to keep it that way.

Ellen smiled happily to the protective bubble of her town and spoke earnestly, "This is my home, now. I'll find a way to show my gratitude to you all. I promise."

The gathered group dispersed to return to their homes or chores of the evening. David advised Ellen to holler for help if anybody returned or spent the night with the innkeepers for an extra measure of safety. Ellen, however, had a spine of steel and would beat any man with the nearest weapon available for entering her new home. She worked hard to get where she was and would not risk uprooting Maria's new life because of a jealous estranged husband.

Terry stifled a laugh when Caroline pointed in the direction of the mill and aimed a Catherine-worthy glare at her father. The older lumberjack groaned dejectedly but obeyed his daughter, mildly amused by her protectiveness. His children weren't so little anymore but he would always defend them. The lumberjacks waved in farewell before departing to their work back at the mill. Caroline whistled to pent out the lingering stress in her body and smiled at her friends, "Never a dull day in Davenport."

"I still say we should've shot out his kneecaps" Myriam muttered with disappointment to not beating the loud man a little more. She had zero tolerance and patience for brutish men which fueled her strength at kicking the group off their land. How Ellen had managed to survive such a degenerate man spoke volume but again, she had a small child in tow.

Norris wasn't one for brutal violence and tried to dissuade his bride's thinking, "We would've been stuck with him."

"Not if we sent him downstream in a paddleboat" Caroline suggested shrewdly with a cheeky smile and wished they had been this creative before the sudden ambush. If they had planned for unexpected fights, their strategies would hand them immediate wins. That flickered a thought to mind on strategic defenses and put it away for the future.

Myriam shook her head to the kindness of the paddle boat and corrected, "Downstream in a barrel."

Caroline wrapped an arm around her shoulders with a gleeful smile and declared, "I love this woman!"

Ratonhnhaké:ton glanced at Norris, furrowing his brow to stop any sudden ideas, and stated flatly, "Not happening."

Not leaving him out of the fun, Caroline pulled Norris into the hug with her free arm and laughed, "I still have plenty of love to share."

Their laughing ruckus alerted Ellen to lingering guests and she opened the door to peer outside. Laughter was never an ominous indicator in Davenport and she leaned against the doorway, amused by the jovial trio. Crossing her arms, she chuckled softly to ask with curiosity, "What are you all doing?"

"Declaring eternal platonic love and befuddling Connor" Myriam answered helpfully to their festive mood and circled a finger towards their stoic friend. Even Caroline's playful kisses aimed at her future husband failed to work. Ratonhnhaké:ton was not deterred by the young women and cleared his throat to remind her of their original trip to the tailor's home.

Caroline held up her small basket of trinkets to flash an innocent smile, "I also meant to drop this off before the fiasco."

Ellen wasn't one to waste time and occupying her mind away from what happened was the best medicine. Motioning for the group to enter her home, she smiled warmly to invite them, "Well, seeing as you're all here, I might as well have you try on your wedding attire."

---

20 November 1777

"She's beautiful" Caroline whispered with pride to their first home, standing by the newly carved road to watch it from a distance.

"It didn't take as long as I expected" Ratonhnhaké:ton remarked with admiration to seeing their sketches from the summer become reality. A life with Caroline had been a naïve dream back during his adolescence but here they were, ready to hold their ceremony. Their certificate legally bounded them already as husband and wife with only one piece left to finalize it spiritually. He wrapped an arm across her shoulders and smiled with success to their project, "Our home is fitting."

The couple stared at their new home, the smell of oak still in the air as the construction team worked on the stable. They had chosen a variety of oak hardwood for the foundation and exterior with maple and cherry to decorate the interior rooms. The pale brown house was perfect and Caroline cherished that Ratonhnhaké:ton had purchased glass windows to be installed. It had the physical appearance of a cozy cabin rather than the modern homes in the cities and she liked the log benches beside the main door. The winning sketch for their unique door would be the wolf motif and they had nailed a white ribbon over each side of the door, sewing colorful feathers into the fabric. The ribbons swayed gently in the wind to welcome the two and Caroline couldn't wait to open the door.

Godfrey emerged from the left side of the home, brushing the back of his hand over his sawdust-covered forehead. He would leave nothing to chance on his eldest's home and make it last for decades for the young couple. Despite their excitement, he raised his hands to remind the couple carefully, "Now, we still have to sand the doors to the bedrooms before furnishing it. Not to mention, build the stable, chicken coop, and fencing-"

"The home is the heart, boban" his daughter chuckled gently because simply walking inside her finished home would be perfection. She remembered spinning in the empty rooms of her home before bringing in the little furniture they owned from the wagon. Her first day in Davenport was a memorable one and now, she had her own home. Who knew back then that the first person she met would be her husband one day. Smiling at her father, who had done nothing but support her through the years, she spoke sincerely, "You taught me that."

The older redhead waved a hand to dismiss the approval on his parenting skills but appreciated that his children loved and respected him. He could have done a lot worse but his six children were warm kindhearted people. Caroline laughed merrily when her fiancé pulled her into a tight hug to declare happily, "We have a home!"

The two hugged each other with glee, practically hopping in place, and Godfrey laughed, "You two take me back to my first year of marriage."

"Your example of a happy home is why I chose Caroline" Ratonhnhaké:ton admitted politely to the perky redhead that had reached out to him. Without her in his life, each failure and hardship would have been tougher to endure alone. Her family had been his safety net when he questioned himself or sought a place to belong.

"Not my sharpshooting skills?" she quipped impishly to drawing his interest and added a wink to threaten a blush on his cheeks.

Releasing her, he shook his head to her witty joke and answered truthfully, "No, I loved you from the moment you accepted me to court you."

With that said, he leaned down to pick up a crate filled with trinkets for their new home. His bride was liable to feel homesick during their first week as newlyweds so he had asked her family for tokens of familiarity. Alice had given one of her old fabric dolls, Samuel had added in one of his miniature ships, Elizabeth and Martha had stitched together a beaver pelt for their bed, and Amelia repurposed a summer blanket into curtains with embroidered flowers. Catherine would give them her favorite pan and utensils as a keepsake but after the wedding, given that Caroline still used them. Godfrey snapped his fingers at the glowing couple that was itching to marvel at their home and pointed to the closed door to emphasize, "Get inside the house before you earn whistles."

They didn't need to be told twice and eagerly scrambled towards the door. She pulled on his hand to lead the way while he kept a firm grip on the belongings. They would be the first items to decorate their home so he didn't want to ruin them. With her free hand, she ran her fingers over the carved wood of the door to ask tentatively, "Moment of truth."

Taking a deep breath, Caroline glanced at her partner before grasping the shiny copper doorknob. They were the newest replacement to the old metal latches and she felt fortunate to earning enough to purchase one. The rest of the house, however, would have the regular metal latches. She motioned with her head that he place his hand over hers so they could open the door to their first home together. Quietly, he laid his free hand on top of hers and she turned the doorknob. It creaked slightly against its new hinges but it opened into the empty but large main room as sunlight filtered inside. The couple entered quietly, the new floorboards creaking under their feet, and Caroline inhaled the new house smell into memory. The fireplace made of stone from the river matched beautifully against the wooden walls and walked over to run her hands over the smooth stone. Her father had asked if they wanted their exterior home painted like Martha's but they refused, enjoying the natural and beautiful color of the lumber.

"Home sweet home" she smiled proudly to their forever home and strode forward to the single hallway that led to the private rooms. The sunlight retreated away from the narrow hallway but each room was proportionately equal and empty. Only three would be furnished for the first year with their bedroom, the study, and a guest bedroom. Their bathroom was a luxury in the frontier but it would grant them privacy for bathing. Her youngest siblings were already anticipating sleepovers and she asked curiously, "When should we move in? The house is complete and the stable should be finished soon. It's been quiet on the Templar front so far."

"It shouldn't take us longer than a week to furnish" he contemplated aloud because only they would inhabit the home. They didn't need much to survive and as long as they had food and clothing, it would suffice. Working together and with a few helping hands, it should be an easy job. He tried not to smile at watching her open the doors to every room, checking that the regular metal latches worked, and informed, "Mr. O'Donnell is storing our finished furniture."

Their pieces were all in place for the move into the house and she suggested, "It'd be best to do it now. . .unless you need more time?"

"In an ideal world, we could marry without worrying about Templars and only society's views" he replied earnestly because he would not let anything stop him from his dreams. His enemies would surface at some point but he wouldn't live his life around their activity. She had been by his side loyally and he would provide her with the family he promised. Gazing at the beautifully constructed rooms, he stated with a modest smile, "It would be unfair to you and our home to keep you waiting until this all ends-"

"I've been by your side since 1770" she interjected sheepishly to the numerous adventures she had at his side and wouldn't mind a few more. Having him in her life was more important than a ceremony.

"No, you deserve the life I promised you" he disagreed because their relationship had been through a lot for the past six years. Their happiness had been long awaited and he would get their home ready in rapid speed for her. Caroline smiled coyly to preparing their home for the move and traced her hand along the smooth wall of the hallway. Everything about the house fascinated her and she peeked into the largest bedroom that would be theirs. She couldn't wait to decorate it with snug bedding for the winter and he spoke up, "We should be cautious about having children until this is all over but . . . I am ready to marry you."

She blushed coyly to hearing the fond words before turning around to hug him tightly. Pressing her lips to his, her heart beat happily to their cozy home for years to come. She would wake next to him every day and even the most boring chores would leave her happy because he would be there. Glancing at him, a wide smile crossed her lips as she declared, "I can't wait to be Mrs. . . uh. . .? Wait, what's my new married name?"

He put a quick end to that question by stating resolutely with a cold tone, "I refuse to take my father's name."

"So, I'll be Mrs. Burnett instead?" she asked uncertainly, surprised to the rare possibility of keeping her maiden name. Was she really going to have the same married surname of her mother? It was such an impossibility in the colonies, unless one was widowed, but even then, the married name remained for formality's sake.

He nodded with agreement to leaving her name unchanged and kissed her temple to explain, "Your family has always been kind to me. I would be honored to have your name and pass it on to our children."

Caroline was flustered to the thoughtful action and tears welled up in her eyes to keeping her old identity. Her home was built, she would have a husband, and her future children would carry her name but his heart. If he did change his mind down the line, she would respect the choice. His life was not an easy one but she would try her best to provide him the best home possible.

Ratonhnhaké:ton would stick to his people's tradition on family life because it reflected towards the true family that had been by his side. Her parents had treated him like one of their own, which was a rarity in colonial society, and he smiled warmly to admit, "My culture follows maternal lines, so I will be part of your family. A family that I am very proud to be a part of."

"I leave our wedding date up to you, Mr. Connor Burnett" she proposed with a playful tone to let him have the final say on it. They had settled on the week of Christmas to make the town more festive but their finished home beckoned them. Each room begged to be filled with their belongings to begin their new life. Shortening the wait would be of no trouble, especially once the stable was finished. They could accomplish a lot in a day so a few weeks would be no problem!

"All these weddings are placing me in the mood for ours" he confessed modestly with a smile to the joy that emanated from Martha's wedding. Despite Caroline had been upset to lose her, the two remained close and had already planned for the winter to visit each other. The dinner celebration for Christmas Day was always held at the Mile's End but Martha had already called dibs for lunch the following day while Catherine would hold dinner on the 24th. Ratonhnhaké:ton figured that a month would get them settled enough that they could host their family for a new year's luncheon. The end of the year would finalize the new changes for each married couple and he decided, "What about the week after Norris and Myriam? It will be the first week of December rather than towards the end like we wanted."

"Let's do it!" she agreed excitedly and wrapped her arms behind his neck to jump into his arms. He grabbed her by the waist to lean against the wall before she knocked him into it, laughing to her bright eyes. Her lips dotted kisses over his freckled cheek before boasting with pride, "I'm ready to be Mrs. Connor Burnett-Kenway."

"Grace" he warned playfully to her sudden modification because he wasn't changing his mind.

"I decided to try it out for the sound" she justified innocently with a little pout that he didn't trust at all. Unlike himself, she had never met his father and didn't know what danger he held. If he knew where they lived or that she would be his wife, their lives would be in jeopardy. Caroline smoothed her hands over his shoulders before placing them on his chest and spoke nonchalantly, "Legally speaking, we might have to use it since it's on our marriage license."

"Now you tell me?" he blurted to using the dreaded combination but would do his best to avoid it no matter what. For everyone concerned, they would be the Burnetts, unless legal papers were involved. He didn't want to think about his dreaded bloodlines and rested his head against the wall to mutter, "My father is probably laughing maniacally from his evil fortress of power."

"Don't jinx our wedding" she chastised gently to his dry humor and hoped neither of the three crossed paths for the next five years. She didn't want anyone ruining one of his happy moments. Their new life would begin on the right foot with their loved ones behind them and a safe home. Squeezing him tightly to convey her affection, she smiled proudly, "Our beautiful home deserves to be lived in."

---

23 November 1777

Excitement rang through the town with another wedding inbound to happen. Myriam wanted a quick affair to enjoy the reception portion while Norris wanted a short but meaningful ceremony. The residents of Davenport were simply thrilled to see another pair tie the knot. The engaged couple had been offered the manor to prepare for their ceremony rather than having them make the long trek to the church. Ratonhnhaké:ton had given each of them a private room in the large manor while he accompanied Achilles down to the church. Upon his return to the manor, however, he found Norris pacing circles by the door.

His friend was already dressed in his freshly pressed brown clothes for the wedding. A hot bath with a deep scrub and lack of work for one day in the mine revealed a less scruffy Norris. Ratonhnhaké:ton wondered if he and Caroline would appear like two different people entirely in their civilian attire. Norris, however, appeared more concerned than happy to see him, "Connor."

"Everything seems to be in order for the big day!" he assured his friend that their wedding was ready to proceed. With guests piling into the church to see the ceremony, he only needed the couple in question to join them.

Norris chuckled awkwardly to the news and ran a hand over his neatly combed hair. He had been waiting for this day all month and tried not to feel flustered over the recent development. Knowing that his friend would always help him, he agreed nervously, "It is . . . except I can't find Myriam."

Ratonhnhaké:ton clasped the miner's right shoulder to brush away his worries and assured, "I am certain she is making sure all is perfect. I will find her, my friend."

Norris nodded quietly and hoped his bride had not changed her mind. Did she not find him worthy as a husband? He would do his best to prove that his love was true. There was only her in his eyes! Trusting in his friend, he decided to make his way down to the church and give Myriam some space. If she was having cold feet, he would respect her.

Ratonhnhaké:ton, however, headed upstairs to the room that he had let Myriam use. Knocking on the door for modesty's sake, he heard nothing behind the door. Opening it, he entered the room to find it completely empty with the balcony doors laying open. He began to meticulously analyze the room for clues to find any sign of her. What had caused her to run off?

Walking past the broken handheld mirror on the floor, he entered the empty balcony to peer into the trees to find her. Glancing down towards the ground floor, he saw no sign of her either. Where had she gone? Against the sunlight, he spotted a piece of white fabric snagged on one of the nearby tree branches. A decent jump would allow anyone with skill to climb onto the tree and that was likely where Myriam had gone. Despite wearing a dress, she knew how to maneuver through the forest.

For once, he was glad that he was wearing his regular robes rather than the fancier attire he had worn for Martha's wedding. One bride had been happy and the other was likely second-guessing her new life. Grasping the balcony railing, he lifted himself up onto it before jumping forward to climb onto the adjacent tree.

---

His simple investigation had gone from searching through a room to running along tree branches throughout the town. He was surprised by Myriam's fleeing after seeing her happy to the upcoming wedding but she had eluded him all the way down to the cove. They had even passed by his own home and surprised the mill workers that were dropping off chopped wood to fill their shed. He had been embarrassed to say the least but quickly thanked them while they watched in confusion to the duo running past in the trees. Never a dull day in Davenport.

The chase across town ended further ahead where a stream broke off from the river that ran in front of his home. Myriam had run out of stamina in her wedding dress and guilt struck for ruining Ellen's work. Her dress was simply gorgeous and Norris had chosen the purest white color to represent her. The hem of the skirt was covered in dust and her crossing the stream saturated the fabric. Sloshing through the water with frustration at herself, she picked up her skirt to avoid ruining it more.

Her slower steps through the stream allowed Ratonhnhaké:ton to catch up and he called out, "Why do you run?"

Myriam splashed out of the water to reach the ground on the other side, turning around to snap back, "Leave me be! I'm no housewife!"

"Nobody thinks you are one!" he assured her and used the stream running between them as a border of comfort for the fleeing bride. Myriam was normally confident in her actions but the woman before him was the opposite as apprehension filled her eyes. Her hands were clenched tightly over her skirt, turning her knuckles pale from the force. The tension in her posture told him she could bolt again at any second. Raising both hands, he tried to appear as peaceful and benevolent as possible.

She shook her head as fear of the unknown took over her and dreaded giving up her identity. She didn't want to become dependent on someone else and shift her whole life around them. Norris had promised her that she was free to continue her work but what if it changed? Did she truly trust him enough to commit to a lifelong change? Kicking at the water lapping at her shoes, she protested, "That's what all this means! My life will not be my own anymore!"

"Norris is not the kind of man to keep you tied at home" he stated calmly to avoid incensing her further because he doubted his friend would be like Ellen's ex-husband. The men of the town would be prompt to knock him over the head and treat his wife right. Every married couple in town had stable healthy relationships and although quarrels happened, they were resolved respectfully. He had never been married so there was no real advice to be shared but he did have his own jitters. Caroline had never lived with him but he kept optimistic about their future life, advising her, "Sharing a life does not mean you lose your identity. You merely learn and respect your partner's own life to keep a balance."

"I don't know how to be a wife" she murmured weakly to her lack of decent role models through life. Her own mother had tended to her father hand and foot, expecting the same from her. When she rebelled by trying to take after her brothers, she was ridiculed and spanked. It was only when arriving in Davenport that she saw real partnerships shared between the lumberjack and farming couples. She wasn't a cook or knitter by nature but she learned from Corrine and Catherine to dip her hands into baking.

"Neither do I!" Ratonhnhaké:ton pointed out easily but paused at his choice of words a second later. His mildly confused expression brought a faint smile to Myriam's face at having someone else understand her fears. She expected to be the only one scared out of her mind but maybe others felt the same? He could not relate completely to her plight but admitted about his own partner, "I mean, Caroline feels the same. All I know is that keeping her safe, fed, and warm is my priority. She can do as she wishes in her professional life but I will not rule over her."

The next statement was harder to voice but his friends both deserved their happiness, even if it meant on separate terms. He didn't doubt that the two loved each other but pointed out, "None of us know what the future holds but if you do not want to marry Norris, then you must face him and confess."

"I can't do that!" she gasped horribly to turning down their engagement on their wedding day. She didn't want to do that! Oh, what had she gotten herself into? The man that loved her was waiting in the church while she questioned their relationship. It wasn't him at all but more about her own self-confidence . . . but she didn't want to destroy what they had. The fear fueling her earlier left to be replaced with guilt and she sighed softly, "I love Norris but . . . what if I disappoint him?"

"I don't think you can" he answered frankly about the miner's unrelenting happiness at being with her. He was rejoiced in their courtship for an entire month that summer and knew he would never tell Myriam no. It had taken months for him to find a gift suited for her while a lesser man would've tried the flowers and given up. He fought for his friend by reminded her matter-of-factly, "You're all he has thought about for the past two years. He would not change anything about you and every action thus far has been made with you in mind."

Myriam agreed with that sentiment because he always dropped his own matters to tend to her. Another man would tell her to quit her dreaming but he didn't. She felt foolish for her lapse in judgment and crossed the stream once more but in her friend's direction. She had a wedding to be present for but glanced down at her soiled dress to mutter with disappointment, "My dress is a mess."

"It's a little battle worn" he agreed reluctantly to the damage from the earth, trees, and water. The scuffle of dirt would mean nothing against one of the largest milestone of her life. He didn't want her to feel hopeless all over again and instructed her, "Rinse it in the river and keep the skirt in your hands. It should dry by the time we return to the church and if it doesn't, it will by the ceremony's end."

She listened to his words promptly to remove the muddy dirt away, watching it fade somewhat from the hem. Wringing the end of her dress to remove excess water, she hiked her skirt to avoid it touching the water again. Stepping back onto the grassy knoll, she smiled weakly to his brotherly help, "Thanks, Connor."

He waved her forward with a hand to return to the church and she followed him. In his mind, he sighed with immense relief at convincing her to return with him. He didn't know what he would have done if she decided to end the wedding and had to return emptyhanded. Myriam hoped nobody would think she decided to run through a forest for the hell of it. Boy, did she never want to remember this.

"I didn't expect your wedding to integrate me into it" he joked gently to taking an in-depth part in their nuptials, earning a small laugh from Myriam. She and Norris didn't have family to rely on and trusted their friends to fill in their roles. Unfortunately, she did not expect for her uncertainty to turn her skittish but her friend had handled it well. Sometimes, she needed a smack of common sense before she made an error.

"Blame our skittish natures" she sighed softly because her confident front was for survival. She was prone to weak moments but they were in private, never around others. Norris had been privy to them when she told him about her fractured relationship with her family. He had cheered her up by telling her their friends were even better and they could handle the wedding planning together.

Ratonhnhaké:ton was surprised to hear that piece of information from the huntress and remarked, "You're anything but skittish."

"Thank you" she chuckled softly to maintaining her aura of strength but today, she would fit into a more feminine role. Being a lady felt like stepping into a stranger's shoes but Norris told her to never be someone she wasn't comfortable with. It was little moments like those that made her feel entirely silly for questioning her engagement.

The grassy knoll disappeared into the dirt path that diverged from the second main road across the main river. That new small road now led past Ratonhnhaké:ton's home and towards the manor, creating a circle connecting the town instead of the old u-shaped path through Davenport. A faint smile touched his lips to his cozy home that would finally be lived in by next week. The golden-brown wood brightened the grassy field while the rock fireplace matched the cove's terrain further down. A circular path had been cleared of trees to provide a safe homestead with pens for their horses, the stable, their storage shed, and Caroline's chicken coop.

Myriam caught his lingering gaze on the new home and she remarked openly, "You haven't been nervous at all about yours."

"Briefly" he stated earnestly to hide the true extent of his own nerves weeks ago. Caroline had helped to settle them considerably and he didn't want to scare Myriam off again. Marriage was a continuous road and a partnership of love and respect kept it well-maintained. Identities would only be transformed rather than extinguished and he remembered the awkward boy in the deerskin outfit and the redheaded girl with braids and a puffy skirt. They had faded into memories, but their innocent hopes and dreams had chiseled who they were now as adults. Time and trust bound them to one another and he admitted with a modest smile, "But Caroline is the only woman for me."

The walk back to the church was a quicker route using the new road rather than the trees. He had never been happy to see the painted white church and hoped Norris wasn't sweating bullets of concern. Noticing a lack of residents around the town, he figured everyone was already awaiting them. Had they taken longer than expected? Approaching the open doorway of the church, he heard a rabble of voices from within. He noticed Norris waiting at the altar on nervous feet and turned to the bride to ask, "Ready?"

With a firm nod, she looped her arm through his and they entered the church together. Blush tinted her cheeks when a few sighs of relief flooded through the crowd but her groom was oblivious to it all. For him, her presence was the most important part. She tried not to let the guilt show on her face for almost running away from the one person who never stopped believing in her. Thankfully, nobody took notice of her dress hem and her heart steadied its beat as she approached the front of the church.

Norris smiled happily at Myriam, who returned a modest smile after everything. Ratonhnhaké:ton handed the bride over to his groom with a polite nod before turning around to find his assigned seat. His part in returning the runaway bride had succeeded! He sat down beside Caroline, who had promised to save a spot at the front for him and used her bonnet as a placeholder. The engaged couple wanted them to sit in the first pew since they had no family present. Her hand swept over his to squeeze it tightly and she examined his ruffled appearance. Had he been running through the forest? Narrowing her eyes, she asked with suspicion, "How did you get tree leaves in your attire?"

"It's a long story" he sighed under his breath to never undertake such a task again. Running his hand through his hair, he hoped he removed all the tiny twigs and leaves from his escapade.

Caroline's left eyebrow arched with interest to his tale and she grinned, "Color me intrigued."

Ratonhnhaké:ton lowered his head closer to hers and Caroline expected a majestic tale. Had Myriam run off for one last taste of freedom? Instead of receiving a short story, her fiancé simply requested, "Please, I beg you not to run off across town on our wedding day."

Caroline tried not to laugh, covering it with a snort, and kept a straight face. Did he think she would run away from him? Why, she had chased him into another colony! She would happily make the uphill walk to the church next week and never think twice about it. Every bride had flickers of nerves but she was ready to be at his side. Nudging his shoulder with hers, she teased softly, "I'm more worried you'd do it."

Father Timothy smiled at the group, seeing everyone seated and ready for the ceremony, and he began, "Let's start the service."

---

After the ceremony, the Homesteaders retired to the Mile's End for the reception. Just like for Martha's wedding, everyone was ready to mingle, eat, and dance. Unlike the younger couple, Norris and Myriam were ready to party and took center stage in dancing. The innkeepers arranged the tables in a circle to allow for maximum dancing and mingling. The music of the night came from Terry's fiddle, Patrick's makeshift drum, and Corrine's piano. The wedding was a low-key and humble affair to conform to the wedded couple so most people wore their best comfortable clothes.

"Don't you look handsome today, Mr. Davenport" Caroline complimented sweetly as she found the old man seated at the counter. The cold that settled into town was not kind to older bones but Achilles promised the young couple he would attend the wedding. He was bundled from head to toe in warm garments so he would be able to spend a few hours celebrating. They were happy events and he hoped the best for each couple that had been married in their town. He never imagined a little town forming after the Order was extinguished but the civilians made them a lesser target.

Achilles tapped the side of her left leg lightly with his cane and joked gently, "When I heard about a wedding ceremony, I expected yours and Connor's. I have been through Martha's and now, Myriam's, but I've yet to see you two. An author could make a play about the longest courtship."

Caroline's shoulders slumped slightly since their courtship was quite the long tale but he chuckled softly to compliment, "But you will make him happy. You always have since you first arrived so he'll do fine in your hands once I'm gone. The longest stories are always the best to digest."

She didn't want to hear about anyone passing away anytime soon and wagged a finger at him to chide gently, "Don't be foolish, we plan to have you in our lives for quite a while."

Alice approached the two to place a bowl of cod stew in front of the elderly man. Despite growing older, the teenager always kept an eye on Achilles and dropped off food from either Diana or her mother during her lunch break. She had the heart of a nurse rather than a teacher but Achilles thanked her for her kindness. Like her elder sister, the brunette wagged a lecturing finger to remind, "A hearty soup keeps the cold and doctor away."

Lyle's voice echoed from across the end of the bar to tease the young lady, "Normally, I'd say don't drive away my business . . . but not today!"

Oliver set down a mug of hot aromatic tea in front of Achilles and informed him, "This one's from Prudence. Same advice as Ms. Burnett."

"Can't let the cold settle in our bones" Prudence agreed confidently because hot tea and foods kept one healthy through the cold season. She sat beside her family closest to the bar since the men liked to keep close to the ales. Warren, however, was trying to feed Hunter a spoonful of mashed potatoes but the little boy kept reaching for the apple pie. Prudence shook a finger at her little one to remind him of his manners and to enjoy a piece of it herself.

Warren laughed softly as he glanced at the blushing couple that danced their heart away and said, "With those two spinning away, we'll all do fine."

Ratonhnhaké:ton was on the opposite end of his partner, keeping to the front to close the door once the last guest was inside. He and David wanted the reception to run smooth without unwanted guests since Norris had one hell of a time with his courtship with Myriam. It was shorter than Ratonhnhaké:ton's but the miner took several years with his secret love before revealing it. The blacksmith stuck to the door with Ellen by his side since the two struck up a close friendship and he kept a close eye on the small family.

Ellen smiled at the young man that had run across town to help put the wedding together and asked, "Enjoying yourself, Connor?"

He glanced over the room to the jovial residents mingling through food and drink, nodding to agree, "I am. It is nice to see everyone together and happy."

David motioned to the dancing couple with a warm chuckle to their newfound happiness, "Look at those two kids, it's a lovely sight. Norris is one of my best friends and he couldn't have found a better woman. Proud of him."

The seamstress agreed that certain marriages were meant to happen while others were out of convenience or necessity. Her parents had arranged hers and being a respectable child, agreed with their choice. It wasn't what she hoped or wanted out of life but Maria had been her biggest blessing. The need to protect her is what kept her from not putting up with Quincent's drinking and violence. Now, she lived in a beautiful and safe town with people that deserved their happiness. Leaning against the wall, she took a sip from her ale mug and smiled, "Sometimes, people are just right for one another. Norris and Myriam are a match made in heaven."

"Or a match made by Connor, isn't that right?" David laughed at the inside joke because it had taken several hands to push Norris to admit his feelings. Only Ratonhnhaké:ton managed to give him the strongest push to get him moving.

He would not take credit for any of it because he knew firsthand how heart pounding that moment could be. His first-time asking Caroline for a simple walk through the meadows had made him hyperventilate and break out in a nervous sweat. Shaking his head, he disagreed on being a matchmaker but the journey had been memorable, "I only helped Norris muster his courage. The rest came naturally."

Leaving the two to mingle, he continued his way through the tavern to find his way around the crowd. They had just celebrated Martha's wedding and another was under the town's belt within the month. His own would follow soon and he was both a mess of excitement and nerves. They had all arrived in the town with uncertainty about their future but together, they stood strong against the world.

Myriam and Norris waved for him to join their dancing but he would not make a fool of himself again. He still remembered visiting Caroline the following day after Martha's wedding to find her wearing wool socks and moccasins. He had made a pair for her during the early winter but she only wore them around the house for chores. His uncoordinated steps over her feet led to swelling that led her sporting her shoes all over town. Still, Caroline had been happy for the comfy shoes.

Ratonhnhaké:ton found his way to the second mingling group of Godfrey, Terry, Diana and Catherine. The four had been close friends since before any of their children were born and he hoped to find similar camaraderie with another couple. Norris and Myriam had become his closest allies so he could depend on them to keep an eye on Caroline or their future children if he was ever held up elsewhere. He would always do his best to return to Caroline but life was never guaranteed, merely borrowed.

Godfrey motioned an arc with his right hand as he declared boisterously, "And my little brother Joseph tossed him in the river!"

Diana noticed their newest curious onlooker and beckoned him closer with a perky wave of the hand, "Connor! We were just recalling our weddings."

"Spirited events, I take it" he remarked based on the animated conversation from the quartet, earning a laugh from them.

Catherine chuckled softly to his mild-mannered nature and found it amusing in her future son-in-law. They were an energetic family but weddings could get a little out of hand among the Burnett family. Her maiden family was more of a stiff upper lip type and had only loosened during celebrations. Her husband's family was a breath of fresh air for her and she smiled widely, "Spirited? More like brawls than unions, they were!"

Ratonhnhaké:ton couldn't help but repeat her words with uncertainty, "Brawls?"

Terry shook his head to the tall heights of Godfrey's siblings, even his sisters, and exclaimed, "Calling Jo little is like calling me Big Terry– boy's a bloody mountain!"

Godfrey laughed heartily to the old family get-together's in Glasgow, remembering the days of his youth. Now, he was watching his children marry off to make their own families. Time had distanced him from his family overseas but his little brother was only a few colonies north. It was easier to communicate with him through letters than the rest of his family. Patrick would take the trip north to visit on the town's trading schooners and play the package carrier between brothers. Not wanting to leave Ratonhnhaké:ton out of the loop, he explained, "My younger brother had a blow-up with one of Terry's cousins. A minor disagreement about some lass' dance card. I'll just say Terry's cousin sobered up right quick when it was over!"

Diana chuckled into her hands with blushing cheeks to laugh with dismay, "Poor boy! Sittin' there sopping wet on a stump while Joseph spun 'round with the object of his affection."

Terry scoffed to her motherly concern because she had been laughing back then. Then again, the alcohol had been strong that night. Raising his fresh mug of ale, he pointed out matter-of-factly, "It was good for him! Taught him good things don't come easy!"

His wife sighed under her breath, turning sheepish when she admitted to their young friend, "And that was just one of the highlights of our wedding."

Were brawls a common occurrence in Scottish weddings? He didn't remember that happening with Martha's! Ratonhnhaké:ton felt an arm slip through his and looked down to find Caroline beside him. The redhead had spotted her fiancé amongst her family and the growing laughter stirred her curiosity. He was already jittery about their wedding so she didn't want them making it worse through their stroll down memory lane. She chuckled nervously to the story of Diana's wedding and offered half-heartedly, "Not all are like that, I'm sure."

Her mother burst into giddy laughter, causing Caroline's shoulders to sink with disillusion, and Catherine regaled, "Oh my, there's a lot before the wedding day too. Your father carried a basket full of stones from his parent's home across the town to my father's farm. A strong man to defend my home and future bairns."

Connor blinked awkwardly to hearing about the Scottish wedding traditions. Would he be expected to do the same? He didn't want to fight anyone after his bonding ceremony. Caroline alleviated any fears by shaking her head fervently at his worried expression. Her future husband had proved himself strong in their missions at sea and defending their town.

Godfrey, however, didn't help by reminding them of the celebration portion, "You should've seen Joseph arm wrestling a chap that tried to get fresh with our sister. Flipped him over on his arse, he did."

Caroline's shoulders fell in dismay to fighting another figurative fire and sighed, "Oh, boy."

"How many of your family members are coming?" Ratonhnhaké:ton questioned hastily to make sure that nobody tried to tackle him after his vows. The only one he considered for such a thing were Patrick, and maybe Samuel, but the two were more interested in food rather than roughhousing. When they did argue, they were more prone to quick anger with a swift resolution rather than actual fist fighting.

Caroline alleviated his fears once more on colonial marriage by stating flatly, "They're already here, love."

Godfrey leaned forward to pat the man on the back because he would make sure nothing impeded their wedding. His daughter had been waiting to marry him from the first day they began courting. He had nothing but optimism for the loyal couple and reassured him, "You'll do fine. Walter managed it and you will as well."

"Thank you, Mr. Burnett" he spoke gingerly to the vote of confidence and managed a weak smile when Caroline squeezed his arm. She would do everything in her power to make their wedding run smooth. If she had to smack a few heads to do it, she would do so.

Ellen walked up to the banquet table to peer out at the mingling crowd. She didn't know how to start her short speech and glanced down at the neatly folded fabric in her hands. Clearing her throat, she called their attention with her soft-spoken tone, "Excuse me, everyone."

Samuel and Maria whistled to silence the side conversation before scattering away to the other youngsters. Anne and Alice shushed the two but fell into soft giggles to their loud whistling. Despite being the oldest, Alice let Samuel be the ringleader of their group. They scattered to run behind the newly married couple, aware that Norris would always defend his little friends. Ellen smiled politely at their helping hand and with all eyes on her, she began, "Thank you, I won't keep you long. I would like to present something to Connor and you all. I once said I'd find a way to show my gratitude for your courageous actions in my defense and this is what I give you today."

Ellen unfolded the triangular shape in her hands to reveal the green Homestead flag that she had created. Her free evenings had been spent designing a proper flag to match their little town and the colors from nature inspired her. She wasn't a doctor like Lyle or a farmer like the Fortiers but she could do her best by producing worthwhile attire. Hopefully, it conveyed her hope and pride for the town, deliberating further, "This flag is a symbol of our strength and unity and I would hope you'd all be proud to fly it high above your homes and shops. I'll happily make one for each and every one of you if you so desire but this one . . ."

Holding it out to their town protector, she offered it to Ratonhnhaké:ton and finished, "Is for you, Connor."

"Thank you" he accepted humbly and took the unfolded flag from her to hold it up beside them. He wanted each to have a peek at their new town flag and the rest of the residents clapped in applause. They had never expected to have a flag for their little town but Ellen had surprised them. She offered to fold it up neatly for him to take home and he agreed for the kind gesture.

Caroline clapped enthusiastically to the gift and already had a place in mind, declaring, "That is so going on our porch!"

---

29 November 1777

Ratonhnhaké:ton was on his way to the Mile's End to buy a loaf of bread and butter for Caroline's family. He usually brought them an edible good before escorting Caroline for their weekly dinner date. They had not determined if this would be their last meeting at her home but he wanted to give her family a token of kindness for allowing him to marry her. They were less than a week away from their wedding celebration and he could hardly wait.

Arriving at the inn, he noticed some commotion behind the building by the fire pit and heard his name, "Connor!"

His strides made quick work to close the distance and he approached the rear of the inn to find Big Dave and Oliver cornering a Loyalist soldier. The man was on his knees with his arms raised, outnumbered in the small town. Were there more? Instantly on alert to having a Loyalist militia lurking around, he questioned, "What is happening?"

David pointed to the cowering scout before crossing his arms to explain, "Found this guy skulking around the inn. I pressed him and it turns out he is looking for a deserter- goes by the name of Big Dave. Says he's alone. Isn't that right?"

The scout kept his hands raised to show no ill will and exclaimed helplessly, "I am! I'm alone. I swear it."

Unfortunately, the man was not the greatest at lying and Ratonhnhaké:ton spotted another scout behind the stables. Seriously? This was their best scouting work? Did they expect to simply stroll through the town without being seen? Great, he expected the approaching winter frost to stop the Loyalists and Templars, not hasten their activity.

The scout ducked behind the stables in a last ditch attempt to keep hidden but David quickly targeted him with a finger, "Another one, Connor! If he gets back to his officers, I'm done for!"

Oliver and David kept a strict eye on the caught soldier while Ratonhnhaké:ton darted forward to give chase. He didn't want them escaping to reveal the whereabouts of their town and more importantly, Big Dave. The horses neighed from inside the stable at hearing the footsteps of the men and they helped to guide him on the man's location. His concern rose instantly when he headed deeper towards the woods where the Rolfe homestead lay.

He had barely left the backside of the stable before he heard the unknown scout yell out, "Bloody hell!"

A gunshot echoed in the air from a shotgun before Martha's voice hollered defensively, "Get the heck off my land! Don't you touch my hens!"

"Martha, get back!" Walter yelled swiftly to keep his wife safe in their home.

Ratonhnhaké:ton darted into the open to assess the situation to keep his family out of danger. He had never expected for the prim and proper brunette to shoot a weapon but the Burnetts weren't to be taken lightly. Martha had heard the commotion from the inn and while she had been ready to lend a hand, she noticed a stranger lurking too closely to her property. One carefully loaded shotgun later, she had faced off against the trespasser but shot the air to scare him off.

It was enough to make the man jump back but before he reached for his gun, Ratonhnhaké:ton shot him through the back. Martha dodged behind her open doorway to find safety, cursing herself for being a little too gung-ho. Being a married woman, she could only depend on herself for protection when her husband was gone. She didn't have her family beside her anymore and had to take matters into her own hands. Thankfully, her husband was able to be beside her today and thanked her lucky stars. Walter kept his rifle firmly in his hands while Martha clutched her against her shoulder with shaky hands. He wasn't about to let her go back out there and stuck by the open doorway.

The man, however, had been killed by their brother-in-law and Ratonhnhaké:ton kneeled to check him for a pulse. He would need to carry the body away for a decent burial because leaving him for Martha to see throughout the evening would not bode well for sleep. Curious about her new skill, he asked with surprise, "Where did you learn to shoot?"

"Carrie" she replied truthfully with a sheepish tone and scuttled off inside to place her new shotgun over the mantle. Like her mother, she carried on the tradition to keep a safe home.

"What happened?" Walter asked worriedly, looking out towards the inn. He had finished his shift at the general store to close it down before dinnertime at his home. Afterward, the two would join the innkeepers to help prepare the next load of fresh ingredients for tomorrow's prep work. He didn't know what the man wanted but knowing he came from the inn didn't make him comfortable.

"The Loyalists are searching for Big Dave" he answered simply to the new problem that lay in their hands. He had just killed one of the scouts which would raise questions in the regimen, wherever they were. He hoped it wasn't nearby to buy them time to prepare for an attack. Pointing to the fallen man, he informed the couple, "I will return to bury him."

Without another word, he headed back to the inn to interrogate the remaining scout. Walter and Martha decided to follow suit as extra hands, shutting the door closed to their home. Ratonhnhaké:ton crossed the distance quickly, leaving the two behind, and arrived to find the first scout gone. In his place, an empty circle lay where Oliver was clutching his abdomen on his back while David rubbed his eyes vigorously. What happened? Glancing around for any sign of the trespasser, he questioned, "Where is he?"

Oliver held onto his throbbing lower abdomen but managed to say through gritted teeth, "Coward kicked me in the gingamabobs, then threw sand in Dave's eyes! But he's long gone now."

Walter kneeled to help his grandfather sit up, nodding for Martha to head inside the inn for a cold compress. The brunette didn't hesitate to find Corrine to let her know of what transpired and find first aid for her grandfather-in-law. The young man rested a gentle hand over his grandfather's snowy white hair and smiled gently, "Aw, grandpa, are you all right?"

"Nothing I haven't deal with before, m'lad" he sighed painfully to the unexpected hit below the belt. He would have preferred a bonk to the head but the coward had gone for the easiest targets. Good thing he was done having children or Corrine would have chased the lout.

David shook his head to the stark future awaiting him now that the other man had escaped. Even if they had killed both or released both, their regiment would still arrive looking for him. Looking to their town protector, he stated bitterly, "Not good, Connor."

Ratonhnhaké:ton agreed that time would be determining factor and spoke solemnly, "No. We can expect visitors soon."

Releasing a long sigh, he relaxed his shoulders to the recent drama of the month and managed a weak chuckle, "Had Ellen's deadbeat husband barge in before Norris' wedding. I hope they don't trample into yours."

The native pondered over that possibility and a small rare smile crossed his lips, "It will be their last regret and potentially, Caroline's excitement."

---

A/N: Another wedding is down! A lot of drama in this chapter but Norris and Myriam are married, Ellen is now free, and Big Dave awaits the regiment. Connor and Caroline are too excited over their new home (and they should be) so they're shortening their wedding wait so their wedding is up next. My main character couple is finally tying the knot to end the year of love before ushering in 1778, the year of Haytham.

Thank you as always to my readers and reviewers:

East Coast Captain: Connor will definitely be the dad that encourages his kids to live a life outside the Order. For him, it's to protect those dear to him while Caroline follows the same ideals. Although most of the danger will be gone after the game's end, their first child will be left with those early memories of seeing her parents struggle against the Templars while the youngest children could have a more adventurous view of the Order since they won't experience Connor chasing Lee and the seriously bad injury he earned at that shipwreck. That and seeing his village gone was the one that tugged at my heartstrings. Like Caroline with Elizabeth, I can see their eldest daughter warning her siblings that it's not all a fairy tale.

danelleprae: Haha, Connor went from being an awkward teen to earning his first verbal lecture from his future wife. Aw, I love hearing baby name stories. I've seen so many babies come into the world but the couples that have been fighting infertility for their first live baby always get me with the good feels while the babies that are relinquished and have illegal drugs in their system break my heart.

Faron Oakenshield: That scene in the game got me in hysterics when I first saw it. Originally, I planned Amelia to marry off first but heavily outlining and chiseling the characters in their teen years brought up Martha as the forerunner. Amelia will have her little romance though, I can't forget about the modest redhead.

iHateFridays: Thank you so much!

taylor115: Thank you, I always think in my head when writing a character 'Is this a believable character? What are their strengths and weaknesses? How can I make them appeal to the readers?'. I have to care about my characters and show the readers why they should be likable (or unlikeable for certain ones) to make them shine. Especially with Martha and Caroline who clashed heavily in the start but now, have become tightly-knit sisters. The Burnett parents are losing a daughter one by one but they'll have a break after Caroline, haha.

Chriswill02: Thank you so much, I feel like it's yesterday that I began writing it but it's certainly not. I thought about having the clan put up more of a fight but Connor is one determined fella that will say 'screw it, I'm still marrying her'. There's uncertainty with Caroline but the Clan Mother will allow it to stay neural. However, I actually want more of a fight between him and the clan during the Broken Trust mission. I can see the Clan Mother being distraught at her grandson who's now married to a colonist, cooperating with the Patriots who want to burn the village again, and has now killed his childhood friend with a whole different perspective than what Connor sees.

Next Chapter Excerpt:

Caroline had woken that day with a shiver but not from the cold weather and light snowfall. Her wedding day had finally arrived and her stomach was full of nervous jitters. She was eager to see her day through and although she had seen two weddings happen before hers, there was still apprehension. She would no longer return to the home that housed her for seven years and her day alongside her siblings was over. Upon waking from her bed, a bittersweet feeling emerged to leaving her childhood bed behind which would belong alone to Amelia. Martha and Alice had shared a room but once her little sister married, Elizabeth and Alice became roommates. One by one, they were gradually leaving the home. The days of waking up together under one roof to gather at breakfast with sleepy smiles were now gone and she would never return to that.

She lamented every action made that day and Catherine noticed her melancholy mood. Martha had been exactly the same but like herself, Caroline had seen the arrival and growth of each for her siblings. She had been her first baby and Catherine had produced a strong woman that reminded her fiercely of her husband. Now, her daughter was getting ready in her attire to meet her own groom at the church. Time had flown rather fast for Catherine, still remembering the days of holding Caroline in one arm to breastfeed her and using the other to churn butter. As a young woman, she had not envisioned a life across the Atlantic Ocean and wondered if her own children would undertake similar journeys one day. After all, the mysteriously untamed frontier to the west was quickly becoming the New World. Hopefully, it would be long after she was gone from the earth to avoid that heartache.

Caroline grit her teeth as Amelia fastened her stay to define her waist after she decided to appear more feminine. Martha was helping on straightening her hoop skirt to avoid a fashion accident while fixing the dress skirt over it. Elizabeth had taken an interest in Caroline's wooden diadem, reminding her of Myriam's, but with dangling feathers rather than flowers. She had tried it on for fun while Alice kept nudging her, not to remove it but for a try herself. Their mother shook her head to the sudden flicker on vanity from her eldest and reminded carefully, "Carrie, you will be walking all day and it is bound to become painful when you eat or dance. You must be comfortable in your best dress. It is best to have happy memories, not painful ones of discomfort."

She did have a valid point on comfort and released the air she was holding in a sigh to reluctantly agree, "Oh, fine. Release my anchor, Amelia."

Amelia let go of the tension in the ties to simply tie them neatly at her natural waist. Martha chuckled softly to seeing her sister's rare feminine side peek out and smiled, "Are you trying to appear slimmer? How ladylike."

"I tied your stay so hush" Caroline pointed out hastily to making sure her little sister had the perfect waistline. She had tossed her adolescent views of feminine beauty out the window years ago but tried her best with a stay. It was surprisingly good at minimizing stab wounds and protecting her from bruising. Ratonhnhaké:ton had never cared about colonial fashion styles and feminine beauty ideals which she appreciated. Still, she wanted to appear ladylike one last time before bidding her old life goodbye. Running her palms down the front of her stay, she glanced at her brunette sister to ask, "Did you even eat a whole meal?"

"In sporadic bites" Martha answered to the secret on not feeling suffocated in her wedding dress. Walter had been surprised to her smaller waistline while she said nothing of it. Amelia tried not to laugh when the brunette poked her midsection and preened, "With your appetite for ales, you need space."

"Don't embarrass your husband on your wedding day" Catherine sighed softly because she didn't want the poor man to regret his first day of marriage. She was aware of Caroline's affinity for drinks like her husband but her daughter's groom abstained from it. Every couple had nerves on their wedding day but she hoped neither grabbed the nearest keg to cope.

"Mama, I will not" Caroline promised with an offended whine and raised her chin, puffing her chest to declare proudly, "He and I will not be consuming any spirits or ales."

Elizabeth turned around at hearing that and blurted everyone's feelings in consensus, "Is he trying to kill you?"

"No, it's a Mohawk tradition and I promised I'd keep it" Caroline shot back swiftly, aware that she was the only woman of the family that drank alcohol. She had seen her mother sip wine on Martha's wedding but that was it. Her sisters chuckled softly to the reveal and she refrained from chasing Elizabeth in the small room when she kissed the air comically.

She grasped the top of the dress that draped over the full skirt now that her stay was in place. Slipping each arm through the blue fabric, she smiled widely at the arrival of her wedding day. Adjusting the scooped neckline with her fingers, she smiled brightly at her sisters, "It's a good thing I only needed to buy the dress and warm gloves. My shoes have lasted well this season."

"You're always in boots" Amelia pointed out dryly to her affinity for leather boots instead of fabric shoes.

Her dress was perfect with its deep blue color that reminded her of the ocean and the ruffles of white lace at the hem was beautiful as it matched those at the quarter-length sleeves. It complemented Ratonhnhaké:ton's favorite flowers in Davenport and pinned one into the diadem as an extra touch to their unity. Following the Scottish tradition, she left one last stitch to finish off her dress and Catherine had passed a needle over the inseam of her right sleeve to finish it off. Good luck would hopefully follow her steps.

---

Thank you for reading!