Chapter 1
16 years later
Time went on at the Martin plantation, but the family experienced much heart-ache. Elizabeth Martin had died and Benjamin was a decorated war hero, having fought in the French and Indian War.
The Martin children were cared for by the African servants and Awinita was also looked after as if she was a child of the Martins. Awinita knew she was different from the moment she began to walk and talk. She was not like the Martin children. Her eyes were of a deep brown, her hair was wavy and would get in tangles, and her skin was a shade of light brown. Even though she was close to the children, Benjamin and Elizabeth explained her heritage as a Native American and not a British decedent like Benjamin and Elizabeth.
Awinita thought she would be upset of this revelation, but she was happy in knowing where she came from. Benjamin did show her her mother's grave site. It did not have a grave stone, much like Elizabeth's, but Awinita felt at peace at her mother's grave.
Awinita often went to her mother's grave, talking to her mother's spirit and she always wondered if her mother would reply. A few times, the wind would give a powerful gust and Awinita thought maybe that was her mother's reply to the stories her daughter spoke of.
It was now summer of 1776. Not only was the heat intense in South Carolina, but word had spread that the colonies were ready to fight against England. Awinita had read everything she could get her hands on. Following the French and Indian War some years before, King George had heavily taxed the colonies in order to pay the debts on the war.
The colonists were upset over this as they could not afford any necessities like tea, sugar, and even special stamps that people used to send letters. Three years earlier, the "Boston Tea Party" retaliated against the Tea Tax by dumping the tea into the waters of Boston Harbor.
Awinita was now engrossed by the news coming out of Philadelphia where the First Continental Congress was meeting. Many people were voicing their opinion of the British king and the Congress met day after day, discussing the colonists right to live in an independent nation.
Awinita was thrilled to hear that the colonists wanted to break away from England, but she knew it would take a lot of effort and perhaps, bloodshed to set themselves free.
On this day, Awinita was with Gabriel and Thomas on a hunt. From a young age, she could tell what bird or animal looked fit or sick. She was also good in hiding and drawing out the prey. She had her two brothers stay behind a tree and she took a small pebble. She signaled them to get their hunting rifles ready. She threw the pebble at a bushel of trees and a flock of pheasants took flight.
Both Gabriel and Thomas fired their riffles and a few pheasants were hit. Awinita went to inspect the pheasants, three in total, and she nods her head. "Very good," she said to her brothers.
They gathered up the pheasants and returned to the homestead. As soon as they stepped out of the forest, they saw the postal man riding on his horse up to the house. Awinita was eager to hear the news from Charleston, but so was Thomas.
She and Gabriel watch as Thomas ran towards the house. Abigale stood out on the porch and accepted the day's postage and took it inside. Awinita decided to tell Benjamin of the postal's arrival.
She stepped into Benjamin's workshop, where he was still working on rocking chairs. The last few ended up breaking apart when Benjamin sat on them and he would have a fit. Awinita stood aside and then, her younger brothers Nathan and Samuel enter and she quiets them.
They watch as Benjamin sat in the rocking chair he just finished making and he began to rock. Awinita thought he successfully made his craft, but suddenly, the chair broke apart under his weight.
Awinita let out a gasp, but then a fit of laughter rose from her throat. She covered her mouth from laughing and her two brothers ran off, also having a fit of laughter. Benjamin threw the chair into a pile and let out a hiss of frustration.
Awinita noticed Susan nearby and rushes to her, wanting to comfort her from Benjamin's anger. "Sorry, I'm sorry," he said.
Awinita goes over to the pile and looks over the chairs. "There is no shame in trying. Elizabeth told you that," she said to her adoptive father. He looks at the ground and lets out a huff. "Maybe you should talk to her," she suggested and Benjamin nods.
"Good idea," Benjamin replied and leaves the workshop. Susan comes over to Awinita and takes her hand. Susan never spoke a word since her mother's death and Awinita could feel a cloud of despair over the young girl.
When Awinita first learned of her own mother's death when she was just a baby, she too felt the same cloud of despair. She did grieve for some time and the cloud did lift. She was concerned for Susan as she never spoke in months.
Awinita took Susan back to the house, but looks off to see Benjamin visiting the grave of his wife. She missed Elizabeth as she was a good woman who raised her and she stood by her when someone questioned Awinita's heritage.
Elizabeth told Awinita to always be true to herself and never lie about her true heritage as a Native American. Despite many of the Martin's friends and neighbors horrible treatment of her, Awinita remained true to her roots.
Later that evening, the younger children went to sleep and Gabriel, Thomas, and Awinita were in the parlor, wondering if Benjamin would let them read the postage. Benjamin looks at the mail, but sets it back on the table and went to his chair.
An uncomfortable silence fell with the boys looking at one another. A minute passed and then Benjamin, suspecting of the eagerness, asks, "So what came in the mail?"
Thomas rushes up to the table, taking the postage and looks over the news post. Awinita waits patiently for her turn to read it. Thomas looks it over and then looks at his father, saying, "You've been called to Charleston."
Benjamin takes the news paper and looks it over. Awinita suspected the South Carolina General Assembly was calling for members to come to Charleston on a serious issue. She waits to hear from Benjamin.
He looks at them and replies, "We're heading to Charleston." Thomas is overcome with excitement, he was eager to fight in the Continental Army as he heard young men were already enlisting to fight.
Awinita did not like the sound of her brother leaving to fight. She did not want her family to fall apart over a war against England, but she knew she will not be able to stop Thomas and maybe Gabriel from going. She did believe that Benjamin might be able to stop them.
From the author: This is just the beginning, but it will get good. See you soon! Leave reviews!