One evening, a wounded soldier arrived at the plantation. Katarina had found him in the driveway, struggling to move. She took him in the house and nursed him back to health. Once he had regained consciousness, Katarina found out his name was James Fallan. He was part of the Continentals and had wandered from camp after a battle one night. Lily noticed a change in Katarina. She began to talk more and spent almost all her time with James.
"You lost someone didn't you?" James asked.
"Yes...my parents when I was small and fiancé not long ago."
"I am sorry." he kissed her hand.
"It is not your fault."
"I'm rejoining the army."
"But I thought you were staying..."
"I have to go back."
The day James left, Lily asked him to find Gabriel and give him the embroidering. Katarina hugged James before he left. Deep in her heart she felt he would be killed like Thomas. She had a plan to get him back. That evening, she left a note telling Lily she was going to find James, Gabriel and Benjamin.
Katarina came upon a dead Redcoat on her way to find James. She dressed in it and pulled back her hair. Down the road she met up with a group of Redcoats. She pretended to be one of them. The morning after, the group Katarina traveled with was ambushed by a militia. She, along with the others, were shot. Everything became hazy and she felt heavy.
"Here, get the uniform off this one." said a familiar voice.
Gabriel?
"Oh my God! It's Katarina..." Gabriel said to James.
"Oh God no, get help for her."
"I...had to find you..." she closed her eyes and fell limp.
"No!" cried James.
Gabriel walked over. He felt a wave of nausea wash over him. He knew Katarina was dead.
"I...I didn't know that was her when I shot her..."
"No one did, James." he took him to Benjamin and explained what had occurred.
The men properly buried Katarina beneath a weeping willow.
"I have to tell Lily..."
¤
"My dear Lily,
I know you would hope to hear good news from me, but I regret to inform you that Katarina is dead. She dressed in a British soldier's uniform and was shot by one of our militia. She had tried to bring James, Father and myself back with her. I don't know where to begin, all I can say is I am sorry. I know how it feels to loose a sibling, but I do not think I could grasp how you are feeling. You must remember she is in a better place. She will be with Thomas and your parents for eternity now. But she will always be in our hearts.
All my love,
Gabriel."
Lily shut herself in a room. Margaret and Charlotte tried to coax her out. Nothing would work. Lily's features became that of a dead corpse. Her eyes became dull and lifeless. The rest of her features sunken. Everyday, the children asked Charlotte if Lily would come down.
One night, Susan went into Lily's room (which became more like a tomb for her). She crawled up and sat in her lap.
"Don't be sad, Lily."
Lily looked at her with sad eyes, "I cannot help it."
"We miss you, Lily."
"Since when did you start to talk?"
"Not long ago. Please, Lily, we miss you."
"Let me wash up, I will be down."
Susan kissed her cheek and ran downstairs. Lily smiled and washed up and made herself presentable. She had not eaten in quite some time and was shaky from that. The children gathered around her, hugging her. Charlotte walked over.
"Now you are going to eat young lady."
"I know, Charlotte."
Lily and Charlotte sat down at the table. Charlotte treaded lightly with her questions.
"The children are grateful you came down."
"I know." she ate some of her food. "I can't believe I missed Susan's talking."
"Well now you can enjoy it."
"Charlotte, I miss Gabriel terribly."
"I know you do. I know exactly how you feel."
"Benjamin?"
"Yes..."
"It's alright, I knew you had feelings for him."
"How could you tell?"
"I could sense it between you two."
¤
¤
Late one evening, the children were woken by an oncoming mob, wielding torches. Charlotte led them down to the kitchen. Frantically she counted the children. Nathan remained upstairs. Lily prayed he would be alright. Before she knew it, he came down and then they left the house. They ran into the yard, hiding behind the bushes. Charlotte's servants were shot. Lily and Charlotte did her best to keep them quiet. Charlotte turned and gasped. Lily looked.
"Gabriel..."
"Where's father?" asked William
"Shh."
The sound of a horse and gunshots echoed from the driveway. They saw Benjamin and the militia at the end of the driveway. They're leading the British away... Gabriel and the other man with him took them down the road while the militia distracted the British.
Lily hadn't gotten her chance to talk to Gabriel as they walked. He simply held her hand. Asleep in Lily's arms was Susan. Their walk seemed to take forever. Daylight began to break soon.
"They won't stop looking for us." said Charlotte
"You'll be safe where we're taking you. Father said it was the perfect place to hide."
"How is he?"
"I don't know, I'm his son."
"Where is father?" asked Susan, who now was walking beside Gabriel.
He smiled at her, amazed she spoke.
"Speaking for months now." commented Charlotte.
"Why did he go?"
"Well, he didn't want those mean men to find you, so he lead them away. He'll come to see you as soon as he can."
"I don't care, I hate him."
"You don't hate him."
"I hate him and I hope he never comes back!"
Susan ran off and Charlotte followed her to bring her back. Lily touched his shoulder.
"Give her time."
¤
Not long after, they arrived at the beach. Little shacks were built on the shore.
"Abigail!" cried the children, running to see their long lost nanny.
"I have to get going."
"But Gabriel..."
"I'm sorry, but they're my orders."
"Please, come back."
"I promise." he kissed her gently.
Lily walked him over to the children so they could say their good-byes. She talked to Abigail to keep herself from crying.
"You have gotten too thin, girl." pointed out Abigail.
"After Katarina's death, I shut myself away."
"Now I am going to have to put some fat on your bones."
Lily smiled, "If you insist."
¤
¤
Not many days passed before Gabriel and Benjamin returned to the shore. Margaret was the first to see. All the children ran over. Except Susan. Lily ran over and hugged Gabriel tightly.
"Susan?" called Benjamin, walking over to hug his young daughter.
Her reply was to run away.
That evening, it stormed. Most of the children were crowded into bed with their father. Susan stayed in Charlotte and Lily's bed. Benjamin suspected he had done something wrong with Susan.
Early the next morning - before dawn - Lily was sitting on the shore, watching the sea. She was thinking of Katarina. Gabriel walked over and sat beside her. Tear stains marked her pale cheeks.
"Thinking about Kat?"
"Yes...I have lost everyone I love. Is God trying to punish me?"
"No, Lily." he held her, "and you haven't lost everyone."
"What do you mean?"
"You have me and you always will."
Lily turned to face him. Her warm eyes once more were covered with tears.
"Do you love me, Gabriel?"
"Yes I do."
"Why have you never told me before?"
"I never had the courage."
"I'm afraid."
"Why?"
"Katarina loved Thomas...they were planning to be married and both of them died. My parents loved each other and they're dead too."
"You won't die from loving someone."
"From a broken heart I could."
"I won't break your heart then," he kissed her, "marry me, Lily Elizabeth Rhys."
"I will."
"Today?"
"Yes!"
Gabriel kissed his new fiancée and held her close. Lily nestled herself into his arms. For a long time, they just sat there watching the sun rise.
¤
Lily walked over to Gabriel and Benjamin as they were discussing women's effect on men.
"There were times that I'd have trouble breathing around your mother."
"I know the feeling. You once said, when I had a family of my own I would understand."
"You're trying to tell me something?"
Lily sat beside Gabriel. Both had a grin which practically gave away their secret. Benjamin laughed and offered them part of an apple.
¤
"...I know pronounce you man and wife."
Gabriel leaned over and kissed Lily. She smiled, even bigger than a child at Christmas. He picked up Susan and hugged her.
At the reception, Lily walked over to Benjamin.
"I'm sorry we didn't tell you before."
"It's alright. I have something for you," he removed a necklace from his hand.
"It's beautiful."
"It belonged to Gabriel's mother. I want you to have it. It's the North Star. It's the only star that doesn't move. It's constant, unwavering."
"Thank you so much." she hugged him.
"May I?" Gabriel cut in.
"If you must."
Lily walked over and danced with Gabriel.
"Gabriel, I want to dance with Lily!" protested Nathan.
"You'll have to wait your turn." said Gabriel.
"No fair, you're going to dance with her all the time!" Nathan walked off.
"You are bad, Gabriel Martin."
"Yes I know, Lily Martin."
"I'm going to have to teach you some discipline."
"Well, father tried, it just didn't stick."
"He hasn't seen what I can do."
"Now I think there is something else to this whole marriage thing."
"What is that?"
"The wedding night."
"You are evil!"
"Yes, but you love me."
"Regrettably so." she grinned.
"You lost someone didn't you?" James asked.
"Yes...my parents when I was small and fiancé not long ago."
"I am sorry." he kissed her hand.
"It is not your fault."
"I'm rejoining the army."
"But I thought you were staying..."
"I have to go back."
The day James left, Lily asked him to find Gabriel and give him the embroidering. Katarina hugged James before he left. Deep in her heart she felt he would be killed like Thomas. She had a plan to get him back. That evening, she left a note telling Lily she was going to find James, Gabriel and Benjamin.
Katarina came upon a dead Redcoat on her way to find James. She dressed in it and pulled back her hair. Down the road she met up with a group of Redcoats. She pretended to be one of them. The morning after, the group Katarina traveled with was ambushed by a militia. She, along with the others, were shot. Everything became hazy and she felt heavy.
"Here, get the uniform off this one." said a familiar voice.
Gabriel?
"Oh my God! It's Katarina..." Gabriel said to James.
"Oh God no, get help for her."
"I...had to find you..." she closed her eyes and fell limp.
"No!" cried James.
Gabriel walked over. He felt a wave of nausea wash over him. He knew Katarina was dead.
"I...I didn't know that was her when I shot her..."
"No one did, James." he took him to Benjamin and explained what had occurred.
The men properly buried Katarina beneath a weeping willow.
"I have to tell Lily..."
¤
"My dear Lily,
I know you would hope to hear good news from me, but I regret to inform you that Katarina is dead. She dressed in a British soldier's uniform and was shot by one of our militia. She had tried to bring James, Father and myself back with her. I don't know where to begin, all I can say is I am sorry. I know how it feels to loose a sibling, but I do not think I could grasp how you are feeling. You must remember she is in a better place. She will be with Thomas and your parents for eternity now. But she will always be in our hearts.
All my love,
Gabriel."
Lily shut herself in a room. Margaret and Charlotte tried to coax her out. Nothing would work. Lily's features became that of a dead corpse. Her eyes became dull and lifeless. The rest of her features sunken. Everyday, the children asked Charlotte if Lily would come down.
One night, Susan went into Lily's room (which became more like a tomb for her). She crawled up and sat in her lap.
"Don't be sad, Lily."
Lily looked at her with sad eyes, "I cannot help it."
"We miss you, Lily."
"Since when did you start to talk?"
"Not long ago. Please, Lily, we miss you."
"Let me wash up, I will be down."
Susan kissed her cheek and ran downstairs. Lily smiled and washed up and made herself presentable. She had not eaten in quite some time and was shaky from that. The children gathered around her, hugging her. Charlotte walked over.
"Now you are going to eat young lady."
"I know, Charlotte."
Lily and Charlotte sat down at the table. Charlotte treaded lightly with her questions.
"The children are grateful you came down."
"I know." she ate some of her food. "I can't believe I missed Susan's talking."
"Well now you can enjoy it."
"Charlotte, I miss Gabriel terribly."
"I know you do. I know exactly how you feel."
"Benjamin?"
"Yes..."
"It's alright, I knew you had feelings for him."
"How could you tell?"
"I could sense it between you two."
¤
¤
Late one evening, the children were woken by an oncoming mob, wielding torches. Charlotte led them down to the kitchen. Frantically she counted the children. Nathan remained upstairs. Lily prayed he would be alright. Before she knew it, he came down and then they left the house. They ran into the yard, hiding behind the bushes. Charlotte's servants were shot. Lily and Charlotte did her best to keep them quiet. Charlotte turned and gasped. Lily looked.
"Gabriel..."
"Where's father?" asked William
"Shh."
The sound of a horse and gunshots echoed from the driveway. They saw Benjamin and the militia at the end of the driveway. They're leading the British away... Gabriel and the other man with him took them down the road while the militia distracted the British.
Lily hadn't gotten her chance to talk to Gabriel as they walked. He simply held her hand. Asleep in Lily's arms was Susan. Their walk seemed to take forever. Daylight began to break soon.
"They won't stop looking for us." said Charlotte
"You'll be safe where we're taking you. Father said it was the perfect place to hide."
"How is he?"
"I don't know, I'm his son."
"Where is father?" asked Susan, who now was walking beside Gabriel.
He smiled at her, amazed she spoke.
"Speaking for months now." commented Charlotte.
"Why did he go?"
"Well, he didn't want those mean men to find you, so he lead them away. He'll come to see you as soon as he can."
"I don't care, I hate him."
"You don't hate him."
"I hate him and I hope he never comes back!"
Susan ran off and Charlotte followed her to bring her back. Lily touched his shoulder.
"Give her time."
¤
Not long after, they arrived at the beach. Little shacks were built on the shore.
"Abigail!" cried the children, running to see their long lost nanny.
"I have to get going."
"But Gabriel..."
"I'm sorry, but they're my orders."
"Please, come back."
"I promise." he kissed her gently.
Lily walked him over to the children so they could say their good-byes. She talked to Abigail to keep herself from crying.
"You have gotten too thin, girl." pointed out Abigail.
"After Katarina's death, I shut myself away."
"Now I am going to have to put some fat on your bones."
Lily smiled, "If you insist."
¤
¤
Not many days passed before Gabriel and Benjamin returned to the shore. Margaret was the first to see. All the children ran over. Except Susan. Lily ran over and hugged Gabriel tightly.
"Susan?" called Benjamin, walking over to hug his young daughter.
Her reply was to run away.
That evening, it stormed. Most of the children were crowded into bed with their father. Susan stayed in Charlotte and Lily's bed. Benjamin suspected he had done something wrong with Susan.
Early the next morning - before dawn - Lily was sitting on the shore, watching the sea. She was thinking of Katarina. Gabriel walked over and sat beside her. Tear stains marked her pale cheeks.
"Thinking about Kat?"
"Yes...I have lost everyone I love. Is God trying to punish me?"
"No, Lily." he held her, "and you haven't lost everyone."
"What do you mean?"
"You have me and you always will."
Lily turned to face him. Her warm eyes once more were covered with tears.
"Do you love me, Gabriel?"
"Yes I do."
"Why have you never told me before?"
"I never had the courage."
"I'm afraid."
"Why?"
"Katarina loved Thomas...they were planning to be married and both of them died. My parents loved each other and they're dead too."
"You won't die from loving someone."
"From a broken heart I could."
"I won't break your heart then," he kissed her, "marry me, Lily Elizabeth Rhys."
"I will."
"Today?"
"Yes!"
Gabriel kissed his new fiancée and held her close. Lily nestled herself into his arms. For a long time, they just sat there watching the sun rise.
¤
Lily walked over to Gabriel and Benjamin as they were discussing women's effect on men.
"There were times that I'd have trouble breathing around your mother."
"I know the feeling. You once said, when I had a family of my own I would understand."
"You're trying to tell me something?"
Lily sat beside Gabriel. Both had a grin which practically gave away their secret. Benjamin laughed and offered them part of an apple.
¤
"...I know pronounce you man and wife."
Gabriel leaned over and kissed Lily. She smiled, even bigger than a child at Christmas. He picked up Susan and hugged her.
At the reception, Lily walked over to Benjamin.
"I'm sorry we didn't tell you before."
"It's alright. I have something for you," he removed a necklace from his hand.
"It's beautiful."
"It belonged to Gabriel's mother. I want you to have it. It's the North Star. It's the only star that doesn't move. It's constant, unwavering."
"Thank you so much." she hugged him.
"May I?" Gabriel cut in.
"If you must."
Lily walked over and danced with Gabriel.
"Gabriel, I want to dance with Lily!" protested Nathan.
"You'll have to wait your turn." said Gabriel.
"No fair, you're going to dance with her all the time!" Nathan walked off.
"You are bad, Gabriel Martin."
"Yes I know, Lily Martin."
"I'm going to have to teach you some discipline."
"Well, father tried, it just didn't stick."
"He hasn't seen what I can do."
"Now I think there is something else to this whole marriage thing."
"What is that?"
"The wedding night."
"You are evil!"
"Yes, but you love me."
"Regrettably so." she grinned.