Night began to fall soon afterwards. Thomas sat in the same spot that he had been in since that afternoon when Hannah had run off. He was sitting in the rocking chair on the porch, rocking slowly back and forth, his eyes staring into the impending twilight. Finally he stood and went inside the house, picking up his musket and putting on a coat. Abigail's eyes took in the sight and she dropped what she was doing and ran out after him, grabbing his shoulder. "Where do you think you're going?" She asked. Thomas tried to jerk away from the black woman's hand and walk away, but her grip was firm. "I'm just going out. Tell Father that I'll be back as soon as I can."
Abigail set her face and held onto his shirt. "No sah, I ain't about ta let you go out there an' git yerself killed. We've been hearin' cannon's all day an' I ain't gwine ta let one of the Massa's chillen go out in da midst of danger!" She said. Thomas sighed and his face softened. "I'll be fine. I've gotta go out after Miss Hannah. She hasn't come back yet and it's my fault." Thomas said, prying her hand off of his shoulder. "I promise I'll be careful. And if I don't come back, tell Father not to blame you, that you tried to stop me. Thank you Abigail." He said calmly as he ran off into the darkness. Abigail stood still her hand on her mouth, torn between her duty to both masters, boy and man. "I'll give him a half hour. If he ain't back, den I tells da Massa." She whispered.
Abigail let an hour come and go before she found herself holding her breath as she went into Benjamin's study. "Massa? I'se got somethin' to tell ya." She said haltingly. Benjamin looked up at her with a smile. "Yes Abigail? What is it?" He asked pleasantly. "Well sah, Massa Thomas, he done gone out afta Miss Hannah." She blurted out. Benjamin's eyes widened and he stood up suddenly. "When?" He said tersely. "An hour ago Massah. He tol' me not ta tell an' said fer me ta tell you dat it weren't my fault an' dat I tried ta stop him! An' I did Massah!" She said nervously. Benjamin didn't say a word but he merely grabbed his musket and ran outside. He had barely gotten across the front lawn before he stopped and stared into the distance.
One figure was walking back slowly, with someone leaning agains his shoulder. Benjamin ran the rest of the way, Abigail watching fervently from the porch. Benjamin hoisted the person in his arms and walked back quickly. When he came into the light of the candle Abigail held, she saw that it was Hannah that he carried in his arms and it was Thomas who was following, obviously exhausted. Benjamin walked quickly in the house and laid her on the bed. She was covered in mud and water and also Benjamin noticed, blood. Thomas was equally dirty and he stood in the doorway nervously as Abigail began to sponge the girl's unconsious face. Abigail turned to them and motioned them to leave and close the door. Benjamin took hold of Thomas' shoulder and steered him out the door.
"What did you think you were doing?" Benjamin asked tersely, his words clipped. Thomas stared rebelliously at the floor and didn't speak. "We've heard cannons all day and you know about what happened at her family's house. My God boy! The Ross' house is less than two miles down the road! You could have been killed!" Benjamin said angrily. "She could have been killed." Thomas said shortly. "She was going back to her house. She fell and fainted. When she woke up there was a British soldier leaning over her. She took the gun she took from the house and shot him. He fell on top of her and she fainted. When I found her she was still like that. When she woke up she couldn't get him off of her. That's where all the blood came from. I helped her up and she could barely walk. It's all my fault that she left." He said regretfully, still staring at the floor. Benjamin stared at him in shock. "I don't want to say why it's my fault. It just is." Thomas said quickly. Benjamin stepped toward him and pulled him in his arms. "Don't do that again." He said softly, rocking him in his arms.
Thomas sat in the rocking chair, rocking back and forth. The things in the living room seemed to sway and waver in front of his eyes as he rocked. His eyes drooped in expectant sleep that he would not let himself give in to. He had promised himself that he would stay awake outside the room in case Hannah needed anything, and he would keep that promise. Suddenly his eyes opened as he heard a creak behind him. He smiled as he looked up, but it slowly faded. "Hannah, what's wrong?" Thomas stood up as he gazed at the pale faced Hannah, who stood in the doorway, one hand behind her back, the other hanging limp at her side.
Then she brought the other hand up to level with her face. In her hand was a gun. She cocked it and held it out in front of her. "You killed my family." She whispered as she struggled to pull the trigger. Thomas stood white faced in front of her, unable to move. Thomas winced as the gun went off and the bullet shot in front of him, then past him. A huge thump sounded in front of him and he opened his eyes. Hannah was lying on the ground, the gun still sliding across the wood floor, Benjamin holding her down. Her eyes were closed, but she was visibly fighting his grasp. Benjamin stayed in the same position till she finally ceased fighting against him. She lay in a fetal position on the floor, quiet and still when he finally stood, picking her up in his arms.
Thomas walked dazed over to him. "Father, what was she doing?" He asked in shock, gazing at her still pale face. Benjamin shook his head. "It was shock. I've seen it happen, especially in the wars. The people live their nightmares, literally. They walk around and Heaven knows how they get things that are in their nightmares, like that gun." Benjamin said quietly, nodding to the gun on the floor. Thomas gazed at him, his face finally comprehending. "So she didn't know that she was going to shoot me?" He asked uncertainly.
Benjamin nodded. "No, she had no clue. For all she knew she thought she was shooting the British soldier who shot her family." Benjamin said. "And she won't remember?" Thomas asked. "Most likely not. The only thing to do is to watch her carefully. I'll do that. You go to bed." Benjamin said, walking towards the bedroom. "I can do it Father. I'm not a child." Thomas called out. Benjamin stopped in the doorway. "I know that. But sometimes, even men must sleep. You've had a hard day." Benjamin said softly, walking into the bedroom and closing the door. Thomas stared at the closed door for a while, then sighed and walked up to his bedroom, his wary glance still on the door.
The next day, Thomas jumped down the stairs two at a time. He ran to the door to the guest bedroom and peeked inside. The bed clothes were twisted about each other and empty. He slid into the kitchen, but it was not occupied. He went into Benjamin's study, but it too was empty. "Abigail! Abigail!" He called out, walking onto the porch and colliding with someone. "I'm sorry I, Hannah." Thomas said as he recognized the figure. Hannah's face was pale and her blue eyes weak, but she smiled somewhat. "Yes, it's me. Were you going to use your eyes eventually to see what was in front of you?" She teased. "I'm sorry Hannah. Are you alright? You were, well, somewhat frightened last night." Thomas said uneasily, remembering the night before.
Hannah held up her hand to signal him to stop talking. "Your Father told me what happened. I apologize. I wasn't in my right mind." She said. "Oh, I knew that. I'm sorry that I made you go through all of this." Thomas said sadly. "Don't be. It wasn't your fault. You didn't shoot my parents." Hannah said, wincing at the truth of her words. "And no matter what I say, how much I cry and plead, I know that I can never change your mind about the war. So, though I don't like it, I will leave you alone about it. Your life is yours to live as you please, even if I hate it." Hannah said with a sigh. Thomas grinned and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Thank you. You don't know how happy it makes me to hear you say that, and I promise that I won't talk about it as much. I'll try." He said, a happy smile on his face, his eyes taking in every inch of her. "Don't do it just because I could have been killed last night. Say it of your own accord." Hannah insisted.
"Oh I am. Surely you cold have been killed and I would have run around like a madman had you been, but I am saying this of my own accord. Whether I care to change it or not, which I can't, you are a part of my life now, and I must think of you as well as myself." Thomas said gently, his hand touching a curl that escaped from her bun. Hannah smiled and tearfully grabbed his hand that touched her cheek and held it to her face. "Thank you. Thank you." She whispered. "Come now. Let's forget all this. Let's see how Patriot is holding up 'eh?" Thomas asked, holding out his arm. Hannah wiped away a tear sliding down her cheek and took it, smiling for all she was worth. "Oh and let's walk slowly. I want to see if those manners your Mother taught you are taking effect." Thomas said, watching Hannah's footing as she stepped off the stairs. Hannah smiled and began to walk, lady-like and demure down through the pasture, Thomas praising her all the way. Benjamin Martin watched them as they walked arm in arm, and his deep blue eyes were filled with remembrance. "Elizabeth." He whispered.
Abigail set her face and held onto his shirt. "No sah, I ain't about ta let you go out there an' git yerself killed. We've been hearin' cannon's all day an' I ain't gwine ta let one of the Massa's chillen go out in da midst of danger!" She said. Thomas sighed and his face softened. "I'll be fine. I've gotta go out after Miss Hannah. She hasn't come back yet and it's my fault." Thomas said, prying her hand off of his shoulder. "I promise I'll be careful. And if I don't come back, tell Father not to blame you, that you tried to stop me. Thank you Abigail." He said calmly as he ran off into the darkness. Abigail stood still her hand on her mouth, torn between her duty to both masters, boy and man. "I'll give him a half hour. If he ain't back, den I tells da Massa." She whispered.
Abigail let an hour come and go before she found herself holding her breath as she went into Benjamin's study. "Massa? I'se got somethin' to tell ya." She said haltingly. Benjamin looked up at her with a smile. "Yes Abigail? What is it?" He asked pleasantly. "Well sah, Massa Thomas, he done gone out afta Miss Hannah." She blurted out. Benjamin's eyes widened and he stood up suddenly. "When?" He said tersely. "An hour ago Massah. He tol' me not ta tell an' said fer me ta tell you dat it weren't my fault an' dat I tried ta stop him! An' I did Massah!" She said nervously. Benjamin didn't say a word but he merely grabbed his musket and ran outside. He had barely gotten across the front lawn before he stopped and stared into the distance.
One figure was walking back slowly, with someone leaning agains his shoulder. Benjamin ran the rest of the way, Abigail watching fervently from the porch. Benjamin hoisted the person in his arms and walked back quickly. When he came into the light of the candle Abigail held, she saw that it was Hannah that he carried in his arms and it was Thomas who was following, obviously exhausted. Benjamin walked quickly in the house and laid her on the bed. She was covered in mud and water and also Benjamin noticed, blood. Thomas was equally dirty and he stood in the doorway nervously as Abigail began to sponge the girl's unconsious face. Abigail turned to them and motioned them to leave and close the door. Benjamin took hold of Thomas' shoulder and steered him out the door.
"What did you think you were doing?" Benjamin asked tersely, his words clipped. Thomas stared rebelliously at the floor and didn't speak. "We've heard cannons all day and you know about what happened at her family's house. My God boy! The Ross' house is less than two miles down the road! You could have been killed!" Benjamin said angrily. "She could have been killed." Thomas said shortly. "She was going back to her house. She fell and fainted. When she woke up there was a British soldier leaning over her. She took the gun she took from the house and shot him. He fell on top of her and she fainted. When I found her she was still like that. When she woke up she couldn't get him off of her. That's where all the blood came from. I helped her up and she could barely walk. It's all my fault that she left." He said regretfully, still staring at the floor. Benjamin stared at him in shock. "I don't want to say why it's my fault. It just is." Thomas said quickly. Benjamin stepped toward him and pulled him in his arms. "Don't do that again." He said softly, rocking him in his arms.
Thomas sat in the rocking chair, rocking back and forth. The things in the living room seemed to sway and waver in front of his eyes as he rocked. His eyes drooped in expectant sleep that he would not let himself give in to. He had promised himself that he would stay awake outside the room in case Hannah needed anything, and he would keep that promise. Suddenly his eyes opened as he heard a creak behind him. He smiled as he looked up, but it slowly faded. "Hannah, what's wrong?" Thomas stood up as he gazed at the pale faced Hannah, who stood in the doorway, one hand behind her back, the other hanging limp at her side.
Then she brought the other hand up to level with her face. In her hand was a gun. She cocked it and held it out in front of her. "You killed my family." She whispered as she struggled to pull the trigger. Thomas stood white faced in front of her, unable to move. Thomas winced as the gun went off and the bullet shot in front of him, then past him. A huge thump sounded in front of him and he opened his eyes. Hannah was lying on the ground, the gun still sliding across the wood floor, Benjamin holding her down. Her eyes were closed, but she was visibly fighting his grasp. Benjamin stayed in the same position till she finally ceased fighting against him. She lay in a fetal position on the floor, quiet and still when he finally stood, picking her up in his arms.
Thomas walked dazed over to him. "Father, what was she doing?" He asked in shock, gazing at her still pale face. Benjamin shook his head. "It was shock. I've seen it happen, especially in the wars. The people live their nightmares, literally. They walk around and Heaven knows how they get things that are in their nightmares, like that gun." Benjamin said quietly, nodding to the gun on the floor. Thomas gazed at him, his face finally comprehending. "So she didn't know that she was going to shoot me?" He asked uncertainly.
Benjamin nodded. "No, she had no clue. For all she knew she thought she was shooting the British soldier who shot her family." Benjamin said. "And she won't remember?" Thomas asked. "Most likely not. The only thing to do is to watch her carefully. I'll do that. You go to bed." Benjamin said, walking towards the bedroom. "I can do it Father. I'm not a child." Thomas called out. Benjamin stopped in the doorway. "I know that. But sometimes, even men must sleep. You've had a hard day." Benjamin said softly, walking into the bedroom and closing the door. Thomas stared at the closed door for a while, then sighed and walked up to his bedroom, his wary glance still on the door.
The next day, Thomas jumped down the stairs two at a time. He ran to the door to the guest bedroom and peeked inside. The bed clothes were twisted about each other and empty. He slid into the kitchen, but it was not occupied. He went into Benjamin's study, but it too was empty. "Abigail! Abigail!" He called out, walking onto the porch and colliding with someone. "I'm sorry I, Hannah." Thomas said as he recognized the figure. Hannah's face was pale and her blue eyes weak, but she smiled somewhat. "Yes, it's me. Were you going to use your eyes eventually to see what was in front of you?" She teased. "I'm sorry Hannah. Are you alright? You were, well, somewhat frightened last night." Thomas said uneasily, remembering the night before.
Hannah held up her hand to signal him to stop talking. "Your Father told me what happened. I apologize. I wasn't in my right mind." She said. "Oh, I knew that. I'm sorry that I made you go through all of this." Thomas said sadly. "Don't be. It wasn't your fault. You didn't shoot my parents." Hannah said, wincing at the truth of her words. "And no matter what I say, how much I cry and plead, I know that I can never change your mind about the war. So, though I don't like it, I will leave you alone about it. Your life is yours to live as you please, even if I hate it." Hannah said with a sigh. Thomas grinned and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Thank you. You don't know how happy it makes me to hear you say that, and I promise that I won't talk about it as much. I'll try." He said, a happy smile on his face, his eyes taking in every inch of her. "Don't do it just because I could have been killed last night. Say it of your own accord." Hannah insisted.
"Oh I am. Surely you cold have been killed and I would have run around like a madman had you been, but I am saying this of my own accord. Whether I care to change it or not, which I can't, you are a part of my life now, and I must think of you as well as myself." Thomas said gently, his hand touching a curl that escaped from her bun. Hannah smiled and tearfully grabbed his hand that touched her cheek and held it to her face. "Thank you. Thank you." She whispered. "Come now. Let's forget all this. Let's see how Patriot is holding up 'eh?" Thomas asked, holding out his arm. Hannah wiped away a tear sliding down her cheek and took it, smiling for all she was worth. "Oh and let's walk slowly. I want to see if those manners your Mother taught you are taking effect." Thomas said, watching Hannah's footing as she stepped off the stairs. Hannah smiled and began to walk, lady-like and demure down through the pasture, Thomas praising her all the way. Benjamin Martin watched them as they walked arm in arm, and his deep blue eyes were filled with remembrance. "Elizabeth." He whispered.