Gabriel rode next to his father at the front of the line lost in his
thoughts. He missed her, and it was a strange feeling. He missed his mother
terribly, he missed his brothers and sisters dearly, and he missed Thomas
as well but Cora.. He wasn't sure what the hell was going on inside of him
when it came to her. It was like a gnawing in the pit of his stomach, like
that of hunger pains only he had just had breakfast. It was extremely odd
and. interesting. He missed her gentle hands, and calm voice. He'd wanted
to kiss her.. a lot, too much even. It was almost like he missed doing it
although he had never done it. Her mouth looked so soft. He wasn't far from
her house at all. Not really. He could just take off now and make it to her
by night fall. He wouldn't even have to rush. That made the ache even more
unbearable. The fact that he could ease it in a matter of hours. He could
almost smell her on his clothes if he tried hard enough. He could hear her
laugh and it made his heart soar. The joy he felt made him feel a bit like
Romeo, joyfully pining away for his Juliet in Mantua. 'And all this day an
unaccustomed spirit lifts me up above the ground with cheerful thoughts. I
dreamt my lady came and found me dead and breathed such life with kissed in
my lips that I revived and was an emperor. Ah, me how sweet is love itself
possessed when but loved shadows are so rich in joy.' He recited mentally
with a sigh. Those wide deep, blue eyes that gave everything to the
beholder, that defiant air, those slender hands, that sumptuous mouth. God
it was almost too much for him to bear.
"Gabriel!" he snapped to attention and stared at his father who was on the
verge of glaring at him.
"Sir?" he asked fighting down a blush.
"There's a rider up ahead, be on the ready." Benjamin said. "And try to
stay on this planet." He added with a smile. Gabriel grinned and stared
ahead. The rider seemed to be in a terrible hurry. A sudden feeling of
uneasiness crossed him. He felt ill, as if something wasn't quite right
with the air, like a shadow that he could feel but not see as the sun was
still shining brightly. It bothered him immensely and as the rider
approached his nervousness grew. He didn't want to let it bother him but
for some strange reason it seemed directly linked to the ache in his belly.
Gabriel drew in a deep breath and then blew it all out, forcing the tension
out with it. She was fine. Everything was fine.
"Sir!!" the man cried as he approached Benjamin. "There be red coats
approaching. Tavington."
"Where?" Benjamin asked, as Gabriel felt his stomach turn and a knot in the
back of his shoulders twist.
"About five miles Down East sir, not far at all. There are British houses
there."
"Houses?" Benjamin asked. But before he could ask anyone if one of their
relatives lived there Gabriel had already made a connection.
"Cora!" he cried. "Father we have to go!" he said earnestly looking at
Benjamin.
"Go," Benjamin cried as he followed Gabriel towards Cora's house.
