Here ya guys go, second chapter, please review I need some! Please! Thanks and enjoy! Love ya, Carpe Diem!!!! -Nat-
The sun was setting, giving out a soft orange glow as it went down when Gabriel and his siblings arrived back at their house. Immediately Nathan and Samuel jumped off and ran in, not bothering to help hitch Thomas's horse up. Thomas groaned at their disrespect, quickly hitched up the horse, and he too ran inside the house.

"Come on Susan, time to get back inside." Gabriel told her, lifting her off and setting her on the ground.

Susan took off running into the house, being greeted by Margaret immediately. Gabriel smiled to himself then walked around the house and into the barn. Gabriel looked both ways, trying to find his father when suddenly he heard his father cry out in anger. Gabriel walked in and looked left, seeing a large pile off wood underneath the barn window. Gabriel looked up at his father confusingly who only looked back.

"Did you get the things I asked you too?" His father greeted him.

"Yes, and what are you doing?" Gabriel asked taking a couple steps closer to him and handing his father the stuff he just bought in a pack.

"I am going to make this chair right. An English rocking chair." Ben replied walking over to a small bench and laying the stuff out on it.

Gabriel glanced left and then walked up beside him.

"Um, Mr. Smith says hello and so does Mrs. Taylor. My brothers and sister went right to her after we walked out of the shop." Gabriel answered keeping his eyes locked on the ground.

"Uh huh, I see. How is that old little village? I haven't been there for ages." Benjamin asked fooling around with something his son had just bought.

"You haven't left the plantation for ages, but it is the same I guess. Same busy little town. But um, there is something different." Gabriel replied then looking up at his father.

"And what's that?" His father asked handling a piece of wood.

Gabriel looked down, trying to find the words. "Um, the people are putting up signs. Against the British." He replied.

Ben's eyes looked up straight ahead of him, but then lowered back onto his work.

"Is that so?" He asked, sounding not like to care.

"Yes, and the same man thinks that since we can not agree with the British on anything that it will come to war." Gabriel answered.

"Nonsense, it must have been some drunk Gabriel, we nor England would not go that far. There will be no war, just people blowing off some steam, that is all." Ben answered.

"Are you certain, I mean if we do go I-''

"Yes Gabriel, I am certain, no more talk of war, no please leave me to my work." Ben answered sternly.

Gabriel sighed then turned and began walking out the door. Once he had left Ben shook his head then continued to his work.

Gabriel sat at the table, pecking at his plate, while Samuel and Nathan whispered to each other and laughed loudly. Gabriel glanced at them before returning his eyes back down at his plate as he watched his fork dance around in his mashed potatoes.

"So did you kids have fun in town today?" Ben asked taking a bite out of his corn.

Each child that went answered yes in his or her own unique way.

"Yes, Gabriel bought us a piece of candy!" Nathan replied happily.

"And we got to tease Thomas and get on his nerves!" Samuel added.

"And I got to pet Mrs. Taylor's horse!" Susan answered; she had been talking for a couple of months now. Ben chuckled at all of their answers then looked at Tomas for his answer. Thomas looked at his father then at Gabriel then back at his father.

"I learned that we would be possibly going to war with Britain." Thomas answered.

Everything then was dead silent, Ben choked on his food a little and Gabriel looked at his younger brother with wide eyes, all the children shrieked and looked at their father. Even Abigail turned around at the startling news. Gabriel saw Ben try to hold his anger in and he looked down at his plate, not daring to look up.

"Thomas, that is not true, and I want to see you and Gabriel later this evening in my room. Abigail, the children shall go to bed early please. Now everyone finish up and pay no attention to your older brother's remark, that is not true." Ben assured them.

Susan and Margaret were helping Abigail wash the dishes as Ben pulled Thomas and Gabriel into his room, closing the door behind him. Gabriel stood there, waiting for what his father had to say and prepared for the worst, Thomas, frightened.

"Ok, look, I know what the situation is around town. I know I have been here on the plantation but that doesn't mean I don't hear about this mess. Yes there is tension between us and Britain, yes more than likely we will go to war, yes our lives can be at stake, but I DO NOT want you mentioning it to ANY of your younger brothers and sisters. I do not want them to worry about it until it is time to worry. So, no more talk of this war, got it?" Ben said sternly.

"Yes father." Gabriel replied.

"Yes father." Thomas replied, following Gabriel's lead.

"Good, now get out and Gabriel you must get up at dusk and go hunting, it's your turn, do not forget it." Ben reminded him then walked out of his room and into the living room.

"Good job Thomas." Gabriel replied as he turned and began walking up the stairs.

"What, what did I do?" Thomas asked following him up the stairs.

"Why did you have to open your mouth about the war, you should have know better than to do that, you could really scare the women and children." Gabriel scolded at him, walking into the second room on his left.

"Well I am sorry, I didn't think about that." Thomas answered following Gabriel into the same room.

"Well next time I might advise you brother, to think before you speak, that tongue of yours can and will get you into real trouble not only with father but with anyone." Gabriel replied blowing out his candle and staring out the window, the moonlight making him visible to Thomas.

"With who else Gabriel?" Thomas asked curiously.

Gabriel sighed and looked down.

"I do not know who else just anyone" Gabriel answered. Thomas shook his head then blew out his candle and pulled the covers over his body, laying on his side, in the dark, looking at his brother who he could still see thanks to the moonlight only.

"Gabriel." Thomas replied at last, breaking the silence.

Gabriel turned his head towards Thomas, telling him, he was listening.

"You don't think the redcoats will come over here do you?" Thomas asked softly. Gabriel looked at Thomas lying there then turned his head back outside the window.

"I am not sure. Just think about something else besides this war stuff and go to sleep. Good night Thomas." Gabriel replied then got into his own bed. Thomas smiled a little and looked up at the moon outside his window, until sleep took him.
Gabriel got up while it was still dark outside, got dressed, got cleaned up and silently walked downstairs. Abigail was up, making bread.

"Good morning to you Gabriel." She said smiling as she saw him come down.

Gabriel smiled at her and grabbed his musket in the corner.

"Is father up?" He asked walking up across from her over the table.

"No sir, he doesn't get up this early, and early it is still!" Abigail said smiling to him. Gabriel smiled as well then turned towards the door.

"I will be back I will go catch us some lunch." Gabriel replied putting his hat on.

"Ok, if you need me and I am not in here I either should be gathering eggs from the pen or getting milk from the cow in the barn, so just go to one of those places and I should be somewhere there." Abigail replied grinning but looking down at the bread.

"Ok." Gabriel said softly at her then walked out the door.

Gabriel looked around outside, it was still fairly dark. He sighed and went to the barn, getting his horse. He hated days when he had to hunt for lunch. Hunting for dinner wasn't so bad because he could hunt there on their plantation. But for lunch he had to go on the outskirts of Charlestown, which ment cutting through the same town that he took his brothers and sisters too yesterday. Why? He had not the slightest clue that was just what their father had always said to do.

Gabriel slowly mounted his horse and gripped the reigns. Gabriel clicked his tongue and made some noises and gently nudged the side of his horse, making it gallop instantly. Gabriel rode swiftly and soon the small town was in sight, it didn't take him half as long to get there as with his brothers and sisters, because he didn't have to worry about Thomas keeping up and he didn't have to worry about scaring or loosing Susan off of his horse. Like always he slowed his horse down once he entered the town.

It was pitch dark besides the small candles and fires that served as lights to outside passengers, giving the deserted streets and eerily glow. Gabriel stopped his horse completely, what he saw taking the breath out of him. Anti British signs were held up everywhere, overlapping and flooding walls of buildings as were fake dummies hanging from a tree branch, representing British. Gabriel sent his horse walking slowly through the town as he took time to read almost every sign. Soon, around in the middle of town he dismounted his horse and walked up to a sign, and whipped dust off of it, and reading what it said.

Suddenly he heard leaves move and he whirled around, his pistol drawn. Gabriel came face to face with a gun himself. Gabriel breathed hardly in fear.

"Mr. Wilkins." He said thankfully recognizing him even though it was darker.

Wilkins peered through the dark and then gave a spin-chilling smile.

"Gabriel Martin, hello." He said putting his gun down and back in his coat pocket. Gabriel also lowered his.

"Sir, you scared me half to death." Gabriel said touching his heart.

"Sorry Gabriel, I ment not to frighten you, just keeping an eye out on everything. What are you doing out here?" Wilkins asked.

"My father sent me to hunt for lunch today, he wants me to get up fairly early and go on the other side of this very town to get it. I was just passing by and then I would hunt, then head back to our plantation." Gabriel explained.

Wilkins shook his head in understanding.

"But yet you're not on your horse, why did you stop?" Wilkins asked him.

Gabriel looked at him then behind him. "I stopped to read these signs. There are a lot more than there was earlier yesterday. It kind of grieves me, but yet it gives me pride." Gabriel replied looking at them before returning his eyes back to the man.

"Yes, there are. Almost all the citizens of this town have made and put up their own. All are committing treason. If the British should see this, they would most defiantly be displeased." Wilkins said sternly.

Gabriel sighed and shook his head yes then locked eyes with him.

"But if the whole town is committing treason Mr. Wilkins, the redcoats would not punish every resident for it will they?" Gabriel asked.

Wilkins looked at him.

"Why do you think I would know the answer of the question you have asked Gabriel Martin?" He asked him.

"Well sir, you have been around longer and been around redcoats longer, I only 18 do not know. I thought you might have served with the redcoats earlier with my father." Gabriel replied. Wilkins grinned.

"Well sir Martin, no I have not served with the British in my past. But if you're asking me of my opinion if they would punish people because of what they would see here, then my answer is." Wilkins replied walking up closer to him and putting his hand on Gabriel's shoulder. "My answer is most defiantly.yes." Wilkins said softly, sending chills down Gabriel's spin.

Wilkins felt the 'child' shutter in response to his words.

"Why would they do that? Kill the whole town?" Gabriel asked a little breathless as he looked up at him.

"Gabriel, the British don't like it when people disobey their king nor them, that's all there is too it. The ones who want to cause trouble, must pay and their families or on lookers must learn to obey them, because they would see what would happen to them if they didn't." Wilkins said.

Both were silent for a little while until finally Wilkins stepped away from him.

"Your father Gabriel, is he going to fight for this so called 'cause' if South Carolina decides to fight against England?" Wilkins asked curious.

Gabriel shrugged.

"I do not know sir." He answered truthfully.

Wilkins started at Gabriel for a little while.

"I pity you and fear for you Gabriel. I do. For if this colony goes to war against England, you have NO idea how bad it is going to be. The British tend to like to take out the feet of a solider instead of shooting them in the heart." Wilkins advised.

Gabriel looked at Wilkins and gave a confused face.

"Sir?" He asked, wanting to know what he ment.

Wilkins looked at him and grinned, evilly.

"The red coats fight on the battlefields, yes. They kill many soldiers on the field, yes. But their favorite way of taking down a solider is to take him apart, piece-by-piece. Mainly because if the enemy is sad, depressed, disturbed, clouded by anger, etc. it makes them easier to defeat in battle. If this war DOES happen, the British will be coming not after your father nor other men, but you, your brothers and sisters, children and the women. That is why master Martin I pity you. If the British come over onto this land, you better watch your back." Wilkins replied.

Gabriel swallowed hardly in fear. Wilkins then held out his hand.

"I must be going, have a good hunt and remember what I told you. Good day Gabriel Martin." Wilkins replied then walked away.

"Good day Mr. Wilkins." He called back. A little shaken up he mounted his horse and was on his way.

Gabriel hunted and returned with what he was hunting for. The sun had shown, awakening everyone from his or her slumber. Gabriel and Thomas sat at the table across from his father. Susan, Nathan, Samuel, William and Margaret had finished their breakfast and were off playing outside. Abigail was picking up the plates and washing them.

Soon they heard a knock at the door. Benjamin stood up and walked over to the door, opening it, coming face to face with colonel Harry Burwell. Gabriel watched his father laugh loudly and embrace the stranger who embraced him as well.

"Must be one of father's friends." Thomas replied.

Benjamin beckoned him into the kitchen.

"Thomas, Gabriel this is my old friend Harry Burwell, Harry, I do think you remember my 2 sons, probably Gabriel, the oldest, better out of all 7 of them." Ben introduced.

Gabriel stood up and shook Harry's hand, Thomas, copying Gabriel did the same.

"Yes, I am a little rusty on you Thomas, but Gabriel I remember. Last time I saw you was when you were around 9 years old, now look at you." Harry said smiling.

Gabriel grinned and sat back down.

"Please sit." Ben replied sitting down himself.

Harry sat down beside Gabriel, which was across Ben.

"Now tell me my friend, what are you doing out here?" Ben asked smiling.

Harry smiled and looked into Ben's eyes.

"I have not seen you in forever and I decided to stop in, plus I saw a riot going on about the anti British thing in the small town not far from here. I ask that you accompany me." Harry replied.

Ben looked into Harry's eyes.

"Harry, I don't know, I wish not to get involved in that. I could be caught at the wrong place at the wrong time." Ben said to him.

"Well, it has something to do with the British, therefore it is my duty to go and see what it is about, my duty as a solider. But I think you should come with me and see what it is. There might be some way we can get a levy from South Carolina for our continental army." Harry replied.

Ben sighed.

"You're trying to get a levy from South Carolina?" he asked saddened.

"Yes I am Benjamin, weither South Carolina believes it or not, this war has already begun with England. And it would help us greatly if we could get a levy from here, it will only hurt this colony if they do not." Harry replied.

"You might get your levy from South Carolina Harry, but I do not want anything to do with this war. Yes I do believe we shout govern and pass our own laws, ourselves, but going up against England is a big mistake. They have the most powerful army in the world at this point. What makes you think that we are able to beat them?" Ben asked.

"Our will towards our cause." Harry answered.

Ben looked down at the table.

"Go with me, that is all I ask, is for you to go with me." Harry asked after a long silence.

Ben looked back up at his friend.

"Ok, I will go, but don't bother trying to talk me into joining this war." Ben warned him.

"Fine." Harry answered.

"May I attend with you father?" Thomas asked standing up when Benjamin and Harry did.

Benjamin looked at Thomas then shook his head no.

"No Thomas, you are to young to go, Gabriel, hitch your horse." Benjamin said sternly as he escorted Harry out of the kitchen.

Gabriel stood up and Thomas looked at him.

"I hope you have fun." Thomas said sarcastically.

"Thomas, don't be like that." Gabriel warned.

"Look, I am sorry, I can not help it, you always get to do everything." Thomas scolded.

"Thomas, I am older, and I understand perfectly why father doesn't want you or any other of our brothers or sisters to attend, you didn't see the town, anger has destroyed it. Now stop being a baby." Gabriel said sternly then walked outside. Thomas walked out onto the porch as he watched his father, brother, and Harry gallop away.