Chapter 2: Charlestown

Father drove the buggy ahead with the youngest boy. Thomas drove the wagon with Abegail, Margaret, Nathan, Samuel, and Susan. Anna rode her horse alongside Gabriel and his steed. She drove her ankles into the mare's sides, hurrying her so she trotted alongside the wagon, smiling at Susan and Margaret. As they neared the city, she moved her legs so that she rode sidesaddle, which was the proper way for ladies to ride horses. Anna hated it but didn't want Father to look like he couldn't handle his own daughter on a horse. She gazed at the gorgeous, humongous ships lining the harbor beside the street. Nathan pointed and waved at one of the sailors; he waved back.

Anna tied up her horse outside of Aunt Charlotte's enormous house, smoothing her dark red dress and white cap. The younger children ran up the steps, screaming, "Aunt Charlotte, Aunt Charlotte!"

Anna stared. Aunt Charlotte was more beautiful than ever, her skin almost white, her pale gold hair piled in curls behind her head. Her powder blue gown matched her eyes almost perfectly. Anna suddenly felt like the lowest peasant before the mightiest queen. She slowly made her way up the stairs between Gabriel and Thomas. Aunt Charlotte turned to Father, her eyes sparkling. "They're huge," she laughed. "What've you been feeding them?"

"Oh, they're from good stock," he replied. "On their mother's side, of course."

"Of course," she said, quieter. "Guess what I've got for you inside?" she said to the younger ones. The cry of "Presents!" went up immediately, and they ran inside. Aunt Charlotte finally caught sight of Anna, and gasped. The girl was beautiful. Her hair had been braided and pulled back into a figure-8 bun. Her skin was clear and tanned from working outside, but it made her eyes seem an impossible dark, dark blue. Aunt Charlotte smiled, trying to get her bearings; her niece was the perfect mixture of her sister and her brother-in-law.

"You look beautiful, Anna," she said kindly, embracing her. With a silent nod, Anna walked inside, smiling at the compliment. Her brothers and sisters had been playing with their new presents, but Anna wasn't interested in presents. She walked outside to the balcony over the town square. A few moments later, Thomas and Gabriel joined her.

"You know, Aunt Charlotte's right," Gabriel said, studying his sister. "You are beautiful, Anna."

She gave him a strange look. Why did he care? But Thomas was nodding as well.

"People will be looking at you differently now," he said gravely.

"What's wrong with you two?" she asked, a hint of anger in her voice.

"Nothing, nothing," Gabriel said, backing away. "Just telling you to be watching out; other guys will be wanting you."

Anna shook her head. This was the last thing she wanted to think about now.

~*~*~*~*~*~*

Night fell quickly, and everyone was standing on the balcony. Two men hoisted burning dummies, yelling, "Down with King George!" The square was filled with people cheering with joy. Gunshots ripped thru the air, punctured by cries of "Hang 'em! Hang 'em all!" Anna watched Thomas's reaction carefully; his face was blank at the cries. Instead he searched thru the crowd for Gabriel.

"Where is he?" Anna asked him. No answer. "You know where, now tell me!" Still nothing. "Has he gone to sign-"

"Shhhhh!" he said vehemently, putting a hand over her mouth. Father, luckily, didn't notice. Anna bit him, and he let go, shaking his hand. His eyes roamed the crowd again.

"There's Gabriel!" he cried, pointing. "Gabriel!" "Gabriel!" "Gabriel!" He looked up at the balcony and waved, smiling. Then he disappeared into the crowd again. Thomas tried to follow him with his eyes anxiously, but he soon gave up.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The next day, Anna stayed with her little brothers and sisters, except Thomas, as the council met to decide if they were going to war. The girls made grass chains while the boys simply walked thru the crowds, searching for nothing in particular. Anna soon became impatient, waiting hour after hour. About an hour, though, after they met, Gabriel stormed out in a rage.

"What is it?" Anna asked him anxiously, but he simply glowered at her. She glared back at him.

"I always thought Father was a man of principle," he said quietly, not even bothering to mask his anger.

"He is."

"A man of principle doesn't hide behind the fact that he had a family and therefore can't make a stand on his beliefs."

"Oh, Gabriel."

With that, he marched away from her and stood beside the table where they signed up volunteers. He didn't take the pen, though; he simply waited. Anna went back to making the chain, her fingers shaking slightly. She had seen Gabriel and Father argue before, but she had not seen them really angry at each other. She prayed that Gabriel wouldn't do something stupid.

Two hours later, a young boy threw open the door and shouted, "28-12, the levy passed!" The crowd erupted in cheers, and Gabriel hastily grabbed a pen. Father was by his side almost at once, and they talked in low tones with solemn faces. Father apparently gave up and helplessly watched his son sign up for the army. Thomas motioned her over, and she came.

"Now we're at war," he said hesitantly.

"Yes, I suppose we are," she said sarcastically.

"We have to support Gabriel."

"I'll support Gabriel. But I won't support this war." With that, she turned on her heel and grabbed Margaret and Susan, following her now silent family back to the wagon and buggies.