bPart Seven: Life Nearly Lost/b
Susan squeezed her eyes shut as the sun's rays hit her full force in the face. She grinned at nothing in particular as she rolled out or the bed and narrowly missed falling on the floor. Still in her night robes, Susan rushed to the window. If it was a clear morning, Susan had been told that she could see the battle from her window. She shielded her eyes from the waking sun as she scanned the rolling fields below. Reds and browns dotted the field as men slashed at each other and shot at other men. She could hear and see the powerful explosions from the metal black cannons and, once in a great while, she even heard the short scream of some young man whose life had been cut short by the deadly black orb that bounced off the hard ground and viciously took the life or limb of any in it's path. Finally, Susan spotted a Dragoon on what had to be the mightiest horse on the field. Tavington.
Susan roughly pulled the curtains together and quickly put on a loosely fitting dress and work shoes. She ran from the room and to the steps and, after slamming her hip in the rail, hurried down the steps. By the time she reached the large doors, they were being slung open and high ranking officers, including Lord Cornwallis, were being helped into the house and empty downstairs rooms. For several minutes Susan watched each face as it went by, each twisted in anguish but not Tavington. It was nearly sundown before Susan saw the familiar Red Dragoon officer walk in. She ran to the man and, with all the strength she possessed, turned the surprised man around. Her eyes filled with sadness as they met with Borden's weary ones. Without another word, Susan rushed from the house and into the darkness outside, ignoring Borden's urgent shouts.
Dry sobs rocked Susan's body as she sat, curled up and rigid under a draping Weeping Willow. She had ran from Middleton Court and into the forest, tears clouding her vision as she ran, stumbling over small roots. Finally she had tripped on a single huge root. Susan had tried to walk but found she couldn't add any pressure to the ankle so she crawled to the nearby Weeping Willow and broke down under it's comforting and concealing vines. Not long after Borden and a few other Dragoons had rode by and peeked into the willow's vines, but Susan, hearing their approach, tucked herself in one of the deep alcoves at the base.
A hand suddenly reached to Susan's fragile shoulder. She jumped up and instinctually tried to hit who ever had disturbed her. The man's hands grabbed her wrist and held Susan's arms apart as he grinned at her, his face mostly hidden by the shadows.
"Well, well Susan. Now why are you all alone out here?" A baritone silky voice sneered at Susan . Her whole body froze as Susan's breaths came in small puffs, her eyes wide and terrified.
"Garth. You, you died!" Susan nearly shouted, her heart pumping hard in her ears as the shadowed face came into full view. His hard, bottomless black eyes latched onto Susan's bright blue as his lips turned into an arrogant smirk.
"Now Susan, how the hell do you know what you saw? Hmm?" Garth asked softly, his lips now only an inch or so from Susan's ear. "I know about the man who was courting you Susan." Garth whispered and kissed her just beside the ear. "You know that you belong to me, right? He never would Ihave/I had you." Garth whispered nastily at her before giving each of her wrists a hard squeeze. Susan cried out and, as if just coming alive, struggled hard against his grip. He jerked her to him and she felt his manhood at large. Without a single thought of hesitation, Susan swiftly brought her right knee up and slammed it into his manhood with as much force as possible. Garth let out a loud cry and grabbed himself, howling in pain.
"PLEASE MADAM! CALM DOWN!" Susan screamed and fought blindly against whoever now held her, fear overriding rational thought. Finally she felt strong arms wrap themselves across her chest and arms while a rough chin nuzzled her neck.
"Susan love, I'm here. It's all over now." A deep voice softly whispered in her ear. She calmed down and opened her eyes. Borden's concerned chocolate brown eyes peered down at her while other men in red coats waited around, looking at her with concern written clearly on their faces. Under the vines of the tree Susan could see dead bodies of what could only be rebels while horses sifted uncomfortably from hoof to hoof anxiously; there had been a struggle. She turned around, frightened that she would see Garth, and met two surprisingly warm and loving pale blue eyes.