Elizabeth walked into the dinning room to see her father at the head of the table holding her mothers hands. The dragoons were starting to sit. Tavington and Bordon to one side. Elizabeth rolled her eyes at her mother. How could someone leave two young daughters for 8 years. Let one of them be married off and then try to make it feel like nothing ever happened. Elizabeth owed her a lot but she would never give it to her, she'd rather die before showing her mother any sort of emotion, other than displeasure and frustration.
"Elizabeth, so wonderful of you to join us." Her father said with a smile.
"If you say so." Elizabeth took the seat next to Bordon. She knew he tensed, she could feel it. Inwardly Elizabeth laughed, but outwardly she kept her smooth face.
Everyone was now seated at the table and the food was served, glasses of wine were filled and refilled as was the case with Elizabeth. She had been drinking glass after glass of wine and barley touched her food. Her cheeks became rosier and her eyes glossy. It was clear to everyone that she would be sick come tomorrow morning. Elizabeth sat listing to the talk around her. Most of it about her mothers travels. Soon Elizabeth couldn't take it.
"I just can't wait to catch up on things with my daughter."
"Don't you mean daughters? Oh that's right since Catherine was married three years ago the "Family" disowned her. And we have nothing to catch up on. You left, Catherine is gone, I'm still here and this is my land. Is there anything else I need to add?" She pause for a moment. "No I think that's all, so if you excuse me I will now take my leave." She got up and threw her napkin on the table.
Everyone stopped and watched the young woman leave in a hurry.
"Elizabeth." Her mother ran after her. "Elizabeth stop this, your acting like a child and I don't like it." Her mother was following her up the stairs.
"I was ten when you left, ten! And Catherine was eleven. The two of us had to split the household chores. At those ages we should have been playing with dolls, doing embroidery, learning to play the piano, learning a new language. But no we worked and we worked hard. Then when Catherine was sixteen, sixteen! She was married to a thirty year old! I was only fifteen and I had to run this place by myself. So don't tell me I'm acting like a child!" Elizabeth slammed her door, only to have it thrown open with as much force.
"Elizabeth what has changed you?"
"You leaving! No leave me alone!"
"Don't you take that tone with me!"
"I had a chance to leave, to go live with Catherine and her husband, but I didn't. I knew father would need help. I stay! I am loyal to the people than need it. And your not one of them!" Her mother raised her hand and slapped her across her face. Elizabeth landed with a hard thud.
By now everyone in the dinning room had fallen quiet. They listened to the fight between mother and daughter. They all could have done something to stop them, but this had been coming for a long time by the sounds of it.
Then there was the sounds of feet moving across the landing and then down the stairs.
"Elizabeth get back here!"
Elizabeth ran out of the house throwing she shoes as she ran. She ran to the barn. George was there.
"Elizabeth what are you-"
"Save it!" She grabbed her horses bridle, put it on, flung herself onto the horses back and took off. As she left she saw her mother yelling at her from the porch. Elizabeth didn't know where she was going to go she just knew she was going.
Her mother walked back into the dinning room. She stood at the door, her face plan and pale.
"Anna, where's Elizabeth?"
"You should know John!"
"Anna! Tell where my daughter is!"
"She left, gone, she rode away! Are you happy?!" She sank to the floor. John ignored the crying heap. All the dragoons looked at each other. They had no idea what to do.
Then John got up and went out side. "George! Ready my horse now!" He walked back in, stepping over his wife. He drained his wine and went you stairs.
"John where are you going?"
"To find the last daughter I have left."
"Mr. Watson!" Colonel Tavington ran after him. He turned and looked down at the younger man.
"Yes colonel?"
"Might I offer my dragoons search for her tomorrow on patrol?"
The older man thought a moment.
"Yes John let them look for poor, poor Elizabeth."
"Shut up woman!" Anna cowered away.
"Yes I would like that, if it's not too much trouble."
"Not at all. It will be the least we could do after you graciously opened you home to us." He smiled at the man standing before him.
"Thank you very much."
The next day had come too soon. Elizabeth had spent the night in a tree. And to make matters worse it had rained and her horse ran off. She sat as the gray sky above her lightened, but still it rained. Over the course of the night Elizabeth had developed a very bad cough and she had trouble breathing. She couldn't keep warm and was shaking. Elizabeth waited and watched. She tried to breath. But she was thrown into a fit of coughing. She was coughing so hard that she lost her grip on the wet branch and fell.
The dragoons went out on their daily patrols. So far there was no sing of Elizabeth, except for the horse tracks here and there. Until the came to a rode that wound in the woods. Colonel Tavington saw Elizabeth's dapple gray hose running in the woods. He motioned Borden to come up to him.
"Yes sir?"
"She's around here."
"How do you know sir?" Bordon looked puzzled at him. Tavington only pointed to the horse running away. "What should we do sir?"
Tavington went to answer but was cut off as the sound of coughing and then someone hitting the forest floor was heard. "Spread out and find Elizabeth, on foot!" The group dismounted and walked into the woods. Tavington and Bordon split up as well.
Elizabeth lay unconscious on the ground. She was hardly breathing. As she was slowly coming back, she heard people walking around the area. Then someone shouted and she felt herself be picked up by two strong arms.
Bordon had found her. "Colonel I found her!" He yelled before he picked her up and made his was back to the road. Soon the dragoons emerged from the woods. Bordon still held Elizabeth as the Colonel made his way to be them.
"Sir she's in bad shape. She needs to see a doctor and it will be hours before they would be able to get one. Let me take her to the fort, its not far. She could get the medical attention she needs."
Bordon was pleading with his commander. Tavington knew if she didn't see a doctor soon she would she worst. "Take McKay and Wilkins with you."
Tavington took the young woman from the Captain. Then he handed her to him as he was settled in the saddle.
The group of three rode hard to the fort. They were met by General O'Hara.
"What is this? Bring another woman to your bed?"
"O'Hara!" Bordon yelled. "She is sick; we were staying at her father estate. She ran off and we just found her this morning. She was unconscious. She needs to see a doctor."
O'Hara nodded and led them to an unused room in the estate. Bordon laid her down ever so gently. Wilkins had gone to get a doctor with O'Hara. McKay hung back by the door as Bordon had pulled up a chair next to her.
He looked lovingly upon her. Her hair spread out on the pillow, how she looked peaceful when she slept. As if she had no troubles in the world, as if this war had never been and it was just a story.
"Captain Bordon, I'm Doctor Harrington. I will need to ask your men to step out."
Bordon nodded and McKay and Wilkins walked out and shut the door.
Bordon told him of what happened and where and how he found her. Then the doctor examined her.
"Captain, would you come with me?" He nodded and walked outside the door.
"Captain she has Hypothermia. And the coughing and wheezing is from a cold that will pass. She needs to stay here and be kept warm. You and your men are free to go, if you want."
Bordon nodded. "Wilkins, McKay."
"I'll be inside." The doctor left and let the men have a talk.
"Sir." They both said in unison.
"Go back and tell her parents that she has Hypothermia. Tell Colonel Tavington that I will be staying with her and I will meet up with him."
Both nodded and left. Bordon entered the room once more.