Chapter 3

Fires were burning by the time the girl arrived back at camp. Kris immediately took her horse and sat her down, away from the on looking crowd. "What happened, Jane?" She whispered. The young girl smiled.

"He's okay."

Kris rolled her eyes. "I don't mean about Gabriel. Did you see his father?"

She nodded.

"And?"

"Carey Field, tomorrow at noon."

"Carey Field you say?" Her joy was too great to hide. "So he is not like that haughty son of his. I was afraid that if his son didn't believe in us, neither would he." The messenger girl nodded.

"Thank you, Jane." Kristina flipped over a bucket and stood up on it. "Daughters of America!" The girls stopped what they were doing and took a moment to hear their leader. She continued. "Benjamin Martin has agreed to speak with us!" Shouts of delight went up from the crowd, as the twenty or so young women eagerly hugged each other and clapped.

~~~~~The next day. Noon~~~~~

He paced back and forth on his horse, scratching his blonde locks of hair and muttering words under his breath. His father rode up beside him. "What's the point of meeting this little brigade if they can't be on time?"

His father smiled. "Patience, son. I know this whole thing strikes you as immoral, and believe it or not, I agree." His son picked up his head and turned slowly to face the middle aged colonel.

"Do you?"

"Yes I do. But that doesn't change the fact that if these girls are true patriots, they will not back down just because some farmer and his son want them to. Believe me, Gabriel, I learned a long time ago not to argue with a woman."

It was small, it was hard to notice, but Benjamin saw a twitch of a smile form on the edge of Gabriel's cracked lips. That was enough.

"Well I still don't like it."

Hooves sounded in the distance, and Mr. Martin made all his men hide in the brush just in case it wasn't the guests of honor. Louder and louder it got. Benjamin peaked out from behind some leaves, and signaled to his men that it was okay.

The girl who rode at the head quickly dismounted, while the rest stayed on their horses, waiting their commander's will. Some looked worried. Others looked on some of the younger men with pleasure.

The blonde young woman walked right past Gabriel without a glance, and he nodded his head in frustration. "Benjamin Martin, I presume?" He nodded, and kissed her hand.

"And you are…?"

"Kristina Wickford, at your service. I'm sorry about the inconvenience this meeting may have caused you, but I find it vital." He looked deep into her eyes, and found nothing but passion and courage. He smiled.

"It is alright. Although I am intrigued by what you and your whole group are trying to do. My son, however, is most displeased." Gabriel rolled his eyes in embarrassment.

Kris stared back intently at Mr. Martin. "Anger is powered by ignorance." To this Benjamin grinned, and Gabriel spun around to face her.

"Arrogance and self-centeredness are what make up your so called patriotism. You just want to make a stand for women's rights, and believe me, miss, this is NOT the time to play the heroine." He was so close she could taste his breath, yet still she did not back up. A smirk appeared, followed by a scornful laugh.

"Your lacking ability to comprehend our cause is not why I'm here, Gabriel Martin. I came to speak with your father, in private. Your passion for bullying will not be tolerated. I suggest you go off gathering sticks like the page boy you make yourself out to be, while I talk seriously to Benjamin Martin."

Coughs and quiet guffaws rang throughout Martin's Militia, as the men desperately tried to contain it. Gabriel looked on to the women, who were grinning. With a final glare at the young woman smiling at him, he kicked his horse and rode off back to his camp. 'I don't need this right now', he thought to himself. She's bringing out the worst in me. She's…she's humiliated me.

Back at Carey's Field, everyone dismounted and talked while Kris and Mr. Martin rode off to talk in private. They traveled along a horse worn trail, an old one that was rarely used anymore due to its curves and bumps. Silence befell the two of them, until Kris decided to speak first. "Forgive me for dishonoring your son back there, Mr. Martin. I have a hard time holding my tongue."

He laughed. "He deserved that. Though I must say, he isn't as evil as you make him out to be. He's been through a lot."

"We all have". She stopped her horse and got out her deerskin canteen. After taking in enough water, she tossed it to Benjamin.

Changing the subject, she got back to the matter at hand. "My militia and I have been trying to track you down for months. Your quite elusive."

He took the compliment with a nod. She continued. "I know this all sounds quite silly, or, in your son's case, deplorable. But I believe we possess some traits that make for the best spies."

"Go on."

She sighed, her nervousness becoming apparent. "As you can tell, I myself came from England only four years ago. As did many of the girls you saw earlier. Some are from high class families, others are simply prostitutes from the streets. We are few in number. But the information we have acquired and can still acquire is immense. British soldiers rarely pay much attention to women, and if they do, it is for sexual reasons."

He stopped her short. "Let me advise you, letting British soldiers rape you just so you can get information is not a good excuse to use with me." His voice was harsh and firm.

She looked down. "I admit, some of my girls do this. But not under my orders, I assure you. I have punished those under eighteen who have done so, and lectured the older ones. Yet I cannot stop them. But that was not what I was going to say."

He closed his eyes, and apologized.

She went on. "Being a British high ranking official's daughter has it's advantages. I attend the right parties, meet all sorts of famous commanders, and of course, invite some of my friends along." He flat out grinned.

"And what does your father think of all this?" She stopped smiling and looked away.

"He is nothing. Right now he thinks I'm staying with a friend in the countryside for a few months."

"And your mother?"

"She died on the journey over to America." He nodded.

"And what is your goal with meeting with me, Miss Wickford?"

She took a deep breath. "To band together my militia and yours." She looked on to his face, hoping to read something. He stared at her blankly.

"No". He kicked his horse faster; they were headed in the direction of the field again.

"No?" She rubbed her horse forward.

"No".

Her heart raced. Her eyes glared. "Well why not?"

He kept looking forward. "I don't approve. Tell me, Miss Wickford, can your girls fight?"

"They have the heart too."

He stopped his horse abruptly, as did she. "They're going to need more than that. Spying is one thing. Fighting is another."

Her piercing green eyes blinked. "But I thought you agreed…"

"I agreed that your fighting a worthy cause, but making women physically fight and kill is not something I want to be responsible for." His voice, though firm, bared a soft touch.

"So this was just a waste of our time", she stated.

"No", he said. "What you and your young women are doing right now helps us in more ways then you know. Spying is treason, and its not for the light at heart. You have the resources to obtain vital material, and you should continue to use that."

Though she hated to admit it, he was right. But she would not give up. "I was the one who saved your son from that British Colonel. I pulled the trigger. I can shoot a gun."

"So can anyone. And I thank you with all my heart for saving my son's life. But I will not condone women fighting in battles. It is not meant to be."

"Fine, Colonel Martin. We will not join you, and we will not take part in any battles or sieges." She urged her horse on, tears unwillingly starting to form on her eyes. He sighed and caught up to her.

"Whenever you obtain any documents or useful information, send a rider our way. You very well may cause a turning point in this war." She sniffled, and looked up at the man she had admired for so long.

"You're a good man, Benjamin Martin. I WILL see you again."

"I am honored to have a fellow patriot beside me", he stated with a smile.