Chapter 10

The intense glare screeched through her eyelid, forcing her to roll over. The sun had just risen over the mountains, and its force paralleled the day before them. Kristina opened her eyes, to reveal a peaceful Gabriel by her side. She sighed, stretching her arms quickly and getting up quietly. She was drained emotionally, Gabriel had reached into a place she did not want to return to. Surprisingly though, she felt a weight being lifted off her shoulder. This was the day she would get her revenge.

Sleep had come so naturally the night before. Being in Gabriel's arms sheltered her from the world outside. She missed that feeling. Ethan made her feel safe, made her feel free. Evan made her forget. Gabriel made her remember, made her stronger. She did not know the meaning of the word love. She thought she had felt it when she was with Ethan, but she was too young to know for sure. She had cared for him deeply, and he would always hold that place in her heart that defined her compassionate nature. Today, I fight for your justice.

Opening her tent, she watched as soldiers jogged back and forth, gathering supplies and ammunition. A minute later Benjamin came up to meet her.

Oh God, I hope he doesn't think-

Her thoughts were interrupted by him. "I hope you take my advice, Ms. Warwick, and stay out of the fight like I asked. In a few hours we will need you to help bandage up the men." She didn't look at him. Instead she stared at the leaves on the ground. They were at that stage where some were brown and withering, while others fought to keep a small green tip. She nodded. His eyes fluttered towards the tent for a second, then he looked back at her. Patting her shoulder, he moved on to the tents, arousing the men inside.

Gabriel came out a second later, placing a new bandage around his side. He slid his slightly ripped jacket on, buttoning up the buttons. Some were missing.

An awkward silence followed. Kristina had heard him whisper "Anne" a few times while he slept. Maybe this would be her last chance to speak with him.

"If you punch with your left, your right side won't be vulnerable". Kristina knew that after the armies foolishly tried to shoot each other from twenty feet away, they used their guns and fists as their weapons when they charged. He nodded. She could tell he wasn't going to say anything. What more could either say? The uncomfortable silence proceeded. Her cheeks turned a deep red. She had divulged private information the night before, and she was embarrassed. Perhaps it was best they never saw each other again. Then they wouldn't have to talk about it. She nodded her head, and went down a few rows of tents to where her comrades had slept.

About five girls stood outside Jane' tent, muskets in hand. The rest were probably off running errands for the soldiers. Jane greeted her with a smile. "I saw him come out of your tent."

Kristina playfully punched her friend. Jane was trying to rouse her spirit, she knew. "Do you have any extras?"

A revolver was tossed to her, as well as a bag filled with twenty bullets. "They told us no more muskets. They were running short for the men."

Kristina nodded, strapping the revolver around her waist with a belt. She changed inside Jane's tent, knowing her dress would not suffice. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail, pulling up the typical brown breeches and cotton white button up shirt. From far away, she'd look like any member of the militia.

Her stomach growled. Looking to her right, she saw the soldiers beginning to make their way over the hill and beyond the remains of the stone building. Past that, she couldn't see.

The two armies would meet in the middle of the open field, the trees bordered them in a circle. "Jane, could you get Midnight's Eve for me?"

A few minutes later she returned with the chestnut mare. Kristina stroked her horse gently. It flicked its ears and swayed its tail in excitement. Mounting up, she faced her group of loyal girls. By now the men were all assembled out of sight. She hoped Benjamin's plan worked for the Continentals. She hoped her plan would work for her girls, too. "You have been informed by Jane what I want you to do. What we are about to do is to not be exposed to the Continentals. The girls with muskets will ride with me through the woods, surprising the British dragoons on the other side. We'll hide in the trees, retreating if they try to come after us. This is to be used only as a trick, to make them think we are part of the Continentals. We will stay out of sight." Except I will not retreat. She kept that to herself.

She continued. "The other girls will help all they can, whether it be bringing water to the men, stealing ammunition from the dead, or helping the wounded. Each job is critical, and it is equally dangerous. We've been together for a long time now. Lets not let all we have accomplished for the cause go to waste. God be with you all."

The group of girls in front of her each nodded, whooping and hollering within, so as not to arouse the Continentals around them. Kristina waited for some of them to mount up. When everyone was ready, she kicked her horse forward. "God be with you Gabriel" she whispered. A few soldiers glanced as they rode out, hopefully assuming they were leaving.

It was about a mile and a half to the other side. She counted her paces, and slowed down when she knew they were close. Dismounting, she ran low to the ground to a nearby bush. About sixty feet away, on the outskirt of the woods, she noticed about fifty black hats atop fifty horses. Motioning to Jane, the girls dismounted and each stood behind a tree. Kristina also got up and ran to the nearest tree with the clearest shot. Her heart was racing. She could start to hear the firing of shots from the field across from her. Cannons were being blasted. Screams were heard. She sighed deeply and quietly, closing her eyes. It was now or never.

Gathering enough courage, she stuck her gun out in front of the tree, and carefully aimed at the officer in the front. She recognized him immediately. It was Colonel Wilkins, a colonial loyalist who had been Tavington's right hand man. She had danced with him at the ball. He was a nervous fellow, always peering about. She aimed carefully.

Releasing the trigger, she watched as he fell to the ground, blood pouring from his side. She had missed a critical part. "Damn" she thought as she loaded her revolver again. Without a musket she wasn't accurate. The girls quickly followed with several shots. Two men fell, not getting up. By now Wilkins, clutching his side, was shouting "To the trees! Its an ambush!"

Kristina motioned for the girls to mount, ride hard back to camp. Jane nodded, obeying her friend. Kristina mounted her horse also, but spurred him sideways deeper into the forest north. The enemy did not see her. When all the dragoons had left, she dismounted and slapped her horse onward to wherever the mare chose. She was free.

The enemy army was in the clearing about 100 yards southeast of her. They were oblivious to the flight of their dragoons. The cannons had stopped firing. The militia was meeting the British army in a charge. She saw a lone figure on a horse ride out with the British footmen to meet the colonists. Her father.

"No!" She shouted aloud. Her plan was to get him while he conversed with Lord Cornwallis, away from the battle. Then she knew she could be accurate.

She urged herself through the woods and towards the midst of the battle. He was not going to escape.

************

Gabriel watched as comrades went down left and right. This was all too familiar, and he wanted it to end. They needed to win. They were supposed to wait until the British fired two shots. Seconds of eternity progressed. Something whizzed by ear and he jumped to the side. His father stood a few feet away, not looking at the men falling, but at the enemy ahead. Finally, the moment came, and the militia fell back. Benjamin's voice boomed throughout the field, echoing in the distance. The British charged full force.

Gabriel stuck out his bayonet, hoping to catch a British officer's chest. It did. Kicking the man out of it, he pushed forward, using his musket as a kind of sword/club. Someone hit his side and he screamed in pain, but did not falter. His father was a few feet away, battling two men at once. The plan was working. The colonists were supposed to fall back while Cornwallis inevitably showed off by sending his full army to pick them off. What Cornwallis didn't know was that beyond the building ruins laid two thousand Continentals.

After passing the stone ridge, Gabriel turned around. The British were coming. He couldn't help but smile. Benjamin called to him, and together they threw themselves on the ground as incoming British were hit by Continental muskets. Now they would strike again. Pushing forward, he flung the butt of his gun into a man's face. The dragoons, which by now had given up on the woodsmen, plunged into the battle. Gabriel jumped out of the way of one horse before its hooves could crush him. He watched as his countrymen started to sway, and fall back. "No!" he shouted.

Looking to his left, his father snatched the flag out of a man's hands, dragging it forward. For a moment the battle stopped. Every single eye glanced over to see the worn flag flying against the wind, the man who held it barreling forward with no sign of defeat written across his face. Gabriel's mind flashed of Thomas, of Anne. This flag represented their suffering. This flag represented freedom. The men understood.

Gabriel thrust forward, killing any man that tried to get in his way. They had to win. They just had to. This could be the turning point in the revolution. He wanted it to end. He ached. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone. Captain Doyle was atop his horse, shooting people left and right with his musket.

*************

She could still see him. By now, most of the British army had been defeated, but they weren't retreating yet. He was still charging forward atop his horse. Her mother's horse, actually. Her favorite one they had shipped over on the voyage to America. How dare he ride her, she thought, eyes flaring.

He was only thirty feet away now. His back was turned to her. She could end her nightmares now. Just one click of the gun, and it would be over. A red coat advanced on her with rage. Without a bit of sorrow, she shot him in the head. Now the space was clear, this was it. Twenty feet…fifteen….he was so close, but she had to be close to make sure she got him. She cocked the gun.

Kristina pointed her revolver forward, a tear stroking down her cheek. "God help me" she whispered, her grip on the gun so tight she shaked.

Pain. Pain blast through her head. Her ears went deaf, her eyes blurred. She fell to the ground. The man, whose butt of his gun was now stained red, lifted his gun to smash her. She couldn't move away. No, she thought. This can't happen. Not yet. Not yet.

But the second blow never came. She looked up to see the man on the ground, shot in the chest. A horse stood over her.

"Gabriel?" she whispered. The sun glared in the person's face, making it impossible to see.

She was quickly lifted atop the horse. Everything ached, she couldn't argue. The horse's rhythm increased, and soon the sounds of shots were in the distance. The battle was ending. The British were retreating. But why was she going towards the British side? She opened her eyes slightly. Her body was being held by arms behind her. The man was riding hard. She cocked her head to the side, to see the red coat of her rescuer. He smelt of blood. She turned her neck farther.

"Evan??" she exclaimed, before darkness claimed her.

**********

He watched with horror as someone struck Kristina. He was too far to get too her, too many people were coming at him. He kicked one man away, and stabbed another with his bayonet. The British were retreating. He could get to her now. He saw the gun go up against her head again.

Her father now noticed him. Before he got to Gabriel, Gabriel saw Evan Tavington shoot the British soldier, scooping Kristina unto his saddle.

"NO!" he shouted. Captain Doyle turned to see.

Turning back to Gabriel, he smirked. "Seems your rescuer is now back in my hands. And believe me, she is one mistake I will rectify." He charged Gabriel full force with his sword, and Gabriel barely deflected it. He attacked again, slicing Gabriel's arm as he moved away. Captain Doyle kicked him down face first into the dirt.

He felt the tip of the musket against his head. Something hurt on his front. His knife was on his belt, his belt attached to him. The Captain couldn't see it.

"Seems the war is over. Congratulations, you've won your freedom, at the expense of my daughter. She never loved me, you know. I bought her dresses, I gave her a horse, but she betrayed me. She fell in love with one of you rebels. She betrayed her country, really. But I took her back, thinking her mind was clean of your dirty ways. I guess I was wrong."

Gabriel knew in the next second that musket would run through his neck. He had to be quick. A gunshot sounded as Benjamin raced to his son. Captain Doyle hugged his side, his eyes glaring at the new intruder. Gabriel flipped over, realizing his enemy was wounded, and drove the knife through his chest.

The Captain fell onto Gabriel, his chest not moving. Gabriel breathed in and out for a few seconds, taking everything in. His father lugged the huge man off his son.

"Are you alright?"

A hand was extended, and Gabriel took it, nodding. " Kristina's gone." He said, looking toward the British side. Only the dead remained, and a few stragglers.

Benjamin patted his son on the back. "I saw. But the boy that took her saved her from getting killed. Perhaps he took her away from the army."

Gabriel stared off in the distance. "I have to find her, father. She saved my life".

Benjamin sighed. "I'll help you."