It rained heavily for three nights after the raid. Clouds suspended the air of Gabriel's tent, and the girl inside still would not wake. She drifted from nightmare to nightmare, her breathing heavy, her cough persisting in small contractions. She couldn't scream, but Gabriel could tell when her mind floated to bad thoughts- her entire body would tense, her teeth chattering, her head rolling from side to side. It hurt him to see her in so much pain. For the most part, he whispered stories in her ear, hoping her nightmares would switch to simple dreams. He spoke of his childhood, his brothers and sisters, the many adventures he had. Nothing seemed to loosen her. Though a little embarrassed, he even tried singing, though he knew that itself was probably torture enough to hear.
When the sun finally decided to appear on the fourth day, he had had enough. Bending over to her right ear, he whispered, "It's time."
Still she did not wake.
After a quick nap, Gabriel decided to get some fresh air. His father was sitting outside the tent, carving away at something. The son sat next to him.
"It's as if she doesn't want to wake up."
His father continued to carve. "Gabriel, that girl has dealt with so much these past few years I think this is the first real sleep she's had. Her mind and body are exhausted by this war. Perhaps she thinks it isn't worth waking up to."
Silence danced between the two. Gabriel rubbed on his drowsy eyes and stared at what his father was carving. It was a wooden soldier.
"Thomas would have liked that," he said thoughtfully.
Benjamin did not look up. "Tomorrow it will be three years since his death."
Closing his eyes, Gabriel sighed heavily. "I'm sorry about what I said before, father. Kristina's sickness is not your fault, and I should have never questioned your willingness to help."
Again, the father continued to stare at the wooden soldier he was carving.
"I love Kristina the same way I loved Anne- like my own." To this Gabriel almost tried to smile, but kept his head low.
"Father, remember when you said I'd know when I'd feel ready?"
Benjamin did not answer, and Gabriel continued. "I felt it last night. It- it was the first night where I did not awake expecting Anne to be there. I awoke, and-"
"Thought of Kristina?" Benjamin chimed in.
"More like saw her, actually. But yes."
"It was the same for me. With your Aunt Charlotte." Suddenly both Martins faced each other, and cracked a typical Martin smile.
Two nights later, she awoke, just for a moment, to see Gabriel's sleeping form against a chair. She inwardly smiled, and finally drifted off into a peaceful rest.
He was speaking again. It was faint, but she could gradually hear more and more, though her eyes seemed too heavy to open yet. The voice got louder.
"Your friend Jane came by today, told me to tell you if you woke up that everything's in ship shape order, I think she put it." She felt warmth as his hand slid into hers. He continued, "You know I actually think this war may be ending soon. Father says we leave tomorrow to a place called Yorktown where General Cornwallis' men are camped. I don't know all the details, but they say this could be the big battle that will decide the war." She could feel his excitement in the way he talked. Maybe, perhaps she had enough energy to squeeze his hand. Instantly she tried, and in turn, instantly his hand left hers.
"Kristina?" he spoke, louder than before. "Kristina, can you hear me?"
More senses were slowly coming back to her. Gradually, her eyelids fluttered a bit, before opening halfway to reveal a blurred face with blonde curls.
"Hi," she creakingly whispered. His happiness leaped about as he kissed her forehead gently.
"Hi," he whispered back. He started playing with her hair, his eyes stuck on hers, his grin very much present.
"I had a dream in which I wasn't dead."
He laughed. "This is no dream. Here," he eagerly snatched a cup. "Drink this." She couldn't hold all of the liquid down, and she coughed a bit after.
"No whiskey, eh?"
"Perhaps later." Still his eyes never left hers.
"I feel like hell. I look it, don't I? That's why your staring."
He shook his head mischievously. "No, all the world could not hold your beauty at this moment."
"Shakespeare?" she enquired, a little surprised and delighted by his answer.
Once more he shook his head. "No, purely Martin."
She tried to sit up, but found it impossible. She cringed and touched her ribs.
"I think a few are broken. They'll heal, with time. Don't try to sit up yet."
"Now you tell me," she stated, trying to examine her condition. Her head felt like a 50 pound sack of sugar. Her lungs still burned, but she didn't mind as much.
Quite frankly, she was amazed that she even survived such an ordeal. She had honestly given up all hope, even given up on Gabriel. Again, he pulls a complete three sixty, she excitedly thought.
"If you are well enough, in a few days we shall ride back to the beach where the children are. I hear you've already been acquainted."
This surprised her greatly. "But Gabriel, I thought you just said you were to ride out to Yorktown tomorrow?"
He cut in, "I said the Continentals, not me. No, I believe a certain disobedient girl needs looking after."
She was about to reply, but in fact, shut her mouth. At least this way, he won't be near danger, she decided. And it would be nice to see the children again.
"I believe for once, Mr. Martin, you may be right."
The army left early the following morning, with Benjamin Martin and what was left of his militia with them. He gently kissed her on the cheek, and gave her another letter to give to his children.
Kris couldn't help but notice a delightful change in Gabriel when he thought about visiting his siblings.
"It's been over a year since I've seen them, you know," he said the following day.
She only smiled and nodded. Though her fever and cold were winding down, the state of her ribs was far too risky to try riding, so a Continental wagon was borrowed for the small journey.
He went slowly through the fields and roads, making sure she was comfortable the entire time. He was being fussy, really, she realized, but did not tell him so. In fact, she couldn't help but grasp that something had changed between them. A deeper bond had developed, and though she wanted the feeling to go away, it persisted through her thoughts. Suddenly he was no longer the annoying, testy Gabriel she had been so confused about. Though their disagreements were quite amusing to watch in their own way, it was interesting to see how they both even eyed each other in a different, more shy manner. She didn't want to say it, but somehow his attractiveness had peaked the moment her eyes had opened, after the raid.
Still, she had her pride, and would not pursue the matter. By midday the following day they had reached the bridge connecting to the beachfront village.
Once again, children, on seeing a wagon, ran to meet the new guests.
"Gabriel! Gabriel!" Voices rang out. "Kristina!" called others.
Nathan was the first to reach his older brother, and after the elder jumped off the wagon, the two embraced.
"By God, you've grown!" Soon the others had reached him, and one huge Martin hug had erupted. In fact, so many hands grasped to squeeze him he soon lost his balance and toppled over, laughing all the way down to the ground. Kristina stayed put on the wagon, smiling at their antics. Somehow, on seeing this interaction, reassured her of her changed opinion of the man before her.
After a minute Gabriel soon remembered and blushed. "Oh goodness, I'm sorry. Children, you know Kristina, right?"
"I think we've met, but I'm not sure," Kris laughed, playing along. Let's see, you must be Samuel-" she pointed to Nathan, "and you must be Susan-" pointing to Meg." This produced giggles from the younger ones and smiles from Nathan and Meg.
Gabriel held out his hand and Kris took it, not realizing how badly it hurt to twist her ribs to the side. She winced, and soon she found both of his hands lifting her off her seat and safely to the ground.
Meg was the first to noticed. "What happened?"
Kris was the first to speak, "Just fell off my horse while riding back to your father, is all. Speaking of which…" she produced his letter. "I got another note from him." Eager hands leaped for it, and her injury was soon forgotten, though Gabriel gave her a stern look.
"You could have told them the truth you know," he whispered as he helped her into their cabin.
Kris shook her head. "If I have five more Martin children fussing over me like you do, I think my head would explode," she kindly whispered back. To this he laughed.
The cabin was small, and it was different from the one she stayed in last time. It was one room, equipped with a wooden bed, a poorly put together desk, and a small window above the bed.
"I don't remember this one being here last time," she explained, and Meg answered her.
"That's because it's new. It was supposed to be for Samuel and Nathan, considering how big their getting, but they don't mind giving it up for you."
Gabriel helped her lie down into the soft feather bed.
"Are you sure your alright?" Meg questioned.
"Nothing a few more days rest won't cure. Tell the boys I'm very grateful, and I promise not to inconvenience them long."
Gabriel gave her a quick squeeze of the hand, and left with Meg so Kris could have a good sleep.
For the next few days, Kristina's ribs slowly began to heal as she took Gabriel's advice and stayed inside. Charlotte stayed with her often, and she was the only one that knew the truth in her injury. Again, that peaceful sensation overtook her as she sat near the beach shore.
She watched as Gabriel dunked each of the kids in the water, all of them trying to overpower him. He fished with Michael, went hunting with Samuel and Nathan, and at night told all the children stories around the campfire.
After a week, Kristina found she could expand her body more and she sometimes ventured on walks. She even went hunting one morning with Nathan, and came back to surprise everyone with two rabbits.
No news came from the battle of Yorktown, though both Gabriel and Kristina were anxious. They tried to occupy themselves with various chores, and even decided to start building another small cabin.
After one evening of skits and various games, Gabriel knocked on Kristina's cabin. She opened the door, and on seeing the way his eyes stared intently into hers, she closed the door after him. No words came from either's mouth. The only sound to be heard were the crickets and human breathing.
They stood there, for minutes on hand, examining each others facial features. Gabriel's right foot extended forward, his back leaning closer, his hands soon cupping her smooth face. Both gently closed their eyes, and let their lips touch sensually. Everything about him felt right. She let him first kiss her lips, then her ear, then her neck, each time her breath quickening with excitement. Without a care in the world, her hands slowly started unbuttoning his shirt, letting it fall to the ground. His body leaned forward more, and she found herself first sitting, then lying on the bed. She wrapped her arms on his back, her fingers exploring all sorts of scars. Their lips parted, and he lifted up her blouse, for she could not wear the corset from her injured ribs.
He whispered softly in her ear, "Am I hurting you?" He was referring to her ribs, and she could only shake her head no. He wasn't, and if her ribs did hurt, she wouldn't have cared.
His eyes widened on noticing her nicely woven figure. Her lips traveled from his neck to his chest, wanting to explore all he had. Soon all clothes were off, and two figures intimately wrapped themselves around each other, each feeling like this should have been done long ago.
"Gabriel-" she whispered, but soon found she could not talk anymore.