(William's POV)
I left our bedchamber and went downstairs to see if Braden and Brielle had finished eating breakfast. Seeing that they were both finished, I took them upstairs to pack small knapsacks in case we stayed overnight in town. Then, I saddled Belial and Lightning, and we headed over to Bordon's house.
"Good Morning Colonel." Bordon greeted me as the children and I approached the entryway to his house.
"Uncle Bordon!" Said Braden and Brielle excitedly.
Braden trotted Lightning up to Bordon and he lifted him off the pony, embracing him tightly.
"Uncle Bordon!" Cried Brielle.
"Hello Brielle!"
Bordon embraced Brielle with his free arm, lifting her off Lightning.
"Shall we ride on horseback or in the carriage?" He asked me.
"Carriage." I replied. "I've my children with me."
Bordon nodded.
"Very well. You can take Belial and Lightning to the stables; I'll get the shire harnessed for the carriage.
"Thank you Captain."
Several hours later, we reached the town of Fredericton. Bordon stopped the carriage near a hitching post and tethered his shire, Baron, to it. Then we all got out and went about to various shops and markets.
Being as Braden needed new clothes, I took him with me to a tailor's shop, while Bordon took Brielle with him to go look at some horses that were for sale.
As we stepped into the shop, we were greeted by the tailor, Harry.
"Good day Colonel. And good day to you as well, Braden."
"Harry.." I said with a nod.
Braden smiled and said, "I'm going to get some new clothes."
"Ah, the young master has already outgrown his clothes?"
"I'm afraid so; his breeches are too short and his shirts, too tight."
"Do you want them custom made?"
I nodded.
"With room to grow."
"Well, I think I can come up with just the thing. Mind you, it may take several days."
"That is fine. He'll be needing several pairs of breeches for daily wear, and about five shirts and two vests, the vests in either dark brown or blue."
Harry nodded.
"Anything else?"
"Well, aside from a silk dress cravat, a dress waistcoat and vest, the vest in black, the waistcoat in blue with silver braiding, and black dress breeches with silver studs up the sides to go with them, I believe that's it."
"Very well Col. Tavington. You may pay when they are finished."
"Thank you Harry."
"See you later Harry." Said Braden with a smile.
Harry chuckled.
"See you later, Young Master Tavington."
Braden and I left the tailor's shop and went next door to the shoemaker's shop.
"Good day, Master Tavington. And Young Master Tavington as well.."
"Calder.." I said with a nod.
"Hello Calder." Said Braden with a smile.
"So, what might I do for you today, Master Tavington?"
"Braden needs two pairs of shoes, one for daily wear and one for dress, and the same for two pairs of boots; I would prefer that the dress pairs of each be black."
"You're in luck then; I believe I've got just what you want."
Calder walked over to some shelves, inspecting the shoes on them until he had picked out tow pairs of shoes and two pairs of boots, in which one pair of each was black.
"Try them on Braden."
As Braden was trying on the shoes and boots Calder had retrieved for him, Calder asked me, "Anything for you, Master Tavington?"
"No, but thank you anyway."
"Alright then one moment, try these; black, freshly polished, with silver spurs; they seem your size."
"I'm sorry Calder, I can't"
"Please, Master Tavington, I insist! If they fit and are comfortable, you may have them, free of charge."
"I can't Calder; I've got to pay you something…"
"No, your crops are the best in New Brunswick, and they help feed my family. That, along with the fact that you served under the Crown during the Insurrection in the colonies is more than enough to get you a pair of boots."
I chuckled.
"Alright, I'll try them on, and I'll take them if I like them. But I'm paying for my son's boots and shoes."
Calder laughed.
"Father, they all fit."
"Alright Braden, have Calder pack them up for you while I try a pair of boots on."
Braden nodded and handed his boots to Calder. I removed my boots and tried on the boots Calder had referred to me. Just as he thought, they were my size, and were comfortable when I walked around in them.
"You'd better back these up for me as well, Calder."
Calder smiled.
"They had your name on them, Sir."
I chuckled.
"Well I thank you for giving them to me. You've excellent skill in making them."
"Thank you." Replied Calder.
"Father we have to go meet Brielle and Uncle Bordon."
"Alright Braden, just let Calder finish packing my boots and we'll be on our way."
After Braden and I left Calder's, we headed up the road to meet Bordon and Brielle.
As we were walking through the crowded streets, a man coming in the opposite direction rammed my shoulder as he tried to get by.
"My apologies Sir.."
Thinking nothing of it, I gave the man a curt nod and tried to continue walking when I noticed that the man was staring at me with wide eyes, a look of horror on his face.
"Sir may I help…"
I stared back at him, my own eyes widening in surprise. The face before me resembled an aged version of my own; even our eyes were identical. I began to shake my head, feeling numb all over. 'No! you're dead! I'm just seeing things..'
"Father." Braden shook me from my reverie.
"What is it Braden?"
"We have to go meet Brielle and Uncle Braden."
"Right.." I said numbly, glancing back at the man, who was still staring at me with wide, horror-filled eyes.
I picked Braden up and swept past the man who had rammed into me, desperate to leave him as soon as possible.
Moments later, we reached Bordon and Brielle; Bordon had bought another horse, a medium sized chestnut thoroughbred.
"New horse.."
Bordon nodded.
"Sir are you alright?" He asked in a concerned tone. "You look white as a ghost."
"Fine, I'm fine… We have to leave.. now."
Bordon cast me a puzzled look.
"We've not even been here an hour."
"I don't care; we're leaving!"
"Alright then…" Said Bordon, a puzzled expression still on his face. "We'll leave."
