Unbreakable
"Some times, Alix, darling, we have to do what our hearts tells us is right, no matter the out come."
"Is that why you came back tonight, Mr. Hale?" Alix had stared daringly at him in the moonlight. His young face softened, as he cupped her face.
"I have but one life, Alix, and I devote it to you, dear one. But before I promise a life time to you, there is something I still most do." Nathan had whispered.
"What is it?" She had asked. He smiled, his teeth bright in the moon light.
"You will soon know, love." He pulled her closer, "Alix, if I never see you again, know I have loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you!"
"Oh Nathan!" Alix looked up at him, as he leaned down, and kissed her. The next morning, Nathan was gone, but a letter sat on Alix's desk
Dear Heart, I love you, and remain true to you forever. Alix, I need you to understand my duties to my country out weigh any other right now. But sweet, when I am done, I promise to come for you, you are my lifeblood, and with out you I fear I shall die. Keep faith, dear one, and remember, listen to your heart. I remain forever yours
Nathan Hale
Alexandria Dashney sat silently on the window seat, over looking the Dashney's plantation garden. She ran a brush threw her long thick blond hair. Below her in her father's study, she could hear him ranting and raving at the blasted American Rebels. Alix tired to hear him, tired of his anger.
She stared into the moon light, trying to see beyond the horizon. What was going to happen to her? She was to be married in the spring to a man she had only met once, her step mother had forced her to become a lady, and her father had crushed her.
"No one will every be able to tame my Alix." She laughed bitterly, thinking of her father's words. How they had fostered a pride in her soul. Well, he had tried to tame that spirit he had loved. Alix again worked out her plan in her mind. She rose from her spot by the window. Somewhere a clock was striking 11, and she knew the time had come. She stepped out of her dinner dress of white satin, out of her underclothes, out of that blasted corset she had been forced to use since Madam Suzanne DeCarlos Antoinette Sophia Dashney had married her father. Alix then slipped into the britches and home spun shirt she had borrowed from Phil. She stared at her reflection. She then pulled on another dress, only this was the one she had been working on, by taking the hem, and sewing rocks into it. She climbed from the window, and onto her waiting horse. Thankfully it had been raining all day, so the bridge would really be wet. Half way across the rocky bridge, she stripped off the dress, and dropped it into the black angry water. She watched it float down to the bottom, and settle there. Ice was already starting to form over the water, so by the time they would be able to fish out the "dead" body, Alix would be long gone. She waved good-bye to her former self, turned to the nearest village, and started on her way.
As she traveled the lonely road from New York, events of the last few months flashed before her. She laughed, to think of what Nathan would have said of her. She could almost hear his laugh,
"Miss Dashney, you'd be more of a young gentle man with your hair short, but other then that, you are very handsome!" She nearly laughed out loud. Of course! Her hair. Alix stopped, and using the brownie knife she's taken from the stable, chopped her long hair until it hung loosely about her shoulders.
"There, Nathan, now I look likes a gent!"
Alix stumbled into the small South Carolina village knowing that she looked shocking. Her blond hair was plastered to her forehead from the down pore, and her dark clothes had started to wash out in the freezing torrents. She threw open the door of the tavern. The music stopped, and all the men glanced at her.
"How can I help ye, Mister?" the tavern master asked. Alix mumbled something, but could not form a proper sentence.
"Get the lad a ale, and some hot mince pie." A deep rumble echoed in Alix's pounding head. A hand reached out, and guided her to a chair, into which she sunk into gratefully.
A steaming pie was shoved at her, and a cool glass of amber ale. She finished it all greedily, and then did she look at her benefactor.
"Thank ye, sir." She mumbled, remembering to lower her voice. The man before her was quite handsome, with dark brown hair, and bright blue eyes. He smiled, his eyes crinkled at his eyes. He was in his late 30's or early 40's, with a mannerly air about him.
"Your welcome lad, you looked quite drowned. Reminded me of my own sons. So what is your name lad? And where do you come from?" He asked kindly, but a glint of distrust glowed behind his blue eyes.
"I am Alix Clark, I am 18, and my father is from New York, my mother from South Carolina. I was of late in Charlestown, living with my mother's people." She took another gulp of her ale. "I left New York when those nincompoops charged in. I wanted to join the Continental Army at the time, but obligations kept me from it. I am looking for a good Patriot to ride under. I can both read and write, ride a horse, and I know the back woods better then any one for miles." Alix finally stopped, and looked at the man across from her. He was staring at her.
"18, you say? Hmm, a bit young." He was talking to himself. "I do know of…" but he stopped short when the door again flew open, and a younger man charged in. He was not much older then Alix, with blond hair and a smile that reminded Alix of a cat. "Gabe!" the man jumped up to greet the younger man.
"father." He replied. "I have recruited two more men."
The older man grinned. "Wonderful. Gabe I want to introduce you to the newest member of our clan. Master Alex Clark. Clark, my son, Corporal Gabriel Martin." He clasped Gabriel on the shoulder. "And I am Benjamin Martin." He again looked at Gabe. "Let's get this young man a proper hair cut, it seems as if some one took a hatchet to your head."
Twenty minuets later, Alix was sitting in the mist of a kitchen, as Mrs. O'Day took on her thick hair. Gabe leaned against a counter, laughing.
"Gad, ma! He's beautiful." Molly O'Day had declared.
Her mother had nodded. "Shame to waist such beauty on a man." Molly came closer to Alix. "Look at his cheeks mama! Smooth as silk! And his hands, never seen a hard days work! Are you a rich man, Mr. Clark?"
Alix laughed. "No, I am a student."
"That would explain it." Molly was satisfied. And Alix was glad when she left it at that. Molly continued to stare at her with admiration that caused Alix to blush.
"Molly May, your embarrassing the boy." Gabe called from where he stood, his smiled bright in the dimness.
"I don't care, Gabriel Martin!" Molly turned back to Alix, "So your from New York?" she asked, as her mother finished the last cut of hair.
"Yes Ma'am, although I have been in the South for the summers all my life." Alix tried to hide her pain. She was not lying; the summers had been in Charleston, and her Grandpa's plantation.
"Have I seen you around?" Gabriel asked. Alix shook her head. "Oh, you looked slightly familiar…."
"No sir, I keep to myself." Alix grinned, "But I am looked foreword to serving the cause."
"Good." Ben Martin just walked into the room, "I like to hear that." He motioned for Gabe and Alix. "Gabe, will you take Alix to the camp. I have a little more things to do, since I am in town still."
Gabe nodded, "Yes sir. I'll start on the supplies." He started walking. "Come on Clark." Alix followed. Seemed like she'd be doing a lot more of that!