Tavington turned around when he heard his name. Instantly, he moved in front of Olivia to protect her from Benjamin Martin, aiming at them with his gun. He looked around and saw only two other men with him. If there were no other men hidden in the trees, he could take them three easily, he thought.
Olivia's eyes surveyed the men before them; the man who talked seemed surprisingly calm. The two others men were farther apart and she could not distinguish them quite well. One of them seemed to even walk backward, returning into the woods.
"You took my son, Tavington," Martin said as he walked toward the couple. He aimed his gun at Olivia. "Maybe I will take her."
"Your business is with me. Leave her out of that. She did nothing to you," he yelled, moving in front of Olivia, shielding her as best as he could.
Martin carried on walking toward them when a gunshot was fired. One of the men behind Martin felt to the ground. Tavington took this distraction and took his pistol out, aiming straight at Martin. He looked around and saw Wilkins and Brown getting out of the wood to their rescue. Matt grabbed Olivia's arm and sought cover through the shooting. Once hidden, Matt took his gun out and aimed at one of the men in the wood but missed. Wilkins and Tavington fired numerous times and took their swords out, running toward Martin but the men managed to escape to the wood.
Once there was no one from the militia in sight, Tavington rushed to Olivia, to make sure she was all right. With the adrenaline of the sudden attack, she didn't feel the bullet digging on the side of her stomach. Matt turned his head toward her and noticed the blood staining her dress at the same time as Tavington did.
"Liv, do not move. Are you hurt? We need to stop the bleeding," Tavington said as he dropped to his knees.
He took his knife out and ripped the dress and the stays from her body, leaving her in her shift and skirt. Matt helped her to lean on her back. Tavington pressed strongly his large hand on her bleeding wound. He took pieces of her dress and bandage as best as he could around her waist.
"William… Will…"
"I am here, my love. I am not going anywhere," he said as he finished the bandage. "Brown, get the horses closer. She will ride with me. Wilkins, I'll need you to lift her once I'll be in saddle. Olivia, hold on to Wilkins, he will lift you up."
He lost no time and got on his horse as soon as Matt brought it. Wilkins helped Liv to sit in front of Tavington. He wrapped his arm strongly around her, making sure she would not fall. He looked down at her, her complexion started to look kind of pale. He galloped and pushed his horse as fast as he would run. Wilkins and Matt followed closely.
The closer doctor was in camp and not at the fort, so this is where they all headed. Bordon saw them and came closer. He ran when he saw the blood on Olivia. He held her the time Tavington got down from his mount. He grabbed her back in his arm and summoned the doctor.
The surgeon managed to get the bullet out and stopped the bleeding. Once the fresh bandage was put on, Tavington brought his fiancé to his tent; it would be much calmer to sleep, instead of being in the middle of wounded men moaning in pain. She felt asleep and he carried on working on reports that needed his signature.
"Will…" he turned his head when he heard her whisper. He left all he was doing on his desk and moved the chair next to cot she was sleeping on.
"I am here, my sweet Liv. How are you feeling?" he caressed her forehead and her cheek.
"Dizzy. Like I just woke up from a nightmare. What happened?"
"We were ambushed. You were shot. The doctor took care of you. Don't you remember?"
"All I remember is the joy I felt when I saw you, one knee on the ground."
"You remember that? I hope that was not the nightmare part," he said as he grabbed her left hand and enjoyed looking at the ring on her finger.
"Come here," she said as she grabbed the collar of his coat and pulled him closer.
He kissed her like she was the most delicate thing in the world. She moved slightly and moaned in pain from her side.
"You need to rest. We will stay here for tonight. I don't want you to move until your wound has started to heal."
She nodded, rested her head back on the pillow and closed her eyes. She woke up when William moved her slightly to the side of the cot. He managed to lie next to her and put a wool blanket over their bodies. She lifted her head so he could slide his arm under her neck before she rested her head on his shoulder. Feeling the warmth of his body next to her, she felt asleep in no time. Tavington, on the counter part, had a hard time to fall asleep. He was still overwhelmed by all the events that happened today. His anger was boiling for Martin, but his heart was pouring out love for his future wife. She was in his arms and he never felt this fulfilled.