Chapter Four

Militia Minions

As they rode on, Benjamin and Katherine started to see abandoned homes. As they turned a corner, they found themselves in front of the drive of a stately home, a trail of its contents leading out the door and into the road. They pulled up and saw Gabriel's horse tied up. While Katherine walked up the stairs, she could hear the cannon fire. Together, Benjamin and Katherine silently entered the room that Gabriel was in, Benjamin sitting down and Katherine leaning against the door frame. The three of them watched the battle for a few minutes but when Gabriel turned away in disgust, he found them there. For a moment, Gabriel was disconcerted, exclaiming, "Katherine?" Finding his calm, he stated quietly, "I'm not going back." Katherine smiled, adding to his sense of disconcertion.

Benjamin stood up and walked over to the window. "No, I wouldn't expect you to." Standing there, he sighed, "That Gates is a damn fool." Katherine put her hand on his shoulder and smirked with a chuckle. "He spent too many years in the British Army. Going muzzle to muzzle with Redcoats in an open field is madness." They watched stonily as the British unleashed a deadly accurate volley on the patriot ranks. Again and again. The cannon fire was just as terrible, one ball taking a man's head off. Katherine's hand flew to her mouth. Benjamin shook his head and turned to leave. "This battle was over before it began." Gabriel followed him, but just as she did, Katherine stopped and took one last look as both the Green Dragoons and the British Legion beared down on the poor fools. Sending up a prayer, Katherine rushed after her family.

As they rode away, the fact that Katherine was with them struck Gabriel. Practically turning completely around in the saddle, he asked, "What are you doing here!?"

Benjamin guffawed while Katherine replied sweetly, "I'm going to be the medic and I'd appreciate it, Gabriel Martin, if you don't mention my gender until it's all said and done. Otherwise, your life will be extremely unpleasant." The look on Gabriel's face made both Benjamin and Katherine laugh uncontrollably. Gabriel soon joined them. Lord knows how little they'd be able to laugh like this.

As they rode past the surgeons'' tents, Katherine fought the urge to fly off her horse and try to help, but she knew that this time she couldn't. They tied up their horses and started to look for Colonel Burwell. Katherine followed Benjamin into the command tent, but respectfully stayed in the outer chamber. She could see the Colonel leaned on the desk, looking quite despondent.

"Benjamin Martin, I'm in mood for a lecture." Katherine rolled her eyes. Why would Benjamin lecture the Colonel?

Benjamin was puzzled at the absence of Gates. "Where's your General Gates now?" he asked, kindly, lest Harry think him mocking.

Burwell stood up. "Well, the last anyone saw, he was riding hard northeast, his staff one hundred yards behind trying to catch up." Burwell looked pissed. Katherine sighed and shook her head. Benjamin couldn't believe it. Well, he could, but still…

"So, who's in command?" Gabriel ducked into the tent and grimaced at Katherine. She shook her head at the ridiculousness of it all.

"I am." And he didn't look too happy about it. "I think." Katherine was ready to slam her head into one of the tent poles. No wonder they were losing the war!

Benjamin smiled a little. "What are my orders?"

Now Burwell smiled, looking more than a bit relieved to Katherine. He put his arm around Benjamin and guided him back to the main area. "We're a breath away from losing this war, Benjamin." He started to point out areas on the map. "In the North, Washington is reeling from Morristown, running and hiding from twelve thousand redcoats. In the South, Cornwallis has broken our back, captured over five thousand of our troops when he took Charles Town."

"And he destroyed the only army between you and New York," Benjamin added, shaking his head. "So there's nothing to stop him from marching north to cut off George Washington."

"Unless we can keep Cornwallis in the South. Till the French arrive." Benjamin's head jerked toward Burwell. "They promised a fleet and ten thousand troops." The Martins' eyes widened, but Katherine just had an amused smile on her face.

"When?"

"Uhhh, six months at the earliest." Again, he did not look the least bit happy about the situation.

Benjamin understandably had his doubts. "You actually trust the French to keep their word?"

Their heads swiveled when a man declared, "Absolument!" A man in the light blue uniform of the French Army stood up and strode over. Katherine chuckled only loud enough for Gabriel to hear.

Burwell introduced him. "Benjamin Martin, Major Jean Villeneuve, French 7th Light Foot. He's here to help train the militia." Benjamin glared at Burwell.

"The Hero of Fort Wilderness, you reputation precedes you." At this remark, Gabriel and Katherine's eyebrows raised.

Benjamin sort of ignored him. "You really expect to hold Cornwallis here using just militia?" he asked, incredulous.

Burwell shook his head. "Not me, you." Katherine had to bite her lip to keep from just laughing out loud at the look on Benjamin's face.

Benjamin nervously chuckled. "Harry, they're not soldiers, they're farmers. They'd be better off just letting the British march on through."

"They'd be better off, but the cause wouldn't," Burwell stated, holding up his finger as he walked to a desk.

Benjamin still looked shocked. He managed to ask, "How many men does Cornwallis have under his command?"

Burwell began to rattle off a list. "Eight thousand infantry, around six hundred cavalry. I'm giving you a field commission of a Colonel."

"Might I request, Sir, that you transfer my son here under my command." It wasn't really a question. Katherine gave him a look as Gabriel tried to protest. Benjamin just returned it.

"Sir…"

"No," Burwell stopped him. "It's done." Poor Gabriel.

Benjamin felt a bit guilty. "Thank you."

During the whole convention that the men had, Katherine only received a few glances; more likely because of her supposed youth than anything else. She let a wry smile cross her face as they stepped out into the dimming light. She had to smother a laugh as Gabriel immediately jumped on his case, with all respect to his commanding officer, of course.

"Colonel, I've been a soldier now for two years. A scout, horseman, marksman, scavenger…"

Katherine firmly pressed her lips together as Benjamin kept on walking with a, "Is that so." She glanced at the Frenchman, who had joined them.

Gabriel let out enthusiastic, "Yes Sir! I'd better serve with regulars."

Benjamin was having none of it. "Where'd you learn it?"

"What?"

"All that riding, shooting, scavenging."

Gabriel glared at her as she did let out a chuckle. "My father taught me." They mounted the horses, Katherine shaking her head at Gabriel.

"Teach you any humility?"

Katherine swore that Gabriel was blushing with shame. "He tried. It didn't take." Katherine rolled her eyes.

Benjamin dealt the final blow. "He also taught you every deer path and swamp trail between here and Charles Town which is why I asked for your transfer. We'll put the word out." The Frenchman stared at them. Benjamin and Gabriel didn't notice but Katherine did, returning it with a rather cool look that would have put her German neighbors to shame. "Start in the South and ride to the Santee."

Gabriel reminded, "We'll cover more ground if we split up."

Katherine shook her head at the obvious discomfort on Benjamin's face. "Very well, Corporal. You'll take Harrisville, Pembroke, and Wakefield with um… Kent and we'll start on the North side of the Santee. You'll meet me at the old Spanish Mission in Black Swamp."

Before Gabriel could acknowledge the orders, Katherine spoke up. "Don't you think at the present time, it's better for me to accompany you, Colonel?" She tapped her cheek. She's been to those towns plenty of times, but never to the North side.

Benjamin looked Gabriel, who shrugged. "Very well."

Gabriel cantered off, shouting, "Yes Sir!"

"Corporal!" Gabriel pulled up and turned around. "Be careful."

"Yes Sir."

Benjamin sighed. Katherine pulled up on the side not occupied by the Frenchman and patted him on the shoulder. "He'll be just fine." Benjamin gave her a look before turning to the Frenchman.

"Got any children?" The man just looked at him and turned away on his horse. Benjamin glanced at Katherine, who shrugged dramatically, hand in the air. Benjamin muttered, "French." Katherine rode after them, shaking with silent laughter. Men.

As they rode up to a tavern, Benjamin turned to Katherine, "Maybe you should stay outside." That got him an even stranger look from the Frenchman.

Katherine shook her head. "I'll have to live with these men for some time. Might as well start now."

Benjamin took a deep breath and dismounted. "Okay." The three of them walked into the smelly, dark, and noisy tavern and looked around.

The Frenchman was disdainful. "Are you sure this is the right place for a recruitment mission?"

A few men stared at them. The way Benjamin's stance changed made Katherine take warning. He was about to do something stupid.

"God save King George!"

The music screeched to a stop and everyone stared at them. As soon as the first man stood up, Katherine had her hand on the doorknob and at the first cock of a pistol, out the door. The Frenchman and Benjamin leaped after her, slamming the door as several knives sunk into it.

"I think we came to the right place."

Katherine just put her head in her hands. Oh for crying out loud!

Katherine sat tense behind Benjamin as the men of the tavern lined up to sign the militia register. One particularly disgusting character stepped up and asked, "Any Bounty?" Really? A bounty? Who are these people? Meanwhile, the Frenchman just tore away at a hunk of meat.

Benjamin grinned. "No scalp money this time, Rollins. But you get to keep the muskets and gear of any Redcoats you kill."

Rollins nodded and spat out tobacco juice onto the floor. Katherine and the Frenchman stared. As he signed, Rollins laughed, "What Boy? Never seen a real man before." Katherine just closed her eyes and sighed.

The next man didn't look strong enough to fight. Apparently, he didn't intend to. "They hanged my brother down at Awkward. Every damn one of those Redcoats deserves to die."

"Sign on then."

"With all my ailments, I wouldn't make it through the first skirmish. No Sir. You can have my negro." Katherine's eyes flew to the African at the bar. "He'll fight in my stead. Occam, get over here." The man hesitantly walked forward. "He ain't over smart, but he's as strong as a bull." The old man leaned down to sign.

"Can you write?" asked Benjamin. The African glanced around.

"No, no, no Sir."

"Well then, make your mark."

"Why?" asked his owner. "I just signed him over to you."

Katherine smiled as Benjamin addressed Occam again. "If you're willing, I'd like you to make your mark." The man sighed, but he did so. "That'll do." Katherine broke a full smile when the Frenchman winked at Occam.

A little redheaded boy swaggered up and stated. "I'm goin' to kill me some Redcoats."

Katherine covered her mouth to not start laughing hysterically at the look on Benjamin's face. "I believe you would. How old are you, Son?"

His father came up and gently pushed the boy to side. "Not quite old enough but his time 'll come."

Benjamin smiled again. "John Billings, I was hoping you'd turn up."

Billings signed. "There's a story going 'round that some twenty Redcoats got killed by a ghost or some damn thing. Carried a Cherokee tomahawk." He took a swig of his drink.

Benjamin smirked, "Aren't you a little old to be believing in ghost stories?" Billings cackled at the joke. Katherine stared at the still lengthy line. This was going to be a long night.

Review Replies: Guest: If you're thinking what I'm thinking... By "I'm not that woman!", by the way, Katherine meant that she wasn't the typical woman of the time.

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