Hey guys, sorry took so long, I have been busy with school and the plays (yes again).This is the saddest chapter and it was hard to write this since I love Thomas so much. The next chapter will be shocking so be prepared for it. I know this is like the longest chapter but I hope you enjoy it and please, please leave a review.. It makes me happy when you guys do that. Thank you. P.S. This week is my winter break so I might put one or two chapters up before school starts. So watch out for that!
All night long, I tended to the wounded soldiers. Some asked me for water and some asked me to write the letter for their mothers as they lay dying. It breaks my heart every time they ask me.
When the morning came, I stopped to rest and ate breakfast, realizing I never had dinner last night due to Gabriel. I looked at my clothes and saw that I have blood on me.
So I went to my room and changed my dress. This time I put on the apron around me, tying the strings. I came downstairs and checked on Gabriel and he was still sleeping.
I went back to the poach and tended to the soldiers once more. I was talking to a young soldier when Gabriel came out, buttoning his new shirt.
"Excuse me." I murmured to the soldier. I walked to Gabriel, smiling at him.
"Good morning." said Gabriel.
"Good morning. How are you feeling?" I said, concerned about his wound.
"Fine, a bit sore." Gabriel said, looking around.
"Good." I said.
We talked briefly when the Redcoats came out of the cornfield, toward to our home. Gabriel and I looked at each other, knowing that this was going to happen soon.
The Redcoat Lieutenant comes on the pouch. Lieutenant looked at Gabriel and Gabriel looked away, hoping that Lieutenant wouldn't recognize him.
Lieutenant walked around us, to our Father.
"Thank you for the care of his Majesty's soldiers." said Lieutenant. Father sighed, nodding his head.
I heard hoof beats approaching and I looked out. I gasped, putting my hand on my stomach because it was the Green Dragoons army. I've heard about the leader of the Green Dragoons, Colonel Tavington, when I was visiting my friend in town.
His reputation is quite infamous and he's quite known as womanizer.
I grabbed Gabriel's hand and squeezed. He squeezed back. The Green Dragoons stopped and the Lieutenant runs to Colonel Tavington, taking off his hat.
"Lieutenant, have your attachment take our wounded to our surgeons at Winnsboro." said Tavington.
"Yes, Sir." said Lieutenant.
We are gathered at the front steps, with the children. I let go Gabriel's hand and walked to Thomas.
"Thomas." I whispered. He looked at me. "Do not do anything stupid. I mean it." I whispered again.
He nodded and I pray to God that he will listen to me this time.
"Fire the house and barns." said Tavington. I gasped and the children looked at Father, expecting him to say something.
"Let it be known, if you harbor the enemy, you will lose your home." said Tavington. Tavington looked at our workers and Joshua and said:
"By standing order of Majesty King George, all the slaves of the American Colonies who fight the crown will be granted for their freedom with our victory."
"Sir, we're not slaves. We work this land. We're freedmen." said Joshua.
"Then you're freedmen who will have the privilege of fighting in the King's army, aren't you?"said Tavington said, getting annoyed.
Joshua looked at Father for help and Father didn't say anything.
My stomach dropped when I saw a soldier walking to Tavington, giving him the papers.
"Rebel dispatches, sir." said the soldier.
I looked at Gabriel with shocked reaction on my face. His reaction was guilty.
The smile on Tavington's face fell down, turning angry as he reads the papers. He looked up and says "Who carried this?"
There was eerie silence around us.
"Who carried this?" he said loudly.
"I did." I said, mentally hitting myself on my forehead.
Everybody looked at me.
"Oh really?" Tavington said, lifting one of his eye browns and smirking.
"Yes." I said, walking down the stairs slowly before continuing. "When I was tending to one of the wounded soldiers, I found the papers on him. I only meant to burn these papers later." I lied.
"You're lying." Tavington said, still smirking.
"No sir, I'm not." I said, trying to convince him.
"I don't believe you. Now, who carried this!" he yelled, making me jump.
Gabriel moved forward and says: "I did, sir." I closed my eyes and whispered: "No, Gabriel."
He walked to my side, explaining:
"I was wounded. These people gave me care. They have nothing to do with the dispatches."
I look back and Father is slowly walking down the stairs.
Colonel Tavington looked at me, then at Gabriel.
"Take this one to Camden. He is a spy. Hang him, put his body on display." said Tavington.
I gasped and two soldiers came forward to take Gabriel.
"No, please don't do it." I pleaded.
"He's a dispatch rider, and that's a marked case. " Father said, trying to defend Gabriel.
"Destroy the livestock. Save the horses for the Dragoons." said Tavington.
"Colonel, this is a uniformed dispatch rider carrying a marked case. He cannot be held as a spy." said Father.
"Well, we won't hold him, we're going to hang him." said Tavington, smirking at Father.
I walked back to the stairs, and Thomas tried to come down the stairs but I stopped him, shaking my head.
"Colonel--" said Father as Gabriel interrupted.
"Father!" Gabriel said softly.
"Oh, I see. He's your son. Perhaps you should've taught him something of loyalty." said Tavington.
"Colonel, I beg you, please reconsider. By the rules of war." said Father
Tavington takes out his pistol, cocks it.
"Would you like a lesson, Sir, in the rules of war?" Tavington said, his pistol pointing at Father.
My heart jumped to my throat at the scene.
"Or perhaps your children would." He said, moving the gun to the children.
I moved quickly to protect the children. Father did the same thing. The children was shuddering and so was I.
"No lesson is necessary." Father said, putting up his hands.
Tavington uncocked his pistol and put it away.
"Sir, what of the rebel wounded?" said Lieutenant. "Kill them." said Tavington.
The soldiers take Gabriel away and Thomas became upset.
"Father, do something!" said Thomas.
"Be quiet!" said Father, gesturing.
Father were comforting the children and the redcoats came up the pouch, preparing to kill the wounded.
Thomas and I looked at Gabriel. The soldiers is wrapping the rope around Gabriel's hands.
I looked at Thomas and I know he was about to do something stupid by the look on his face.
Thomas ran off and I went after him.
"Thomas, NO!" I screamed. Thomas pushed one of the soldiers off Gabriel.
"Gabriel, Run!" Thomas shouted. "Thomas!" Gabriel protested.
I heard Father yelling at Thomas, telling him to stop.
It was like slow motion at the moment. I tried to run faster but I couldn't.
I heard Tavington cocked his gun and pointed at Thomas.
"Wait!" Father yelled, running for us. I heard the gunshot, feeling the sharp pain in my shoulder, but I ignored it.
Tavington shot Thomas in the back. I screamed, catching him in my arms as he fell.
"No!" Gabriel yelled, as the soldiers pulled him away. "No! No! Thomas!" said Gabriel, as the soldiers tying him to the cart.
I held Thomas in my arms on the ground when Father rushed in, taking Thomas into his arms.
"Father!" I sobbed. I held Thomas' hand, looking at his wound. "He's not going to make it" I thought.
Father looked up at Tavington. "Stupid Boy." said Tavington.
"Captain." Tavington said as he leaves. The Captain gave his orders to the soldiers.
The children gathered around us. Father put his hand on Thomas' cheek.
Thomas is turning pale and I knew he was losing his blood fast.
"Thomas, look at me." I said, my voice is breaking. He turned his head and looked at me.
"I love you." I said, tears running down my cheeks. He nodded and looked back to Father.
Father nodded as to say you can let go now. Thomas drew his last breath.
He was gone. I let out painful wail, sobbing so hard.
The soldier began to burn our home and the barn. I can hear Abigail comforting Susan behind me.
The children began to scream as the soldiers took Abigail away; Abigail protesting.
Gunshots are going off, and the children are standing around in shock and crying.
I looked at Father, and he had the look of rage in his eyes I never seen before.
He puts down Thomas and he was breathing hard. "All of you, stay here." said Father.
He runs off to the burning house. I looked at Thomas and realize that his eyes were still open. I closed them with my fingers.
Father came out with the guns and the axe. "Nathan, Samuel." Father said, walking to us.
He gave the guns to them. "Margaret." He says. Margaret stood up.
"I want you hide in the fields with William, Susan, and Emily. If we're not back by sunset, I want you take them to Aunt Charlotte. Is that clear?" said Father.
Margaret was crying softly and she nodded.
"Boys." he said, leaving quickly.
They followed Father. I watched them, then they were gone. "Margaret, let's hide. Come on." I said, taking Susan's hand and William's hand.
We walked into the fields, sitting down and watching our home burning.
Then I remembered something. "Margaret, you watch them. I'll be right back, OK?" I said, standing up.
She nodded and I started running out the fields, to the little area near the creek.
When I got there, I started digging the ground with my hands frantically.
I remember that I buried a gun two years ago, just in case. Gabriel and Thomas taught me how to shoot before we went to Charles Town. Father didn't know that I could shoot.
Finally, I got to the bottom, opening the box and take out the gun.
I clean it with my skirt, and stopped. There was blood on my skirt. Thomas' blood.
I shuddered, looking away. I put it in my pocket. So I ran back to the fields, sitting down.
I took Susan into my lab and comforting all of them.
"You're hurt." said Margaret, touching my wound on the shoulder. I look at my wound, and it was a scratch. The bullet must have graze my skin when Tavington shot at Thomas.
"I'll be alright, it's okay." I said, comforting her as she cried in my arms. William hasn't say anything due to shock.
"I'm going to sing you a song." I said.
I hummed, beginning to sing a song Abigail taught me when I was a little girl.
I looked out in the sky and it was almost sunset. The fire is gone, leaving the ashes of our home. Thomas' body is still on the ground.
I walked to Thomas, falling down on my knees. He looked so peaceful. Tears were coming into my eyes and I fought hard to keep them back. I ripped a piece of fabric from my skirt and began to clean soot on his face.
"Now, you're clean, Thomas." I whispered. I looked over his side and there was a bag of toy soldiers, a few out of the bag. I reached and picked up his bag, putting his soldiers back in his bag. I closed it and put it in my pocket.
"I'm going to keep them safe, Thomas. I promise." I whispered. I leaned over and kissed his forehead, letting out a sob.
I controlled myself, wiping my tears away so the children wouldn't see me crying. I have to be strong, no matter what, I have to be strong.
I stood up and looked to my right, where the big oak tree is. We're going to bury Thomas next to Mama.
"I hear someone!" Margaret yelled, her face peeking out.
I turned around and took out my pistol, cocked it and waited. I look out in the distance and I couldn't tell who was coming to our way because of the smoke from the barn.
Finally, I saw four figures coming out, and I pointed at them.
"Halt! I have the gun and I will shoot you if you come closer!" I yelled angrily
Three figures stopped but one continued to walk toward to me.
"I mean it! I will shoot you!" I said repeatedly.
"Emily." said the stranger. I recognize his voice but I didn't recognize his face since he was covered in blood.
"Put the gun down, Emily. It's me." He said calmly. When he got closer, I recognized his eyes.
"Father." I choke out. He lend his hand out, gesturing me to give him the gun. I gave it to him, and he put it in his pocket.
"What happened to you?" I said in disbelief, as I look at him all over. He didn't respond, just ignored me and walked to Thomas' body.
As Father walked to the body, I look at the three figures. It was Nathan, Samuel, and Gabriel.
"Gabriel!" I said, running to him and wrapping my arms around his neck. Gabriel wrapped his arms around my wrist, hugging me really tight.
"Thank God, you're okay." I choked back my tears, looking at his face.
"Your neck! Are you okay?" I said, touching the wound. He winced.
"Yes, I will be fine. Are you alright?" said Gabriel.
"Yes. I'm fine." I said, taking my arms off him. I looked at Nathan and Samuel.
"Come here." I said, opening my arms to them. They ran into my arms and hugging me.
"It's gonna be alright. Shh. It's all right." I said as they cried.
"Emily." Gabriel whispered. I looked up to him. "Look." He pointed.
I looked at where he was pointing at. It was Father, kneeling on his knees; his head down. I stood up and walked over to Father. I kneeled down next to his side.
"Father." I whispered. He looked at me. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Father let out sob, grabbing me into his arms. Soon we were both crying. The children came and hugged us as we grieved.
Okay, the next chapter will be up this week.. Please review this chapter. I would love to hear from you. Thank you again!