Hey guys.. yay, another chapter has been posted up! I'm sorry I took so long because I was busy plus I had a little bit of writer block. I hope you guys are having a good summer. Please write a review after you finish. Thank you guys for staying with me. Enjoy reading.

It was almost dark when we approached Aunt Charlotte's home. A servant ran out to the carriage, calling out "Mr. Martin--" but Father ignored him and kept going.

A woman is calling out for Aunt Charlotte. "Miss Charlotte! Miss Charlotte!"

Aunt Charlotte ran out on the balcony and saw us. Then she disappeared through her balcony doors.

We stopped at the front of her home, and Aunt Charlotte ran out to greet us. "What happened?" says Aunt Charlotte, running to us. Father got off the carriage and told her about the Green Dragoons and Thomas being killed.

She gasped and covered her mouth, fighting back tears. I admired her for holding herself together. "Well, let's get the children in the house."

Father nodded and went back to the carriage to help the children to get down from the carriage.

When the children went into the house, I was alone in the carriage. I didn't even want to get out of the carriage.

"Come on." Father whispered, lending his hand to me. Charlotte and Gabriel stood there, watching us. I looked into Father's sad eyes and grabbed his hand.

He lend me out of the carriage, my feet touching the ground. I let go of his hand and started to walk.

Dizziness overcame me and the next thing I know, I was on the ground. Charlotte, Gabriel and Father ran to me.

"Are you alright?" Aunt Charlotte asked, touching my forehead. "I'm fine. Really." I said, getting up.

"But, surely, you don't need help?" Gabriel asked. "I don't need help. Just leave me alone!" I said angrily. I ran into the house, leaving them in shock and confusion.

After the children has been fed, Father and Aunt Charlotte took them upstairs to prepare them for bed. I had settled down in one of Aunt Charlotte's guest rooms. The maid cleaned up my wound on the shoulder and put gauze on it.

When the maid was done with my wound, I undressed myself and gave her the dress with Thomas' blood on it.

"I do not care what you do with it. You can burn it or get rid of it. Understand?" I said. "Yes, Miss Emily. I will take care of it." said the maid, curtsying to me.

I nod in agreement and she left the room with the dress, leaving me in my corset and my chemise. I walk to the mirror and look at myself. I didn't even recognize myself because I had so much soot from the fire and dirt on my face.

I took a pitcher and pour water into the bowl. I took a soap and washcloth and begin to wash my face. By the time I was done, the water was dirty.

I looked at my face in the mirror again and I notice that my eyes were swollen and red. My skin are paler than usual due to shock.

I sighed sadly and opened the drawer, taking out my nightgown. Then I put the nightgown on my bed and begin to unlace my corset, letting the corset to fall on the floor, and then taking off my chemise.

I put my nightgown on and put the corset and the chemise shift on the chair in a corner of the room. I grabbed the brush off the dresser and begin to brush my hair, counting to hundred before putting my hair in side braid.

There was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" I asked.

"It's me, Charlotte."

"Come in." I said, walking to my bed and sat down.

Aunt Charlotte came in, with a dress in her arms.

"This is my old dress. You can wear it tomorrow." She says, putting the dress on the bed. "In few days, we will go into the town and get you new clothes."

I nodded. "Thank you, Aunt Charlotte. I appreciate everything."

Aunt Charlotte smiled in response. "How is your wound?"

"It's fine. It doesn't hurt anymore."

"That's good. Well, I came to tell you that the girls are in bed now, and Margaret wants to speak to you."

"Thank you, I will be right there." I said, getting up. Aunt Charlotte nodded and leaves the room.

I grabbed my robe and put it on, covering my nightgown. I walked out quickly to the girls' bedroom.

"Emily! I'm so glad you're here." Margaret whispered. I walked to her, taking her hand and sitting down on the edge of their bed.

"Yes, now, what do you need?" I say, smiling and caressing her hand.

"I'm scared. What if that bad man comes back and hurt us?"

"No, he won't. I promise you, he will not do that. Let's not think about it tonight, alright?"

"Okay." Margaret says, while I look over at little Susan, who is sound asleep with her mama's doll. I smile at this moment.

"Now, you need your rest. It's been a long day today. Go to sleep." I said, tucking her in.

"But I can't sleep. Can you sing me a song that Mama used to sing every night before we go to sleep? Please?" Margaret pleaded.

I looked at her and smiled at the memory of Mama singing to the children, bringing the tears to my eyes.

"Alright, but it will be short tonight. I will sing more tomorrow if you want me to. Well, let's see... ah, here it is."

"A dream is a wish your heart makes,

When you're fast asleep.

In dreams you will lose your heartaches,

whatever what you wish for you keep.

Have faith in your dreams and someday,

your rainbow will come smiling through.

No matter how your heart is grieving,

If you keep on believing,

the dream that you wish will come true..."

"Thank you.. I feel better." Margaret says, taking my hand and squeezes it.

"You're welcome.. goodnight." I say, kissing her forehead.

Aunt Charlotte came in and looked at me.

"Aunt Charlotte, don't you think Emily has pretty voice, just like Mama?" Margaret said.

" Oh yes, she does. Just like her Mama." She says, smiling.

I smiled back.

"Do you mind if I say goodnight to the girls?" Aunt Charlotte asked.

"No, go ahead." I say, getting up from the bed, so she could take my place.

I walked out and begin to walk down the stairs when I heard Nathanial speaking to Father.

"Father?"

"Yes?"

"I killed those men." He said softly.

"You did what I told you to do. You did what you had to. There was no wrong in it."

"I'm glad I killed them. I'm glad."

"Get some rest." Father says softly.

I look into the room and I see Father walking to Samuel.

"Samuel." Father said. Samuel ignored Father and turned his back against Father.

It broke my heart to see this.

I moved from the door as Father came out and closed the door. At the same time, Aunt Charlotte came out from the girls' room. Father looked at us, sat down on the stairs that leads to the attic, and put his head in his hands.

"You've done nothing for which you should be ashamed." said Aunt Charlotte.

"I've done nothing. Of that, I am ashamed." Father replied.

Aunt Charlotte moved on to the next room where William is being put in bed.

Father looked at me and sighed.

"I need to speak to you. Why don't we go downstairs to talk in the reading room?"

I nodded and follow Father to the reading room. When we entered into the reading room, Gabriel was staring at the fireplace with a drink in his hand.

"Gabriel, your sister and I need to talk in private. Do you mind?" said Father.

"Yes, sir." Gabriel says, putting down the drink on a table and leaving the room.

Father closed the door. I was confused about what was gonna on and it seemed to be serious.

Father had this look on his face that I never seen before and it scared me.

"I don't know how to tell you this. It has been on my mind ever since you turned eighteen few months ago. You see, we adopted you when you were four weeks old."

"What? I don't understand." I whispered.

"Your father was killed in French and Indian war and your mother died from cancer. You see, My wife was best friends with your mother and asked my wife if she could adopt you. I was fighting in the war and when I came back, there you were, only five months old. Elizabeth explained to me and I accepted it. I loved you like you were my own daughter. I still do. And that's why it was very difficult for me to tell you tonight."

I was horrified and angry.

"Who else knew?" I whispered.

"Abigail and Charlotte."

I scoffed and shook my head.

"How could you? How can you not tell me this all these years?!" I began to shout.

"Because Elizabeth made me promise that I could not tell you until you turn eighteen years old. That's why!" Father yelled.

"My life is made up of lies! Why did you tell me the truth about my life on this night of Thomas' death where I am grieving! Now, you're telling me that I lost my mother and father too?!" I screamed, my voice begin breaks on the last sentence.

"Yes, that's what I'm telling you." Father whispered, his head down. He brought his head up and looked at me. "You need to stop yelling and you need to calm down. The children are sleeping."

"NO!" I screamed, grabbing Gabriel's glass and threw it at the fireplace and the glass shattered everywhere. "DON'T YOU DARE TELL ME TO CALM DOWN!"

Aunt Charlotte and Gabriel ran into the room. Charlotte was shocked and Gabriel was confused.

I began to breath heavily and leaned against the fireplace, my back against them.

"What's the matter?" Charlotte asked Father.

"I told her the truth."

"Oh dear. Have you give her the letter yet?"

I turned around quickly. "What letter?"

Father took the letter out and handed it out to me. "It's from your mother."

I took it quickly and stormed out of the room to the front door. I opened it and slammed the door against the wall as I ran outside.

I began to run faster when I heard Father calling me back. But I didn't care anymore. I just wanted to be alone for once. I just ran until I stopped to a little place in the forest where no one knows and which I created in my childhood years.

I walked to the log near the river and sat down on it. I opened the letter impatiently and something fell out.

I picked up and realized that it was a gold locket. I opened it and let out a sob. It was the portrait of my mother and father. I have my father's dark hair and my mother's eyes.

I put the locket around my neck and take the letter out of the envelope.

I begin to read the letter in the moonlight.

April 3, 1760

" My dearest daughter,

how I wish I could see you now, as an eighteen year old woman. I imagine how you would look like, with your father's dark hair and my eyes. I wonder if you have my stubborn trait and your father's compassionate trait. I know you're beautiful as you were as a baby and don't let anyone tell you else. My darling , I hope that you are happy with your new family, especially with Gabriel. I bet he's a wonderful brother to you.

I couldn't pick a name for you because I was dying and I knew that your mother, Elizabeth, would love to give you your name. I bet it's a beautiful name. If it was up to me, Your name would be Hannah, my name or Sarah, after your father's mother.

If you want to know more about us, well, here you go. Your father's name was Henry Baudin. When I met your father, I fell in love with him immediately. A true love at first sight. Your father was poor and I was rich but I didn't care. But all I wanted was to spend the rest of my life with him and my parents objected to it. I fought against them and they disowned me. I was heartbroken that they didn't want to take their time to get to know your father and see that he was a good person else than just a poor boy. We got married and brought a little farm. I don't know if my parents are still alive in your time. If they are, well, you may visit them if you want to. It's your choice.

I have one little hint that you will know if the person is right for you, if his hand fits your hand together. Then he is right for you.

I'm giving you my locket so you could always look at us and say hello once in a while. Remember, my darling, no matter what happens, I will always love you and support you in heaven.

Love,

Mother."

By the time I finished reading the letter, tears were running down my checks. I sighed heavily and look out at the lake. The full moon is out and I could see millions of stars. I looked for the North Star and found it.

"Now I know the truth." I whispered.

I don't know how long I was out there, staring at the full moon, lost in my thoughts before I heard the rustling behind me. I looked behind me and it was Gabriel.

Gabriel joined me. "I know now. I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry? It's not your fault." I said, putting my head on his shoulder.

He put his arm around me. "Father was trying to protect you. It was hard for him to tell you. I could tell."

"I know that. It's just that I feel so betrayed. I don't know if I could trust Father or forgive him. I need time. I'm sorry." I begin to sob.

"Shh. It's alright. I understand. But you need to go home. Everybody is worried about you. Also, you need your rest. It's almost midnight." Gabriel says, rubbing my arm.

"Alright, I'll go back. I'm getting cold anyway."

"Let's go." Gabriel says, taking my hand and we both started to walk back.

As I entered into the house, I walked past the reading room when Father called out.

"Emily. Please come here."

I entered into the room. Aunt Charlotte is sitting on the couch with a cup of tea in her hands and Father was sitting in a chair near the fireplace.

Father stood up and walked to me.

"You're back." He says, with a surprised look on his face.

"Of course I'm back. I have no place to go and this is the only place I know. The only reason I'm staying now is because of the children. They went through hell seeing Thomas die and I am certainly not going to damage them more by leaving them. Tonight, I have discovered that I have no family. I'm orphan. I don't know who I am, besides my adopted name. From now on, I will call you Father in front of the children and in public too. But in private, I will start calling you Benjamin. Is that clear?"

Father looked hurt by my request. "Yes, I understand."

"Well, good night. Benjamin."

"Good night. Emily."

I walked out and got into my room. I blew out the candle and got into my bed.

I began to cry, which grew into sobbing, so I had to stifle it into my pillow.

Soon, I fell asleep.

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