Hey guys! I only got one review from last chapter… :-(
But, I wanted to say thank you to Inuhime313 for leaving a review and for helping me with one of the chapters. Anyway, I do hope that you'll like this chapter. Thanks…. Like I said before, please help me to reach the goal. Thanks.
The next day after Nathaniel left for the war, I was doing laundry when I came across Nathaniel's shirt.
He must have forgotten it. I picked it up and sniffed it. I could smell him. Tears came quickly to my eyes.
I hugged the shirt. It may seem silly to someone but it comforted me. I miss him so much but I also miss my family.
I put down the shirt on my bed and walked out of my room. Chingachgook was cooking when I found him. I sat down and watched him cutting the meat.
"I'm going back to my home tomorrow."
He stopped and turned around. "Because Nathaniel is gone, right?"
"No, I'm homesick. I miss my family and they haven't seen me for two months. I think it's time for me to leave."
He sighed heavily.
"Alright, but I am coming with you. You cannot ride by yourself. Is that clear?"
I smiled and gave him a hug.
"Yes, it is clear. Thank you."
He nodded.
I went back to my room and packed my clothes. I stopped and looked at Nathaniel's shirt. I decided to take it with me, so I put it in my sack.
I can't wait to go home and see my family again.
The next morning
We woke up at the dawn and got ready for our trip to my home. I got up on my horse, and so did Chingachgook. He waited for me while I looked at Nathaniel's home.
Then I nodded to Chingachgook and we took off on long journey to my home.
It was dark by the time we entered Charlotte's driveway.
I smiled and looked at him.
"I'm home now... Aunt Charlotte will provide you the guest room. I'm going to take off now." I said in hurry, and took off.
I got to the front of the house and the servant helped me down from my horse.
"Miss Emily, it's has been a while since we last saw you!"
"I know, I apologize. I have a guest coming so please direct him to the guest room. He doesn't speak English so just make hand gestures. Thanks!" I said and ran into the house.
"Aunt Charlotte! I'm home!" I yelled, standing in the center of the house.
I heard hurried footsteps and yelling. The children came running down the stairs and shouting my name.
I almost fell over when they gathered around me and hugged me tightly.
"Oh, I miss you so much, guys! I'm sorry that it took me so long to get home. I'm alright now." I said, kissing and hugging the children. I heard someone called my name behind me and I turned around.
"Oh Emily! I am so happy to see you!" Aunt Charlotte says, rushing to me.
We both hugged tightly and cried happily. The children gathered around us and hugged us.
I introduced Chingachgook to the children and Aunt Charlotte at supper. The children looked at him in awe and Aunt Charlotte smiled at him... but I could tell she wasn't sure about him.
After supper, we went into the reading room and the children sat around him, near the fireplace. The children were begging for stories from him and he smiled as I translated their pleas to him.
He nodded and begins to tell one of his stories and I translated. When he finished, some of the children were sleeping and some of them were happy.
"Its bedtime, children." Aunt Charlotte says, standing up and nodded to Chingachgook.
I take sleepy little Susan and carried her upstairs, putting her in bed. I put her doll in her arm and kissed her forehead. Margaret got in next to her and I kissed her also.
I walked out and closed the door behind me.
Chingachgook nodded to me and went into his guest room. I walked downstairs to the reading room and sat down in the chair near the fireplace.
Aunt Charlotte joined me after she put the children to bed except Nathan, who were too excited to sleep.
I was staring into the fireplace, thinking about Nathaniel when Aunt Charlotte interrupted my thoughts.
"What happened to you two months ago? I got a letter from Virginia saying that you were ill. But I knew she was lying. Now you come home with a stranger, an Indian!"
Aunt Charlotte looked mad.
I closed my eyes and sigh heavily. I stood up and put my hands against on the top of fireplace.
"Two months ago, I went to the Lord Cornwallis' ball with Virginia and her parents. While I was there, I saw Colonial Tavington. I panicked and told Virginia that I had to leave... I told her the truth about what happened to Thomas. I made her promise me that she would pretend to be me and write you letters if something happened to me. I left the ball, and the driver was going too fast... the storm broke out.... and the carriage flipped over, throwing me out. I hit my head and the driver was killed instantly.
A man found me in the forest and he carried me home. He saved my life.... if he hasn't found me soon, I would be dead. That's how I met Chincahgook. He also took care of me too. He taught me his language so I could speak to him.
"The man, who saved my life, is Chingachgook's adopted son. His name is Nathaniel Poe, or known as Hawkeye. We became good friends... slowly; we began to fall in love. Aunt Charlotte, I love him. I know he's the one.... and we have talked about the future couple of times after the war is over. I turned around and she had the shock on her face.
"But you only knew him for two months... don't you think you are going too fast?"
"No, Aunt Charlotte. I know that in my heart... he's my soul mate. His hand fits my hand. Mama told me in the letter... that's how you know someone is right for you."
Aunt Charlotte smiled a little and looked down.
When she looked up, she had tears in her eyes. She stood up and walked to me. I was taken back when she hugged me.
"I'm very happy for you. I'm glad you found him."
"Then why are you crying?" I asked, concerned for her.
"Those are happy tears. Now, tell me. Where is he? And how old is he?"
"He decided to join the war now. And he is thirty-five years old. Almost Father's age... I guess."
"I would like to meet him someday... and you do know that he has to get your Father's approval, right?"
"Yes... I'm scared that Father won't accept him... I'm tired. I must go to bed now."
She caresses my cheek. "Yes, we must go to bed now." She takes my arm and we leave together to our rooms.
We greeted good nights and separated to our rooms. I was too tired to change into my nightgown, so I decided to sleep in my clothes.
I was dreaming about Nathaniel when I heard shouting. It sounded like Nathan. Nathan? I slowly opened my eyes and saw Chingachgook. I almost screamed but he covered my mouth quickly.
"We need to leave now! Some Calvary is coming!" He whispered quickly, pulling me off the bed. I grabbed my bag contained Nathaniel's shirt and ran with him downstairs and met up with Aunt Charlotte and the children.
Aunt Charlotte took us to the dining room and closed the door behind us. We heard the front door opened. Aunt Charlotte was panicking and then, she remembered something.
"Follow me." she says, passing us. We followed her. "We'll go downstairs to the kitchen." she says, opening the secret door. We got in, I and Aunt Charlotte helped the children get down. I could hear Nathan talking Margaret and Samuel.
"Margaret, quick. Get down there fast."
"Sam, get down there fast."
When Samuel got down, we heard the door closed behind us and no sight of Nathan. Aunt Charlotte and I begin to panic... and Samuel calmed us down.
We were very quiet, and yet, I was worried about Nathan. We could hear the footsteps over us.
I looked at Aunt Charlotte and Samuel and she are huddled together.
I could see the dust falling off the ceiling. We saw the Soldier looking in the window with the torch. Thank god he couldn't see us.
We could hear the Soldiers talking overhead us.
"There's no one in the house, Sir." the soldier said.
"They can't be far."
My eyes widened and Aunt Charlotte looked at me in confusion. I mouthed to her. "It's Tavington."
She gasped softly.
"Search the outbuildings and the woods, quickly." said Tavington.
"Yes, Sir." the soldier says, walking away.
It seemed like eternity to us; but finally, Nathan was able to get in with us. Aunt Charlotte and I were very relieved that he was okay.
"Go." Aunt Charlotte whispered to us. We moved quickly out of the kitchen and ran outside to the nearest bush. Thankfully, the soldiers did not see us.
We hide behind the bush. We watched the soldiers bringing the servant and slaves.
Tavington asked him a question about where we were and the servant didn't know. The soldier behind Tavington shot him.
We all gasped. We were observing the scene when we heard something behind us. We turned quickly around and Aunt Charlotte gasped.
It was Gabriel and another man with him.
Margaret said his name and he shushed the children. William was asking Gabriel about where was Father. He again shushed William.
We looked back at the scene, and the soldiers begin to throw the torches over the balcony and inside the house.
"No!" I whispered. Chingachgook squeezed my shoulder to comfort me.
We heard gunshots behind us and we all turned around quickly. It's Father, with his soldiers! The Green Dragoons Cavalry was ordered to go after Father, and they all galloped away.
"Come on. It's all right. Come here, Susan." Gabriel says, taking Susan and telling the children to move. They all move and I sat there with Aunt Charlotte, staring at her home burning. I looked at her with tears in my eyes.
Gabriel called after Charlotte.
"Aunt Charlotte, we have to go now." I whispered, taking her arm. She stood up and we all ran with Gabriel and the children.
My, My, My... Tavington is back for a little scene. *Grins Evilly*... Please leave a review!! Thanks!