Hello, everybody! Thanks for the reviews! I really appreciate them. I hope you're enjoying my story so far. Please leave the review when you're done. :-D
It is almost dawn now and it is very foggy this morning. We have been walking all night, and everybody is so exhausted.
So we took a quick break and I put William, Margaret, and Samuel on the three horses that Gabriel and John Billings brought to us. I put my bag on one of the horses.
I asked Nathan if he wanted to ride the horse with William and he didn't want to. He just wanted to walk.
Gabriel saw that I was tired and he offered me a seat with Margaret but I declined.
After the quick break, we started to walk again on this strange trail. I didn't know where we were going but I am too tired to care.
The children are behind us with Mr. Billings and Chingachgook. Aunt Charlotte is at Gabriel's side and Gabriel is holding Susan's hand. I am at Aunt Charlotte's side.
"They won't stop looking for us." Aunt Charlotte says, shaking her head. Gabriel looked at her.
"You'll be safe where we're taking you. Father said it was a perfect place to hide."
Aunt Charlotte smiled. "How is he?"
"I don't know. I'm his son." Gabriel smiled at her and they smiled to each other.
"Where is Father?" Susan asked.
My heart stopped because she is finally talking after all these years. Gabriel is shocked and excited. Gabriel looked at Aunt Charlotte and she laughed.
"Speaking for months now." Aunt Charlotte says, smiling at me and Gabriel.
"Speaking for months now." Gabriel repeated, smiling.
"Why did he go?" Susan asked.
"Uh... he didn't want those mean men to find you, so he led them away. He'll come see you as soon as he can."
"I don't care. I hate him." Gabriel stopped her and bends down to look at her.
"Susan, you don't hate him." he whispered.
"I hate him, and I hope he never come back." Susan said and ran off. Aunt Charlotte went after her.
It broke my heart to hear Susan saying things about Father, knowing that I went through the same thing with Father couple years ago when he told me the truth about my real family.
Gabriel was sad and speechless, still on the ground. I walked to him and pulled him up gently.
"Don't worry about Susan. She'll understand... and she'll learn to forgive Father someday... like I did few years ago."
Gabriel smiled sadly and hugged me.
"It's been a while since we last saw each other." Gabriel says, taking my arm into his and we walked together.
"I know... it feels like it has been ten years to me. Just don't tell Father about what Susan said."
He shooked his head and says "I won't."
"Good..." I whispered.
We continued to walk together in silence until Gabriel interrupted my thoughts.
"Who is the Indian man and why is he with us?"
I chuckled a little. "It's a long story."
"Try me... I've got all the time in the world." He smiled.
"Alright, his name is Chingachgook..."
I told him the whole story, leaving out part about being in love with Nathaniel.
When I finished, he was speechless.
"And you can speak his native language??"
I laughed at him. "Yes, I can."
We continued to talk, just like the old times before the war broke out.
When we arrived at the beach, I was confused. Gabriel wouldn't tell me the name of the place and I was very stubborn, that I can tell you.
There were little houses built of woods and the roof made of hays. The more we got closer, the more I realized that this was the haven for servants and slaves.
They were looking at us as we moved. Williams started to run, and the children followed him.
"Abigale!" William called out. Abigale ran out with her arms out. They reached to each other and hugged. I could see Abigale's biggest smile on her face.
"You're alive!" William said. The children gathered around Abigale brought tears to my eyes.
I walked forward quickly and stopped few feet from her. She saw me and the children let go of her. Abigale walked to me.
Abigale put her hand on my cheek and smiled with tears in her eyes.
"Child... you have grown up so much." she whispered. I laughed quietly. "Yes... I have grown so much. You look the same since I last saw you." I whispered.
She hugged me tightly, and we were laughing and crying together in joy.
By afternoon, Gabriel and Mr. Billings had to go back to their militia and make a report to Father that we are safe now.
Two days later.
Ever since we settled down, the children have been playing a lot and I have been helping Abigale with chores. I decided to take a break and go to walk on the beach.
I took off my shoes and walked. I could feel the sand and the cold water on my feet as I walk. I got tired of walking and sat down on the log.
I looked out at the sea, watching the sea birds flying around the sea. I love to feel the breeze and the sun against my face, the sun warming me and the wind cooling me down.
I sighed heavily and closed my eyes. I could see Nathaniel's eyes... they're green but sometimes they can be deep green when the sun is out.
I could see his smile... I could hear his wonderful laugh. I could see him... being so serious and happy when he tells me his stories.
I could feel his warm arms around me... comforting me.
I felt someone sat down next to me and I opened my eyes and looked to see who it was.
"You're thinking about Nathaniel." Chingachgook smiled at me.
"Yes, I miss him so much." I said, putting my head on his shoulder. Chingachgook put his arm around shoulder and kisses me on the top of my head.
He sighed heavily. "Are you going to marry him?"
"I would like to someday." I said, looking at him.
Before he could say another word, Susan came running to me, interrupting us.
"Emily, could you braid my hair? Please?"
"Do you have the brush?"
"Yes, I do!" Susan says, handing me the brush.
"Alright, come sit on my lap and I'll do it."
Chingachgook stood up and started to walk away. I call out his name and he turned around.
"We'll talk about it later." I said, smiling.
He nodded and walked away.
"Alright now, Susan. Do you want French braid or pigtails?"
"Pigtails!" Susan giggled.
"Alright." I begin to brush her hair, dividing half of her hair.
I started to braid her hair on one side when she asked me something.
"Do you hate Father?"
I stopped... then assumed braiding.
"No, I don't. I understand why he's not with us. Gabriel had this conversation with you earlier, so why are you asking me?"
"I was wondering. I do love Father but I hate him so much. I just don't understand why he couldn't take us with him."
I finished the braid and started making on another braid.
"Because it is not safe for you and our family. Besides, we would have to move around all the time to stay away from evil men. Would you like that?"
"No, I wouldn't." Susan sighed heavily.
She was quiet so I began to hum, tying her pigtail ends with white ribbons.
"I missed you singing to us every night." Susan says, breaking the silence.
I smiled. "Well, now I'm back, I'll sing to you before bedtime. Would it make you happy?"
She turned around and kisses me on the cheek. "Yes, I'd like that! Thank you for my braids."
I kissed her on the forehead and smiled. "You're welcome."
I was sitting with Abigale, Margaret, and Aunt Charlotte, writing a letter to Anne Howard when suddenly, Margaret slowly stand up, looking at something.
I looked at where Margaret was looking and I see two horse riders galloping to us.
Margaret starts to run. "Father!" Margaret screamed excitedly. The children followed her. "Papa! Papa!" the children yelled.
I stayed behind with Susan while Aunt Charlotte walked to them.
The look of joy on Father's face made me smile. Father saw us and began to walk.
When he got closer, he was looking at Susan with open arms.
"Susan?"
Susan ran off, leaving Father sad and hurt. I didn't follow Susan because I knew that she needed her space.
"Father..." I whispered. He cleared his throat and pretended to be happy.
"Emily..." he smiled and hugged me tightly.
"Oh Father... It's been too long."
"I know... I can't believe you're all grown up." He says, caressing my cheek.
I caressed his cheek. "Father... give Susan some time. She is confused right now." I whispered.
He nodded.
"How long will you stay with us?" I asked.
"Oh, about a week. By the way, someone will be staying with us."
"Who?" I asked curiously.
He didn't get the chance to answer when I heard galloping and turned around. I begin to walk slowly... straining to see who it was.
When the stranger got closer, I gasped softly and began to smile.
I started to run. "Nathaniel!!" I started laughing.
Nathaniel stopped his horse, got off quickly and ran to me.
When we reached each other, I jumped into his arms, wrapping my legs around him and he held me up.
We hugged each other tightly and we began to kiss each other passionaly. He put me down slowly, still kissing me.
When we stopped kissing, he caressed my cheek.
"You came back." I whispered, smiling.
"Yes, I did. I missed you so much."
"Me too." We kissed softly.
Nathaniel looked behind me. "Looks like we have some audience."
I looked back. The children are giggling, Aunt Charlotte smiling at us, and Father and Gabriel has the shock look on their faces.
I giggled. "We're going to have to explain to Father." I said.
"I know... let's hope he won't get angry and kill me. I'm his soldier, you know?" I nodded, giggling.
He takes my hand and we walked together slowly.
YAYYY!!!! Nathaniel is back!!!!! *SIGHS*!!!! Please leave a review so you can find out how her father handles their romance. *SMILES*