Sadie had been reading a book when the carriage gave a lurch and she dropped her book. She gave an annoyed sigh and pulled the drape covering one of the widows to look outside.
"The caravan," she mumbled to herself.
One of the men had a uniform from the Dragoon. He got off his horse and walked towards the carriage. Sadie closed the flap and sat back as the door opened. The officer peeked inside.
"Good day my lady," he said brightly," I am Peter Gray from the Green Dragoon. Col. Tavington sent me ahead to meet up with the convoy and watch over you until he arrives."
"It is a pleasure sir," Sadie said politely.
"Now, It's been a while since you have left Middleton Place," Peter said," I bet you would enjoy a few moments to stretch your legs."
He held out his hand to her and she took it and stepped out of the carriage," You are too kind sir."
The soldiers around her bowed out of respect for a lady in their presence. Sadie smiled at them and let herself be led around by peter. He asked many questions to the other soldiers in regards to the stability of the carriage and the number of men watching around them.
"Sir, I assure you that everything is satisfactory," one of the soldiers said.
"let us hope you are right," Peter said," Don't forget that this is no ordinary shipment that you usually carry. This is the Lord Gen.'s niece."
"She has been very well taken care of," the soldier replied, this time sounding a bit annoyed.
After about ten minutes, Peter helped Sadie back into the carriage and then went to the head of the convoy and led them away.
Dear Diary,
It has been hours since I left my Uncle at Middleton Place to head to Ft. Carolina. I feel like royalty riding in this carriage flanked by all the soldiers. My uncle is very paranoid about me being on this trip without him. Mr. Grey is constantly checking in on me as if any moment I am going to leap out of the carriage and shoot myself. I bet anything that the Col. threatened him if he let anything happen to me. He and Samuel are going to meet the convoy very soon. I'm hoping that they get here soon, for I must admit that i am a little frightened to be traveling without them. i know...how can i be afraid when I have so many soldiers with me? Well I have heard how recently this Ghost character destroyed a convey bigger than mine all by himself. Not a very comforting story for a british lady. What if he was to stop us-
A sudden lurch from the carriage sent Sadie's journal flying from her hands and landing with a clunk on the other side of the carriage.
"What on earth-" she said.
"Sir I warn you," she heard Peter Grey shout," This convoy carries the Lord Gen.'s neice. We are all ready to attack should you detain us any longer."
"You and the Lord Gen.'s niece may leave piecefully," a younger sounding voice called back,"But leave the supplies."
A series of gunshots and shouting followed, causing Sadie to scream and scrunch up in the corner. There was a ton of yelling, and several voices shouting for the firing to stop, but the firing did not stop. The scene went on for less than five minutes, and Sadie heard someone begging for mercy only to be silenced by a gunshot. She was breathing very heavily; her heart racing and feeling like it was about to shoot out of her throat.
"These men were about to surrender!" the voice she heard earlier shouted.
"Perhaps," a french accented voice replied," We will never know.
The same voice shouted," They have the Lord Gen.'s niece in one of these carriages!! Are you crazy?''
There was silence. Sadie listened as her heart slowed a little.
"We are better men than this," the man said.
There was an outbreak of shouting and bickering. Then a voice rose above it all, silencing them.
"He is right," the man said,'' From now on any british soldier who surrenders will be given full quarter. Now, you heard Gabriel. There is a lady in one of these carriages. We need to deal with her first."
Some of the men started laughing, and Sadie began to shake as her cheeks flushed.
'Search the wagons."
There was a load of scuffling as the men began raiding the wagons. Sadie dug her nails into her gown and silently called for her uncle...the Col....Samuel...anyone. The door to her carriage flung open and she screamed, and so did the man who opened the door.
"Benjamin!" he yelled," i found her."
He backed away and another man peaked in. Sadie was freaking out now.
"Please," she choked," Don't kill me."
The man shook his head," We will not harm you. I'm sorry we frightened you. If you come with us we can help you. We will take you back to your uncle."
Sadie was frozen to the spot as Benjamin climbed into the carriage and more heads peeked in. She squeaked in fear. Ben sat across from her and told the others to go away. When they were gone he stared at her, then held out his hand. sadie stared at him.
"My name is Benjamin Martin," he said kindly," I'm the Col. with the continental militia."
Sadie stopped shaking and looked up at him," you...you're the...the Ghost..."
He nodded," At least..that's what everyone calls me."
Sadie took his hand slowly and he cautiously kissed it.
"I...I'm sorry about your son. I heard what happened to him...I was ashamed of the Col. when I was told that he killed him."
Benjamin smiled at her and squeezed her hand," Thank you. Thomas was a strong man."
Sadie nodded and felt her muscles relax.
"Come with me," Banjamin said," I'll look after you until we get to Ft. Carolina."
"You mean..you will take me there?"
"Yes. You are not a hostage, and i would not have you treated as one. We will bring your carriage."
Sadie smiled and took his hand again. The men around them took off their hats for her as Ben helped her from the carriage. She felt the tension inside her rise again.
"The militia is larger than i thought," she observed. A young man with blonde hair approached her and bowed to her.
"I'm Gabriel Martin," he said," It is a pleasure to meet you."
Sadie cursteyed to him. The men did not act like heathens as the Col. or her uncle described. They treated her with respect regardless of the fact that she was a lady of the other side. A series of barking jerked Sadie from her thoughts. Looking to her left she saw two great danes barking at the men trying to look in the wagon.
"Jupiter! Mars!" Sadie yelled excitedly. The two dogs flipped their ears forward, caught sight of her, jumped from the wagon and bolted for her. They slammed into her, knocking her down and showering her with kisses, each pushing the other out of the way for more attention from her. She laughed and ordered them to heal. They sat down on either side of her as she stood up.
"Oh my uncle will be so happy to see you," she said. Ben tried to approach her, but the two dogs burst out in angry barks and he backed off.
"Sorry," she said to him," They have always been quite protective of me."
Ben smiled," It's alright. I'm sure their company will make you a little more comfortable around us. Now, it's getting pretty late...too dark to travel. If you will permit it, we will travel a little and make camp for the night."
Sadie nodded, and Ben led her back to the carriage. He hid behind the door a little as Jupiter and Mars climbed in after her.
Dear Diary,
I spoke too soon when I wrote earlier. I did my best to keep my eyes off the dead soldiers around me. It took much effort on my part not to get sick at the site. i was scared to death, and still am a little at this moment. I have become aquainted with the Ghost himself and his son and the rest of the militia. They are not savage as my uncle and the Col. have said. They are kind, and treat me as a lady should be treated. i have found Jupiter and Mars, my uncle's dogs, whom I did not know were in this convoy with me. My uncles things have been repossesed by the militia. Perhaps I will remember the places they will take me, and i can relay this information to my uncle who in turn can have it retrieved. Benjamin Martin has been very kind to me, but I cannot have him steal my uncle's things. Also, my uncle will know soon enough where I have been, therefore i cannot lie to him about where his belongings are. He will be angry enough that the militia attacked my convoy.
