Author's notes: Warning, I am posting this at 3 in the morning, so who knows how many mistakes are in it. I tried to quickly go thru and proofread and correct, but I am sure at this hour, that some things have escaped my tired eyes and mind. I will go back through it tomorrow-well, I guess that is later today, and correct it. Thanks for patience. And again, a sincere thanks for all your comments and compliments, and for reading and staying with this story that has ballooned into an epic. I swear that it is just a few chapters now from the end.

JScorpio

Chapter 81 Fear And Respite

February 1783…..

William woke up, the urge to relieve himself the culprit. As he stretched his arm across the bed, he noticed that Melanie wasn't in it.

"Melanie?" he called softly.

When there was no answer, he didn't worry. She was probably in the nursery tending to one of the twins. He got out of bed and crossed the room, where he went behind the privacy screen and urinated into the chamber pot.

After that, he walked into the nursery, ready to help his wife with the twins if she needed him. When he didn't see her in there, he entered anyway to check the children. Smiling at how soundly they slept, he left the room and found himself in the hallway.

"Melanie?" he called, still with no response. Now concerned, the officer moved his feet a bit faster, descending the steps to the first floor. Once downstairs, he stood in the still darkness, looking around the room as he did. In a moment, he heard muffled sobs, soon following them into the small parlor.

In the dark, he could discern his wife's crumpled figure on the floor. She leaned on the wingback chair, her face buried in its material.

Tavington crouched down in front of the young woman. Sighing, he spoke softly to her, reaching out and lightly touching her shoulder. "Melanie," he whispered.

She looked up at him and sniffled. He could see the tears glinting on her cheeks in the moonlight through the window. The officer touched her face gently, wiping away a tear with his thumb.

The general took hold of her body and helped her up, sitting her gently down in the chair. He knelt in front of her.

"You had that dream again, didn't you?" asked William.

Mrs. Tavington nodded mutely, wiping at the tears with her hands. She gazed tearfully at her husband.

"Darling, you know it's just a dream," he affirmed. He noticed that she had a book clutched tightly in her hand. The general eased it gently out of her fingers. It was the Prescott family bible, worn and frayed. William opened the front cover and even in the little light in the room, with his dark adjusted eyes, his fingers swept across the name Worthe Caldwell Tavington, their recently stillborn child. A pang of pain touched his heart as he closed the book and placed it back on a nearby table.

"It's always so real," Melanie sobbed. "I hear a baby crying and I know it's him. It's Worthe. I know he is crying for his mama. And I just have to go to him."

William took Melanie into his arms, letting her speak and weep. "I look for him and I can't ever find him." She buried her face in his shoulder, sobbing again.

"Dear, you know he is gone," William reminded gently. "I know this has been difficult for you."

"He wasn't christened," she wept. "I hope he is in Heaven."

"Of course he is, darling," Will assured. "I'm sure your parents are with him and have him in their care."

Melanie nodded.

"Let's go back to bed," urged Tavington. William put his arm about his wife's waist and guided her back up the stairs to their room. They looked in quickly on the twins before they entered their bedchamber.

Once in there, Melanie crossed the room to the window where she looked out over the dark lawn. It was illuminated by the moon. She lowered her eyes and caught sight of a shadow in the opening between the trees. The girl blinked, then looked again, noticing the figure of a man there. Her mouth dropped open as she recognized the man as Benjamin Martin. And he just stood there, looking up at her in the window from the grass.

The young woman let out an audible gasp, covering her mouth with her hand. She couldn't believe her eyes as she had known the man to now be residing in the Kentucky territory, far from here.

William turned at his wife's gasp, seeing the alarm on her face. "What is it?"

Melanie lifted her arm and pointed out the window. "Martin," she answered shakily.

General Tavington ran to the window and caught sight of a man that looked like the same body build as the militia colonel. He didn't see the man's face as the intruder had just turned to run.

William immediately grabbed his pistol and yelled instructions to his wife as he tore from their room. He was barefoot and clad only in his breeches.

"Get in the nursery and lock the door!"

Melanie ran out of the room behind him, flying into Mary and Will's room. She bolted the door behind her and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the two babes still asleep in their crib.

William was shouting to anyone and everyone in the house as he entered the hallway to rouse whatever servants he could. Diedre, fortunately a light sleeper, heard the commotion and emerged instantly from her quarters in the house.

"What is it?" she shouted.

"Wake Mr. Andrews and Barnes," Tavington instructed. "There's an intruder on the grounds! I'm going after him!"

"Yes sir!"

Tavington ran as swiftly as his legs could move once he picked up a trail of mashed down grass on the front green. He ran through the dark with only the moonlight over his shoulder, desperately looking and listening for any sign of the invader.

After a few minutes of running in the dark across the plantation, he could hear the distant shouts of Barnes and Andrews, obviously out and searching, as well. William's adrenalin had coursed through his body, and when his lungs burned with exhaustion and his leg muscles stung with pain, he stopped. The officer looked about and couldn't believe how much ground he had covered by himself.

Standing near the trail to the creek, he looked about again, hoping to hear or see the intruder. He heard nothing, to his disappointment. "Damn," he swore, upset that he couldn't catch Martin on his property.

In just another minute, Mr. Andrews rode up on horseback. William looked up at the farm overseer.

"Any sign?" William asked.

"None, sir," Andrews answered. "Was it a man?"

"Yes," Will said, still trying to catch his breath. "My wife saw his face. She said it was Benjamin Martin."

"The militia colonel?" asked Andrews, a look of puzzlement crossing his face. "I thought he was sent to Kentucky. Do you know for certain?"

"No," General Tavington admitted. "I only caught sight of the back of him. He was short, with the same build of body as Colonel Martin's."

William looked about and sighed in frustration, swearing again. "Damn it!"

~/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/~

The Tavington's and their servant staff spent a tense rest of the night locked in the mansion, pacing the floors. Melanie and William sequestered themselves in the twins' nursery, sleeping, or rather trying to, in the small bed near their crib.

The next morning came, finding General Tavington tired and apprehensive. He had been called to report to duty again in Camden. He didn't like leaving his family with Martin, clutched in the throes of Syphilitic insanity, in the area. William wondered why the man, who had been sent to live out what was left of his diseased life with his brother in the Kentucky territory, was back now. Had he made his own way home? Had his own family sent him home? Had Mrs. Martin requested he be sent home? The only thing that the officer was certain of was that he had to protect his family with the former militia commander nearby.

Despite his worries, he managed a smile when he picked up his one year old son. He held the boy, tugging at his uniform, close and whispered in his ear. "Now remember what I said, Will. Papa is leaving so while I am gone, you are the man of the house. Take care of your mother and sister."

William chuckled at his own private joke with his toddler son, then kissed the boy's head. "I love you, my boy. Be good for Mama while I'm away."

He felt tugging on his breeches. "Da da!" William looked down to spy his daughter pulling herself up to standing, wanting to be held. Tavington put his son into Diedre's arms, and picked up his daughter, her arms raised, begging to be picked up.

"Ah, my little Mary," he said as he picked up his daughter. "Daddy has to leave for a few days. And I will miss you so much. Be good for mommy. I love you."

With a kiss on her head, he then gave her to Mrs. Sloane. The girl began to fuss and reach for her papa, but the servant soon disappeared into the parlor, taking the little thing to play with her brother and Diedre.

With that, William donned his civilian coat and descended the stairway from the veranda, with his wife following. He quickly folded and packed his red uniform coat into his saddle bag, talking with Melanie as he did.

"I sent Ezra into town this morning to ask the constable to come out to the house today," he informed. "Tell him what you saw and hopefully he will investigate."

"William, I know what I saw," Melanie began in a shaky voice, "and I wish you weren't leaving. I'm afraid."

He took his wife's hands in his, rubbing them gently. "I know you are. I spoke with the servants this morning and everyone knows to be alert and careful. And while I'm gone, the children will sleep with you in our bedchambers. Mr. Barnes and Mr. Andrews are moving into the spare rooms in the house temporarily to protect you."

Melanie leapt forward, wrapping her arms around William, burying her face in his chest. "Please, hurry back! I love you."

With that, Tavington looked down and took his wife's mouth in a long, sweet kiss. "I love you, too."

William reluctantly pulled from her embrace to mount his horse. Melanie reached up and took his gloved hand, a look of concern on her face.

"All will be well," he said, wishing to assuage her fears. "Just be alert and aware. Stay near the house."

Melanie nodded her head, then watched apprehensively as her husband rode away.

~/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/~

It was now mid afternoon, hours after General Tavington had left this morning. Melanie found herself outside showing Constable Evans where she saw Colonel Martin standing the night before. For the past hour, she'd answered questions from the officer, and given her own testimony as well. She cooperated fully, letting the constable stand at the window in her bedchamber to see the lawn from that vantage point, and let him look about the grounds for any clues.

Through the hour, Melanie had felt that the constable was sorry he'd answered their summons, and that he desired to be elsewhere. She had hoped that he would be willing and eager to help her since he'd held her family in such high esteem just years earlier. The girl remembered how much the constable had respected her late father. But he acted differently toward her now.

Evans and Mrs. Tavington continued talking as they walked from the spot between the trees where Colonel Martin has stood just hours earlier. He seemed anxious to leave as he neared his horse, leaving Melanie feeling cold and desperate.

"Mrs. Tavington, I'm afraid there isn't much I can do about this," he began, toying with his hat in his hands. "Colonel Martin was sent away to the Kentucky territory weeks ago, I'm told. Yet you claim you saw him here. Your husband saw the same man, but didn't see his face. And nothing was left behind—"

"Constable Evans," she interrupted, crossing her arms in front of her, trying to stay cool, "I can tell that you're not anxious to help us because I was Brutal Bordon's whore, and now I'm married to Tavington the Butcher. And I can understand that there will always be those who will never forgive our past sins."

The man immediately felt uncomfortable. He spoke up, trying to defend himself. "Madam, it's just that—"

"Constable," she broke in again, "Is it your job to uphold the law for all the people or just the rebel sympathizers?"

The man sighed, knowing that Mrs. Tavington's words, which struck a nerve, were legitimate. "For all the people, of course," he answered with a humble nod of his head.

Melanie pointed to Diedre, who was letting the children, who had just recently learned to walk, toddle about on the lawn. "Those are my—our—children," she informed, her voice trembling a bit, "They just turned one. They didn't ask to be born to parents with such past bad reputations. They are innocent of our sins. Please don't hold what William and I have done against them."

She sighed, looking at Evans as he observed the children walking about with Diedre's help. "If you won't help my husband and me, I understand that. But please protect my children, who've done nothing wrong."

The constable suddenly felt ashamed that he treated Mrs. Tavington differently than he would've had another good family with rebel leanings. He would have never treated her that way if her family were still alive. The officer felt even worse that the woman stood before him admitting her own sins, yet begging him to help her innocent children.

"Very well, Mrs. Tavington," he conceded. "I will make a report and pursue an investigation."

Melanie closed her eyes and let out a breath, feeling a bit of relief. "Thank you," she said, trying to hold back tears.

"But I can't guarantee what kind of results I will get," he began, holding up a finger as if to caution her. "You are right. The families around here have good memories, and when I begin to investigate, I have no doubt that some of the rebels will get a bad case of Lockjaw, not wanting to talk or help. But…I will try. You have my word on that."

With that, Evans mounted his horse and tipped his hat to the general's wife. She nodded back and thanked him again.

Mrs. Tavington watched the man trot away down the lane. Then she turned and watched the twins again, toddling about on the lawn, seeming to fall more than walk. The smile that had been on her face in gazing at her children soon turned to a frown. She studied them an instant more, then sighed and looked down at the ground.

Melanie turned away from the group and looked out over the plantation. She fought tears once more at actually having to hear the truth of what people in the region thought of her family now. But at least now she knew for certain where they stood. Then and there, she vowed that she and William would find a way, without any help, to protect their home, business and family.

~/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/~

Melanie sat quietly in the Prescott and Tavington family cemetery, enjoying the mild and unusual warmth of the February day. Although she sat silently, in the peaceful calm, her mind was whirling with thoughts. She thought about her visit with Constable Evans two weeks ago and how he had promised to help her with the Benjamin Martin situation. She had not heard back from the lawman, but neither had there been any more disturbances from the former militia colonel.

The young woman also thought of her stillborn son, Worthe. It was his grave that she sat on. She thought about how she would be giving birth to him in just days if her body would not have expelled him early. Melanie looked down at her stomach, placing her hand on her now flat middle, resting it over her empty womb. She caressed the area, feeling sad that she couldn't feel that infant son kicking her anymore. The general's wife lifted the same hand and traced the letters on the grave marker, that the stone mason had just placed days ago.

"He would have been born soon."

The voice pulled Mrs. Tavington from her thoughts. She looked up and smiled. "William, I'm glad you're home," she said, smiling at him.

The tall officer knelt down and kissed her. "Me, too," he replied. Tavington reached out to caress her face with his hand, resting it on her cheek. "I know this has been hard for you."

Melanie looked into his eyes and forced a smile. "I'll be fine." She leaned forward and put her arms around her husband to welcome him home. She rested in his embrace as he ran his fingers through her long, blonde hair, left loose today.

William pulled his wife up to her feet. The couple linked hands and began to stroll slowly toward his horse, hitched to a tree not far from the cemetery. General Tavington had returned and saw his wife in the cemetery. Instead of stopping at the house and leaving his steed with a stable boy, he rode straight out to greet his wife.

"How were things these past two weeks?" asked William as they walked along.

"Everything was fine. Martin didn't come back," Melanie informed.

"Did the constable come out?"

"Yes."

Melanie stopped and looked down at the ground. William looked quizzically at his wife.

"We're on our own, William."

"What?"

She sighed, then continued. "I got the distinct feeling from the Constable that he wasn't pleased at working with Brutal Bordon's Whore and her husband the Carolina Butcher."

William rolled his eyes. He couldn't believe that people of the area could not understand his role as an officer and his duty, and that his wife did what she needed to do to stay alive and keep her sanity. But then, General Tavington would never realize that they were just common citizens that got swept up in war, witnessing and living through the horrors of it.

"He promised to make an investigation," she informed, "but said that the people around here have good memories and that he doubted they would want to help us."

"Hmmm…Very well, then," sniffed William. "I could do a better job of protecting my family than any town constable can."

His wife smiled and laced her arm back through his. He would always be a fierce warrior until the day he died, she thought.

They sauntered along a little further, leaving the cemetery and walking toward William's horse. The general stopped as they walked, letting go of his wife as he did. Melanie gave him a questioning look for he appeared as though he had some news for her.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I've been discharged," he proclaimed. "I'm no longer an officer of the Crown."

Melanie could tell that he was disappointed, yet trying to be stoic about it. She felt his disappointment, as well, and let out a sad sigh.

"William," she began in nearly a whisper, shaking her head as she did, "I'm so sorry, darling."

She immediately went to him and wrapped her arms about his body. He slipped his arms around her as well, holding her close to him and reveling in the feeling. Tavington was glad to have an understanding and loving wife.

"I know this has been your life," she said, looking up at him.

He looked down at his wife, still in his embrace. "Thus far," he said. "I'll have to get used to not being a soldier anymore."

They parted from their embrace, took hands and strolled along again. "I could have stayed on—they still need officers; generals. But I would have had to move us all to England. And from there, we may have had to move to yet another country. I just didn't want to uproot you and the children, and even be parted from you again for long months. And, I like South Carolina. I've grown to love our plantation."

They continued walking along, Melanie quiet as she let William speak his heart. "I love being a father and a husband, which has helped this. And I like running the mills; being a business owner. So far I've liked owning this plantation."

"You are a good plantation master," Melanie said.

The two walked a few more steps in silence, William thinking about life as a private citizen, and Melanie concerned about her husband adjusting to it. She knew that he loved being a soldier.

Mrs. Tavington broke the silence. "My father loved being a farmer. He loved doing business with the people of the area, and having his family close by his side while he did."

Tavington stopped again and took his wife's face in his hand, stroking her soft lips and cheek with his thumb. Staring lovingly down into her eyes he spoke. "And I know that I will grow to love it just as much, with you and the children near me."

"Oh, Will," she murmured, rising up on her toes to give him a sweet kiss.

"I'll be fine," he assured her as their lips parted. "All will be well."

After a few more steps, they were soon standing next to William's horse. Melanie knew that her husband must be tired from his trip and would want to rest a bit. She smiled sweetly at him, ready to tell her that she would meet him at the house after his horse was stabled.

Tavington grabbed her hand and pulled her to him, giving her a long kiss. His wife pulled away from him,catching her breath as she did. He quickly twisted her body to where she faced away from him, and slipped his arms around her waist. The officer pulled her body back against his so that he could bend down and whisper in her ear.

"Take a ride with me around the plantation now," Will murmured.

"Don't you want to see the children, then rest a bit?"

"Yes, but I can do that in a little while," he said. "Right now, I want a few minutes alone with you; something we never seem to get anymore save for at night when we are both exhausted."

"Alright," Melanie agreed. She couldn't remember when the last time was she had ridden with him on his horse. She felt elated to have a few minutes alone with William; even if just to tour the farm.

After a moment to mount the beast, the couple were off on their jaunt about the plantation. They talked of mundane things as they walked along, with Melanie briefing him on what she knew of the business, then throwing in tidbits of what antics their newly toddling children had been up to the last week.

After riding along in silence for a moment, William broke the quiet. "Jim was discharged, as well."

"Oh?" Melanie said, turning her head back to look at her husband.

"Yes. And I know you have already surmised that he chose to stay and keep running his inherited business," William smirked.

Melanie laughed. "Well, how can the winery and brewery run without him?"

"By the way," Tavington said, "We've been invited to the Wilkins' for dinner tonight. As a sort of celebratory and retirement from the King's service."

The Tavington's rode on a little further until they came to some trees in a secluded grove out of the view of the busy farm. Will dismounted and helped his wife down. He retrieved a couple of blankets from one of his saddlebags, took Melanie's hand, and walked with her a few yards to a large maple tree. Once there, he spread out one of the blankets on the ground and partially unfolded the other one, wanting to keep it nearby lest the mild winter day, which felt more like a warm spring one, turned cold.

The couple sat down on the blanket, loving their respite from the busy life of parenting and running a large plantation. The two were facing each other, just enjoying the quiet and looking at one another's smiling faces.

Melanie broke the silence, taking his hand. "William, I'm so happy that you're home," the young woman proclaimed. "I miss you so much when you are away."

His cobalt blue eyes looked at her face, searching it and seeing longing, desire, and joy in it. His eyes found hers, and locked with them. "I love you so much. And I feel like I just keep falling more and more in love with you every day," she declared in a soft voice.

Tavington's heart and soul felt completely warm and secure. "I feel the same."

He sighed, and looked away, as if gazing out at something unseen over his wife's shoulder. The man faltered, unable to voice what it was he wanted—needed—to say.

"I wish I could put into words what is in my heart, and soul," he admitted. His wife cocked her head to the side, listening intently to what William needed to say.

"I love you and the children so deeply," he began, "And I feel like things have changed for me. I feel so differently than I felt just even five years ago."

She stayed quiet, wanting her husband to speak freely. "I am ashamed to admit that back then I was so selfish. I wanted glory to come from my fighting. I wasn't sure that I ever wanted to be married and have children. And I only cared for myself and what was best for me and I liked it that way."

William took a breath, held it, then let it out slowly. He went on. "And now, I can't imagine life without you and the twins. And I don't want it without you. I don't think of myself first anymore. I think of what is best for you, Mary and Will, and I like it that way."

With that he reached forward and pulled his wife onto his lap. She slid her arms about his body as he held her close.

"Oh William," she whispered, nearly sounding relieved at his words. Yet she had felt his love. The young woman looked down at her husband, then brought her face close to his and kissed his mouth softly.

When they parted from the kiss, Tavington spoke. "I love you more each day, Melanie." His lips took hers again in a deep kiss. Then his mouth moved to her ears, then neck, caressing her skin with his lips.

Melanie sighed, desire fired for her husband nearly immediately. "Make love to me, William," she murmured in a lusty sigh.

"I intend to," he whispered into her ear, his breath on the shell of it sending shivers through her body.

With his wife still across his lap, he began to unlace the front of her dress. As he did, Melanie reached for the other blanket and quickly wrapped it around the two of them. And as Tavington continued loosening the laces of her bodice, she reached downward and began to undo the cravat tied neatly about his neck.

In another moment, William found his neckstock gone and laying on the blanket next to them. He smiled, then captured his wife's mouth again with his. As he kissed her deeply and slowly, his hand went to the shoulders of her dress, pushing the sleeves down her arms.

Melanie's hands moved to William's vest and began to unbutton it. His own fingers soon took over the task. As they did, his wife slipped her arms out of her dress, letting the bodice fall lifelessly around her waist.

Mrs. Tavington smiled at her husband as she began to push his vest off. He soon finished the task of taking it off, laying it to the side of the blanket. As quickly as he did, he found Melanie's fingers undoing the small buttons at the top of his light linen shirt. As she did this, his lips found the base of her neck, which he kissed slowly as his hands began to softly caress her bare breasts.

"Oh…mmmm," she sighed, feeling his rough hands massaging her. She reached down and lifted his chin with her hand, wanting to kiss him again. As she did, she felt his hardness straining against the material of his breeches as she sat contentedly straddled upon his lap.

As they kissed slowly and sensuously, Melanie felt his fingers begin to roll and squeeze her nipples, which soon hardened into stiff little erections. The young woman began to kiss and nibble on her husband's ears as his hands continued warming her breasts.

Her mouth moved downwards to his neck, driving him insane with her slow, wet kisses that she dragged along his skin. Once again, her mouth found his, lingering there in another kiss.

When their mouths parted, his lips trailed more kissed down her neck and chest. The girl moaned aloud when she soon felt William's mouth capture the nipple on her left breast. His hand did not leave her right one, continuing to massage the nipple sensually. Melanie's head dropped back as she closed her eyes in passion, her blonde hair cascading down her bare back.

Soon Melanie felt William rock his body forward, putting her on her back on the blanket, keeping his body between her legs. They kissed again, both using a free arm to readjust the other coverlet over them. He soon covered her body again with his, his mouth moving again to taste and suckle at her taut nipples.

After another moment, Tavington sat up and back, pulling his shirt off over his head and tossing it aside as Melanie watched with desire. He reached forward and pushed the skirt up her legs to the top of her thighs. His wife reached up to his breeches and began to unbutton them. Soon, both William's and Melanie's hands were pushing his trousers down his hips.

With his pants down just enough to free his hardness, his body once again covered hers. Melanie slipped her hand between the two of them, greedily gripping his stiffness and moving her hand up and down the length of it, inciting both of their passion.

"Oh….William," she murmured in a lust laden whisper.

"See what you do to me?" he teased, whispering against the skin of her neck.

He reached between their bodies and pulled her hand away, which he guided to above her head, laying it there. Tavington paused another moment to adjust himself between her legs and positioned himself at her entrance.

William sank into her quickly with a hard, forceful thrust, making her gasp. After a few strokes in and out of her amply wet quim, she wrapped her legs tightly about his waist.

"Oh, darling, I have missed you so," she cried out in passion, happy to feel her husband thrusting his hardness into her again after so many days.

As he continued pushing and swerving within her, his mouth kissed her ear. He whispered, "Show me how much."

~/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/~

Later that evening, the Tavingtons and the Wilkins' families sat in the large, warm front parlor in the Wilkins' mansion. They had adjourned there after a sumptuous dinner.

At one end of the vast room sat Melanie and Bridget. Their four young children were there, as well. Mrs. Tavington held the two month old Cora Wilkins, who was quiet as her bright baby eyes gazed up at the beautiful woman, not her mother, now holding her. One year old Will sat on the floor with fifteen month old Jimmy Wilkins, both playing happily with toys spread out around them. Bridget read aloud from a letter she'd received from a cousin in Ireland. Baby Mary Tavington was more concerned with pulling herself up to standing on anything and everything in the room she could find.

At the other end of the room near the fireplace sat William and Jim, talking about where they would have been posted to and how far they could have gone in rank had they stayed in His Majesty's army. They laughed as both then talked of the men they had served with and both knew, trying to surmise whether those soldiers would stay in the service and if not, what they would do after.

As James poured Tavington another drink, William looked to his side and noticed his daughter toddling his way. She soon lost her balance and flopped backwards on to her bottom.

Her father chuckled at the disgusted scowl on her little face that she'd made at her stumble. Soon, she rocked her tiny body forward and began to crawl toward her papa.

"Da-da," she babbled. "Da-Da, Da-Da, Da-Da."

"Come here, Mary," he called. "Come to papa."

Her face lit up with a smile at hearing her daddy's voice, destroying the determined look that had been upon it just a second ago. In just another moment, she was at the wingbacked chair that her father sat in, pulling herself up to a standing position. From there, she extended her arms upwards, waggling her little fingers.

"Ub…..Da-Da…ub," she whimpered. William knew that 'ub' was her effort to say 'up, pick me up,' in a baby language that only a parent could understand.

"Alright, my dear," Tavington said as he reached down and picked the girl up. He sat Mary on his lap where she immediately began to suck the thumb of her right hand and grip and re-grip the fingers of her father's hand with her own little left hand.

Wilkins changed the conversation. "I've heard a bit of news that you will, no doubt, find interesting," James announced.

"Go on," Tavington advised.

"My overseer, Mr. Cowans, made a delivery yesterday to that pub in Wakefield," he began. "The pub owner, that German man Mr. Deeter, has a son that works for Mrs. Martin. He said that Benjamin Martin just showed up announced one day back at the farm. It came out that he left Kentucky and made his way back home."

William readjusted in his seat, to where he was sitting up straight and rigid, sure that he wasn't like the next thing that Jim was going to say about the Martin situation. He wondered if he should begin making more plans for protection for his family.

Wilkins continued on. "Mrs. Martin of course, welcomed him back in, letting him stay." Jim took a drink of his wine, then went on. "Apparently, a constable showed up there one day and the Deeter boy saw him talking alone with Ben's wife. A couple of days after that, Martin was gone again."

William tightened his grip on his baby daughter's waist, pulling her closer to him in a protective gesture. He went on listening intently to his neighbor.

"Deeter says that Mrs. Martin sent him away again," Wilkins informed. "She sent him to the asylum in Charles Towne."

William looked down at his beautiful little daughter sitting on his lap, kissed her head and breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God," he said.