Chapter 4: off the ship and into the world
This chapter was originally going to be bunched up with chapter 3 and 5, but I decided to spilt them all up. I may change it later, depending on how I feel and the response I get. I also apologize for the long amount of time this chapter took getting out. Apush is majorly kicking my butt, so I can't write as often as I like. Oh, to be free to write fanfics all day!
If I owned liberty's kids, don't you think that what I would have written would happen?
Sarah pov
Sarah was taken aback by the sudden revelation of the strange boy's identity. This was her intended? Sarah had to say, she was not impressed. His blonde hair was unpowered, and hung in a very lose ponytail that looked as though it would fall out the minute he move his head slightly. He was slightly shorter than her, and was wearing light brown pants, a vest, and a shirt that looked like it had seen better days. He seemed boorish and simple. Maybe mother was right about that southern planter.
Neither of them spoke until a large crash snapped them over of their stupor. Those dirty savages were finally getting their just desserts. British soldiers were storming on to the ship to break up the riot. Sarah hoped that captain Reynolds would be able to make up the cost of the tea somehow. The east India Company was close to bankruptcy and as a captain on their payroll, Reynolds may have been close to being penniless. Sarah's train of thought was shattered when her "intended" grabbed her arm.
"Come on! We need to go before the lobster backs find us." Her "fiancée" roared in a whisper as he led Sarah up the stairs and on to the deck.
"Let go of me you brute! Help! Help! He-mph!" Sarah's cries for help were muffed by her "intended's" hand shoved over her mouth.
"Keep quite! Do you want to end up in the stocks, or worse?" he demanded. They both crossed the deck slowly to avoid notice, and were almost to the end when a soldier blocked their way.
"Oi! You rebels! Stop!" not stopping to heed the redcoat's words, her "fiancée" quickened his pace. The soldier reached out blindly for a way to hold them. his hand found the chain of Sarah's locket, and he proceeded to pull. She cried out as the gilded chain dug into her neck, drawing blood. Another tug broke the chain, and Sarah's locket was sent down into the frigid waters of Boston harbor. Her last link to her father had vanished, and there was nothing she could do about it
James pov
"Come on! We have to move before they get us!" James ordered. The British soldier who ripped off the girl's necklace was closing in fast. Pulling her behind him James half ran and half staggered down the walkway to the dock. Once they got off the ship, they could disappear in Boston. In such a large city, the red coats would never find them. He could already see Moses at the end of the alley, who had grabbed her belongings before the ruckus started, and was now loading the luggage on the cart.
The British soldier still pursued them tirelessly. James could see that with the girl's dead weight, he wouldn't out run the British officer, so he instead decided to hide. Turning the corner, James crouched behind some boxes. Looking to his right, he could see that the girl at least had some sense, since she had also crouched down. The British soldier bumbled his way up the alley, but stopped just before the crates. James silently promised the lord that he would pay more attention to the sermon if he delivered them. Looking right and then left, the British soldier headed back down the alley. James mused that brains probably weren't on the immediate list of requirements for British soldiers.
After a few minutes, James and the girl rose from their hideout and briskly walked to the wagon, with James leading the way. Once there, they sat down and Moses prompted the horses to move. Henri was buzzing with excitement about the Boston tea party, but when he noticed the girl, he stopping his energetic ramble and began to integrate her.
"Who are you? And why have you come with us?" he asked. James decided that that would always be the first question he'd ask. No longer would anyone surprise him like the snobbish red-head had surprised him with her identity.
"My name is Sarah Phillips. I believe dr. franklin sent worded to you about my arrival and- my locket! It's gone!" Henri's question must have snapped the girl out of her daze. It figured that she would only care about stupid things like jewelry.
Sarah pov
"Your locket? Why don't you get a new one! We have a very good sliver smith in Philadelphia! He can make anything you want except a sliver plated carriage. I know, I asked him once! Dr. Franklin gets all his sliver there! He gets his forks, his knives, his…" the French boy drifted from topic, Obsessed with sliver it seemed. Sarah tuned him out, and focused on her locket. She couldn't believe it was gone. She remembered exactly when it was given to her.
November 1767
"Goodbye papa!" 10 year old Sarah said as she hugged her father for the last time.
"Goodbye Sarah. Ah, my dear brave girl! I will miss you so much!" Sarah's father, major Phillips, was being sent out to explore the land in the Ohio valley and to seek out better relationships with the tribes who lived there. Many of them had sided with the French during the war, and the English thought of them as valuable possible allies.
"I'll miss you too papa!" Sarah's mother ahemed behind her. Sara knew to speed things up from there.
"Here Sarah. I bought you this locket. Think of me when you wear it. Promise me that you will always keep it close to your heart" Sarah's father handed her the locket as she nodded. He smiled and hugged her one last time before he climbed abroad a ship.
Sarah heard her name, and instantly snapped out of her thoughts. The Negro man, Moses was talking.
"James, Henri, Sarah, it looks like the axis is broken on this wagon. It'll have to go somewhere for repairs. I know of a house around here somewhere that will give us shelter for the time being. Should be an easy fix, if I can get the right parts and tools"
Moses got out and walked the horses the rest of the way. Now that Sarah was focused on her surroundings, she did notice that the wagon bumped them around every few feet. It was probably best settle down for the night than to risk the roads. Even while she was in England, Sarah had heard about the poor conditions of roads in the colonies.
James pov
This was just great! Not only was the wagon broken, but James couldn't think of anything to say to his future "wife". He was lucky Henri had no idea what the situation at hand was, or else he would have made things more complicated by teasing them
"James." Moses said in a low tone so only James could hear him, "I'm no expert on relationships, but I would recommend you at least try to talk to Sarah about something. Ask her about that locket, she seemed a bit upset about it."
Taking Moses' advice, James huddled closer to the red head and spoke awkwardly, a rose tint decorating his face. "So Sarah, I don't mean to pry, but what was wrong about that locket?" he was really making an effort to be nice here.
"That locket was the last thing I had from my father. He went to explore the Ohio valley six years ago, and I haven't heard from him since. I miss him so much." The girl, Sarah, replied broken heartedly. She seemed desolate at the loss of her most precious possession.
"I understand. This ring on my finger, it belonged to my mother. She died, along with my father, when I was a baby. They couldn't afford one of dr. franklins lighting rods, so our house burned down in a storm. A passerby was able to pull me out of the fire, but my parents weren't so lucky. This ring was all that was left of them. That's why I sought Dr. Franklin out; he was one of my earliest heroes. His lighting rod saved many other families, not mine, unfortunately." James blinked back the tears that always threatened to fall when he talked about the subject. It wasn't even fair! He had never even known his parents! He vowed that his children (whether via Sarah or not) would always know their father.
"I'm so sorry. I know that might not mean much, but I understand." Sarah comforted. Scooting a tiny bit closer, Sarah wrapped her arms around James in a friendly hug. His face warmed up to the point one could have use it boil tea. He wished it could last forever-
"Sarah and James kissing in a tree! K-I-s-s-I-n-g!" of course, when you're having a moment as good as that, it just figured that someone like Henri would ruin it.
End
Mawahahahaha! I'm truly evil, aren't I? And is it just me, or are things looking romantic between our lovely couple! As you can tell, I'm not truly found of Henri. I'll probably only use him when I have to. Comment, and fav please, especially constructive critics!