Chapter 9: heralds at midnight
Here it is folks! The grand finale of the chronicles of my grounding! I'd like to thank l, for reviewing and making me feel all warm and fuzzy! Without you guys, I'd probably only be on chapter 4 at this time. For some reason, this particular chapter was epically hard for me to finish, but your reviews lifted me up, and I pressed onward, so here we are!
I've also been really busy with the holidays and all (getting the tree, buying presents, doing my church's Christmas pageant, plus my flash drive almost crashed on me) but in the spirit of good will, I've giving you guys this chapter as a (belated) Christmas gift to all of you, and also a birthday gift for those of you who (like me) have birthdays around Christmas. May you never get stiffed on your gift again!
Special shout outs to (in chronological order) TheBeatlesrcomin (awesome personified) , guest (unnamed), Butterfly Dreamer767, Frenchcookie (Guest), .18 (for her devotion and lack of sleep), hockeychick19 and my ever faithful minion, draco122. After a month of being grounded, reading something as amazingly positive as your guys' review really brightened up my day. You really rock man! Woman? Hermaphrodite? Genderless alien being? Well, whatever you guys are, you rock.
Chapter 13 is being a major pill writing wise, but expect a new chapter soon enough (I hope).
I'm sorry for the early update weirdness, but I accidently uploaded an earlier version with a few errors. Please enjoy the (slightly) better version.
To answer some of you guy's question, apush stands for advanced placement United States history, for those who regular class isn't stressful enough.
I don't own liberty's kids. Heck, I don't even own my AP text book!
April, 1775
Sarah pov
Sarah and James were forced to step back as an older gentleman answered the door. He was wearing normal clothes, despite the late hour, and held a burning candle in one hand.
"Yes? Who is it? Is someone ill?" he bellowed.
"Sir, we come from Pennsylvania gazette and…" Sarah started, but before she could continue, the aged man interrupted her.
"Ah, yes, my dear friend the printer! I'm surprised he didn't come and see me himself! After all, it's only a few days journey. Tell me, how is his wife doing?"
"We both know he isn't married, sir." Sarah retorted. She was still a little steamed about be interrupted. Quickly, the older man gestured them in and locked the door behind them. After this, he turned and spoke.
"I'm sorry for the secrecy, but even the trees seem to have ears nowadays. My name is Dr. Joseph Warren. Moses wrote me and said you'd be coming. I'll have that letter now, if you please." Reaching out his hand, Sarah uncertainly placed the letter in his outstretched palm. The man inspected the letter for a few minutes, a then, turning to two different panels on the wall, he knocked loudly. Out sprang two men, both about the same age as Moses.
"Sarah, James, this is Paul revere, and Billy Dawes." Dr. Warren explained," Paul, Billy, this letter we've received shows for a fact that British regulars are indeed planning on seizing both the ammunition storage, and our leaders, Adams and Hancock. The only way to stop them is to alert the local militias that they're coming. Now Paul, you and James can take the sea rout, and Billy, you and Sarah will take the land rout. You'll need all the help you can get, and I have a feeling we'll need to document this for posterity. James, Sarah, let's get you two into some clean clothes while Billy and Paul prepare."
Dr. Warren escorted James and Sarah to two different rooms, each one with basically the same furniture: a wardrobe, a writing desk with a candle burning on it, and a large four post bed. Sarah heard the door close behind her, and walked over to the bed, where a pile of neatly folded clothes sat waiting for her. She held up one of the strange garments and frowned, winkling her nose as she did so. Did they really expect her to wear that?
James pov
James made a few final adjustments to his new outfit, and then stepped out into the hell. The shirt and pants were well worn and simple, probably outgrown from the good doctor's son or a servant. His eyes flickered over to the other door. Sarah hadn't emerged yet, and James was curious. They only had a few more minutes before they needed to go. After an internal argument, during which his more intrepid side won, James hesitantly rapped on the door. "Sarah, are you almost done?" Sarah gave a muffled reply, and then after a minute or two, she emerged.
James wasn't sure how to react at all. Sarah wore a large hat; with most of her hair tucked in. she also wore a threadbare shirt, similar to the one he wore. To crown the spectacle off, she had on a pair of lose trousers, the bottoms lightly falling to her ankles. James gawked at her in dumbness for a bit, before she grabbed him by the collar, and pulled him towards her. "Don't. Say. A. word." She hissed, before releasing him and moving towards the yard.
Outside, the men gaped at Sarah for a moment, but the fire in her eyes was enough to turn their heads away. Dr. Warren walked over, and seeing Sarah's distress, tried to calm her down, a difficult feat.
"Sarah, I know this may seem strange, but a young girl, riding in the middle of the night with an older man might give people to the wrong idea. They might think you're of… ill repute. Plus, you'll raise less interest dressed like this." She nodded, and climbed on Billy's horse. Not wasting a moment, the two sped off into the night.
"James would and Paul will be heading to the old south church. Reverend Newman will know whether the British are coming by land or by sea. You'll need to signal Billy and Sarah, and then you two will make your way across the river via rowboat." Dr. Warren explained. James and Paul briskly walked to the church. They arrived at the old south church and were greeted by reverend Newman. He silently handed both James and Paul a lantern.
"Two. That mean by sea, or the Charles River. Let's get up." Paul instructed. He and James began the long, three story climb up to the steeple. Using another candle, Paul set the lamps aglow and shifted them close to the window. Nodding their thanks to the good vicar, they made their way to the water front. There waited a minuscule row boat. Climbing in, Paul pressed his fingers to his lips before raising the petticoat swathed paddle. James nodded, and they silently rowed across the midnight water. At the other shore, there stood a horse, with his rein tied to a nearby log. A note was attached to the saddle
Paul,
This is Shadowfax, my father's fastest horse. It is my fondest hope that he will be of use to you. Ride him good and fast but be warned: he spokes easily, especially at the sound of gunfire. Please return him within the next week.
H.w. Longfellow.
James and Paul climbed on, and hurried down the road. The rest of the ride was mostly uneventful. James and Paul road long and fast, warning the people of the parishes on the way to Lexington. Two thirds of the way to Lexington, they meet up with Sarah and belly. Since they were ahead of time, and since the horses were already heaving with each breath, the two riders permitted James and Sarah to walk alongside them, though under much scrutiny.
Sarah pov
They finally reached the boarding house after a few minutes. James and Sarah rushed to the bell that was dangling from the roof of the porch. She reached it first and proceeded to sound it while he banged on the door. The clamor reverberated for some time before the sleepy eyed mistress of the house answered.
"What's the matter with you? It's the middle of the night and my guests are sleeping. If you want a room, you'll have to wait for morning." She growled with a thick accent. Her face was crumpled with wrinkles, and her once dark hair was streaked with gray
"ma'am, there's a battalion of regulars headed right this way to seize Hancock and Adams. If you don't warn them, they'll be lynched as traitors!" James barked, matching the woman's attitude step for step. She nodded, visually defeated, and sprinted upstairs, closing the door behind her. Sarah held her breath, hoping the treasonous hope that everything would work out okay for the colonists.
Once they were assured the Adams and Hancock were safe, Sarah and James turned and climbed on their respective horses. With a shared nod, Billy and Paul began urged their horses forward to Lexington, but they were stopped by the appearance of a strange figure running down the road leading a cantering horse.
"Hello friends! I'm Daniel Prescott! I've heard of your mission, and I'd like to join you! I would have been here earlier, but I was with a certain, ahem, friend of mine. I brought my own horse too." He declared, all in one breath.
Shrugging, Paul turned and said, "Welcome. Your efforts will not be forgotten." Daniel climbed onto his horse, and the party of five quietly galloped down the road to Concord. Halfway down the road, they spy an unsettling sight. Their way is blocked by a group of British soldiers, obviously drunk and probably the lowest scum around, assigned to the road as a last ditch effort to keep them from being court-martialed. Sarah felt her heart pond in her ears again. Even though she was a loyal British subject, Sarah did not have the fondest history with British soldiers. She usually either ended up wounded in her body or in her pride
"Quite down, and let me do the talking. James, Sarah, why don't we walk the horses?" Daniel ordered in a whisper as he climbed off the horse. James and Sarah slid off their respected horses, and took their reins. Sarah's nervousness must have caught James' attention, because he genteelly took her hand. She turned and gave him a halfhearted smile, which he returned. They walked a little while, before coming close to the British tropes, the stench hitting them squarely as Daniel called out, "Hello officers! Lovely night, isn't it?" This proved to be a mistake. Daniel's shouts called the soldiers out of their drunken stupor, and they turned their alcohol fueled anger towards the band of riders.
"Oi! What's all this? A band of sods, out and about after curfew? Where's your passes?" the leader of the drunks called out. Most of the drunks rose to their feet, trying to unsuccessfully intimate them. "Now, how about a trip back to Boston with you? General Gage would be overjoyed to speak with you." The leader snatched the reins from James and Sarah's hands. Sarah withdrew her hand the way she did when she was frying bacon and grease hit her hand. Thinking quickly, grabbed their now free hands and fled, leaving Billy and Paul behind. They ran and ran, before finally coming to a halt near a stone wall.
James pov
"Daniel! How could you leave them behind! Who knows what the British are doing to them now!" James was outranged! Daniel had just doomed Paul and Billy at the hand of the British, and he called himself a patriot!
"It's okay James. Both Paul and Billy are well respected townsmen. They'll be alright. Besides, most of the work is done already. Now, it's nearly dawn, but since you've been up all night, I suggest the two of you go to sleep for the time being. My sister has a house in Concord, and she'd be more than happy to up you up for the time being." Daniel explained. James hated to admit it, but he was right. James struggled to stay on his feet for the rest of the walk.
Fortunately, Daniel's sister's house wasn't that far way. She took one look at James and Sarah, and started babying them (her own children were too old, and she was definitely the mothering type). They both received hot baths, one right after the other.
While they bathed, Daniel and his sister (who James would later learn was named Rosie) discussed the events of the last night. After their baths, Sarah and James shared a pot of stew in their newly borrowed night clothes.
He and Sarah had attempted to talk, but they were soon preoccupied by eating. It was good stew, but it made him feel sleepy and stupid. They finished their stew, and fighting sleep, they moved out to the front room. Rosie took one look at them, and rushed them upstairs to a vacant bed, where they slept for the rest of the day.
The end
So, was it worth the wait? I'm just so happy about finishing this chapter, it's clouding my judgment!
The thing about walking the horses is true. As a former horseback rider, I know from experience that it's important to walk your horses after a long and demanding ride. If you don't, they can die from exhaustion, which is not good.
The soldiers on the road are my idea of the lowest of the low in British army. These are probably the guys who have messed up everywhere else, and probably are ready to either desert or be discharged. Think about it: these men are in basically the middle of nowhere, assigned to guard a road no one uses in the middle of the night. Not the top gig in the British army. Strangely though, for some reason, I picture both the innkeeper and the leader of the soldiers as cockneys.
The term sod is a British historical deroitory term. It is short for sodomite and, well, if I told you what meant, you'd have to bleach your brain. No doubt a bunch of you have now gone to look up said word.
Please comment and fav, especially those mentioned above. You guys make me smile, and that's something I could use any time