The Simple Things in Life
19 October 1771
"Mama, the deer" Ann squealed happily as she spotted a fawn on the other side of the riverbank as it grazed and pointed to the pretty spots on its fur. She never tired of seeing the free wildlife and enjoyed running after squirrels to see them scurry up into the trees or chase a hare hidden in the grass.
The women were washing clothes in the morning as Martha kept the young ones occupied by fishing small rocks from the river to show them. When she could, she tried to catch a fishes in a wooden bucket so she could bring them to the children before returning them to the water. She wouldn't partake in catching any for food since her mother would want her to act as a proper lady and was pushing her behavior already. This was more suited for either Caroline or Elizabeth but the former was elsewhere and the latter was running across the riverbank with Elijah.
Godfrey had stuffed a patch of fabric with hay to make a ball out of it and had tied one end with twine so the children could enjoy it. Now, Alice threw it to Elijah as she left the riverbank barefoot and the black dog caught it joyfully to return it to her. He was such a loyal dog to be loved and the children never failed to give him attention to repay him for his valuable watch over them.
Samuel wasn't far behind and his feet were muddy all the way to his ankles as he ran towards them with glee to play too. Catherine paid them no mind since they wouldn't misbehave on her watch and scrubbed the dirty hem of a skirt against a boulder in the water as she kneeled on the grass. Amelia helped her mother by washing her own clothes along with Caroline's and Martha's to lighten the burden but oh, how she hated the rough fingers she earned afterwards. She didn't know how Caroline bore the red welts and callouses as she helped chop wood with axes but her older sister wore them rather proudly. Of course, she hid them from their mother as she huddled behind Amelia when they cooked together but the younger girl would keep her secret.
Martha threw up her arms in disbelief that her siblings left without a single word after she worked hard to bring them the little fish and emptied the bucket back into the flowing river. She walked back onto the grassy riverbank with a frown as she watched the children play with Elijah north of them and sighed exasperatedly, "Really! They just left without even asking."
"Martha, a lady does not complain" her mother reminded quickly since her third oldest strived to be a respectable individual but often forget that women didn't utter negative words in public. Although women of the colonies fared better than their counterparts in England, good citizens would not bask in that and must always be humble. Her Martha had begun taking over Caroline's morning chores when she worked with Godfrey but Catherine wanted to ensure her that she would work hard as a man's partner one day, not looking dainty and sitting for most of the day. Catherine didn't approve of her oldest working in the field like a man but she was proud to see that she was eager to prove herself as a multitasking woman.
"Yes, mother" Martha replied quietly to obey her words and rinsed her feet in the water to put her shoes back on. Unlike Caroline and Elizabeth, she didn't like walking barefoot.
Further upstream, the logging business was in full swing as the men hired people to come from Boston to grab orders to send out. With workers being added to their team, more species of trees had been added to their inventory and Caroline had busied herself by creating swatches of bark and polished wood so clients could see their stock back in Boston. Godfrey was proud to see his oldest take an interest in his work since most girls either married off, farmed, tutored, or lord forbid- joined brothels. He kept his Caroline close when any hired hand was helping them load wagons to send off because he wouldn't trust anyone outside of Davenport near his girls.
"Papa, you want this bark off the ash?" Caroline called out to her father as she held a chisel and drawknife in hand to do it herself. The small log would go out in a few days to a carpenter in the city and she enjoyed preparing small to medium sized logs since she couldn't carry much. The sun was thankfully merciful that morning since fall was slowly leaving to make way for winter and the sunlight had cooled from its intense gaze.
"Aye, and give the bark to your mother for mulch in the garden" he agreed as he and Terry sawed a tall log of oak to cut it into smooth boards for a house project. Boston held no quaint and cozy log cabins as the outskirts did so all the lumber sent there had to be sawed into evenly smooth boards. Other growing townships, however, didn't mind as people searched for homesteads and her father was happy to supply their need. Godfrey looked to his best friend as Caroline happily set out to work and chuckled warmly, "That girl can do more than help her old athair. If I'd the money, I'd send her to be a governess- she's ready after keeping track of the bairns."
"Carrie told you teaching isn't for her" Terry smiled in reminder since Caroline wasn't keen on educating others due to the studying and didn't hesitate to voice it. There weren't many professions for women but they had better chances in the northern colonies. He pulled the two man crosscut saw in one sharp tug over to his side to push the metal teeth deeper into the log and asked aloud, "But she can sew, how about seamstressing?"
"Those hands would be tired coming home one day when she's married with wee ones of her own" Godfrey sighed with lament that his girls would leave home one day to leave the house empty. His Catherine would definitely miss the rabble of noise they'd grown accustomed to but it was a natural part of life. Somehow, he was certain his little Elizabeth would push onwards through the new frontier or possibly travel overseas for adventure.
"Papa, I can hear you" Caroline chuckled aloud as she placed the small log onto a workbench to begin removing the bark carefully. She had to be extremely careful to remove the bark evenly and if not, would have to shave off bits of the log. Caroline wanted to avoid that to avoid wasting precious wood and to make sure her father's orders matched the quality he promised. Brushing back auburn strands, she raised the sleeves of her work shirt and smiled pleasantly, "I've never been happier here."
"Your mother will give me strife for letting you run around with trousers and without a bonnet" her father lectured but the warm twinkle in his brown eyes told her not to pay him mind. Godfrey didn't mind the carefree spirits of his daughters since they were in the open woodland but received many lectures from his wife about Elizabeth. When it came to her and Caroline, he did think it would be best for the two to one day marry farmers or men of the outdoors to satisfy that freedom. He pulled the saw over to his end in one pull and adjusted his trademark red hat as he laughed boisterously, "You'll start resembling Connor soon, both of you have freckles."
"I'm not a city girl and etiquette classes were quite annoying in my honest opinion" she stated openly since she'd passed the age where she followed other girls to see how she fit into their clique. Although her clothing was sometimes outdated and always handmade, Caroline made up for it in polite manners to show she was civilized like any other person. She used a rounded rock to hit the bottom hilt of the chisel to drive it into the bark and eyed the angle carefully as she spoke aloud, "I'd rather roam the outdoors since none of the jobs for women interest me. I really do wish one did, though."
"You could always marry a farmer" her father advised gently since he wanted his daughter well cared for but he wasn't about to look for any suitors anytime soon. Not even in five years . . . unless his two oldest daughters found someone suitable that could support them. His children didn't shy away from hard work but he didn't want them working in backbreaking labor and suggested from personal experience, "The work is hard but it gives you the freedom to own open land and work it with your bare hands. I wasn't always a lumberjack, you know."
Before marrying Catherine, Godfrey had been a boy born to a large farming family of eight children and worked alongside his brothers to tend to the fields. It was why he picked a specific spot on the land of Davenport to make a secure home and leave room to grow a garden for his wife. Catherine never farmed but her family worked with dairy and poultry production so she knew her way around livestock. Due to his family's farm, he met Terry when they hired a helping hand during threshing season for grain and they'd become lifelong friends despite the decade age gap.
"Then why didn't you farm here?" Caroline asked curiously since there were ample opportunities in the southern colonies for agriculture. Godfrey, however, didn't want the opportunities for jobs to be taken from his girls since slaves tended to fill in positions on farms instead of women. Also, he didn't feel comfortable with the treatment of those poor people and would rather raise his children in the north where the environment was familiar to Scotland. The northern colonies offered much more freedom for his children and the education system also fared better due to the growing population.
"I suppose I'm like you because I wanted to explore this land and enjoy doing what I love" her father replied earnestly as he saw the same determination in his daughter and released the crosscut saw when the top of the long log fell off. With both ends smoothly even, they could start cutting the log vertically to make the boards. He moved to the front of the workbench while Terry stood on the other end and they chiseled marks on the log to pinpoint a perfect line for cutting. Caroline kept removing the bark with her chisel and smiled to herself when she overhead him say, "All I want is for you to be healthy and happy one day, Carrie."
"You might not be his son but you bring him the pride of one" Terry encouraged her from his end and his brown hat bobbed as he and Godfrey lifted the log to carry it towards the saw pit further down below. He would stand underneath the wooden platform to help Godfrey with the long two-handled whipsaw as the older man was stronger to cut the wood from above. The gravity would help Terry in pulling it but he'd have to contend with sawdust and the risk of the log falling onto him. It had never occurred as they made sure the wooden platform for holding the logs was sturdy inside the ground but he always stayed on his toes after his river incident.
He couldn't wait to make enough money so they could begin building the saw mill so water could fuel the saw to cut the logs and make everything more efficient.
Caroline's heart filled with love, even more so, for her father when Terry's voice echoed down the dirt path towards the saw pit, "Didn't put you down for a single second after you were born."
She considered herself a lucky girl for having a loving family that didn't stress for her to get out of the house and earn her keep since nowadays that was the rule for adolescents. There was no eagerness for her to leave the safety of Davenport but if there was an absolute need to help sustain her family, she'd find an unfulfilling job.
Caroline wiped her forehead after a good day's work as she helped organize and chop lumber to her father's specifications. She'd wanted to go to the river to enjoy the last weeks of the clean blue water before the winter arrived to freeze all of the freshwater but it would have to wait. She loved working and didn't understand why most women had to be contained in the home when the outdoors offered such stunning scenery. True, she liked sewing and cooking alongside her mother but cleaning and washing were her least interesting chores. The wild outdoors brought a delightful sense of freedom as she heard birds tweet their sweet songs before winter brought an end to them. Hares scurried away from the dusty path that led home to protect themselves against the fair giant and bugs no longer buzzed in hordes as the sweet nectar of flowers had left until the next spring. Each season brought their own unique scene and Caroline enjoyed each from the white crystalline blanket of winter that could cover her little home to the hot summers that brought endless fields of colorful flowers that filled the horizon.
She'd forgotten to eat her packed lunch throughout all of her work hours and opened the red cloth pack as she walked north towards her home. Her small bundle held a sweet corn cake which she happily bit into and pieces of seasoned pork jerky that she pulled apart with her front teeth. With butchering season in full swing, fresh meat was readily available from towns and Connor had hitched a ride on the Aquila to head to buy fresh beef and pork to ensure its freshness. She didn't know how he managed to nab a free seat on the beautiful boat but she didn't ask out of respect for him. She could, however, imagine how wonderful it must feel to stand by the pointy bow and overlook the ocean as the ship sliced cleanly through the water.
He was expected back either today or tomorrow, depending on the currents, and she bit into her crumbly corn cake with hopes on the former. Her friend kept growing over the year like a tall oak and she was proud to say she had Amelia beaten by finger's width for now. Her little sister would undoubtedly grow willowy and tall but she didn't want to be the smallest out of both her and Connor combined. If Martha decided to grow like an oak tree too, she was done for! She'd be the little pony among the tall horses . . . not a good image.
The long grasses that grew at the bottom of the hill below her house swayed in the gentle wind but tugged at her wool stockings. She pulled the thin ends of the grass out of her clothing before she looked shabbier than she already was and proceeded to walk up the hill. Nothing spelled home more than the cozy log house and the wooden picket fence around the two properties as it came into view with each step.
"Carrie! Carrie!" Ann's voice echoed jubilantly as the blond girl scurried to her with glee when she spotted the familiar red hair over the hill. Caroline tied the ends of her small meal to eat it later and quickly wiped her mouth with the back of a dusty hand. My, she'd forgotten how hungry she was until she put everything away! Ann's two golden braids bobbed on her small shoulders as she scurried over to her, careful not to trip in her haste as her short legs crushed grass underneath her. Caroline smiled sweetly at the little girl as her small white sunbonnet fell off her head and her blue skirt fluttered in the wind, leading her to grab Ann's hand to steady her. She could only wonder what had stirred her excitement and her bright round face exclaimed happily, "Connor's back!"
One thing that would never change was the love of the children for Connor.
Since company was apparently inside her home, she decided that chucking her leather slippers would be most unwise. Although she was ready to be a lady, Caroline would rather walk barefoot throughout the land and had enjoyed doing so with Connor during the summer heat. She allowed Ann to lead her to the open doorway of her home and Caroline smiled to her astonished squeals about receiving goods. He was a generous boy with their families but she couldn't help but feel embarrassed for never having anything store bought to give him- only food from scratch.
She entered her cozy house as the recently bought glass windows filtered beams of sunlight inside and smiled sheepishly as her friend sported a different look. The outfit that Achilles gave him last Christmas fit perfectly now that he'd grown a few inches in the past year and she tried not to let her gaze linger too long. She was no longer a child that could ogle in awe and if she did, her mother would categorize it as evidence of finding interest in a man. That wasn't to say he wasn't handsome- wait, why was she focusing on that? No, she meant she would grant him the same respect he gave her.
Everyone inside the home was in a rabble of a talk as the children helped arrange neatly wrapped paper packages on the dining table. Her mother's plump face resembled a pink rose as she gushed embarrassingly with gratitude to Connor's goods. Elizabeth broke away from her group of thrilled siblings as everyone held Connor's attention and met her sister in the doorway with a wide smile.
"Carrie, look, it's actual beef!" Elizabeth whispered with disbelief as she'd scuttled over with a large package in her slim arms and cherished the present he'd given them. The meat was a bit pricey since cows were incredibly valuable due to their dairy, which was a good way to make a living for farmers. Pork and chicken were the meats affordable to their class due to the large numbers but beef was delicious. Their father hoped to buy a young cow soon in the upcoming spring since they were buying only what was necessary and putting the rest into their savings. For now, they were happy to have fresh milk from the Galloway cow but they'd repay their kindness with their own one day.
Elizabeth left her side afterwards to help their Aunt Diana assemble a few packages in her wicker basket to take home. Ann's little blond braids bounced like grasshoppers as she asked her mother happily about each item and Ratonhnhaké:ton smiled to her joy. The children of Davenport never ceased to make him smile and could never find any with a kinder heart elsewhere. He kneeled down to remove a paper packet from his emerald coat's right side pocket and handed little Ann a striped peppermint stick that lit her face with joy. Was it really for her? It looked too pretty and expensive to be! She stammered a sheepish but grateful 'thank you!' as she showed her mother the pretty red-white stick and he chuckled warmly.
Everyone was in such a jovial mood that Caroline couldn't help but grin to greet him from behind, "Connor, I'm-"
"Caroline, go wash your face- it's full of wooden debris" her mother lectured softly as she saw her unkempt appearance and wanted her daughter to have a clean face at the least. Catherine shook her head to the pieces of sawed splinters lingering in her unkempt hair and saw dust smeared on her freckled cheeks. She'd seen the same on her husband after continuous lifting of lumber and dusty hands swept the face to clear away perspiration, leaving behind a dirt trail from the smearing. Her Godfrey would get a good lecture on keeping their daughter appropriate in appearance later. She ushered her oldest out through the doorway as Caroline withheld an exasperated sigh and Catherine added quickly, "I'm sure Connor will afford you that time."
She hurried outside to run towards the covered well behind the house and lifted the wooden board over the hole that protected it against contaminants. She lowered the wooden pail down into the dark well until the heard a faint plop and felt resistance in the rope as it filled with water. Not needing much, she pulled it up quickly with the pulley and placed the bucket on the edge of the well to splash cold freshwater on her face. She didn't think it was too bad until gray-brown droplets cascaded down her palms and she grimaced at the color.
Goodness, how did I really look?, she wondered with a brief flicker of embarrassment since she liked working but wanted to keep a decent appearance. Resembling a mud monster would not bode well for her or anybody else and she reminded herself to wash her face at the river next time.
Untying her handy white apron, she used the backside to wipe her face clean and her damp arms to appear presentable. She didn't want Connor running off in fear. . . although she highly doubted a young man like him was capable of it. Her fingers ran through her messy hair to smooth down flyaways from the single braid down her back that had become unraveled through perpetual motion.
"I hope everything is well with your father's business?" Ratonhnhaké:ton's voice asked as it echoed through the grassy field and she turned around with a modest smile. Although he might be growing to resemble a mountain, Caroline's spirit for hard work grew the same and he smiled in admiration to her humble attire.
"Yes, it's not a paying job but I'm by his side" she answered earnestly since she was happiest with her family and wouldn't be leaving them anytime soon. The future was uncertain and she'd make the most out of living in Davenport. What girl wouldn't enjoy spending her summer in hills blanketed in various colors by wildflowers? She folded her dirty white apron with nervous hands, hoping she didn't appear too shabby in her appearance, and asked softly, "Did you run into any trouble on the high seas?"
"Not this time" he confided as he straightened his broad shoulders and she stared with curiosity as to why he kept his hands folded behind his back. He hadn't gotten injured and trying to keep it secret, was he? No, no, she'd just seen him give Ann a piece of peppermint candy so it wasn't that. Besides, the captain of the Aquila must've been a formidable man since her friend never had a scratch on him.
Caroline shook her head as to why she felt bashful in his presence and blamed his handsome attire while hers was shabbier than the dirtiest waddling beaver (they were adorable, though). She hoped he wouldn't grow anymore because he was starting to resemble a man faster than she was matching a woman and she didn't want to be left behind. Her thoughts halted when he brought his arms forward and she saw why he'd been standing so upright: he was holding a small tree. Well, it looked more like a long twig with little green leaves sprouting but Caroline knew a tree when she saw one. . .especially this kind. Did he . . . Was he . . .?
"You told me that your favorite tree was apple" he spoke up quietly in regards to the summer he'd visited his village and handed her the young tree wrapped in cloth by its delicate root. Caroline's hands trembled slightly to the generous gift since she'd never expected it and balanced it in her hands. Is that why he'd asked so many months ago? She couldn't believe it! Ratonhnhaké:ton smiled modestly to her abashed expression and looked to the tree before meeting her stunned gaze to explain, "I managed to find one and thought you would like it, given your growing garden."
She was completely flabbergasted to his generous gift that she could barely utter coherent words and whispered shakily, "But. . .you. . .I-I couldn't take this knowing you spent your hard earned money-"
"You've always given me items without expecting anything in return and it's time I repaid your kindness" he replied wholeheartedly since she'd given him her slate, a Christmas gift, and a steep discount from his lumber purchase that was practically free. When he was at home and his time was free, he would seek her to take a walk around the trails so he wouldn't feel lonely. Achilles' manor could be quite large and empty for its two inhabitants and he was used to socializing with people on a daily basis due to his upbringing. There were many activities the two shared together as they grew older due to the open landscape and he wouldn't forget it, stating truthfully, "You're my dearest friend here and I hope to enjoy many years of our friendship under this tree once it's fully grown."
She chuckled to his endless optimism since illness could strike at any moment to rip them apart and smiled widely, "I will take good care of it, I promise. It'll be years before it produces anything but it will be worth the effort to see it grow to fruition. I'll even make you the first pie!"
"You are nothing but determined, Caroline" he chuckled with encouragement to her vow and she gazed at her young tree with sheer joy. It was simple things in life like that little tree that brought her fulfillment and could care less about living in a town, courting a man, or having the latest fashions.
"You should come to supper tonight, the girls are putting on a play" she invited warmly since Amelia decided to write her first play and they would appreciate his company. Also, the support of having him in the audience would boost their confidence (especially Alice). Amelia had given each of the children a part in the multiple stories so they all had equal chances to speak and Caroline would help them set up later. They'd crafted decorations using dried grass, pinecones, worn fabric strips, and hay would be used for the makeshift stage. Amelia and Caroline would play curtain holders since it would take place in front of the house. Ratonhnhaké:ton didn't have anything planned as of yet for that night and she deliberated sheepishly with pink cheeks, "It's not a fancy opera but . . . well, I don't think people like us will ever see that upscale life. It would be a nice dream to have though, wouldn't it?"
He preferred stories told around the hearth as they'd done in his village but was actually interested in the performance but nodded for her benefit. Caroline held dreams of a brighter future but being born of lower stature didn't bring hope that it would come true. She'd often heard people in the logging camps mutter 'we were born with nothing and will die with nothing' so it was always hard for her to shake that quote out of her mind. She wanted to believe her life would amount to something meaningful one day, even if it meant coddling a sweet baby that mirrored her smile and helping her husband as his partner provide for their home. Ratonhnhaké:ton sailed on that same boat but Achilles had opened the door to a new life and although it led him to enlightenment, he didn't want to tread into their culture completely. Caroline was an outsider by social class and he was the same due to his skin color but they were most happy in each other's company, away from mainstream society.
"You could always imagine" he suggested helpfully, offering a different perspective and she smiled faintly. Yes, that could work when she closed her eyes at night to sleep. He swept his hand over the log house to play the creative game with her and he smiled warmly with twinkling brown eyes, "Maybe we could see this play as one of those? This plot of land is the grand hall as we sit outside like the audience and watch your siblings like those trained actors. We could even imagine the decorations as the curtain opens to unveil the start and your house is the background since all actors need an area to prepare."
He was a boy that never failed to make her smile, even when she felt at her lowest. Caroline couldn't ask for a better friend and she was glad to have him by her side.
"You'd look odd in a wig and I don't want to wear layers of petticoats" she chuckled softly to the fancy attire worn to those high society plays and couldn't see herself in them. One underneath her dress was already enough and the tight stay that she'd have to wear until death frustrated her on a daily basis. Her mother instructed her to wear it at all hours to maintain her figure as she grew older but secretly, she stuffed it under the mattress every night to sleep easy. Her mother was plump after years of bearing children and her father didn't love her any less. Ratonhnhaké:ton wasn't keen on wearing English clothing for more than a few hours and she sighed with regret, "On the other hand, we will be adults one day and have to wear all that."
"I don't have to wear a wig . . . but you do have to wear your . . . lady things" he replied modestly to the many layers of clothing the women seemed to wear outdoors in Boston and she laughed. He didn't want to ponder about the clothing of the fairer sex without risking a heavy blush on his cheeks and didn't want Caroline to think he was being improper.
"Those wigs look horrible, who wants to have white hair?" Caroline chuckled with amusement to the odd hairpieces and hoped fashion wouldn't turn worse. She liked the different fabrics and colors for dresses but beyond that, she didn't enjoy fashion just yet. For the past three years, she'd focused solely on helping her family establish their first home in the colonies and it had shifted into her father's work. The look of a proper lady would soon fall upon her as she outgrew her old dresses and she frowned with displeasure, "I'll have to follow the attire of proper ladies, though. I liked it when I could wear simple dresses with no shoes and run with simple braids in my hair. I don't want my hips to look like a bell."
"I don't want to wear breeches either- they're uncomfortable already" he admitted with a matching frown since he liked his trousers with the fringes. The white stockings over his lower legs felt oddly constricting but he did find himself liking the long coat. It was perfect for pocketing small items to carry as he traveled through the frontier and didn't lose any of his trinkets in comparison to tying a small bag to his belt. Those could easily be torn off or swiped as he walked around in public and wanted to avoid losing his belongings. He noticed the silver hue beginning to taint the horizon below the golden sun as sunset would soon fall upon them on the hill overlooking the river and excused himself, "I should be going or Achilles will lecture me about tardiness. Let me say goodbye to your family."
She watched him leave towards the front of the house with a fond smile since his mannerisms were impeccable and failed to fade as he grew older. There were instances when he'd become stubborn as they discussed a specific herb or flower they'd found on one of their walks but their discussions always ended on peaceful terms. If they didn't, Caroline always had a handy pinecone ready to hurl as a projectile as she chased him until he conceded. Ratonhnhaké:ton reentered the cozy home and was glad to see that they enjoyed his gifts as Samuel kept trying to peek into the packages but Martha swatted his mischievous hands away. He rapped gently on the open doorway to bid farewell to his friends and neighbors, "I'll be going now but I hope you enjoy the goods -"
"Aren't you going to come to our play?" Alice asked with disappointment in her brown eyes since she'd studied extra hard to learn her lines and wanted everyone to see her efforts during the play. True, she was frightened of having multiple pairs of eyes on her but Amelia was depending on her and wouldn't fail her. Caroline leaned against the doorway as she watched the interaction quietly and knew he couldn't say no to Alice's innocent face. Her youngest sister was too kind not to love and it was rare that anyone drew a loud voice towards her.
"I will but I have other matters to attend to first" he assured amicably since he wouldn't miss it unless Achilles ordered it and Alice nodded with a huge relieved smile. She'd make sure Amelia's play was perfect, even if her part was little, and skittered to the back of the house to help Martha stock food in the attic. He nodded to both families before leaving and their voices echoed behind him with good wishes.
Thankfully, Achilles decided to be merciful that day and allowed the teenager to have a free day in the community rather than studying a pile of books. After shedding his town attire for his comfortable deerskin trousers, shirt smock, comfy leather boots, and a simple brown linen coat, he headed out happily to the Burnetts. He felt closer to his roots when he didn't don colonist attire since the luxurious fabrics boosted his social status even higher than the Burnetts. He liked their simple way of dressing since he never had to worry about looking worse for wear and smiled in welcome when the children called out to him.
"You're back!" Samuel piped up happily since he was happy to have his unofficial older brother again and ran behind him to declare in alarm, "The girls are threatening to cut my hair off!"
"I keep telling you Connor's haircut isn't becoming of you" Amelia pointed out in reason since little boys didn't grow out their hair unless they were of a higher class. After countless hours of helping one's family survive, no boy or man could afford to keep it long without hair becoming a hindrance. Their friend could pull off the look due to his culture but Samuel was defiant to match his friend in appearance. The little redhead boy stood bravely against his horde of sisters. . .by using the other teen as a shield. Ratonhnhaké:ton didn't mind playing sanctuary but Amelia rounded after her little brother as Samuel ran in circles and she insisted, "Your hair never stays put."
"It only needs a little grease!" he justified and ran his small hands over his untamable hair to smooth it down in a desperate attempt to show her. Unfortunately, his straight hair stuck out in its familiar wisps and he groaned aloud with misery to his luck. What did a boy have to do-
"Got ye!" Elizabeth giggled as she picked up her little brother by the waist and snatched him away from Ratonhnhaké:ton's side with a victorious grin. The young boy wriggled like a wildcat to being caught but he stopped when he was placed between his five sisters. Well, that was one battle he couldn't win alone.
"All right, we're not playing cat and mouse" Caroline chuckled softly and pulled Samuel by the hand so he could return to Ratonhnhaké:ton's side to bask in brotherly bonding. It was fortunate for Samuel to have a respectful brother figure to admire but she didn't want him imitating their friend from head to toe. It would be enough to make her mother take a double turn since he already wore clothing with patches and refused to stay tidy as he rolled down the hills with Eliza. She ushered the girls towards the grassy clearing to begin setting up their chairs and decorations for the upcoming play.
"It'll be great, you'll see!" Alice assured excitedly since her oldest sisters made the most beautiful decorations in her view and always loved receiving a gift from them. Her mother taught her how to make decent patchwork quilts but she wasn't old enough to make clothing like them.
"I'll show you the area!" Elizabeth piped up enthusiastically and Samuel proceeded to pull Ratonhnhaké:ton by the wrist to lead him to their chosen spot. Elizabeth and Alice followed eagerly to join in on the fun, leaving Caroline grinning when her friend looked back with surprise to having an entourage. Elijah chased after them with happy feet as he kept a close eye on the youngest children, his shaggy black tail wagging in the air at attention.
Martha decided to take advantage of their playtime with Ratonhnhaké:ton since it meant less hands rearranging their decorations. She looked to her oldest sisters and urged them quickly, "Let's hurry to set up the area before Elizabeth decides to make a costume out of the decorations."
Caroline and Amelia followed quietly behind her since they weren't fussing too much over the appearance of the area because the main focus would be on the children. They would allow Martha to call the shots since she had a knack for decorating even the most barren of places while the other two girls didn't share her interest. Each Burnett girl held her unique likes and dislikes but Martha was their mother's go-to girl when it came to organizing and keeping a clean household. Either way, they would make a great setting for their stories of adventure!
The open grass clearing between the Burnett and Galloway homestead had been filled with log benches for the guests as the children had happily invited everyone for their opening night. Elizabeth had eagerly donned a thick Scottish accent to fall into character and knocked on doors to inform the community about their play. Caroline and Amelia had used pinecones to decorate the make believe stage while a table stood to the right of the benches with a covered bowl of apple juice for the guests. Samuel had tried to sneak in more than one drink but Caroline reminded he'd be seeking the outhouse halfway through their short act. The children had dressed nicely in calico dresses (a suit in Samuel's case) to show gratuity for their viewing guests but Caroline dressed casually in her simple blue linen dress.
Alice, the poor dear, was frightfully nervous for her first public appearance and trembled in her shoes as she practiced her lines aloud. Elizabeth, on the other hand, decided to take a nap until show time but Martha had jabbed her in the side to get up and help them. Since it wouldn't take longer than twenty minutes, the Burnetts had invited the other adults to talk after the play since it would be a nice opportunity to mingle before winter arrived in full force. Ratonhnhaké:ton had informed the children that he wouldn't take his lessons with them that upcoming winter since his own studies with Achilles would take priority. Samuel and Alice had been crestfallen but he promised to visit when the snowfall wasn't too high.
Caroline and Ratonhnhaké:ton sat in the front to encourage the children when they began reciting old folk tales from Scotland since they enjoyed old traditional stories to maintain their cultural roots. Ratonhnhaké:ton learned a few tidbits but refrained from asking questions of Caroline to fully enjoy the short performance. Elizabeth and Martha had the longest lines as they played heroes of old that had fallen into legends while Alice, Samuel, and Ann held small parts that were usually humorous. At three years old, Ann was so giddy that she returned to her mother's side when she had no lines and laughed to the funny lines others recited.
When needed, Amelia played the narrator but stayed seated beside her sister as she began the final tale, "One day, a fox succeeded in catching a fine fat goose asleep by the side of a loch."
Martha played the mischievous fox as she imitated sniffing the area while Elizabeth trampled the ground around her as she pretended to be a swan creating its nest. The older girl wrapped her arms around Elizabeth's waist to restrain her as they followed Amelia's narration. Elizabeth pretended to struggle in her sister's grip and imitated a honking swan as Amelia continued, "The fox held her by the wing, and making a joke of her cackling, hissing, and fears, he said. . ."
"Now, if you had me in your mouth as I have you, tell me what you would do?" Martha spoke with a gruffer tone as she tried to imitate the evil fox and wished her little sister was actually this easy to catch in real life. Being a rebellious little spirit, Elizabeth made the perfect defiant character and filled the swan's shoes perfectly. The other children held sprigs of pine leaves as they imitated trees but they were glad to be out of the spotlight as they watched their sisters.
"Why," Elizabeth declared dramatically as raised her round chin defiantly to state, "that is an easy question. I would fold my hands, shut my eyes, say a grace, and then eat you."
"Just what I mean to do" Martha agreed haughtily and released her to fold her hands over her eyes and said a pious grace with her eyes closed shut. The adults laughed to the obvious mistake as the fox grew overconfident with itself and Ratonhnhaké:ton grinned as Elizabeth smiled cheekily to her success.
Ann placed her hands over her open mouth as she enjoyed the story and Amelia narrated with amusement in her voice, "But while the fox did this, the goose had spread her wings and was now halfway over the loch."
Elizabeth quickly imitated a flying goose by flapping her arms and cackled happily as she left the area to run behind the seated guests to exit the scene. Everyone laughed to her enthusiasm as the cunning goose and it doubled when little Ann tagged along behind her as an extra cygnet to join her at the back. Elizabeth picked her up for a hug since Ann was so ecstatic to participate and they sat at the last log bench to watch the rest of the tale. Amelia continued the last lines of her storytelling as Martha uncovered her eyes to imitate a surprised face to follow her sister's tale, "When the fox opened its eyes and realized this, it was left to lick its lips for its lost supper."
"I will make a rule of this," Martha declared with frustration as she placed her hands on her hips and looked to the silver-blue sky to vow, "Never in all my life to say a grace again till after I feel the meat warm in my belly."
With the last line finished, the children assembled together in one horizontal line and took a small bow to thank their guests for sharing the time with them. Everyone clapped for the entertainment since their community didn't have a theatre house to attend and seeing the children enjoying themselves was enough. Poor Alice had been so pale during her lines that Catherine worried for her child but now, the color had returned to her fair face as she no longer had to say anything. Elizabeth didn't share any modesty as she carried the confidence of any boy and would've performed a one-man play herself. Ann scurried to her mother as she sat on the front row alongside her father and the Burnetts, squealing joyfully, "Did you like it, mama?"
"You were as pretty as a flower" her mother chuckled gently to her little glowing face as she shook with glee in her small fabric shoes and Diana kissed the top of her head. Parents were made to be strict with their young to raise respectable children but Diana didn't have the heart yet to do so with her little Ann. Her child was perfectly mannered, as were the Burnett children, and Diana admired their confidence as it temporarily diverted from the 'better seen than heard' rule.
"As were you, Alice" Catherine smiled warmly as she squeezed her daughter's hands to offer warmth to her clammy skin to drive the nerves out of her heart. Out of all of her daughters, she always worried for her meek Alice as she resembled a frightened deer in large crowds but hoped time and exposure to the world would help. Alice smiled brightly to her mother's encouragement since she'd never taken her eyes away from her parents throughout the performance. Catherine rubbed the top of her hands with her thumbs and whispered to reaffirm kindly, "Very good, my dear."
Samuel grabbed one of the pinecones from the floor as they decorated the field in the shape of a crescent moon and held it up to declare, "Pinecones are free!"
The other children ran for the bowl of apple juice to freshen their parched mouths with Elizabeth in the lead as her copper braids bounced when she reached for the first cup. Caroline folded the blue muslin curtain and red checkered tablecloth the children had used as makeshift costumes during their play as the heroic Fionn mac Cumhaill fighting against the fire breathing Áillen (Samuel was insistent to be the villain) in the legendary tale. Lance chuckled to their enthusiasm as he could hear echoes of lines being recited at the table and told the two Scottish fathers, "I remember hearing a few of those tales in older days."
"Amelia loves to read all sorts of books" Godfrey grinned to his daughter's knack to read alongside Caroline but while the latter stuck to it as a hobby, Amelia wanted to teach. She didn't mind teaching the children while her mother did chores to lighten the workload and Catherine was certain their child would be a fine teacher one day. Why wouldn't she be after the progress in Alice's arithmetic? Godfrey crossed his arms as he looked in the direction of his second oldest as she smiled modestly to compliments and he told the other men with determination, "I'm goin' to make sure my girl gets a decent job somehow."
Inside the house, Caroline placed all of their used belongings over the nearest stump log of a chair and pulled Amelia inside as she sipped juice from a cup. Her younger sister yelped in surprise to the yank and balanced her cup before the sweet juice fell onto the ground. Fresh fruit would be scarce during the winter and everyone treasured the last taste of it for as long as they could. Also, she didn't want to ruin her nice calico dress with juice since their mother told them to take very good care of their clothing since it wasn't easy to fix rips and stains. Caroline squeezed her arm affectionately since Amelia's play had been short but enjoyable and praised delightfully, "Oh, you did wonderful! If you did this with the history of the colonies, you'd be a shoo-in for a teacher for young children."
"Do you think so? Truly? I really would like to teach one day, Carrie" Amelia confessed happily with a wide smile to the prospect of achieving her dream and making a steady income somehow. She enjoyed reading about different disciplines and when books were donated to the library in Boston, Amelia had spent her free days reading inside. When churches gave away goods from missionary barrels, she'd eagerly hoped that there were books for her to have. She didn't ask for much but she really wanted to further her education, even with the restrictions on women, and those of other children. Sipping the remaining cold juice in her cup, she murmured softly with a downcast glance, "I don't like sewing like you do and I won't be swinging an axe either. I like your train of thought about contributing before marrying, at least for a little self-independence."
"I've nothing but hope for you" she agreed with optimism and wanted her little sister to find her purpose in the world. It was why they journeyed to the colonies for new lives where they could build a new dream and Caroline would work her fingers to the bone to help her little sister get there. Amelia was a smart girl in her own right but Caroline wanted her to carry a little more gumption in her determination to seize opportunities. Ushering her sister back outside to carry on the festive mood, Caroline smiled cheerfully as she squeezed her narrow shoulders and laughed, "Now, go meet the public and bask in their compliments."
Amelia gasped to her bold statement as her older sister ushered her out the open doorway and rejoined her siblings. Martha and Elizabeth were extremely eager to share ideas for a new play that they could make for the spring when the snow thawed completely and rambled on about tales. Caroline grinned at seeing Connor mobbed by an enthused Alice and Samuel as they chirped about their parts and whether he liked their performance. Being their unofficial older brother, he complimented their parts since Samuel had skipped over a few but made up for it with his own creativity. He could see why Amelia utilized him and Elizabeth as her villains since they were humorous in their behavior. She approached the trio with an amused smile on her oval face as Samuel recited his dramatic account about a particular folktale back in New York and chuckled, "I see you have a little Lake Champlain monster of your own."
"I'm tellin' ye, I saw it!" Samuel insisted truthfully with a straight face since he'd run to their wooden shanty one day to tell them he'd seen something in the water as he walked with Martha. The family dismissed it entirely as a child's wild imagination but he knew that one day, somebody would find it- maybe even those frontiersmen he heard about! Since that fateful day in August 1769, he maintained the authenticity of his encounter because something had risen out of the water in the horizon. He crossed his arms with a stubborn pout because nobody believed him and vowed with determination, "Nobody believes me but one day, you'll all see!"
"There are rather strange tales from colonists" Ratonhnhaké:ton mused aloud for input since he'd heard tales spun by a group called the 'frontiersmen' but never approached them. Achilles was insistent he pertained to his studies until he deemed him worthy of carrying the title of a proficient assassin. His studies kept him at home all of the time and the only freedom allowed was a quick excursion on the Aquila or nearby rural towns. Apparently, he still had years until he was ready to match the skill of their brothers across the sea and Achilles wasn't keen on losing the first assassin born in the New World.
"Maybe we should form a group and find out the truth?" Caroline grinned cheekily since adventures and mysteries went hand in hand quite nicely together. Alice shook her head since anything wild and out of the ordinary would frighten her little heart. Samuel grinned instantly to the idea and could see himself donning a coonskin cap with a similar garb to his brotherly mentor as he hunted the trail for the Lake Champlain monster. He could even start his new life as an adventurer super early by asking him for tips on surviving in the wilderness!
Ratonhnhaké:ton noticed Achilles bidding farewell to the adults and knew it was time to leave for the manor. The air had turned cold rather quickly with the lilac-silver sky shifting into a reddish navy to summon the night over their community. Being old, Achilles would rather be warmly tucked away in the manor and thought the same for the young children since they weren't wearing warm coats. Ratonhnhaké:ton bid farewell to the children, earning glum pouts from the younger two since they could spend all day alongside him and still have so much to talk about. Caroline merely smiled courteously as a grown girl should but inside, she shared her siblings' expression.
He met with the Burnett and Galloway couples to show his gratitude for being allowed into their homes and performance that day. Both sets of parents were proud of their little ones since they'd been adamant about not being overheard during their practice behind the houses. The old Scottish tales passed down through generations were always heartwarming to hear and Ratonhnhaké:ton thanked them sincerely, "Thank you for inviting me today, it was a pleasure to hear tales from across the ocean."
"Oh, Connor, you're always welcome here without invitation" Catherine chuckled jovially as Diana agreed and the women laughed warmly to his kind modesty. They were glad to have a young neighbor that was respectful and a mentor for her young Samuel to follow when his father wasn't around. Ratonhnhaké:ton's eyes filled with warmth to their never-ending kindness and he left with knowing he had a second place for sanctuary if the manor or his village no longer welcomed him. He highly doubted it but the future was completely uncertain that one couldn't dare to guess. He departed with Achilles by his side as the cool wind blew against them as they walked against the current north of the main road.
"Such a polite child, his mother raised him well" Diana mused aloud to the young man that would undoubtedly dash many ladies of his village- maybe even colonial towns- in years to come. Catherine agreed wholeheartedly but her dark blue eyes were solemn since only she knew about his deceased mother out of all the residents (excluding Achilles). She would be there to guide him along the right path for a young gentleman, along with Diana, because a mother's love was eternal and Kaniehtí:io had raised a good kindhearted boy.
Caroline watched him leave from her spot as well with a small smile on her face since he brought her life a little dash of extra joy when he visited. Her lips widened when she heard Samuel stomp his left foot over the grass and insist with borderline hysteria, "Alice, I keep tellin' ye I saw it!"
A/N: I really should've popped this baby out days before but a new job took priority by the middle of this week (and I'm still putting together student workbooks). Anyhow, I didn't have any Connor training in this chapter- the next one will- since I wanted one more heartwarming chapter before they clock in another year and head on into 1772. We'll have Connor frolicking in the timeless game of snowball fighting next time as winter rolls into Davenport, just like it currently is in the northern hemisphere. I'm so thankful my fateful heater still works and I've had it since childhood. lol
Thank you all so much for the feedback and alerts, I love reading them all in my inbox!
ShizukaRen-Hime: Caroline definitely takes after her old boban and wants to have that knack for making sales while Connor (similar to myself) caves into his friend's sale pitch. They'll be more fangirl moments for you once they're in late 1772 and the burglar on the homestead mission clinches their growing feelings for one another. Thankfully, I've never taken philosophy (I picked anthropology in place of it) but I encourage you to endure it bravely. :)
NoNeedToAsk: I'm glad you liked the bow scene; she was so determined to make her first sale a success. lol
Vampireadtic: I loved the homestead missions so I'm glad the readers- and you- like it! As for the captain question, yes, they will find out and Samuel's admiration will double for his unofficial older brother.
NinjaxSketcheartx: He is a straightforward guy most of the time but he maintains that direct yet formal way of speaking. Given that colonists don't look kindly upon the natives, he wouldn't want to piss one off and have a mob chasing him out of a town. He'll never say no to his Davenport friends, he's that much of a go-to guy and he'll be sweet on Caroline soon enough. You're right about women, they were meant to stay in the home to care for children and do her wifely duties. To quote an article I found during research for the story, "Women were considered to be the 'weaker vessels', not as strong physically or mentally as men and less emotionally stable. Legally, they could neither vote, hold public office, participate in legal matters on their own behalf, and opportunities for them outside the home were frequently limited. Women were expected to defer to their husbands and be obedient to them without question. Husbands, in turn, were expected to protect their wives against all threats, even at the cost of their own lives if necessary." It's not the best lifestyle in comparison to today's modern woman.
Sleepingsnowwhite: Thank you so much, I'm glad you like this story too. True, some authors focus mainly on Connor or his love interest but I like all of the characters in the game, canon or OC (can't wait to bring in his band of merry pistol wielding assassins). Having her same name tickled me since you can self-insert yourself whenever you want in this tale. Lol. In those old times, even now, being the oldest means you have to set the example for your siblings to follow so I understand. I'm the oldest and only girl out of three children so I've always been the bookworm overachiever (similar to Vivian in my other story).
Shil0h: I try my best with researching the old days for this story, especially the cultures and foods, but I love learning history. Reading fiction and nonfiction books from the early 1800s helps tremendously too. You and I share the same peeve, it took me continuous story writing and ongoing reading to develop my current style to have each character molded uniquely. I don't like reading stories with flat cardboard characters that leave the same questions and settings that flash by too quickly or the Mary Sue's that are absolutely perfect at everything they do. Human life is full of trial-and-error situations and like Achilles said, 'life is not a fairy tale'.
Next Time: Battle For Snowball Hill
Godfrey and Catherine returned home close together in a huddle against the cold to find the children covered in snow as Ratonhnhaké:ton dominated the battlefield with a confident whoop. His second lieutenant, Samuel, resembled a tiny snowman as he fought on with half-formed snowballs while the top of Martha's red hood was covered in snow. All of their cheeks and the tips of their noses were pink as multiple voices called out but Caroline and Ratonhnhaké:ton's were the dominant ones. Godfrey laughed with amusement as the two rallied their troops over their snow barricades and called out, "Well, it seems the winter isn't dulling yer spirits."
"Children, get in the house before you catch death out here" Catherine chastised as she ushered her youngest children hastily inside to bring the warmth back into their flushed faces. Samuel shook free from the snow to resemble the little boy he was and leaving clumps under his feet as he slipped into the warm house while Alice chirped everything they did. Her red mittens moved with the swiftness of a robin but Catherine led the two to the fireplace to remove their coats and asked, "Didn't your aunt Diana tell you to come inside?"
"Yes, we promised after five minutes but you came just in time!" Alice answered quickly since they hadn't disobeyed either of them and their aunt Diana didn't mind them having a little fun. She didn't even feel sick at all!
Elizabeth saluted Ratonhnhaké:ton as she bowed like a gentleman and grinned cheekily, "You, sir, are now the king of Snowball Hill. Carry the title proudly."
With that said, she scurried inside with Martha behind her as the older girl chastised her for staying out too long. The shorter girl didn't hesitate to reply that she hadn't complained about their playtime until their mother arrived and Martha's cheeks flushed indignantly to the fact. Both girls headed inside with Elijah on their tail as his pink tongue licked snow off his lips as his fur held snow in several places.
Caroline chuckled to Ratonhnhaké:ton's puzzled expression to her sister's title abdication since colonial games were still fairly new to him. Just as the frontier was new to the settlers, colonial lifestyles carried the same strangeness and she smiled, "You grow accustomed to her way of speaking. If she was much older, I'd say she fancied you."
His nose turned rosier than it already was since female attention had never been a concern but as he grew older, wondered if he would receive it. It wasn't a concern for him but the thought of someone finding him with the potential of being a husband . . . he wasn't ready for that yet. Being young was the major factor but he had a dangerous mission to fulfill and would finish it alone to prevent anyone being caught in the crossfire. He resumed his calm face when Godfrey approached the two as his heavy boots crunched the snow underneath him and Caroline knew it was time to head inside. The young boy didn't want any of the children to be at fault for the lengthy play outside and quickly reasoned, "I heard shouting and assumed the children were in danger . . . but I was caught unaware to their game. I didn't mean to tread over your household rules-"
"Your intentions were kind by entertaining them and you're allowed fun for a few years yet, you know" he forgave easily with a friendly smile since his children loved the young man and Godfrey felt nothing but trust for him. Ratonhnhaké:ton's shoulders relaxed at knowing they wouldn't be in trouble and met Caroline's gaze as she smiled at him for the vote of support. The next second, however, it disappeared when her father admitted playfully, "Why, Caroline here tumbled down hills until she was thirteen-"
"Boban, we mustn't keep him any longer" she interrupted hastily with a nervous chuckle to her giddy carefree childhood and didn't want him thinking she was tomboyish in her ways. She tugged gently on her father's arm to budge him towards the house and hoped he'd take the hint to head inside. When her boban started talking, he could go on for hours.
"My bairns enjoy your company, Connor, so thanks for keeping an eye on them" Godfrey told the young man since he protected the children as well as himself, Terry, and Elijah when they weren't on the property. He couldn't ask for anyone better and appreciated having a good neighbor like him since crowded colonies focused solely on one's family. It was a reason why neither he nor Terry liked the area and longed for open land where neighbors helped each other out and returned the favors.
"Wait, I watch them too" Caroline murmured softly since she was the main caretaker when they were gone and none of her siblings had received a nasty bump on her watch. When she'd worked in Boston and currently with her father, Amelia took on the responsibility and had yet to disappoint. Nowadays, both girls didn't hold a candle to the bow wielding boy that awed their little siblings as he represented freedom and adventure itself.
Amelia chuckled from behind as she stood by the closed doorway and swatted at forming icicles that were forming on the roof with the handle of a broom. It was best to remove them before they froze over the wood and lengthened to a dangerous point that could cause bodily harm. She smiled at the two as her hooded face was obscured by the top of the wool fabric and reminded, "But he can run like the wind and carries a tomahawk to kill danger around him. I'm sorry to say, Carrie, but we'd all chose that option."
Caroline frowned since she didn't have that allure to squash danger and mused airily, "Well then, I might just start learning then."
Thank you for reading my newest installment and may you have a happy day or peaceful night, dear reader!