The Gift of Giving
9 August 72
The full-blown summer had flourished every flower in Davenport to the point that Alice had begun collecting every blossom to press them into paper her father had bought at her request. His youngest daughter didn't ask for much but when he'd seen her longing at the dead dry flowers in her hands when they could no longer live off the water in bouquets, Godfrey bought a clean book for her. Catherine showed her eager daughter how to press fresh flowers against the paper and smear spruce gum over both to seal the flower between both layers. Alice's hands had been notoriously sticky for hours but she'd been proud to flip through the pages and show her siblings every flower she'd gathered to preserve her childhood memories. Ratonhnhaké:ton brought her a few flowers from the north where the children didn't travel and approved of the Burnetts use of tree gum rather than animal glue since they used the same on their canoes to seal seams.
When the mornings were warm and Ratonhnhaké:ton was free from his training, he took the children on walks around the trails. They enjoyed learning about the innocent wildlife as beavers built their dams, squirrels scurried up trees, rabbits bounded down into their burrows, and deer ran away when spooked. Most of them tired easily on the long trails while Amelia chose to study her books and Martha didn't see the fun in it. Amelia was studying every subject covered in primary schooling since she hoped to be capable enough to teach children of all ages and gender. Every night, she recited the history of their colonies and England to preserve everything until morning. There were many instances when Amelia longed for women to have the same opportunity in education as men because she wanted to learn Latin, advanced arithmetic, and science in college. Unfortunately, she'd only be able to teach dame school for young children of both sexes and young girls of her age in appropriate homemaking skills but it would suffice.
Caroline and the others, though, enjoyed their walks and they took Elijah to keep him happy since he loved the outdoors. On long trails, Ratonhnhaké:ton kept Caroline's sole company and they spoke about the land, animals, or other interests. Godfrey had recently bought the family's first cow during his last trip as Terry accompanied him to see the cattle for sale and Alice had fondly called the auburn Devon cow 'Dawn'. Their peaceful walks underneath the shady trees allowed him to break free of his constant studies because if he stabbed the test dummy anymore, he'd have to make another head for it.
He enjoyed Caroline's company with every interaction as her carefree manner intrigued him and she failed to change. Her trip to Boston had solidified where she truly belonged and she didn't request to journey on any trips with her father after longing for her family. They were growing older and despite he lived close to three Burnett girls near his age, Caroline was the only one that managed to weave herself in his heart. He wasn't ready to admit she brightened his days like the rising sun out of worry for turning their friendship awkward but he was growing fond of her.
Summer had brought carefree moments that allowed the two to hike through fields of vibrant wildflowers and he'd picked a bouquet for her to take home on each walk. His days away from the Aquila also allowed him to teach her horseback riding since she hadn't relented in requesting his help and he'd conceded after the third time. It wasn't fair when she negotiated with a black cherry pie fresh from the oven and his sweet tooth had caved in. She'd helped him fight build sales resistance but it seemed he had none when it came to freshly made food from the Burnett household.
Caroline's cheerful voice echoed through the empty forest as she finished her tale, "So when Sammy tried to milk Dawn, the stream of milk flew right into his eye! He'd been eager to copy papa so much that he didn't look at how to do it correctly."
He chuckled softly to the image of Samuel wincing at having milk sprayed into his eye and Caroline laughed merrily, "Most boys would've stomped off angrily and refused to milk anymore after that. Sammy, though, he simply wiped off the milk and mama stayed by his side until he had a little stream hitting the pail. He was so happy for that tiny amount, you should've seen him."
"Is that why he kept offering me milk today?" Ratonhnhaké:ton asked curiously with an amused grin since Samuel had asked him three times. He'd eaten lunch before heading out for a walk with Caroline but indulged the young boy to prevent disappointing him. Now that he looked back on it with this new knowledge, he was glad to have taken the offered milk cup.
Caroline's lively laughter confirmed his question and it echoed through the dense forest as birds sang their songs overhead in the branches. Her laughter was cut short when a familiar yowl overpowered her voice and she looked ahead to see a lone bobcat in the middle of the path. After encountering the animal once, she never hoped to find it in the forest and had succeeded most of the year. Settlers either shot animals that held no fear of them or tamed them until they were completely submissive. Her father had told her how children of upper classes had squirrels tamed or hunters' tamed deer so they could lure more to one's property. Davenport, on the other hand, only kept livestock and the wildlife was left to itself to prevent tainting the natural balance. Unfortunately, it also brought a lack of fear from many animals and residents treaded carefully around that.
She froze in fear of the cat since the last had left two scars that had failed to fade and doubted they ever would. Ratonhnhaké:ton stood in front of her protectively as he eyed the bobcat for any sudden moves and allowed it adequate space to return to the wild. He could never tell the actions of wild animals since they could be full after a recent meal or starving- some simply aggressive for the sake of it. He removed his pistol from its holster and called out to the animal to get it to leave. She remembered her encounter with the creature and Ratonhnhaké:ton would only have one shot before he needed to use a knife to kill it if he failed. He knew that wildlife roamed the untamed land but he didn't want them wandering too close to the trails where people walked. Giving it a chance to leave, they waited.
The bobcat failed to adhere to his sharp sounds to leave and Ratonhnhaké:ton took a step forward to help it leave the trails. Caroline's left hand trembled as it reached out to grasp his shoulder since she didn't want him to be mauled by the animal. Her right hand kept a firm grasp on the handle of her knife since she never traveled without 'Ruthie' by her side. Ratonhnhaké:ton had chuckled to the Burnett women's tendency to name their weapons but he'd secretly named his current bow Carrie afterwards since she'd helped him pick out the wood.
Caroline flinched when the bobcat headed in their direction since she hoped it would run off into the woods. Ratonhnhaké:ton tried one last time to shoo it away by walking forward but she called out to dissuade him from treading near it out of concern for him. He held a great respect for nature but if an animal failed to flee at the sight of you, he took matters into his hands since he wouldn't have it wandering about too close to Lance's home. The carpenter worked outdoors all day but unlike the lumberjacks, failed to have the upper body strength needed to fend off a wild animal.
All she heard was a growl from the other side as his taller build concealed her sight and a second later, a gunshot frightened the birds into squawks above them. The bullet went clean through the bobcat's skull in one shot and Caroline breathed shakily at realizing she'd held it. Ratonhnhaké:ton, however, hadn't moved at all since he targeted the animal's skull for a quick painless death and stated thoughtfully, "It should've walked on but I suppose species will no longer fear humans with prolonged exposure. I don't enjoy ending life but it is better than endangering our residents."
He wouldn't let the animal go to waste and approached the fallen feline to lean down, brushing a hand over its head in apology. Caroline followed with tentative steps since she wasn't eager to be near a bobcat and watched him unsheathe his knife. The sharp tip trailed to ankles of the legs to begin skinning the animal and she reminded quickly, "We don't have anything on hand to carry it home."
"I have twine and can use the underside of the pelt to wrap pieces of sectioned meat" he explained easily since he'd done this on many occasions when he failed to have a suitable carrying cloth on hand. He never hesitated to improvise materials for what he needed since he only had himself to depend on. His knife cut along the inside of the hind legs to begin removing the layer of skin off the cat and admitted confidently, "I can always find a way."
She agreed wholeheartedly on that since he was physically capable to handle any issues. His lay of the land and weapons only added to that strength. The way he handled himself with weapons was extraordinary and his dexterity could outmatch any man, in her opinion anyway. She was a girl living in the isolated outdoors so there might be someone in a city that was stronger but she believed in her friend. There was probably diplomacy delving in his mind since she'd watched him settle an argument between Martha and Elizabeth when the former accidentally ripped one of Martha's skirts. Caroline's brow rose in amusement since her friend had yet to become a liar and smiled pleasantly, "I believe you."
He worked quietly to make sure he cut everything precisely and Caroline kneeled down beside him to work on the front legs. Four hands were better than two and she noticed the difference in their skills as his cuts were far more calculated than hers. He had a lot of skills under his belt that drew her curiosity and she peered over her work to request with a meek smile, "Might I ask a favor of you? I want to be a little more self-sufficient than I am right now. I was hoping that maybe, if you could, teach me how to shoot a gun?"
Ratonhnhaké:ton paused for a moment to the strange request since he never imagined Caroline as the type to fancy shooting and commented playfully, "You ask a lot of favors of me, Caroline."
"I know, I really shouldn't but . . . you're the only one who listens" she admitted bashfully as she stumbled over her words since she'd never want to be a hindrance in their friendship. He couldn't help but smile at her flustered face since he didn't mind helping her after she lent the same during the last two years. Of course, when her face began to resemble the color of her hair, he decided to abort his plan to laugh and delved into the topic.
"Women of your culture are frowned upon for such" he reminded carefully since Caroline treaded on the line between the responsibilities of a respectable woman. She had a knack to fight off the roles for her gender but it wasn't to be different, it was to explore past her limitations. He used his free hand to place it over his pistols and pointed out cautiously about her request, "Guns are not toys to be taken lightly."
"Yes, but they are beneficial in protecting a home in times like this and integral to hunting" she reasoned to discuss the matter further since she didn't approach a subject without having all of her cards in hand. Just like she'd done with her request to learn horseback riding, she counted off the benefits of using a gun in her current lifestyle. She really hope she hadn't pressed her limitations with her friend since she wasn't going to head overboard by asking for a ride on the boat in the cove and murmured, "I would truly appreciate it."
"I have already taught you to set traps and ride horses" he pointed out gently since he'd taught her skills that weren't required for her gender. Her father didn't mind at all since it kept her happy but Mrs. Burnett had expressed her worry after learning to catch. He loved the Burnetts like a second family and didn't want to upset her by going against the wishes for her daughter. He respected them too much to disobey the couple and although he cared for Caroline, stated regrettably, "I really don't want to risk your mother's ire."
"She loves you too much to do so" she assured since her mother wouldn't know about of their training and the only reason she knew about the trapping was due to her catches. She wouldn't be going around the forest shooting everything in sight or allow anyone to know unless it was dire. Being able to use a weapon during a dangerous moment, like encountering a bobcat, gave one a heavy advantage between life and death. However, she wouldn't allow her ambition to cloud her judgment and stated apologetically, "I don't want to force you but I will ask until my mouth is dry and my voice mute. Know that I do this out of love, not to irritate you."
"You won't be taking no from me, will you?" he asked with amusement since Caroline was determined to get her way when she believed in something. It was a trait he admired but he didn't want her parents worried over it and blaming him. He cut a straight line down the tail of the bobcat to the genital area to create an opening where he could begin pulling the skin away from the muscles. Caroline set her knife down to help him pull towards the head so they could remove it quickly before rigor mortis set into the body because then, they would have to use their knives to separate the skin from the hardened membrane between layers.
"I'll bake you a pie, I know you liked my cranberry pie last winter" she reasoned with a bribe since food was all she could barter with and smiled slyly. He shook his head to her bartering when they were wrist deep inside the body of a bobcat and poked the soft translucent membrane with his fingers to skin it further towards its midsection. Caroline shook one hand free of accumulated membrane from her fingers to keep a good hold on the pelt and grunted as she pulled in the same direction, "It's much better than a pelt, anyway."
For the first time, Ratonhnhaké:ton used a tone similar to her father's when he was trying his earnest to decline, "Caroline-"
"I'll add in corn cakes with syrup on top" she added in quickly to add to her bundle since he had a sweet tooth and wouldn't hesitate to point it out. Sugar was expensive nowadays but they enjoyed using the natural sweeteners produced by fruits, especially during winter. She gazed at the dead bobcat as she paused her pulling for a moment and offered another suggestion, "I can salt this meat for you and cook it myself. I could make a meat pie out of it, even though I never have but I can learn. We can even call it Connor's Bobcat Pie- 'it's so good, you'll cry!'"
He smiled to her bargaining chips and couldn't help but feel a fondness for her grow from the seedling that had already sprung in his heart. If he ever needed someone to fight in his corner in a verbal battle, he'd have her by his side. He grinned with delight since only Caroline could make him think of food while skinning an animal and joked, "Stuffing me with food is your trade, is it?"
"Food is quite comforting and I like it when you're happy" she answered with a modest smile since he wore either a tranquil or intensely focused expression most of the time. When he smiled, it brightened his face like the sun and she was tempted to squeeze the apples of his cheeks more than once. The fact that he held adorable freckles across his cheeks only served to draw her eyes more.
"You drive a good bargain but help me with this and I will teach you" he stated earnestly in defeat since she was his friend and . . . . well, he liked her last words. Nobody had really said they enjoyed seeing him happy outside of his village and her honesty was heartwarming. Men weren't very open with their emotions among the settlers and the most he'd received from Achilles was a 'good job' so he enjoyed the appraisal.
She smiled widely with excitement to being his student once more and promised, "I will make you the fattest pie you've seen and hare stew- everybody loves stews!"
"Caroline, you don't need to fuss over me" he sighed softly to dissuade her from wasting ingredients that could be used for her family meals. He was a single person that didn't require much to survive and caught all of his food to cook it himself. True, it wouldn't be as tasty as the Burnett's or Galloways' meals but it sufficed. Reaching the forelegs of the bobcat, he motioned for Caroline to grip its hindquarters while he pulled the skin towards the head. He found it oddly humorous to be talking about food while peeling an animal's skin off and pointed out kindly, "You're a good little cook but your family needs it. I'm just one person- I couldn't eat more than a slice and bowl of each."
"And each you shall have then" she restated with promise since removing that serving from the overall food wouldn't hurt anyone. He grinned with a low chuckle in his throat since Caroline was not a woman to say no to when food was concerned. She was slowly developing her mother's coddling traits, especially where he and her siblings where concerned, and Ratonhnhaké:ton didn't mind basking in it. He'd found good friends from all ages in Davenport and wiping beads of sweat from his brow as the hot summer day made his coat a bit unbearable, admitting warmly, "You've really been good to me, despite all of the generalizations and conflicts between our peoples. If people could only see how well we coexist, there wouldn't be a need for fighting because we've created such a sanctuary of peace."
"Not everyone is like you and me, as hard as that is to accept" he murmured quietly because he could a kind boy while another would swipe his shoes or weapon without a conscience. Not everyone in the world carried a hopeful optimism like he did but she admired him for maintaining it and trying his best to live in their harsh world. She was curious to know about his village and the life he'd led before arriving at Davenport and smiled sheepishly when he mused with optimism, "But who knows, there could be another Connor and Caroline elsewhere in the colonies having this same exact conversation."
She chuckled to that wonderful thought as she unsheathed her knife to start removing the legs of the feline by the joints for a clean cut. How many people throughout the new colonies, whether British or French territories, were having peaceful friendly conversations with natives? Hopefully, they would find true friendship like the one she'd discovered with Ratonhnhaké:ton and teased her friend with a coy smile, "I don't know, you'd be a very hard person to make a double of. You wouldn't be our Connor anymore . . . but you would make a better world."
"I hope so" he whispered quietly and for a moment, Caroline thought he spoke of a deeper meaning. As to what, she couldn't fathom but she hoped it would lead him to success.
Ratonhnhaké:ton decided to allow her the use of his pistol for practice due to its versatility and easy use in comparison to hunting rifles. He took her to the remote fields northeast of her home where the echo of gunfire wouldn't reach anybody. It was where he usually headed for practice since the dark cellar of the manor wasn't very good when it came to accuracy with bullets. He'd expected Caroline to dislike the harsh sound of gunfire and the kick behind the weapon due to her quiet lifestyle. Unfortunately, he was wrong in all aspects and she'd become more excited than anything!
He doubted he'd understand women as he aged, especially when the one nabbing his attention was anything but common. Quite frankly, he'd never expected to feel anything but natural distrust for white settlers but his residents changed all of that. Even more than that, feelings towards one of them also hadn't been in the equation since he'd assumed that one day he would fall in love with a Kanien'kehá:ka woman. He wasn't in love with Caroline either but he'd hoped that he wouldn't have to pay attention to the fairer sex until he was much older. Unfortunately, his heart hadn't received that order.
Another shot from the pistol stirred him from his thoughts as Caroline shot a pine tree marked removable paint. During his travels in the forest, Ratonhnhaké:ton noticed a variety of clay and earth in deposits that could be used for everyday paints or pottery. Apparently, there were also ores that settlers were particularly fond of trading but he wasn't concerned with trading it for money. He was perfectly fine with his current income but he did collect the different clays when he felt the need to paint something. It was a hobby he kept quiet but Achilles had caught him a few months ago when he'd tried to paint the mounted bald eagle in the rear room of the second floor. His mentor said nothing of it but his face had held amusement as he left his student to continue his quick painting. Ratonhnhaké:ton had been pleasantly surprised to find paint brushes in a neatly wrapped package the following week and had thanked his mentor for it.
"How am I doing?" Caroline asked curiously since constant feedback would help her increase her accuracy since shooting blindly would be a waste. She'd seen her mother use their hunting rifle to scare off wild animals that threatened to come close to the home and their livestock back in Lake Champlain but it had been a scare tactic rather than a kill shot. If danger threatened her, Caroline wanted to be sure she could eliminate the threat.
Ratonhnhaké:ton saw her previous shots around the two rings of circles he'd drawn at eye level for her and mentally winced. None of them had struck the inner ring and he'd made sure to correct her form for good accuracy. Seeing as she was his first student with a weapon, he swallowed the truth and decided to go with positive reinforcement, "It's . . . uh, good for your first time. Keep practicing."
"I hope I'm not wasting too many of your bullets" she stated modestly and he almost had a hard time hearing her due to the prior echoing gunshots. Even when he covered his ears to avoid the ringing in his ears, he didn't particularly enjoy the temporary muting of his surroundings. Caroline, however, bore through the pop in her ears as long as she struck her designated target on the tree.
"I can buy the materials, it's cheaper to make them by hand" Ratonhnhaké:ton explained easily to dismiss her worry since his steady income provided him with the essentials he needed. Also, looting his fallen enemies often refilled any loss in ammunition so he didn't mind sharing. Caroline made a pleasing sight to the eyes as she stood confidently among the tall grass and held the pistol away from herself. He hadn't imagined taking his teaching limits to this point with her since it was more fitting for future assassins but it was nice to dip his feet in the teaching pool. It would be years before he would be considered a formidable assassin in Achilles' eyes so he had plenty of time to prepare. He approached Caroline to reload the weapon himself to prevent accidents and informed her, "Your father has been teaching me but while he uses his for rifles, I use pistols."
"Every man that labors know the skill" she smiled in agreement and remembered sitting beside her father at night to help him mold bullets in front of their fireplace. She liked seeing the orange-red hue of the hot bullets falling out of their mold and thought what a wonder it was to see them change color to their shiny gray. It was almost magical! Her blue eyes held the same intrigue as she watched him place a new bullet in the chamber after cleaning it free of lingering gunpowder and dared a question, "Will you ever tell me what it is you do?"
"If I did, I'd have to make you disappear" he joked since he'd sooner enrage her with a lie than have her injured by spilling the truth to endanger her. He was enigma of mystery to Caroline when it came to work and her mind always itched to know what he did for a living. There was a reason he was agile and stronger than anyone she knew so unless he was a hunter, she couldn't think of anything else.
"Well, you better have the recipe to make me reappear" she quipped back smartly and he chuckled softly to her determination but he wouldn't relent. Confessing the truth would not be worth risking her life and he'd rather have her safe in Davenport where she could keep wondering about him. Caroline held nothing but admiration for him as he carved a life for himself outside of Davenport and wouldn't let the world crush him into the ground. Other men in his shoes would've held bitterness or distrust against colonists but Ratonhnhaké:ton maintained his civil courtesy, not to mention, his optimism intact.
She wrung her fingers over her stomach as she observed his arsenal of weapons, taking note of his fateful longbow, and asked hesitantly, "Will you at least tell me if you're ever in danger?"
"At times but I can handle myself" he admitted with a bit of truth that time and smiled assuredly to quell her worries. If anything, she should be worried for his enemies since they were usually on the losing end. He finished with the pistol and handed it back to her so she could resume practicing and pointed out with a nonchalant voice, "There's a reason I'm not the lean boy you met years ago so don't worry about me."
"How can I not? We live in dangerous times in this wild frontier" she chuckled to his devil may care expression since she'd never heard him use a cocky tone in her life. Her physical limitation to the world around her is what brought her desire to strengthen herself but her friend carried it in stride. There was nothing suspicious that passed by him and for the first time in her life, she wondered how it would feel traveling alongside him on one of his mysterious trips. Martha and Amelia would be quick to tell her a lady's place was in the safety of her home but Caroline had an itchy foot for exploration. For now, her secret lessons with him would suffice and she admitted sincerely, "But I'm glad you always come back to us."
"I'll always come back to you. . .and Davenport!" he assured softly with a warm smile that brought a delightful flutter to her heart and she focused on the pistol instead of his chocolate eyes. Ratonhnhaké:ton noticed his accidental slip and quickly added in their community to prevent twisting their conversation down an awkward path. He might be growing fonder with the young woman beside him but that didn't mean he could blurt his blooming affections without her consent. She probably saw him as a friend, nothing more, and he couldn't blame her since colonists never treaded past friendship with the natives.
Caroline found it easier to stare at the tree as she aimed her pistol since every glance towards him brought a blush to her cheeks. It also removed any awkwardness that he brought to surface with those sparkling brown eyes since eye contact turned her speech into hesitant drawls. The life of an adolescent was full of gawkiness with each month that passed but looking at the innocent tree allowed her to admit without restraint, "Make sure you do, our lives wouldn't be the same without you."
He smiled appreciatively because he had something else besides his village to come home to and motioned to the targets, "Let's keep practicing, shall we?"
She nodded quietly to keep on track with her first lesson and stood perfectly straight with her arms aiming toward the target. Her blue eyes used the barrel to pinpoint where her strike would land and asked aloud with a curious question, "Where did you buy this pistol?"
"Planning a secret trip already?" he joked playfully since her mind could be a maze of ideas when she set a plan into motion.
"I'm too occupied at home to orchestrate a runaway, especially for something I'm sure you'll take away when I return" she laughed jovially since each short jab from his end delighted her and waited for her chuckles to die down. Shooting a gun while in hysterics would not bode well for anybody and she forced herself to concentrate. Ratonhnhaké:ton shook his head because in all likelihood, he would take away the weapon and keep it until he deemed her fit to wield it. With Caroline being shorter and weaker, it would be no problem and he was amused that she knew exactly what he'd do if he caught her.
She fired at the target the moment her entire body was perfectly still and as she waited for the lingering smoke to clear, he smiled confidently, "I'm glad you know that because I do carry quite an arsenal."
"It's not the weapons that intimidate, it's your eyes" she admitted with a fond smile since she'd never been cautious of his weapons. After all, he had a bow strapped to his back and a tomahawk tied to his belt on their first meeting. He was puzzled by her words since he was taller than most people and his physical build was enough to make people think twice before tangling with him. Lowering the pistol, she turned around to point towards her own eyes with her free hand and explained warmly, "You have this constant intensity in your gaze, whether you're cheerful or focused, that speaks for your inner strength rather than the physical aspect of you. I'd be more worried if you glared me down rather than chased after me . . . but maybe it's just me."
Ratonhnhaké:ton hadn't expected that as his intimidation factor and he fought down an innocent blush when she murmured softly, "You do have eyes that resemble dark honey or maple syrup."
It was a good thing she turned around afterward because he'd never felt giddier to know that she took notice of his eyes. He would've offered the same compliment about hers since they matched the hue of the sky but she'd left to see where the bullet landed in the target.
They returned to the stables to return Roger back to his stall since the poor horse bore the echoing gunshots since he was their ride back home. The stables of Davenport had been empty, save for the two horses, a year ago but now every stall was occupied by a horse that Ratonhnhaké:ton had brought for rehabilitation. Caroline smiled to the many horses grazing around the new pens that he'd made to keep them from becoming lost on the property. Her father and uncle had helped him build the overall design when Achilles allowed him permission to care for homeless horses as long as he took care of them. Achilles couldn't help but feel like a parent all over again when he'd asked and made him promise no more stray pets when he started bringing dogs too. Horses were valuable and a mare's gestational period was long compared to a female dog that could have numerous litters in a year.
Caroline enjoyed looking at each of the gentle horses since they'd loved Ratonhnhaké:ton's care so much they'd been tame by the time each arrived in Davenport. He'd allowed her to ride Roger on their excursion while he took a backseat but he'd taken lead of the return ride to avoid suspicion from the residents. Her secret learning rendezvous were exciting enough alone and she couldn't help but preen as he led Roger to his stall next to James, "Will there ever be a favor you won't do for me?"
"Break your people's laws?" he supplied with a friendly smile since he never denied her anything. Caroline was too kind to ever ask that of him so he wouldn't worry about her requests for help. If she did, well, he was pretty sure he'd broken the law more than once already.
"I'd never go to those extremes" she disagreed with a sheepish chuckle and inhaled the sweet smell of hay that lay tied in rectangular bundles at the left side of the stables. While Ratonhnhaké:ton grabbed a brush to remove any dust gathered in Roger's coat from their ride, she headed to the left where burlap sacks of horse feed had been bought for the numerous horses. She grabbed the nearest bag to pull it towards her friend to make his job easier for the day but sighed to its heaviness. It seemed she'd have to move at a turtle's pace today.
Caroline jumped away from the bag when a red shadow whizzed by and a voice declared dramatically, "A-hah!"
Both stared in bewilderment at young Elizabeth as she popped out from behind one of the horse stalls with pieces of hay stuck in her braided hair. Her blue eyes were lit as she hoarded a little secret all her own and pointed at them with gleeful accusation, "Where have you two been?"
"Horseback riding" Caroline lied nonchalantly since shooting pistols was not a hobby she wanted to encourage in her little sister and looked to her partner in crime for support. He merely nodded to follow along with her tale and grabbed the sack of corn behind Caroline to mix it into Roger's hay feed for the day. Caroline faltered for a moment when he merely lifted the sack over his left shoulder without a problem while she'd struggled to merely move it.
She'd admitted to Elizabeth only that he had begun teaching her to ride horses since the older her sister grew, the closer Caroline related to her. Alice took after Amelia but Elizabeth had always followed her as soon as could walk (she even remembered her little 'Cawie' when she began talking). Elizabeth promised to keep the secret in hope that one day her sister would take her for a ride across the fields. Who wouldn't love having their braids undone by the fierce winds as their valiant horse road against the wind current?
Today, however, the young copper haired girl eyed the two suspiciously as she crossed her arms over her green dress and asked, "Then why is there only one horse? You told me he takes either James or Sophia for you."
Caroline admitted her little sister was sharper than she looked and mentally sighed as she began to craft a new lie on the spot. She'd never been a very good liar but after each secret learning session, she had to begin feeding little lies to ward off any suspicion from her family. It seemed her little snowball of lies had to get bigger as it rolled down the figurative mountain slope. Elizabeth looked between the two as Ratonhnhaké:ton removed the leads from Roger so the stallion could eat his meal for the day and she smiled cheekily, "Oh, I see."
"See what?" Caroline asked with confusion on her face since she wasn't making the connection. Elizabeth wasn't surprised by their secretiveness since Martha said it would only be a matter of years before Caroline found someone to court and was whisked off to married life. She didn't want her to leave but if it was with their neighbor, she'd never leave them or Davenport!
"You two went riding together, like one of those couples from Amelia's romance stories- which she thinks nobody knows about" Elizabeth replied slyly with mischievousness in her eyes as she looked to her sister for confirmation. Amelia had often batted her away while reading her romance novels when she thought nobody was looking since she didn't want anyone to think she was eager to run off with a man into the night. As Elizabeth grew older, she saw that Amelia was a romantic at heart while Caroline sought the romanticized version in adventure and Martha. . .well, her sister was too proper to the point that her ideal husband would have to be perfect.
Ratonhnhaké:ton felt the tips of his ears and the skin around his collar turning red to what the young girl had declared. That was not what he wanted to depict in their lie since it was just as bad as teaching her to shoot. Caroline blinked in surprise since she never saw Amelia reading anything like that (or thought her capable of doing so) but more importantly, "Oh, Eliza, you're blowing things out of proportion. I took Roger to meet him out north since he was fetching ammunition for the crew of the Aquila. They'll be going out again soon."
Elizabeth's shoulders slumped as the reason made decent sense in her mind since sparing a trip saved time. Was there a way it could've been both just so she could poke gentle sisterly fun at her? Caroline fought down laughter when her eyes narrowed comically and her sister declared with a slow drawl, "All right . . . you win this time."
The elder girl chuckled to her pout and wrapped an arm around her shoulders to ask, "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be out here with supervision, young lady."
"I'm just watching the horses, honest" Elizabeth answered truthfully since she enjoyed hiking to the stables to see the horses running and grazing in the large pens. Ratonhnhaké:ton had created beautiful pens by leaving the land untouched and leveled the land by hand to smooth it down perfectly so the horses could run easily without problems. She'd seen so many colors of horses throughout the months that she wished she had more than mental pictures to hang onto for memories. Black and gray horses were particularly beautiful to her and she pointed towards the pens to the west to pout dejectedly, "They're all so pretty. When can you take me riding on one, Carrie?"
"Soon" Ratonhnhaké:ton replied good-naturedly to her glum tone as he finished leaving food for Roger in his wooden trough and closed the stall so he could rest for the day. Each horse had their unique temperament and Roger was most like him so it was best to leave him in quiet solitude after a good ride through the forest. He wiped his dusty hands covered with food debris over his breeches and looked at the hopeful Burnett to remind her gently, "Your sister is entrusting you with a secret and she must make sure she's capable of handling a horse before risking an injury to you."
Elizabeth nodded dejectedly since she wanted to roam with wild horses and care for them like a mother would her children. Chickens were cute but they didn't give her a jubilant grin or warm heart that horses did. Ratonhnhaké:ton smiled at the two girls since he'd had something planned in mind but with a trip looming on the horizon, thought it was best to unveil it now. It would bring a little cheer into the young Burnett since she visited the horses after her chores and he called them towards the pens with a sneaky smile, "I'd like to show you something."
The two girls followed as he made his way behind the stables where he'd created two large pens where the sexes were separated to prevent accidental breeding. In the mares' pen, there was a specific buckskin thoroughbred whose gentle temperament had won the heart of Caroline upon arrival. After reading through a novel about heroic knights, the name Sophia came to mind and he'd given her the name on her first day in Davenport. The gentle mare had been frightened of people in Manchester and he'd stayed in the small fishing town for a few days to gain her trust by visiting her grazing areas as she sniffed through trash to find sustenance. Each horse he rescued carried a sad tale but in the end, he managed to bring all that he encountered to Davenport for a better life.
Sophia neighed happily as she caught sight of 'Master Connor' as many had taken to calling him nowadays and galloped to meet him with haste. She was a sweet and loyal horse, her dark brown mane swaying in the breeze when he ran a hand over her forehead in welcome. He licked his lips as he looked between the buckskin horse and the oldest Burnett before speaking bashfully, "Caroline, I hope I'm not being too forward but. . ."
Caroline felt her heart flutter as she noticed his shy expression and locked her hands together over her skirt. Was he going to declare that she made his heart beam with hoy as he did hers? He had often become bashful in their conversations but his eyes shined warmly to seize her attention at the moment. Would he really say something about each fluster and awkward moment between them? Hopefully, Elizabeth was too enthused with watching the horses to overhear anything worthy of being milked for favors. She managed a smile as she tried to appear calm but Ratonhnhaké:ton said an entirely different thing, "I know how fond you are of Sophia and well, I would like for you to have her. I'll be leaving soon to help a trade route and I'd feel more comfortable with you riding your own horse for practice."
Her eyes widened in surprise since she hadn't expected that at all and looked to the gently horse behind her. He was giving her a real life breathing horse?! Sophia truly was a gorgeous horse to her as the gentle temperament and smaller size was perfect for Caroline. How could she deny those large chocolate eyes? Even the thought of declining struck her with guilt as Sophia's hooves crushed grass as she watched them all. Elizabeth overheard the conversation as she sat on top of the pen and clapped her hands to grin ecstatically with a breathless gasp, "Oh, Carrie, say yes!"
Caroline had never told her parents she could ride a horse since their main concern was her safety and men handled horses rather than women. For her gender, cows and chickens were usually the only animals given due to their chores around a home. Aside from that, she couldn't bring a horse out of nowhere to her home and declare he'd given it to her as a random present. Questions would undoubtedly arise, no matter how adorable Sophia was, and she stammered nervously, "I- But, Connor, I can't support her. My parents don't know about any of this-"
His hands smoothed over Sophia's snout when she tried to lick his hand for any hidden treats and he soothed Caroline's worry, "She'll stay here and you're more than welcome to care for her when I'm away. I have enough to support all of the horses and with the income I earn from selling the healthy, it feeds the new ones."
"But- Connor, are you sure?" she asked hesitantly since a horse was a heavy responsibility and didn't want anything to happen to Sophia under her watch. She had learned the ropes of horse care after tending to the family mares with her father but Sophia hadn't known her for five years. What if the mare realized she wasn't a very good partner and decided to kick her one day? She was allowing him to back out without any guilt on either party because a horse was not an apple tree or a book.
"You don't need to do anything different than from what you've been doing" he assured to make it clear that he was simply giving her the horse as her own. Had he said it all right? Did colonists feel embarrassed to be given an animal as a friend? There was no pressure with his gift since he understood her need to decline and stated gently, "It's perfectly all right if you don't want her."
"No, it's not that" she sighed softly with regret at the possibility of being a lousy caretaker but she really loved Sophia. The mare had been the first horse she'd ridden for her first lessons due to her calm temperament and Caroline had been taken with the adorable white diamond shaped spot on her forehead. She'd almost been inclined to nickname her Star. Her shoulders slumped because she definitely wanted to master the skill of horseback riding and if Sophia could lead her there, she would jump through whatever hoops she had to. Caroline rested her arms on the pen as Sophia decided to snort into Ratonhnhaké:ton's loose hair to sway the raven strands and sighed softly, "A horse is a big responsibility."
"I'll help take care of her and I can bring Sammy or Alice to help" Elizabeth offered anxiously since they'd never had a horse to ride. Molly and Dolly were made for pulling and walking long distances, not roaming endlessly like Roger and James. She was ready to beg on her knees until her throat was dry because Sophia would be a perfect family horse. Her hands grasped the sleeve of Caroline's powder blue dress and she tried to sway her sister's choice with the most crestfallen face and pleading voice, "Please, Carrie, she's so pretty."
Caroline's fretful gaze softened since Ratonhnhaké:ton trusted her enough with the mare and she didn't want Sophia leaving Davenport like all the other horses. Her brown eyes melted you whenever you gazed at her and although she'd been frightened of humans before, Sophia followed residents with curiosity whenever he took her grazing outside the pens. She didn't want to appear ungrateful to him either since he was slowly beginning to be the one her heart sang for and had done more for her than anybody else outside her family. He looked to her for the final answer since he would accept either and her voice trembled with disbelief, "I can't believe you're giving me a horse."
"I'd rather she go to you than another" he smiled kindly as he watched her blink rapidly for a few seconds before she reached over to clasp his hand in gratitude. He would be a good teacher to her with everything he had at his disposal . . . even if that included a horse.
"Thank you" she sniffled with joy to owning her first horse and would take great care of her, much more than her previous owner had. When she made more money from her catches, she'd send it along to Ratonhnhaké:ton so he wouldn't have to pay for all of Sophia's needs. She squeezed his hand between both of hers, his calloused fingers grazing her smooth palm as her own working callouses were on the fingertips too. The heat from his hands penetrated into her skin as the fingerless leather gloves only served to contain it and again, it brought those awkward flutters to her heart. Her cheeks turned rosy as Sophia and their close proximity brought a new level of bashfulness on her part and she murmured weakly, "You're always so kind to me and half the time, I don't deserve it-"
"And you're too modest" he interrupted since she returned the same wholehearted kindness he did and wouldn't be by her side if she didn't. She'd never hesitated to help him when he mastered English and had been more than generous by giving him her slate, along with her primary books. The Burnetts were good people and they held a special place in his heart after giving him refuge away from his studies, not to mention providing him with friends of his age. Her heart threatened to sink into her stomach with affectionate glee when his warm gaze met hers and he stated courteously, "I am glad to make you happy."
She smiled tearfully to the delightful events of the day but wanted to dissuade him from other planned surprises in the near future. There was nothing she needed from him but his honest friendship, not to mention his safety, and spoke sincerely from the heart, "You keep me happy just by being in my life and Sophia . . . you gave me Sophia."
Elizabeth stepped aside since the two were apparently having a sentimental moment (hmm, she had a nagging suspicion it wasn't simple friendship) and she smiled at the buckskin mare. She could finally say she owned a horse- well, her sister did, but Elizabeth was sure she wouldn't mind bringing her along for rides. Caroline could take her picnicking in the fields and maybe one day, she could teach her how to ride a horse too. Ratonhnhaké:ton squeezed Caroline's hands one last time since they didn't want Elizabeth to begin speculating again and stated softly, "You have a good heart, Caroline, and deserve her."
Caroline turned to the mare, who was engrossed with young Elizabeth as she spoke about being in the Burnett family. Apparently, she would give her all the treats she wanted. Caroline chuckled softly with warmth to her sister's delight and smoothed her hand over the mare's unique spot as her soft hair tickled her palm. Davenport had brought her many new friends, human and animal, and she cooed sweetly to her very first horse, "Hello there, Sophia, you're going to be my partner for years to come. I'm so glad Connor found and brought you here to a better home."
Her words sounded oddly familiar as she'd heard them everywhere whenever he'd lent a helping hand to all of the residents. In a way, he'd assembled his community by seeing the similar need they all had and she smiled at him, "He's found all of us to be entwined on this walk of life."
The buckskin horse pawed at the ground with her hoof and neighed softly towards all of them, eager to show her happiness over their visit. Elizabeth smiled giddily since she would gladly take over any chores for the horse and beamed happily with welcome, "You're officially Sophia Burnett. Now you definitely have to meet Molly and Dolly, Elijah, and Dawn- even our chickens!"
7 September 1772
Caroline had dawdled with her gift for the books and after being given a horse, needed a way to reciprocate his kindness. What kind of friend would she be if she didn't? Shame had already begun to bite at her for receiving books and a horse within a year's time and something had to be done. Otherwise, she wouldn't be very neighborly, would she? Thankfully, Ratonhnhaké:ton was similar to her father in simplistic tastes and found joy with the smallest of gifts. She didn't have much money to spare and hoped her choice in gifts from the heart would be enough.
Lance O'Donnell glanced up from his current carpentry project as the eldest Burnett girl strode up to his workshop. The girl was sharp with the family business' inventory but his stocks were full as projects were currently underway. His new life in Davenport allowed him to live decently from his earnings and he was never without a project to craft. He wasn't surprised by Caroline's visit since she often stopped by to see if he had plenty of lumber and dropped off whatever he required for his business.
"Caroline, I am quite pleased with my current stock, thank you" he stated clearly as she bounded up to his workshop with her white bonnet bouncing behind her back and she shook her head with a modest smile. Oh, not here on business. The family enjoyed his wares so much that they bought all of their furniture and other carpentry needs from him. He was never one to decline his neighbors and placed his tools in their respective tray to wipe his hands free of wooden debris to greet her, "What can I do for you then?"
"I was wondering if you could design a necklace for me using birch" she asked carefully and pulled out a small flat board of softwood from a brown wicker basket that she carried in her left hand. After mulling over ideas, she decided on two specific gifts for her friend since she would use materials from the land. She wanted him to have something permanent to remember her gratitude and another that was incredibly handy for his travels. Elizabeth's writing slate was inside the basket with a particular image sketched out to help the carpenter create the necklace. She looked to the piece of lumber in her left hand and smiled cheerfully to explain, "I want it to be small like any pendant, tied onto a leather string, and have a protective glaze over the pendant. How much would that be?"
"For you, considerably cheap" he smiled kindly since the children were courteous and were always eager to help when he brought lumber home. Caroline, Amelia, and Alice enjoyed coming to see what different projects he worked on since they were beautiful works of art. Alice loved the delicate flower patterns he carved onto simple tables and had told her sisters a little porcelain tea cup would look stunning on top of one. Caroline wanted to give her loved ones the world but she didn't have enough money to bestow that happiness and would have to keep working towards it. Lance grabbed the flat board of wood to study its condition but doubted it was anything but excellent and asked about her design, "What motif did you have in mind?"
"A wolf" she replied confidently since Ratonhnhaké:ton was strong enough as a bear but he was introverted and intense like the quiet wolf. There were often days when she'd caught him staring over a cliff into the sea beyond Davenport. The fact that he was completely elusive outside of the manor and impossible to track in the forest only added to that trait. She handed Lance the writing slate with the drawn wolf picture as the full figure of the wolf stood proudly with its head slightly raised to howl into the air. Lance nodded in agreement since the design wasn't complicated at all and would require only chisels after it was cut down to an appropriate size.
Caroline raised her hand since her second gift would come in handy for her friend and requested, "Also, I would like to commission you for two dozen arrows. We can't have Master Connor wandering the wilderness without enough ammunition to keep him safe, can we?"
Lance chuckled to her concern over the young man since the two were never apart for very long when Ratonhnhaké:ton was present in Davenport. When he was too busy at the manor or cove to craft arrows, Lance made them for him without a problem after jotting down his draw length and used cedar for a stronger build. She couldn't contain her glee when the carpenter agreed to the projects and pointed towards her father's mill to grin, "I'll be right back with the lumber for the arrows for you."
Samuel and Caroline walked up the hill incline leading to Mr. Davenport's manor with the older girl carrying a wrapped package in her arms. The small boy trailed behind her with a cheerful smile as he chased a duo of yellow butterflies fluttering over the grass along the dusty trail. Caroline wanted to bring Elizabeth since she was always eager to see the horses but her little sister was quite the sharp one at taking notice of things. Samuel, on the other hand, was too young to distinguish the affectionate smiles shared between his oldest sister and Ratonhnhaké:ton so he was the best one to bring.
"Carrie, what's in the package?" he asked curiously since he'd been asking since the trip started and Caroline had kept his questions at bay by doing a runaround. She didn't want to give away too many details about the gift since nobody knew and didn't want to raise questions.
"A gift, Sammy" she replied with the same answer she'd used for the last five minutes. It delighted her to know he was so eager to know what was inside and refrained from telling him to keep him guessing. A guessing game always delighted him and Alice as they reminded her of cheerful baby birds as they hopped on their feet to blurt their answers.
Samuel pouted since he knew it was a gift from the start and restated with insistence, "I know but what kind of gift?"
"A nice gift" she alluded to keep his little mind guessing as he skipped alongside her and reached over to ruffle his wispy untamable hair.
"But what is the gift?" he questioned since he received no clues about it and wondered what she'd bought for their friend. If it was food, it would've been wrapped in a neat cloth but she'd reused paper from past presents. It was too small to be clothing and he'd poked it once before leaving Mr. O'Donnell's place to see it wasn't soft at all.
"It's right here in my hands" she replied easily with an amused grin and tried not to laugh as she led her brother in a runaround of words. Samuel pouted since he wasn't getting any closer to concrete answers and she squeezed his shoulders to admit, "Just a few arrows for Connor since he gave me the books as a gift. You didn't think I'd bring dangerous weapon accessories in the open with you around?"
Samuel puffed up his chest as he tried to appear brave for his sister and declared confidently, "I ain't afraid of no arrows."
"I'm not afraid of any arrows, Sam" his sister lectured gently to correct his grammar and wrapped an arm around his shoulders with a warm chuckle. She loved her little brother's confidence to face whatever obstacle seemed too large for him but their mother always lectured him about being careful about cockiness. Caroline couldn't imagine her enthusiastic brother boasting and strutting around Davenport like a spring chicken but time, not to mention events, could change you for better or worse. She squeezed her sibling against her side as he chewed on a blade of grass and smiled fondly, "But I'm here to protect you all the way home."
"But I want to protect people too, like Connor" he pointed out with shining eyes since he'd grown to view his neighbor as the hometown hero and someone to idolize. Godfrey chuckled that it was his lack of a brother to follow in footsteps that led him to seeking Ratonhnhaké:ton as his brotherly figure to chase after. Whenever he spotted his friend's bow, he imagined himself shooting arrows with perfect accuracy to bring down pinecones hanging from the branches of trees. He looked to Caroline for support in his dreams of making something of himself one day and smiled, "I could help people and keep the land safe too, right?"
Caroline chuckled softly to his bright eyes that held optimism and assured sweetly, "Of course you can, little brother."
The two continued on their stroll to deliver the gift until they stood in front of the front door of the manor. They were always in awe to the beautiful home and always felt humbled to step into such a handsome piece of architecture as the wooden floorboards held no stains or scratches. Alice had even giggled bashfully that she could see her own reflection in the staircase banister when she'd dropped off goods for Mr. Davenport. Samuel took charge by knocking since his sister's hands were occupied with holding the gift and he called out cheerfully, "Hel-l-l-l-o, Mr. Davenport."
Caroline laughed to his overly chirpy tone and watched him smooth down his unkempt hair with his hands in the hope that it would stay put. He was an avid fan of bear grease since it kept every strand pressed down but had forgotten to apply it today. They waited diligently at the door since the stable work was done early in the morning and late in the afternoon but if Ratonhnhaké:ton happened to be at the cove, she'd leave his present in Mr. Davenport's care.
"What if neither of them is home?" Samuel asked curiously with a hushed voice since they'd made the walk up there and wanted to see his expression. Of course, it would be impolite to ask him to open it immediately but he wanted to bask in his friend's happiness too. His blue eyes looked to Caroline with question as they waited in silence as the chirps of birds twittered to the east and he murmured, "What if-"
The door opened slowly as Achilles greeted the two with a welcoming smile and Samuel piped up a cheerful greeting, forgetting his questions. The old man was accustomed to seeing the children drop by every other day to see his student when he was free from his studies and had begun to buy milk from the Galloway and Burnett cows to have it ready for Ratonhnhaké:ton or the children. Alice and Elizabeth often offered him the most company as they enjoyed hearing his travel stories from youth with Alice forgetting why she went to the manor in the first place. Achilles had grown rather endeared with the youngest Burnett daughter as he felt the same burning flicker of fatherhood when it came to rearing his deceased son. There was an innocence that never wilted with her and he didn't want anyone tarnishing it.
"What can I do for you children?" he asked politely as he held onto his cane for balance and Samuel quickly pointed to the brown paper package in Caroline's arms.
"Mr. Davenport, I was hoping to deliver this to Connor-" Caroline began modestly with a sheepish smile since she wasn't fond of imposing favors on people.
"He's not home at the moment but I will gladly give it to him if you'd prefer" the old man replied with a smile as he told a little fib to keep the truth from exiting the house. Down the hallway, a bruised Ratonhnhaké:ton dabbed at his bleeding lip as he ascended the cellar staircase after another bout of training. He heard the familiar voices at the door but stayed where he was to prevent being seen in his current condition. With disheveled hair out of his ponytail, a cut lip, and a limp . . . he didn't exactly appear like a perfect image of health.
He wanted to see Caroline today, especially when she was so close, but he'd more than likely frighten or worry her about his appearance. She couldn't know a single thing about his profession but maybe one day, he could eliminate the entire Templar threat and be free to tell her. He leaned against the adjacent wall with a wince since Achilles had jabbed him quite well in the ribs with his cane and heard her voice, "Thank you, I would be very much obliged."
"Oh, and Aunt Diana told us to if you'd like some stew" Samuel added in quickly so he didn't forget the very important task his aunt had entrusted him with and was pleased to deliver the message. He didn't mind delivering messages to the residents of Davenport but due to his young age, he was always accompanied by his eldest sisters or parents. It did take a little bit of the fun in being responsible but he didn't mind, admitting pleasantly, "She made some today out of beans and it's really good. There are two different kinds, black and red, and she added vegetables like. . ."
Achilles listened to his description without interrupting since Samuel was quite the avid talker when he was fascinated by something. Being surrounded by many sisters, he was used to seeing them cook and often watched the women make meals since the aromatic smells were hard to ignore. When he finished with a sheepish smile for lingering too much in his talk, Achilles patted the top of his head with a kind smile and accepted his offer, "I do enjoy soup, tell her thank you for me."
"I'll bring it right away" Samuel promised as he snapped his fingers since he was a good little messenger. Caroline chuckled to his enthusiasm since he never rejected a job to help and handed her wrapped package over to Achilles. The older man held it in one arm to keep his balance as he leaned on the cane for support and she uttered another thank you as Samuel piped up, "Tell Connor we'll be waiting at home whenever he wants to drop by."
Achilles assured him he would and closed the door to return to his bruised pupil as the young man headed for the stairs to his bedroom. Ratonhnhaké:ton was more than ready to take a nap since his mentor could be quite creative with that cane of his and was sure he had a bump forming somewhere on his scalp. Today had been a test of his agility and dexterity at dodging and evading incoming attacks; the old man had been faster than he assumed. As he mastered skills, Achilles managed to keep increasing the difficulty on every new exercise and Ratonhnhaké:ton wondered when he'd reach the mark of earning a bruise on every inch of his body.
He caught sight of the brown package in Achilles' arm as he leaned against the staircase and his mentor lectured gently, "I should hold onto this until you show me a flawless dodge but you've been working nonstop this week so enjoy it."
Ratonhnhaké:ton eyed Achilles with skepticism since he was taught to always watch out for an incoming cane to his forehead but the older man assured, "Stop trying to determine whether it's a test because it's not. Now, will you take the gift Caroline brought you or shall I enjoy it myself?"
The young boy was at the foot of the stairs in two seconds with awaiting hands for his gift. Achilles handed the package over to the boy with a hidden smile to his eagerness and motioned with his cane for him to head upstairs to tidy himself up. Otherwise, that broken lip wouldn't fix itself anytime soon and bloodstains were hard to remove out of an assassin's uniform. Ratonhnhaké:ton stiffened when Achilles tapped the end of his cane against his ankle but his voice was kind rather than stern, "Go on now. Let a man tidy up his kitchen for his soup supper."
Ratonhnhaké:ton didn't waste time and hurried away to his bedroom as the original exhaustion dissipated with his new gift. What had Caroline brought him? It wasn't her Christmas holiday for quite a while and wondered why she'd given it to him. Was it because of Sophia? He really hadn't wanted anything in return for giving her the only horse she practiced her lessons with and hoped he'd only brought her happiness. Stumbling into the room over his sluggish feet, he sat on the bed unceremoniously as he kicked off his boots with eager haste. His mattress had never felt softer against his body after a training session and he fought the allure of plopping down to sleep.
He opened the square package with none of his usual tentativeness and it revealed numerous arrows tied together neatly with a thin string of rope. They couldn't have been crafted by hand and the familiar arrows that came from Lance's shop told him that she'd more than likely ordered them. He found her timing fitting since he was almost out of arrows and had begun planning a trip to the forest to gather materials. It seemed he could skip that trip for a few more weeks as Caroline's present would suffice his needs. He noticed a smaller wrapped package that had slide to the side between the shafts of the arrows and plucked it away with a curious tone, "Hmm, what is this?"
This time, he was gentler with the paper (out of guilt for shredding the other) and opened it carefully until a wolf necklace fell neatly into his palm. It was delicately carved to make sure every line contoured the body of the strong wolf but Ratonhnhaké:ton appreciated that it remained naturally unpainted. There was no need to dress it up and appreciated Caroline's choice in simplicity as he turned over the wooden pendant with a fond smile. Did she find him comparable to the wolves lurking within the forest? They were formidable animals and they held a cohesive unit trait that could give humans a run for their money.
Ratonhnhaké:ton noticed a small slip of paper attached to the packaging as the necklace had been placed in front to deliver its surprise. He grabbed the thin paper that held Caroline's familiar penmanship and read it from the beginning:
In gratitude for your kind gesture with the books from Boston, I took it upon myself to return the same kindness as you blend seamlessly with the nature around us. You are our protector and thus, I saw it fitting to choose this as a gift for you. The books have brought me plenty of laughs and awe at the hearth and you are free to read them anytime. As for Sophia, I have not begun to repay that generosity but know that you've given me more than I could possibly imagine and I truly thank you for that. We do have Christmas this year so stay on the lookout for a personal gift from me because I will not allow a good deed to go undone for those I love.
With kind regards,
Caroline Burnett
Ratonhnhaké:ton smiled modestly to himself and warmth enveloped his chest to the heartfelt gift. The sentiments behind both spoke volume and he cherished the fact she worried for him and would do whatever she could to keep him safe during travels. Caroline was a marvelous girl that kept weaving herself into his heart but he worried his own growing affection could fracture their friendship. It would've been easier for her to be a Kanien'kehá:ka girl or he a boy of the English colonies but life, it seemed, did not want him to walk an easy road.
A/N: Horses are gorgeous creatures and after writing this chapter, my stomach sunk when I read that the US state of Oklahoma passed a law allowing the slaughter of horses for meat while a plant could open soon in New Mexico. Even worse, while writing the last portion, my beloved brown Rex rabbit of seven years died and it has torn my heart to shreds after doing everything possible with medicine to make her feel better but it was in vain. She was such a feisty indomitable girl that it took me by surprise how illness can kill you within days but at least I have her daughter of six years as the last token of her. I can only take solace that she isn't suffering anymore after burying her in her favorite garden in my backyard with a porcelain marker (her daughter still searches for her since they often 'tagged' each other for a chase across the yard). Aside from all of the animal gloom, it's pretty obvious now that the two main characters see each other as more than friends and Caroline's little siblings can be rather adorable trying to point that out. We'll have the children and Caroline meeting 'Captain' Connor in the next chapter so that will definitely be filled with eager children asking their hero questions.
Hot Chocolate is Yummy: Great, that's exactly what I set out to do with the descriptions in this story.
East Coast Captain: You're right about the war raging on for centuries and I do want to continue the tale at least until Connor's children are grown up since the old west and pioneer days were interesting. I like the assassin wives since Maria is the brawny/diplomatic type while Sofia was the brainy type so I can only wonder about Connor's. Caroline will have a similar role to Maria when it comes to counseling Connor since he does have moments of naivety and overconfidence. I haven't decided whether to make her an assassin, actually, but I do want her to have access to intel that she could give Connor. As for Mohawk weddings, they are indeed very different in comparison to old English ceremonies but the game romanticized Myriam and Norris' since women usually wore their best dress to the official writing their license, which didn't have to be in a church (most were in private residences), and they didn't use rings until the next century. In regards to Connor dancing at the wedding, Caroline will indeed pull him into one since she'll expect him to do the same in theirs (he won't be thrilled on that). Lol
rmctagg09: She will get to meet Haytham actually but Connor will try to keep her form saying anything since in his words, 'he finds your weakness and leaves you a blubbering mess once he opens his mouth'. Lol
vampireadtic: Thanks for loving the updates and yes, we're finally getting to Caroline/Connor moments.
Zindia: Thank you for loving the story!
BloodlustAssassin: Since we haven't had any human blood spilt in the story, it'll stay how it is for now but I will announce it in an author's note if I do change it. Thank you for enjoying the story.
Sleepingsnowwhite: They are cute, especially during an era when affection wasn't exactly made to be out in the open and 'feelings' weren't exactly discussed openly. Their cuteness will be growing, however. Lol
Shatter Shot: Thank you for liking it!
NinjaxSketcheartx: It's okay about delaying a review because life can interfere (I barely had the heart to finish the chapter this week). As for your questions, women didn't go to college and barely finished their basic schooling (primary grades in the present) while only boys headed off to college. Girls could go to dame schools afterwards but they only taught housework skills and other duties 'fit' for women at the time (embroidery). Only higher class girls could afford to pay for studies but again, they would only teach what a woman should know for her home. During Connor's time, only men and widowed women were allowed to teach but as the 1800s approached, unmarried women were allowed to teach. All of them, however, needed to obtain a teaching certificate that tested their knowledge of school subjects (history, grammar, and arithmetic) by the school board (no degree of any kind required). As for college, women began attending after the Civil War ended but only 7% of all women attended. As for student punishment, teachers were allowed to use rulers and other disciplinary means without a problem (including sending them home). I particularly enjoyed reading the teaching life of Laura Ingalls Wilder in the 1880s since women had to be able to hold their own against older, not to mention, bigger students (one of her students killed another in the class in later years). As for Catherine's worry, it's partly due to being her mother but wedded women were usually the backup when it came to defending a home so she's probably seeing that her daughter's growing up faster than she thought she would. I hope that helped answer a few questions but I will be showing more on Amelia and all the Burnett girls.
Next Time: Captain of the Aquila
He took a plump ripe berry from her hand with polite thanks and she asked curiously, "Who captains the Aquila?"
It was amusing to wonder what she would think of the truth since she'd never pried into the Aquila and what he truly did there. For the past years, she'd been none the wiser to who truly captained the ship and he was about to divulge her curiosity with the truth. Would she accept the danger he faced on the unpredictable sea? He watched her as she nibbled on a berry herself, the reddish tint coloring her front teeth, and he admitted quietly, "I do."
Caroline chuckled softly to his answer as she assumed he was joking and smiled to gently chastise, "Oh, Connor, you've never been one to jest. Who really commandeers it?"
Ratonhnhaké:ton didn't bat an eyelash as he met her gaze and repeated, "I do."
She faltered in her laughter as she heard the seriousness in his voice and her jaw popped open to the truth. Really? How could he be a captain? He was just a young man- no older than her! That ship was enormous as the mast could clearly be seen from their current standpoint at the cliff and her friend commanded its entire being? Her eyes shifted between the anchored ship and the young man next to her to see the puzzle click. Well, he was taller than most men and strong like one too but still!
She was struck speechless for a few moments since she'd never imagine anyone but a man like Mr. Faulkner driving it. That's who she assumed steered the ship every time it left the cove but only now did she notice that every time it left shore, Ratonhnhaké:ton was onboard. Had she really failed to make that connection? She'd seen him leave every time with the ship but she'd assumed he worked as a deck boy or helping the captain. Eventually, she managed to quell all of the questions rolling through her mind because he would never steer her wrong and stated with warm amusement, "You are full of surprises."
"So people say" he replied with mirth in his voice as they watched the ship and continued eating from her bundle of berries.
"And you let me blather on about the captain being the most savvy with the way that ship rarely returned with critical strikes?" she questioned embarrassingly with a light blush on her cheeks since she'd practically been basting him in compliments. The sneaky smile on his lips hitched wider since he'd enjoyed hearing her wonder who the mysterious captain was. Whenever he told her stories of his travels, she kept the captain as an unknown enigma and had seen the awe as she admired the adventure. She eyed him suspiciously as she caught the faint lingering of that smile and chided playfully, "You just liked hearing me boast on about this ghostly captain, didn't you?"
"You nagged about him as well" he reminded to take the focus off himself since being admired for his skills was a nice confidence booster. Her cheeks flushed darker as she gaped like a fish since whenever she noticed a laceration or bruise from a recent excursion, she was quick to blame the captain for not taking care of his men. Mostly, she was just concerned for him but spanned it into an overall category to keep her feelings hidden.
Thank you for reading this installment and please, leave a review if you can. Have a wonderful day or cozy night wherever you are. :)