Music Inspiration: Two Steps From Hell- "Winterspell"
Homecoming
23 December 1773
To say Ratonhnhaké:ton never ceased impressing the community was an understatement with each passing year. Just as Christmas approached, when the bears were sleeping in hibernation to preserve energy, people had to tread carefully to prevent wandering to one of their dens. Throughout the months, Catherine remained watchful of the forest since bears could wander if they needed more food to preserve their metabolism. On this particular day, everyone had been gathered at Achilles' manor since they had all begun helping to store away their food in attics or cellars for preservation. With Ratonhnhaké:ton away from home, the children helped to clean the house since Achilles simply swept the floors by himself when he could. Age was slowly catching up to him but he appreciated the sentiment of his neighbors to help as the women prepared his food to last the winter and the men sealed any cracks that could allow rain or snow to fall through.
Everyone had been curious to the tomahawk embedded in the entrance column of the house but Achilles brushed it off as a cultural ritual for Ratonhnhaké:ton. The final lingers of adolescence tended to make young men erratic in behavior so he could always use that excuse as well. He had given a brief explanation for his protégé's actions but Achilles would make him fix the damage to the column when he removed it. Hopefully, it would be soon and the mission to eliminate the Templar, Johnson, would prove successful.
Samuel noticed the familiar form of the native boy walking the trail as he cleaned one of the windows facing the road and smiled widely. His friend had come back safe and sound! His oldest sister had fretted every time harsh snowfall fell over the land but he insisted their friend would make it out just fine. Quickly, he swiped the glass clean in circles to catch a better look and called out cheerfully, "Connor's back . . . and there's a bear behind him!"
All eyes turned to the front windows as the children stopped their cleaning and spotted young man, expecting the imagined bear ready to pounce on him. As usual for a young child, Samuel had been quickly prone to a wrong perception. In actuality, Ratonhnhaké:ton was lugging a dead carcass on a makeshift bed towards the manor. The children could hardly believe he could be carrying such a huge animal which was why Samuel originally thought it was chasing after him.
The rabble of the children brought the adults to the foyer to see what it was all about but Caroline had opted to open the door to descend the stairs. After watching him leave and missing him for almost two months, she'd expected to have the first Christmas without him. Ratonhnhaké:ton spotted the familiar redhead practically running down the steps with blotches of dirt on her hands and the apron of her blue dress. Blotches or not, she was the best sight he had seen in weeks after the tension in Boston and laid down the cloth he'd been dragging to meet her.
Her hands tightly grasped his in welcome and she resisted from pulling him into an embrace after missing him dearly. The longing had never felt strong in her youth but as she grew older, her affection matured and the worry multiplied for him. There were nights when she sat outside her cabin to gaze at the twinkling stars and wondered where he was- whether he was safe, fed, and warm. Now that he'd returned, her concerns were cast to the wind until he left Davenport once more.
The exhaustion from traveling on foot with the dead bear carcass had tired his limbs as he'd switched the task between himself and Roger. Caroline felt the strain in his hands when his fingers took longer to smooth over hers and saw his brow twitch with each movement. He took very great care of his horses and never let them become exhausted on the road as he treated them like a human partner. Due to that, he bore a bit more exhaustion than the average settler that let the horse do all of the work. The stallion whinnied at Caroline in welcome as he saw familiar faces heading down to meet them and their noise cut off any welcomes she could've greeted him with.
"Connor!"
"You're back, we missed you!"
"Look at that big ugly bear!"
The smallest children crowded Ratonhnhaké:ton's legs as they hugged him in welcome and he chuckled to lean down, picking up little Ann on one arm. She smiled with glee with bright blue eyes for the free ride and he used his other hand to pat Alice's and Samuel's heads in welcome. This was why he loved coming home to Davenport. His friends were always happy to greet him and the comfort level he had amongst them couldn't compare to anyone else in the colonies- only his village.
"You should see the farm- there's piggies!" Alice declared giddily to the new livestock addition since she often dropped by to help Prudence. Samuel tended to follow her there to add his own helping hand to occupy his time when he wasn't needed at home or at the Galloways. She loved the farmers since they were always kind enough to offer her a small snack when she helped but she was so shy to that little gift that she could barely stutter a thank you in gratitude. It wasn't hard for the farmers not to love Alice as well and Prudence would be happy to raise children that could take after the current respectful ones of Davenport.
"Connor, did you . . . kill that beast?" Terry asked with disbelief as everyone watched him place Ann down to lug the bear carcass up the stairs. Caroline grabbed Roger's reins and with a smile aimed towards her friend, led his horse down the path to the right to head to the stables. She could only imagine how long the horse had been walking and promised him a nice meal of hay with oats. Ratonhnhaké:ton watched her leave since he expected her to stay by his side with the children but he often forgot that Caroline was expected to act as an adult.
"Of course not, it was probably dying and he put it out of its misery" Diana replied with a warm chuckle to the idea since he was quite young to accomplish such a feat. Nobody could fight a bear without a rifle in hand and most that did only had one kill shot before they had to reload a bullet and that would give a bear ample time to attack.
Ratonhnhaké:ton turned to the entire group gathered at the front of the house and answered with pure honesty, "Yes."
"With what weapon?" Warren asked with confusion since the young man never carried a rifle slung over his back. His quiet nature and tendency to live off the land always kept Ratonhnhaké:ton shrouded in mystery despite the years, which he found humorous at times.
"My knife" he answered easily since it took a precise moment where he could lunge, grab the bear by its neck, and drive his hidden blade into it to sever one of the arteries. He ran like a man on fire from many bears during his youth but as he trained and gained confidence to find the weak spots of all of his enemies, he didn't shy away from a challenge. When he had been cornered by a bear a year ago during springtime, he gave it his best and managed to kill a bear by trial-and-error. Of course, his robes were torn in numerous places and he lost a patch of his hair but he came out alive with a prize in food.
The men were downright surprised to his weapon of choice and Godfrey shifted into father mode with the young boy he'd brought into his home to ask worriedly, "Connor, why didn't you take a rifle or use a pistol? It's already dangerous enough out there with the elements and thieves."
"I prefer a quieter method of attack but I always carry a pistol" he reassured the Scotsman to set him at ease since he wouldn't come to harm easily. It warmed his heart to know he mattered to those he'd aided, not for providing them with land to live on, but because they saw him as a person to welcome with their friendship. He'd always been a shy child, similar to Alice, but when he found friends to bond with, he cherished them like no tomorrow and allowed his true personality to peek through.
Catherine approached him to grasp his shoulders with a motherly squeeze and she beamed with a happy sigh, "We're just glad you're back safe and sound, dear."
"I'll be around for the entire winter so there is no more need to worry" he smiled warmly to return the kind sentiments she always bathed him in and could see why her children loved her so. He might not have a mother anymore but if her spirit guided him with every step in life, she'd led him to a very kind woman with the same protective heart.
"I'm glad you're all right, bears are dangerous" Caroline fretted with worry on her face as she returned to the manor to find the dead bear lying on a wooden counter in the kitchen. The animal was twice as long as her height and one of its paws was wide enough to slash out her thigh and leave her without a leg to walk on. She could only imagine how he'd fought the animal and her respect for him grew because it wasn't everyday someone killed a bear. The fact that Amelia told her he'd done it with only a knife increased that admiration.
"Look at his teeth!" Samuel exclaimed with excitement as he peered at the sharp white fangs and Ann scuttled to her mother in fear it would come alive. Diana chuckled gently to reassure her daughter nothing would happen but Ann didn't trust it. She'd heard far too many noises during the night as they lived on the wild frontier but Samuel piped up soothingly as he squeezed her small hand, "No, Ann, it can't hurt you anymore."
"But it's so big and stinky" she murmured softly as the five year old huddled between both her mother and Samuel. This was her safest spot for the moment but if she ever needed to run, she'd scuttle right after her father for protection.
"I think the children will be entertained by merely looking at it" Diana chuckled softly as Ratonhnhaké:ton prepared to cut into the animal to prevent spoilage. He'd been lucky to kill it in the outskirts of Davenport so it hadn't been out in the open for too long but he needed to start. He wanted to save the pelt so he could either sell it or use it for a few articles of clothing or accessories.
"It's not soft like the eagle Mr. Davenport has" Martha whispered with curiosity as she dared to trace her fingertips over its coarse fur that was tinged with melting snowflakes. She couldn't believe her neighbor had killed such a beast but again, he was a quiet person and that clouded him in mystery. It was that unknown aura around him that kept her at bay from being overly friendly but she did consider him a better acquaintance than most colonists she'd met. She'd never been one to be overly trusting like Alice and eyed everyone suspiciously for any ill will.
"Mr. Davenport and I don't need all of this- distribute it among yourselves" Ratonhnhaké:ton offered freely since they would be fine with a single leg from the animal for the winter. The bear was a large one so it would provide meat for everyone in Davenport and the children smiled broadly to his words. Was he really giving them bear meat for free? He used his knife to cut around the left ankle of the bear to begin removing the pelt from the start of the limbs and the four men (except Achilles) helped him skin the large predator. He appreciated the help since it would take a few hours to finish preparing it by himself and told them, "Just leave one of the legs for us and we'll be fine. The children need the food since they've still got a lot of growing to do."
"Bear meat, mother! It's rare for us to buy!" Alice gasped with astonishment and a bright smile to the thought of eating the meat. Bear meat was a rarity when one lived in the settled colonies and was only affordable to middle classes and above. However, if you happened to live in the outdoors and owned a gun, it was a free tasty meal. Her fingers wrung her green skirt as she smiled sheepishly to the poor times she'd experienced in her young life and admitted, "I've only eaten it once."
"Back in Lake Champlain, I remember" Samuel piped up cheerfully to their early childhood but mostly because he swore vehemently that he'd seen the lake monster. Ann merely blinked since she'd only been a baby during that time and her memories were only of Davenport, which her parents were thankful for.
Ratonhnhaké:ton placed his knife down since he left his hunting kit inside his travel pack, which he'd placed at the foot of the stairs. The happy talk about his arrival had steered him away from putting his belongings away as everyone wanted to help with preparing the bear. Wiping his hands clean with a towel soaked in water, he excused himself to fetch his tools and let the men keep removing the pelt in his stead. The echoing chatter behind him only served to increase his own happiness at being home and dissipated the exhaustion from his travels.
As everyone chatted merrily about the community being whole once more, Caroline quietly slipped away from the crowd to squeeze out into the hallway. He heard the light creak in the floorboards as she approached him from behind and turned around with a weary smile. She was such a welcome sight for him, even if she never spoke as they stood in the same room, and he said the words he'd meant to say earlier, "It is a delight to see you, Caroline."
"You made it just in time for Christmas day tomorrow" she smiled fondly since his safe return was good enough of a gift for her and wouldn't ask for more. Being a simple girl of the countryside, her passion was the land around her and the adventure it brought during her walks. Her days only became better in his company and she observed any new changes in his appearance to admit earnestly, "It wouldn't be the same without you."
She was one of the reasons he returned home straightaway nowadays and didn't dawdle with exploring for too long (that and Achilles' lectures). Her hand reached out to tug on his left sleeve to pull him into the nearest room out of view from the hallway so they could speak privately. With young children about, secrets could spill if she wasn't careful and she didn't want her affections to be discovered. She wrapped her arms around his sides to envelope him in a hug, her palms cupping the back of his shoulders blades to squeeze him affectionately. Ratonhnhaké:ton's first instinct was to blush to their close contact but he relished the affectionate squeeze. How could he not?
There was no need to worry about him anymore since human danger was rare on their land and Caroline whispered, "I'm relieved you're all right."
He wrapped one arm behind her back and cupped the back of her head with the other as he returned the fond embrace. Had his sudden leave worried her this much? They hadn't ventured this close in proximity as their cheeks brushed against each other and he smiled to her smooth skin touching his. If he could receive this kind of welcome, he might just make more unexpected trips out of Davenport. He appreciated her concern but he was at home and more than happy to spend time with her to make up for that absence. Her relaxed breathing tickled his bare neck as his coat's collar touched her chin and he reassured with his promise, "I'll always come back to you."
"Good or I will head out myself to find you" she vowed with a caring smile to match since her life had become entwined with his for the past years. He smiled widely for being held so dear to her and squeezed her shoulders to offer his delight to her admission. Privacy only allowed them a few moments together and he wanted to present her with the gift he'd brought her. It had taken him a while to pinpoint what Caroline would love but as he grew alongside her, he'd seen her flourish from a child to a young woman. Normally, he'd wait for her gift giving holiday but her face brought his heart so much bliss to be home that-
"Connor!"
Achilles' voice disrupted the two teenagers as it echoed down the hall and Caroline offered him one last squeeze to welcome him back. Ratonhnhaké:ton wasn't ready to bid her goodbye after the having his first cozy hug from Caroline and resisted from visibly frowning. If they pretended to be quiet, would Achilles leave them be? It would probably be months before he could dare to seize another under the pretense of friendship. She snuck out quietly and tried to maintain a nonchalant façade as she passed by Achilles but the old man caught the bright eyed twinkle in her blue eyes. He hid an amused smile since his young student was at that particular awkward age of discovery and love but they had a job to do.
He caught his student smiling without a care in the world as he entered the quiet room and asked simply, "Did you eliminate Johnson?"
Ratonhnhaké:ton blinked to focus back to his mentor because being caught unaware in a daydream didn't exactly spell out a good assassin. If anything, it would sink any respect from Achilles into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. Also, why hadn't he heard the cane tapping against the floorboards? His mentor was craftier than he was originally led to believe. Clearing his throat, he squared his shoulders to appear professional and answered truthfully, "I managed to stop the purchase of my village by ruining the source of his money-"
"But did you eliminate him?" he asked carefully since thwarting him was different from removing him entirely. Assassinating the man would rid his hold over financial aspects of the Templar order in the colonies and drive their brotherhood one step closer to annihilating Kenway and Lee. The uncertain look his student was giving him was not filling him with confidence and he reiterated previous teachings, "Connor, if you simply removed his money, it merely postpones his plans. It doesn't remove him from the equation or the fact that he will continue to do the same."
"I . . . I thought. . ." Ratonhnhaké:ton murmured with less confidence than before since he expected a 'job well done' for his first solo mission. Had his plan not been good enough? He expected destroying the tea shipments would be devastating enough that Johnson could never place an offer on the land but Achilles' firm gaze told him otherwise. Ratonhnhaké:ton wondered if he was really in the wrong since the Templar had looked downright furious when he saw him that night and expected his actions to speak for themselves about his skills.
"You're still naïve of the world, boy" Achilles sighed softly to their different views of success concerning the Templars and shook his head. It seemed he still had a few things to teach the young man because allowing their enemy escape and hoping they taught him (or her) a lesson would not work. He resisted from batting him on the head with his cane for being overconfident and lectured firmly, "Why did you think destroying the tea and denting his illegal smuggling would work? Templars are relentless at seeking what they want and they will eliminate anyone or anything in their way."
Ratonhnhaké:ton couldn't help but feel foolish now that he saw the bigger picture. He assumed ruining Johnson's plans would make him think twice about trying to buy his people's land (or any other) but his mentor was right if he had plenty of money to spare or accumulate. His shoulders slumped as his upbeat mood was turned upside down to disappointment and apologized for his failure, "I am sorry, Achilles. I . . . I overestimated my enemy and lost focus of the overall objective-"
"We will speak of it later but for now, attend to our guests" Achilles interrupted to remind him that they weren't alone in the home but he'd give him quite the lecture later. He'd really expected his student to accomplish the task of eliminating the Templar but it seemed they would be back to training and heading to the drawing board.
25 December 1773
"Happy Christmas!"
Squeals of joy and laughter erupted from the young children as they received presents with grateful thanks. The eldest girls already knew the truth behind Father Christmas and although it had made them sullen years ago, they cherished the love their parents and friends poured into their gifts. Now, it would be returned to their younger siblings to carry on tradition. Alice had been bursting with joy to see the new fabric doll her parents had bought and couldn't stop tracing her fingers through her brown yarn hair. Even as she grew older, she loved playing with her dolls. Samuel had been given a model naval ship by Ratonhnhaké:ton that had sent him over the moon and was currently showing everyone how detailed it was. Ann had received toys from her neighbors, candy and clothes from her parents, and ribbons for every day of the week from Ratonhnhaké:ton which left her squealing next to Alice.
The eldest girls were taught to not expect gifts since they were officially 'grown up' but they always received trinkets from their friends and family. Ratonhnhaké:ton had baffled Martha and left her gushing with modesty after he'd given her a pair of heeled blue shoes for her to wear whenever she went into town one day. The young girl had stuttered for the first time since she hadn't been clinging to his arm like Samuel and Caroline. For the first time, she realized he understood her need to act like a lady on the frontier and accepted the gift graciously. For Amelia, he had bought a handmade portable lap desk since he hadn't learned to craft one but picked out the sleek design so she could write and read outside. She'd been ready to hug him out of excitement that she'd almost forgotten their social rules but shook his hand thankfully.
Elizabeth had received a gift in the living sense since she enjoyed caring for animals and Ratonhnhaké:ton gave her a black kitten. Her parents had been surprised to the animal but he reasoned that they would need a cat since rats and mice were a bother throughout the year. It would be easier for a cat to catch them rather than Catherine giving chase or worse, having one of them bitten during the night. Elizabeth had gladly scooped up her new kitten, Flora, to play with her as the children had gathered round as they had with Elijah's welcome three years ago. As for the shepherd, he was curious to the small ball of fluff but knew better than to disobey his owners by chasing it out.
While they gasped and awed, Caroline had stepped up to give Amelia her gift and watched her unwrap the small bundle. The younger girl gasped with joy at seeing the paper cover of another teaching book in the field of reading and restrained herself from exclaiming. If she wanted to be a teacher, she had to act very proper with her emotions. Still, she couldn't help but smile with a shaky voice to thank her sister's goodwill, "Oh, Caroline, you shouldn't have. Our parents already gave me one and Connor gave me a desk."
"I want you to succeed" she reminded with love to embrace her little sister and best friend to show her nothing was too good for her. Just as Alice and Samuel stuck together as a sibling duo, she and Amelia were inseparable but the years of adulthood were warning them that separation was inevitable. If Amelia succeeded, she would leave Davenport to explore the world on her own and Caroline would have to accept that. She couldn't imagine her little sister all on her own but approved of her determination, "I do believe the best in you and the exam is only three months away."
"Imagine, next Christmas I could be teaching somewhere" Amelia gushed optimistically since she would have the spring and summer open to search for a job. There was so much to study and she hoped her mind could retain everything until that day.
"And I . . . really have no idea" her sister supplied for the first time because she never really thought about her future. Amelia wanted to be a teacher and Martha had begun to take interest in being a seamstress in cities while she had nothing. Caroline knew that she wanted to stay in Davenport but her help around the mill and catches didn't exactly provide a stable job or income of any sort. Her adolescent years were now behind her and she needed to form who she would be as an adult. She wasn't ready to be married off and be provided for when she hadn't discovered what her own skills were. Her brow furrowed since she hadn't exactly found her calling and confided in her sister with uncertainty, "That's not good, is it?"
Amelia squeezed her hand sympathetically to encourage her and stated optimistically, "You'll find your calling, Carrie, and we love having you here."
"It's words like that that will keep me here forever" she sighed softly to the thought of being a spinster for life and tending to her old parents because it wasn't ideal to her. If anything, she wanted to explore the world on her own but that would mean leaving Davenport. Could she truly do such a thing? How would she even survive or find her true path out there in the open? Ratonhnhaké:ton was able to travel without a hint of fear and here she was, wary of the unknown despite its alluring pull on her mind.
"Give it time" Amelia soothed with a kind smile and Caroline smiled in return to push away those worrisome thoughts. This was Christmas, after all! She hugged her sister once more for her optimism and Amelia chuckled to the affection as she opened the new book. Her nose inhaled the new smell of freshly printed pages since worn books smelled of dust but each new book encouraged her to press on. She could do this!
"Sisters, come pet Flora!" Elizabeth called over since they were the only ones that had yet to coddle her little kitten. Martha had set out a bowl of milk so it could drink and all of them had aww'ed to her little laps. She was tiny now but once winter ended, she would be a bigger girl ready to tackle mice and learn her way. Her big blue eyes and squeaky meow drew another round of aww's from the children and Amelia walked over to greet the little kitten.
For the first time, Ratonhnhaké:ton waited until Caroline was by herself before approaching her to give his Christmas gift. He longed for older times when he wouldn't turn bashful at the mere sight of her but when her blue eyes brightened at meeting his gaze, his feet automatically followed. Her gaze lowered to a brown box in his hands since she'd rarely seen boxed items and those that were were usually high quality goods. He smiled politely to maintain a calm façade in order to see the glee on her face when she opened it and handed her the box, "My Christmas present to you."
"How many times must I tell you that your arrival was enough?" she chided gently because she wouldn't chastise him for the kind gesture and appear impolite. The box was incredibly light in her hands and she resisted the childlike urge to shake it to form a guess. His gifts, no matter the size or price, were always treasured and Caroline had saved every gift: dried up flower petals in a sewn linen bag from their walks, a bobcat claw necklace he'd made after her encounter years ago, a lilac handkerchief he'd bought her, her beautiful leather-bound books, and the apple tree grew outside. If he ever found out, her sentimental affection would be discovered but she wouldn't dare cast them aside.
"And how many times must I tell you that you've earned this?" he joked playfully to dissipate her modesty over receiving gifts because he'd give her the coat on his back if she asked. Her bright smile reached her eyes to his kind words and he motioned for her to open it so she could see the gift. He remembered his first trip to Boston with Caroline and how she'd admitted to loving the fashions of the city but disappointed for lacking money for one piece. After talking to the storekeeper in the city, he was certain that she'd enjoy the gift after seeing her take great care of her best dresses.
"You b-bought me a-a bonnet" Caroline breathed in awe with wide eyes as she felt the beautiful navy silk and the white lace ruffle trimmings were simply stunning. She'd never seen anything so exquisite in her life and felt privileged to touch something so rare for a girl like her. She could only remember that emerald straw hat in Boston and how much she'd wanted one but couldn't afford it. Her way of life would never offer her luxurious fabrics but she hoped to afford nice fabrics for outings one day. The brown satin ribbons hanging from it were so soft against her calloused fingertips that she feared snagging onto the cloth and removed her hand to merely take in its beauty.
How could he have bought her such a gift? Her cheeks flushed darkly to owning such a handsome hat but she didn't want to empty her friend's pockets for it. What would her mother think if she accepted such an expensive hat? She frowned slightly as self-control and respect won over and whispered softly with reluctance, "This is such a beautiful gift. Oh, goodness, I can't-"
"You will wear it and it will be lovely" he ordered gently with a warm smile before she fainted from surprise but could see she liked it. Her blue eyes glittered to the soft bonnet and she could only imagine the nice places she could wear it to. If their community had socials one day and grew bigger in population, she could attend them with her little hat. Oh, she'd look just like a city girl with their pretty hats. Ratonhnhaké:ton hoped to see her wear it soon, maybe even during one of their walks, and explained his choice in color, "I'm not good at choosing colors but the storekeeper said it would complement your features."
He bit his tongue at admitting her eyes were her most beautiful feature to avoid flustering her modesty further. Instead, he decided to keep deliberating on the fashions the storekeeper had told him about to pique her curiosity, "Apparently, it is the popular hat in Boston besides straw hats, which almost everyone wears. Quite frankly, I prefer this one due to the ties but that's just me. The fabric is rather soft, isn't it?"
"I should say, the lining is silk" she chuckled bashfully to the luxurious fabric and carefully placed the pretty bonnet over her braided hair. Now that she was considered a woman of age, her two simple braids had been pinned to the back of her head in the form of a bun. When she was feeling particularly lazy, she just tied her braid over her head to form a crown for less hassle. The gift had taken her breath away completely because she couldn't have owned one at all! She tucked stray locks of hair behind the white inside lining of the bonnet and smiled shyly to ask him, "Am I doing it justice?"
"Beautifully" he assured her modest face as the white lace accentuated her blue eyes further. He couldn't see a prettier woman than her and while everyone mingled away from them, his fingers tied the ribbons under her chin to finish the ensemble. The brown calico dress she wore for the occasion matched the bonnet perfectly and if he could've taken her away for a simple stroll over the snowcapped trails, he would've. After grasping her hand in his for the first time on that October morning, he couldn't remove the sensation from his mind and wished to reenact it all over again. Would she reject him if he grasped her hand during one for their walks? Would she chastise him for his bold move? Colonist society was strange to him but if he wished to know Caroline's feelings, he would have to immerse himself in it.
She smiled broadly for his hidden display since the move would've warranted a curious eye and boundless questions about their friendship. Caroline wasn't keen on changing anything but if he asked for the chance to court her, she wouldn't reject him. As she grew older and heard stories from the older women about relatives pairing off, Caroline's mind only grew curious to the same prospect. Luckily, her father wasn't eager to pair her off as some fathers would if they couldn't afford to feed numerous mouths in a poor household. He had brought her simple joy since meeting on that warm summer day in 1770 and thanked him for the memories, "I am lucky to have you in my life."
"I could say the same" he admitted since her selfless kindness spoke volumes for him. It was because of her insistence that he had studied continuously to master the English language and earned an adopted spot within her family. He wouldn't be the same without her in his life as her optimism in the good of others and perseverance to succeed in the harsh world brought reflection to his own personality as he grew older.
Caroline removed her bonnet carefully to place it back in its hatbox and couldn't help the sneaky smile on her face. Oh, how she hoped her gift would do. She'd placed a hand woven waistcoat in a linen bag as his gift and ushered him to follow her as it lay on top of her trunk in the back of the cabin. He couldn't help but notice freckles accenting the back of her neck as her pinned hair bared the area. Ann scuttled by him as she nibbled on her Christmas peppermint stick but Elizabeth was quick to grab her to prevent her falling and having an accident. Amelia beckoned Ann and Alice so she could read them a tale from a book Ratonhnhaké:ton had given her to offer a break from her studies.
The entire cabin was divided into three groups with the men talking about news, the women about the overall preparation for that day, and the children enjoying their gifts. Ratonhnhaké:ton had once tried to mingle all three groups into one conversation but within five minutes, everyone had split to their original grouping and he'd been left with only Elijah for company. He averted his eyes upwards when Caroline stopped to lean down and grab his gift since he didn't want his eyes wandering where they shouldn't. It was embarrassing enough to fight off a blush. She grabbed the handmade gift to hand it to him with a perky smile to await his reaction and hoped it did his gift justice.
Ratonhnhaké:ton placed his hand inside the brown linen to feel a soft fabric inside and pulled out attire of a blue hue. His brown lips parted for a few seconds since Achilles had once given him a similar article of clothing so he didn't expect this one to have been made quickly. How many hours had she spent sewing this for him inside her home during daylight and candlelight? He didn't often have time for handmade gifts which is why he chose them based on the person and stated with concern, "Caroline, you shouldn't waste money on me. It's why I taught you to catch to bring you an income- you need it."
"I work for the ones I love and that includes you" she reminded with a mischievous smile since he wouldn't be budging out of her heart. It was the closest she could come without admitting romantic affection within that broad subject of love and his smile delighted her. Didn't he know how handsome he looked when he did so? Preventing another blush from creeping onto her cheeks, she pointed to the blue waistcoat's golden trimmings and explained softly, "We had so many buttons in mother's bag that I didn't need to buy any. Alice picked them out all by herself and Samuel told me your favorite color so I weaved the fabric myself to dye it. This is our gift to you since we all worked on it."
"Thank you, Caroline" he whispered with gratitude as the royal blue color complemented his skin and promised himself to wear it soon. He'd worn his assassin's robes for months on end that he was surprised they hadn't developed holes. Falling off a roof accidentally due to ice tended to do that to one's clothing, after all. It would be nice to wear new clothes in Davenport for the winter and he smiled fondly to admit, "You . . . are very dear to me."
Her eyes softened against the glow of the fireplace reflecting against the cabin's walls and she murmured faintly, "So are you."
It was a small step but it reinforced his resolve to tell her his true feelings soon.
26 December 1773
The following morning, the children enjoyed themselves on the soft banks of snow that had fallen over the land to their hearts content. Ratonhnhaké:ton had dropped by to visit them after promising Samuel since the two had a surprise in store for the others. Catherine and Diana fussed with their children to wear warm coats outside and Ratonhnhaké:ton managed to convince a stubborn little Ann, who had wanted to feel the cold air on her limbs.
The children had quickly seized their wooden sleds to slide down the snowy hills to seize the calm day before the wind grew bone-chillingly cold. Samuel, being a little gentleman in training, allowed Ann and Alice to go first on his sled so they could enjoy themselves. In his younger years, he would've argued defiantly with them about the sled being his but aging brought him wisdom as a colonial boy. Soon, he would be able to help his father with simple chores around the mill and take care of the livestock himself.
Samuel looked to his brotherly figure with a big smile and asked enthusiastically, "Have you ever gone down a hill with the speed of a horse?"
Ratonhnhaké:ton was briefly reminded of an enemy he tackled off a snowy hill and used as a shield when they both fell down. He didn't want to tell his young friend that he'd used a human sled instead and merely replied, "No."
"It's very fun, I liked using them until I was told it was unladylike" Amelia admitted modestly since she and Caroline had shared a sled together in their youth for fun. Being only a year apart, they only had each other for company when Martha had been a baby and their mother busy tending to their home. Ratonhnhaké:ton raised an eyebrow in curiosity to what was deemed unacceptable to their gender and she sighed softly, "Apparently, we can only be led around in a sled but never ride it down a hill to prevent unsightly peeks of skin from our skirts. I did like sledding though."
"I understand that we're to be respectable but when I'm home. . .to heck with it" Caroline declared privately to her sister and friend to prevent the mindset from spreading to her siblings. Her mother was already drawing a curious eye towards her as Elizabeth trailed in her footsteps, especially after the young girl came home soaking wet from the river with a fat fish in her hands.
Amelia yelped with surprise when Caroline pulled her by the hand and grabbed Samuel's sled just as he'd been ready to ride it. The small boy uttered a complaint since he'd strictly said young ladies first but Caroline promised he'd be next. Ratonhnhaké:ton chuckled to their exchange as Caroline made Amelia sit in the back seat with her pink skirt neatly tucked under her legs. When she was ready, Caroline plopped down in the front to fix her own blue skirt before leaning forward to tip the balance and the sled was off.
Amelia hugged her sister with the strength of a crab for fear of falling but smiled with glee to the cold wind flying through her pinned hair. Oh, she hadn't done this in ages! She still remembered a younger Caroline with missing teeth pulling her out of their old home in Scotland to roll down the snowy hills when their mother no longer needed them to care for Martha. Laughter echoed down the slope as Caroline held tightly to the front of the sled and kept it steady to avoid veering off the path. Far too soon, their ride ended at the flat land that led to a path down to the mill and Amelia chuckled warmly, "Oh, I'd forgotten how fun this was. Remember when we almost took down a poor chipmunk with us?"
Caroline laughed to that old memory in Scotland as her little sister had cried uncontrollably until they made sure the chipmunk had survived. Thankfully, it had. They were memories that would live on in their minds and future generations if they ever divulged them. The two sisters grabbed one end of the sled to make their trek back uphill so their little brother could have his first fly down the slope. Amelia smiled at her sister and admitted with a little admiration, "You've always been the stubborn one when absurd rules weren't to your liking. I wish I could have that little independent streak but I'm far too afraid to do so."
"Amelia, you want to be a teacher and that's saying something for women of our class who are soon tied to a home at our age" Caroline reminded to encourage her sister because there was strength within her as well. She could've given up and chosen the average life of marrying a man to tend to a home rather than gain a small foothold in the working world. There weren't many options open to them due to their gender but she smiled warmly, "This will be an experience that will be yours alone and when we're old, you can say you worked hard to match any man in that field. Besides, we'd give mother grief if you grew the same stubbornness of Eliza and me."
The two arrived at the top of the hill with smiles as Amelia privately appreciated her words since the test was only months away. They handed the sled to Samuel, who didn't even wait before sliding down the hill and chuckled to his eagerness. On the other path down the same hill, Elizabeth landed face down on the snow and she turned over to laugh at her landing. With her warm wool jacket and stockings, she couldn't feel the cold snow pierce her dress and sat up to yell at the hill, "Martha, come on! Don't be so stiff."
"Ladies do not use toboggans" she stated snippily since she'd grow up a respectful young lady and she yelped when Caroline pelted her back with a snowball. How dare she?! Elizabeth burst into fits of laughter but Martha didn't find it funny in the slightest. Why weren't they adhering to the rules? It was almost enough to be ashamed of and she declared with a small hiss, "Carrie!"
"Live a little, there's nobody but family here" she pointed out simply and moved her hand over the hill where everyone was gathered. Caroline felt no need to carry herself like a proper lady when she was the oldest girl in the group because she trusted all of them. Years only served to bond them together and she doubted any of them would betray her behavior to their parents. Her little sister was always quite the adherer to the rules of society but Caroline hoped that wouldn't turn to arrogance since they all came from humble beginnings. Martha frowned when she playfully flicked bits of snow in her direction and Caroline smiled to ask, "What will you do when we're no longer here and you're in a world full of strangers? You have to seize the freedom offered to you because you won't have it elsewhere."
"I . . . we're already outsiders, why would I want to make people's assumptions of country folk even more true?" she pointed out since it had been bad enough being called names for her patched up clothes back in the cities. While Elizabeth roughed up anyone and Caroline ignored them, Martha repressed those horrid names. She didn't want to appear worse than what she'd looked like years ago and desired to be one of the respectable ladies that were admired for their manners and grace back in the cities. She crossed her arms to stand away from the hill since she didn't want to ride the sleds and muttered, "I will not behave shamefully and that is my choice . . . but you may do as you wish."
"You're getting a snowball to the face" Elizabeth declared with a mischievous grin as she'd managed to climb back up in time and grabbed a clump of snow. Caroline, however, intervened before she tried to chuck it at an indignant Martha. She frowned to her plan being thwarted since Martha had subtly indicated they acted shamefully and mumbled, "But Carrie, it's for the good of our honor."
"No, we respect everyone's opinions- even if we don't agree with them" her sister lectured her gently since they couldn't impose their thoughts to anybody else. She understood Martha's viewpoint and although she didn't agree with it, she would respect it. She reminded Elizabeth that they were family and they never turned against each other since they were all they had.
To prevent a quarrel popping up on propriety, Samuel pulled at Ratonhnhaké:ton's sleep to pull his attention away. The two quietly snuck away to the barn and motioned to little Ann to keep quiet as she watched them leave. Her attention was quickly snatched away when Alice called her over to make a snowman since the young girl didn't want to hear arguments. Being a passive girl, Alice didn't want to be involved in Elizabeth's and Martha's spats nor could she understand why they kept fighting. She loved her sisters and even though they lectured or chastised her once in a while, her love didn't wither.
"Help me pile this snow into a big ball, Ann" Alice told her little helper as Ann had become her unofficial little sister now that she could walk and talk. The small girl nodded her head and began clumping snow together so they could make a plump snowman to decorate their land.
Samuel quickly returned with Ratonhnhaké:ton to prevent any squabble between the girls and he called their attention immediately, "Look what we made for Elijah and the sled."
The girls turned around to see Samuel holding a leather harness in his arms that was similar to a horse's but a miniature. The harness was also anatomically different since it was made for the shepherd and the black dog perked his ears at hearing his name. Elizabeth turned to them with a curious eye since Samuel tended to blurt everything he did and asked aloud, "Is that why you two were missing inexplicably back in October?"
"You never betray a captain's trust" Samuel pointed out matter-of-factly with a firm nod and Caroline chuckled to his loyalty. Since discovering that Ratonhnhaké:ton was a captain, his admiration for him had skyrocketed and he hoped to see the ship up close one day. Elizabeth wasn't going to argue with him since he had a free wandering spirit like hers and allowed him to roam with their neighbor to his heart's content. Samuel held up the small harness to show his sisters and Ann of their newest invention to explain enthusiastically, "It's a dog harness for the sled so Elijah can use it with me, Alice, and Ann since we're smallest. Connor didn't have time to make a bigger one to present for you bigger gals but we'll have one eventually."
"Did he just call us fat?" Martha asked her sisters since she didn't want to be too big to be pulled by a dog. At the same time, she didn't want to be pulled by a dog due to the social rules placed on women. Caroline advised her to ignore his innocent joke since she didn't need Martha chastising everyone due to the self-consciousness of adolescence.
The two placed the leather harness on a curious Elijah as he moved his paws over the snow to try out the new accessory. Rope lines with leather straps had been handmade and were attached to the front of the sled underneath the start of the blades, which were blunt, to allow it to be pulled. Samuel asked Elijah to move forward to see how the sled would move with his gait and it worked splendidly without becoming stuck or uneven. The young boy rubbed the top of his dog's head with pride to a job well done and beckoned his sister with a perky smile, "Alice, try it!"
Her brown eyes blinked uncertainly since she'd been pretty dedicated to building her snowman. The other children ushered her so she could have fun and Alice decided to place her trust in Elijah and everyone gathered in case anything went awry. She sat down nervously on the flat slab of wood and asked her dog not to be too hasty since she was small for her age. Ratonhnhaké:ton kept careful watch as Elijah pulled the sled smoothly over the snow to leave tracks and Alice laughed gleefully, "How wonderful!"
They all watched him lead the young girl around in circles as he trotted to make sure he didn't frighten his human family. Alice found joy with the gentle roundabout since the sleds were too fast for her to bear alone but this time, she was in the front seat. Maybe now, she could ride a sled all by herself . . . with Elijah as her honorable driver. Amelia returned to help Ann build the snowman she wanted while Ratonhnhaké:ton moved next to Caroline's right side as she watched her little sister finally enjoy sledding alone.
"You have a very creative mind" she murmured in compliment as she caught sight of the brown wool coat he wore that chilly morning. It complemented his skin tone and the fact he'd brushed back his hair in a neat ponytail was enough to leave her with a stupefied smile. It brought her the usual question of how she would bear this growing affection through the years? What would happen if he could never see her the same way? Or found someone else he did see in that manner and brought her to Davenport to live with them or left entirely to build a home? It was devastating enough to think about.
Ratonhnhaké:ton shook his head to the compliment and admitted sincerely about the small invention, "Actually, it was all Samuel's idea. I merely designed it for him since he's too young to use tools."
Caroline chuckled softly since Samuel was eager to be a 'big boy' since being eight wasn't big enough in his book. Being the smallest, he had tall sisters and parents to contend with and Ratonhnhaké:ton's height compelled him to be tall too. She watched Samuel lead Elijah around the snowy clearing and smiled fondly to thank, "You really make his day when you spend time with him . . . thank you."
"It is a pleasure and an honor to be a part of your family, Caroline" he replied earnestly since he never expected to have a second home among colonists but they welcomed him with open arms. The children had become the siblings he never had but Caroline surpassed that by weaving herself into his heart with simple acts of kindness. Not to mention, she had eyes that could rival the most beautiful sapphire.
She smiled widely to his words, plumping her pink cheeks from the cold and stated quietly, "The same applies to you as well, Ratonhnhaké:ton."
"I hope to buy a horse drawn sleigh one day" he informed her nonchalantly as he hoped his newest venture would draw her interest. He wasn't the type to outwardly request what he desired since he didn't want to push into her life but enjoyed her company. She loved exploring the outdoors to discover the world around her and if he could grant her that, he would give her the entire world. He took the subtle approach by bringing forward an innocent question to await her opinion, "Winter is beautiful for sleighing over the frozen land or watching the snow fall. Do you agree?"
"Yes, you can do so much with the blanket of snow from creating figures to skating over ice" she smiled in agreement since there were many activities to do when the weather allowed it. She enjoyed partaking in the snowball fights with Samuel, Alice, and Elizabeth to even out the odds in the winter battle. During other days, she sat with Amelia and Martha to watch the snow fall from their log bench settled underneath the roof that allowed them shelter against the snowfall. She snuck a peek through her peripheral vision to watch him nod and smiled privately to herself. After years, she'd grown accustomed to his subtle questions since his mind processed each detail meticulously until he found what he sought. If he was looking for a way to imply an outing, she didn't hesitate to answer them so it would be easier for him to ask.
"Would you like to join me next year?" he asked politely as his shoulders arched forward to subconsciously show his modesty at asking her. Her eyes softened at seeing his disposition after growing accustomed to seeing him clasp his hands together over his stomach to wring his fingers whenever he spoke with her. It humored her since she often did the exact same thing but poor Ratonhnhaké:ton was flustered enough internally. What if she didn't want to go out into the cold with him? What could he say to the rejection-?
"If the lord permits me another one, yes, I very much would" she answered truthfully with a bashful smile as she remembered her parents driving off in their wagon with their best clothes to ride into town together. Being the oldest, she cared for her siblings but she'd been in awe to how sweet her parents looked and wanted to ride behind a team of horses in the same way one day. Ratonhnhaké:ton loved his horses and she'd never worry about driving into any town with him as the driver, despite what people might think of them. As Alice hopped off to allow Ann a turn on the sled by herself, Caroline brightened his modest smile by requesting, "Would you like to go ice skating with me after this?"
"Yes, I would" he agreed without hesitation and felt the modesty dissipating with warmth replacing the original nervousness. Why did he fear rejection to his requests when she always accepted his ideas for outings? There was always a little nagging voice in the back of his mind that told him he was going over his head but Caroline always squashed it with her agreements. She had pulled him onto the frozen ice of the river last winter and shown him how to use a pair of wooden skates her father had made for him at her request. Although he'd fallen flat on his face more than once, Caroline helped him the whole way and laughed when she fell down herself.
"Let's go down the hill" Caroline ushered him as she took a backseat on one of the empty sleds and patted the front as his spot. For once, she wasn't looking to being the independent girl and respected him enough to abdicate the dominant role to him. Ratonhnhaké:ton smiled to her glee as she tucked her fluffy skirt around her legs and he sat down on the front to protect her from a fall or worse. She clung to his waist for safety but smiled to herself as her chin touched his right shoulder. Goodness, she could feel the strong muscles of his torso flexing as he grabbed the front of the sled.
For a moment, Ratonhnhaké:ton savored the physical contact between them as he wished to touch his head to hers but tipped the sled down the hill when a few seconds passed. He couldn't have her siblings thinking anything was amiss at the risk of souring his friendship. Her voice rang in his ears as he chose the deepest part of the slope beside their home to slide down from and smiled as the wind brushed through his hair and struck his face with its cold tendrils. Why hadn't he tried sledding sooner? Caroline squeezed him tighter out of fear she'd fly off as the slope had a few bumps down its trail and saw the snowcapped trees blur into green blobs.
As the sled approached the bottom of the hill, Ratonhnhaké:ton averted the original path by swerving to the right. The hill of their home lay flat on the east end as it connected to the first bridge of Davenport but the west sloped down to meet the river. Caroline was surprised to their detour as the sled curved to slide down the new path as the land naturally sloped downwards and she laughed to his ingenuity. His strength was a major factor in controlling the trajectory and she smiled gleefully to her luck in finding a wonderful sled driver. The momentum gained from the top of the hill helped them slide down the slope to the river and rocks covered in snow quickly grew to greet them. Ratonhnhaké:ton hadn't planned on that and veered the sled slightly to the right again in an attempt to stop at the leveled land that ran alongside the frozen river.
Thankfully, it worked and he averted having to use shoes over the frozen river to return.
When the sled finally did slow to a complete stop, it was a few feet short from the frozen river and she burst into joyful laughter to the altered trip. She fell onto the soft snow with glee as she released him, coating her coat's backside in snow as she relaxed. My, she'd never had a more exciting ride! As he caught her slumped in the snow without a care, Ratonhnhaké:ton laughed alongside her because he was glad he hadn't frightened her with the altered course. He liked the fact that she wasn't rigid in personality and the fact that she was laughing told him he had a daring little colonist at his side to explore the horizon.
"I'm glad to see you enjoyed that" he stated with warm laughter as her snow covered clothes and otter fur hat took his worldly cares away for the moment. For a brief moment in time, it was simply the two of them in an isolated winter wonderland where the troubles of the world couldn't piece their solitude.
"Why wouldn't I? We possibly traveled faster than a horse" she chuckled serenely as flecks of snow coated her face and turned onto her left side to smile up at him. Her small brown hat immediately fell off from the movement as the pins loosened entirely due to the ride and fall onto the snow. This time, Ratonhnhaké:ton's laughter outmatched hers and he picked up her hat to place it back on its rightful place. Caroline smiled bashfully when he brushed back strands of hair that had become unkempt from the fall and couldn't help but love that chivalry of his.
Elizabeth watched their interaction as she stood on the top of the hill after following their trail from above. It sprouted curiosity from her since the two were always together when Ratonhnhaké:ton had time to spare and wondered about that in particular. She was no longer the child that had arrived in Davenport as she entered adolescence and giggled to Amelia with a hushed whisper, "I think someone's smitten."
"Eliza, your imagination is wild" she sighed with a warm chuckle since the two were behaving like they normally did in her view. Amelia couldn't discern anything different in their behavior since the two had always been close after meeting, just like Samuel was. Elizabeth could be a bit farfetched in her ideas but on the other hand, Amelia had to admit Caroline was the eldest and Ratonhnhaké:ton always took her on private walks when he could. If they were living in Boston, it would already be classified as pre-courting behavior.
Caroline grabbed snow into one of her hands to throw it onto his right arm as she sat up with flushing cheeks and a reddening nose. Flecks of snow lingered from the contact strike and he feigned a deadpan expression to her petty attack since he'd helped her with fixing her hat. She laughed at his face since he usually kept it quite stoic or with a faint smile and reasoned her attack, "Now we match."
"Actually, I'd have to fall into the snow" he chuckled warmly to correct her reason and plopped down next to her to pull her back onto the snow covered land. Her surprised laughter echoed through the empty area and the two smiled at each other to enjoy the quiet peace of winter. They could only lie down for a few minutes before the cold penetrated through their coats but it was worth it as they enjoyed each other's company. If he could do this for the rest of his years alongside her, he would grow to be a very happy old man.
"This is no time to sleep! We need the sled up here!"
Samuel's voice of complaint stirred a new bout of laughter from the two since they were sharing the item with everyone. Caroline would be ruffling his bright red hair for quite a few seconds once she returned to the top of the hill to hear his little groans about fixing his hair 'just right'. Ratonhnhaké:ton knew how to make her smile when he stated, "We will have time to do this again when we ice skate and next year too."
Caroline smiled with hope to what awaited them in the following year.
A/N: The bear scene was inspired during a playthrough where I killed about six bears at a creek out in the frontier and frankly, I questioned how I even survived the onslaught (and the lost time taken to kill them all). Lol. Connor, after all, is a human being and would certainly need practice before tackling a full grown bear. As for the romance, the two are almost at the climax to admitting their bottled up affection but they're darn cute with their blushing cheeks. I won't push their relationship too quickly given how society's laws were back then with courting within your own social class and race, maintaining proper distance in public, and articulating manners compared to now (a 239 year difference). Wintertime always seems the best to explore in this story than all of the other seasons since the children can do so much and Elijah's now a part of it with his little harness. We'll be seeing 'Burglar on the Homestead' in the next chapter so that will be a suspenseful event for the Burnett children.
Nate The Grate: Thanks for loving the story.
East Coast Captain: I'd like to think Connor would ask questions regarding his lineage on Haytham's side but he'd probably tell Connor it's not important or throw tidbits to pull him subtly into the Templar circle and 'open his eyes'. Haytham's a sharp one so he'll definitely whiff out the truth between his son and Caroline but he'll have to contend with a town that wants to know why he never showed his face to raise their beloved Connor. Not to mention, the young Burnett children (well, not so little by that time) who have a knack of popping out of random places and asking witty questions. Caroline will definitely be a worrier and the face-off between him and Haytham (and Lee) will leave her tending to him like crazy. At the same time, she's his partner and will be his shield in the aftermath to keep him safe from harm (infections were common, after all). As for Desmond in the present time, I haven't thought about it yet since I'm still outlining just how far I want to build into this story.
Legionary Prime: Ooh, I can definitely see that idea happening after Haytham and his gang of merry- eh, murderous- Templars are eliminated by Connor. They'll be itching to find where the new assassins are centered but I'm sure he'll booby trap a few areas of the manor and Davenport itself. lol
Vampireadtic: I'm glad you love the subtle romance since it's definitely picking up now and will be in the open soon enough. Thanks for always being a loyal reader!
Forget the rest: Thank you for liking my story, I appreciate it. Life's been hectic recently due to entering a nursing program so the paperwork's put a hamper on my regular updates but they'll be okay now since it's almost over.
Chiharu-angel: Thank you for loving the chapter!
NinjaxSketcheartx: The next ones will be Myriam, followed by Norris (my two faves!). I wanted to include Kanen'tó:kon since he is close friends with Connor and to see his take on his friend's new life outside of their village so I'm glad you liked it. Alice is adorably sweet, you just want to bundle her up and hold her tight (gotta love kids like that). I'll try to add more Samuel bits since seems to be a popular Burnett kid, along with Alice. I hope this chapter clarified a little bit more on Martha's neutrality because she doesn't want to be sneered at by city folk when she ventures out there one day. She is the serious one of the bunch while the young ones are just darn cute. Thanks for catching the 'since' and I tried avoiding its use too much in this chapter. I changed the previews because some readers wanted more of a questionnaire solver than a sneak peek but I'll try a hybrid version this time.
Yman: I hope you did your best on the SAT, I know exams make you a jumbled mess so thanks for choosing my tale to settle the nerves. Caroline and Connor will definitely have their first kiss soon and due to Caroline's more bold personality, she'll initiate it. Lol. I laughed at the Connorline combo since it reminds me of what a ship could be called and the Aquila popped to mind. Somehow, I'd see Faulkner crying at seeing the new name. Never feel like a bother with your questions, I always enjoy answering my readers' curiosities about the story. I will include the Mayan one because it runs in line to Caroline's own adventures but I won't head into depth with it since we've all played the game. Since Kidd died more than 40 years ago during the Aquila's construction, I don't know how I could make Blackburne fit into it (but I can try). Caroline will have her own naval outings in the current story year and eventually, earn the role of navigator beside Connor on the Aquila. As for the last question, Caroline will have her share of suitors and so will Connor (women, that is) but it will be quite clear they love each other. I love encouraging new writers since creativity can't be inhibited but nurtured to flourish.
Life Is Like An Hourglass: Thank you, I wanted to explore a slow progression through the years in Davenport. I loved the Homestead missions and wasn't ready to part with them.
HaywireEagle: Since Connor arrived in early 1770, the four years gave him enough time to develop the English skills his mother had taught him with the lectures Achilles and Catherine provided. He's a fast learner so I imagine it wouldn't have taken him longer than two years to master the language (that's not to say colonial life won't puzzle him once in a while) with constant exposure to the Homestead inhabitants. Plus, I imagine Achilles used his handy cane to nudge him to focus whenever he tried to daydream from his studying.
Nerezza Faye: I love characters and developing the surroundings they live in so Davenport was perfect. I didn't want to have an OC in Boston or New York City because I really did love the Homestead inhabitants and I'm sure other players did too. I'm glad you like the romance progression; I didn't want it to be unrealistic since the rules of society were strict back then and Connor's just as modest as they come. Young Connor was plain adorable but now that he's an adult, he'll still have that sweet good guy charm about him.
Next Time: Burglar on the Homestead
Caroline helped the children with their new toys as her fingers threaded the dried grass into itself to create the doll's limbs. She'd done this so many times that it was as natural as sewing and explained to her friend, "When corn husks or sticks aren't available, grass makes a very good substitute."
"I played with similar when young" he admitted quietly about his younger days in the village when he didn't have a care in the world. A child felt safest when they had a loving parent watching after them as their defender but when that precious individual was lost . . . having fun wasn't the same anymore. Ratonhnhaké:ton had quickly lost his adventurous spunk after his mother's death and took on the task to protect his people from enduring another attack like that again. He would be as strong as he could be to protect them from harm, along with Davenport's residents.
"Amelia and I played like this for a few years since we didn't have much when we first arrived in the colonies" she smiled sheepishly about her history since they'd been as poor as poor could be during their first years. Despite all of that, she had grown up in a household full of warmth and love so she would not complain in the slightest. She had wonderful parents and sweet siblings that she'd never trade for all the riches in the world.
"My mother helped me gather supplies and showed me how to use dyes to color them" he said solemnly since the happy memories of his mother were always tinged with longing to see her again. The years didn't make her loss any easier but he'd make sure nobody else endured the agonizing pain he had on that day. He still remembered her way of cutting off pieces of a feather to place on his little dolls for a splash of color. His mother had been a dedicated woman to his upbringing and he couldn't have asked for a better loving person. He chuckled softly about a specific memory of his childhood and admitted to her, "I'd been so eager to play with my dolls that I accidentally dropped them into the lake by our village and they drifted away. I had slipped on a rock and scuffed my knee . . . but my mother had been there to save me and my little grass friends."
The three young children aw'ed to his tale since they wouldn't want to lose toys either and Ann asked sympathetically, "Did you lose your grass friends?"
"No, mother dried them in the sun and they were well again" he answered with a warm smile since he remembered waiting for them to dry. He'd been so impatient to play that after his fall by the lake's shore, he sat next to his mother while she sewed without making a peep.
"See, now you're making me wish I'd known you then just to tell you it would all be all right" Caroline chuckled gently because imagining a sweet little Ratonhnhaké:ton melted her heart completely. Had he worn his hair similarly back then as when they met? Had he been a quiet or adventurous child? Had he had the same freckle count on his face that he had now? Ratonhnhaké:ton merely smiled bashfully to her words and Caroline's own smile grew to his modesty.
"Did your mother have a secret stain removal recipe because I'm dying here" Elizabeth declared with misery as she scrubbed mud and chicken poop off the top end of her fabric shoe. She forgot the early morning left patches of the earth stiff and others a muddy mess as the snow thawed. She wiped her brow with a frown and her shoulders slumped when he regretfully admitted that his mother hadn't had one.
Martha, who had been watching the conversations with a keen eye, leaned over to Amelia and whispered in her ear, "They're staring at each other again."
"Martha" Amelia quieted her assumptions since she'd begun to have a little gossip streak as of late.
Will all of the children be all right with a thief wandering the land? Will Caroline's shooting or axe-wielding skills come into play? Will Elizabeth find that miracle stain removal for her shoes?
Thank you for reading each of my chapters and please, leave a review. I love hearing from you guys as we journey in this tale together. :)