Music Inspiration: Andre Rieu- "Romeo and Juliet Love Theme"
Welcome To Boston
24 March 1774
It was time for Amelia's certification test and everyone was excited for her, even Elijah. The loyal shepherd had been hot on her heels as she'd bustled and hustled to fix her trunk since he'd only seen her glued to her books for the past six months. The last week of the month was reserved for two days of the teaching certification exam for all candidates in either grammar or dame schools and Godfrey had promised he'd get his daughter there on the first. Amelia had become more anxious now that the day arrived to leave for the exam and her sisters helped her pack while Samuel took her out for a calm outing around the property.
Amelia had bundled all of her books to study on the road and had skipped on extra clothes until Caroline offered her own bag for extra room. The eighteen year-old was happy to head into town to support her sister since Amelia hadn't seen it in four years. Hunting had been good for Caroline that season and she hoped between that and her patchwork, coin could be made. She couldn't compete with men that brought catches like Ratonhnhaké:ton's but Caroline hoped for the best. There were times she wondered if she could open a store inside another town for her father to increase sales but doubted she could live far from the family. Unwed ladies running a business weren't exactly the norm of her time and her mother would fret about her safety and reputation.
That, however, wasn't the case for Amelia as she was determined to be a teacher and had slowly dispersed her previous fear. She had studied constantly and had practiced all she knew until late last night but would continue in their rented Boston room until then. Caroline had encouraged her by helping to recite the history of the colonies and England along with testing her arithmetic during the entire wagon ride.
They had laughed together when their father reminded them that they'd been children the last time they rode down the trail together. The two young ladies were modestly proud to stepping into the wagon as appropriately dressed women of their times rather than children. Instead of having their mother iron their clothes and dress them, they dressed themselves accordingly as they whispered in the dark about matching colors and braided each other's hair by candlelight. Amelia had stressed keeping her hair tightly pinned in a bun while Caroline had fiddled with picking the best brooch to use. In the end, Catherine stepped in to offer motherly advice by adding bear grease to Amelia's hair and another whalebone pin for security while giving Caroline a pearl brooch to match her brown calico dress. They treasured their mother endlessly for her care but they had to live independently one day- a natural worry that settled in the girls' stomach.
"Now I know how pickled food feels inside jars" Caroline groaned as her stay hugged her frame tightly and she wanted it loosened. Why. . . why didn't she ask Amelia to leave it loose? Oh, how she wanted to kick herself! Every bump down the road made her feel like pickled food and she cursed whoever had decided it was fashionable for women to wear that torture device.
Amelia chuckled to her fretting since she wore her corset religiously while her sister slacked on it. While her sister grumbled and rubbed her hands over her small waist, Amelia sat neatly with her hands folded together like a proper lady. She lightly tapped her sister on the thigh to halt her wriggling and reminded gently, "Carrie, we're on the road. You could fall off or someone might see you."
"I'm pretty sure the bears won't want any of this- not enough meat" she joked as she emphasized her defined midsection and grinned cheekily. Amelia shook her head to her playfulness but laughed to the idea of bears rejecting her for a meal. Caroline abandoned her attempts to loosen the horrendous stay and leaned back against the wagon to sigh softly, "It is squishy though."
Godfrey listened to their conversation and chuckled in his mind at hearing his daughters talk about their appearances. Hmm, it only felt like yesterday that they'd tugged at his hands for a story before heading off to bed. He could still remember Caroline's cries as he helped his Catherine bathe the stubborn newborn in warm bathwater back in Scotland. Goodness, he still remembered catching his little Amelia during her first steps to prevent her being injured and now she was heading to Boston for her future. He sat up straight with surprise when he heard Amelia joke to her older sister, "Unless you're looking for a suitor out here somewhere, I don't think you have to worry about your squishiness."
While both girls chuckled to the joke, Godfrey slumped in his seat as he realized his little girls were no longer so little and they'd fly away one day. It was inevitable, right? He couldn't stop time and just like his own sisters had grown up to marry, his daughters would undoubtedly follow that same path. He could only hope that they would find men decent enough to treat his girls like they deserved and lived honestly. His Amelia would be taking one giant leap for her gender by taking that test and he'd best prepare himself to say goodbye to her inevitable leave. He would miss all of his daughters but Caroline and Elizabeth would be the hardest to utter those words to because they embodied his spirit the most.
He was startled out of his thoughts by Caroline's hand on his right shoulder as she shook him gently and asked, "Boban, you looked sad for an instant. What is it?"
"Aw, it's nothing- just lingerin' sleep" he dismissed easily with a warm smile to his oldest girls as they looked to him with concern. This wasn't the time to ruminate because the horses were under his direction and kept his eyes on the road once more. Still, he couldn't drive away from the fact that his little girls had become little women.
Godfrey had parked his wagon next to his shop in Boston to check on its progress while the girls had gone ahead to the building across with their belongings. The small inn was the one they preferred renting from due to its safer position in town away from seedier places. Amelia's nervousness had left for a brief moment as she watched the bustling crowds and had forgotten how busy life was in the city. It gave her an immediate sense of relief for living in Davenport.
Caroline had helped her settle in with information but rather than explore the area, Amelia was content by watching everything from the window. She would take each step at a time because her main focus was studying for the test so exploring would have to wait. Cities had only caught her attention due to the beauty of its architecture but Amelia felt comfortable in the open outdoors where she could walk to her neighbor's home without being jostled around by pedestrians. If she passed her exam, however, city life would become her home and it was something to ponder on.
She appreciated her sister's concern when Caroline fixed her a small meal and promised to leave the room to her for the next two hours. Their father had work to take care of and that would be his own way of staying out of Amelia's way. They were supportive of her during the final push of her journey and would make certain that her studies wouldn't go to waste. Even through long hours of study, she wasn't confident that she could pass when she imagined the better participants that she'd have to contend with. As she cleaned her writing slate with a dirty rag that sorely needed cleaning, she called her sister just as Caroline tried to sneak away quietly. The older redhead stopped in her tracks since she hoped Amelia wouldn't notice because she needed privacy to study her best.
"Caroline, I've never been more nervous in my entire life" she admitted shakily as she stopped her furious scrubbing as anxiety won over to instill fear. Her brow furrowed as she sat down in a defeated slump and rubbed the bottom of her palm over her forehead to wash away her nerves. She didn't feel ready to tackle the test and longed for a few more days, sighing softly, "Every time I answer a question right, I think of how many others reached it faster and what else they could add to the context. We're simple country girls, Caroline-"
"Money doesn't define our future and you have a mind that can best anyone living in the city" she intervened supportively since Amelia had a tendency to doubt herself at the last moment. Didn't she know how smart she truly was? Caroline wasn't having any of that negativity because her sister proved herself educated enough to follow in their mother's footsteps. Frankly, her little sister was already smarter than her in several fields and Caroline soothed, "The fundamentals are what you'll be tested on and no proctor will be asking college based questions. Otherwise, you'd be a professor and we don't exactly have a woman in those institutions, do we?"
Amelia closed her eyes to let the words sink in and breathed deeply to reply uncertainly, "You're right. It's overwhelming enough with this test and I shouldn't be adding to it. It's just nerves on my end- you know me, I'm a shamble."
"It's normal to feel anxious but take a deep breath and remember to focus" Caroline advised gently to remind her of the same steps she gave their siblings during their own test time. Amelia nodded hastily and the legs of the chair tapped against the wooden flooring from the force exhibited. She sighed nervously under her breath because she was doing a lousy job at controlling her fears and Caroline comforted her restlessness, "Worrying won't do you any good and the test requires your best. I will make you some tea to calm those nerves so then you can study freely."
Amelia's wrinkled features smoothed at having someone by her side at a pivotal moment like this and smiled faintly, "I'm glad you're here, Carrie. I'd rather have you than anybody else when mother can't be here."
"Even boban?" her sister chuckled to brighten her spirit with a joke as she grabbed a copper pot from their shared trunk. Their mother had demanded that they use their own clean utensils rather than a stranger's whenever they traveled and they wouldn't disappoint her. Catherine was adamant her family carry a piece of their home with them so they wouldn't feel lonely or become ill from the food of strangers.
"Only because he makes tea overly sweet" Amelia admitted fondly to their father's unskilled hand at cooking when they'd been too small to cook and their mother had been out in the fields working. The cold season in Scotland demanded hot drinks ready to be served and Godfrey had taken good care of their two little daughters as best he could. Unfortunately, this led to Catherine returning home to find a tired sleeping Godfrey and two energetic girls running around everywhere.
"We've come very far and it can only get better" Caroline smiled as she promised a brighter tomorrow for Amelia and began to brew the tea. The younger Burnett managed a more relaxed smile and grasped the fattest book in her stack to begin reading about grammar.
It had taken an incredible amount of reassurance and charisma on Caroline's part to allow Amelia to let her run her errands. Her catches wouldn't sell themselves and since their father was taking note of any updates in the shop, Caroline seized the chance of independence. She wanted to dip her feet into the business world by trading her catches and had traveled to the nearest shopkeeper to barter for her goods. The city had grown larger and more disgruntled since she'd last visited but kept out of people's way as she maneuvered around crowds. Nobody paid much mind to a woman with her reed basket as she kept to the more female occupied crowds. It didn't take longer than twenty minutes to find the general store and the wooden floorboards creaked under her shoes as she stepped up to the door.
Caroline reached for the doorknob when another hand's shadow slid over hers and she removed her hand quickly out of worry. Although the inn was close (well, if she ran), she was still wary of the city and the undesirable folk that roamed it. Her face switched from suspicion to sheer delight when she saw Ratonhnhaké:ton but his attire had changed to a different tone of black. Although he didn't admit it outright, she knew he enjoyed tinkering with dyes when it concerned his clothes but he always looked handsome. His gaze met hers since he hadn't seen her due to the navy bonnet and assumed she had been just another Bostonian running errands. His face lit up to finding the one his heart yearned to return to and Caroline echoed those sentiments with a smile, "Fancy meeting you here."
"Always a pleasure, Miss Burnett" he indulged her sweet pleasantries as he caught her playful smile and missed their subtle words of affection. How could he not? Although he was accustomed to being a solitary man due to his profession, he was at home at her side and wished to hold her. He smiled at the familiar hat on her head as his gift matched her feminine features splendidly and complimented, "I told you the bonnet would look beautiful."
"It is, isn't it? I'm taking good care of it" she smiled sheepishly since this was the first public outing with her first piece of womanly fashion. She owed all of her fashionable looks to him as they dressed up her simple dresses and felt like the luckiest girl in the world for having his affection. Her smile was infectious enough to draw one from his lips but his mood was lightened considerably to her presence. After a morning of perusing through the city with his assassins-in-training, her face was a welcome sight. She reached for the doorknob with a giddy bounce in her step now that he was at her side and piped up, "Let's hurry on and trade inside before the dust gathers on our clothes."
"There's a better shop up north, if you're interested" he suggested because not all shopkeepers were equal, even in the north. Out of all the shopkeepers in town, he only found one decent one that didn't eye him with suspicion and Ratonhnhaké:ton decided to keep his business there. Caroline didn't have sales experience with small business owners at all since her father had done most of the bargaining and waved her hand confidently. He tried one last attempt to coax her to a better place by tiptoeing around the subject, "I just came here to buy some rope for a task I need to do. There is-"
"It'll be fine, you're my good luck charm" she smiled cheerfully since she'd never travel without him if she could and turned the doorknob. Just as she'd advised Amelia, she wore a happy smile to boost her own confidence with her skills. He held the door open for her and smiled to her attractive attire, lucky to be the one that had gained her favor. Caroline tried her best not to blush at the warm twinkle in his eyes as she caught his gaze and entered the store to get her errands out of the way. Whatever coin she made, she'd buy a treat to eat and invite him along so they could enjoy a small moment together- provided he had time.
Ratonhnhaké:ton didn't carry that same comfort as he traveled cautiously in the city but followed her nonetheless. Caroline eyed the items contained in open barrels immediately to see what goods the store had while he took notice of the people inside doing their shopping. Her attention was nabbed by a glass jar full of colorful ribbons and could see a few donning Alice's brown hair now that she was old enough to braid it into two braids. Ratonhnhaké:ton watched a small English boy reaching for an item on a nearby shelf that was much too high for his stature and decided to intervene as a good Samaritan. Otherwise, the boy would fall and injure himself or knock over the furniture. Caroline smiled to his gesture as he grabbed a small toy horse and held it out to the small child, who grinned wildly with joy for the kind help.
Unfortunately, the two didn't count on an overprotective mother and an older brunette woman quickly intervened to lead her child away. The two headed for the door immediately as she scolded the boy about talking to natives and accepting items without her presence. Ratonhnhaké:ton tried not to let the interaction affect him since it had become quite common as he traveled (did colonists think he devoured people on sight or something?) and felt a hand squeeze his shoulder. He turned to find Caroline offering a sympathetic smile and she lowered her hand to intertwine her fingers with his. It was a small token of affection they could share in the corner as she offered endless support and tried to lighten the situation, "Just another day of colonial life: Buying food, ignoring the intimidatingly tall yet handsome native that's actually nicer than a settler that can rob you blind, and avoiding conflict with the redcoats."
He managed a halfhearted smile that compelled her to embrace him in the nearest dark alley she could find. She regretted coming into the store after his suggestion to head elsewhere and added in, "Large cities can be standoffish anyway since there's many people in dwindling space. Small towns are better, like Davenport, where we treasure each resident. I'd never run from you but towards to embrace you, my dear one."
He smiled to her fond comment as he watched her walk away and his gaze lingered on her accentuated waist for a brief moment. She really was a delightful sight in his eyes and he hoped to take a small walk with her if her schedule allowed it. He missed holding her hand within his and running his thumb over her palm to show her the only affection they were allowed so far with their limited time. So far, his commitment to the assassins swallowed the majority of his time and walks around Davenport were all he could share with Caroline. It wasn't very much that he could offer compared to other civilian men and it often left him questioning himself about whether she'd have better chances with one. He hid many truths from her and he worried for the day that she would find out all of it, whether by his mouth or another's.
She approached the counter to begin her bartering but Ratonhnhaké:ton worried for her since he avoided this store due to the brusque mannerisms of the owner. He had his own shopkeeper that he did business with due to his affiliation with his order but the man had been out of rope for the day. His haste to return home had led him here but knowing Caroline was in Boston told him to wait until tomorrow when it would be restocked. It was why he'd tried to pull her away subtly but Caroline could be quite headstrong when she desired something.
"My catches have never sold for so low! I might as well keep them at this rate" Caroline's voice echoed with an indignant tone as her estimate for her pelts was worse than expected. If anything, she might as well be selling them for nothing! Ratonhnhaké:ton kept quiet as he approached the two as the man tried to profit more from Caroline and shot him a disdainful gaze. This was precisely why he avoided this general store!
Caroline ran her hand over a hare pelt that she'd caught, pointing to the beautiful speckled spots against the brown fur to state, "You can't find this kind of fur in the nearby forests here. There is absolutely no way they are worth the price you're giving me."
"Miss, a single pelt isn't worth much when men bring in dozens of these a day so I'm pretty well stocked" the shopkeeper justified indifferently and flicked his thumb towards two high stacks of pelts sitting in the back corner. Caroline's lips faltered as she tried to make a comeback for the quality of her pelt and Ratonhnhaké:ton sympathized with his partner. He didn't want to touch her out of fear that it would cause a ruckus in the city but knew she wanted to do this on her own to gain her independence.
"I have more than one pelt, of course" she remarked curtly as she lifted her basket full of folded pelts to show them. Her catches had yielded a decent amount of rabbit, raccoon, weasel, and squirrels to prove that she wasn't poor in her skills. She'd even found a dead beaver along her hikes and skinned it for the fur and bones! If that wasn't luck, she didn't know what was! She raised her nose to show she wasn't quitting on her negotiations and pointed out, "I have more than a dozen pelts of different variety to trade."
"Surely there's something you can offer for the beaver pelt" Ratonhnhaké:ton tried to reason with the man but doubted it would do any good. The man was already known for not dealing with foreigners and adding his two shillings in wouldn't help Caroline's case. Still, he couldn't just stand there like a block of wood and allow her bargaining attempts to be shot down immediately.
"Unless you're bringing them by the wagon load, I'm not buying" the man stated with finality since he stocked numerous pelts and small numbers (and quality) wouldn't do. Caroline's fingers tightened on the basket and she snuck a worried look to Ratonhnhaké:ton that beckoned him to help. She needed to get something out of her pelts but her head snapped in the opposite direction when the man suggested, "You should stay in your forest home where pelts of that quality are used. Women aren't made for hunting, it's a man's domain- no offense."
"Oh, I take no offense, I pity your ignorance because my eye is as good as any man's" she objected shrewdly as it struck her vulnerabilities of being a woman in a male dominated profession and removed her basket from the counter. Ratonhnhaké:ton grabbed it from her hands as he saw her arms shake from anger and disappointment at failing. He was more than ready to pull her away so they could go elsewhere but Caroline wasn't done. She wouldn't lie down when someone walked over her unfairly and she snapped coldly, "Why is it that men want independence from the tyranny of England, just as we women do, but we're expected to fall under the authority of men without any say whatsoever? We are not slaves when we are comparable to men in the workforce when given the chance-"
"Why don't you and your savage friend depart before I call for guards?" the man stated crisply as she called out his hypocrisy and Caroline gritted her teeth. She could fight with the man verbally until she was chucked outside like a drunkard because she could care less what the officers thought. Ratonhnhaké:ton, however, made the rational choice and pulled her by the wrist to lead her away from the store. It was already a lost battle and he wouldn't allow her to make it worse for both their safeties. Caroline resisted on the first tug but when she realized that he wasn't relenting, she abdicated the argument and followed him.
"Oh, how insufferable" she fumed outside as she slammed the door shut for one final protest and clenched her fists. She'd never felt so mad at anything in her life and Ratonhnhaké:ton was surprised to see her lividness as she paced over the floorboards. Her emotions were always in control but while he kept calm under tense situations like he'd been taught, Caroline fought back.
"I know of a better store where I do all of my trading" he offered gently as he attempted to calm her down and stepped into her path to block her. If she kept pacing in swift circles, she'd wear down the floorboards to nothing. Blocking sensory stimuli from the environment would also help to simmer her internal rage so he stood his ground. Caroline met his gaze for being blocked of her rage dance but his kind eyes doused her internal rage instantly as she found understanding. She wanted nothing more than to hug him for staying by her side loyally rather than walking off and pretending he didn't know her.
Her face was crestfallen as the sting of rejection settled in and she sighed softly, "I should've listened to you. Next time, you do the trading for me."
"I thought you sought independence" he mused with a small smile to cheer her up since she deserved compensation for her hard work. Unlike Amelia that had her foot in the doorway if she passed her test, Caroline remained on a rocky road as she carved a path for herself. He saw himself in her eyes as she walked the border of being deemed unacceptable by society with her attitude and beliefs.
"When it gives me a good price on my pelts" she finished with emphasis as she brushed her fingers over a gray raccoon pelt that she'd caught a few weeks prior. Elizabeth had begun learning a few tricks since she enjoyed working in the outdoors and double the hands, the faster their efficiency would be. Her little sister had wanted a new pair of shoes if the coin was enough to purchase them but Caroline would've thrown in her own share just to buy them. With Elizabeth hitting a growth spurt every few months, Caroline doubted her patched up shoes would last the spring. She'd just wasted time with her bartering inexperience and muttered under her breath for her misfortune, "Curse this monetary society. I'd be happy simply trading what I make and living off the land. Do you happen to know how to sew moccasins? I have leather and Elizabeth wants shoes."
Ratonhnhaké:ton smiled to her comment since she carried his simplistic lifestyle after years of being self-independent among her roaming family of lumberjacks. She understood the meaning of hard work as her hands carried callouses similar to his own and it was why he viewed her as his ideal partner. He turned left to head towards his preferred trader in all of Boston and Caroline followed as she caught a ghostly smile. Bitten by that attractive rare feature of his, she asked curiously, "Will you ever tell me what each mysterious smile means?"
"After many years beside me, I thought you'd know by now" he remarked as he feigned a look of innocence and Caroline smiled to his subtle version of teasing. It was rare to hear him utter playful phrases, especially in public, but she loved seeing that aspect of him. There were many layers underneath his calm exterior but she'd learned to distinguish each through his body language, gaze, and tone of voice.
She chuckled softly as he tried to slide through her question and grinned impishly, "Sir Connor, are you trying to be smart with me?"
The discomfort of wandering the city alone melted away with Caroline as they walked together over the cobbled street and he replied with a charming smile, "Yes, Ms. Burnett, I am."
She looped her arm through his to experience her first walk around town with her beloved suitor and smiled at him. He was worried for any looks that would be shot their way but her courage fueled his to give it no mind. The only person she would fear disappointing would be her father since he had failed to notice their blossoming affection unlike her mother. Soon, however, he would know because they were both respectful of their cultural traditions and Caroline loved both men too much to hurt either one. Being in Boston allowed the two private solace as they immersed themselves into the city life and Ratonhnhaké:ton led her away with a confident posture.
Caroline smiled at the delicate pink flower with its round petals in her hand and smelled it one last time before relinquishing it. Ratonhnhaké:ton grasped it between his forefingers before weaving it into the side of her auburn bun to add a dash of color. He had picked the flower from an unguarded flower bush during their walk around Boston to offer it as a token of affection. Although they enjoyed the rural outdoors with a passion, the large city offered them a chance to behave like a young courting couple.
Amelia had fretted when she'd arrived late from her trading errand but Ratonhnhaké:ton's appearance settled her nerves. He had followed to make sure she made it home safely before retreating next door to Godfrey's shop. The lumberjack had been a tad surprised when the young man quietly popped up behind him but Ratonhnhaké:ton had a tendency to surprise all of Davenport's residents with his light footsteps. His request to take Caroline to an outing was another shock of the day since the city was having a day of games and entertainment for young children. They might have been past the cutoff age by half a decade but Godfrey allowed it for Caroline's sake and Amelia's study time. He trusted the young man like a son and it didn't escape him how Caroline's eyes lit up to his presence beside her.
Amelia, of course, had slumped in her chair at knowing a happy festivity was occurring right down the street while she'd be stuck indoors. Caroline had promised to bring her back something nice because nobody wanted to study in the middle of a festive mood. As they walked through the crowds of children running with toys and treats, Caroline placed the bonnet back on her head and smiled, "You are indeed the sweetest man on this earth."
Her arm looped through his to walk alongside the cobbled road as the streets were filled with people and areas had been closed off to wagons. It didn't take long for Ratonhnhaké:ton to be pulled out of her grasp as a gang of five boys and two girls requested he play Blind Man's Bluff. Caroline was lured immediately to watch a quick game since the children had accidentally been drawn to Ratonhnhaké:ton. The children had mistaken his hooded face for a real blind man that Caroline was leading around on her arm and they wouldn't take no for an answer until he played with them. It had been a delight for Caroline after growing up alongside him since it took meticulous poking to lure him into a game back in those days.
"I'm much too old to play, don't you think?" he tried to reason with the ecstatic children as they begged him to play the blind man. The whole point of attending the festivities was to spend time with Caroline but it seemed his partner found amusement in his uncertainty. She called it 'cute' while he had a better term for it: awkwardness.
"No, you're never too old for games!" all of them objected in unison with toothy grins and promises that one was never too wrinkly or tall for games. Ratonhnhaké:ton looked to his partner for help since they'd been trying to have a small romantic outing for the evening. What had happened to that? Caroline, however, didn't mind and pulled out a handkerchief from her skirt pocket to show that she was all for the game. Cheers erupted immediately as they saw the trademark symbol and Ratonhnhaké:ton's hopes were dashed. How had she betrayed him this easily?
His soft brown eyes beckoned her to help him as he attempted the 'lost and take me home' puppy eye look for the first time in his life. She walked up to him with a reassuring smile as she folded the material horizontally and spoke privately, "It will make their day. Don't you know how much fun Sam and Eliza have with that game?"
"You promise not to abandon me?" he asked quickly because he wasn't a social person by nature and children, especially strangers, unnerved him. They were fragile beings and he feared injuring them with his strength. Caroline promised with a reassuring squeeze of the shoulders before putting on the blindfold and her smile was the last thing he saw. Her voice offered compromise when she told the children that they would depart once he managed to snag another player as the blind man.
She watched him play with the young children and realized they were no longer the awkward lanky youngsters that had run around Davenport barefoot. Ratonhnhaké:ton had grown up to clearly resemble a man in his prime as his wardrobe added to that maturity while she donned fashion that she'd admired her mother for when she departed for an outing with her father. If time blessed them with many days, Caroline hoped for a permanent life at his side because she'd yet to meet anyone that ranked highly in her eyes as he did. He had cared for her younger siblings when she'd been busy with chores and supported her family by offering a hand when they needed it without asking for anything in return. How could she not see him as an ideal husband? The fact that he carried a tomahawk without concern just added to the rugged allure.
When he managed to pinpoint one of the boys, the children were crestfallen for the trade. Ratonhnhaké:ton had tried to prolong the game for as long as he could since his senses detected the first child easily but he'd lied to continue the game for their sake. Unfortunately, he couldn't let his guard down in a populated area for his safety and removed the blindfold to end his part. If they would've been playing in a place like Davenport, he would've allowed them to play to their hearts content. Being the kind person that he was, he slipped a few coins to the children so they could buy candy and they exclaimed with joy as he returned to Caroline's side. He could hear the chorus of gracious thank you's echo behind his back and it lightened the guilt over leaving so hastily.
"You are a spoiler by nature" she accused fondly as he handed back her handkerchief and she stuffed it back into her pocket. He smiled modestly when the pad of her thumb brushed over his chin in a small display of affection. His hood allowed concealment of that action and he turned to lead her away from the crowded streets to a less populated area.
"I don't understand your need for currency" he reasoned simply because it only led to scuffles between people and his society lived fine without it. He did agree that he needed a small amount to buy items that he couldn't attain from nature but even then, he didn't turn to greed like others. Caroline eyed him with a knowing look since her family ran a small business to make ends meet after living in severe poverty for years. He backtracked before he talked himself into a corner with his partner and restated, "We don't need very much to survive in this world. We can grow our own food, buy livestock for meat, weave our own cloth, and build our own homestead. Your parents are living proof of that after building a life away from the city."
"Planning for the future, are we?" she teased with a playful smile as she caught the underlying meaning in his explanation. Ratonhnhaké:ton didn't want to assume that he would be issuing orders about where their relationship would lead after having it blossom for a few months. Thankfully, an empty street and random crates offered them a moment of solitude to speak openly because talking between crowds of people would've been awful. The echoes from children's laughter and parents talking filtered down the thin alleyway but they had privacy for the time being.
Caroline's shoulders lowered as she pondered about what she wanted years down the road and admitted, "I don't want to live in a city but a small town where trading and raising children would be safe. I know Davenport is more of an isolated community but if you allowed it to grow with the right kind of hardworking people into it, it could flourish."
"Who's to say that's not my intention?" he asked with a mysterious smile that drew a cheerful one from her lips. He always kept her guessing about what lurked in his mind and Caroline kept on her sharp toes as she peered into those brown pools. His quiet nature camouflaged the intelligence dwelling inside and that was one of his many advantages during confrontations. His right thumb grazed the side of her jaw to run it over her smooth porcelain skin and he leaned over to whisper between them, "I'd like to build you a home one day in Davenport when it becomes larger but if it doesn't, we can find a town together to raise respectful children . . . or return to my village."
Her eyes softened and her lips trembled to that delightful picture of the future because she'd never planned so far ahead. Any future would be wonderful as long as she had him beside her to love and to hold. Her hands grasped the front of his coat and her thumbs brushed over the dark fabric as she peered at him to agree with fondness, "I'd be honored to see the land you were raised on and meet your people. They raised a very fine young man to be their protector."
He grabbed one of her hands from his coat to press his lips against the top of it and whispered with a warm smile, "And I treasure you immensely, especially when I assume things and you don't strike me for being presumptuous."
"I don't think those words are in our characters" she chuckled amusingly because she'd yet to see him behave arrogantly with her and doubted that he ever could. Lifting a finger to strike him would also be out of the question due to her upbringing but understood since there were couples that physically struck each other. Thankfully, neither of them had parents in such dysfunctional relationships so they would count their blessings.
Ratonhnhaké:ton counted himself incredibly lucky for earning her affections and gazed at the wisps of red hair peeking out from her bonnet, to the freckles dotting her porcelain face, and her smiling mauve lips. Meeting her gaze, he found the same care in her sapphire eyes and leaned down to press his forehead to hers. Caroline's smile widened as she felt the warmth from his skin for the first time and his nose nudged hers as they broke their personal boundaries of space. She wouldn't lie by saying she didn't wonder how it would feel to have his lips against hers but the privacy offered allowed the two that moment. Her heart sped its beats when she saw their proximities closing as he leaned over her and her entire body tingled with anticipation. Would she truly tell Amelia that today had been the day that she experienced her first kiss? Oh, they would be giggling incessantly for her attempt at defying etiquette.
She waited for immediate bliss and kept her eyes open to witness every wonderful moment. Unfortunately, Ratonhnhaké:ton's inexperience at even attempting it and the sudden laughter of children down the adjacent streets brought that chance to a grinding halt. Wary of their surroundings, he backed away to maintain a proper distance and watched her face flicker with disappointment. It wasn't what he wanted either but it was best to be safe than sorry in an open environment. He wished to dot her freckled cheeks with kisses but their surroundings didn't offer the kind of privacy he sought.
Her fingers reached up to outline the edges of his hood as she reached for him once more and smiled to suggest, "Let's go find something sweet to eat before the shops close."
With that said, he pulled her arm to his with an agreeable smile and promised to buy her a plate of whatever pastries she desired. He might not be able to kiss her or hold her like he wished to but he could shower her with treats and trinkets to convey that love.
25 March 1774
Amelia was ready to faint as she stared at the grammar school where the examinations were to take place. The small white one-room home was anything but quaint since it would be the battleground for whether or not she could teach by the end of the week. She took the calm sunny weather as a good omen but no amount of studying made her feel ready for the questions the test would have. Her hands sweated profusely as her heart hammered away in her chest and her stomach gurgled painfully. Could she really do this? She felt nervous at the thought of being inside amongst strangers and she wasn't even at the door yet! Was this how people who met their untimely doom felt?
"You'll do fine, Amelia, we are all behind you" Caroline encouraged with a gentle pat on Amelia's back as the younger sister breathed rapidly. The color on her face had paled with every step to the school and she'd tugged on Caroline's arm to support her halfway on their route.
"If you pass, we'll be happy and if don't, that's all right too" their father stated cheerfully to calm her nerves because they would be proud of her nonetheless for attempting the test. He supported all of his children's endeavors in life but he had no doubt his Amelia could achieve her dream of teaching young children. His daughter's face fell to his last words because hearing the worst case scenario didn't help bolster her courage. Godfrey grasped her by the shoulders from behind as he stared at the white schoolhouse, already imagining her teaching bright eyed youngsters. He'd seen it every day within their home so it was not a farfetched dream in the slightest. He could feel her form shake lightly in apprehension but he reassured with fatherly advice, "You're a smart girl, Amelia. Focus on your questions and block everything else because you're here for the test, nothing else."
"But look at all of them, I-I-" Amelia stammered as people of varying ages sat inside already and was certain they'd know more than her. There weren't many young women at all since good teaching jobs in Boston were usually nabbed by men while her gender was left to grab seasonal rotations through the city. Had she made a good decision in choosing this as her passion? Was it too late to return home and curl up in bed? Maybe she was wrong and-
Caroline waved a hand in front of Amelia's eyes to block out the emotional overload and justified, "They're probably here to renew their own certificate or for the first time and just as nervous. It is normal to have that worry but you must remember that in the end, it is only a test. Life will continue on after this so you can't allow this fear to cripple everything you've learned."
Amelia eyed her sister with hesitancy because that test was everything to her and a specific number of errors would mean failure. Caroline's blue eyes, however, mirrored a determined outlook in comparison to Amelia's wavering gaze and reminded, "Focus on the test and recall everything you know- don't trail away from that! There is no question in my mind that you can pass so get in there and give your all."
Godfrey chuckled when Amelia hugged her best friend with tearful thanks since her family never gave up on her. She wasn't emotionally strong like Caroline or Elizabeth but having them in her corner strengthened her. Her right hand sought her father to grasp his arm for added strength as she peered over Caroline's shoulder with a watery smile, "I can . . . I will do this."
She released them with a sigh of relief as their talk left her feeling better and decided to maintain that train of thought. Amelia's short black heels clacked against the wooden floor as she headed for the entrance and kept her shoulders straight to maintain a confident stride. She wasn't a strong woman but this is what she wanted so it would summon the required courage. It had to- otherwise, what would she fight for? The test required her to give it her all and she would fight her best without quaking in her shoes (even though the temptation was strong). Caroline and Godfrey released a breath of relief when she wandered inside and watched her register at the front desk. Godfrey still remembered leading Catherine to her own test after arriving in the colonies, holding onto three little girls sniffling for their mother as his wife recited her history aloud. Years later, his second oldest was walking that very same path and he couldn't be prouder of her dedication.
Amelia offered them a shaky smile when she turned around one last time as she found a seat at the front. A moment later, her white bonnet disappeared against the other heads poking out from the multiple rows. Godfrey closed the door to give them silence, reassuring himself that his Amelia would do just fine, and sighed aloud, "I never thought I'd see one of my bairns getting ready to leave the nest."
"Any child would be lucky to have a dedicated teacher like her" Caroline smiled in solemn agreement to what the future would bring and they left the building to wander the city. It wouldn't do them any good to linger with questions about Amelia's progress and they had done all they could to encourage her. They weren't close to their inn or store so they could only bide their time with perusing the open marketplace or the nearby docks.
Godfrey wrapped an arm around his daughter's shoulders and smiled jovially, "Let's go to the docks and see if they have any dry fish. It makes your mother's day when I bring a fat one for her to use in stews."
Inside the schoolhouse, Amelia prepared her slate for solving arithmetic problems and stared at the thin examination booklet that would spell her success or doom. The powder blue cover of the book was worn at the edges and crinkled as its repeated use avoided buying bulks of expensive paper. How many people had sat in the same room and used that old little book to make or break their dreams? She was too petrified with nerves to look around to see if anyone shared her similar nervousness and looked straight ahead at the test proctor. The member of the school board merely eyed each candidate with indifference and Amelia sighed softly to repeat everything she'd memorized in her mind.
Her mind itched to know what lay inside that thin booklet but she remembered her mother's lectures about patience. It was best to peruse through every fact she'd studied to make sure she had all of her eggs in one basket before she started cracking the figurative eggs. The test would only take one hour but she had to make sure she could answer every question correctly and have time to look it over.
"Begin" the deep voice alerting the candidates rang out about fifteen minutes later and Amelia flinched in her seat as it broke the tense silence.
She opened her booklet quickly to see a row of addition problems with decimal use and smiled after helping Caroline at their father's business with his inventory. She could do these multistep addition problems in her sleep! She jotted down each number carefully to prevent a grievous error in her calculations and wrote down her answer. If the test offered her problems like this, she could surely make it through!
Reading the next problem, it required her to pinpoint the tense used in a sentence and she circled the words while writing what type. Two down and only thirty-eight to go. . .
The aftermath of the exam left Amelia drained of all energy and she simply wanted to sleep everything away. She had entered the schoolhouse as a pale wide-eyed girl and left as a tired yawning prospective teacher after finishing all of her questions. Now, the only thing lingering in her mind was the result which she would know within four days after all of the tests were graded. Caroline reminded her that she needed to eat before curling up in bed as Godfrey led his girls back to the shop. Frankly, Amelia would be fine with simply guzzling down a quick cup of tea and plopping down to sleep like a bear for the remainder of the day.
They were delighted to find Ratonhnhaké:ton sitting on a slab of wooden boards as he ate a meat pie from a nearby inn. Whenever he was in Boston, he always found a home at the shop as he recognized the workers from Davenport and spent time there. Godfrey had also given him free use of a small bedroom in the back of the shop that he or Terry used when they were in the city for business. It was far too small for a group of three but one person fit inside the small space perfectly so Ratonhnhaké:ton used it rather than withstand the elements. Knowing that the family would return after Amelia finished her exam, he decided to surprise them with a meal.
There was a large paper bag beside him that was warm to the touch and he smiled at them to greet, "Mr. Burnett, I hope you don't think I'm forward but I bought your family a meal. Caroline informed me that Amelia was taking her exam today and I thought it would help ease your minds."
"Yer a good man, Connor, and we appreciate it" he thanked gratefully as they all shuffled inside and shook his hand to demonstrate it. The girls uttered a polite thank you for the food and began fixing the prepared meal as they used the stack of boards as a makeshift table. Caroline shot him an amused smile as she caught his bashful expression at being caught in mid-bite of his meal and offered him a cloth napkin.
Amelia hadn't realized how hungry she was after all of the summersaults her stomach had performed since heading to the schoolhouse. There had been several instances when she had to massage her stomach in an effort to quiet its anxious groans. Her stomach grumbled to the aromatic sense of freshly cooked food that filled her nose and her mouth immediately began to water. Caroline caught her bright eyed look when they opened the bag and although etiquette dictated that men should be served first, she fixed her little sister the first plate. Ratonhnhaké:ton and Godfrey grabbed nearby stools and chairs to place around the stack of boards to eat comfortably around it.
There were several handmade meat pies filled with cubed beef inside along with pieces of boiled vegetables. Caroline deposited one plump pie that puffed out a small tendril of white smoke onto a paper sheet that she could only guess was used for baking to prevent any adhering. There were several sheets inside and assumed that Ratonhnhaké:ton had requested them since they were lacking real plates to eat from. Amelia was happy to have her meat pie but glanced at her father with a bashful expression to the thought of eating first. She couldn't be impolite, especially in front of company, and thinned her lips to push down her hunger to the pit of her stomach. Godfrey merely chuckled to her obedience and waved a dismissive hand to allow her poor stomach to eat, "Go ahead, Amelia. I won't scold you for being hungry, child, and you've more than earned it today."
With that said, Amelia's shoulders relaxed and she bit into the pie with fervor to fill her empty stomach. Caroline withheld a chuckle since she'd never seen her eat so fast and was worried she would choke at any second. Amelia, on the other hand, didn't care in the slightest as the hot food pacified her starving stomach and resisted from licking her fingers with each bite. Quickly, she served the other two with a kind smile before making her own plate and sat down with to relieve pressure from her feet. The leveled dusty trails of Davenport suited her feet better than the cobbled streets and uneven wooden floorboards of the port of Boston.
As the quartet ate together, Caroline slipped her right hand over Ratonhnhaké:ton's to offer a squeezed and he halted his chewing. He tried avoiding looking in her direction since they were close to her father's side but Caroline yearned for his company after weeks. They each had responsibilities to fulfill and it often left them without much time for each other. She smiled with amusement to the flour crumbs lingering on the right side of his lips as he tried to appear nonchalant and spoke, "Thank you for the food."
"You're welcome" he replied but blushed when she motioned with her free hand that he had something on his lower face. Since she couldn't wipe it away without rousing suspicion, he quickly used a napkin to wipe his face to make sure he removed whatever it was. He didn't want Caroline to think he had no manners or was a messy eater but instead of finding awkwardness, he found kindness. She simply offered a friendly smile because he'd always be a handsome man in her eyes and would see him as no less. His modesty only added to his allure as she realized quite early that she would be dominant partner in their relationship.
His ears did turn warm when the top of her shoe playfully tapped his own booted foot. She was rather adventurous in her attempts to show affection and he placed his feet on the legs of the stool to relieve his burning ears. Caroline, however, merely placed her shoe atop of his to leave it there with a sly smile as she ate. Ratonhnhaké:ton could see that his partner would be secretly daring in public after weeks without his presence. . .and part of him liked that.
"You two are very cheerful today" Amelia commented with an inquisitive eye and Caroline quickly drew her gaze back to her food. She had only allowed Amelia to know her true feelings regarding Ratonhnhaké:ton but was certain that Elizabeth and Martha already knew as well. It didn't come as a surprise to Amelia since the two often spent their time together outdoors and he sneaked her small gifts when nobody was looking (but Caroline always confided in her). For a brief moment, she wondered what she would miss if she passed her test and had to set out on her own to find work. How would life be at home without her? What would she miss? Would Martha assume her roles at the house? Would Alice water the flowers she planted in front of their home? Would Elijah forget her?
"You've finally finished your certification test and we found Connor along the way, I think it's a very good day" Caroline smiled jovially to the good times they were sharing since Amelia would no longer be tied to their rented room. She could now travel with her as she explored Boston and she wouldn't have to hide her relationship with Ratonhnhaké:ton like she did in Davenport. Life was looking up for all of them and Caroline hoped good luck would follow them.
"How was your test, Amelia?" Ratonhnhaké:ton asked curiously since she hadn't left the house for months to study. He had taken the children hiking, on picnics, horseback riding, and numerous outings but Amelia had always lingered behind. The only time she began to venture out was after giving her the lap desk but that kept her rooted to the Burnett's land or the river's shore below.
Amelia was ready to reply but forgot she had food in her mouth and quickly swallowed with blushing cheeks. Caroline chuckled to her expression as it resembled a chipmunk hoarding its nuts and squeezed Ratonhnhaké:ton's hand to the adorable expression. Amelia couldn't help but laugh at herself and placed a hand on her forehead to reply between laughs, "Oh, goodness, where do I start? I had no issues with reading comprehension or grammar but the time frame for reading all of those paragraphs was impossible. Not to mention, the numerous math problems that only reduced my time. It was a tough test because it left me drained of energy and all I wanted to do was sleep."
"Your mother felt the same and she passed- so will you" her father stated confidently as he reminded his daughter to keep optimistic. Amelia nodded quietly to keep her hopes up because she kept running through every question in her mind as she ate. What had she gotten right?
"Your father is correct" Ratonhnhaké:ton agreed to settle her worries since Amelia was the type to second guess herself. She and Alice always struggled with confidence but he believed they were destined from great things, especially by seeing the love the Burnett family held for each other. He had helped her with items for her study and if she succeeded (which he knew she would), he would help her move from Davenport to whatever city she found a job in. They were his adoptive family as they took him into their home and he would help them however he could. He squeezed Caroline's hand as he spoke for both of them, "You taught all of us alongside your mother so I see you continuing that through the years. You have a gift for education, Amelia, so do not question yourself because we believe in you."
Thank you . . . brother, Amelia thought fondly since he stood by them with a helping hand and knew that one day, he would be an official part of her family.
Caroline bit into a crunchy piece of carrot and suggested enthusiastically, "Now that you're free of that test, the city is your oyster for this week."
"I like the sound of that" Amelia replied with a confident smile this time because she did want to explore without that weight on her shoulders. She wanted to know the newest fashions and what were the popular trinkets to occupy a home, not to mention buy sticks of candy for her sweet tooth.
28 March 1774
Caroline had enough of Boston after two days as the crowded city suffocated her need for freedom and her outings with Ratonhnhaké:ton barely contained her discomfort. She longed for the rolling hills and the small homes lining the green pastures of Davenport, not to mention the open cove. Her hands longed to hold Sophia's reigns as the wind wiped through her hair or a fishing net as she fought against the river's current. Godfrey saw the restlessness when mere errands for her mother didn't help but he couldn't do much to help. Amelia's test results had not arrived yet as the numerous applicants for the two test dates required a longer time and all she could do was wait.
Thankfully, Amelia was the type to settle down with a book and handle the setback but Caroline itched to be free. The tiny room at the inn didn't help her at all and staying in Ratonhnhaké:ton's across the city would have her father chasing her partner with a rifle. The sisters often walked around the city to peruse through the stores as they imagined decorating their own private homes one day but it wasn't enough for Caroline. Amelia's feet would be hurting within hours but Caroline would sit for ten minutes before renewing her energy to wander again.
On the morning of the third day, Ratonhnhaké:ton was preparing to return to Davenport since he had his own errands to run. He had stayed in Boston to train his assassins and Caroline had been another reason to delay his return. Godfrey had invited him for breakfast at the shop so he wouldn't eat alone and Ratonhnhaké:ton offered to take a few things back to the Burnetts. They had all decided that returning with medicine was the best option in case illnesses arose while they were gone. Amelia felt guilty for keeping her father away from the mill for a week and Godfrey caught her downcast expression to remind, "Your mother and I know how long these test results can take so you turn that frown upside down. Your uncle Terry can handle things while I'm away so don't worry."
"I just don't like máthair being alone up there" she sighed softly since their father was the protective figure of their family, even if their mother had Elijah and a rifle. The encounter with the robber always lingered in her mind and it wasn't far from Caroline's either. Their uncle Terry was the only one there to protect them and he was gone for long hours at the mill. Without their father or Ratonhnhaké:ton, there was nobody to watch out for them. The need to protect her family and bask in freedom brought an idea to Caroline's mind as she sat across from her sibling.
"If he's headed back, I can return to help" Caroline stated casually with the internal hope that her father would grant that request. He knew she was a tied horse yearning for open pastures and Caroline could already handle the mill in his stead. Unfortunately, having a protective father would mean that she would have to carefully tiptoe around the request in order to succeed. She poked her half-eaten meat pie with her utensil and looked to Amelia for a helping hand in her escape, "I can only imagine if Eliza and Martha are bickering, mother will rather have Alice help her."
"Oh no, poor Alice would be eaten by the two like a baby lamb" Amelia chuckled sympathetically to their meek sister since she barely had the heart to raise her voice against anyone. Martha and Elizabeth were the fighters of the siblings while she and Amelia were the diplomats. Alice was too sweet to be spoiled by the harshness of the world and the Burnetts aimed to keep it that way. Amelia wasn't keen of parting with her best friend but she would feel better knowing their family had her at home. Whenever danger arose, Caroline had stood unyielding to protect each of them and Amelia understood that Boston was irritating her. She didn't particularly mind Boston and looked to their father to smile sweetly, "I think Caroline would do better back home and mother would feel safe, not to mention the children. She can keep Martha and Elizabeth in line when they become too much to bear."
"Your mother would chastise me to kingdom come" her father dissuaded since Catherine expected them all to return together. Ratonhnhaké:ton kept quiet on the family matter to grant them respect but the thought of Caroline returning with him was quite welcome. Amelia tried to sway their father with a crestfallen expression to help her sister since she rarely employed charming tactics.
"But she would have extra help and so would you" Caroline added in nonchalantly as she tried to maintain a 'fly on the wall' façade. Ratonhnhaké:ton hid a smile to her innocent attitude as she tried to manipulate the scene using Amelia. There were times when his logic asked that he teach her the skills of the assassins but he couldn't do that, much less pull her into his world. It would be nothing short of careless and dangerous.
Amelia nodded as she drew her father's gaze and raised a finger to remind, "Mother has a bigger house to upkeep now that we added an extra room to the lean-to and Dawn just had her calf. Alice and Sam are too small to tend to the livestock and Martha's squeamish so Elizabeth can only do so much."
"I will protect her to the best of my abilities, nothing and nobody will lay a finger on her" Ratonhnhaké:ton promised since he would take an arrow or bullet for the girl he cared for and she smiled to his words. This time, her breakfast received the smile as she avoided appearing outwardly pleased to avoid being caught in her plan. How did compulsive liars do this so easily? She was tiptoeing carefully as her fingers became sweaty to the thought of being caught in her spinning web. He hadn't had a passenger along for the ride home but looked to Godfrey to reassure that he'd keep her safe, "I'd never let anything happen to her."
Amelia smiled to herself since it was obvious by Caroline's bright eyes that the two were waiting for a single moment of privacy to bask in their relationship. However, there was one trait their mother instilled in her daughters and she wanted to remind Caroline of it if she left with him. Otherwise, she wouldn't be a very good sister, would she? She tried to keep her voice light but since they were all sitting together at a roundtable, it was hard to avoid. The fact that the shop was empty didn't help and she stated quietly with a light tone, "It's not proper for an unmarried man and woman to travel together so tread carefully."
"Well then, it's a good thing I'm paying him in pies for escorting me home like a true gentleman" Caroline joked to lighten the restraints and to thwart any ideas that she was leaving simply because of Ratonhnhaké:ton. She longed to be home where she could wake up to the sound of her mother banging her spoon against the rim of a pot and the smell of frying hare meat. Her legs ached to walk from her home to the far north where she could dip her feet into the cove to watch the ripples in the water. She placed her hand over her father's to justify her reasoning and explained, "Papa, you have to stay longer to await her results and I'd feel better at mama's side until you're back. Uncle Terry can't watch everyone while you're gone and you know I can keep business afloat as your extra hand at the mill. I know the safety risks of working at the mill but we can't risk falling behind on orders."
Godfrey shook a finger to the safety risks parts and pointed out with concern, "See, that's the part that worries me. You're like a corn kernel on a hot pan with oil when it comes to lending a hand."
"I won't be cutting down trees, if that's what you're thinking, boban" she reassured with a warm chuckle because she didn't have that kind of strength. Her experience only allowed her to work with sawed logs but she wouldn't risk cutting or logrolling one at all without his permission. She didn't want his worry to squash her hope of leaving and smiled at him to promise, "All I will do is help with inventory and take care of the business portion while Uncle Terry can handle the physical labor. If mother needs me at home that day, I will stay there without a peep."
"You're quite the little delegate, aren't you?" her father chuckled since she had a fair point since the shop in Boston only handled exported orders being picked up by clients. Caroline merely smiled and reasoned that it was for the overall big picture rather than skittering off. What could he do when she yearned to run off and work at home? It wasn't exactly a bad idea since Amelia and Caroline helped Catherine more efficiently than Martha and Elizabeth due to their older years. Not to mention, having her there as his eyes would keep the business afloat as she helped Terry. Turning to Ratonhnhaké:ton, he waved a fatherly finger and ordered firmly as he handed the responsibility of one of his children over to him, "Not a scratch on her and nobody will approach you two on the road. She'll try to make you take a detour to sightsee but you keep on that path to return her home to her mother."
Caroline almost choked on the piece of beef she'd been chewing out of surprise that he'd actually agreed. Had the collaboration of all three and their reasons really been good enough? She didn't want to ask her father whether he trusted her reasons or Ratonhnhaké:ton himself out of fear of having her ride home whisked away. You couldn't look a gift horse in the mouth so she simply stayed silent and kept eating. Inside, however, she was bursting with excitement to greet the open road and the blue sky.
"I will have her there by tomorrow morning" Ratonhnhaké:ton promised as he recovered from his own surprise since he expected Godfrey to say no. He thanked the lumberjack for trusting him with his family but Godfrey had already granted that years ago. He had protected his children, saved them in two instances, and brought his family goods when he traveled so he was part of the family by default. Ratonhnhaké:ton wouldn't break that trust for anything in the world and shook the lumberjack's hand to state, "I will make sure she has a roof over her head, fed, and healthy or I will be indebted to you."
Caroline frowned as she felt like an inanimate task all of a sudden rather than a living person and chuckled aloud to chastise gently, "I'm not a package, you know."
"If you were, I'm sure you'd have a nice little bow on top" Ratonhnhaké:ton replied quietly as he returned to his meal and Caroline balked at the response. Had she heard correctly?
"Did you just make a joke?"
He merely glanced at her with a nonchalant stare but the warm twinkle in his eyes told her otherwise. Caroline merely shook her head as he decided to be playful now of all times but enjoyed that rare side of him. Their upcoming little trip together also brought anticipation because they would be spending an entire day together on the road without anyone to bother them. She'd never spent more than a few hours with him but the endless horizon would offer them opportunities for fun. They could make images from the clouds, play animal guessing games, and read by a campfire- there was no limit to any of it!
She leaned over to hug her father with gratitude for what he'd granted her and smiled widely, "Thank you for this, boban. I'll tell mother everything and we'll await you with Amelia's news."
Amelia stiffened to the idea of having a failure as her result but Caroline peered at her to encourage, "Enjoy your time here because it will be your future home, I know it."
A/N: A long chapter for a long between update period. For those who haven't read my author's note in my profile, I've been slowing down with my free time due to starting my registered nursing program and it's unlike any major I've ever studied due to the workload (in the class and outside in the hospital). Still, I love all of it! I sympathized with Amelia in this chapter because every week, I have a test and I'm thinking 'if I don't pass, it puts my future in the program at stake' and I think a lot of us can empathize with her because we've had anxiety in one point in our lives. As for Connor and Caroline, those two are heading off for a day of adventure on their own in the wild frontier so something's bound to happen with those two (I don't think there was a walkthrough I went through that didn't have Connor attacked by something, lol).
East Coast Captain: Courting could be rather strict in terms of affection but it is kind of funny that most statistics say most young brides were already pregnant on their wedding day. I'd like to think Connor could live to be old as well, given that he hasn't gotten a disease from the incoming colonists since immunizations weren't common unless mandatory.
Vampireadtic: It won't be revealed soon (like 5 chapters soon) but he'll reveal his assassin profession right before he proposes marriage so she knows what she's heading into.
Polinka123: He'll be planting his first kiss in the next chapter on their solo adventure. Hehe. As for the hidden blade (I love using that euphemism in Adventure Time), he'll be the blushing bride since Caroline is more dominant.
Yman: Their wedding will definitely be a tricky one to work out the kinks with since it will happen before the game ends and Connor is not the type to abandon his culture so it will be a blend of both. Father Timothy will oversee Caroline's religious portion while Connor's . . . is still in the works. They will, however, travel to his village so she can see the land he grew up in. Caroline will definitely be the Claudia of the colonial times since she already helps her father's inventory and I see the two opening an import/export business in Davenport after the game ends (it will certainly come in handy for smuggling goods to assassins throughout the colonies). I'm glad you brought up Connor's tendency to be reckless (and cocky, which at this point of the story, Caroline doesn't see is there) because that will be a source of conflict between them. Right now, the two are in the stage I like to call 'the honeymoon phase' of their affection but Amelia's upcoming leave will be a catalyst for the turmoil awaiting the two for quite a few years. As for family squabbles, the story already has the sibling rivalry existing between Martha and Elizabeth but Caroline and Amelia have that best friends bond (plus, the two work so much with their parents that they don't have time to squabble). Caroline and Martha will have an upcoming argument because she's never been the number one supporter of her and Connor's budding relationship. The story's really been at a relaxed pace as the children have grown but it's a long road and change comes swiftly. Thank you for the suggestions though, I appreciate it (I definitely won't be turning them into the Brady Bunch of the colonial era, lol).
Randommite: I'm totally alive but buried heavily under five different books of 1000+ pages each. Lol.
Next Time: The Wild Frontier
"I can take the reins if you're tired, you know" Caroline offered for the fifth time as Roger's hooves clacked against the dusty path leading away from the bustling city of Boston. Her entire body went lax as she leaned against Ratonhnhaké:ton and pressed her cheek against his shoulder blade to sway him one last time, "Please?"
His courteous yet irritating response was, "I promised to get you home and I shall."
Caroline frowned to his strong sense of duty because she'd been trying to coax him to unwind since leaving the borders of the city. She had bid her loved ones goodbye with an ecstatic smile as she rode away to freedom . . . only her driver was taking everything meticulously careful. She'd expected them to blow the city and its residents into their dust since the open road called for such wonderfully dramatic exits. Her dear partner, however, decided to take their route slowly and she sighed, "You're really going to listen to my boban about the detour part?"
"Yes, I am here to guide you all the way home" he replied politely because he wouldn't break Godfrey's trust over a horseback ride. They were still within the limits of the city as they passed people down the road every few minutes and he wouldn't want to be fined for causing a ruckus. He would make sure she returned home with every little hair on her head and pointed out firmly, "You are my responsibility and I care too much to have you injured."
"Connor, I'm not made of glass!" she pointed out to his polite mannerisms and blamed the Boston road as they headed north. They'd received a few looks of wariness and disgust as they left together and she didn't want him acting proper for her sake. They had a right to act natural like everyone else because was as kindhearted as any white settler. She dared anybody else to make a displeased face and promised her partner, "I will yell at all of these louts if you don't treat me with the same respect I'm giving you."
"I am treating you with respect" he shot back matter-of-factly and she aimed a small glare at his back. How was being treated like an inanimate object a good thing? At the rate they were moving, the clouds would reach Davenport before they did! Since he couldn't exactly see her face, he took her silence as a bad omen and sighed with a hint of exasperation, "Caroline, please don't give me that silent treatment."
She blinked as her nonverbal behavior was perceived in different direction and corrected, "Actually, I was making a very horrid face at you but that will be my level two defense now that you mentioned it."
Ratonhnhaké:ton didn't have time to argue about her sense of independence on her first trip home alone and withheld a sigh.
Thanks for reading and we'll see what unveils next time! Will Amelia pass her test? Will the two travelers encounter a deadly animal or foe? Or will Caroline manage to pull Connor into a detour?