New Faces
5 September 1774
Ratonhnhaké:ton spent his days with the Burnetts more often now that Caroline was gone. He filled in the empty space of his loved one and her siblings appreciated his company as he tackled the older sibling role. There wasn't a day that she didn't flicker through his mind and he hoped the same occurred in hers after the abrupt leave. Life carried on in Davenport but the loss had dealt a dulling in the bright spark of his and Catherine's eyes. Although she managed to smile nowadays, especially when she received a letter from Caroline, Ratonhnhaké:ton's expression remained hardened.
Dinnertime was approaching soon so Catherine was busy with the bubbling pot of beef stew over the warm fireplace. Chores never changed at home and although she'd lost two of her girls to the big cities, Elizabeth and Martha had filled the roles of their elder sisters. Alice had even been promoted to Elizabeth's old chores so she cleaned her little heart out to show she could help just as good. Samuel tended to their small livestock and cared for the cow (under the supervision of Catherine) as well.
Ratonhnhaké:ton had cut down firewood for them to offer his help and to occupy a few hours of silence in the woods. Reflecting on the past wasn't helping him and if anything, it only made him miserable to the events in his young life. Keeping the small town of Davenport safe, however, was something he could do in the meantime and he promised to help the Burnetts however he could.
Samuel snapped him out of his thoughts as he set his hardcover book down and slumped over the table with boredom. The young boy was lax with his studies, similar to Elizabeth, but Catherine enforced it on her only son since he was expected to be the head of a household one day. She didn't want to raise an uneducated man, especially as a retired schoolteacher, and sought for him to succeed more than his parents.
"My mind can take no more" Samuel groaned tiredly because reading was not very appealing to him at all. He'd seen Amelia read endlessly, along with Caroline, but it didn't bite the rest of the siblings.
"It's best to be confused for a day than the rest of your life" Ratonhnhaké:ton advised him carefully and patted him on the back. Samuel simply groaned again but reluctantly agreed with his older brother. He wanted to be businessman one day, like his father, so he didn't have to take orders from anyone but could take care of his family. The sour downside of that was having to complete his schooling until then.
"Why can't learning be fun? This is boring" he grumbled as he turned his head to glance up at an amused Ratonhnhaké:ton. Unlike himself, his friend had been enthused with learning when Catherine began to teach them all. Once he, Amelia, and Caroline completed their basic studies, he wasn't inspired by his siblings. If anything, he fell into Elizabeth's schemes and napped more often than practiced his vocabulary and arithmetic.
Ratonhnhaké:ton smiled faintly to his fussing and reminded, "You must finish the core concepts before you choose the subjects that do interest you."
"But it feels like forever" he mumbled dejectedly since it seemed his eldest siblings grew up fast while he was still playing catchup. He ran his fingers through his red hair to be rid of the boredom fog in his mind and hoped to rejuvenate his energy.
Catherine appreciated hearing the young man encourage her son to continue his studies rather than abandon them. It was easier to tie her son down to study during the winter than any other season so she welcomed the help. She began to add the freshly cut vegetables into the boiling stew and requested, "Connor, would you be a dear and fetch my husband? I have a feeling he's been spending time with the spirits the new travelers have brought in."
Ratonhnhaké:ton blinked with surprise to the news that there were strangers on their land and Catherine withheld from chuckling to his bewildered look. How had he missed that? He took meticulous care in knowing who roamed throughout their small town- was his vigilance slipping? It was a good thing she suggested for him to run that errand then. Tapping his fingers quietly over the table, he asked uncertainly, "When did they arrive? I did not notice them."
"They camped a little south of the mill a few days ago" Catherine informed him with a warm smile as she set down a bowl of sliced bread that she'd warmed. Gossip kept her mind entertained when it threatened to become dreary. The possibility of potential neighbors intrigued her since the community had grown close like family and she informed him, "My Godfrey says they're good folk so I baked them some biscuits for dinner yesterday. Corrine is quite a dear, actually, and we talked for hours while Diana watched the bairns."
"I will seek them and find out more" he spoke softly since he was curious to the new arrivals and whether they bore similar tragic circumstances of his friends. Catherine nodded with a proud smile since he always held a good heart for the less fortunate. The land he provided for each new settler had yielded him friendship and commerce to flourish their small town to return his kindness tenfold.
Samuel jumped up eagerly to the chance of escape from his book and proclaimed, "And I'll help you!"
He was already shadowing his friend's footsteps out the door when he caught sight of his mother. Or rather, felt her motherly glare on his back. He had automatically assumed he could follow his neighbor and turned around to clasp his hands over his chest for permission. Quickly, the young boy garnered for sympathy and frowned to compromise with her, "Màthair, I'll be good, I promise!"
Catherine raised an eyebrow to his eagerness and if he was heading outside alone with anyone who wasn't family, she'd send him to his room. However, Ratonhnhaké:ton was family and her little one was always happy for his brotherly figure in life. The young man rested a hand on Samuel's head to calm his excitement and assured her, "If anything is amiss, I'll return home with him immediately."
Walking the footsteps of newfound adulthood, Ratonhnhaké:ton knew when to use specific words away from children's ears. The women didn't like for their young ones to witness drunkenness or brawls and he made sure they never did. Even after the burglary on their homestead, he shielded the children from seeing their fathers fight.
"Aye, go ahead, but I expect you to return to your studies after supper" she agreed firmly to ensure she wasn't giving in to his wish for freedom. It was better for his mind to receive a break and then resume his studies. Catherine knew Ratonhnhaké:ton was a protector by nature and nodded with a fond smile, "You boys will turn my hair gray with your adventures."
Samuel skidded out the door with unabashed glee but Ratonhnhaké:ton quickly grabbed the back of his navy tunic. His freckled face broke into a pout as the tall man took the lead in their venture. There was no way he was allowing anything to happen to the youngest Burnett, even if it was simple walk downhill. Ratonhnhaké:ton cracked a faint smile to remind his little friend, "Not until you're my height."
"That'll be years, Connor!" he exclaimed as they walked outside together, the sun beaming down on their heads. Samuel raised his hands over his head to wave them frantically as they left the homestead to take the main path south towards O'Donnell's home. His blue eyes were wide, reminding the young assassin of Caroline, and he blurted, "You'll be old like Achilles and boban will be even older than that!"
Ratonhnhaké:ton couldn't help but chuckle at his farfetched idea since Samuel was still a young child. He still maintained that childhood innocence and naivety that he himself was losing every time he headed out of Davenport. Losing his mother, leaving his village, having his father as an enemy, protecting his village, and losing Caroline dealt a lot of emotional damage- all at eighteen winters old! He didn't know if he'd even see old age one day and gently joked, "Will you take care of your old friend when the time comes?"
Samuel didn't even want to think of him as actually being old and wrinkly one day. It would make it very hard to have shared adventures! He was too much of a hero in his eyes to even think he'd be clutching a cane one day. Quickly, he replied with a hasty nod to promise, "Of course I will, you're my brother! I'll take care of our parents, godparents, you, Carrie-"
He stopped himself quickly and placed his hands over his mouth for blabbing his sister's name. His mother had been very insistent that neither he or any of his siblings said her name in front of him. As young as Samuel was, he understood the pain of watching a loved one walk away. He'd seen it as a small child in Boston when his father left for the camps and all his mother could do was wish him well and wait weeks for him to hopefully return safe and sound. The same sad gaze flickered in their faces now so he wasn't a blind fool.
His blue eyes were wide as he watched his friend quietly, noticing that their pace had slowed down. Ratonhnhaké:ton barely showed hints of recognition as he learned to displace the hurt to keep his objectives clear. His little friend strutted forward to meet his stoic gaze and muttered with disappointment, "I'm sorry, Connor. I didn't mean to say it, honest, it just slipped."
Ratonhnhaké:ton could never be upset with the youngest Burnett children since they'd endured their own loss as well. Godfrey and Catherine mourned their daughter, the children their eldest sister, and he longed for his partner. Placing his palm over his head to ruffle his red locks, he assured quietly, "Your heart was in the right place, there's nothing to forgive."
Samuel raised his hand in the air and promised aloud, "I will take care of you though. I'll bring meat pies and ale, Alice can help sweep your home, and I'm sure Eliza will care for your horses. You won't worry about a thing!"
The Burnetts truly were his adoptive family as they never failed to support him through thick and thin. Even with their oldest wandering somewhere in the colonies, they never placed blame on him or turned him away. Instead, they had nestled him like a fragile bird in their family fold. Ratonhnhaké:ton appreciated his promise because more than likely, they'd both be sitting in rocking chairs decades from now.
The distance from the mill to the campsite of the newcomers wasn't far like Catherine informed. The campfire was already burning bright for the eye to see before reaching the lumberjacks mill. Ratonhnhaké:ton could see numerous people gathered around a wagon and a . . . was that a table with ale barrels on top? Hmm, now he understood why Catherine sent him. When it came to ales, Godfrey could hold his own against others but the hours ticked against the strength of his liver.
Ratonhnhaké:ton noticed several of his friends surrounding the campfire. Norris and Myriam were happily chatting away as they sat on a log bench together. When had the two become so well acquainted? He shook his head lightly since Norris was jolly and pulled everyone into a conversation with his peppy nature. His time away from Davenport often led him to playing catch-up but he was glad that his residents had yet to have conflicts amongst each other. Well, aside from the regular Terry and Godfrey brawls that ended with a shared ale.
Approaching the talkative group chatting away and drinking, Ratonhnhaké:ton caught sight of Godfrey speaking to an older English gentleman behind the table. He appeared older than all his residents, a black leather hat on top of his snow-white hair as clear blue eyes laughed alongside Godfrey as the two shared a joke. His brown leather jacket was humble with sewn tears and the green vest he wore gave him a gentle ambience. The newcomer noticed him right away as he approached the jolly group and a British voice greeted him, "Hello, sir! Would you like a draught of ale or perhaps some bread and cheese?"
Godfrey's eyes lit up in delight (and possibly inebriation) as he noticed the young man. When somebody was in need, he never hesitated to help and Godfrey wouldn't forget the good deeds he'd done for his family. Ratonhnhaké:ton set aside any bashfulness at seeing the lively group and Godfrey stepped up to his unofficial son-in-law. Well, at least he'd like to think so in his mind once his daughter returned. Clasping his shoulder, Godfrey smiled broadly to introducing his new friend, "Connor! This here is Oliver and that is Corrine."
He waved his mug in the direction of an older woman as she tended to an iron pot cooking over the campfire. Her pastel colors of yellow and blue also placed a humble vibe on her, Corrine's hands wiping over her white apron before she greeted the young man. Ratonhnhaké:ton was surprised they weren't fearful or wary of him, dropping his natural guard against strangers. Godfrey swiped his attention back to their area as he declared jovially, "Great people! Ollie! This is Connor, the man I was talking about- the lord of the manor!"
Ratonhnhaké:ton didn't want to be seen as the town leader at all but a friend. He protected his friends rather than enforced rules and wouldn't dare to think of himself in that way. Oliver offered a kind smile since he was on another man's land and admitted truthfully, "We were passing through, is all, and met some of your townsfolk. They were thirsty and we had some barrels in the back and-"
Ratonhnhaké:ton shook his head to being deemed a lord or representative of sorts, clearing the air with a firm tone, "I am no lord and these are my friends," Norris and Myriam smiled when he gazed in their direction, "my family", Godfrey beamed as if he'd become a father all over again, "-not townsfolk."
His gaze swept over the wagon containing the older couple's belongings and he asked quietly, "What brings you down the road with a cart full of spirits for sale?"
Oliver's face turned solemn to recounting his tale since it wasn't a heartwarming one. He was more akin to telling humorous or adventure filled anecdotes to those he met, being in the bartending line of work. Looking at the lonely wagon filled with the belongings that carried his life story, he began, "We were innkeepers until the King took our inn for some military such and such and left us out on our round parts."
Sam placed his hands over his mouth but Ratonhnhaké:ton could hear him snickering, "Round parts."
"Samuel" the older man spoke firmly to remind him of his manners and the redhead listened to his friend.
"We piled all that we could into this wagon and were forced to leave the rest behind" he finished his sad tale because losing his life's work in a matter of hours had dealt an emotional blow. He and Corrine were no longer spring chickens that could labor for hours on end and they enjoyed having a boardinghouse. They had barely had time to write to their children as they wandered north to find a new home. The temperature was already cooling to signal the coming of fall and they had to find shelter soon before they were left to the elements.
Norris raised his beer glass towards the older man and suggested jovially, "You should settle here. We could use an inn."
Myriam's brown eyes lit up to the idea of a place to eat and drink, agreeing quickly, "Good idea!"
The two clinked their mugs together jovially to Norris' idea and Ratonhnhaké:ton shook his head lightly. Were the two inebriated already?
Oliver's shoulders slumped because as much as he'd love to rebuild, their finances were rather tight. Everything they had was in the wagon and he gazed at the remnants of their life to sigh sullenly, "We would but without the inn itself, we don't have much choice and building one isn't cheap."
The residents of Davenports went from cheerful to glum at losing prospective neighbors. Ratonhnhaké:ton had begun investing in businesses to raise the revenue in Davenport and he could see the use in an inn for their townsfolk. He had sailors from the Aquila that wouldn't mind paying for a bed, rather than the floor at the cove's small boardinghouse, and the workers from the lumber mill. Seeing as the drinks were already popular, he proposed calmly, "We certainly have a need for something of the sort. I will speak with my friends at the mill and see what we can do about building ourselves one. If it can be arranged, would you consider ending your search here?"
Godfrey didn't mind working on another extensive project and whatever the young man needed, he'd supply it. It would not only help the mill but the town and the new innkeepers. Corrine's fair face broke into a broad smile to the thought of a new home and she embraced her husband happily, "Of course, Ollie! We'll have an inn again!
15 November 1774
The Invincible had docked in the Spanish colony of New Orleans to restock, drop off individuals, and pick up others. Being new in the modern world, Caroline had expected a heavy Spanish influence with colonists but found herself surprised to the heavy French influence. Duncan informed her that although Spanish rule had begun in the past decade, French culture was heavily ingrained in its residents. Caroline hadn't heard such accents before so they tickled her pink at the new exposure.
Loud voices, shuffling feet, and cawing seagulls were the vibrant noises of port life as Caroline stood at the boarding platform of the ship. They weren't on shore leave this time which meant she couldn't explore much of the town at all, despite the wanderlust bug biting her ankles. Duncan had managed to snag an hour for them to peruse the stores lining alongside the port to give her a taste of life in the southern colony. Caroline had practically run into every store like a kid to peer with excitement to their trinkets, whether it was food, toys, clothes, etc.
Unfortunately, being a deckhand meant she'd be paid until the voyage was over. For now, the ship only purchased provisions and traded what wasn't of value to them anymore. Having a low rank didn't allow Caroline time to even ask the ship's secretary of finances a single word before the ship's first mate ushered her away. In a kind gesture, Duncan had bought her an orange and a sewing kit after seeing her dedication to survive at sea.
Caroline was over the moon at having a new kit to keep her clothes in one piece for the long voyage. After almost five months at sea, she was rather proud that the harsh elements and rigorous labor hadn't left her with hundreds of patches to mend. The only issue had been keeping her fair skin from burning horribly under the sun but long sleeves and beeswax (a small tin stored all the way from home) had helped. Lice infestations were common on ships but Caroline kept scrupulous watch on her clothes and kept that hair cap airtight on her head. She wasn't risking the short hair she had left since shaving yourself bald was the only treatment.
Eating a slice of her orange, she offered a portion to her travel mentor but Duncan politely declined. It was rare to eat fresh food due to the voyage at sea which meant their provisions were dry and storable nonperishable items. In her father's words, 'tasteless stale mush'.
When she offered her orange again, Duncan raised a hand as he chuckled, "It's fine, Grace. I still have an hour left for shopping before departing here."
Taking off his gray hat, he used it as a portable fan as the humidity was heavy in the air. Unlike the northern colonies that had dry air, the southern colonies held heavier humidity by the sea. Caroline wasn't fond of the climate either as she rubbed her forehead to rub away beads of bothersome sweat. Leaning against a stack of crates full of provisions, she grinned at her friend to admit, "I must say I'm missing the north when the air here can almost suffocate a man."
"Due to the low elevation, wetland areas, and the sea, the Spanish colonies are the warmest during summer" Duncan informed easily since he'd been unlucky to travel in the blatant heat during his first year as an assassin. He'd been more than ready to alter his clothes within the week while Stephane adapted easily into the culture and Connor ignored the humidity change completely.
"Good thing it's fall then" she remarked with amusement as she nibbled on another piece of her orange.
Caroline and Duncan would not appear as ideal friends anywhere outside of a port with her donning sailor clothes and him being a man of the Lord. Yet, in the hustle and bustle of New Orleans, they blended easily against the moving crowds. Sailors from multiple ships scuttled around the port as they unloaded or loaded items, all wearing different uniforms for their respective ships.
Duncan had requested the captain to place her on guard detail for their parcels for the order to keep an eye on her. Caroline was none the wiser to the Assassin Order's business as she fully believed she was traveling with a seafaring trade company. She didn't mind the company since he always taught her something new when they docked. At the last stop, he'd shown her how to sit and tune her hearing to specific conversations. It had been difficult with laughing children, lively animals, and numerous people chatting but slowly, she was picking up the habit.
Her blue eyes narrowed when a man in black sailor's attire wandered too close to the stacked crates. She didn't hesitate to cross into their path, handing Duncan her half-eaten orange, and questioning sharply, "May I help you? I believe you're on the wrong path."
Each ship had a designated area on the dock for loading cargo and picking up travelers. The stranger quickly scampered off as they were caught by the two redheads and Duncan commented simply, "Theft is always a problem at every dock."
A captain assigned guard duty for each type of cargo to ensure nobody, particularly other ships, wouldn't steal their belongings. Duncan could differentiate a thief from a Templar but their enemies still had spies. If the crates weren't loaded within the next twenty minutes, he'd go to the captain directly to ensure their anonymity. Informing Connor by mail that their vessel had been compromised would not be good news.
The sudden hooting and whistling of sailors on the docks put Caroline on alarm instantly. Being a woman, it was her fear to be discovered as one so far away from home. Pinpointing the noise, she was relieved to find that it was not being directed at her but her anxiety turned to irritation.
Within the crowds gathered on the edge of the docks, a woman of African descent wearing a blue leather outfit made her way through. If she'd worn lady-like attire, she might've fled at the leery looks but the weapons holstered on her belt kept any onlookers at bay. She wore a leather hat to keep her features obscured but her attire, despite its masculine touch, outlined her feminine physique.
"Just another day at the docks" Duncan muttered dryly under his breath since he respected each woman equally. With society deeming ideal women as submissive, those with headstrong personalities took matters into their hands. As the leather-clad woman maintained a path towards their ship, Duncan caught sight of a familiar insignia on her belt.
She was one of them.
Before he could intervene, Caroline's anger flared to seeing such an embarrassing debacle towards a lady. She understood now why her father and Ratonhnhaké:ton refused to let her wander alone to the docks in Boston. As a man, she blended among them and raised her hands to her mouth to bellow angrily like a proud Scotsman, "Have you men no sense of decency?! Get back to work on your own ships or go harass the rats before my captain butchers you for insulting our travelers!"
The ruckus closest to her stopped, much to the relief of the newcomer as she arrived to the much quieter dock area of the Invincible. The sailors were ready to mouth off a few choice words that would leave neither woman pleased but Caroline hissed with narrowed eyes, "You call yourselves men? You sound more like prepubescent boys!"
The crew of the Invincible could hear her voice echo and laughter ensued towards the other sailors. At seeing that the ship held crew on both land and onboard the ship, the idea of berating Caroline for her insults died fairly quickly.
It felt good to hold a little power for the first time and Caroline puffed her chest proudly. Not too shabby for a deckhand. Waving a friendly hand to the newcomer, she smiled amicably to ensure she meant no ill will and greeted warmly, "Not all of us are asses, ma'am."
The woman nodded quietly with thanks for the intervention and commented serenely, "No, you are not."
Looking to her partner, she noticed his attire and Irish features, leading her to ask, "Mr. Little, I presume?"
"Aye" he nodded with confirmation since letters were all that were exchanged between the assassin guilds. It was always nice to meet others of the Order and he held his hand out for a handshake, which she returned with a smile. They had to maintain unity in the new world and he asked, "So you'll be traveling with us for a few weeks?"
"Yes, I'm heading further south to the Spanish colonies" she replied simply to keep her true location a secret. She needed the Invincible to lead her south towards the Spanish peninsula of the old Mayans.
Caroline bowed politely to meeting their newest traveler and smiled to introduce herself, "Welcome to the Invincible, m'lady, I'm Ishmael Bartlett."
"Aveline de Grandpré" she replied earnestly as the deckhand's cheerful attitude was rather infectious. She expected to meet two stony-faced or serious individuals, not the jolly easygoing folk in front of her. If it wasn't for their varying accents, she would've thought they were relatives. The prospect of traveling with the two friendly individuals decreased her wariness, even if it was among her own order.
Sea trips were never fun, depending on the person, but Caroline's bright blue eyes never dulled with each day that passed. With a new person onboard, not to mention that she was a woman, Caroline didn't feel so alone either. She'd have to carry on with her farce but the companionship alone lessened her isolation as a woman in hiding.
Duncan could clearly see that excitement as she smiled broadly and ordered gently, "Bartlett, get Miss Grandpré settled in and inform Cole and Jones to pick up this cargo immediately."
"Yes, sir, Mr. Little" she replied eagerly with a salute and proudly led the way up the platform to give their newest companion the tour. Aveline simply glanced between the two with mild amusement before following the young deckhand.
2 December 1774
Aveline glanced down at the wheat roll in her hand before tapping it against the edge of the table. When it struck with a dull thud, she couldn't help but stare. Was this really what they'd been reduced to eating on this leg of the journey? She knew it could get tough with rationing between restocking at ports but this was a little ridiculous.
She sat across the small table from the so-called Bartlett, who had befriended her from the moment she boarded. Aveline was surprised to the amicability since most took one look at her skin tone and turned their back, mainly in the southern colonies. The crew of the Aquila had been accommodating to her, even going as far as giving her an area of her own- even if it had been a storage closet in weeks prior.
"How do you stand this food?" Aveline winced as the roll was hard as a rock and she wondered if she'd have to crack it like a nut.
"I let that soak in boiled stews or grind it into dust" the deckhand grinned and bit into her dry meat. The spices and salt were enough to soothe her taste buds since the flavored jerky had been finished two weeks ago. She tapped her fingers over the hard bread laying on her own tin plate and piped up, "After three months, you grow used to it. I've tried my hand at catching a fish but with a moving vessel, it's impossible."
Aveline dropped her bread on the plate and decided to wait until dinner to attempt eating it, sighing miserably, "Let's hope I adapt quickly to this."
Her companion laughed and Aveline shook her head with amusement when she heard a feminine note. She'd seen Bartlett spend most of the time with Duncan, interacting with the other men with few words only, and the rest of the time was in her company. Her skills as an assassin (and common sense) would've pegged Bartlett as either smitten with her or, with the continuous contact, to deduce she was hiding something. The high cheekbones, cupid shaped rosy lips, and round chin were simple enough for Aveline to see her as feminine. When the men decided to take a dip in the sea to clean up whenever the ship was anchored, Bartlett refused or swam all the way to the opposite end of the ship to be alone. Aveline acknowledged that it wasn't easy being a woman in this time but admired whoever 'Bartlett' was for attempting it.
"It's not too bad, at least we have food" Bartlett replied with a warm chuckle to remain optimistic. While some deckhands grumbled about seafaring life, particularly the younger ones, Bartlett remained unfazed and enjoyed every leg of the journey.
It couldn't be easy hiding one's gender and Aveline understood that since traveling required privacy for baths and changing clothes. Her little closet space allowed her to bring in a bucket of seawater and clean up in privacy. Aveline smiled faintly to her attempt to lighten the situation and offered quietly, "If you ever want to take a bath away from the men-"
"Oh no, a man never sullies a lady's room by being-" Bartlett began respectfully because having a beau on deck was not what she wanted. For the first time, 'Bartlett' and Caroline fought to control that unexpected situation. Her little heart belonged to a handsome boy back in Davenport, even if she couldn't admit it aloud. That wasn't to say Aveline was an ugly woman (not in the slightest) but her tastes were for men and Ratonhnhaké:ton was as good as they came. Unfortunately, that didn't mean he wouldn't find someone else if he forgot her.
Aveline shook her head to dissuade that insinuation and pointed out amusingly, "I know you're not a man, Bartlett."
The deckhand scoffed dismissively to the claim to maintain innocence and declared, "Ms. Grandpré, I believe-"
"It wasn't hard to distinguish menstrual cramps from food cramps last week, this stuff will leave you on a chamber pot for hours" she explained matter-of-factly because her new friend had been curled up on her bedroll the whole night after supper. Even Duncan had been batted away to leave her alone until Aveline used Bartlett's leather canteen to heat up water to use as a compress. The woman tipped her hat forward with mutual respect and told her, "Your secret is safe with me."
Bartlett shook her head quickly to adamantly deny it, embarrassment tinting her freckled cheeks. Her blue eyes darted everywhere but Aveline before jumping up as if bitten by her stool, hollering aloud over her shoulder, "What's that, Duncan?! Yep, I can help move some crates!"
Uttering a quick farewell, she stuffed her rock of a roll into her trouser pockets and darted up the stairs to the top deck. Aveline shook her head in disbelief to her skittish reaction but it wasn't unexpected.
For poor Caroline, she didn't want to risk being exposed but she didn't want to be rude either. So, she decided to avoid Aveline for as long as she could until she came up with a decent plan. If she could convince the crew she was a man, she could do the same with her new acquaintance. . .right? She would just need a little finesse at cutting corners fast and hiding in small spaces.
Unfortunately, on a trade ship out at sea, there was no escape from avoiding someone forever. Day time allowed her to hide by either working or hiding somewhere but nighttime minimized her options. Caroline reserved her last hours of candlelight before bed to write letters to her family and Ratonhnhaké:ton. Christmas would be soon and she'd sent letters, along with a few trinkets she'd collected, back home from the post office in New Orleans. Hopefully, they would get to her father's shop in Boston in time to be sent to Davenport.
Dearest mother,
I hope my care package for Christmas arrived on time, especially for the young ones. As I stated in the last letter, everything is going well for me so far. I am still out at sea wandering the colonies and I've met people from numerous countries from the East. With the holidays approaching soon on my end, I can't help but recall the beautiful breakfast and dinner we had in Davenport to celebrate. I hold you all very dear to my heart but I want you to be happy during these times. I hope the weeks have found you well in health since it has been six months since I last saw you. I miss you, mother, but I will return once my heart for adventure has ended.
With love,
Caroline
As she scribbled obliviously into the paper, Aveline found her easily since she took nightly strolls to rid herself of stress. The redhead was happy in whatever she was writing to whomever it was and she approached the young woman since her guard was down. Caroline's blue eyes darted up quickly as a dark shadow loomed over her and she glanced up to squeak nervously, "Miss Grandpré."
"You can call me Aveline, Bartlett" she sighed to her etiquette since the two had spoken long enough for a month to be on first name basis. Motioning to the empty space at the right side of her bedroll, she asked, "May I sit down?"
She nodded quietly as she forced her mind to reconnect with her mouth to make noise. Her fingers quickly folded her letter to stuff it into her box and locked it shut. She couldn't risk anybody finding out her true identity, especially while out at sea far away from shore. Paper was also a commodity and she couldn't afford to lose letter ready to be sent.
Aveline sat down with a nod of thanks and found herself amused to the other woman's suspicious eyes. They both had secrets of their own to conceal but she pointed out, "Before our little drama unfolded, we were speaking every day. I was hoping to return to that since all we have is stale bread, tobacco in the air, and the open ocean to share."
Caroline couldn't help but crack a smile to her humor since she had liked having someone to talk to, other than Duncan. Her redheaded companion was already snoring away on his own bedroll to the left. Although Aveline and Duncan were a decade older than her, she got along well with them and learned about life at the same time. She wouldn't have gotten that exposure staying at home since her only friends were her siblings, little Ann, and Ratonhnhaké:ton.
"Like I said, your secret will be safe with me" Aveline reassured the young woman since the oversized uniform and hair cap hid her gender very well. Caroline's shoulders slumped because she couldn't keep hiding by running away, especially when everyone was sleeping. The traveler picked a good time to bring up the topic but Caroline wouldn't fight it since they were both women.
"It is nice to speak to another one of my own" she smiled modestly as she kept her voice low to avoid being overheard. She dropped the throaty low tone of her male persona to resurface her real voice for the first time. It placed a strain on her throat when she spoke for long periods which was why she preferred to speak very little to crew members. Brushing a hand over her face to wipe away some exhaustion, she admitted flatly, "I get tired of hearing so much about bare bosoms."
They chuckled softly to the mindset of the sailors onboard and Aveline asked, "Do you like it here?"
"I can't complain and I'm seeing places, having adventures, which is what I've wanted" she reasoned easily since it was what she envisioned when leaving Davenport. Well, minus the sword fighting and beating people off the ship. She hadn't thought of home until recently due to the holidays and admitted, "My contract's over until we return to Boston but I like the high seas."
"How much danger have you faced?" Aveline asked curiously since they'd had a recent skirmish against another vessel that tried to rob them. It wasn't associated with the Templars but they had to put an end to them for the safety of other ships. She'd observed the deckhand's fighting and although she was fair with a sword, she was better at wielding pistols (scavenged from a previous fight) and knives. Aveline had passed this information to Duncan and the assassin had begun to teach her better swordsmanship.
"Not too much, we had the most at the south colonies here" she stated simply with a light shrug since she wasn't itching for a fight. She was more of a protector than initiating fights but kept her weapons close at hand after her first battle that left her with a scar. Duncan hadn't lied about the scarring but it was a hairline scar over her left cheek. She didn't mind it at all, believing it gave her a little character. Twiddling her thumbs with wonder, she voiced aloud, "I'm not sure why. Maybe it's something in the water."
Aveline raised an eyebrow, wondering if she was joking about not knowing the type of vessel she was on. Was she not in league with the Assassin's Order? Duncan was an assassin and she assumed Bartlett was under training. For a civilian, she was in more danger on the Invincible than any other trade vessel roaming the Atlantic.
"May I ask you a question?" she asked quietly but there a note of intrigue in her voice. If she wanted her questions answered, she'd head for the source. Resting her elbows on her crossed legs, she asked slowly, "Have you heard the phrase: Nothing is true. . .?"
"Can't say I have" Caroline chuckled softly with a shake of her head to the unknown quote. She'd heard a lot of things while traveling but not that. Scratching her chin idly about the words, she asked, "Is it from a book?"
"In a way" Aveline replied slowly as she bent the truth to a certain point of view and smiled faintly, "Never mind."
The next night, Aveline was on a stroll on the deck to pass the time until it was lights out. Another reason was seeking out Duncan in private to discuss the young woman in his midst. The ex-priest turned assassin was sitting on top of stacked crates reading a book under the lantern glow hanging from the masts and steerage section.
With years of seniority on her belt, her footsteps weren't detected by the other assassin. When he caught notice of her, it was due to the moving shadows being cast by the lanterns above him. He lowered his book to meet her brown gaze and he nodded in acknowledgment, "Evening, Miss Aveline."
"It appears that the night suits us at sea" she commented softly as she gazed at the twinkling stars overhead. It was during quiet nights like this that she saw how small one life could be in the span of time and the heavens above. Still, she'd continue treading on to make a difference. Crossing her arms, she walked over the main mast to lean against it and spoke, "I had a few questions regarding your charge."
"Oh?," this surprised Duncan and he closed his book to put it away.
"I know Bartlett is a woman" she stated frankly to avoid sugarcoating anything but kept her voice very low. As an assassin, you were trained to detect the lightest flutter and change in sound. Duncan flinched lightly to having his friend's identity discovered but Aveline waved a hand to dismiss easily, "Don't worry, I'm not one to pry and I figure she needs the female companionship out here."
Duncan chuckled softly since the two had become friends easily and he joked, "Don't tell me you're trying to draw her as your charge."
"No, I travel best alone" she declined as she preferred the solitude in order not to worry about attachments. The redhead woman had potential to be a fighter in their order but she was blissfully unaware about the war raging between Templars and Assassins. She didn't want her to get caught in the crossfire as an innocent and asked, "Is she your protégé?"
"Heavens no, I don't have enough experience to mentor" Duncan admitted sheepishly since he still considered himself fresh. He was still learning from his teacher even now so if anything, he would send prospective members to Connor. He was simply carrying out his own mission and had allowed her to follow. Whenever they docked, he left her at the port to ensure that she didn't tag along and discovered the truth. Shaking his head, he disagreed with teaching her the ways of their order without Connor's say and explained, "Our branch up north is rebuilding so we need recruits but not enough of our new assassins are qualified to teach. It would be up to my master to decide."
Aveline's brow furrowed to having a civilian onboard being none the wiser about helping the assassin cause. The redhead should either be informed about it or sent home (or another vessel) to be safer. It wasn't her place to meddle in the business of others so she asked simply, "Does she appear more of a liability then? Or is it your confidence to teach that you question?"
"Her past is a mystery to me but she shows the qualities we need" Duncan admitted since his friend kept quiet about her past but proved herself capable of adapting to danger. Even before boarding the Invincible, she'd admitted to wielding hatchets, knives, pistols, and rifles with ease. Her trouble lay with swords and that is where he was currently training her. Despite her ability, he couldn't tackle the task of mentoring and finished, "I cannot train her because even I have many things to learn from my own master."
"She's a kind girl but if she is not fit for the order, send her home" she suggested gently to keep the redhead safe since she'd been friendly to her without pretense. It wasn't easy finding folk like that in their turbulent times so if she couldn't join them, they had to protect the innocent. Aveline met Duncan's uncertain blue gaze to leave him with final advice, "There's only so much danger one can face before it claims you, especially in this lifestyle. She deserves to be on her land with her family, not on an assassin vessel with strangers that she knows nothing about."
Duncan nodded with reluctance since he'd enjoyed the companionship on his travels but she was right. If he couldn't officially train her, he would send her home or in the direction of his mentor. In the end, he had to protect his innocent charge and sighed softly, "Thank you for the input, Aveline."
25 December 1774
It had been tradition to celebrate Christmas at either the Galloways or Burnetts. This year, however, a change was made as the new inn for Corrine and Oliver had been completed by the lumber mill workers and Lance. The residents of Davenport were in awe to the Mile's End three-story size and the interior decorations made by Lance gave it a homely but elegant appearance. The majority of the residents were happy to see the tavern so they could mingle during winter and sniff the smell of hot food over the firepit. The ales and spirits made it even better for the adults.
When the women decorated the inn to celebrate Christmas dinner there at Corrine's behest, it added that extra sparkle to make the night special as everyone gathered to celebrate another year gone by. Prudence and Warren supplied the fruits and vegetables while Myriam supplied the meat, cooked by Diana, Catherine, and Corrine. Godfrey, Terry, and Norris helped Oliver in creating enough ale and spirits, as well as cider for the children, to celebrate.
The holidays were meant to be happy times but Catherine found no joy in them. She was grateful to have survived another year with her children, at least, the ones still by her side. Amelia had written to her to say she couldn't make it for Christmas and would have to care for the Bruce's children while the parents went on holiday. Catherine was glad to know she was in good health but she heard nothing from her oldest and she went to bed every night wondering whether her daughter had a bed to sleep in. The same thoughts afflicted her husband despite his jolly façade but they held onto the hope she was safe. Apart from their two girls being outside Davenport, Connor had also decided to avoid the holiday altogether. He had given them wrapped presents at the start of the month but admitted he'd be sailing south for the winter. In quiet confidence, he confessed it wasn't the same without Caroline but left several pounds in her care to ensure the town would remain united as always.
"It's so beautiful but it doesn't feel the same" Catherine sighed softly as she tapped her fork against roasted turkey meat. The smell of the gravy on top of the sizzling meat was delicious but it barely lifted her spirits. She'd donned her best dress in a navy blue while her girls had dressed in a mixture of green, blue, and pink. Samuel was practically an imitation of his father since he was old enough to wear little gentleman's attire (or that's what he called it). Gazing at her husband as he sat beside her, she explained glumly, "Amelia wasn't able to get the holiday leave that she wished but it's understandable. A new job and all."
"It's normal to miss your daughter" Diana soothed her old friend since the long rectangular tables of the inn hosted both families. She gazed down at her oldest daughter, who was growing faster than she could blink, and smiled at her. Ann was too absorbed in devouring her rosemary herb potatoes to pay any attention to the adult talk. That white dress would undoubtedly require a lot of stain removals come morning.
Both Terry and Diana saw how the abrupt leave of Caroline had devastated the two. The silver lining in that was knowing she was out there somewhere writing letters to her parents. Neither wanted to think of what would happen when they stopped and Terry reminded gently to his old friends, "Children are bound to leave the nest eventually, Catherine."
"I know but having my Carrie wandering around who knows where doesn't make it easier" Catherine pointed out since conflict between the colonies and the crown were at an all-time high. Her last letters stated she was out at sea but there were evil pirates and thieves waiting to hurt innocent sailors. She prodded her food once more as she added in worriedly, "Not to mention, Connor's out at sea. This is the first holiday without them."
"We'll make the best that we can out of it" Diana assured her oldest friend with a warm smile and fiddled in her seat the next second. Catherine smiled at this since her friend was pregnant with her second child and was due to deliver in the early spring next year. Despite being only six months pregnant, the baby tended to kick her insides like no tomorrow.
Godfrey waited until dinner had finished to set a heavy knapsack on an empty chair close to his family. With food filling almost two tables, he knew there would be seconds in minutes so he decided to gift presents to his kids now. Samuel had been leaning out of his chair with an empty plate in hand that needed refilling but Godfrey drew him back in as he began, "Now, I know some of you are a little glum because Amelia and Caroline aren't here-"
"I've never heard of no Caroline" Elizabeth pouted heavily to ignore the topic completely because she missed her oldest sister dearly. Why couldn't she have taken her too? They could've been the Burnett sisters of the high seas! Instead, she'd been abandoned at home to deal with her chores and learning. Here she was, dressed in a horrid calico pink dress to play an ideal lady while her sister was probably running around like Connor wielding a sword onboard a ship.
Alice shushed her for the mean comment and to hear their father speak. Elizabeth couldn't chastise her little sister who loved everyone no matter what they did.
"You opened our presents earlier today so I decided to wait to give you a few more" Godfrey explained to his children since the year hadn't been the most happy for their family. As proud as they were of Amelia, she had left their homestead and had begun her new life alone. Despite Caroline's way of leaving them, she'd also made her decision. His blue eyes twinkled as he informed his four remaining children, "Amelia sent a few gifts for you bairns to make up for the absence."
Catherine's cheeks flushed quickly to hearing that Amelia had bought presents and she sighed, "Oh, I told that girl to save her coin after everything she went through for her licensing."
"And so did Caroline" he added in to surprise his wife and he patted her shoulder to calm her flustered expression.
This time, Catherine's face clouded over in disbelief since she'd only had letters months ago dated from September. As if he'd read her mind, Godfrey pulled out several envelopes wrapped in twine to keep them together and he handed them to her with a kind smile, "These letters are for you, Kate. I made sure there's nothing foreboding and our girl is doing just fine down south."
Catherine practically ripped the letters from his hand as if they were treasure and placed them in the pocket of her dress. She would read them in private later to see the update on her daughter's life. They were the only connection to her and she kept them safe in a box at home underneath her bed for safekeeping.
Godfrey handed out the gifts from Amelia first which were bright colored organza bags of peppermint candy for all the young ones. Martha considered herself a grown-up so she took only one stick and handed the rest over to Alice and Ann, who were more than happy to take it. Elizabeth suckled on one end of a stick, holding it like a cigar between her fingers and told her sister bluntly, "You're a prude."
"Elizabeth Jane Burnett" her mother spoke sternly to stop such talk between the sisters. Caroline's leave had given way for a rebellious nature from Elizabeth and without her eldest siblings around to diffuse it, she refused to listen to Martha. Even Catherine was having trouble reining her in and it fell to Godfrey as the disciplinarian to stop her stubbornness.
Elizabeth quieted down when she saw the remainder of her siblings frowning at her. Oh, fine! She'd broke peace for tonight. Godfrey handed paper-wrapped packages to Martha, Elizabeth, Alice, Sam, and Ann. Catherine's lips pressed into a thin line but her cheeks flushed when he handed her a package as well. She would have to write a thank you letter to her daughter and advise her to save her money from now on. Amelia had to think about her future now and couldn't spent her savings on them. She didn't require gifts at her age but appreciated having a daughter that cared for her after leaving home.
Samuel ripped his package open in seconds to reveal a small-scale merchant ship and he held it up proudly. That's exactly what he needed to add to the model ship of the Aquila to begin forming a little fleet. He was due to start leaving toys behind once he reached his first decade but model ships could be collected well into old age. Elizabeth frowned slightly at her gift because she wasn't the feminine type but knew Amelia had the best in mind. Catherine practically beamed at seeing the lavender hair ribbons and white wool stockings for the winter. For her parents' sake and Amelia's kindness, she plastered a smile on her face. Alice peered down at a vocabulary book to help her learning and blushed at seeing pink hair ribbons. Ann held up her own little set in blue and Alice laughed merrily since they always received similar gifts. Martha was pleased with her gift as a canary yellow muslin handkerchief rested in her box- a ladylike gift. Catherine opened her wide but flat package to reveal green calico fabric so she could sew new clothes and Godfrey received a new black tie.
"It seems she wants her old boban to look sharp" he laughed jovially as he held the satin tie to his throat. He would never dress like a middle-class man of the city, preferring the comfortable attire of the country, but he'd do so when visiting his daughter. He wouldn't want her employers to think he wasn't educated properly.
Catherine ran her fingers over the pretty green calico decorated with white flowers and sighed, "That daughter of mine."
"It's so soft, I love it" Martha squealed to her first grownup gift and held the kerchief close. If her mother made her a new skirt, it would match beautifully.
Elizabeth blew her fashion fantasy bubble by grinning to tease, "Can I blow my nose in it?"
Before the two began to squabble across the table, Godfrey cleared his throat to say, "Now, Caroline sent a few things for you too. Unfortunately, she couldn't wrap them like Amelia's so forgive her on that one."
He handed Alice the first gift as it laid on the top and his youngest girl beamed happily for another gift. The brunette gazed down at a brown leather-bound book, opening it curiously and smiled with glee to discover a pressed flower on the first page. It was a beautiful white flower with pointed delicate ends and a yellow pollenated center. She smiled widely at seeing Caroline's writing on the inner cover and she read slowly, "For Alice. This is a . . . coll . . . collect-shion . . . um. . ."
Catherine leaned over to help her daughter read the words and traced her fingers over her eldest's writing, "This is a collection of flowers I've found in my travels. I want you to see what I've seen so may this be the start of many flower collections for you. With love, Caroline."
Alice sniffled to being remembered by her sister, wherever she was, and murmured fondly, "She remembered I like flowers."
Sitting close to Alice, Catherine handed her youngest daughter a blue handkerchief. Alice quickly grabbed it with appreciation and dabbed the inner corner of her eyes since she missed her sister. Oh, she was a lucky girl for having a sister send her a new book for her little collection and another that pushed for her education.
Godfrey handed Elizabeth a palm-sized conch shell that was pristine without scratches. The young girl was too proud (and hurt) to read the note attached to the protective paper and Godfrey handed it to his wife to be read aloud, "For Elizabeth. I'm sorry I couldn't take you on this adventure, I wanted to keep you safe. It's rumored that you can hear the sea with this conch shell which I found close in the Spanish colonies. I hope we'll travel the sea together one day but for now, you can hear the sounds that I do."
"I don't need no silly shell" she snapped indignantly and moved to throw it across the room. Her heart was angry for being left behind but her mind reminded her that despite everything, her sister thought of them. She hadn't forgotten her. Her fingers tightened over the conch but her arm lowered as she lost the gumption to hurl it in public. Crossing her arms, she withdrew from the conversation entirely.
Catherine shot her stubborn daughter a firm look but Elizabeth avoided her gaze, feeling the disapproval, and the redheaded teen slunk in her chair. Godfrey sighed to their daughter's temper, being reminded of their oldest, and he removed another paper protected item with Martha's name on it. The brunette quickly opened it, curious to see what her eldest sister had sent her from wherever she was. They hadn't left in the best of terms but she still cared for her wellbeing.
She smiled at seeing a wooden trinket box to store her jewelry and ran her fingers over frosted stones decorating the top lid. Marvelous, it almost resembled glass! Opening the box, she smiled modestly to seeing a little paper note and read it aloud to her family, "To Martha. You've always been eager to be a young lady so I figured a box like this was suitable. The stones are called sea glass which the sea brings to the land, polished like glass in an exquisite form I've never seen. I wanted to share this with you."
Her voice wavered at the end as guilt struck her for criticizing Caroline's adult view of the world. While she dreamed of a nice home in the city and being a lady of good standing, Caroline simply wanted to explore the world. She judged her as a peasant for it and even worse when she began courting Connor and both were no longer in Davenport or close to each other. If she ever saw her sister, she would make amends for her words.
Samuel tapped the table with his palms in excitement to what Caroline must have sent him. His father laughed merrily to his bright eyes and expectant smile since he was the only sibling imagining adventures for his sister rather than chastising her choice. Godfrey handed the young boy a blue bandana cap that held sewn areas with blue thread and inside, he saw a round ball of bundled paper along with a rolled-up piece of paper. Curious about the items, Samuel opened the ball of paper to find a small golden-gray mineral rock and he blurted the first thing that came to mind, "She sent me gold! I am her favorite!"
Elizabeth's head snapped instantly to this and she demanded, "Whatcha mean you're her favorite?! She wouldn't send you gold, that's crazy!"
When she reached over to grab the small ore, Samuel swiped it into his hands protectively to shield it from sight and exclaimed, "It's mine!"
Godfrey clapped his hands to calm his children before gold claimed another family (not that he believed Samuel's claim at all). Samuel pouted out of worry his gift would be taken but Godfrey grabbed the other piece of paper in the bundle to open it. A sailing map greeted his view as it outlined the thirteen colonies and further down, outlined the French and Spanish territories.
"Ooh, a map!" Samuel gasped with delight so now he could claim he had a sea voyaging map. Well, if anyone ever asked him that.
Martha caught writing behind the paper her father held and spoke up, "Boban, I think Carrie wrote on the back."
Flipping it over, Godfrey indeed found her daughter's scribbles and attempted to read her cursive writing, "To Sammy. I've sent you a cap . . . that I've used to gore a ship- wait, that's not right. Kate?"
He handed the paper to his wife with a frown since he'd given it a try but his eldest girls had a knack for long fancy words. Everyone at the table chuckled and Terry comforted his friend with a laugh, "Is all right, Godfrey. You can't expect to know everythin'."
Catherine quieted her chuckles before correcting her husband's reading, "I've sent you a sailor's cap that I've used onboard a ship to travel the high seas. When I return, our caps will match but, in the meantime, hold your toy ships steady at port back home. Before you start dreaming, that isn't actual gold-"
"Aw!" he groaned dejectedly as his fantasy of being a rich sea captain died in less than five minutes. Elizabeth snickered as her assumption was right and Samuel crossed his arms to glare at her.
His mother ignored his fussing and continued to read the note, "It's called fool's gold but I figured I'd send a fake so you'll be able to tell real gold apart when you do come across it. I've yet to find a peg leg but if I do, you'll receive it in the post. I also added a map of the eastern coast so you can see all the places sailors travel but don't follow my example. Listen to mother and father."
Catherine gave her son the map since he was eager to play with his new trinkets from the sea. Godfrey emptied the satchel by handing out two medium sized wrapped boxes to Terry and another to Catherine. They were tied with blue ribbon and silver paper concealed their contents. The two opened the presents to find decorated candy boxes from a popular Boston store and inside, a variety of candies were nestled.
"It seems Amelia and Caroline put in this order before our seafaring girl headed out" Godfrey informed them since he'd been surprised to have the boxes delivered at his store. He'd figured it had been an error until he saw the names.
Ann and Samuel jumped for their parents' boxes but Diana and Catherine tucked them away for safekeeping. They didn't need energetic children at that hour of the evening and the colorful candies would fare better as displays when company came over. Terry ran a hand over his head and reassured his friends, "The girls will be fine, Godfrey, they always have. If anything, it'll be us needing their help before we know it."
Corrine saw the quiet Burnett family as the Galloways tried to cheer them up with jokes. Diana smacked her husband playful when he joked that she was expecting twins by the fast rate her belly was growing. The innkeeper walked over to the long table to stand between Catherine and Godfrey, ushering them to stand with a happy smile, "Come now, it's Christmas time. This is one evening where you can forget about your cares and enjoy those at your side."
From across the other table, Myriam lifted her half-filled mug of ale and cheered, "Yes, it's a time to celebrate! The ales will help!"
"And pie, you can't say no to pie" Norris agreed jovially since he managed to nab a seat next to her without being refused. He had come to a new land and although he was kicked around in the cities, he was happy with his new life in Davenport. He had a home, a profession, and new friends as he glanced around the room.
Catherine managed a smile at their infectious mood and nodded at Corrine. Tapping the table with her fingers, she looked to her children and suggested, "All right, let's get you some hot chocolate and peppermint candy to drop in."
Corrine had never seen children run so fast to the front of the tavern with Catherine hot on their tail.
A/N: After having a forced hiatus on this story, I gained a renewed interest for it and have been typing chapters for the past few weeks to continue it. A lot of readers still PM me and I notice the story statistics as well so I wanted to restart it since I am rather fond of this story. So we're ending the year 1774 for the people in Davenport and the year 1775 will roll in with the next chapter as Caroline continues traveling the high seas but hits a bump when she runs into her assassin partner on the docks. We still have a lot of battles for Connor to handle and I'm currently about to start writing the Battle of Bunker Hill chapter (three chapters after this) since both will be in it in separate parts of Boston.
Next Time: Both the Aquila and Invincible dock in North Carolina. . .
As Caroline stacked crates in the early morning for their new inventory, she caught sight of a familiar navy tricorn hat with gold trimmings that stood above the rest. With most workers hunched over as they counted and stacked crates, it was easy to distinguish the grunts from the captains. This one in particular was finely dressed, in her opinion. Her eyes blinked a few times to make sure it wasn't a mirage or fogginess from leftover dreams that morning. It couldn't be, could it? Her heartbeat skipped a beat to the mere idea and she shoved her nerves aside. She raised her head to gain a better view over the crates and her lips parted in surprise when she spotted Ratonhnhaké:ton walking by the docks.
He was here.
He was here!
She could only squeeze closer to the rows of crates and peeked over the side to ensure she wasn't hallucinating. It was simply unfathomable to her that it would happen here of all places and her face broke into a fond smile. No, she couldn't imagine the contours of the handsome uniform hugging his frame and his face was undeniably the same. He couldn't look more handsome among the others with his tall confident gait and she wondered why he was there. Was he looking for her or was it a mere chance of coincidence?
I really hope it's the latter, she thought worriedly because she wasn't ready for her adventure to end.
She could only watch him leave to avoid being seen but she longed to hold him. She'd missed hearing his voice most of all. How had her leave affected him? It had torn her heart to leave her family and the one she loved but she'd made her choice. There could be no apologies for leaving that kind of wound, only guilt. Her travels had instilled enough camaraderie, adventure, and danger to last a decade so she was ready now to call it a last trip. If she managed to live to their docking trip to Boston, she would consider her return to Davenport.
"What caught your interest?"
Jumping nearly a foot in the air, she turned to find Duncan staring in the same direction. How long had he been there?! Quickly, she stammered incoherently as she turned around to find that Ratonhnhaké:ton was gone. He'd been a beautiful and unreachable mirage for her, leading Caroline to sigh softly before suggesting, "I . . . just the fish."
Thank you for reading! :)