Music Inspiration: Lorne Balfe- "The Battle of Bunker Hill"
The Battle of Bunker Hill
17 June 1775
The tense peace in Boston had been shattered by thunderous cannon fire, decimating the northern side of Charlestown by the British. Their ships controlled all access to the harbor, pushing back the Patriots and their allies from entering the city by water and hindering ground efforts. Ships were forced to dock elsewhere for the time being, forcing medical aid, food, and weapons to be stalled for the town. Civilians were forced to flee or seek shelter in the middle of the brutal siege that tore through their community.
The Invincible was scheduled to dock in Boston that day but had been forced to dock elsewhere once they caught sight of the cannon fire. They couldn't risk tackling British troops and losing more lives in the process, pushing them to move back to a safe docking area. The faint noise of cannon fire had become familiar to Caroline and she'd flown to the deck to investigate, forgoing her small lunch.
She could see two mighty frigates in the horizon as the Invincible headed south to dock. Cannonballs were seen as they hurled into the town but they were too far away to see where they landed. Caroline wasn't keen on seeing it either but remained glued to her spot to the unfolding events. What was going on? Why were they attacking? The speed of the ship was fast as they hastened to dock soon, not only to finish their journey, but for news.
Whenever she'd docked in the colonies, she'd inquired for news at ports but everything appeared to remain the same. The crown still desired control and dominance over the colonies, which they were not relenting to anytime soon. Being out at sea had left her out of updates on that growing conflict but it appeared she returned to a town at war. Her hope was that it hadn't reached Davenport and left their homestead in peace.
"Bartlett!"
She jumped in the air at hearing her name, turning around to see who had called her. Nobody around her acknowledged her but soon, she heard from above, "Bartlett!"
Oh.
The navigation officer, who was perched at the observation platform at the top of the main mast, had called down to her. From up above, everything was visible to the officer as he kept strict watch on everything from the crew, the ship, the sea, and the land. It was the only position she found interesting onboard a ship and he hollered down, "Go below deck unless you want to dock with hunger and start unloading cargo."
Right, she'd abandoned her lunch to investigate. It was best to have a full stomach before heading back to work or having a fight on your hands, so she listened. She darted back downstairs to finish her meal quickly because this would be the most anticipated docking at port.
Finding the empty spot where she slept on the second deck, she found her belongings stashed in the small shelf lining the entire side of the ship. It served to store the crew's belongings during the day when they required space to run the ship efficiently. Caroline fished out a wrapped bundle to unfold her pieces of bread and aged cheese to begin nibbling on it again. She needed to shovel her food down out of concern for the cannon fire laying siege to who knows where. Boston was their main docking port, mainly the north, so to be blocked off filled her with dread. Amelia was housed in north Boston and if anything dangerous was occurring at that moment, she needed to know about her little sister.
She had a foreboding premonition that this would be a long day so she'd need the energy. At the same time, she ensured her belongings were all bundled together. Her leather sack containing her private keepsakes was tied around her rolled bedroll, which was wrapped around her looted sword. If she had to hop the ship for any reason, she wanted to be ready. With her sister living in Boston and her father's business also stationed there, she was worried for them. Also, if the frigate decided that bombing their next dock was ideal, she would also be prepared to abandon ship.
When she felt the ship lurch to an abrupt halt, it was the signal that the ship was docking. It hadn't taken very long to find the closest open port since Boston was a bustling port city for colonial and international trade. The size of the Invincible also made it easier to cover distance compared to small merchant ships. Caroline wiped the crumbs on her hands over her trousers and marched herself right back to the top deck to figure out what was going on.
The bow of the ship faced the other side of Boston's harbor while the left side of the ship rested close to the dock. Ropes were being thrown towards the dock by deckhands so port workers could grasp and tie them to the wooden posts on the docks to help anchor the ship. Caroline managed to find an opening between the working deckhands to peer down at the dock. She could see a large mass of people wandering about, none too happily, as ships lined the dock to the brim.
What was going on? Not only were merchants, traders, and immigrant ships docked, but it also seemed colonists were running around. She waved her arms frantically for attention to seek answers and met the gazes of the port workers as they pulled the ropes tightly towards the dock. Once eye contact was established, she continued to wave her arms and called out to inquire, "What's happening down there?"
"Charlestown is under siege by the redcoats" one of the men replied as they wrapped their rope in a tight quick-release knot. As he moved to help the other workers with their ropes, he informed, "Every ship headed north has been trying to find a free dock since morning."
The blood in her veins froze to the words as Amelia came to mind, remembering her last visit to her in that quadrant. Was she safe? Had she returned to Davenport? The other crew onboard with her took interest in the conversation and she demanded, "What about the civilians? Is that why the docks are crowded?"
"They're evacuating but there will be heavy casualties with all that cannon fire" he replied to unveil the severity of the situation from the north. Everyone was in a bustle at the docks in multiple directions, leaving Caroline to wonder if they were visitors or residents. Was Amelia among them somewhere? Or was she still within the town? The workers finished tying the ropes to secure the ship to the dock and she bit down on her lower lip with anxiety. What could she do with this situation?
"It's a madhouse out here, boys" another worker informed the crew since the escalating situation drew curiosity from all incoming ships. Some of those ships had sailors that lived in that city so that was the quickest way to spread the news. A nod was sent their way as he added one last piece of ominous news, "It doesn't look good."
Caroline's sense of family overpowered her thirst for adventure and she needed to know whether Amelia was safe. She quickly excused herself under the premise to prepare for the docking and unloading of cargo. For once, she paid no attention to questions as she scrambled to the lower bunk levels to grab her belongings. She'd traded so many items that she'd brought along from day one that her pack had practically been reduced to nothing. On the upside, it made it easier to carry with the lack of feminine clothes, traps, and food. It was tricky to conceal her bedroll so she angled the bulky roll to prevent having it seen on the way up. She kept her backside towards the edge of the staircase to slide on by and resurface on the deck.
As soon as she was on the top deck, she scrambled to the edge to see whether the boarding platform had been placed. Seeing that it hadn't, she looked to the ropes that were tied on the posts on dock to help the anchoring of the ship. She wasn't ready to wait until the all clear was given and pulled a washrag from her trouser pocket. Aveline and Duncan had given her quite a few tips about hasty escapes, leading her to hop onto the side of the ship. She stuck close to the start of the quarterdeck in a crouch to remain tucked away from sight as she slowly moved to find the nearest rope.
A-ha!, she thought with success as she spotted one to the left, further away from the crew. She needed to get out quickly and sneakily to avoid being stopped by anyone.
A few complaints about safety echoed from behind when she placed the cloth over the descending rope and tightly grasped both ends into her hands. Her heart began to hammer against her rib cage for what she was about to do but all she could think of was her sister. She might've run off for the thrill of adventure but her family was her heart. What was the point of making memories if she would have nobody to share them with? Without daring to glance down, she jumped off the side of the ship that spelled safety and propelled down the rope with blinding speed.
For a brief minute, everything blurred into a myriad of colors and she prayed the heat created from her momentum wouldn't tear the cloth in half. The other half of her mind was praying that she'd make it to the other side in one piece. When the wooden dock quickly rose to meet her, she released one hand to fall into the cold water to avoid a collision. Drowning from a head concussion was not in her books for today and quickly kicked her feet to resurface. The seawater felt like ice against her skin compared to southern waters, even though it was summer, but she broke through to gasp in air to replenish her lungs. She didn't know how deep the Atlantic Ocean was and wasn't planning on finding out anytime soon. She swam a few strokes to make it onto the dry dock, grasping the rough wood with both hands to lift herself upwards. With the flurry of people wandering the docks, nobody paid her much attention and those that did figured she was a dock worker that accidentally fell into the sea.
Shit, the crazy things I do in life, she thought to her sudden bravery to jump ship and head into a chaotic township.
Although Caroline was drenched completely like a wet cat, she carried on her way through the crowd to create distance between herself and the Invincible. She could hear commotion from the ship after jumping and hoped they assumed she drowned out of clumsiness. She hadn't been paid yet for the latter half of the journey so they were practically getting free labor out of her. She'd promised to carry out her responsibilities, per her contract, but she needed to find her sister first. Her lean and taller frame came in handy for weaving through the heavy crowds as she headed north. Despite her compass being wrapped up in her belongings, it was easy to find north based on the faint cannon fire that could be heard whistling in the distance.
The next problem to tackle was finding a quick way into Charlestown to find Amelia. The question was: How? Wagons would undoubtedly be prevented from entering danger as well as ships. She didn't want to tackle walking on foot for hours but if she managed to find a suitable alternative. . .
Heading away from the busy docks, she snuck away from that area altogether to pile into the streets of Boston. They were practically empty except for those leaving or arriving and some residents were seeking shelter in their homes. Surprisingly, the taverns were still open. It figured the calamity of a destroyed community would bring more restless souls to the bar to drink their cares away. Still, it offered Caroline a chance of opportunity because of the mode of transport that frequented such locations.
Horses.
Most horse posts were stationed in front of establishments but there were some people that left them wherever they wished. Sides. Rear. Random store post. You name it. She kept an eye out for a lonely horse tucked out of the way as she crossed her damp arms to rub them for warmth. Despite it was summertime in Boston, being drenched with seawater didn't help when her clothes were triple her size. Droplets rained behind her to leave a trail and when she stopped for a few seconds to readjust her sloshing shoes, puddles were left at her feet. As she made her way into the interior of east Boston, random looks were thrown her way but she didn't care. Her eyes were focused on a horse left behind or without someone keeping an eye on it.
As she shivered on her way down the street, she noticed a gray quarterhorse loosely tied to a lantern post beside the public street. The owner hadn't bothered to use a horse post for visitors but risked the safety of the animal with oncoming traffic. The horse didn't look better off either as she'd seen healthier horses along the way, but their owners had been keeping an eye on their steeds.
Caroline slowed her pace and quickly darted her eyes around the area to scope out any potential owners. If she approached the horse and was caught, she'd leave a hefty trail of waterdrops in her wake. She couldn't risk being exposed and slowly inched closer to the horse under the premise of wringing out her sailor's cap. The horse's big brown eyes studied her curiously and Caroline could see their long tail swish gently in welcome. Oh, how long had they been alone?
She expected someone to come running when she stood less than a foot from the horse. Given how horses could easily be stolen in cities, owners had to be cautious if they prized their companions. Her eyes remained locked on the equine to convey a sense of trust and they neighed with interest. She wasn't certain whether it was a mare, stallion, or gelding, but if they were friendly, she was game.
"Hello there, would you like to take a trip?" she asked sweetly as she began to quickly untie the leads from the post. The nerves of heading straight into destruction tied her stomach into knots but the guilt of leaving elsewhere without knowing about Amelia won. She wouldn't place the animal in danger either and if they all survived, she could give it to Ratonhnhaké:ton for training. The poor horse looked as if it needed quite a few meals to regain its normal weight and Davenport could provide plenty of that. If it didn't manage to escape her in the aftermath, she could even give it to Elizabeth.
Look at me, I'm already planning for home, she thought with disbelief as her protectiveness over her family surged. She'd just gotten off a ship that she'd lived on for a year but discovering the whereabouts of her sister was more important.
Thankfully, the horse was as tame as could be (leading her to believe it was a gelding) and Caroline patted the flat plane of its forehead to return that attention. This caused the horse to neigh softly as they leaned into it and Caroline smiled widely. Yep, this would do. Approaching the horse's left side, her hand trailed along its shoulder and flank to reassure them of her benevolence. The horse wasn't abandoned entirely since it still held a half-decent saddle and she hopped up without issue. It had been a year since riding Sophia but Caroline fell into it easily once she gripped the reins to steer the horse on the north road to Charlestown. The gray horse was happy for the freedom and happily trotted down the street with Caroline on its back.
The half-empty streets made it easy for her to ride the horse without problem. The openness triggered her daring streak and like a wild horse herself, she loosened the reins and allowed the horse to break into a gallop. Its hooves clacked against the cobblestone road and the wind licked at her damp hair as they headed out of east Boston to the north. She was certain a few people wandering by cursed her to the heavens when she almost plowed into them but she excused herself by using the attack as her reason. With opportunity shining on her, all she worried for was arriving in Charlestown and hoping Amelia had already found safety. Even if she went there for nothing, it was enough for her.
Ratonhnhaké:ton had gone to see Amelia in north Boston before meeting General Putnam to warn her about the impending threat of the British. The master of the house, however, refused to allow him entrance after taking one look at him but reassured him that his household was fine. He hadn't been able to see Amelia herself to confirm the claim but convinced himself that she was in safe hands. After losing Caroline, he didn't want the looming conflicts between the colonists and the crown to affect the Burnetts. Unfortunately, this meant he had to leave Amelia in their care to continue his time critical mission and kill John Pitcairn. When the bombardment began, there was nothing he could do.
One day I'm in Philadelphia and the next, I'm running in a battle towards Boston harbor, he thought dryly to himself and the excitement that was his life nowadays.
The streets were already chaotic enough and as much as he wished to, he couldn't stop to help or save anyone. For the first time, he had to choose saving the many over the few as he headed towards the harbor. His hope was that stopping the ships would bring less casualties than lingering and trying to save the injured, as cruel as it sounded. Debris exploded around every corner and he was forced to jump over fallen bodies to stay on target. Even when he attempted to take alleyways towards the harbor, the collapsing buildings forced him back to the main streets.
This is insane, he thought to the chaos unfolding around him and raised his arms to avoid wooden embers from striking him in the face. Damage to his eyes could end his days as an assassin and he had plenty to do before claiming retirement.
Burning beams fell in front of him and he quickly rolled to the right to avoid being injured. Stumbling onto his feet as the ground shook under him, the store building to his left collapsed as the foundation gave way with a horrid creak. He kept running onwards to avoid shattered glass from piercing his attire and covered his mouth when smoke filtered into the air. The path to the harbor wasn't far but dodging cannon fire and exploding buildings was critical.
He turned left into an area where brick buildings lined the street and he hoped they would hold. Wooden buildings were either burning or shattered into splinters, filling the air with their smoky demise. Ratonhnhaké:ton kept running north to reach the harbor but his speed was no match against a horse when it came galloping straight at him on the street.
"Make way!"
He jumped out of the way like a limber cat to avoid a collision with a gray horse that sped down the street towards the residential division. Ratonhnhaké:ton managed to land against a stack of sturdy crates instead of being trampled or falling onto the glass-littered street. He only had a brief second to stare in a mixture of annoyance and disbelief, glaring at the careless rider on the horse's back.
Was that a sailor?
"Sorry!" a high-pitched voice called back with apology, sounding nothing at all like a sailor.
Ratonhnhaké:ton quickly shook his head to gather his bearings and forgot about the bothersome hiccup. If he hesitated at all, his life would be in danger from the bombardment and more lives would be lost by his stalling. Resuming his pace, he turned right past the brick buildings to head into the harbor freight area that would lead him to the docks. He managed to avoid the British troops guarding the area by ducking behind cargo crates and barrels. His agility was no match for their vigilance as he slipped behind a large stack of barrels and saw no opposition between him and the open sea. Running quickly down the platform of the empty dock, he managed to find the perfect spot to dive into the ocean to slip between both frigate ships.
Cold, very cold, he thought with discomfort since the free run from Bunker Hill built up heat and splashing into the Atlantic Ocean was the total opposite. Still, he had a mission to complete.
While Ratonhnhaké:ton swam into Boston's harbor to stop the enemy ships, Caroline sped through the demolished streets littered with debris and smoke. There had been no question she was inside Charlestown when residents screamed on their exodus from the township, clutching their belongings, as cannonballs ripped into the buildings. She'd seen schoolhouses, stores, churches, and homes in decimated shambles as a single cannon destroyed years of work in mere seconds.
Her horse friend hadn't given in to the fearful chaos and followed her signals as they galloped through town. Wooden posts and wall debris fell into the street from the dilapidating buildings, causing her horse to hop and quickly bypass the sudden obstacles. Fortunately, they avoided running over any unfortunate civilians that happened to pop into view. She didn't want anything harming her new horse and kept a strict eye on the unstable buildings. The bang of cannonballs being shot from the navy frigates tensed every muscle in her body and the incoming whistling of each cannonball set her nerves ablaze. Her skin had broken in goosepimples from the fear that one would strike them or an area close to them to bring a short end to their lives.
"We got this, horsey" she promised as she kept talking to her four-legged companion the whole way. It was a habit she'd learned from Ratonhnhaké:ton as he treated all domesticated animals with respect.
They weren't far from Amelia's home but the destruction of Charlestown was making it unrecognizable by the hour. She'd wrapped a blue kerchief around her lower face to prevent breathing in the fumes from ongoing fires as the smoke in the air stung at her eyes when they headed further into town. The wind from the marina and the sun's heat had practically dried the wet sailor along the journey so now, she had to make sure not to overheat in the chaos.
Her horse skidded to a sudden halt as burning barrels rolled down the right side of the street, effectively blocking her path. They had been catapulted from the forces of the cannonballs and Caroline quickly guided her horse to the opposite street to escape that area. She wasn't risking her horse jumping over that and who knew what they contained. Thunder erupted in her ears as cannonballs crashed into another building nearby, crushing it like paper, and she could hear more screams follow in its wake.
It was horrible as it send shudders down her spine and Caroline hoped in her heart that Amelia had abandoned Charlestown for home. The attack had started before she'd arrived at port so her sister had to have escaped already, right? Why else would she remain there? Hopefully, she was on a fool's errand and could let the horse nudge her in annoyance for sending it into a danger zone.
Caroline took the detour for two blocks and her stomach fell as every home in the area had suffered heavy damage. If the cannon fire had reached this area, what had happened to Amelia's current home? Shattered glass lay on the road and she directed the horse to avoid most of it, keeping them safe from the debris. Ceilings had caved in on most homes and she shivered at the force of the weapons the British held that could demolish people's home like a paper bag. The Invincible had used cannons in combat but they were always directed at another ship, never a mainland where civilians lived.
Making a sharp right, she arrived into the dusty street that held the gated two-story home of Amelia's employers. The white house had gaping holes in the ceiling as half of it caved inwards, the windows shattered on the upper level. The first floor remained untouched, along with its fencing as the gate lay open, and she leapt off her horse to approach the two heavy columns of the porch. She led the anxious horse onwards and prayed they wouldn't be killed by a stray cannonball. The dreadful booming sound could be heard far off to the left now, towards the hill, and she wondered if its trajectory was changing. If it was, she hoped it was towards the outlying forests or that it was ending.
Caroline rubbed the horse's forehead to comfort them and promised she'd return as she tied the leather leads over one column. The horse's hooves clacked against the wooden porch but she vowed to be quick to save herself and the horse. The main door was surprisingly ajar and it didn't fill her with confidence. Her best case scenario at this point was that her sister had escaped, rather than the ominous quiet that lurked around her.
She stepped inside the silent home quickly, her footsteps causing the floorboards to creak. Overhead, she could see dust falling between the torn floorboards from the sustained damage and the orange sun (shrouded by the smoke and clouds) filtered in through the shattered ceiling. Her heart hammered along her chest as she regained her voice to call out loudly, "Is anyone here? Does anyone need help?"
Caroline hopped over toppled furniture, noticing that the home was untouched as if nobody ever left. For her parents' sake, she hoped they had. She passed the dining room, or what remained of it, as the second floor had collapsed into it. Heading for deeper into the darkened home, she hollered again if anyone was there. She opened closed doors, pulling on several knobs to wrench it open, to inspect if anybody lay unconscious but her search was in vain.
Running a shaky hand over her forehead, Caroline was beginning to suspect that they had gotten out. There were no suspicious blood stains or discarded belongings bag along her path. Her right foot got caught in a wrinkled carpet and she yelped in surprise as her nerves were shot, causing her to clutch her chest. For a moment, she'd expected to see a bloody hand grabbing her ankle but quickly wiped away that horrid idea. She leaned against the nearest interior wall to stay clear of the windows and ran her hands over her forehead, "Shit, what a day."
Her heart skipped a beat when she heard a cry for help, "Hello?! Anyone! Please help me!"
She recognized that voice and clearly hadn't imagined hearing it. It was from inside the house but it didn't sound as if it was close by on the first floor. She lowered the kerchief off her face to avoid muffling her voice, pushing it below her neck. Placing her hands over her mouth, it helped to project her voice as she yelled, "Amelia!"
Caroline's heartrate sped up again in expectation to hearing her voice again. Instead, she heard faint sobbing and she shot towards the center of the house where the main staircase stood for access to the dilapidated second floor. If Amelia was there, Caroline had to act quickly. She scrambled over shattered porcelain and toppled furniture to return to the large staircase. Testing the wooden steps for security, they simply creaked and she ascended the stairs as she yelled desperately, "Amelia! Where are you?!"
Caroline shouted her sister's name frantically as she headed for the pained voice, hearing the dreaded callback, "Help! Please!"
It was distinctly on the second floor and Caroline ran the entire flight in seconds to reach her. Debris littered the east wing of the home as a gaping hole created a direct skyline to view the clouds of smoke billowing in the horizon. Caroline shielded her eyes with a hand as the brightness irritated her vision after lurking in the darkened first floor. She treaded through wooden debris from the fallen roof as she passed expensive furniture that lay in shattered pieces at her feet. The once beautiful home that had been filled with rich goods was now nothing more than a skeletal remain.
She heard grunting from one of the open doors off to her right, away from the horrid remainder of the east wing. Caroline slowed her pace because nearing the unsteady floorboards of the ruined second floor set her on edge. She'd survived a year out at sea, escaping a ship, stealing a horse, and heading straight into Charlestown so she was not risking injury now. As she tuned her hearing for Amelia's voice, she also noted that the dreaded cannon fire had stopped for the past few minutes. She hoped that was a good omen for the residents of Charlestown.
Wooden splinters lined the entrance of the open doorway and Caroline walked into what used to be a study. Bookcases had toppled over, leaving books scattered in heaps across the floor. The ceiling had caved in horribly as well as splintered wood clung to the remaining roof and debris filtered into room. In the center, a small desk lay buried under rubble but Caroline could see a crumpled form underneath it.
"Sister!"
Caroline didn't hold back the fear and concern for Amelia as she found her abandoned in that room. Her legs were trapped under wooden beams and roofing materials while she'd sought shelter under the desk as best she could. Amelia laid curled up on the dirty floor, her blue dress completely soiled from dirt, and her hands covered her head for protection.
With Caroline standing only a few feet away, her voice was clear and distinct. Amelia managed to turn around under her little crawl space and her tearful red-brimmed eyes met hers. Oh no, what had happened to her little sister?
"Carrie?! Is that you?!" Amelia's voice rang out as a restrained sob filled her frightened tone and it twisted Caroline's heart. She rubbed a bruised hand over her left eye to be certain it was her and not a random thief that had come into the house. The person standing before her barely looked like her sister as the lean frame, baggie sailor clothes, and boyish hair concealed the old Caroline. Still, the eyes were a dead giveaway to her best friend and she outstretched her hand to plead, "Carrie, please help me!"
She found her little sister huddled underneath a writing desk as the hardwood furniture supported the broken debris and Caroline kneeled next to her. It was clear to her that she'd crawled under the safety of the desk and she grasped Amelia's hands to squeeze them, noticing bruises and scratches on her porcelain skin. In moments of danger, one clutches for the quickest sense of safety and this was it for her. Tears stained Amelia's scratched face as she winced in her attempt to shimmy out of the desk once more.
"Don't move, I have to get all this off your legs" Caroline instructed to ensure Amelia's wellbeing after everything that happened. She didn't care what splinters she earned in the process since she'd left her gloves with her pack out on the porch. She made quick work of shoving aside the flat wooden trimming from the roof and began removing broken portions of the flat ceiling beams from her legs. They had pinned Amelia's legs from the calves down and the heavy weight didn't go unnoticed by Caroline.
"Carrie, I . . ." Amelia sniffled sadly to being unable to help her sister but Caroline shushed her gently. From their entire childhood, she had been Amelia's protector and Caroline expected her teaching position to mean her role as watcher was over. She'd been horribly wrong by placing trust in the wrong people but she wouldn't disappoint her again.
Amelia blinked with surprise when Caroline lifted the last beam off her right leg without issue, releasing the painful pressure. She couldn't help but whimper to the renewed pain as the heavy weight had practically numbed her leg over the past hours. Splinters from the broken wood had pierced her skin and a clotted red gash had been opened behind her right leg over the calf. Caroline quickly untied her kerchief and wrapped it neatly over Amelia's leg as a makeshift bandage to support her leg and soak up any blood. Grabbing two small flat pieces of wood from the rubble, she placed one over each side to immobilize the limb to prevent further damage. Grasping the edge of her shirt, she ripped a piece of it off and tied it around the makeshift splint to add more support to her injury.
Amelia could only feel pain emanating from her right foot, in comparison to her aching left, and she cried softly, "My foot is broken, I can't walk like this-"
"It's all right, come here" Caroline soothed as she ducked under the desk to pull her from the wreckage and embraced her close. Amelia's sleeves were ripped in several places as her scraped elbows bled and she sobbed openly, not from the pain but for the embarrassment of placing herself in danger. She'd ruined the dress her mother worked hard to make and now, one of her feet was likely broken. Caroline hugged her by the shoulders as the two huddled together, allowing her to cry and get it out of her system. Amelia wasn't like her that could repress a trauma and carry on, appearing as fragile as a child in her arms. Caroline stroked her disheveled hair to reassure her that she wasn't alone anymore and implored, "What happened? Why are you alone, Amelia?"
Amelia bit her lower lip with hesitation as humiliation filled her and she averted her gaze to the floor. Caroline wanted to know why the Bruce's had abandoned her in the middle of an attack. The shameful look on Amelia's bruised face wasn't filling her with comfort either.
"The militia came to evacuate residents during the first strike and we were hit . . . they just left me" she cried softly with disappointment when she realized she meant nothing to them and not worth the risk. According to them, it would've been a different story if she came from a higher social circle. Amelia wiped her eyes to stop her tears, heartbroken to what her dreams had become, and she confessed, "A country girl wasn't worth the effort and they left with their children. The maids and servants were left to fend for themselves. All I could do was scramble to grab my things but when I was ready to leave, another attack tore through the house and I was pinned down."
She broke into another sob for allowing herself to trust others and for thinking she'd get out of Charlestown unscathed. The sound of incoming cannonballs had frightened her into a sobbing mess as she suffered in wait for a cruel end to come. She never expected her eldest sister to come strolling in like a hero from old tales and clung to her with relief, "Oh, Carrie, I'm so happy to see you. Even if we might perish, I'm happy to be at your side."
"So am I, it will be all right" she comforted to quiet Amelia's cries and wiped her eyes like she used to when they were small children. Caroline wiped her own tears as she realized her vision blurred, affected by Amelia's distress. Her mind, however, was determined on escaping alive and she vowed firmly, "I'll take care of you, my sister. Nothing will harm you while I'm here."
"But my foot-" she whimpered since she'd only hinder an escape for them but Caroline shook her head to dismiss her injury. They were both getting out or nobody was. Amelia sucked in a deep breath to calm herself, gazing at the door that spelled potential safety, and asked, "How can we get out of here?"
"Humanity perseveres in the greatest obstacles" Caroline assured firmly to fill her with a little confidence for their next step of the journey and smiled at her. Amelia nodded quietly as she listened to her eldest sister, overwhelmed by relief that she was by her side again. Caroline wrapped her left arm around her sister waist to hoist her slowly to her feet. Amelia held onto her for support as she grit her teeth to push herself off the floor, ignoring the pain shooting up her right leg, and Caroline encouraged, "Lean on me as we get out of here. I might not be strong like papa but I'll try my best."
Amelia hoped she wouldn't weigh her down but Caroline had been lifting heavier objects during her travels. The eldest girl took their steps slowly to leave the crater behind them and Amelia was more than happy to escape the home that had almost become her tomb. The prospect of returning home, even if she had a broken foot beyond repair, filled her with hope. Like Caroline, she missed them terribly and would fight at her best to return. Caroline managed a smile through their tense escape as she reminisced, "I remember hoisting you like this when you were learning to walk. I was so happy that my sister would be able to follow me everywhere and I promised to protect you every step of the way."
Amelia blinked away tears as fate managed to pin them back together and whispered gingerly, "You always have."
They managed to exit the room and Caroline led Amelia closer to the wall for more stability. So far, Caroline managed to play a good crutch as she bore Amelia's shift in weight whenever it was time to act as her right foot. They would need to take it easy and descend step by step on the staircase to reach the first floor. Caroline allowed Amelia to rest against the wall to regain her energy as she removed the red sailor's sash across her waist. It made a great washcloth out at sea but it doubled as a belt for helping to move wounded to the sick bay.
She wrapped it neatly over Amelia's waist to tie it snuggly and explained gently, "A trick I learned onboard my ship to move those with hindered legs."
Amelia nodded quietly for her care and Caroline gripped her by the side again to begin their descent. Amelia held onto the bannister with left hand to bear her weight on it while Caroline handled keeping her right foot immobile. Caroline walked down the first step to secure her weaker side and Amelia took a deep breath before sliding her left foot over the wooden edge to drop onto the next step. The bump jolted the sore muscles in her left leg but she was determined to continue. Caroline had found her and she wouldn't let it be in vain, asking with concern, "Carrie, the streets are a war zone. How will we get out?"
Caroline's face lit up to convey a positive note in all the chaos and she revealed confidently, "I made a friend."
A/N: I hope I gave the mission some justice with the action since Ratonhnhaké:ton and Caroline aren't ready to officially meet just yet but I wanted their views on that day. I didn't want to copy the entire mission playthrough either since I have plans for that in the future when they undergo joint missions. Caroline's started her path to reunions and the next chapter will reunite the young couple after a year to start the next leg of their journey.
Thank you as always for the new story follows and to my last chapter reviewer:
East Coast Captain: Homestead was the best, it allowed you to relax, laugh, and bond with the residents without the worry of failing a main story mission. Connor definitely became the heart of Davenport by protecting his town and watching it grow.
Next Chapter Excerpt:
For the first time since departing Davenport, guilt struck hard for Caroline. She'd left her family to wonder where she was, even to this day, just so she could taste a little freedom. Meanwhile, Amelia had worked hard on her path to teaching and had received a horrible reward for it. She'd left the siblings who looked up to her for guidance and knew in her heart that Elizabeth took it the hardest. While she and Amelia were the best of friends, she and Elizabeth were kindred spirits so leaving her behind cleaved a painful wound. Her parents, who had worked their hands to the bone to provide a home and food on the table, had also had their love shoved back at hem with that abrupt leave. It was a horrible guilt that ate through her heart and clenched her stomach into painful tight knots when she pondered over it. Not to mention, she hadn't even added in the cargo load of regret for casting aside Ratonhnhaké:ton and their relationship. What kind of person would-
"Caroline?"
Her head snapped to the left to that soft familiar voice, half-believing sleep deprivation had caused her to hear phantom voices. Instead, she turned to find Ratonhnhaké:ton standing beside her, his own clothes splattered with dirt in various areas, and she found herself speechless to his arrival. Had he been in the chaos as well? Was he injured? What was he even doing in this part of Boston? He exuded a different image than the confident captain she'd last met as exhaustion lingered in his eyes, his shoulders were hunched, and his voice sounded drained.
Her tired gaze met his after a year of not speaking to him, minus their scuffle in the south, and her old emotions surfaced with the force of a rogue wave upon a ship. His disheveled appearance only served to spike that longing because having Amelia injured was already eating at her. She stood up to embrace him as the day left her emotionally drained and his arrival was a beautiful blessing after missing their familiar faces. Ratonhnhaké:ton looked as if he'd been in battle himself and she detected a faint hint of gunpowder in his clothes. Her fingers grasped the thick fabric of his trademark white and blue long coat, eager to hold him tightly in her arms. Her right hand brushed over the polished wood of his bow and rested on top of his quiver to avoid jostling his weapons.
He merely rested a hand on her upper back to maintain respect and to prevent being chased out for displaying affection to a colonial woman in public. Despite it was nighttime and most of the medical staff was by the entryway to their floor, the concern never left his mind. How he wished he could hold her close for a few minutes and feel the warmth of her skin against his. Nonetheless, he was relieved to find not one, but two, of the Burnett girls. Even if Caroline itched to leave by dawn, he wanted to speak with her just once.
Thank you for reading!