Music Inspiration: Really Slow Motion- "New World Rising" (reminds me of both Carrie & Connor- a solemn piano that uplifts into symphonic greatness as they will in later chapters)
Return to Davenport Homestead
19 June 1775
Amelia was cleared the morning of the aftermath and the girls retreated to their father's store in Boston to recuperate. The small spare room that he built in the rear of the store was enough to house the two girls in one bed but Caroline slept on the floor beside Amelia. She had her bedroll and didn't want to aggravate her splinted leg during the night. They had invited Ratonhnhaké:ton to stay and save him money but he spared them the tightly cramped space by renting a room in the closest inn. Despite Caroline was watching over Amelia, he wanted to keep an eye over the two. With Caroline so close to his vicinity, he didn't want to lose her again if she decided to bail town and put Amelia on the next carriage ride to Davenport. He highly doubted it but . . . he wasn't confident in his assumptions of her anymore.
Caroline, however, was committed to her sister as she refused to budge from her side. She was diligent in changing the dressing over her calf as well as helping her move around to avoid placing weight on her splinted leg. Amelia was more than happy to be beside her family again and allowed the coddling.
In the aftermath of what was now being called the Battle of Bunker Hill, Charlestown residents were returning to rebuild their lives. Infirmaries were still working nonstop to treat the injured civilians and militia that required intensive care, accepting donations from other Boston communities. The militia men that had survived the battle unscathed were now assisting in retrieving any survivors, along with bodies buried under rubble. Boston was now under the control of the colonial militia and Caroline hoped it would stay that way as the revolution for their colonies had now begun.
While Amelia napped at noontime, Caroline had headed out for one more task before agreeing to leave Boston. She found herself standing before the ruins of the Bruce household with her knapsack in hand. Her sister had lost everything in that home, abandoning it for good but Caroline thought otherwise. She refused to have her little sister escape with nothing and would pour through the rubble to find her belongings. If not, she'd resort to the old seafaring rule of 'finders keepers' to ensure her sister had something as compensation for her time there.
Numerous houses lay in ruins and some had started to rebuild what they could. The two-story home, however, was abandoned entirely as the door was left open in the same condition that she'd left it in their haste to escape. An eerie sensation crawled down her spine since she hadn't resorted to sneaking into private homes but her life had been full of first times in one year alone. Stepping inside the dimly lit home, the floorboards creaked under her feet and her head turned in both directions to see if anybody was inside.
When nothing creaked or shifted to her noise, she ventured deeper into the home to begin her search. Looking back over her right shoulder, she called out to give the all-clear, "You can either join me or guard my back."
Ratonhnhaké:ton peeked over the open doorway to peer into the dark home as Caroline stood a few feet away. She gazed at him with amusement in her blue eyes since she'd detected him following her from a block away. It was funny to her, seeing as months ago, the roles had been reversed. He crossed his arms to having his secret trailing thwarted and his footsteps creaked over the floorboards.
"How did you know?" he asked simply as curiosity laced his tone and stepped over broken pieces of what used to be a table. Homes had been destroyed in mere seconds and he was certain that numerous families were grieving for lost spouses, children, and siblings. The Burnetts could have been one if Caroline hadn't abandoned ship and finished her trip.
"I've known you for five years" she reasoned with a warm smile to their bonds from early adolescence. Time had passed quickly for them as they grew from lanky children to confident adults. She could only wonder what the future had in store for them, especially now that her road was heading back home. Turning around to inspect a half-open china cabinet, she added in with a sly tone, "It's when you stop that I'll worry."
He focused his gaze elsewhere as her voice affected him as easily as it had over a year ago. A blush crept over his freckled cheeks but he walked across the room to avoid having her spot that. He was thankful for the debris littering the floor as it echoed her steps through the house. Ratonhnhaké:ton didn't miss the change in attire since he'd grown accustomed to her ankle-length dresses and remarked, "I see you traded your sailor clothing."
"What? You expected to see a lady's dress on me?" she quipped back in amusement and ran a hand through her short boyish hair. Amelia would have a challenge in convincing her to wear lady's clothing when returning home. She pulled back the long sleeves of her tunic to her free forearms for foraging and pointed out, "Men's clothes are far cheaper on my budget."
She snorted under her breath to the constricting stays of women's clothing (not to mention the heavy petticoats) and added in dryly, "They also don't project my bosom for everyone to see."
He had absolutely no idea how to respond to that, opting to stay silent, but she simply smiled cheekily before heading into an empty room. She was right that the current attire was modest with the upper body as the simple tunic hung from her frame. Her trousers, however, were snug and showed off her fit legs since the bell-shaped skirts had hid them from sight. After a year without seeing her, he allowed his gaze to linger momentarily on her backside.
Her voice interrupted his wayward gaze and he darted his sight elsewhere when she called out, "I'm heading upstairs to find her room."
He cleared his throat awkwardly as he moved away from the stairway and pointed to the opposite end of the house, "I'll search this way then?"
Caroline placed her foot at the start of the stairs and glanced back at him with amusement, "Keep a lookout, that's all."
Ratonhnhaké:ton was about to protest that he could be more than a lookout after years of training but Caroline headed upstairs without another word. He figured that she wanted to keep him safe and out of trouble but how bad could a simple look into Amelia's room go wrong? Wait, he shouldn't say that because with his horrid luck, it could pass onto Caroline. He was not used to being the protected one instead of the protector. One the other hand, she didn't know what his true capabilities were. With a reluctant sigh under his breath, he decided to explore the first floor for any interesting books. He wasn't a thief that would sell belongings and books provided information that could comfort Amelia.
Upstairs, Caroline peered through the open doors of the second floor and shook off the lingering emotions from that horrible day. Everything remained the same as the gaping hole of what used to be the roof filtered in sunlight over the wooden floor that remained intact. Amelia had informed her that the room she'd been trapped in had been her study room where she'd educated the children. Her actual bedroom, however, had been located on the opposite end down the hall. It had escaped the bombardment that crushed the servants quarters which was why Amelia lingered behind before the roof began to cave in.
Despite the tweeting of the birds outside, Caroline was unnerved to returning there and was glad she forced Amelia to stay behind at the store. Her little sister had objected to staying but with an injured leg, Caroline easily won their argument. The door to that room was half-ajar and she opened it carefully to ensure nothing collapsed from above. The closet and bathroom door were closed but Amelia informed her that all she wanted was what remained in her old trunk and dresser. The leather trunk had fallen on its side from the tremors and lay open on the floor, its contents long gone except for clothing and a few books. Caroline leaned down to swipe them into her pack before turning to the large dresser in the room. It sat next to the door, its heavy weight preventing it from tipping over but the mirror vanity sitting on top had toppled over, shattering glass all over the floor. She didn't hesitate in carefully bypassing the large shards to approach it.
Caroline hands dove into the ruined dresser as the drawers were exposed, allowing her to fish out clothing. They were Amelia's size and she remembered one of the dresses their mother had designed for her. Running her fingers over the brown fabric, Caroline was struck with melancholy after not seeing her for so long. She didn't care about the weight and emptied everything into her bag to return it to her sister. Anything she could haul back for her, she would, especially if their mother spent hours making it.
In her haste to empty Amelia's bedroom, she left her backside vulnerable since she'd expected to be the only one upstairs besides Ratonhnhaké:ton. She heard footsteps behind her and assumed it was him, closing her bag as the last of Amelia's clothes were removed. Standing up, she was about to turn around to playfully chide her friend for his silence when the back of her shirt was yanked. Ratonhnhaké:ton would never do that to others and she tried to crane her head to see who it was.
A deep voice spoke behind her as their breath struck her ear and she heard, "Sorry, kid, this spot is taken."
Great, a thief. It seemed that with the new world being in development, thieves lurked just about everywhere. The chaos and aftermath of war lured them even more now with the growing conflicts. She refused to lose any of Amelia's belongings but could care less about the Bruce's property. Her fingers tightened over her bag and she inhaled slowly to calm her brewing anger towards the unidentified man. There wasn't fear in her heart this time at facing a thief because she'd protect what was dear to her.
"You're looting my sister's home" she lied coldly to see whether fibbing would have him abandon the house. Rookie looters would flee at any sight of danger but experienced ones were deadly. She refused to give in to any fear at all, despite her disadvantaged stance, and snapped tightly, "Get out."
"You don't look the type to live here" the man scoffed to call her bluff since a sailor's attire contrasted greatly against the fancy home. Caroline's pension would allow her a meager living when compared to the high class that could afford such a grand home. The man's grip on her neck tightened and he ordered briskly, "Drop your stuff."
"Will you kill me if I refuse?" she questioned to show she meant business by staying where she was. After leaving Davenport without a word and causing her family grief, she had to make up for that guilt. Returning Amelia's personal belongings was one step towards that and she shot back firmly, "This is my home, after all."
She was giving him a way out to leave the house and never return but her offer was rejected when she heard, "Yes."
I see, she thought with finality to what he was forcing her to do. So be it.
Her fingers dug fiercely into his wrist to pry his hand away from her neck and she shifted her weight forward to cause him to lose his footing. The imbalance allowed her to swing him to the side since he was too heavy for her to hurl him over her shoulder. Maybe one day.
From downstairs, Ratonhnhaké:ton heard the fumbling footsteps from upstairs and determined it was too loud for one person. Caroline didn't respond when he called her name loudly and that was enough for him to search for her upstairs. Using his special sight to pinpoint her location in the house, he found that there indeed two people rumbling upstairs. Why hadn't he listened to his instinct and let her wander alone? If anything happened to her, it would be his fault for being careless.
As the thief hit the floor on his back, Caroline dug under her loose tunic shirt where she'd hidden her knife in the waistband of her trousers. Although she was back in the bumbling city of Boston, she eyed everyone and everything as a potential threat so she never traveled without it. Before the man could sit up, she dug her left knee into his elbow to release his hold on the knife he'd been holding. Her right knee dug into his chest to bear her entire weight against his sternum and she stabbed her blade into the man's neck on the left. Severing the artery, he bled out in front of her just as Ratonhnhaké:ton ran in to investigate the commotion.
He expected to find Caroline in distress like he had during the break-in with the robber back in Davenport. Instead, he found Caroline with the upper hand as she'd brought the thief's life to an end. She had barely glanced at the man, except to stay one step ahead of his movements, but Ratonhnhaké:ton pegged him at middle-age as he dressed in civilian clothing. She pulled her knife out of the man's neck when his chest stopped rising and closed his eyes in a brief show of dignity to the corpse.
"You killed him" Ratonhnhaké:ton whispered with stunned disbelief to the surprising sight. He'd only seen her act boldly once when two thieves tried to rob them after the thief incident at Davenport and she'd injured one by borrowing his pistol. Caroline was unaffected by her actions in comparison to her old self and she wiped her knife across a blue rug to clean it. Standing up, she sheathed her trusty knife before meeting his shocked gaze.
"I refuse to be intimidated by their likes and nobody steals from my family" she stated coldly because losing Amelia's belongings, the last of her property, to thieves was unacceptable. She would not bow in fear to those who lived from the misery of others and she'd given the thief a chance to back down. Living on the high seas where it could turn deadly in the blink of an eye, Caroline wasn't going to allow a dangerous person to escape and harm an innocent civilian. She'd lived through it once in her home and had lived with self-shame for her fear, resolving to never allow it to consume her.
"A knife is rather aggressive" he said matter-of-factly since it was a close combat and used one's physical strength to end another's life. He'd never seen Caroline fight back on her own without his assistance and much less, take someone's life.
"It's quieter than a pistol" she pointed out simply because it was cost effective and easier for her to use. She was a close-range fighter unlike him since she preferred small weapons to wield rather than long range arsenal. Crossing her arms, she added in nonchalantly, "And you waste no bullets."
Caroline grabbed her knapsack, along with the one the thief had stolen, and headed for the stairs. Opening the thief's pack, she noticed her sister's small jewelry box, wooden figurines, and a few valuable trinkets from her vanity. This would be enough to dull Amelia's heartache and if she could sell the rest, the money could be donated for rebuilding efforts. With her heading back to Davenport to face her past, she had no need for extra money.
"You've changed" his soft but powerful comment struck hard after being apart for a year.
She hesitated in justifying her behavior, pausing at the head of the stairs. True, she wasn't the modest girl out of Davenport anymore as she aimed to maintain fierce control of her destiny. Her core values hadn't changed but just as she'd transformed physically, so had her demeanor. She wasn't going to regress to a soft-spoken colonial girl and expected to see a few bumps in the new road. Hopefully, he wouldn't be one of them.
"We should head back" she replied quietly to avoid that conversation since it needed to be explored in-depth back home. He deserved better than to hear her side in a broken home where she'd taken a life.
When Caroline and Ratonhnhaké:ton returned to her father's lumber store, they accessed her sister's room from the rear of the store. On the way to the store, he'd informed her that her father would begin construction on a second level that would house them for trips to Boston. It removed the need for renting a room for small groups of travelers and they would have complete privacy. The current room housed two at most and with Amelia requiring a bed of her own to heal, the space was smaller. Caroline would be glad to see that extension so if she and her sisters ever wanted to travel for a day or so, they could have an entire floor for themselves.
The sound of wood being pulled from shelves, tied into bundles, or sawed into smaller pieces filled her ears. It meant business was good as orders were either being taken or delivered and she hoped to see her father soon. She expected her mother to give her a tongue lashing but her boban had always understood her rebellious streak. Opening the door to their cozy room, Caroline expected to see Amelia reading in bed.
Instead, her sister's head lay against the side of the wall as she snored away with the book half-open in her lap. Shaking her head with amusement, Caroline motioned for her friend to take a seat in the only open space available- the floor. The space was long enough for her to roll out her bedroll but that was it, leading the two to face each other and lean back against opposite walls.
"I believe this space gets smaller every time I visit" Ratonhnhaké:ton remarked lightly as he glanced around the tight space that only allowed a bed and a night table. He remembered being able to sleep in the small room with Caroline and her father when they all traveled to town together. Now, he could barely stretch his legs without bumping Caroline's.
"We grew up" Caroline reasoned with a bittersweet smile to finally reaching adulthood. She remembered the quiet boy with short hair and deerskin attire while she'd sported long braids and a simple patched ridden dress. They were humble people from simple beginnings but their lives managed to become intertwined. Years later, they were both traveling the colonies independently to live their own lives and she pondered, "Here we are, having just escaped a battle in one piece while five years ago, carving a homestead to build a life was our worry."
Ratonhnhaké:ton reluctantly agreed since five years had changed his life drastically, particularly with the Assassin's Order. He wanted to make a difference in the fairness and equality of all people in the colonies but it would take time to see that change. Quite frankly, he might not even see it in his lifetime but future generations hopefully would. Glancing at Caroline, the colonial girl he'd met in 1770 had also shed her old life as she took to the high seas for adventure.
"We haven't really talked since the night at the infirmary and you're more of a listener" she began awkwardly to begin clearing the air between them and resisted from wringing the ends of her shirt. His gaze was one that penetrated deep into one's bones with varying intensity and she didn't want to leave Boston on negative terms. Being in an enclosed space with him wasn't ideal since he flustered her rather easily but she needed the topic off her chest. Hesitating on how to begin the conversation, she sighed dejectedly and murmured, "I . . . A year is a long time."
"Colonials have a different view of it" he commented since they fretted over schedules and milestones while he was patient with what came his way. He was prone to being hotheaded at times but it came from his desire to help others and diffuse tense situations. Finding Caroline had been a priority of his, for the peace of mind of her parents and himself, and he met her gaze to state, "I knew I'd find you, it was only a matter of when."
"You had no idea that I would be in that infirmary" she pointed out to gently tease his confidence but smiled warmly to that reunion. She'd embraced him for what felt an eternity under the moonlight, wanting to forget the aftermath of the attack, but he'd broken away when a guard came for a perimeter check. Ratonhnhaké:ton said nothing and she averted her gaze from his to fiddle with her shirt again, murmuring softly, "I wanted to speak to you privately back home but I need Amelia to be stable for the long ride first."
He wondered about her truthfulness on returning to Davenport, mainly because she had been eager to leave it in the first place. Until he saw it, he wouldn't believe it. All he could do was convince her that Davenport was improving and instill how much her family missed her. Caroline leaned away from the wall to rest against Amelia's bed, subconsciously guarding her little sister, and he asked, "You will return home?"
She took a deep breath from the nerves of facing her past and glanced at him with uncertainty, "That's if mother doesn't kick me out . . . otherwise, I'm out of luck and it's back to the outdoors."
"I'm very certain that will not happen" he assured her since Catherine was restless in finding her oldest. It was a promise he intended on keeping and tapped his foot against Caroline's when she pouted skeptically. The worry on her face disappeared to make way for delight to the simple shoe tap, appreciating his subtle gesture. Her lips broke into a happy smile for his reassurance and to avoid becoming flustered around her in that tiny room, he tipped his head to take interest in the wooden floor.
"I'm also sorry about the chaos I put you through in North Carolina" she apologized earnestly to the incident that inadvertently reunited them. He received a letter as a consolation while she sported a bump on the head for tailing him. The event was enough to convince her to never be his enemy or risk a broken bone. Tapping his foot with hers to continue friendly banter, she smiled sheepishly and added in, "Mainly the hen and the angry mother."
His brow furrowed because he hadn't seen through her disguise and he prized his acuity. Her ability to conceal her identity and match his pace in a chase were admirable but he wondered if she'd learned everything alone. He'd taught her to track game but the environment of a forest was different than a city landscape. It seemed he would have to be reacquainted with the new Caroline and her hen throwing. Her tactics, although bordering on silly, were efficient in blocking him and he remarked with faint amusement, "You're the first to hurl animals at me, yes."
She sighed with regret for following her mind instead of her heart and admitted glumly, "When I first saw you, all of my emotions from leaving home rolled back and I was happy to see you. I really wanted to approach you but I was afraid you'd drag me to the Aquila. I even tried to follow you but you are extremely good at losing people."
She'd been close to him and he hadn't known at all. Well, he'd suspected her but believing she was a man, dismissed it when she managed to squeeze away. Caroline's large blue eyes were her defining feature, especially now that her long red hair was nonexistent, which was why the hue sparked his uneasiness during the chase. His heart fluttered to her words on his skills and he admitted his thoughts about that day, "I did notice you but apparently, you were not a man at all."
"I was pretty convincing" she smiled impishly and winked at him to make fun of that chase. Ratonhnhaké:ton said nothing but smiled faintly when she ran a hand through her short hair to ruffle it into a complete mess. She might appear different but he could see hints of the old Caroline, especially when she was alongside her sister. Her eyes closed briefly to avoid making light of her abrupt leave and she surprised him by leaning forward to grasp his gloved hands.
Her fingers wrapped around his and he reacted instinctively with his heart by returning the action. The warmth of her skin remained the same but he could feel callouses on her fingers from hard labor. Caroline peered into his brown eyes with lament reflecting from hers and she squeezed his fingers to whisper forlornly, "I might have accomplished my sense of freedom but leaving my life in the past was impossible."
"Don't run away again" he requested with a firm tone, both for his sake and her family, to prevent another disappearance in the future. His heart wouldn't accept it and he was certain that her parents wouldn't either.
"I won't" she promised with a hasty nod since her taste for the high seas was sated. Exploring in the wilderness by herself hadn't been exciting either and if she did attempt another venture, she'd need to have a partner. Otherwise, it wouldn't be worth it.
21 July 1775
The Burnett sisters sat together with a relaxed smile as Caroline watched treetops pass them by. The fresh air was tinged with a woodsy aroma, stirring old memories of home for her. She'd grown used to the sea air for a year and had forgotten what the woods of Davenport smelled like. While Caroline inhaled the comforting scent, Amelia's senses were pushing for a different action. Amelia couldn't help but scratch her injured leg as the wooden splint irritated her skin but Caroline batted her hands gently, "No, sister, leave it be."
"But it's itchy" she complained to the bothersome sensation and used her pinky to quickly scratch the edge of her ankle. Caroline aimed a knowing look since they'd gone over preventing an infection and her little sister stopped, crossing her arms for self-control.
The sisters had hitched a ride on a wagon heading to Davenport from their father's business. It returned to collect the finished orders from the mill so the girls were free to roam in the back of the empty wagon. Caroline figured it would be a nice surprise for their mother and it would save their parents an extra expense. The return home was about four hours via wagon and Caroline had tied the gray horse (which turned out to be a gelding) at the rear so he could journey to his new home. She had donned him the nickname of Brave since he never faltered when galloping through the burning streets of Charlestown. When they arrived home, she'd ensure he had hay, shelter, and running pastures for the rest of his days.
Caroline couldn't help but notice younger trees had grown in the outskirts of Davenport. A year had passed and she hoped that the town hadn't changed completely or she'd be lost. Amelia was more optimistic since she'd been away far longer than her sister and couldn't wait to see the changes. Ratonhnhaké:ton had joined the two sisters to escort them home safely and after partaking in a full-fledged battle, he wanted to go home too. With Amelia's movements being hindered by the splint, he wanted to assist Caroline on their way back in case wildlife or thieves decided to attack them.
He sat across from the sisters on the wagon and idly watched Amelia stretch her right leg. She was not fond of her newest friend. Caroline was in the same boat as she sat up in her seat to tug at the back of her gown, leading Amelia to chide, "Leave it be."
"I've been without this contraption for a year, I crave freedom" she grumbled stubbornly since Amelia convinced her to dress appropriately for a lady to please their mother. For her sake, Caroline listened but she preferred wearing her sailing attire nowadays. Her travels had caused her to lose weight due to the rationed food and gain muscle with the constant exercise. Regardless of the new weight, Amelia managed to tie her into one of her extra stays since Caroline had not taken one with her. From the belongings that had been salvaged, she'd managed to pin Caroline into an extra dress. With Amelia being smaller in waist, Caroline was wedged tightly into her sister's stay and frowned at the fluffy petticoats.
She remembered when she'd been giddy to wear them three years prior but now saw them as cumbersome. Grasping the side of the wagon, she attempted to stand up in an effort to release pressure from her torso from sitting down too long. Even the blue linen bonnet that was strapped to her head was obstructing her vision since Amelia tied it on to hide her short hair. Caroline didn't see the need for it because eventually, their mother would see the changes.
She welcomed the arrival of an old friend in blush form when she felt strong hands encompass her waist. Amelia grinned with amusement to her sister's bewildered face as she resembled a surprised owl. Old feelings hit Caroline with full blast once more when Ratonhnhaké:ton spoke, "Sit down or you might hurt yourself."
His voice worked like magic on her hasty actions and she plopped back down on the wagon floor, "S-sure."
She fought down the sudden blush by averting her gaze and scooting closer to Amelia. He returned to his old spot but couldn't help being pleased by her reaction after a year apart. Caroline had drilled into her mind that she was a male sailor for over a year and shedding that disguise was a work in progress for her. Ratonhnhaké:ton's presence had made quick work of that as physical contact flooded her mind with old memories and locked sentiments.
Amelia squeezed her hand to pull her out of her thoughts and comfort her. Caroline had no desire to appear lovesick but he brought those walls down easily. Focusing on her little sister, whose yawning had increased over the minutes, she beckoned quickly, "Get some sleep."
Amelia carefully laid down on her side to lay her head in Caroline's lap to close her eyes. She wasn't the type to wake early for long trips and would take advantage of the offer. Caroline patted her bonnet covered head with a fond smile and Amelia mumbled sleepily, "I'm so glad to have you home."
"And I'm glad to have you at my side- both of you" Caroline replied earnestly as she returned her gaze to the pine trees and Amelia smiled to having her sister back.
The ride back to Davenport ended within an hour since the outskirts of the homestead led into the actual town rather quickly. All three had eventually succumbed to naps but Ratonhnhaké:ton woke up at the lightest bump over the dirt road. In between the naps, he'd taken moments to glance at Caroline as she slept soundly beside her sister. The reserved colonial girl had left optimistic and bright-eyed about the world but she returned cautious of her surroundings, wielding hidden weapons, and those bright blue eyes held a sharper edge. It reflected similarly to his own journey from his village, to Davenport, and the bustling colonial cities as a young boy. He assumed her life overseas had chiseled her spirit to bear harsh realities but they'd yet to speak about it.
When the wagon lurched to an abrupt stop, Ratonhnhaké:ton shook his head to clear away sleepiness and peeked over the wagon. The Burnett homestead lay before them as the gentle incline to the property greeted him and he quickly nudged the young women awake. Amelia was still curled up against Caroline's lap while the older woman had slumped over her sister and used her as a pillow. The younger one mumbled incoherently before wiping her eyes while Caroline grumbled, "Away with ye."
"We're here" he informed them slowly as he kept jostling them awake. The two finally snapped awake at hearing they had arrived and Amelia sat up to wipe her eyes groggily. Caroline patted her freckled cheeks to energize herself and began to grab their bags of belongings.
Amelia grabbed the side of the wagon to peer over and smiled widely to the familiar white picket fence their father had built. Ratonhnhaké:ton hopped off the back of the wagon to unlatch the panel and open the rear of the wagon for his friends. Caroline grabbed Amelia's right hand to assist her in standing while Amelia used her weight against the wagon's side for the rest. The two sisters walked to the edge of the open wagon and Ratonhnhaké:ton raised his arms to grab Amelia by the waist to help her down. Caroline hopped off the wagon at the same time and closed the hatch of the wagon to seal it for its journey to the mill. Her new gelding simply watched his new home with interest and she untied the leads to wrap them around her right hand.
"Thank you!" the three called out in farewell to the driver as they headed to the lumber mill, turning towards the river path.
Amelia smoothed down her dress as she managed to stand on her own and smiled at the two, "Thank you, both of you, for everything."
Grasping Caroline's right arm to loop her arm through hers, she spoke softly, "Let's go home, Carrie."
No matter how old she became, Amelia would always be her little sister and she'd be her protector. Her earliest memory of Amelia was seeing her crawl over to her back in their small shanty home in Glasgow and now, they were returning to their parents' final home together. It seemed fate would pin them together when one needed the other and Caroline was perfectly happy with that.
Ratonhnhaké:ton offered his left arm to help Amelia towards the incline that led to her homestead. Caroline nodded for her to accept since there was no question he was the stronger of the two. The back of her head still remembered the bump he left after pinning her against that brick building back in North Carolina. He led her towards the house while Caroline carried their three bags uphill, walking behind them with Brave in case Amelia needed further help. At the same time, she would buy herself time since she'd yet to think of a decent apology for her parents.
Everything remained the same with each step that she took as the river flowed steadily to the left, the colorful flowers of her mother's summer garden, the soft wind flowing through the trees, and the trademark puff of white smoke from the chimney. After a year at sea, she'd forgotten how dearly those memories strained to become a reality. She could hear her siblings through the open windows, their voices chiming like songbirds after a heavy downpour.
She faltered in her steps when she heard Samuel's voice called out, "Amelia!"
That sent a ruckus of noise through the house and Caroline's pace slowed whereas Amelia's increased. She'd missed her close-knit family terribly since leaving them to teach and after enduring more than a year without seeing them, the last few steps to the door couldn't arrive fast enough. Ratonhnhaké:ton, however, kept a firm grip on her to avoid having her fall in her haste and causing further injury.
Amelia beamed joyful when the door to her home opened and her siblings practically exploded out in their haste to confirm her arrival. Samuel and Elizabeth were first since they were sprinters from the moment they could walk while Alice and Martha were the cautious duo. Amelia waved at her siblings, noticing Alice and Elizabeth had grown a bit in the year she'd been gone. Her youngest sister was still keen on blue dresses and she wasn't surprised by the patches of dirt on Elizabeth's green skirt. Samuel was still jolly but Amelia could see his pants were already too short for his growing frame while Martha dressed as properly without a smudge of dirt.
"You're home! Why didn't you write?" Samuel questioned eagerly as he reached her first and hugged her around the waist. Seeing Ratonhnhaké:ton beside her, he waved in welcome with a toothy grin.
"Did boban send Connor to fetch you?" Elizabeth asked cautiously since their sister had never been one for unexpected surprises. When her gaze dropped to the ground, she noticed Amelia's posture was off and her eyes narrowed as she questioned, "What happened?"
With the two in front of her, Caroline was hidden away as their eyes were all on Amelia. Her heart hammered anxiously against her ribs and she wondered if running down the hill was better option. Would they notice if she sneaked out and left their bags on the grass? Caroline heard hasty but firm footsteps and knew her mother had exited the house, giving her a brief glance through the lace trim of her bonnet. Although a year had passed, she could see that her mother had shed a bit of weight and her rosy round face lost its familiar plump cheeks. Was her mother ill? Had her leave caused that?
Ratonhnhaké:ton released Amelia into the arms of Martha and Catherine, who quickly engulfed her in a hug. Catherine's eyes scanned Amelia for injuries since she noticed her unsteady gait and saw the splint peeking out from her right leg. Thankfully, the bruises were hidden by her attire but her mother's protectiveness flared, "Child, what happened? Are you all right?"
Martha gripped Amelia's right arm to balance her weight while her older sister bit her lower lip nervously. How could she explain everything that happened in the past four days? Ratonhnhaké:ton took the plunge on explaining it gently to the family matriarch and spoke softly, "A few days ago, Charlestown in Boston was attacked both on land and by the water by the English. They were defeated but the militia and civilians suffered casualties. The community was forced to evacuate the destruction and although some residents have returned to rebuild, some have simply left."
"What?!" Catherine exclaimed with shock that the fight for independence had arrived to their closest city. She'd sent Amelia to a place she expected to be safe and her child returned home injured. Her daughter reached over to squeeze her shoulder with a small smile to reassure her everything would be fine and Alice looped her arm through her mother's to add support.
Amelia debated on how to lighten the shock, as well as to dull her own memories, and explained carefully, "The house was damaged from the ongoing battle and I happened to get caught in the crossfire. I was trapped alone in the house and nobody could hear me-"
"What about the Bruce's?" Catherine demanded sharply because she'd entrusted the care of her daughter to a family. Where had they gone during an ensuing battle? Why had her child been left alone?
Caroline didn't want her sister to relive those dreadful moments again since she'd heard her turning and mumbling in her sleep. She stepped out from behind Ratonhnhaké:ton's tall form and intervened quickly by stating, "It doesn't matter. She's safe now while others weren't so lucky."
All her siblings, minus Amelia, stared in disbelief to her familiar face as she managed a weak smile. Martha and Samuel had to blink repeatedly to make sure it was Caroline due to the bell-shaped navy dress and bonnet. Her porcelain complexion held the natural red tinting on the cheeks and nose from being out at sea but her posture reminded her siblings of their father. The playful blue light in her eyes had dulled as she turned her gaze to Amelia and informed them, "All you need to know is that her right leg is splinted and it will take about a month to heal."
Her mother's lips parted in shock as her oldest stood there, never imagining she'd have both daughters back, and whispered, "Heaven almighty, Carrie?"
Caroline didn't know what to say after her long absence since there was heavy guilt attached for her selfish wish of freedom. Seeing her mother's appearance, that feeling intensified and Caroline vowed she wouldn't abandon them like that again. Samuel broke away from his sisters to grasp Caroline's left arm, squeezing it to ensure she was real, and she ruffled the top of his hair affectionately. He'd missed exploring the trails by her side, appreciating the trinkets she'd sent him for Christmas, and his voice wavered when he asked, "Did you bring me a peg leg?"
"Couldn't risk having a ship on the lookout for me, Sammy" she replied fondly with a small chuckle and he feigned a disappointed pout. She could clearly see his emotions surfacing under that little lip quiver but as a young boy, he had to keep them in check. Rubbing his back gently, she widened her smile and promised, "I'll tell you a few stories later but I did bring this courageous horse home."
Samuel nodded happily but kept a hand on her wrist to make sure his oldest sister didn't disappear again. If she did, he'd go too. With the other, he patted Brave's gray snout to welcome the new horse to their homestead. Amelia's gaze remained on their mother to gauge her reaction since she could either smack or hug her sister for her escape stunt. Although her sister granted her privacy on what had happened, Caroline deserved merit for her actions and she admitted, "She was the only one who came to my rescue, even when cannon fire rained down on the house, and I surely wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her. She pulled me out of that rubble, set me on her horse, and made sure I was seen by a doctor within hours."
If that wasn't fate, Amelia didn't know what else it could be. Despite the immense respect to their parents, the two were loyal to each other to the end. Catherine's stunned disbelief melted into relief to seeing her daughters safe and decided the disappointment in Caroline's leave could be settled later. Caroline raised her left hand in case her mother did decide to give her a disciplinary smack but Catherine enveloped Caroline in a tight embrace. Her blue eyes widened since her mother wasn't a public hugger and she heard her mother whisper, "I prayed for so many nights to see you safe."
"I didn't mean for you to worry, I wrote to assure you of that" she whispered tearfully as she missed them far more than she wanted to admit. Her eyes stung with fresh tears to being reunited with her beloved mother, not to mention all her siblings, and hugged her back tightly. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat as tears fell down her cheeks and she promised, "But I'm home. . .that is, if you'll allow me back?"
This time, Catherine swatted her on the back in reprimand but rubbed the same spot afterwards and snapped, "What kind of question is that? Of course I will, you're my daughter!"
Caroline smiled with joy to being allowed back into her home and Catherine released her to sniff hastily with flushing cheeks, "That's enough of that then."
Similar to herself, Catherine noticed her daughter's leaner appearance as her smooth face held sunburnt areas. How long had she been out on the sun without a hat? The bonnet covered her auburn hair but she noticed the hairline scar on her cheek, prompting her to question, "Where did you get that scar on your cheek?"
"Hunting?" she fibbed innocently since it was better to use that than confess her ship was attacked by pirates and had to defend herself. It was day one of her return and the less she knew, the better her mother would adjust. Ratonhnhaké:ton caught the tilt in her voice and wondered what exactly she'd ventured into during her absence at home. How much had Caroline changed in a year?
Her mother had a clear look in her eyes that meant they'd be chatting later and Caroline averted her gaze. Well, she couldn't win them all. Turning to Ratonhnhaké:ton, Catherine clasped her hands together and smiled proudly, "You brought my girls home, thank you."
"I promised to bring her home and I wasn't leaving Amelia after the attack either" he replied modestly since he hadn't expected to find Caroline with her younger sister. Luck had been on his side for once and his gaze met Caroline's as she hugged Alice, the brunette's words muffled by her sister's bonnet.
Amelia shook her head bashfully and motioned to the doorway as she gripped Martha's arm, "Let's go inside since I need to rest my leg."
Her younger sister nodded quickly to help her inside their home and Amelia waved to Ratonhnhaké:ton in farewell. He nodded politely and before Samuel could ask him, Catherine asked carefully, "Were you in Charlestown when everything happened?"
"Yes, I assisted the colonial militia in a few tasks" he answered vaguely to prevent Catherine from worrying as well. With an injured daughter and another one returning, he didn't need to add to her burden. Catherine squinted at him with a motherly look and he assured with a small smile, "I'm perfectly fine, Mrs. Burnett."
Catherine sighed softly since all her children were insisting they were well after being in an attack. She ushered her three youngest back into the house which caused Samuel to pout but he listened to avoid a lecture. Alice was quick to follow but Elizabeth paused, striding up to Caroline with anger written on her features. She had always been the type to lash out when hurt and Caroline didn't stop her when her hands pushed her back by the shoulders. At fourteen, Elizabeth was a spitting image of herself when she'd arrived in Davenport but her energy was wilder than hers. This was a time that she needed to be here for her as she learned her way into adulthood rather than questioning who to trust.
Her blue eyes narrowed with accusation but they also reflected her pain as she snapped angrily, "You left me! We were supposed to be a team and you left!"
"Elizabeth!" their mother reprimanded firmly to remind her of her manners but Caroline raised her hand.
"I did and I will carry that the rest of my life" she agreed as she accepted the consequences of her actions and would atone for it. Elizabeth faltered for a moment since she expected her sister to retaliate and incite her fire. Caroline refused to make excuses and replied with the truth, "I'm sorry, Eliza, I would never leave you if it wasn't safe-"
"I don't care, I didn't want to lose my sister! I've been alone without you-" she interjected bitterly as she blinked back tears to keep a tough approach. Caroline decided to fight with love and quickly grabbed Elizabeth into her arms to sweep her into a tight hug. As she expected, her little sister fought back but it only caused her grip to tighten until she slowly submitted. Despite Elizabeth's grumbling, she eventually returned the hug and added one last protest, "Don't think hugging makes up for . . . is that a horse?"
As much as Elizabeth could anger, her hotheadedness cooled whenever there was a horse involved. From the moment she arrived in Davenport, she'd never hesitated to help assist with care of the horses in town. Caroline released her and gazed at the gentle horse to allow Elizabeth a few seconds to wipe her eyes to collect herself.
"He helped me rescue Amelia, would you like to show him around and get him something to eat?" she offered with a warm smile and held out the lead to the gray horse. She had left Sophia to the care of her family and Elizabeth's care for equines deserved a reward. Caroline rubbed the top of his forehead to earn a happy neigh in return and she introduced, "He's a gelding that I named Brave. He reminds me of you."
She looked between the lead, her sister, and the gray horse before asking skeptically, "I . . . can I keep him?"
"After Ratonhnhaké:ton assigns his new space, he's all yours" she agreed since any rehabilitation at his stables would be paid for on her end. She didn't know his history but she'd take great care of him and settle him into his new home. Catherine sighed in defeat since her family kept bringing animals to raise every season. Sooner or later, they'd resemble Warren's farm.
Ratonhnhaké:ton had given the gelding a health check at her father's store to ensure he didn't need immediate care before travel. The gelding was gentler than Achille's stallions, James and Roger, and all he needed was proper nutrition to gain weight and a dental cleaning. He motioned for Elizabeth to follow him back to the manor and she had a hard time saying no to her sister's offer. Swallowing her pride, she grabbed the reins and eagerly grinned at the horse's sweet brown eyes, "I'm Eliza, we're going to have lots of fun around Davenport!"
Elizabeth took no time making her way down the path of their homestead and Caroline assured their mother, "I'll help out with her chores until then."
Catherine allowed it since it was still early to prepare lunch for their father at the mill and told her, "I'll be heading back then. Connor, join us for dinner tonight if you're free."
She gave the two privacy to say their goodbyes, inwardly hoping that they were on a positive path rather than calling it quits on their severed relationship. They had given her grief with Caroline's stubbornness but Catherine loved him like a son after everything they'd gone through. She closed the door before one of her children decided to be a busybody but unfortunately, that didn't mean they couldn't peak out of windows. As always, Samuel and Alice were glued to the glass.
Ratonhnhaké:ton and Caroline blinked awkwardly at seeing the round faces of Alice and Samuel peeking out from under the curtain. He cleared his throat before meeting her gaze and she fiddled with the straps of her bonnet as he spoke quietly, "You are free to be whoever you want, Caroline, and all I seek is your happiness. It was wrong of me to hold you to a different set of rules."
"Your heart was in the right place" she forgave easily to their old quarrel at the cove and smiled kindly. He didn't stiffen when she breached his personal space for an embrace and she whispered, "I've missed you dearly. My travels weren't the same without you nearby."
"I hope it's enough to keep you here?" he asked carefully because this time, he was willing to tie her to a wooden post so she wouldn't budge. She had been his most trusted confidante, both as a friend and partner, and he couldn't bear another leave. He wasn't the most emotionally available with words but he hoped she'd understand his viewpoint. Her heart sank a little when he broke away from their embrace but she respected his choice.
She caught the longing in his brown eyes after a year apart and smiled with pride, "I can't wait to explore the town and see the upgrades. I'm going to be more than happy to stay here," her smile deflated as she continued, "but I'm sorry for causing you pain. My leave had absolutely nothing to do with you or what happened-"
"But your life here wasn't enough" he murmured softly to voice his thoughts since he'd been incredibly hurt to return home, not to her, but her grieving mother. Caroline thinned her lips because it was true and she wouldn't deny it. He was enough, so was her family, but her life had lacked fulfillment without seeing the world. His gaze averted from hers to keep his voice even and calm as he admitted, "I'm relieved you're home but your leave wounded me-"
"I never meant to" she whispered regretfully since she'd attempted to dull the pain with ongoing letters. Even her risky venture to follow him in the south was out of love for him. She didn't want to cause any hurt and would do her best to heal the damage her leave had dealt. Having him so close fluttered her heart, especially being at home on their land, and she sighed softly, "I won't apologize for venturing out into the world but I will for causing you any grief. Besides my family, you were in the forefront of my mind everywhere I went and every time I closed my eyes to sleep."
Her gaze swept over his chiseled sun-kissed features, smiling fondly to his freckled cheeks, and locked onto his brown eyes to confess weakly, "I was miserable without you by my side."
He shouldn't have liked her being remorseful but it meant he carried a hefty weight in her heart. Still, he wished she'd taken a different route on conveying that message when she'd left. He crossed his arms to shake off the internal feeling of vulnerability at her side, keeping their gazes locked, and she promised earnestly, "I'm not going to be leaving Davenport, or you, anytime soon. If I try, you have my permission to haul me back kicking and screaming."
Being near her home and their courting status in limbo, she opted for a chaste kiss on the apple of his cheek. He stiffened with surprise, his eyes widening to the physical contact, but they closed seconds later. After a year without her company, he allowed the joy from her return to fill his heart rather than the longing pain. If he did, he was liable to succumb to that wounding pain. He didn't fight the faint smile that touched his lips because she was the only one he'd ever allow that from. She whispered her promise once more against his cheek and he backed away once the ticklish sensation of her breath left to state softly, "Welcome back, Caroline."
From the bottom of the hill, Elizabeth broke up their private time by hollering, "C'mon, my horse needs a stall! You two can kiss later!"
A/N: Now that the young lovebirds have been reunited, it's apparent they need to find a balance with their new selves (mainly Caroline). Although Caroline wouldn't mind jumping back into his arms and kissing him senseless, the same might not reflect from her secret assassin. One more chapter for the reunion with her family and after that, it's nothing but friendly bonding and Caroline's reunion with the Aquila.
Thank you to my readers and my last reviewers:
Yogurtlover123: The two were definitely restricted in their reunion but even after returning in Davenport, they have to figure out where they stand. I'm sure Caroline would be more than happy to kiss him for the rest of time but with Connor being the injured party that was left behind, I'm sure he has a few things to say about that. Still, the two love each other and it echoes in each chapter in comparison to their awkward fluff stage during the teen years. Thank you for loving the chapter!
East Coast Captain: That's the route I plan to take with Caroline, she has a knack for business administration but she's still in her 'adventurous' stage in life at the moment.
Next Chapter Excerpt. . .
Caroline had quickly begun sipping her beef stew after eating nothing but dry bread and dry meat onboard the ship. Oh, she could taste the richness of the broth instead of the watered-down versions at sea or cheap eateries. Not to mention, the vegetables were divinely fresh! Her sisters couldn't help but stare at her ravenous appetite, causing Amelia to lightly nudge her side. Caroline began to object with a full mouth but her eyes widened a second later when she spotted Ratonhnhaké:ton and her mother glancing at her from the head of the table. When had he arrived? Did time accidentally skip forward on her? Her hand dropped her spoon into the bowl and she quickly gulped down her bite to offer a nervous chuckle.
Yep, this is the quickest way to ward off a man, she thought with embarrassment to her lack of manners when it came to desperate hunger.
Here she was, wearing a borrowed dress, sporting a ruddy complexion, and a boyish haircut- basically appearing more of a boy than a lady. On the opposite side, her sisters were dressed properly with clean porcelain looks and neatly braided buns. Her confidence took another strike at noticing Ratonhnhaké:ton wasn't wearing his outdoor attire. He wore a navy coat over a gray vest and white tunic, his breeches matching the coat's color, and his light leather boots pulled his polished look together. The lack of gloves on his hands and a hood over his head gave him a different softer light as he greeted everyone.
Caroline was practically entranced in mid-meal and she abandoned her stew entirely to stare at Ratonhnhaké:ton. Had he always been this handsome under those traveling clothes? She blamed her girlish fancy on the fact she hadn't seen him in a year and forced herself to look away. His beautiful raven hair shined under the lantern glow to match his maple toned eyes, bringing a faint blush to her cheeks. Amelia faked a soft sneeze beside her to break her spell and save her sister any embarrassment, causing Caroline to glance down at her bowl.
Focus on the food, you're hungry for the food, not the man, she chastised herself before her mind screamed with embarrassment to the last words. Why am I even fathoming that idea?!
Because he's a man- a handsome one at that, her own mind retorted and Caroline realized life was never going to be smooth sailing for her. At least, her romantic one anyway.
It did not help in the slightest when her mother offered him the seat next to her right side and she shrunk in her chair. Ratonhnhaké:ton sat down with a sheepish smile and Caroline returned it. . .until he pointed to his chin to emphasize that her face was covered with stew. Caroline quickly grasped her napkin to scrub at her skin to remove any sign of uncleanliness and uttered a squeaky, "Thank you."
Oh no, could I be more of a clumsy mule?, she thought miserably with embarrassment to not only her appearance but table manners. Was she this bad before her leave a year ago? Did the fluttering butterflies in her heart and stomach mask the truth of her behavioral hiccups back then? Or was she overanalyzing again?
"You're free to continue eating, Caroline" he spoke softly to avoid flustering her since it wasn't his intent. He couldn't decline Catherine's kind invitation and seeing Caroline brought him a peace of mind. Even though only a few hours had passed, simply seeing her was enough to soothe his heart that she was home. He wouldn't have to wonder whether she was safe and happy anymore. With her hair cut short, he was able to see her delicate neckline and noticed the tips of her ears were rosy. Had he embarrassed her?
If he had, it wasn't noticeable as she returned to her soup with quiet lady-like sips that rivaled Martha's.
Until next time! . . .