Music Inspiration: "Lorne Balfe- Beer & Friends"
Stew Night
15 July 1775
Caroline had found herself a friend with Myriam Davis as the older woman held the same rebellious spark against gender expectations. Her talent with hunting was also a breath for fresh air and she'd gladly taken Caroline under her wing to develop her skills. She'd never caught anything bigger than a deer and had set multiple traps to capture a few wolves that wanted her for dinner once but that was it. It was a privilege to work with an experienced hunter and Myriam often laughed to her student-like questions. With summer in full bloom, the two women explored the forest and Caroline made it her goal to complete Myriam's lessons. Ratonhnhaké:ton was gifted magnificently with the bow but the same couldn't be said for either Caroline or Myriam which is why the redhead enjoyed Myriam's similar arsenal.
In recent days, she also found herself overlooking the cliffs of Davenport to peer into the cove where the Aquila was anchored. The sight of the sleek frigate surfaced old memories of being out at sea and peering into the sparkling water. She'd whistle old tunes from her days at sea whenever she helped her mother cook or sew clothing. If she heard the colorful lyrics, she would end up grounded to her room after a stern lecture about being a lady. Due to that, Catherine listened to her daughter's tunes without being none the wiser. Her days at sea would never be shared with anyone but Ratonhnhaké:ton and Amelia since such adventures were meant for men. Also, she didn't want to encourage Elizabeth since her younger sister held that same wanderlust at fourteen and it wasn't fading.
"Er, Connor . . . she's doing it again" Robert Faulkner declared loudly with an awkward tone when he caught a small speck in the horizon that stood on the highest cliff overseeing the cove. The small dot of a figure had become familiar to him over the weeks since there was only one other resident of Davenport that sailed the Atlantic. Sighing under his breath, the first mate sympathized, "I'm almost tempted to say she harbors the same love for the Aquila that I do."
Ratonhnhaké:ton was overseeing the work of the sails since tears required mending before their next trip. He didn't grasp the joke since the ship was inanimate and failed to react, much to Faulkner's disappointment. The young captain spared a glance to Caroline's familiar dot by the cliffside and explained simply, "She spent time aboard a cargo ship."
Faulkner understood why she reappeared frequently and his mouth formed a circle before saying, "Oh, I see. A dove that can no longer fly."
It wasn't the best feeling to be bound to the earth when one's feet itched to float over the water. He remembered the eager young woman that had asked for help with firing rifles and proposed nonchalantly, "We could always use an extra hand-"
"I vowed her parents to keep her safe" Ratonhnhaké:ton disagreed swiftly because Caroline would be safest on land and wasn't privy to their true profession. He could only ponder her reaction if he ever decided to admit it. . .hmm, she'd more than likely fret over his safety or push him overboard. For now, however, he hoped that her focus was to remain by her parents while he worked on eliminating the Templar threat. If not, she would be in danger if she followed him onboard. His eyes narrowed to convey the seriousness of having her join them and ordered, "If she does approach you, let me know."
"With her penchant for disguise, I might be fooled" Faulkner laughed to her ability to deceive him with her sailor persona but his captain wasn't amused. Hmm, he would've thought having her back would've brought him a little more cheer. Did they not reunite as expected for the young lovebirds? Robert saw potential in both youngsters and advised carefully, "She's talented, Connor, and that's by intellect alone."
"She needs to readjust to her old life with her family first" the captain disagreed because Caroline needed to reacquaint herself with everything she left behind. He was certain that trust was being established again with her siblings and upholding the respect of her parents. Just as the old Caroline left Davenport to explore the world beyond her homestead, the new Caroline was assimilating those footsteps from the past. He crossed his arms over his chest to state with a protective edge, "I didn't bring her back only for them to lose her again."
Robert glanced at the crew men around them because as rambunctious as they could be, they were loyal men. Pointing to the bow of the ship, he asked with an amused grin, "You're worried about her being onboard?"
"We're not average sailors, Mr. Faulkner" Ratonhnhaké:ton reminded grimly because their business took them to dangerous places. He wouldn't risk Caroline's life against the Templars and would risk receiving her anger instead.
Robert pointed to the small speck in the horizon and tried to draw his sympathy by emphasizing, "Aw, look at her up there though- strikes ya deep in the heart."
"If I choose to let her board, you will know" he refused swiftly because he held the last word on who boarded his vessel. He wanted to ensure Caroline could handle herself against any threat and if it came to fighting Templars, he wouldn't let her board unless she fought him. She was the person dearest to his heart and losing her would devastate him completely. It was his responsibility to protect those he loved and he reasoned, "As much as I respect her, it would place our Order at risk."
"Aye . . . but you can't tell me it wouldn't make you happy" his first mate pointed out with a twinkle in his blue eyes since the captain had relaxed considerably once she returned. He was extremely quiet about his love life and when he avoided Robert's gaze, the older man knew it was true. He didn't want him to feel guilty for his decisions with everything that already weighed on his young shoulders and chuckled, "You make it too easy, lad."
23 July 1775
Caroline dried her damp hands with a cloth as she glanced down at the bloody water in the wooden pail. That was a sight she hadn't seen in quite a while. Leaning back on the stool she sat on, she shot Myriam a pleasant smile as the huntress finished skinning her newest catch. The older woman was quite gifted in the field of game as she managed to remove animal skins cleanly without disrupting the membrane layers separating the skin from the muscles.
"You did good, certainly improving" Myriam encouraged with a quick hearty pat to the redhead's back. She had taken Caroline under her wing as her protégé whenever she hunted for meals to extend her knowledge and skills. When she was capable with a rifle and other hunting weapons, Myriam would take her to hunt by her side for larger game like deer.
For the time being, small to medium game was enough for Caroline to begin building onto what Ratonhnhaké:ton taught her. The gray rabbit she'd caught would be enough for a pot of stew and the fur pelt that hung on the drying line would make a nice fall hat for Alice. Everything would be used and nothing would be wasted; otherwise, it was an insult to the animal.
"Thank you" she replied gratefully for the chance to not only have a new friend but a teacher. She assumed her way of thinking was rare, almost unconventional, for a woman of her time but meeting Myriam had settled that great uncertainty. She wasn't alone anymore in her dreams to push past her full potential and hoped to be a decent marksman with a rifle. Her blue eyes shined with admiration but her voice was sheepish as she admitted, "I'm glad to have someone I can trust to teach me. I was barely able to survive on my own with hunting, mainly because I needed more training and shopkeeps were a bit biased."
Myriam had been in her shoes years ago and didn't hesitate in agreeing with a bitter edge, "It's not easy being on your own, especially as a woman."
"How did you manage?" Caroline asked softly because she'd barely scraped by for a month while Myriam had been doing this for years. She'd felt completely disillusioned and disappointed in herself but she couldn't control the laws of society.
"I traveled where I could season to season" she divulged with a simple shrug of the shoulders because the past rarely bothered her any more. Her parents had practically told her to never return until she behaved properly and their hopping from place to place for a homestead severed that bond. It had taken years to master her skill but she was tenacious to survive, explaining, "My parents disapproved of my fancy to hunt, praising my brothers instead. Being the only girl, I was expected to be a lady and marry a good boy from our town. Add in religion and my actions are heresy."
Caroline couldn't help but cherish her parents because although they didn't approve entirely, they respected her choice. Her mother might fuss under her breath but she didn't forbid her since they lived within the forest. She hadn't denied her entrance to their home after returning with a boyish hair cut and a seafaring life so she was incredibly lucky.
"I left once I was confident in my skill and never looked back" Myriam finished calmly as she began to cut her catch into pieces by severing the joints with her hunting knife. Her movements were calculated and clean to avoid destroying the white joint area, her brow furrowing lightly in concentration. Her fingers smoothed over the shoulder area of the rabbit she'd trapped before inserting the knife into the shoulder socket, murmuring simply, "I was alone up until I landed here."
"I'm glad you stayed" Caroline beamed with happiness since she hadn't made a friend her age since meeting Ratonhnhaké:ton. Aveline and Duncan were at least a decade older than her and she didn't know where they wandered at this moment. Myriam, however, was a part of her town and within easy reach for a chat, leading her to smile gladly, "It's nice to find another with the same interests."
"Tell me about it, I finally found another woman I don't have to tiptoe my words around" the brunette chuckled because it had been a long time since she'd met another woman that didn't leave in a flustered 'for heaven's sake' to her appearance. Even now, she kept to herself after years of practice but had begun to visit the interior of Davenport more often. The Mile's End was a great place to grab an ale and mingle with her townsfolk.
I never imagined having townsfolk to call my own but I do, Myriam thought happily since she'd spent many jolly nights at the inn with her neighbors. Between watching Terry and Godfrey argue for entertainment, Lance and Ollie play on the chessboard, and Norris' tales from the north, it was a happy place.
Caroline whistled when she caught sight of Norris' familiar red hat wandering between the tall trees. The miner flinched to the loud noise as it more than likely scared off all the wildlife in a twenty feet radius and turned to the owner. The vibrant red hair of Caroline was how Norris was able to spot her since Myriam's attire and dark hair allowed her to camouflage in the woods while Caroline's hair was a dead giveaway.
The two women were sitting by the edges of her homestead's perimeter since they kept their catches away from her home. Drawing predators to Myriam's homestead might sound like a dream to a huntress but she also liked being able to sleep in relative safety. Caroline waved him over as she wrapped her newest catch in checkerboard cloth before placing it inside a wooden bucket. She would leave the fur pelt to dry on Myriam's line for pickup later that week. After becoming fast friends, the two were either in Mile's End, Myriam's, the forest, or relaxing by the river below the Burnett homestead.
"Norris!" the redhead called excitedly to the other friend she'd made, who was the complete opposite in personality to Myriam. Norris' friendly bashfulness was reminiscent of her sisters and the two had sprung a quick friendship as well. The miner waved modestly as he was caught on his trail to scope out his mine site up north and eyed the perimeter warily. With Myriam, he didn't know whether he'd see a cute rabbit pelt or the hide of a fearsome mountain lion hanging around.
Caroline hopped off her stool to welcome their friend to relax off his feet from the hike and pointed to it, "Come, sit, sit!"
"How are you ladies today?" he greeted politely with a soft laugh as he accepted the seat. With his heavy pack on his back and hiking uphill to the north, he didn't mind taking a short break.
"Just finished preparing our catches" Caroline piped up cheerfully as she inhaled deeply with satisfaction to her work of the day, puffing her chest proudly. Myriam bit the inside of her cheek to prevent bursting out laughing to her endearing expression. She'd never had a student but Caroline's zest for learning was infectious to her. She followed her directions diligently and even though they'd only hunted rabbits, she was satisfied with that. The redhead patted her bucket with glee as she kneeled on the ground to grin, "The mighty gray hares of Davenport."
This time, Myriam couldn't hold it in and laughed aloud to her words. Mighty was not what she'd call the furry little critters but her friend had a way with descriptive storytelling. Norris nodded approvingly to the young woman and Myriam shook her head, turning her gaze to the miner and asked casually, "Want to join us for a hot stew later?"
Norris wiped his brow in emphasis to their humid day, especially with it being full-blown summer, and asked incredulously, "In this weather?"
Myriam challenged his skepticism by leaning back in her seat and pointing to the dark canopies overhead to scoff, "Come now, the temperature will drop by nighttime and you'll be begging for my rabbit special."
Norris glanced between the two women, one who was smirking and the other who was grinning, and could see he had lost the battle before it had even begun. Even if the heat remained at night, he wouldn't have minded since it would allow him to spend time with Myriam. Well, Caroline would be the add-on friend to their package but he didn't mind friendly company. Pretending to sigh in defeat, he crossed his arms to agree with feigned reluctance, "You drive a hard bargain, Myriam, but I'll accept."
"That a boy" she laughed as they managed to rope in another companion to their soup night.
"Should I bring anything? Ale? Bread?" Norris asked sheepishly since he hadn't expected a dinner offer that day. He'd expected to go home after his day of inspecting the mines and buy a meat pie and an ale from Mile's End for supper. He hadn't experienced the kind of camaraderie that Davenport offered back in the colonial cities and happily accepted invitations nowadays. As a good guest, he always offered to bring something to help the host or hostess.
"Ale!" both women chirped together with a laugh since a relaxing beer always made their festivities even better. For Caroline, it was the only place she could drink any without her mother giving her a reproving glare. As for Myriam, a meal always tasted better with an alcoholic beverage when shared with friends.
Caroline jumped up from her seat to smooth down her hunting attire and informed the two, "I'll be heading out since I have to fetch tonight's vegetables from Prudence and grab some bread from Mile's End."
Pointing at her brunette friend, she chided sarcastically, "Don't work too hard, I'll be back in an hour or so."
Myriam shook her head and raised her hands in promise that she wouldn't tackle the meal all by herself. The last time the two decided to make stew, Myriam finished boiling the stock and cooking the meat before Caroline returned with extra vegetables. The huntress wasn't used to having fresh vegetables available out of years of practice and often forgot about Warren and Prudence's farm.
Caroline left the two to mingle with a happy wave of the hand and headed south to return home. She caught a happy gleam in Norris' eye as she left and wondered what that was about. The walk out of the woods surrounding Myriam's homestead was only about twenty minutes before pure sunlight struck her from overhead. The lack of cloud cover didn't help any but Caroline had grown used to the unrelenting sun. Her skin, however, still held pink tones from prolonged exposure but she didn't expect to be out for hours like her father at the mill.
On the path to the farming homestead of Prudence and Warren, she met up with her handsome but elusive Ratonhnhaké:ton. Although she'd been home for about a month, she'd only seen him twice after returning and it was accidental. She wasn't certain if he was avoiding her for what she'd done or random coincidence but she didn't breach it out of respect for him. Her actions would bear consequences and she would accept responsibility, even if it meant being slighted by him. Still, her life found more meaning at home now that she'd found new friends and could put her skills to use or upgrade old amateurish ones.
"Morning, Master Connor" she joked with greeting to what the young children of Davenport called him. His stoic expression disappeared as his mask broke and dismay seeped into his features. He pinched the bridge of his nose since he wasn't fond of that odd colonial name and hoped the custom faded away. Caroline waved a hand to dismiss the name and placed a hand over her brow to block the sun, smiling as she assured, "Don't worry, you'll never hear it from me again. How's your morning?"
"Don't become Elizabeth" he sighed softly because the young Burnett girl teased him relentlessly with that moniker for humorous kicks. He didn't which was worse, Lord of the Manor or Master Connor. Caroline quickly drew a cross over her heart with promise and a faint smile crossed his lips to her peppy attitude. The masculine brown tunic and trousers she wore led him to assume she'd been spending time with Myriam again. Curious to her wanderings around Davenport, he replied easily, "I'm heading to Prudence's to help with the garden since Warren is out selling their produce in Boston. How about yourself?"
"Buying a few vegetables and bread, if she has to spare" she answered with a delighted smile that they were heading the same way. Her blue eyes lit up to having his company, no matter how short it would be, after only catching glimpses of him. A second later, she cleared her throat awkwardly since she didn't want to appear too enthusiastic and motioned for him to continue walking.
As the years passed, he realized that Caroline had begun abandoning the norms for ladies of the colonies. During their blossoming years of adolescence, he remembered the young Caroline that gazed at silk bonnets inside stores and ran her fingers down calico prints. They'd fallen into a river together when fishing for the first time and she'd scrambled away with her damp skirt and petticoat in her hands. Now, he gazed at a confident woman wearing masculine attire that the young Caroline would've blushed at. Was this the true Caroline that had dwelled under the anxious one?
However, as they walked, he noticed her gait was entirely feminine as she walked with more motion in her hips while he held it in his shoulders. Her hair had grown a finger's width as she resumed growing it to its old length and her feminine face had resurfaced to recover from its sunburnt state. The rosy freckled cheeks he'd fallen for were still there and he averted his gaze before being caught when she asked curiously, "Have you been traveling on the Aquila? The summer makes it a great time to do so."
"Not yet" he answered vaguely because he planned an outing for September. With Caroline being a previous deckhand, he didn't want to disappoint her by speaking about the sea. Faulkner always noticed her little speck in the horizon and he didn't want to break her heart if she sought escape. Hoping that she'd found new meaning living in Davenport, he implored, "How are you finding your first months at home?"
"Great!" she admitted freely without concern and her bright smile conveyed that truth. She'd never been happier to be home and she'd found new friends to share hobbies and stories with. Her trip over the Atlantic earned her a bit of independence from her parents, especially her mother, who was watchful over the girls in her family. Her father had a smith in Boston craft an extra key to his weapon trunk and Caroline proudly wore the key on a makeshift pink ribbon necklace. She'd originally chosen blue but Amelia insisted on a feminine color to avoid casting aside all her femininity. Pointing to the pale pink ribbon peeking out from underneath her tunic, she smiled bashfully to explain, "My father made this key to trust me with his weapons, I can't imagine a higher honor. Mother fusses over me but I've missed her mothering, even when she smothers. The best part is having new friends to enjoy the outdoors with."
He hoped to hear that and her bright disposition told him that he didn't have to worry about another sudden escape. He'd kept himself away to heal the initial betrayal of being left behind but her promise that she'd never repeat the action helped to dull it a little faster. While he carried disappointment, she carried guilt, and time would be the healing factor. The ex-couple walked together with shy smiles since neither wanted to rock the boat of their shaky relationship.
"You were right" Caroline brought up quietly to his claims that night when they reunited in Charlestown. She hadn't expected to see much growth in terms of business but her delight had been the new people. Oliver and Corrine were a sweet couple that didn't mind Caroline's questions about their recipes and lent a hand in crafting the beloved meat pies whenever she had free time. Her youngest siblings tagged along after Norris and she'd been present for one of his explosions . . . never again. Myriam had become a close friend and mentor, which led the two to explore everywhere in Davenport. Inhaling deeply with pride, she met his confused gaze to explain further, "The community has improved greatly. I might even ask my father for a plan to let me take care of the incoming sales in Boston to save him the trips. I'm not looking to stay in any city though, not after Bunker Hill."
"I'm glad to hear it" he said softly with subdued gratitude since he tried his best to provide a safe and happy town. Her departure from Davenport left him feeling with inadequacy to provide her with a good home but Caroline always insisted otherwise. Her lively demeanor matched the one he'd seen when she first arrived in 1770 which settled any second thoughts. Her attire began to resemble a traveling outdoorsman when she wandered Davenport and he commented with light humor, "It seems you're ready to explore anything but the cities. Is Amelia returning soon?"
"Not yet but I'm sure she'll try again" she answered and hoped the next family wouldn't turn out the same. She could already imagine the interview question about leaving her previous employer and would remind Amelia that abandoning an employee to die was a good reason for termination. If she needed to tail any potential employers for Amelia's safety, she would. As their footsteps crunched over the loose gravel in the dirt road, she smiled widely and asked politely, "Ratonhnhaké:ton, may I tell you something?"
"Is it about the Aquila?" he asked flatly due to her growing presence over the cliffs at the cove. Quite frankly, he expected that question to arise eventually once she became accustomed to their town again.
She blinked with perplexity to that out of the blue topic and answered slowly, "No . . . why would it be?"
Oh.
"Nothing, my mistake" he corrected immediately to brush it under a figurative rug and she allowed it to slip. He was a quiet humble man on the outside but an intense deep well of thought on the inside. She found it amusing, causing her to grin amusingly, and he cleared his throat awkwardly to mumble, "Go on."
"Not everything is about the Aquila" she snickered as she struggled not to laugh at his nonchalant face. She assumed her interest in sailing the sea on that beautiful frigate lingered in his mind. However, he was the captain and she'd abide by his decisions but flustering him with that subject was rather funny. He was calm and collected but once he slipped into unknown territory with a topic, he tried his best to guide his way out of there.
"It could be" he insisted weakly but gave up at seeing the sly grin on her face. When it came to humor and facial expressions, he granted her the victory. It was not his forte, mainly due to his personality and history, and allowed others to fulfill that barrel of laughs. He'd often wondered if she was deterred by that aspect but that thought left his mind instantly at watching her eyes brighten.
"I'm very proud of you" she remarked with admiration to the young man who had created a town and fixed not only a manor but a ship. They were both the same age but Caroline still felt there was an ocean of life experience between them. She trusted him like no other and awkwardly tapped his shoulder with her palm to finish softly, "For making this town."
His heart warmed to hearing the compliment, validated by one of his original homestead residents, and smiled sheepishly, "Thank you, Caroline."
Caroline quickly withdrew her hand to wring them nervously, taking a deep breath to calm herself. There was a sudden need to invite him to dinner but she hesitated out of embarrassment and the thought of being rejected. Her gaze flickered between his and the ground before hesitating quietly, "Are . . . are you free to join us for rabbit stew tonight at Myriam's?"
Stew Night, as the women had now dubbed it, had gone off without a hitch as the men brought extra dinnerware, ale, and bread. Myriam and Caroline took care of the cooking, shooing away the other two when they attempted to 'help' by adding tips over their shoulders. It had been in friendly fun and for the first time, Ratonhnhaké:ton openly enjoyed himself- even when Norris attempted to have him drink. They used logs for benches beside the open fire that held the stewing iron pot and the foursome began their hearty dinner under the stars.
Myriam and Norris couldn't help but not notice the shy awkwardness between their two friends that night. They knew their native friend was quiet and subtle but when he sat next to Caroline, the two had exploded into an animatedly sweet conversation. Norris and Myriam could only trade looks because they were lucky to receive laidback responses from him.
Norris had kept Ratonhnhaké:ton's admission about his wayward adventurer lady to himself but when matching Caroline's description to her, it was a direct match. A young woman suddenly returns to her family after sailing at sea and living in the outdoors? This had to be his friend's old lover. The fact that the two hardly left each other's side since arriving at Myriam's also helped tremendously as evidence. He found it rather heartwarming since Ratonhnhaké:ton helped the two residents with anything they needed, including his own sad romance life, and asked for nothing in return. If he could pin the two back together, well, wouldn't that be swell!
Ratonhnhaké:ton held out a wicker basket filled with fresh bread rolls and asked his log buddy, "Do you need bread?"
"I'm pretty set" she chuckled softly as she pointed to the slowly sinking roll in her bowl. Appreciating his concern and offer, she reciprocated by pointing to the pot and asked quickly, "Do you want more stew?"
"Yes, please" he agreed since the two women had created one delicious stew and he was halfway through his portion. Wait, should he ask for more so early? Had he been that hungry after his day of securing Davenport's outskirts? Before he could voice his internal second-guessing, Caroline filled his bowl with a warm smile.
"I'm glad you like it" she blushed with a meek tone that almost had Myriam spitting out her soup. Her friend's personality had never shown that trait, especially when the two spent time hunting or wandering around having a barrel of laughs. When Caroline released the ladle back into the pot and returned to sitting beside him with a sheepish smile, the brunette fought the temptation to throw a roll at her.
Where did my witty friend go?, she thought with dismay to how her personality had shifted around Ratonhnhaké:ton.
It wasn't because she didn't like it but because she wasn't certain if it was one-sided allure. Saving her friend from embarrassment to unrequited affection was her concern but she couldn't determine what the heck was going on between them. They spoke like a courting couple and showed that care but the behavior between them didn't reflect that . . . it was confusing.
"I've always enjoyed your meals" Ratonhnhaké:ton complimented her cooking because she'd always been ready with a treat for him. Despite her tendencies to explore rather than be at home, Caroline managed to learn from her mother's tasty culinary skills. She'd even incorporated his own recipes when he stayed for dinner which he appreciated back before she left.
What? I can't be the only one seeing this, Myriam thought with bewilderment but curiosity to her two friends. If she wanted answers, she needed an accomplice in this. Looking to her own log buddy, she grinned in midbite and gloated, Bingo!
While quietly watching the two, she leaned to the left slightly to whisper to Norris, "You're seeing this too, right?"
The miner had been more enthused with his meal and stopped in mid-bite, disappointing his poor taste buds. When it came to Myriam, he gave her undivided attention and could see she was curious about their friends. This was the first time he was seeing the two interact together and they appeared relaxed and content in each other's company. Ratonhnhaké:ton was known to keep a personal distance from others but he allowed Caroline to break it. Turning to the huntress, he agreed quietly, "I . . .can't deny it, no."
"Are they together?" she asked uncertainly since Norris had met Caroline first due to her siblings enjoying his mining tales or helping him sort through debris outside of the mines. Ratonhnhaké:ton was often there to supervise, mainly because Samuel and Elizabeth desired to wander into the mines to dig through rubble. With Caroline being home, she corralled her siblings more firmly than her friend and often brought Norris a snack or two for humoring her siblings.
Norris blinked like an owl for a few seconds to that question, wondering about her curiosity, but answered frankly, "What? No . . . if so, I'm very late to that party."
Unlike Myriam who was covert with her spying, Norris was blatant in his inquisitiveness and the other two stopped their cozy conversation. Caroline quickly began eating her soup with a nervous chuckle while Ratonhnhaké:ton said nothing, simply eating his meal. She scooted away to maintain a proper distance, which wasn't missed by her friends.
"So-o-o-o, how long have you two known each other?" Myriam asked with curiosity about them as the new mystery intrigued her. Caroline had only arrived in Davenport last month but she'd admitted her history with the native ran longer than a few months. Her pearly smile glowed against the campfire as she leaned over and told them excitedly, "This is the first time we're all together and I gotta admit, we should've done this weeks ago."
The other three couldn't help but agree since they'd enjoyed the entire evening from mixing their soup ingredients to serving their food. Norris had kept offering bread enthusiastically with every bowl until Myriam began slicing it and placed it in a wicker basket. Caroline and Ratonhnhaké:ton had kept close to each other but they'd spoken to each other awkwardly in short bursts. Taking charge, Myriam had Ratonhnhaké:ton stir the stew while Caroline opened the small ale keg to fill four cups. To her amusement, it hadn't taken long for the two to close the distance and that's when she'd begun watching the two.
"Five years, he rescued my uncle Terry and helped my father find our homestead" Caroline explained with fond remembrance to the wagon ride through the green forest. She'd been through numerous rides as a girl but that time, it had been the last on the way to her true home instead of a temporary log camp. She moved her spoon in circles as she glanced over to the capable man besides her, remembering the modest boy, and finished, "He's been my friend since we met, even if he hid in the woods whittling flutes for the first few months."
Ratonhnhaké:ton smiled faintly to her joke, remembering the bubbly girl with long braids, and pointed out, "I wasn't whittling flutes all the time."
"True, you also hunted game with your mighty bow" she corrected slyly because even now, she'd catch a brief flash of white in the woods and knew it was him. He was harder to see in their early years since he hadn't hit his growth spurt but she trained herself in distinguishing his attire from the dark tree trunks and endless green.
Well, he couldn't deny that but her wording was too crafty. . . and flattering. She admired his skills from the moment they'd met and her willingness to learn bonded them. Not only that, but her open-mindedness of his culture, bridged that friendship. It wasn't hard for him to fall in love with her, even with their differences, and that flame hadn't diminished. Her smile softened as his serene gaze lingered on hers, noting how the fire brightened her eyes like jewels.
"That's quite a history" Myriam observed with a warm smile while subtly nudging Norris, who was still trying to eat his meal. He'd arrived hungry after a long day at the mine and he was adamant to finish his first bowl. She allowed her famished friend to finish his meal and chuckled at the other two, "You must be very good friends then."
"We. . ." she began warily but trailed off because she wasn't certain where they stood. Their intertwined history had started out beautifully but her actions led that path to becoming tangled and confusing. Glancing at him, he returned an unreadable gaze that left her alone in that figurative road and she finished softly, "Good friends, indeed."
Myriam broke the two away from their gazing reverie to cheer them up by suggesting enthusiastically, "We should do this again then!"
Ratonhnhaké:ton nodded to agree with that idea since he'd grown accustomed to enjoying a quiet night with friends. In between traveling dangerous waters and missions for the Assassin's Order, he was beginning to acknowledge that he needed days where he could simply relax. He looked to Norris, who was nibbling on a hare's leg, and proposed, "We can hunt and cook next time."
"I can trap but that's the best I can promise" Norris informed to his limited skill with catching game, unlike Myriam and Ratonhnhaké:ton. If they needed stones to decorate their homesteads or metal for weapons, sure, he could provide that, but not food. Even when he traveled on his own looking for work, he'd either trap or trade for enough coin to buy a meal at a nearby inn. He raised his coveted bowl of stew in agreement to another supper together and smiled amicably, "We can have fowl or fish next time."
"Don't bring a bear" Caroline teased gently to Ratonhnhaké:ton's ability to bring down all kinds of game. She admired and feared his dexterity and strength when he'd told her tales of encountering elk, bears, and wolf packs.
This time, a humorous smile brushed over his lips briefly, and he reasoned, "Only if a male bear attacks me close to our town."
He remembered the worried look on her face when he'd brought the black bear to the rear of the manor. She'd practically searched him for injuries before clutching him tightly and he'd never felt so lucky for it. He would never harm an animal that had young and if the animal was far from Davenport, he'd simply lead it on a chase to lose it. However, if it prowled too closely to the homestead, he would end its life before it preyed on his friends.
"He brought down a bear and lugged it all the way to the manor during winter a few years back" she explained with a soft laugh to his old adventures outdoors and Myriam whistled with admiration to the feat. She'd brought down a cougar with the help of both men while Ratonhnhaké:ton had been by himself against that furry behemoth. How the hell did he accomplish that?
Caroline returned to sipping her soup quietly but her voice was soft over the crackling fire as she complimented, "He's the heart of our town."
Ratonhnhaké:ton said nothing but appreciated her words.
"Have you always offered homesteads for visitors passing by?" Myriam wondered to the kindness of the native that had offered her refuge there. Gossip amongst trappers and hunters had been mixed with relations to the natives. Frankly, she'd kept to herself in all outposts and areas she passed through regardless of who lived there.
"It depends on the individual but we rarely receive visitors" Ratonhnhaké:ton admitted simply because he welcomed everyone to the open frontier of Davenport. The dense forest and cove to the north deterred most traveling colonists since the roads were more visible towards the cities. As an assassin, it was a hidden gem to remain isolated but for colonists seeking the bustling city life, it was the exact opposite.
"We were the first here and our isolated location didn't bring colonists" Caroline deliberated further because her father happened upon the area while searching for firewood to sell. He and her uncle Terry wanted to open their mill but needed money to fully fund it, not to mention finding a home for their families. Sawing trees and leading them downstream was a dangerous job but fate worked strangely in the best circumstance. Her family had risen from humble beginnings to blossom into a stable way of life and she finished, "The only ones who came from outside Davenport were Prudence and Warren- now we have Norris in that list. Everyone else stumbled upon this little paradise."
"Everyone deserves to live in safety" Ratonhnhaké:ton stated firmly because he was certain his life would've turned out much differently if his village hadn't been attacked so many years ago. He might've been deterred to simply speak with colonists and his life among the Assassin's Order and within Davenport would not have existed. His life had not progressed in the confined safety of a home with loving parents but he would make sure others had that chance.
Caroline watched his pensive gaze towards the fire's glowing embers and she told the others with respect in her tone, "He's modest to say so but he has a very good heart for helping people."
That's why I love you, she thought fondly about his benevolent character and smiled when he decided to take interest with his bread slice.
"I believe it, but I've got one itching question" Myriam agreed to the kindness of their quiet and sometimes elusive resident. Both Caroline and Ratonhnhaké:ton turned their curious gazes to her, wondering what the huntress wanted to know. A large smile crossed her face and her eyes lit up as she demanded with intrigue, "How did Connor kill this bear? I need to know!"
By the evening, everyone but Ratonhnhaké:ton had drunk the small ale keg Norris had bought to bring their meal to an end. Norris and Myriam attempted to lure him into one single drink while Caroline sat back to watch in amusement, knowing his iron-clad resolve. By the time she finished her own mug of ale, Ratonhnhaké:ton had convinced Norris somehow that it was in his best interest to drink it. She figured it was due to one of his half-feigned intensive glares used on friends or methodical persuasion.
Norris had called it quits with his rounds after that but Myriam had simply laughed to her lightweight friend. Once he reminded her that he had about a half hour walk back home, she flicked off his hat from his head. While Norris became a happy drunk, Myriam was a competitive one. This was after realizing she was serious on an arm-wrestling match with Ratonhnhaké:ton and he feigned sleepiness. Caroline figured she was either a chatty or sleepy drunk when she began slumping over her log bench while mumbling about foliage. Why? She had absolutely no idea until Ratonhnhaké:ton pointed it out.
"We should head home" he spoke up as he remained the only sober one in their party and heard boo's and no's all around. This was exactly one of the reasons why he didn't drink.
"But I didn't get to the orange leaves. . ." Caroline sputtered dreamily with a dopey smile as the ale had relaxed her completely. She wasn't entirely drunk because she could control and retain a memory of her surroundings but drinking was certainly off the table now. The comfortable lump she rested against was no longer as comfy as before (not to mention, it moved) and she glanced up to meet Ratonhnhaké:ton's bewildered gaze to drawl, "My, your eyes are like honey."
When laughter erupted from up ahead, she blinked rapidly and her face turned red as a cherry at realizing she'd said that aloud. Well, there went the element of surprise with her little flame for the man. Caroline darted away from her spot to chuckle nervously to her accidental slip and noticed Norris and Myriam were holding back more laughter. She didn't even dare glance at Ratonhnhaké:ton for fear of fainting from humiliation. Shooting them a mock glare, she covered her tracks quickly by declaring with what she hoped was a firm tone, "I'll be on my way home since it's getting late. Myriam, thank you for dinner and Norris, thank you for the ale."
Myriam subdued her muffled laughs into a warm smile and waved a dismissive hand as she leaned against her log bench, "Don't worry about it. I'll fetch you later this week for another hunt."
Caroline brightened up instantly to that suggestion and nodded happily before waving in farewell. Ratonhnhaké:ton grabbed her left arm to stop her in mid-step and he pointed at Norris before declaring aloud, "We're leaving together as a group, seeing as you two were drinking."
Norris yawned into his hand and mumbled out an incomprehensible agreement before standing up. He didn't mind the walk with friends. Caroline began lightly yanking her arm back for freedom but he didn't budge, leading her to reluctantly give up. Wasn't her accidental slip of the tongue embarrassing enough? The miner tried to clean his cup in the nearest water basin laying around but Myriam smacked his hand. They had to walk back home while she was already there so cleaning up would be easy for her. Norris chuckled with embarrassment and quickly nodded with farewell, scuttling off to join his friends.
"Good night, Myriam!" she called in farewell as she was practically led away by Ratonhnhaké:ton, leaving Myriam in amusement. They were rather cute without even trying.
The trio walked through the dark forest to head south to return to Davenport's interior. Unlike winter where the forest was silenced, twitters and chirps were randomly heard to let them know they weren't alone. Once Caroline reassured Ratonhnhaké:ton for the fiftieth time that she wouldn't fall, he finally released her. Norris's peppy mood deflated now that the enjoyable evening had ended and Caroline clapped him on the back to encourage, "Cheer up, you'll win her yet, Norris!"
"What?!" he exclaimed with alarm, worried that his secret was discovered. Had he slipped any suspicious words while he'd been drinking? When had she caught on and how could he deter her from thinking that?
Caroline waved a hand to dismiss any mortified concern and reassured with a warm smile, "You look at her the way my parents look at each other and the way I look at a ship and the way he looks at a bow."
"I . . . I do not have a fascination with my bow!" Ratonhnhaké:ton corrected firmly to the ludicrous notion that he gazed at a weapon with the same fondness that he would a partner. He made sure he was always stoic and collected in his appearance so burning eyes and a suave smile would not be directed at an inanimate object. He was almost inclined to ask if she'd been spending time with Robert Faulkner but saw her pat her own trusty knife with a perky smile. Of course, he forgot she and her family had an affinity for naming their weapons. He was glad he'd left his fateful bow at the manor and pointed out matter-of-factly to end the matter, "I simply happen to have a particular skill set."
She was aware that he took great care in his weapons, similar to herself now, and couldn't help but chide him. His narrowed skeptical gaze and slight frown to match only served to draw her in and she teased, "Have you named her?"
Ratonhnhaké:ton's face flickered with bewilderment to what she was suggesting and repeated, "Her?"
Why would I name a weapon?, he thought with dismay to Caroline's logic and wondered if the ale was affecting her mind. During his trading trips in cities or the frontier, he would sometimes hear monikers from hunters about weapons but he never paid it any mind. Colonists could be strange at times and when he met a wandering Iroquois at a trading post, he didn't feel as solitary to share his odd finds.
"Yes, I've named my knife, Ruth, and my pistols are Lady and Albert" she piped up proudly to pat her partners in travel on her leather belt. The knife from her father had saved her from quite a few jams and her flintlock pistols were her latest finds from her naval battles. One was the sleek Scottish flintlock, rightly named Lady for the intricate white ram horn on the butt of the pistol while the wooden English flintlock was her dear Albert for its simplistic but heavier build. Ratonhnhaké:ton's face clearly read 'you're touched in the head' and she frowned with disillusion to proclaim, "You don't name your weapons? I'd call her Freedom Puncher!"
Norris laughed to her sudden perkiness when she began to imitate shooting a bow to invisible enemies. Sure, she couldn't do it as stylishly (or even at all) like Ratonhnhaké:ton but she sure as hell put up a believable pose. Both Norris and Caroline burst into laughter to the fake archery display but the only true archer in the group shook his head to her suggestion. His bow was a bow, that was it and-
"I got it! You should call her Special Delivery!" she continued energetically with a peppy clap of the hands and Ratonhnhaké:ton wondered how an ale increased her liveliness. Wasn't it supposed to decrease her inhibition and make her sleepy? The only one it seemed to affect was Norris as he yawned between laughs and she grinned at her favorite archer to joke, "Get it? Because of the arrows?"
She was having way too much fun with creating names for his weapons but he shut it down by stating flatly, "No . . . colonists are strange."
He's a tough cookie to jokes, she thought with amusement to his tenacity to block jokes but it only served to egg her on. Norris appeared to be her only receptive audience so she called her weapon nicknaming a success. She opened her mouth to retort with another humorous quip but Ratonhnhaké:ton shook his head, causing her to exhale her unsaid words in a sigh.
"Never mind, back to Norris then" she said dryly to switch back to the original topic and patted the miner on the back. He stammered to being the center of attention again, hoping he could quietly fade into the background of her jokes. He wanted to keep that secret as private as possible to prevent alerting Myriam but Caroline burst his hopeful bubble by declaring, "Point is that I can see you're keen on her and I find that adorable."
Ratonhnhaké:ton wanted to protect his friend's privacy, not to mention save him some embarrassment, and tried to divert her attention, "Caroline, you might have drunk too much-"
"I'm not drunk- otherwise, I'd fall on my face" she disagreed with his assumption because she knew her limit, which was seeing double and giggling at random. He shot her a disbelieving look since she was too giddy compared to her usual self, reminding him of Alice and Elizabeth. Still, he wasn't eager to test her inebriation and having to explain it to her parents. She patted her midsection like a drum with a proud smile and laughed impishly to boast, "I have to thank my boban for passing on his iron liver to me."
Turning to Norris, she smiled brightly to reassure him, "Fear not, friend, we'll help you in wooing her to court."
The miner stuttered nervously to his secret being out of the bag and threw his hands in the air. He'd only told Ratonhnhaké:ton because he was his closest friend and he knew every resident. Caroline, however, was clearly a close friend of Myriam's already and that treaded too closely to having his secret spilled. What if Myriam discovered the truth and decided to forgo their friendship?
"Please don't tell her" he pleaded worriedly because he didn't want to lose her as a friend. He saw her every time he headed to his mine and didn't want to turn things awkward. Caroline nodded with sympathy because it hit close to home with her own messed up relationship.
"Don't worry, I'll keep it secret" she promised with a witty wink of the eye to seal her words, causing Norris to groan with embarrassment. She imitated sewn lips with her fingers and Norris glanced at Ratonhnhaké:ton for his input, who nodded quietly.
The trio reached the fork in the road that branched Davenport into its three largest roads that contained the residential homes. Caroline began to wave in farewell to her friends since she would take the middle road to head south to her parents home while Norris took the right to lead past Warren's and Prudence's farm to his home. She expected Ratonhnhaké:ton to break left to ascend the path to the manor next to them but he followed behind her.
Her puzzled expression was enough for him to pause slightly and justify, "I'm escorting you home."
"But not me?" Norris joked with mock hurt and placed a hand over his chest, causing Caroline to laugh. He was definitely the most lighthearted out of their quartet and Ratonhnhaké:ton pointed to the right path to silently order Norris home. The miner waved in farewell to leave his friends for the night and called out, "Good night."
They could hear Norris whistling down the path as he headed home, the noise scaring away any small creatures lingering about, and Caroline mumbled, "It's only a twenty-minute walk."
"I promised your parents I would bring you home" he reminded her on his vow since they were not keen of their daughter walking through the dark forest by herself. Despite Caroline was capable in handling herself, Ratonhnhaké:ton was right in expecting his friends to lighten their spirits with an ale. He would not be allowing her out of his sight until she was at her doorstep and stated matter-of-factly, "You also drank."
"I did take an ale strike for you" she chided since their friends had attempted it twice and she'd swiped the first mug to save him from it. Unfortunately, she didn't count on how much liquid that little keg truly contained. Oliver worked miracles for supplying a product worth its money, not to mention the quality. She waved a hand in dismissal as she gazed at the glittering sky and pointed out, "I've survived worse than a walk in the dark."
"You're in the wilderness again, Caroline" he remarked frankly to the numerous dangers posed by the wild frontier compared to the sea. Being an avid explorer of both for years, he held the upper hand against Caroline's experience. He'd scaled trees to escape wild animals since childhood and adolescence introduced him to the open seas. She relented to his reasoning due to that extensive background and he reminded her cautiously, "An angry sailor is different than a wolf."
"So, it won't mug me?" she laughed at the thought of a sailing wolf that committed crime at night. Oh, that idea would be swell for an action story for her siblings. She imitated a wolf's snapping jaws with her right hand and grinned impishly to tease, "Just maul me?"
She hoped to earn a laugh out of her friend but received an amused shake of the head. He was her silent obelisk, all right. Life had disillusioned him at times but she'd always aimed to bring a spark of happiness into his life with silly good-natured jokes. She released a dramatic sigh fit for a delicate socialite and groaned with disappointment, "You won't humor me, Ratonhnhaké:ton?"
He was reminded of Elizabeth's personality when Caroline pouted humorously to earn pity. This time, he offered a faint smile and her laugh echoed in the darkness of the road. It appeared the ale lightened her heart enough to be openly playful, even if nobody laughed with her. He hadn't caught glimpses of her humorous side since returning, remembering the girl that tried to haggle lumber prices with him. There were many memories that filtered through his mind as of late but he had to tread carefully towards the future.
Their footsteps crunched over loose rocks on the dark path as moonlight offered the most natural light. Aside from that, only the private homes which were further south provided lantern illumination but he could see they were still at a distance. Despite the wildlife that roamed Davenport, he trusted these roads better than any other in the colonies.
"Thank you for inviting me to supper" he spoke softly to break the silence of the night as crickets sang their songs. He hadn't expected his day to turn out the way it had because his days in Davenport were often spent either training, strategizing, securing the outskirts of Davenport, caring for his horses, or at the cove with his ship. Her invitation had been a breath of fresh air for him to relax away from his duties and he'd gladly accept another.
"Of course, it wouldn't be the same without you" she smiled modestly because he'd essentially created their town and deserved that recognition. Also, she wanted to spend time with him however she could while he was at home. Their first gettogether had gone splendidly in her book and she smiled with optimism to admit, "We'll have another and I'll invite my sisters."
A second later, they both glanced at each other uncertainly and Caroline restated hesitantly, "Maybe not Eliza, we might encourage her behavior."
Ratonhnhaké:ton agreed that Elizabeth was more daring in her endeavors than Caroline, who carried a calculative edge in her actions. It was clear to him that she idolized her eldest sister and if it worried her, he'd no doubt her parents felt the same. Her brow furrowed with concern as her lips thinned in thought and he asked, "Are you worried she'll run off as well?"
"If she does one day, I want to make sure she can survive" Caroline answered truthfully because she had no idea how Elizabeth would turn out once the adolescent years were behind her. Reflecting on her nineteen years of life, Caroline believed her own insistence to tag along with her father and befriending Ratonhnhaké:ton helped her in surviving the harsh world. She wouldn't fail her little sister if she desired the same but while she had felt alone without her best friends, Elizabeth had something to bind her home. Smiling fondly at her sister's favorite hobby, she chuckled, "But I think she'd be too conflicted to leave the horses rather than us."
"How are you faring with your family?" he asked with curiosity to the current family dynamics of the Burnetts. They were a closely-knit family and they'd accepted him into their fold so he expected the early bump of her return to smooth over. From what he gathered from Samuel, they were happy but Caroline still skirted around them carefully to avoid disrupting that newfound peace.
"It's definitely a wee bit more cramped now than before" she joked openly since their log home had become smaller as her siblings grew up. Eventually, they would all leave the homestead and Caroline's plan was to work and earn enough coin to build her own home. Now that her dream of exploration had been sated, she was ready to move on and tackle a new goal. She shrugged lightly because her errors had been accepted by her parents and she smiled faintly, "All in all, it's had a few bumps but I'm happy. My parents don't have to worry anymore and I will make sure it stays that way."
"That is good to hear" he replied quietly and noticed the candle-lit lanterns of the Burnett homestead peek down at them. Caroline smiled to herself, accustomed to his short sentences- that never changed.
"Eliza and I share the main room which has helped to mend her resentment" she explained since Elizabeth had been quite annoyed the first day. Having a horse of her own now helped considerably and Caroline had been amused to see her throw blankets on the floor the following night to sleep beside her. The two had smoothed over her abrupt leave and caught up on lost time. With Amelia fully healed now, they had to figure out the new sleeping arrangements but both girls were fine staying in the main room.
A sudden thought burst into mind and she quickly grabbed his shoulder, surprising him to the physical contact, and she blurted, "That reminds me, the hay bales for the horses are coming in tomorrow so we'll drop by around noon at the stables. Don't be surprised if she shows up with a basket of apples, she convinced boban that they needed the treat this month."
Ratonhnhaké:ton was certain that if he ever relinquished his horse rehabilitation hobby, it would be passed onto Elizabeth. If the horses were missing something, she would catch it. In the past year, he'd shown her how to groom all horses (not just the foals, colts, and geldings), calculate their diets herself rather than feeding them by his schedule, and providing dental care. In a year or so, he would teach her how to assess and heal their injuries. He'd never had siblings of his own to share those bonds with but like Samuel, Elizabeth was his little sister.
"As stubborn as she is, I have high hopes for her" Caroline murmured softly to reflect his own thoughts about their rambunctious redhead. She treasured her family and after what happened in Charlestown, she was determined on keeping all of them safe. Looking to her silent hero, she wrung her hands together over her stomach and sincerely confessed, "Thank you for looking after my family while I was gone. I never told you how much it meant to me that you've always helped them since our arrival here."
To Ratonhnhaké:ton, it was a given that he'd watch over the Burnetts. They were his family as much as Caroline's, leading him to admit easily, "They've treated me kindly since meeting, I will always protect them."
"I haven't been the greatest daughter but I'm grateful that they have you" she whispered with regret for not living up to her parents' expectations and casting their hopes aside. In her place, she'd left a capable man that would bring them more pride than she ever could. The silence of the night only served to remind her how lonely her days at sea had been and she drew in a shaky breath to swallow the lump in her throat. She steadied her voice to peer at him with appreciation and declared, "You really are-"
"Don't say Lord of the Manor" he interjected with a dejected sigh to the popular moniker and grasped her shoulder this time before he could hear it. The names had spread like wildfire from her siblings to every single resident in Davenport, even the mill workers from Boston that came in every weekend.
"No, I was going to say the guardian of Davenport" she snickered with delight as he managed to pull away her melancholy. His eyes narrowed slightly with a playful glint to determine whether she was teasing him but she simply flashed an innocent smile. He looked away- otherwise, he was prone to blushing to her pretty face under the moonlight. Caroline was oblivious to his action and she humored him with a wagging finger, "You can't blame my family for making catchy heroic nicknames about you."
"I can't?" he joked openly but his mock crestfallen tone caused Caroline to burst into laughter. Hmm, was she completely sure he didn't drink anything? It had been an extremely long time since she'd heard anything remotely playful from him. Her voice echoed down the empty road and she quickly covered her mouth, hoping it didn't travel all the way to her homestead.
The duo turned right at the bend that led towards the main river flowing through Davenport. They could hear the faint rushing of water further ahead but the white picket fence of her homestead greeted their sight instantly. Caroline ascended the short incline that led to her home and smiled at seeing the lantern light through the windows. She caught Samuel and Elizabeth scuttling back and forth in a playful game, followed by Amelia on a wooden cane that Lance had crafted for her. Yep, this was home.
"Thank you for walking me home" she smiled sincerely as they stopped in a shadowed area away from the illuminating lanterns. Despite her initial reluctance of what she assumed would be babysitting, she enjoyed the short walk. Any time she could spend with him, she would take. She rubbed her arms nervously as their walk came to an end, modest on what to say, and quickly piped up, "I appreciate the concern."
Although the front door was closed, Caroline could hear muffled chatter and soft laughter from within. The end of suppertime brought the most talk between her family as either story, games, cleaning, or last-minute chores were completed. Pointing to the glass windows covered by pink muslin drapes, she smiled widely to invite him inside, "You're welcome to join our rabble."
"I will decline for tonight but thank you" he stated softly since he had another of Achilles' lesson to complete. With his immersion in English for years, he'd mastered the language and it was time to move onto another popular language of the colonies. With Norris speaking French, it had become his next language to tackle and the miner was more than happy to help. As much as he disliked assignments at night, he also didn't want to feel awkward around Caroline after everything that happened between them.
"Yep, sure, sure" she replied quickly with embarrassment and crossed her arms to regain her confidence. Well, she'd tried.
Caroline wasn't the clueless type and had begun noticing that he spent time in her home when she was either away or about to leave. She wanted to turn a blind eye to save herself the heartache but it was hard not to when her siblings spent more time with him than she did. They met occasionally by passing each other on the road, like earlier that day, but it wasn't the same as before. He didn't seek her out and she didn't push it, only accepted it with regret.
The alcohol flowing in her blood had relaxed her but also increased her ability to be open and display her emotions. Having him so close within an arm's reach but knowing he would leave without any idea of when she'd see him again was a miserable feeling. It tugged at her heart and knotted her stomach just as badly as when she'd left a year ago. She missed the unbreakable trust between them but she'd shattered it herself. That, coupled with the lack of his old affection, struck hard and she had a hard time coming to terms with that.
"Good night, Car-"
He was caught off-guard when she darted forward to wrap her arms around his broad shoulders. The last time she'd held him in her arms had been in Charlestown and it was one of many little things she missed sharing with him. As powerful as he was physically, he was a gentle baby cub with her in their embraces. Caroline hugged him tightly as she stood on the tips of her toes to lean against him and echo her sentiments. Her nose brushed against the outer edge of his right ear and she whispered, "Please know that I don't want to lose you."
"You won't" he promised because his heart was bound to hers alone but forced himself to pat her back only. As much as he wanted to return her tight embrace, he couldn't do so. Not until he overcame his own internal conflict. Keeping a sharp focus on neutrality, he closed his eyes and stated simply, "I believe the ale's affecting you."
"Pssh, it takes more than that" Caroline shot back quickly as she loosened the embrace to peer up at him with defiance. He was inclined to believe it since she lacked the cloudy gaze, sloppy smile, and forgetfulness of drunkenness. She held onto him and he hoped neither Godfrey or Catherine would open the door or he'd have some explaining to do. Her arms slipped from his neck to rest on his chest with defeat and she whispered miserably, "I've barely seen you since I returned. I'm aware that leaving you behind was wrong and if I must pay for it by watching you from the sidelines, I will."
"Carol-"
"Because I still love you" she interjected weakly to halt his words and met his gaze with longing reflecting in hers. Her fingers brushed over his half-tied hair with gentle care that he'd forgotten and her words struck a chord in his heart. It was hard to be apart from her because his feelings remained true but he couldn't trust so easily after what happened.
Caroline pushed that boundary when her lips met his and her lightning action surprised him. After a year without tasting her kisses and hugging her close, he reacted instinctively by returning it wholeheartedly. For a brief moment, he forgot they stood out in the open as he fell into their private moment and cupped the back of her head to linger in their chaste kiss.
Despite how much he yearned to reciprocate her affection to its fullest as they had a year ago, he wasn't ready to jump back into a relationship. He couldn't disrespect them both and push himself to prematurely overcome the feelings of disappointment and sadness from being left behind. He needed to heal just as Caroline required to accept the repercussions and regretfully, he broke away from their kiss. He could feel her eyes sweeping over his face when he turned away with great reluctance, slipping out of her embrace.
The little body warmth they'd shared between them faded with the sweeping night wind and it emphasized the separation to Caroline. She wanted to hug him tightly and beg for his forgiveness for everything, wishing she hadn't been so reckless. Ratonhnhaké:ton couldn't meet her gaze because doing so would break his resolve and gazed at the darkened grass to dull his own pain.
"I'm sorry, Caroline, but I need time to accept what happened between us" he spoke gingerly to lay down the boundaries between them as they reverted to a platonic stance. She knew it would be too farfetched of a wish to have him reignite their old relationship but still, she'd dreamt of it. His thumbs brushed over her freckled cheeks to steal one last moment with her and admitted quietly, "My own sentiments haven't changed for you, take comfort in that."
"I . . ." she stammered weakly but couldn't vocalize her disappointment as her throat tightened. She nodded quietly to accept the finality of it and grieve in her own manner, thinning her lips to swallow the lump forming in her throat.
"I will see you again" he promised gently to keep that hope alive and pressed a faint kiss to her forehead. He heard a faint whimper behind her closed lips and heavily doubted she'd be having a good night after all this. He didn't want to bring a horrible end after their supper with friends but he was lost for words on what to say. Backing away from her, he felt a twinge of cowardice as he whispered, "Goodbye, Caroline."
She watched him walk away and turned away to blink rapidly as she felt tears burning the corner of her eyes. Entering her home through the front door at that moment would not bode well and decided to sit at her favorite spot in the rear garden. Wiping her eyes as she walked to the back of her home, she gazed at the glittering stars that comforted her with their silence and sighed softly, "Goodbye . . . Connor."
A/N: And we have a cute supper for the four friends in 1775, only for the childhood sweethearts to break up right after (sorry, guys!). I've always liked Myriam's unconventional character so she's become Caroline's friend as a kindred spirit now that they both live in Davenport. Robert is another character that will soon become Caroline's new mentor once 1776 rolls in.
Thank you for the new alerts and the numerous countries reading my tale (a shout out to my top five for July: United States, Canada, Poland, United Kingdom, and Australia).
To East Coast Captain: Connor will be left with no choice but to tell her about the Assassin-Templar war since she's already begun associating herself with covert assassins. His hectic life and their own personal lives, mainly their sentiments, will lead him to divulging everything to avoid losing her or leading her into danger.
Next Chapter Excerpt:
Ratonhnhaké:ton attempted to herd the pigs into the pen while Alice cleaned the chicken coops with a bucket of water and a broom. He managed to get two inside rather easily but the three remaining were stubborn. He hadn't guided livestock at all and had expected them to be similar to horses. Unfortunately, he was very wrong as they refused to follow his directions and he was forced to release more emotion in his voice as well as raise it.
Ten minutes after he began to herd the pigs, Caroline arrived at the farm with Elizabeth and Martha in tow. Caroline had finished her day early at the mill by sorting the new incoming orders and tying ribbons to each type of lumber to correlate with the invoices. With her father being unable to fully read English, she designed a system of color coding and writing a number on the ribbon to dictate how many orders of each he needed. Godfrey was glad to have her onboard at the mill and had begun paying her as an employee as well.
Leaving the rest to her father and uncle, she'd headed home to find Elizabeth watching the grazing horses while Martha sewed quietly beside her. An odd peace had fallen between the two squabbling sisters once Amelia and Caroline returned since each preferred one. For Martha, Amelia was her role model while Elizabeth believed in Caroline and they listened to them diligently. Catherine was thankful for it and had suggested she take the girls to the farm to help in case Prudence needed help. It was Samuel's turn to help with the farm work that day so Catherine was fine on her own and Amelia had healed fully to aid her.
To Prudence, it amused her how different the Burnett sisters were in comparison to when they'd first arrived in Davenport. Caroline's hair covered the nape of her neck and met her chin as it slowly grew, lacking a bonnet, and wearing a blue work tunic and black breeches that ended in light boots. A leather belt around her waist contained her trusty knife, Ruth, and pistol, Albert. She'd left Lady behind for cleaning. Martha was the stark contrast to her androgynous sister as she wore a freshly pressed pink dress covered with white flowers on the skirt, a white kerchief draped over her shoulders, and a brown bonnet over her neatly braided hair. Elizabeth was the epitome of both as her hair was completely loose, blue bonnet dangling behind her back, and a simple blue dress that held dirt patches over the skirt.
Caroline barely greeted her sister and Prudence when she noticed Ratonhnhaké:ton guiding the pigs. You didn't see that every day. Martha and Elizabeth couldn't hold back their laughter when they heard him hollering at the oinking pigs with desperate hand movements to the pen, "Hip hip! This way! Here! I said here!"
The three young women entered the property and Martha informed Prudence, "My mother sent us to help with any extra chores-"
"No! Here!"
Prudence bit her bottom lip with embarrassment since she could see her pigs were giving him deaf ears. Her gaze remained focused on Ratonhnhaké:ton but she spoke softly, "Thank you very much, Alice is with the chicken coops if you'd like to help her. The horses and cow are eating while Connor is with-"
"Come here. Káhnyon! Ici!"
"Uh-oh, he's resorting to other languages" Caroline murmured with a faint smile of amusement because it meant he was losing control of the situation. She never would've thought pigs would fluster him so easily. She could hear the difference in his voice and the changes she heard were ones she'd only heard in private. Placing a hand on Elizabeth's back, she smiled brightly, "Let's help, shall we?"