Unfortunate Neighbors
14 February 1776
Ratonhnhaké:ton had returned from his trip at sea without problem and added a new piece to the puzzle. Robert's suggestion of having Caroline onboard paid off and the new year had allowed the two to becoming close friends again. Trusting her and their combined capabilities, he offered her to be their navigator whenever they headed out on the Aquila and she'd happily accepted. Half a month later and he still didn't know from where she'd popped out a bottle of whiskey to celebrate but she had.
Currently, the Templars were laying low and it was an uneasy silence that he didn't like. To occupy his time, he explored the outskirts of Davenport to ensure no dangerous wildlife treaded close to the residential homesteads. He was on a northern path heading southbound when he heard frantic screaming in the distance. Like lightning, he shot off towards the sound as the winter winds whistled to mix in with the yells.
"Help! Somebody, please help me!"
The voice sounded very familiar and as the tree line opened into a clearing, he spotted Prudence. The heavily pregnant woman had been wandering the forest when strong but rapid contractions began to strike. She clutched her abdomen with pain as she attempted to walk slowly towards him and screamed for help, "Connor! Thank the Lord!"
He rushed to her side with concern to her anguished voice, leaning over to help her stand upright, and questioned worriedly, "Prudence! Are you alright? What are you doing out here in the woods?!"
Why is she alone?, he thought frantically to why she wandered this far north on her own without a buddy. She was heavily pregnant and due to deliver soon, which concerned him even more. An expectant mother should be relaxing during her last week to ensure an uncomplicated delivery. Or, at least that's what he'd been taught.
Prudence grabbed his arm, clutching it tightly as another contraction struck, and she exclaimed, "The baby's coming!"
His eyes widened to this prospect because he'd always heard about the deliveries after they happened. He didn't want to leave Prudence alone but he also needed to fetch help because he wasn't a trained physician. Childbirth was a delicate matter and he wanted his friend to be at home with the doctor to have her child. Noticing her horse grazing along the path, he encouraged her to walk and stated, "We need to get you to Dr. White."
She shook her head vehemently because the contractions were powerful enough to buckle her legs into the ground. It took all her strength to stay upright but her body was adamantly yelling that her child would arrive soon. Why had she decided to take a walk and follow the winter hares jumping about? Ratonhnhaké:ton tried to budge her towards the horse but she refused, falling to her knees, and breathed heavily, "No! I can't move! Take my horse!"
She gripped his hand tightly to call his attention and met his gaze to state firmly between gritted teeth, "Bring him here. GO!"
Ratonhnhaké:ton was greatly reluctant to leave her alone in the snow but she refused to leave the clearing. It reminded him painfully of his mother as she'd urged him to leave in their last meeting but he wouldn't repeat the same outcome with Prudence. With regret, he left her behind to carry out her wish and quickly mounted her brown horse to head straight to Dr. White's home. Thankfully, Prudence had been close to the main road of Davenport which allowed him to stay on it to reach the doctor's home in the south. He'd never urged a horse to gallop as he did now because he didn't want to return and find Prudence in a critical condition or worse, her unborn child.
Once he crossed the bridge over the largest river of their town, he saw the mill hard at work and the Burnett/Galloway homestead off to the left. The horse trotted up the small incline as he kicked snow backwards to ascend and Ratonhnhaké:ton turned him towards the right once they reached flat land. Lyle White's homestead was parallel to the lumberjacks and right across the river from the farmers. In times like this, he was happy that the residents hadn't spread out far to build their homes.
He found the physician smoking a pipe outside his home as he watched the light drizzle of snow. The doctor was surprised by the horse that almost toppled down his porch as Ratonhnhaké:ton practically leapt off to land beside him. The assassin wasn't wasting time with this and quickly ordered, "Dr. White! Come with me. Now."
Lyle could only blink in a stunned stupor to his dramatic entrance before sputtering to his urgency, "W-What's wrong?
"Prudence is in labor in the forest" he answered swiftly to inform him of the emergency and swiftly turned around to return to her. Lyle snapped out of his stupor and into physician mode, tearing his door open to grab his second medical bag that he used for home visits. He kept it by the door for any emergency to save time and chased after Ratonhnhaké:ton, whistling for his own horse.
"Where is she?" he demanded because he was aware his patient wasn't one to be stationary. The pregnancy had been hard on her but Prudence tried her best to maintain her everyday activities. Unfortunately, even as a doctor, his patients could disobey his recommendations and she enjoyed her walks.
His gelding was always equipped with a saddle and leads for priority as a physician and he hopped onto his horse. Ratonhnhaké:ton didn't waste time and headed back to Prudence, pointing north to signify their destination. Lyle quickly caught on that he was aiming in the direction of the forest to the north rather than the Fortier farm across the river.
The doctor couldn't help but blurt with exasperation, "In the forest? What in bloody hell is she doing out there?!"
"Does not matter" Ratonhnhaké:ton was quick to reply because her intentions weren't important. What mattered was getting to her in time to deliver the baby safely.
Lyle's horse galloped beside his to match pace and he surprised the assassin by suggesting hastily, "We need to get Warren."
"Now?!" he exclaimed for the first time because he was trying to wrap his mind on the fact that was he was the only one nervous about this baby. Prudence was trying to control the birth as best she could and his priority was reaching her, not going off to find Warren.
"Yes!" the physician insisted because the couple should be together to experience the birth. With it being Prudence's first child, the body would take its time in delivering a baby in comparison to a woman who had already experienced childbirth.
"She's having a baby!" Ratonhnhaké:ton shot back to emphasize the living child depending on them. If this was his wife, he would want the healer to stay by her side and forget all about him. Maybe it was his young mind getting the best of him but he'd rather miss the birth of his firstborn than arrive and find a horrendous scene.
Lyle wasn't budging on the choice, even with his worried outburst, and stated simply, "And Warren should be there."
"What if the baby arrives while we're finding him?" he demanded firmly because he would not be pinned with the blame or have the burden of the birth going wrong on his shoulders. He was aware his emotions were weaving into his decision-making but new father or not, the priority should be the laboring mother. Prudence was depending on him to bring help and he couldn't fail that promise.
The tense commotion between the two was enough to draw the women of the hillside homesteads to come out. Diana and Catherine found the two men at the edge of the slope towards the river as they argued loudly. At least, that's what it sounded to the women because Ratonhnhaké:ton rarely raised his voice. If he was doing so, one should consider his words. Catherine was the first to reach them as she raised her hands to quiet them before they drew a crowd and asked loudly, "What's all this racket?"
Ratonhnhaké:ton smiled with relief to the woman who had taken him in as a mother. If nobody else listened, he hoped that she would understand his worry. Catherine could see the urgency on his face as he pointed north of their position and informed desperately, "Go north to the forest, Prudence is in labor and she needs help."
Both women gasped with surprise to the sudden news and neither hesitated on helping. They weren't new to the expectations of childbirth and the two had aided each other during their own deliveries so they were familiar with that special moment. Catherine still joked that her friend had practically delivered Alice until a midwife arrived. Diana glanced firmly at the physician because they wouldn't stand aside from this and questioned, "What do we need to bring?"
Lyle had learned in a short span of time that the women of Davenport were tenacious and to never anger them. They could look homely and softhearted but they would knock you down on your butt, or shoot your kneecap, if they needed to. He would need as many hands that could help anyway and replied quickly, "Blankets and boiled water."
The women ran back to their homes to fetch the supplies and Ratonhnhaké:ton was relieved for more help. If they hadn't intervened, he would've been liable to breaking away and heading straight for Prudence. Carrying on their path to the bridge, Lyle wanted more information on her condition and asked, "Tell me how she seemed to you."
Ratonhnhaké:ton was glad they were talking about Prudence's health now and remarked, "In great pain. She could not move herself."
The news worried Lyle in case the labor was indeed close to ending with the delivery of a child or worse, a complication. First time mothers were delicate due to the new experience which opened a whole new door of risks. If the hips weren't adequate to pass the child, the umbilical cord wrapped around the baby, or the baby was arriving feet first- anything could happen. Quickly, he asked for more input, "Was she pale? Was there blood?"
If she hemorrhages before delivery, I might be too late, he thought grimly to the idea of finding her in such a condition. Worse, if he found her like that away from the safety of her home.
"Not that I saw" Ratonhnhaké:ton replied because he didn't see anything abnormal besides her discomfort. Otherwise, she would've kept him there if she couldn't control the situation.
The answer relieved him because he might get there in time to deliver the baby and he sighed, "Might be we have some time."
Crossing the bridge, the main path heading north to the right would lead to Prudence while turning to the left would lead them to Warren. Ratonhnhaké:ton decided to make the decision to prioritize Prudence and ordered the doctor, "She's straight north of this path! Find her first and I'll meet you with Warren."
With that said, he took off to the left with his horse before Lyle could say otherwise. There was no way the doctor would miss her staying on that path since her screams had alerted him to come help her. He was relieved when Lyle headed north instead of following him, allowing some of his concern to dissipate. With his blazing speed, it didn't take long to reach the farm since it was a short distance from the forked road.
He led the horse to the rear of the farm where the two farmers were often seen and called out, "Warren! Are you here!?"
Warren had been unloading feed for their livestock in the back when he heard Ratonhnhaké:ton's voice. He was surprised to his arrival since he expected a produce buyer or Prudence returning home. Hearing the frantic pitch in his raised voice, he was worried instantly and wondered why he was calling his name. Had something happened to one of the residents? Assuming it was important, he set down one of the feed sacks and hollered back, "Over here. What's the trouble?"
Ratonhnhaké:ton was at his side within seconds as his horse galloped to a standstill. Warren jumped back to his urgency and wondered what was making the young man worry. By the look of it, it was serious.
"Prudence, she's having the baby" he revealed grimly because they had no time to waste.
She's what?!, Warren thought instantly with dread to that possibility.
Warren had expected to hear the news from his wife inside their home, not their neighbor. Prudence had assured him that a short simple walk through town was on her mind, nothing more. What had she been doing that sent her into labor? Was she in one of the homes of their neighbors? Worried for her safety, he ran to the nearest horse in his stable and jumped onto the saddle. He didn't want his wife to be alone during the delivery and demanded, "Where is she?!"
"Follow me, she's north of here" Ratonhnhaké:ton informed calmly in the hope that the farmer wouldn't let emotions get the better of him. Now that Dr. White was with Prudence, she was receiving the care that she needed. Still, as a father-to-be, he sympathized with Warren and kept Prudence's horse on a fast pace back to her.
The trip was short from the farm to the forest and Ratonhnhaké:ton assumed Prudence had taken a quick walk and expected to come home soon after. For Warren, the trip felt like an eternity as nothing but snow and random residents from the mill or cove were seen down the path. Everyone was behaving nonchalant and calm while he was a ball of nerves. Ratonhnhaké:ton, however, kept reassuring him that he'd left her in a stable condition and Dr. White was with her. Further north, the snow became heavier over the hills and no residents wandered so when a painful grunt echoed in the silence- Warren knew he'd found her.
Both men turned left into the snowy clearing to arrive at Prudence's location as another groan echoed. Dr. White was already at her side, medical bag open as he assessed her condition. Prudence leaned against an old stump to help bear her contractions and push back against them. Her body told her it was time to push and her pained gaze cleared away when she spotted Warren dismount his horse. He was here! Her left hand shot out towards him for support and the farmer ran to her, entwining their fingers as he kneeled to ask Lyle, "Is she alright, doctor?!"
Lyle's brow was furrowed with concentration but he shook his head to reply with disappointment, "No, she's not alright! She's having a baby and here by the looks of it. Of all the places. . ."
Prudence didn't care where she had her child as long they came out alive and safe. Besides, she was never one for conventional means and it would be an interesting story to tell one day. Spotting Ratonhnhaké:ton standing off to the side as he tried to avoid peering at the scene, she smiled warmly, "Thank you, Connor."
"It was nothing" he replied modestly and decided to stick close to the horses rather than the birth. He knew absolutely nothing about children and hadn't expected to watch a birthing experience so soon. He was completely out of his element and was more than happy to leave this to Dr. White.
The women found them during the middle of the birth and had brought their supplies in a wagon. Diana and Catherine had begun to leave on foot with baskets in hand until Caroline hitched the wagon with Molly and Brave to carry everyone quickly. It would've taken forever to arrive on foot and speed was of the essence, allowing the women to set up a makeshift bed in the rear for Prudence. Amelia had been left behind to take care of their homestead while Caroline grabbed Martha as a third hand, given that she'd helped for Diana's birth last year.
Warren served as Prudence's support system to help her through every contraction as her cries echoed through the snowy forest. Lyle kept an eye on her pushing to allow ample time for her to breathe without risking the baby's descent. Diana proved herself the most helpful as she managed to tuck a clean blanket under Prudence's legs for sanitation and brought along extra supplies to aid in the delivery. She'd brought water for Prudence to avoid dehydration as sweat poured down her brow and offered a swig of alcohol to help with the pain. The farmer, however, bore through the contractions with only a few sips of water. She'd made it this far so she might as well push through to the end.
Catherine had brought makeshift bassinet for the baby to prevent the winter chill from touching them. Martha took care of preparing blankets for the baby while Catherine stayed at Prudence's side across from Warren. While everyone had designated roles, Caroline and Ratonhnhaké:ton were left to watch the entire scene unfold as bystanders. Being runners, all they could do was wait for further orders or until everything was over. Although Dr. White and Diana concealed the delivery of the baby, they found it surreal and Caroline whispered uncertainly, "I haven't seen a baby born. Uncle Terry would keep us at his place while mother had my youngest siblings."
"I . . ." Ratonhnhaké:ton was barely able to stammer before his mind went blank and he had nothing to say. Being an only child, he'd only heard of babies born in his village and that was it. He hadn't expected to witness a birth until it was time for him to be a father, not that he expected it anytime soon.
Martha caught their bewildered expressions as they stood next to the wagon, almost expecting them to bolt like deer. She snapped her fingers between their glossy eyes and Caroline immediately grabbed her arm in a vice grip as the spell broke. The brunette yelped with surprise but it was drowned out by Prudence's cry as she pushed to bring her baby into the world. Martha was tugged close to the two, surprised by her sister's strength, and Caroline didn't break her gaze from the small group to whisper, "What do I do? Babies aren't my expertise."
"You help, that's all" she pointed out and realized the birth was stunning the two completely. It confused her because she assumed the two had talked about the future during their courtship. Didn't they expect this in their picture of the future? They were dumbfounded by her answer and she jerked her arm from Caroline to say, "Babies aren't scary-"
Another yell ripped through Prudence and it was enough for Caroline to grab Martha's arm again. The eldest redhead could feel the pain in her neighbor's voice and her determination to have that baby. Is that how childbirth truly was? Would she go through the same torment one day when she was ready to have a family? Had her mother really gone through all this eight times?! How could a human body withstand such a trial? Ratonhnhaké:ton had no idea how to help and decided sticking by the sidelines was the best option. Like Caroline, hearing Prudence's yells made him want to avoid the scene altogether and he sidestepped behind Caroline to shroud his view.
"You're aware we're all capable of having children now, right?" Martha asked the two bluntly since they weren't children anymore. As a lady, it was expected that you'd find a suitable husband and tend to a family. Ratonhnhaké:ton and Caroline, however, glanced at her like she'd grown another head. She figured the two had more of sea adventure and treasure hunts in mind than having a family, leading her to sigh, "Never mind."
Caroline winced again when Prudence cried out but it was immediately followed with a baby's strong cry. Dr. White shouted that the baby was out as he stimulated the baby to breathe and quickly cut the cord to bind the remnant with twine, handing the crying child to Diana for drying. Leaving him wet for too long in the cold would affect his temperature severely and she placed him in the bassinet, drying him swiftly from head to toe. The stimulation caused the infant boy to screech louder but Lyle took it as a good sign that he was adapting to his new environment. Prudence relaxed in her husband's arms as Catherine reassured her that everything was fine and the labor was finished. Leaving the two to bond in the birth of their child, Catherine moved to help Diana with the baby.
"He's a fighter" she chuckled fondly since she'd swaddled him tightly and placed a wool hat on his head to keep his damp curly hair from cooling. His toothless pink gums showed as he cried in protest to the unwanted handling and both women chuckled.
"I have a son" Prudence smiled warmly to her husband as her dream came true, resting her head against his chest. She might not be able to hold him yet but she could see and hear him a few feet away from her. She shivered lightly as she remembered snow surrounded her but the pain of the contractions made her blood boil from the pain. Now that everything was over, she was more aware of her environment. Turning to her neighbors, she asked softly, "Might I have a blanket? This time, I do need it."
As the women tended to the new baby, Dr. White focused on finishing the afterbirth and suturing any damage from the baby to his mother. Prudence was on cloud nine now that the baby was out and didn't mind the light cramping in comparing to the horrible contractions. Martha was quick in tearing herself away from the befuddled ex-couple to place a warm blanket over Prudence to keep her warm. After the blood loss, she needed to conserve as much energy as possible.
Caroline dared herself to step closer and once she caught a peek of the round-faced baby, she could see why Prudence refused everything but water. Despite the pain, she wanted to experience every minute and see her little one utter their first cry into the world. She beckoned Ratonhnhaké:ton with her hand to reassure him it was safe and Prudence chuckled softly to their apprehension. They were young and during their age, she hadn't even considered children. She hadn't met Warren either so there was time for the two to build their own family.
Ratonhnhaké:ton took a few tentative steps to stay behind Caroline but peered into the basket to see for himself. No matter the culture, newborns were always held in awe and fussed over. The baby had taken to sucking his hand, his eyes closed with content as he laid in the bassinet. He had seen Diana's son after both were declared stable and now, he was seeing the next baby that had been born in Davenport. He wondered if he'd be seeing a new baby next year if this was the trend.
"See? Not scary" Martha pointed out dryly as the cute button nose made her smile.
Dr. White finished the critical portions of the afterbirth to ensure Prudence's survival but he needed to get her home. Recuperating in the cold outdoors was not what he'd recommend for any patient. Ushering for Diana to bring the baby to his parents, she grabbed the bassinet to approach the new parents. Prudence scooped up her son with a broad smile, endeared by his little curls that escaped the hat and his pouting lips for being disturbed.
Clutching him close, she looked to her doctor as he kneeled down besides them to smile with success, "There he is! Looks to be in fine health as well. Has a good set of lungs on him."
He didn't want to disturb the first moments with the new family but safety was of the essence, informing them, "Now I don't mean to rush you, but we need to get both you and- does he have a name yet?"
They had already decided on names before their child was born, regardless of gender, and Warren answered happily, "Hunter."
In all the focused concentration of the birth, Prudence could only remember her horse and wondered how she'd return home. Catherine was quick to answer her confusion and pointed to the nicely padded wagon that Prudence had failed to see (and rightly so) and grinned, "And we have your transport. You are not riding on a horse back to town."
"Thank you, all of you" Prudence sighed softly with exhaustion but extreme gratitude. Tears burned the corners of her eyes to see her neighbors come together to help her family.
26 February 1776
The temperature in Davenport was slowly climbing to usher in spring, gradually thinning the snowcapped hills. The Aquila was still docked in the cove and Ratonhnhaké:ton hadn't informed Caroline about upcoming trips. In the meantime, she kept working at the mill to review and send out orders to help her father. Godfrey was proud to see his daughter helping with the family business and she was happy to have savings of her own. All of it would go towards her dream of building a homestead and tending to her own land one day.
Supper had finished at the Burnett homestead and Caroline sat at the table with her sisters. It was a rare occurrence that they all gathered together at the table to share conversation, leading Catherine to raise an eyebrow in question. Amelia reassured her they were bonding for quality time and their mother let them be. Samuel was enthused with one of his father's tales from Scotland so the boy didn't feel left out. Amelia and Martha had books on their side of the table while Caroline cleaned her knife at the head of the table. Elizabeth had decided to feign napping while Alice poked her left arm with a giggle to see if her sister opened one eye.
"Why are we gathered here in secret?" Elizabeth mumbled tiredly because she'd rather frolic around the house than stay in one spot. She groaned when she felt Caroline nudge her foot in reprimand and it stirred another protesting groan from the redhead.
Amelia chuckled softly to her defiance to join their first sisterly congregation and pointed out gently, "We're at home. This would be the least secretive meeting in history."
"I'm sure meetings of evil and discontent have happened in homes" she shot back with an impish smirk that caused both Amelia and Martha to sigh. Nobody could argue against her and expect to win.
"Let them speak, Eliza" Caroline ordered calmly to settle her spirited sister and Elizabeth frowned. As the oldest, she had to broker peace between all of them to keep conversations respectful. Placing her knife on the table, she glanced at the two across from her and said with curiosity, "Although, I do wonder why we're here too."
"Apparently, we're getting temporary neighbors" Martha told her sisters with a hushed voice as she spread the newest gossip to her sisters. Amelia expected something different concerning the town and sighed since it wasn't good manners. Unlike herself, the brunette had become quite the fly on the wall when it came to finding out secrets.
All the sisters, minus Amelia, perked up to the tidbit of news since they hadn't had new neighbors since the innkeepers arrived. Martha smiled confidently to nabbing their attention and she continued with a low tone, "Corrine told me that her grandchildren are dropping by for the spring. Their parents are looking for a homestead-"
"Do they sound nice?" Alice asked sheepishly as she listened in to her first gossip, hoping their mother wouldn't chastise them. It wasn't good manners for a lady but she was naturally curious to partake with her siblings. Although she was going on thirteen years now, she still felt small compared to her older sisters. Amelia and Martha were elegant in her eyes while Caroline was fearless and Elizabeth could be intimidating.
Martha shrugged uncertainly because she'd only grabbed little information and informed with awe, "They're from New York-"
"You know, Connor's going to offer like always" Elizabeth told her sisters with a small laugh to his helpfulness with others. If they were the adventuring type, she would love that! If they were city folk, like the ones Martha admired, she'd stay on her property.
"Would you let me finish?" Martha insisted with a huff and smoothed down the kerchief on her shoulders to pent out frustration. A lady had to always appear composed but Elizabeth threatened her stoicism all the time. She had to wonder sometimes how they were related at all but their mother promised nobody had been switched at birth, much to her chagrin. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and returned to playing a sleeping rabbit on the table.
"When did you become the town gossip?" Caroline asked with curiosity to her sister's interest in juicy rumors. Martha had always been the proper one of the family to a point that it annoyed her to the brunette's high expectations of perfection. She didn't expect this odd hobby to be hers but rather Elizabeth's, which drew her interest.
Martha blushed faintly since spreading rumors wasn't seen in the best light but it was all she had in a small town. She didn't have the bustling city life to keep her occupied so this was the next best thing. Her sisters weren't blabbermouths and if anything did go into the open, she'd blame Elizabeth as the obvious perpetrator. Crossing her arms defensively, she raised her nose and stated calmly, "While you were off stabbing pirates."
"There's nothing wrong with that" Elizabeth defended hastily because that was part of the adventure. She loved hearing about pirates on the high seas and stuck out her tongue at Martha. How else was she supposed to pass the time?
Caroline and Amelia shared a glance at seeing the two were back to old antics despite their grown age. Some things never changed. The second eldest waved a hand between their stern staring contest to break the spell and she asked, "When do they arrive?"
"I believe at the end of this month" Martha replied with a smile to their temporary neighbors and piped up, "I bet they're elegant like city folk."
"Or pompous" Caroline muttered under her breath since she hadn't had the best experience in cities. If residents weren't put off by her lifestyle choices, it was her attire. Amelia glanced at her for the offhand comment but she dismissed it quickly, "I'm likely wrong. They're Ollie's and Corrine's, who are quite jolly, so I'm sure we'll be just fine."
Caroline had no idea how badly she would hate being right with her first assumption.
A week later, the girls passed by the snow-covered inn when they noticed a wagon stationed by the front. When they saw trunks being unloaded, Martha decided to lead the welcome wagon brigade and escaped from their home before Catherine could say otherwise. Caroline was rather proud of her gutsy move but made sure her sisters were dressed well for the cold. Snow was slowly beginning to thaw and by mid-March, it would be gone completely. After reassuring their flustered mother that they'd simply drop by for a quick visit, her sisters snuck out and a flashy smile was all Catherine saw before her eldest ran after them.
They had chosen Amelia to be their emissary since she was the nicest out of all and had given her the large welcome basket. They had placed preserves, extra fabric, maple candy, and other goodies made in town to welcome their temporary neighbors. All of them were curious because they would be seeing newcomers in their age range for the first time rather than adults.
Wait, I'm an adult, Caroline thought to herself in afterthought and laughed to her own forgetfulness.
Corrine exited the open doorway to the inn as she wore a shrug over her shoulders for warmth. Her blue eyes widened with cheer at seeing the Burnett girls approach her home and she opened her arms to hug them in welcome. She hadn't expected her neighbors to drop by but Davenport was the kindest town she'd lived in, chuckling softly, "You little dears, it's cold out! Come on inside!"
She bustled them all inside the inn where the large fireplace kept the dining area cozy. Amelia was quick to shake her head when Corrine offered them a drink and handed her the large basket with a warm smile, "Thank you kindly but no. We just dropped by to give this to your grandchildren in welcome."
"Oh, I'm sure they'll appreciate it" Corrine smiled widely to their sincerity since the girls helped around town wherever they were needed. Caroline and Martha were often there to learn recipes for food while the former peeked in at Oliver's brewing. She was sure they'd all get along by springtime and told them, "I haven't seen them since they were little so my daughter sent them here while they search for a new homestead up north. With all this danger about, I figure here is safest for them."
She placed the wicker basket on top of the counter and ushered for the girls to sit but they declined. Oliver was taking care of the patrons in the inn and constant movement helped the girls bite back the cold. Corrine turned to the left side of the inn where the double doors were open, leading to their private home upstairs, and called, "Children, might I have a second?"
They heard the rumbling of footsteps coming downstairs and the girls huddled together nervously from the sound. Caroline had heard worse sounds coming from an outhouse but said nothing. A few seconds later, a young brunette man stepped out to meet them as he dressed warmly in fine wool clothes fit for a city dweller. Corrine patted his shoulders proudly as she nudged him forward and introduced with a bright smile, "This is my oldest grandson, Walter."
While her sisters curtsied politely, Caroline headed straight for a handshake out of practice and introduced herself, "I'm Caroline Burnett. These are my younger sisters, Amelia, Martha, Elizabeth, and Alice."
Surprise showed in his blue-gray eyes to her forwardness but it delighted him, wondering if the rural residents were the same. Caroline's brow furrowed when she felt a prod to her back and soon enough, she was nudged aside by an ecstatic Martha as she smiled smoothly at the newcomer. Why was she behaving like- oh, now she understood. It figured a city man would draw her sister's attention but Caroline said nothing as Martha told him about their town. . .and where they lived. So much for her being a delicate flower.
She found it rather humorous since she wasn't the flirtatious type at all but let her sister be. Now, if Martha began embarrassing herself, she'd cut right in to save her the trouble. Amelia shot her an amused gaze while Elizabeth grimaced to the obvious flirting, shaking her head. Their attention was taken away by more footsteps and this time, a smaller girl around Alice's age emerged.
Her round face was not happy at all as her raven curls were gathered neatly around her face and she was dressed in a fine pink calico dress. The disparity between Alice and the young girl was clearly displayed when the meek brunette tried to welcome her but the girl turned away. Alice wrung her hands nervously at being ignored as the other girl glared at her brother to demand, "You were supposed to be helping me!"
"Grandmother called" he reasoned with a small sigh to escape her screeching and continued speaking with Martha and his grandmother.
She was not pleased to hear this and her gray eyes narrowed with mild apathy to the visitors in her grandmother's home. Her tense body posture clearly dictated that she demanded all of their attention and wasn't keen on sharing it with anyone else. Elizabeth's eyes narrowed when her gaze scrutinized them from head to toe, questioning skeptically with a rude tone, "Who are you?"
"We're the Burnetts from across the road" Amelia informed calmly with a warm smile since she was the best equipped to deal with children. Elizabeth looked more than ready to pounce while Alice hid behind her for protection. Caroline wanted to grab a nearby stick to poke her away and Martha was too distracted with Walter to care.
The small girl simply scoffed before heading back upstairs with haste, causing Corrine to blush with embarrassment. Her youngest grandchild was not happy to be separated from her parents and their old home. Regardless of that, Corrine was compelled to apologize, "I'm sorry, girls. That was Mary and as the youngest, has become quite accustomed to spoiling. She meant no ill will, I promise."
"It's all right, she's moving in to a new place" Amelia replied with an awkward chuckle since she could smell the air of superiority exuding from her.
Heels clacked against the floorboards before an indignant 'watch it' echoed and Corrine chuckled, "That must be Clara. She's the second oldest of the three so she's been upstairs preparing the girls' rooms."
"So, three grandchildren?" Elizabeth asked uncertainly as one out of the two so far appeared amicable.
A slim-figured young woman dressed in blue entered the doorway to hug her flustered grandmother and she declared, "Oh, grandmother, I can't believe you don't have a maid working for you here."
Amelia and Caroline traded knowing glances again as the expectations of neighbors like the innkeepers was slowly flying out the window. The young woman was close to their age range as her curly raven hair was tightly braided into a bun and her spotless attire, not to mention aura, screamed practiced elegance. For the first time, they were meeting someone other than Martha that portrayed the graceful lady-like features society blasted at them. Her gray eyes were sharp but cunning to Caroline as they turned towards them, checking them from head to toe, and Clara asked simply, "And who might you be?"
"These are my neighbors, dear, they live across the road" Corrine explained modestly and while her sisters curtsied politely to Clara's pleasure, Caroline failed to.
Instead, she held out her hand for a handshake in welcome but Clara merely glanced at her empty hand before stating matter-of-factly, "The water basin's over there by the counter. Once you're done washing your hands, we have four trunks outside."
This time, her blue eyes narrowed with insult to being pinned as a laborer and she shot back sharply, "I beg your pardon?"
Corrine was quick to correct her granddaughter that they were visitors, much to her displeasure, while Walter sighed with embarrassment. Amelia took the chance to nudge Caroline behind her before a scene erupted and chuckled nervously. The dark-haired woman simply nodded to disengage herself from the conversation and told Corrine with a wide smile, "I guess not all your neighbors are as kind as Connor then."
Say what?, Caroline thought immediately to hearing his name pop up and Amelia placed an iron-gripped hand on her right arm.
As if summoned by name alone, Ratonhnhaké:ton appeared behind Clara since he'd dropped by to help the new neighbors move in. He noticed the awkward and flabbergasted stares of the Burnett girls- well, minus the enthused Martha- and offered a friendly wave of the hand. Clara clasped her hands over her chest with a smile before placing one hand on his shoulder and sighed, "He is a helpful dream!"
Oh, shit, Caroline thought with unease as she watched the two interact for the first time.
10 March 1776
The dream of new neighbors had not played out exactly as the Burnett girls wanted. Well, Walter was quite amicable when he wasn't surrounded by his sisters. At least, that's what the girls agreed with because Martha insisted he was the kind one. The fact that he was an attractive young man that had caught her eye didn't escape the eldest sisters at all. Even Catherine was amused when her daughter frequented the inn to help Corrine with cooking or baking. Of course, Godfrey wasn't too far from their enamored daughter by innocently purchasing an ale at the inn to keep tabs on her before heading back home.
As for Caroline, her hopes of reuniting with Ratonhnhaké:ton had turned to dust due to Clara. Since her arrival, she had conglomerated most of his time in Davenport to be shown around the area. He'd usually spent a few meals at her home to bond with her siblings but Corrine had now begun inviting him to the inn at Clara's request. It was an annoying tug-of-war but Caroline refused to lower herself to a swooning siren to lure him in.
Alice, in her kind heart, was still trying to befriend the youngest girl since she assumed being a newcomer made her feel alone. She had gathered the children of Davenport at a clearing between her homestead and the inn. Children from families working at the mill were more than happy to spend time with Alice and she'd invited Mary to join them. Elizabeth had tagged along to sit on the wooden fence to keep an eye on her innocent sister, Samuel, and Ann as she watched them play. Now that Caroline worked at the mill, she had taken on the role of caretaker/bodyguard for Alice and Samuel.
Mary, however, was not open to sharing or having Alice lead their games at all. Upon arriving, she'd made it clear who she would tolerate playing with and what games. Alice, being two years older than Mary, allowed her to choose the games out of respect and to keep the peace. The children, however, soon grew bored of playing the same game over and over for the sake of one person. It was also apparent that Mary ostracized the boys in gameplay and only played with girls that were well-dressed. Living a simple life in the countryside, she didn't have much options.
"Let's play hide-and-seek!" Alice piped up to the other children to change the pace and Ann clapped her hands gleefully. Being Alice's best friend, she was always in support of her decisions as she looked up to her as an older sister. It didn't take much encouragement for the children to agree to the new game and everyone agreed.
All, except one.
"No, I want to play tag!" Mary shouted since all girls played the game back in the city. Besides, who wanted to play hide and seek in the forest and ruin their clothes? Only backwoods people would enjoy dirt in their shoes or bugs in their clothes. How gross. Her parents paid the tailor to make her clothes and she wouldn't let a peasant child ruin her belongings.
The other children were glad to play a new game because tag wasn't fun when only one person wanted to be tagged. Most children living in Davenport had experiences in the cities and their games had been lively as they tumbled around for fun. Alice smiled cheerfully to keeping everyone happy but she cried out the next second when she felt a sharp pull on the ends of her braids. Out of anger and resentment, Mary had grabbed her long hair and yanked her back painfully. Being pulled off balance, Alice fell on her butt as her scalp ached terribly and her face reddened to the embarrassment. Oh, she could just cry-
"Get your hands off my sister! Don't you have any manners?!" Elizabeth's voice shouted furiously as she watched everything from across the field and intervened. She hadn't been fast enough to knock the kid aside but she placed herself in between the girl and Alice to shield her. Samuel and Ann helped pick Alice off the ground as the brunette dusted her skirt with tears burning in her eyes. The other children gave her sympathetic faces and quickly went to her side to make sure she was fine.
Mary didn't flinch to the older redhead glaring her down and justified coldly, "I'm the leader and I call out the games."
"I don't care if you're King George himself, this is a democratic town" she stated crisply to calm down the stubborn girl and knock her off her smug podium. Nobody touched her siblings for something so trivial and wondered how sweet people like the innkeepers had earned bratty grandchildren. She fought against the instinct to yell at her and took the wiser route, glancing at the wide-eyed children to propose, "Whoever wants to play Alice's game, come with us and those that want to play Mary's game, go ahead."
Elizabeth wrapped an arm around Alice's shoulders to lead her away from that horrid girl and fumed, "Oh, if I was younger, I'd have slapped her silly."
"Mother says it's not polite and we're good girls" Alice reminded weakly as she rubbed her eyes to clear away the tears and smiled bashfully when all the kids followed her. They really wanted to play with her? All of them? She'd never felt so appreciated after enduring such a humiliating fall. Ann and Samuel piped up that they'd have the best time to cheer her up. The children of Davenport always found Alice to be the gentlest girl around and the same was said within her family. Seeing someone behave that way towards her, they knew better than to associate themselves with her.
Mary was left alone in the field of her own mess and left in angry tears back to the inn. Elizabeth didn't care what tales she spouted to others but she had the other children to corroborate the events. Alice was a peacekeeper and if you hurt someone like that, you were in the wrong.
Samuel rubbed the back of her head, feeling like her older brother for once, and cheered her up, "You can call all the games!"
Elizabeth led them to a different clearing between their home and Mr. O'Donnell's to begin a new game for them. The children ran into the field happily with Samuel in the lead but Ann stayed behind to support Alice. She was bashful to return to her friends after that and hoped nobody thought less of her. Elizabeth removed a pin from her hair to roll up Alice's braids into a bun, pinning it in place securely to avoid another incident. Alice smiled with gratitude to her older sister and Elizabeth told them privately, "I don't think you should play with that girl anymore. Be polite but stay away, bad manners will spoil a good apple."
Alice nodded quietly to obey her sister and that was the end of it.
That was, until Elizabeth called another sisterly meeting at the supper table that evening. She had found the first meeting silly but there was something about congregating as sisters to confide with each other that egged her to continue. She wanted to dub it the Order of Righteous Intent until most of them shut the idea down. Honestly, nobody ever agreed to her suggestions! Either way, she retold the story to her sisters in confidence despite Alice's modesty to keep it quiet. It had been embarrassing for her to be treated like that by a younger girl but she wasn't the type to fight back.
By the end of the story, Amelia jumped from the table to grab an incensed Caroline when the oldest had gripped her knife to head straight for the door. They weren't looking to have a fight or souring neighborly relations with the sweet innkeepers so Amelia clung on. When Catherine caught sight of her two oldest in what appeared to be a bear hug, both chuckled awkwardly to sit back down as if nothing happened. Martha was quick to swipe her knife and tucked it into a cloth napkin for safekeeping, which led Caroline to glare at her sisters. Why were they restraining her fury? Her sister deserved revenge! Amelia's calm but knowing look simmered her boiling rage and she slunk down in her chair to cross her arms. Deep down, Caroline knew avoidance was the best course of action and shook her head to stay levelheaded.
"I've never dealt with such people in my life" Caroline groaned miserably as she dropped her head on the table and sighed exasperatedly. They were mean, spoiled, and prevented her from using force to shoo them away. They had always expected to have kind and gracious neighbors but this was the first time they encountered such a block. Resting her cheek on her hand, she glanced at her fiery sister to smile proudly, "You did good, Eliza."
"I wanted to tear that dress to shreds but I've got my pride" she muttered flatly because nobody disrespected her little sister. They had all grown protective of Alice due to her naïve nature and view of the world. Now, someone had struck her and they wouldn't stand for that.
"Don't engage them" Caroline ordered her sisters to make a strategy to ignore them and hopefully, live in peace. She looked to Alice with emphasize because she knew her kind heart was open to giving second chances as she saw the best in everyone. This was one of those times that Caroline wasn't comfortable with that idea and she explained carefully, "If you feel uncomfortable, you come straight home."
Alice nodded quietly as she trusted her sister's judgment, wishing the entire altercation could've been avoided. Amelia stayed silent since their mother taught them that if you couldn't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. Martha tried her best to downplay the situation they were faced with and smiled half-heartedly, "Corrine and Oliver are sweet, it's just. . .the granddaughters. . ."
"You're only saying that because Walter looks good to you" Elizabeth smirked smugly and the girls hid their laughter to Martha's crush. The brunette blushed immediately and sputtered embarrassedly that it wasn't true and all in their heads. Alice, being young, didn't understand but thought those children all looked good because they wore expensive things. Amelia smiled gently to her innocent mind and hugged her littlest sister, hoping to push her worries out of mind.
"I never thought I'd be eager to leave Davenport- lord, I hope Connor doesn't tell them to claim land here" Caroline sighed deeply to that unwelcome possibility and wished she had rum for the first time in months. It was too late to head down to the cove and share a drink with Robert. Tomorrow, however, would be a new day and she could inquire to when their next mission would be. Boy, she hoped it would be soon. Rubbing her temples to prevent an oncoming headache, she sighed with dismay, "He's so innocently kind and doesn't see the bad- you think it's because she has a nice bosom?"
The sisters groaned in disgust to her bold words (she blamed sailing talk) and Alice decided to play with Samuel since she didn't understand anything anymore. Her sisters were more exposed and experienced with the outside world than she was, leading her to stick with her little brother. Samuel was more than happy for the company as he played with his toy ships and handed one to her.
Caroline calmed them down by raising her hands and stated matter-of-factly, "I've caught his innocent staring when we were together and with her, every man is naturally curious. It's. . .she's very pretty and dresses so nicely. . .I still care for him."
The thought of losing him hadn't hit yet but their scarce interactions were leading her to that somber possibility. Her shoulders slumped dejectedly as she gazed down at her simple attire and murmured listlessly, "Why would he pay for linen when he can have silk, right?"
She hadn't admitted her feelings to anyone other than Amelia but she trusted her siblings. Amelia squeezed her right shoulder with support, snapping Caroline out of her melancholic ruminations. Elizabeth waved a hand in dismissal before suggesting with an impish smirk, "Well, you could always ask Myriam to cock her gun and you could both chase her out."
"We're done as it is so why should I stand in the way of his happiness?" she pointed out grimly and crossed her arms, knowing she had no right to control who he could and couldn't see. She ruined their own chance so why should she object to him finding someone else who would love him. He deserved to be happy and she wouldn't stand in his way.
Elizabeth frowned with distaste to the idea of him courting Clara and blurted with skepticism, "That's happiness?"
"You know what I mean" Caroline sighed with defeat because she could dislike someone while another loved them. It was all about perspective or at least, that's what she told herself. She couldn't hoard his attention if he felt nothing for her anymore and reasoned simply, "The heart wants what it wants. Mine will just have to step aside so his is happy."
The sisters were surprised that she'd give up so easily but assumed it was out of guilt for leaving him in 1774. Two years later, they were at a standstill as friends. They expected the two to return as a couple back in January after their trip to the Arctic but were sorely disappointed. Instead, all they received were trinkets and stories about the unforgiving north but no tidbits of a reunion. Caroline had been completely fine with it but after eight months of friendship and a newcomer seeking his attention, she wasn't holding her breath anymore.
"However, Burnetts never let others trample or knock them down" she reminded her sisters because she wanted them to be strong and never let anyone get the best of them. She didn't want any of them to feel less than they were simply because they were born poor. Those with money and power would always expect the weak to roll over but she would fight back. Pointing to each of them in case they ran into trouble, she pointed out, "Always have witnesses and don't engage unless other adults are there."
She placed her hand in the center of the table to end their talk and her three sisters slapped their hand over hers.
"Why do you keep having meetings without me?" Samuel protested to break into their unified moment since he'd been watching them all by the window and heard hushed whispers.
"Uh . . . mushy girl talk" Elizabeth reasoned quickly to jib her way out of the truth.
18 March 1776
Caroline rode her mare north and longed to ride alongside the cove's shore to see the Aquila. She really missed being on a boat with the wind blowing through her hair and the Aquila was indeed a handsome girl. She was heading north after Ratonhnhaké:ton had met her on the way from the mill and invited her to ride horseback across their favorite pastures. She hadn't done that in quite a long time and had happily accepted, returning home to tell her sisters. Amelia and Martha insisted she wear a dress but Caroline refused, opting for her comfortable riding attire. They managed to convince her into styling her hair into a braid and pinched her cheeks to draw a blush. It was silly but she appreciated their care to stir some confidence into her feminine side.
She was ecstatic to enjoy a private outing with the man her heart fluttered for and as she arrived at their meetup spot, that exuberant joy turned to sore disappointment. Her happy face twisted into dismay when she noticed Ratonhnhaké:ton, but someone else was sitting in that saddle. She prayed that it was Myriam- even Norris- but found herself staring straight at Clara. Why wasn't she surprised?
It was too good to be true, she thought glumly to his newest attachment and wondered if forest ticks were this bad. Sighing mentally, she hoped this ride would be quick and pitied poor Roger since the horse would have to bear their chatter.
"I offered to bring Clara along since she wanted to see the fields" he explained modestly about their third guess and she nodded stiffly, swallowing her displeasure. She could see the same hints reflecting off Clara's face and she assumed she expected a horseback ride for two only. Unlike herself, she was dressed in a fine green dress and bonnet to match to portray fashion superiority over all the women in Davenport. Hmm, maybe she should've worn that dress.
"Carrie, it is unladylike to ride a horse" Clara chuckled lightly as she waved one hand dismissively while the other had latched onto his waist. Caroline's overprotectiveness surged at seeing that kind of physical contact and bit the inside of her cheek. He wasn't with her anymore and could do as he wished so she had no right to be jealous. She hated to hear her nickname from someone she didn't consider a friend and her hold tightened on Sophia's reins when she spoke offhandedly, "You should've had one of the town boys ride it, like sweet Connor here is."
"I prefer to do things on my own" Caroline replied earnestly and lightly shook the reins for Sophia to go into a slow trot around them. This would not bode well for her today but she wouldn't take her mare's wishes from riding freely. At least she had a loyal but silent friend in her mare while she was out there.
Her voice grated Caroline's ears once more as it pleaded falsely, "But Carrie-"
"Unladylike? I'm aware" she interjected sharply since she was endlessly annoyed by Clara's favorite word for her. Ever since they met, she hadn't hesitated on dishing passive-aggressive jabs at her attire and lifestyle. If this is what luxury turned city folks into, she never wanted to live among them. She admitted to having slight envy that a girl like her could behave so rudely while being well-off financially yet her own sister was considered less for being from the country and carried mannerisms greater than hers.
Ratonhnhaké:ton was the awkward one of the trio as they ignored him in their subtle squabble and wondered what he'd accidentally stepped into. Is this how young colonial women normally behaved? Caroline held her head high without shame for her skills or her way of life to proclaim, "I call it survival. I'm not one to wait for a man to show up when someone's robbing me blind or I need to reach the top shelf for an item."
Clara turned her nose to the idea of having to do anything of her own accord. She gave the orders and men obeyed it- if they didn't, they were out of her good graces. Caroline had already caught onto her mindset as it clashed greatly against hers that strived for freedom. She couldn't help but jab at her superiority complex by stating matter-of-factly, "Although, I will say it's unladylike when one grabs another's hair to tumble them to the ground for not getting their way. I would say it's rude and downright barbaric."
Her gray eyes narrowed as the message was clearly about their youngest siblings. Nothing had been brought up about it as they settled into a cold peace but Alice kept away from them. Mary kept trying to buy the mill children's affection with sweets from the inn but not many bit into her lure. Clara glanced away to brush the matter aside and feigned ignorance, "It was a mere misunderstanding-"
"That led to physical altercations?" Caroline questioned firmly because an argument should not lead to a child harming another.
"What are you talking about?" Ratonhnhaké:ton asked quickly because arguments reached his ears by either witnessing or hearing the gossip from the children. He didn't like having conflicts in his town and wondered what had happened. Is that why Caroline appeared upset? He hadn't heard of any quarrels about her family, had he missed that?
"Her sister threw Alice on the ground by her hair for not playing her game" Caroline replied coldly with the truth because she was incredibly protective of Alice. She didn't have the heart to say mean things, much less strike anyone, while her other siblings had a good grasp on fighting back.
Ratonhnhaké:ton was shocked to hear the same as well because he was most often breaking up fights between adults, not children. He couldn't imagine Alice as the antagonist and turned to Clara for her side of the story, leading her to blurt with insistence, "It was an accident, children are liable to tumble around."
Sure, it was, she thought incredulously because even Corrine was having a tough time corralling the youngest girl. Without their parents' supervision, they could do as they wished but Caroline figured this already happened at home based on their behavior.
"Fine, let's call it that" Caroline stated tersely and saw a faint smirk of success on her lips. Oh no, she wasn't getting off that easy. She wasn't finished in making sure her family was left alone by hers and warned her, "But I will say this, the Burnetts protect their own fiercely."
She gripped the butt of her holstered pistol, Lady, and looked her dead in the eye to finish with a silent threat, "Don't fuck with my family."
With that said, she plastered a fake smile on her face to bid them farewell and ushered Sophia into a gentle trot away from them. Ratonhnhaké:ton was taken aback by her warning since he'd only seen that cold edge in her eyes when dealing with enemies. What had happened between the two? From what Clara told him, there weren't any issues so it struck him by surprise. Clara huffed in outrage to her audacity and ordered him to head west, away from her.
"Can you believe that? How outrageous" she gasped with shock to draw him to her side but honestly, she hadn't expected to see the redhead wield a gun. Did rural residents do that nowadays? How uncivilized. Brushing that nastiness aside, she leaned over to smile sweetly and requested, "Let's ride, shall we?"
Caroline watched them gallop ahead of her towards the west as Clara's compliments echoed and she sighed to the words as she practically basted him in appraisal. A turkey could only be so lucky. Caroline debated her inner spark that sought to speak its mind freely but his romantic life wasn't her place. Sophia pawed at the ground to join them in their run across the pastures but Caroline held the reins tightly and stated softly, "We're not going where we're not desired. We're better than this so we're taking our own road."
He had to know how she felt, platonic or romantic, after learning her body language and manner of speaking. Couldn't he tell she was uncomfortable? Or had he been swayed to look otherwise by the willowy and well-dressed Clara? She'd known him for six years and it was surprising that he didn't grasp the tension between them. True, he was the type to smooth over conflicts and find peace but Caroline was done playing nice.
They headed northeast to where the paths for the cove laid so she could see the crystalline water and the furled sails of the Aquila. If Ratonhnhaké:ton wanted to spend his time with Clara, she would stay out of it because she was nobody's verbal punching bag. Her affection was for him and she had no intention of being trapped in an awkward triangle. Sophia was more than happy to run to her heart's content down the western side of the cove as Caroline kept their path northbound. She decided to visit Myriam since she was already in that vicinity and headed to her area, hoping she was home.
"I can't compare to that and I'm not about to try either" she muttered since he was free to make his own choices, but it hurt to be cast aside nonetheless. They were adults now and her concern was to make a living and build her homestead. If anybody threatened to come between that and her family, she'd go for the jugular. Breathing in the fresh pine air, she smiled to the relaxing effect of Davenport and sighed, "If that's what he wants, it's his choice."
Her visit to Myriam lifted her spirit considerably as she arrived in time to help the huntress skin her catches. Myriam didn't mind the company but when she saw Caroline's speed and the firm look on her face, she knew something was amiss. Normally, she was a bright-eyed woman and tended to drop by on foot rather than horseback. Once the two sat down on a log and began skinning their catches, Myriam got the entire story and she sighed to the odd drama her friend had fallen into.
"Don't worry, he's smart so he'll figure it out" she assured confidently because the man was intuitive so she doubted a pretty face would sway him. Besides, you'd have to have the mental capacity of a rock and a heart of ice to ignore an old friendship for something new. Or at least, that was her own mindset. She could see Caroline was worried for their friend but she had a hunch as to why.
"A pretty face can turn a genius into a fool" Caroline pointed out because a heart in love could forget everything but what they pined for. It had been years since they were together and it was expected that he'd move on elsewhere. Her mind could only growl as to why it had to be Clara and not a nicer girl. Stabbing a knife into the chest of a bobcat, she winced to the force she exerted and Myriam laughed to her wide eyes of surprise. Relaxing for a moment, she sighed under her breath to reveal, "Even Martha's under the spell of one."
"If he doesn't see the entire picture, the cruel joke will be on him" her friend informed wisely because she expected him to make a smart choice. She'd seen hunters on her travels reduced to nothing once conniving women got hold of their earnings and others who flourished by having the right partner at their side. She wanted the best for both her friends to succeed, together if possible, and reminded firmly, "We're all responsible for our actions, Carrie."
Seeing Myriam as an older sister, Caroline looked to her for advice as she began to skin the cat and proposed nonchalantly, "Myriam, what if . . . what can you do to show a man you're interested in them?"
"I'm the wrong one to ask, they usually head to the other side to find someone better" she replied dryly to her tendency to repel men by contradicting society's norms. Even with her last relationship with a hunter, they wanted her to give up her passion. Myriam wouldn't settle for anything less and decided being alone was better than being saddled a housewife with children and a husband that saw her more as property than a woman.
"Well, if I was man, I'd stay rooted next to you" Caroline smiled widely with a wink for her friend and Myriam laughed to her tomfoolery. She was sure that comment alone in the city would have the two charged with indecency. Thoughts like that were heresy but it made the two friends laugh. The redhead shook her shoulders with distaste as she admitted, "I dislike that flutter of nerves and the sweaty palms, not to mention the stammering."
"If you're trying to tell me you fancy Connor, I've had my suspicions for a long while" Myriam stated frankly to get to the point because she'd been wondering about the two for months. They were close and it was apparent that they cared for one another but there was something missing. Caroline's freckled cheeks turned pink but she didn't deny it, simply slumping in her seat with regret. She couldn't budge him out of her heart no matter what she tried. Her friend offered a sympathetic smile and chided gently, "It's a good thing you told me because he's constantly eyeing you. I was getting worried that you only saw him as a friend."
"Trust me, his eye is on someone else now" she muttered dejectedly to the recent turn of events that had bit her on the bum. She'd headed to the pastures with the hope of having a nice run but it was wrecked once she realized it was three of them out there. Shrugging lightly, she would let them be and sighed softly, "I wrecked our first relationship so it's only fair he has a new chance."
"I wouldn't call her a blessing" Myriam snorted under her breath and the redhead smiled with amusement. Despite living far away from everyone in the north, she still traveled into town for business and buying produce. She'd met the sisters, the little one who'd held her nose at her and the other who glanced at her attire with disdain, and Myriam had kept walking without greeting them. First impressions lasted and she didn't want to be associated with them, leading her to admit bluntly, "I've had my run-ins with those girls."
Myriam tapped her bloody knife against the muscle of her catch and explained carefully, "Women like Clara are charmers and they climb the social ladder or money trail to get who they want. They have no remorse for those they crush on their way- don't let her topple you."
Caroline smiled faintly to the pep talk because she'd faced worse people in her young life and replied, "I gave her a little morsel of who she's playing with but it'll take more than insults and an innocent smile to get rid of me."
When she'd arrived home, Elizabeth told her that Ratonhnhaké:ton had dropped by to apologize. Caroline had begun to grow tired of these apologies, ignoring them since she'd been taken for granted while another took her place. Elizabeth had smiled proudly and declared she'd managed to schedule a ride just for them tomorrow. Caroline, however, would not show. She was not a charity case looking for morsels of attention and if he wanted to find her, he knew perfectly well where she lived.
A/N: Apologies for the late update post on this story! The cold season has been horrible with illnesses and between work and bedrest, my chapter went on hold. Still, I needed to deliver this next chapter to move the story along since we still have about ten years more of storytelling. Every romance has their bump in the road and a new one has sprouted against Caroline and Connor's reunion. Luck, unfortunately, is never on their side. The two will head out at sea again in the next chapter to tackle Biddle for another fight at sea.
Thank you to my new readers, the checkup PM's, and last chapter reviewers:
East Coast Captain: Connor and Caroline will definitely have kids that will help the colonial branch move out west.
Danelleprae: I have to compare Connor and Caroline's relationship to the formation of the Grand Canyon, it was a very slow process but in the end, it has a beautiful ending. Her family, neighbors, and the Aquila crew are just about ready to lock them in a room though, haha.
Ladyefriyeet: Wow, I commend you for reading it straight in one go! I would probably get cross-eyed since some chapters are long, haha. Connor is a turtle when it comes to flirting but he'll come out of his shell as the years pass. Duncan is definitely coming back, I believe in two chapters when Caroline heads to Boston. He will also pop up during the Bridewell Prison incident as he and Caroline work together to help Connor.
Next Chapter Excerpt:
Amanda remembered the young native boy that Robert had yanked away before Biddle and Church decided to use him as a punching bag. He'd grown rather quickly in the past years but nodded with a warm smile, "Hello. Name's Amanda. You must be the captain."
Ratonhnhaké:ton nodded to confirm his role but before he could inquire about her problem, Robert beat him to it, "Now - what's all this about then?"
Amanda pinned him with a firm look for leaving her behind without a word and shot back, "You stride into my bar off the piss and looking for officers. Days later, I start hearing whispers the Ghost of the North Seas stalks the Atlantic again."
She needed help to keep her establishment safe and Robert was the only man capable of making that come true. Knowing his affinity for the sea and years of expertise, she knew he'd be walking the decks of the Aquila. Placing her hands on her hips, she divulged the problem, "The Aquila has returned and I need her help. Nicholas Biddle now sails for the Patriots, captaining the Randolph. But the man is raiding up and down the coast 'round Nantucket claiming it's a Loyalist post."
Ratonhnhaké:ton had an uncanny memory, remembering the man from 1773 and knew he was a Templar. He didn't think it as a coincidence and pegged the man as a threat if he was intimidating civilians. If what she said was true, he needed to be stopped. Calmly, he inquired, "Where is he now?"
The response was gunfire echoing in the short distance and Amanda muttered grimly, "Speak of the Devil."
Caroline's voice wasn't far behind as she caught an ominous sight in her spyglass, beckoning quickly, "Captain, you'd best see this."
Robert ushered the innkeeper towards the stairway to keep her out of harm's way. By the look of things, it might get a tad violent and he wanted her safely away from the fighting. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he ordered quietly, "Head below deck, Mandy. It's safer there."
She wasn't new to gunfire but the tone in his voice told her to listen and with a stiff nod, headed downstairs. Of course, she'd stay on the first level in case the men needed assistance. She wasn't one to hide and cower nor would she expect the crew of the Aquila to do the same.
Ratonhnhaké:ton wanted to assess the situation more closely to formulate a plan and informed his first mate, "I want to see this myself. Take the wheel, Mister Faulkner."
Being close to the main mast, he used the pulley system to launch himself onto the first lookout post. From there, a calculated jump onto the yard of the foremast allowed him to climb up the rest of the mast to where Caroline was stationed. She gave her captain a hand by grasping his left arm as he climbed onto the platform but he could see her haste when she handed him the spyglass. Extending it, he peered through the eyepiece to catch a glimpse of a merchant ship being attacked by a much larger ship, a frigate, as well as others.
"The fog that's come in is making it hard to see but that's an unfair team up if I ever saw one" Caroline informed him bitterly because one ship couldn't hold against so many, especially those of a larger class. She could see the smoke from the cannons rising into the air but the darkened sky and the shifting weather wasn't playing to their advantage. They would have to go into this battle with calculation against both the ships and the weather, leading her to say, "I'll keep an eye on the weather here topside but you'll need Robert to guide you through- just like the Arctic."
"I'm starting to think you incite the elements" he remarked with a subtle joke to lighten the situation and she smiled with amusement. If he was going to maneuver the ship against waves, winds, and ships, he needed her to be careful. Handing back the spyglass, he ordered, "If it gets too heavy up here, you get to the gun deck immediately."
With that said, he jumped off the platform neatly with the grace of a cat and Caroline shook her head.
See you all next time, thank you for reading!