Music Inspiration: Jesper Kyd- "Ezio's Family"
Bundles of Love
28 July 1778
Summer thrived in the town of Davenport now that all of its residents were home and Ratonhnhaké:ton was not looking to leave anytime soon. The aftermath of Haytham and Washington's secrecy severe trust with him so he wanted nothing to do with them for now. Caroline made true on her word to run the Order by collecting incoming mail and sending out letters to their branches to delegate missions to their Assassins. They were simple ones to maintain their grasp on certain colonies with espionage, collecting intel, and hits on high officers. Undoubtedly, Haytham would catch wind of it but they were trying to draw out Lee more than anyone else.
While Caroline oversaw small operations, Ratonhnhaké:ton was tackling the larger picture. He wanted to find Lee, who had gone into hiding after his snafu on the open field, after his Templar ploy failed. His assassins were tasked on returning news of his whereabouts promptly and he was impressed with their tenacity to tackle pockets of Templar infestations in the northern colonies. Through his contact with Major-General Lafayette, Ratonhnhaké:ton was also able to help Caroline link Aveline's network to assist the Assassins in the French colonies in thwarting the Templars.
Her husband had not ventured past Boston in the recent weeks, keeping close to their town more than anything. Caroline understood the last mission shook him more than he let on but she would be there with a supportive hand to help him heal. For Ratonhnhaké:ton, it was simply time that was needed to accept and heal from within. His teachings from childhood always reminded him that the problem was solved within before reacting in the outside environment. He felt shame at returning to his native village but one day, he would have to go and accept the tribe's opinion of him. Depending on how the war ended, it might be positive or entirely negative.
In the meantime, his home was beside his wife and he was nestled safely there. Without her, he would likely question his path in life and whether the road he was on was the right one. They kept each other grounded and he smiled when she placed mint tea in a wooden cup before him. Smelling the invigorating scent, he took a quiet sip and glanced up from the table. Caroline fiddled with the yellow tablecloth to smooth out any wrinkles on her side of the table. It was her quiet way to multitask by sitting down on his right side while Clipper sat opposite of them.
He had arrived in Davenport after returning from a scouting trip in the west of Virginia to end the setup of a Templar stronghold. With years of experience now under his belt, Ratonhnhaké:ton gave him recruits to teach and they had gone south to destroy the materials and Templars. He earned a few cuts and bruises along the way but nothing serious that wouldn't heal. The lengthy months grew out his short hair into shaggy waves that needed a cut soon but his bright blue-grey eyes remained jovial. Caroline invited him over to debrief them on his mission and set up the guest room for a few days after hearing him say he wanted to pitch a tent in the woods. Clipper was humbled by the couple's hospitality to open their home to him after leaving his own without anyone glancing back.
"I can send word to New York to have them scout for Kenway and Lee" he informed the two on a plan to keep the pressure on flushing the Templars out into the open. Templars did not camouflage themselves like Assassins but were cunning in blending into their surroundings, particularly in roles of power. At some point, either of the two would be detected by their informants and told them on his assumptions, "Their strongest hold is southwest while we're holding the northeast so they could lie low for a while."
Ratonhnhaké:ton knew his father wasn't one to hide for very long, finding it below him. Lee, on the other hand, would utilize any tactic to win against the enemy. Given that Lee was his father's protégé, he expected the two to run in similar circles or act in the same manner. Caroline didn't mind biding her time to let her husband pan further and asked about their brethren, "Did Stephane return from Georgia?"
"Sure did, told me to bring you this jar of molasses" he replied perkily before reaching down into his travel pack that lay beside his feet. Opening the top flap, he reached inside to retrieve a glass jar of the dark syrupy goodness that the redhead loved. Caroline clapped happily to her gift while Ratonhnhaké:ton still tried to figure out what the difference was between maple syrup and molasses. Honestly, he didn't think he ever would. She hugged the jar happily when Clipper handed it over and informed them, "Duncan and Dobby are about to head south on a cargo ship this week to continue aid in the south."
"I have the best brothers in arms" she giggled with delight at her newest treat and stood up from the chair, placing the jar on the table. Darting over to one of their upper cabinets beside the large viewing window, she sorted through the storage sacks. Her fingers weaved between the canvas fabric and she called over to the men, "You two settle into a chat while I heat up some corn cakes."
Ratonhnhaké:ton realized early on in their marriage that Caroline took after her mother as a caretaker for everyone. He did not want his wife to feel obligated to cater to grown adults and pointed out, "Caroline, you don't have to-"
"These are for me" she teased matter-of-factly as she turned around to pin him with a mischievous smile. It broke seconds later into a laugh because she could never cook for herself and leave others staring hungrily at her. Waving her left hand in dismissal, she told him cheerfully, "Kidding. I knew you were slowly caving to them."
Ratonhnhaké:ton pretended to ignore her since he enjoyed everything she cooked. Even when she told him she burnt something, he would simply cut off the scorched edges and eat the salvageable parts. Having her as his wife was more precious to him than a perfectly cooked meal. Clipper could see the two were happy and relaxed in their home, away from danger and enemies that lurked past the town borders.
"You're both safe in living out life here for a while" Clipper assured them with a friendly smile to grant them more time away from active battlefields. Ratonhnhaké:ton had no intention of running into one anytime soon and though he would aid the Continental Army, he would prefer to keep out of Washington's presence. For now, Lafayette would be his primary contact. Clipper didn't mind keeping an eye out on the frontier since he operated similar to his leader by making a base camp in the forest and venturing into cities. So far, everything was eerily quiet and he told them, "There's nothing amiss in Templar activity."
"I will need to create a defense plan over this land to protect the residents" Ratonhnhaké:ton spoke quietly to take that free time at home to develop protective measures. He didn't want the residents to be vulnerable to attack after promising to protect them. Blank paper had been purchased at the general store to begin his sketch ideas despite his minimal ability to draw.
Caroline winced to the security he intended, imagining high wooden fences like his village, and pointed out gently, "As much as I'd love a spiked fence, I don't think the town will like being walled away from the forest."
"You do have armed residents which is good" Clipper added in helpfully to retract that idea to give the town free reign. He liked that about the cozy town that was surrounded by the wild forest and mountains. Having it sealed away would only make it foreboding and lock away the gorgeous views which would be depressing.
"Despite its beauty, summertime provides the best season for attacks" Ratonhnhaké:ton pondered quietly because his inactivity at home didn't mean the enemy would keep at bay. He had told his father that their collaboration was over and not to be contacted again. It was not how he wanted things to end but his scheming brought that end to their shaky relationship. With their collaboration over, he could no longer depend on his father's word that they wouldn't be attacked.
"We'll kill whoever treads here, dear, don't worry" his wife assured cheerfully with a perky smile as she placed three corn cakes over an iron skillet. Her innocent pep over exterminating their enemies while also preparing to cook amused him to no end. He promised himself to keep her and their loved ones safe over the summer and no matter how long they fought the Templar Order.
"Eliza!"
The petite redhead was preparing to empty a sack of horse feed over her right shoulder and into a large metal storage container. Ratonhnhaké:ton appreciated her relentless dedication to the horses and he would often joke to his wife that she practically ran the rehab center when he was away. Now that he was home and staying there, he was picking up the slack to make up for the months he missed in town. Elizabeth paused in her chore, lowering the open sack of feed, to glance around the barn to find the voice who called her. Who dared to summon her?
At spotting the owners of the homestead at the entrance, her blue eyes widened and she blurted instantly, "I didn't do anything!"
Ratonhnhaké:ton glanced at his wife with amusement since she would lecture the younger redhead more than all her siblings combined. Caroline shot him a small glare for the knowing look, gently nudging his left side for the nonverbal chide. She was tougher on Elizabeth as each year granted her independence to leave town. Clipper stood behind the two, wondering why the smaller redhead snickered under her breath when Ratonhnhaké:ton walked forward. Elizabeth straightened her posture, brushing back stray strands of hair from her bun, and tried to appear nonchalant to greet, "I mean . . . to what do I owe this visit?"
"Don't be fresh" her sister replied to her impish nature to slide out of trouble but doubted that was the case today. Her little sister took her job seriously, just as their parents taught them, and she adored the horses. She never failed in showing up for her scheduled days and her husband had nothing but good comments regarding her work ethic. It amused her to no end how her work and personal life were parallels to each other.
"We are here with a proposition" Caroline answered to let her relax and stop believing they were going to chastise or give extra work. Her little sister was no longer a hotheaded and mischievous child but she kept her cunning mind with a dash of stubbornness. She knew right from wrong very well, could spot a lie well, and held a growing set of skills that reminded her of herself.
Elizabeth's right eyebrow quirked in curiosity because only her husband handled the rehab center. If her sister was involved, it meant business or family-related so she quipped cheekily, "You're going away again and I'm taking over the rehab center?"
"No, not yet" Ratonhnhaké:ton replied with an amused smile to her sharp wit to gain more independence.
Her hopeful expression deflated instantly at that, turning her gaze to catch sight of Clipper. Hmm, interesting. She had not seen the young man since winter but he hardly changed with his short-cropped hair, bright eyes, and frontiersman garb. Being a woman that was meant to stay in the home, she envied that freedom. When would she be able to travel without having people question her sanity? Pointing one of her dusty hands at him, she asked her family bluntly, "What's he doing here?"
"Mind your manners, young lady" Caroline advised her sharply to maintain respect for her friends, given that Clipper hadn't even opened his mouth. She couldn't tell if she was trying to hide a girlish crush or brush off her boldness at dancing with him during her wedding. Her sisters had playfully teased Elizabeth after that event while their father hoped to high heaven that another wedding wouldn't be added. Elizabeth kept her mouth shut on the matter to avoid further girlish babble but she was not impartial to meeting the frontiersman once more.
"We're friends, it's fine" she sighed dramatically for losing a few points in decorum. Honestly, her sister was turning into Martha sometimes. Caroline smiled at her claim, looking to the bashful Clipper that was stuck in the friendship zone. He would not press for more than the redhead was willing to give to avoid losing her and earning an angry mob of family after him. Elizabeth batted her eyelashes at the brunette before curtsying politely, humoring her sister, and she addressed him with an innocent smile, "Mr. Wilkinson."
"Miss Elizabeth" he greeted politely with a nod and friendly smile, his heart hammering happily at seeing her again. He was silly for feeling this way over a young woman he saw intermittently but there was something about her character that drew him. She was a wild spirit like the frontier that refused to yield against the societal constraints against her.
"Take a seat" Ratonhnhaké:ton beckoned by patting a nearby packed rectangle of hay to begin their discussion.
Elizabeth slowly walked towards it with a skeptical glint in her eyes and spoke aloud, "Oh no, this bodes ill already."
"Eliza!" Caroline chastised quickly to cut the shenanigans because they were trying to have a serious conversation. Normally, she fell into her jokes to take part but not today. They needed to have an adult conversation about her future, not make light of it. Elizabeth saw the firm side of her sister surface and she took the seat on the hay bale with expectant eyes. Caroline wrung her hands together briefly to begin their prepared conversation, "I've seen you grow from a stubborn and impulsive child-"
"That's not making me feel better, you know!" she interjected at having her unfavorable childhood traits brought into the open in front of Clipper. What would he think of her? A wild country bumpkin like all the rest of the city dwellers? She didn't want her image of a confident lady to plummet into an ugly duckling. Crossing her arms, she gazed at the ground to avoid looking at them all in the eyes but felt her cheeks flush. In her earlier years, she would have run off to hide in a nearby bush until the coast was clear.
"Into a very determined and resilient young woman" Caroline continued to show her words meant no ill intent and Elizabeth stilled in her seat. She was not there to jab at anyone's vulnerabilities or past but to encourage their potential. Her little sister was more tenacious and unafraid to tackle problems now in comparison to previous years where she would fling herself without concern for the consequences. There was still hesitation in her to offer a new and dangerous way of life but she and Ratonhnhaké:ton made the decision jointly. Hopefully, she wouldn't have her father knocking on their door. With a fond smile, she sighed softly to let her sister go into the world, "I still can't believe you were a little baby sometimes. Still, I am aware of your passion for the outdoors . . . and your interest in our lifestyle."
"I'm not the seafaring type" Elizabeth stated frankly with a grimace to sea travel, finding little adventure in it. Unlike Samuel, she wanted to find adventure on the wild frontier. She enjoyed traversing the forest and open landscapes versus being stuck on a ship out at sea. Her feet and mind were happier on stable earth rather than floating over endless water.
Caroline withheld a sigh for her nonchalant nature and kept a straight face when stating firmly, "I meant the Assassin part, you little imp."
This time, it was Elizabeth who stared at them with bewilderment to their offer. Were they really serious about this? Or was this a test to see if she was ready? Wait, no, she was! After finding out about their secret life last year, not surprised in the slightest by it, she was eager to know more about their super-duper secret order. There was excitement at being deemed worthy but flickers of nerves seized her stomach to endangering her life. She knew her sister would always protect her but she needed to be capable of protecting Caroline and their family as well.
"Caroline and I believe you are ready to train as a potential recruit" Ratonhnhaké:ton explained carefully, watching her nod every so often, and truly hoped this wouldn't backfire. He and Caroline believed their best in Elizabeth, seeing her as a second guardian for the Burnett family when they couldn't be present in Davenport. He didn't want to involve the town in their secret war but he also needed to protect them from becoming leverage targets. Teaching them how to fight and set up home defenses would help tremendously instead of having non-armed civilians. They were no longer children and he took that plunge to begin involving new blood into their Order. He was her brother first but as a cautious leader, he instructed her with a firm tone, "Only if you adhere to our rules and follow our advice. Otherwise, you will fail."
Caroline chuckled softly when Elizabeth nodded agreeably at him with rapt attention and motioned with her left hand towards the quiet Clipper, "Clip here has agreed to train you this summer since Ratonhnhaké:ton and I need to continue overseeing the Order now that we are setting up base here."
Elizabeth's lower jaw popped open at having a trainer but there was brief disappointment at not having either of the two. Ratonhnhaké:ton had trained her sister and if she could become like them, she'd be unstoppable! Still, she was happy to hear that they would be staying in town longer than usual. She missed them when they left and they added a layer of security for her that was shared with their parents.
Nobody had witnessed her struck with speechlessness and Clipper admitted to enjoying her mystified expression. She presented herself as a capable young woman that was one step ahead of everyone else but now, she was lost on whether to believe them. He didn't mind having a new student after recently ending the training of one, happy to release a new Assassin into their ranks. When his leader asked him to train her, he was baffled since Caroline would knock him into the nearest wall for being sweet on her sister. Caroline, however, followed Ratonhnhaké:ton's judgment as an Assassin rather than his wife since her first choice had been Duncan. Ratonhnhaké:ton understood the love shared between the sisters but Clipper, much like himself, could tame the wildfire in Elizabeth and his knowledge of the frontier (which was her passion) made him the ideal choice.
"Really? You're not pulling my leg?" Elizabeth demanded skeptically to the sudden proposition, jabbing a finger at them with speculation. Caroline simply pointed to her husband with a knowing glance at her little sister to emphasize that he wasn't the joking type. Nobody in their right mind would ever prank the man out of fear of fierce retribution. The most Caroline had attempted was giving him different colored socks but the joke was lost when he simply put them on to start his day with a happy smile. Elizabeth accepted that their proposition was not a joke and all her regular confidence and bravery plummeted at the new responsibility. She had glamorized their secret life and now that she was on the cusp of walking in their shoes, she hesitated and asked weakly, "You think I can do it?"
"We have many different roles in our Order, you don't need to run into danger like Ratonhnhaké:ton here" her sister assured her to avoid the same pitfalls she believed when first starting out. Her current involvement in the Order and travel alongside him was out of love for her husband. She didn't want to lose him in a raging war that would likely be written in history books or in the one they were secretly fighting. They sought to make her a guardian for their town when they couldn't be present, a new set of eyes and ears for them while away. Her little sister was right to be cautious and she admired her acknowledgment, "But this is a great responsibility and I understand your worry. We won't be throwing you into water head-first but baby steps."
"I spend my time in Boston but accept missions into the frontier" Clipper divulged about his own work in the Order since he was familiarized with traveling alone. He stuck to Boston, mainly because his closest friends lived there, but he didn't hesitate to volunteer for missions out of Massachusetts. He came from a trapping and farming family and that didn't leave him, mastering his boyhood skills to earn a living. Flashing the younger redhead a friendly smile, he joked gently, "Duncan and Stephane aren't the rugged outdoorsmen type."
Crossing her arms, Elizabeth swept her gaze down the frontiersman's form to silently analyze him. A snort escaped Caroline as she tried to stop herself from laughing at her little sister's ploy for making people uneasy. Clipper, however, simply stared back with a friendly smile that dented Elizabeth's shield and she requested, "Can you teach me to improve my rifling?"
"Of course!" he answered helpfully to teach students or homesteaders how to improve their aim or posture. Elizabeth beamed excitedly at that response, liking this new training immediately. She was humbled to be entrusted with their secret and stepping into a new line of work to help humankind. Caroline looked to her husband for further feedback but Ratonhnhaké:ton let the new student-teacher dynamic begin for them. Clipper removed the leather sling over his shoulder that held a rifle, grasping it on each end carefully before holding it out to Elizabeth. Her blue eyes blinked with curiosity and she hopped off the haystack to gaze at the shiny metal. Was she about to learn now? Clipper, however, motioned for her to take the weapon and informed her, "I brought you this."
Her fingers twitched instinctively for the rare gift and couldn't imagine how much it cost. He was really letting her have it? Looking between the weapon and the brunette, she asked quietly to confirm, "For me?"
"I customized her myself" he explained with pride at his latest project and released the rifle into her hands. Elizabeth grinned widely with adoration for her first true weapon that wasn't second-hand or worse for wear. Caroline smiled at Ratonhnhaké:ton with understanding for his decision and saw the complementary traits between the two that bounced off immediately. She carried a natural protectiveness for Elizabeth but her little sister needed to reach her true potential, which had been held back for fear of harm or immaturity. Even Ratonhnhaké:ton now grasped why Achilles had been tough with him in the beginning and it wasn't from lacking skill but concern for his safety. They were now in Achilles' footsteps to guide the next generation of Assassins and that brought its own heavy burden and responsibility.
Clipper and Elizabeth were unaware of the rumination between the two, engrossed with a conversation about the rifle. Elizabeth wanted to collect empty tin objects for shooting practice but she couldn't be hasty. She was happy just holding onto her beautiful new rifle, testing its weight in her hands. How lucky was she? Her heart thudded embarrassingly for receiving this gift from the man she danced with last winter. Now, he would be her teacher and she couldn't sass him as much. For once, her guard dropped towards the brunette and Clipper informed her, "If she's too light or heavy, let me know."
Elizabeth turned to the married couple, breaking the two out of their silent reverie, and exclaimed joyfully, "Your friends are the absolute best!"
Unlike her other siblings, Elizabeth weaved her way into their Assassin circle of friends whenever they visited. Caroline gave up after the third failed attempt to shoo her home and realized her little sister took after her far too much. Clipper motioned between himself and the smaller redhead to joke casually, "I thought we were friends?"
"We are!" Elizabeth corrected herself swiftly and felt her cheeks warming up to the blurt. She was slower to trust than all of her siblings but Clipper had yet to steer her wrong. Like Ratonhnhaké:ton and Caroline, they struck up an amicable conversation on their first meeting to find similar pastimes. The married duo tried not to smile at seeing her blush, especially when she lowered her head to occupy herself with the rifle, and sputtered nervously, "D-don't look at me like that!"
Not many people could disarm Elizabeth's cunning tongue but she was ready to train. She and Ratonhnhaké:ton still had chores to perform around the homestead, nudging her husband in reminder. They would be nearby in case of questions or concerns since she was still in the middle of refilling the horse feed storage containers. Ratonhnhaké:ton nodded to them to excuse himself while Caroline called over her right shoulder, "Good luck! We'll be on the other side tending to the chickens and garden."
"I'll be fine" Elizabeth promised them with a small sigh of annoyance at running into trouble on her first day. If so, she would make a very terrible Assassin. Being the sister-in-law of the leader and sister of an Assassin, she had large shoes to fill to match up to their experience.
"I meant him" Caroline corrected cheekily because she worried more about Elizabeth heckling Clipper than the other way around. Like Ratonhnhaké:ton, he was experienced and trained with weapons so he would teach her everything on properly maintaining her new rifle. Their parents always taught them to never touch one unless they were fully capable and though Myriam was a great mentor, Elizabeth would need someone in the Order to delve deeper into their world.
Ratonhnhaké:ton grasped her left shoulder to depart from the barn and Caroline obeyed, leaving her little sister behind to make her mark as a young woman.
8 August 1778
Caroline and Ratonhnhaké:ton finished their morning chores with haste to meet Martha and Walter for an invite at the Mile's End for lunch. They had no idea what the purpose of the small event was for, only that her family, the Galloways, and the innkeepers would be there. The most her sister told them was that she wanted their family present for an important announcement. Martha did this the day before to ensure that her siblings or father didn't go full investigation mode for an answer to this mysterious announcement.
The young couple wanted their loved ones present and handled cooking the food and baking pastries. Corrine and Oliver were playfully shooed away from the kitchen when the couple brought in trays of food from their own home. They had prepared roasted chicken to slice for sandwiches with freshly baked bread and vegetables to insert, along with different sauces ranging from creamy to oily. Martha took over the baking portion by creating round pastries filled with apple, apricot, and grape jams, with crinkled edges for a delicate touch. Samuel and Anne tried to sneak one in from the round table that Martha decorated with a checkered blue tablecloth but she shooed them away with a stern glare.
"I can safely say mother passed her glare power to you" Samuel remarked sarcastically since she was the one who obeyed their mother without question. None of his siblings were surprised by her personality but now, it carried a friendlier warmth than years prior. She flicked his forehead in rebuttal for the wisecrack before returning to fix the metal trays of food neatly on the table. It wasn't a fancy party but she didn't mind that at all, smiling happily at the casual ambiance.
Oliver and Corrine handled the tavern for the lunch crowds which mainly consisted of workers from the lumber mill, sailors on leave, and residents. Martha and Walter didn't want to add more work so they handled their small get-together by the piano area at the left end of the counter. Amelia and Elizabeth found the gathering suspicious, given that their sister loved hosting at home. Their other siblings didn't see anything amiss since the brunette split her time between both places.
Martha wiped her hands clean on a washcloth, leaning against the counter, and called the attention of their loved ones, "So you're all likely wondering why you're here?"
"It's not for the free food?" her father joked with a hearty laugh, stirring snickers from his redheaded children. Amelia stopped herself short before nudging Patrick and Caroline to remind them to behave as the eldest members. The duo waved her away and slowly made their way to the aromatic table full of food. The redheads narrowed their gazes when meeting the same sharp blue shades of Samuel and Anne as the four began a standoff for dibs on the food.
Ratonhnhaké:ton said nothing to his wife as she engaged on the staring content. He stayed quiet in his spot when Alice sneaked past them with little Daniel grasping her hand. Sneakily, she grabbed a plate with a concentrated look in her eye to grab the warm pastries and two cuts from the succulent sandwiches. He tried not to give their secret infiltration away as they ducked under the table. She allowed Daniel the first bite as the little blond boy grabbed the pretty pastry, biting into the sugar glaze coating to smile with success. Alice bit into the sandwich after hunger struck since she hadn't eaten anything since early morning. After swallowing her ample bite, she stood up brazenly to declare aloud, "Which is delicious by the way."
The redheads turned around sharply at this to find the duo escaping back into the small crowd behind their parents. Alice's blue skirt billowed to hide the scamper of Daniel as he tucked himself between her and Diana. He held his small plate up to his mother to offer his extra pastry but she shook her head, patting his head to let him have his prize. Elizabeth held back laughter at finding her youngest sister become the sneakiest of them all for food. She was rather proud of her sudden gumption after seeing her meek for most of her childhood, wrapping an arm over her slim shoulders.
Martha frowned at having her food spread undergo a sneak attack but Walter waved a hand dismissively. He invited everyone to begin serving themselves since lunchtime made anyone hungry at the Mile's End. They couldn't have their guests go hungry by watching the tantalizing food and he nodded to his wife to begin. Martha chuckled nervously and wrung her hands together over her black skirt. She could do this, repeating encouragement through her mind, and beckoned their attention, "Walter and I gathered our families here to reveal wonderful news."
She turned around to gaze at her husband, who weaved to the center of the gathered group, and Walter continued, "We didn't want to say anything until it was confirmed but . . ."
Their gazes met on who would deliver the news because they had agreed on Martha but suddenly got cold feet. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment on approaching a delicate subject, with such being left up to men. Ratonhnhaké:ton crossed his arms and took a jab at guessing their secret by asking, "Are you opening up a new business?"
"You're not moving, are you?" Godfrey questioned swiftly, earning a smack to the left shoulder by his wife. They had agreed that if their children decided to leave Davenport to homestead elsewhere, their decision would be respected. Catherine wanted the best for her children, even if she couldn't be at their side to see it.
"Taking over the inn?" Terry offered another alternative since the innkeepers would pass the business to Walter. Originally, Oliver intended to have the place sold to the town and distribute the money to his grandchildren. After hearing that his grandson lost his inheritance on the contingency of staying only in New York, the English couple decided to leave it in his hands after seeing his dedication firsthand. His marriage to one of the locals further fueled their decision.
Oliver waved a dishcloth through the air at that idea and disagreed heartily, "We're not retiring yet!"
With countless speculation floating about, Walter couldn't help but laugh aloud. Did they really think he would leave after opening a business and building a home? Raising his hands, he informed them matter-of-factly on his future plans, "We are very much staying here until our own retirement."
"Especially now that we are expecting our first child" Martha revealed proudly to their best-kept secret and placed her hands over her belly. She had been wearing loose tunics instead of blouses to keep her growing abdomen comfortable. Being unable to find clothes that fit became frustrating and she began using her husband's tunics to save on fabric to make new clothes. Their baby would need new attire and they would have to budget for it.
The entire group blew into an excited rabble of laughs, cheers, clapping, and congratulations. Walter and Martha didn't want to leave his grandparents out due to their work schedules so everyone fit in great at the inn. They did not expect for a baby to enter their lives so soon but they were happy to meet their first child. It would be the first grandchild for the Burnetts while the Millers would have the privilege at their age of meeting their first great-grandchild, a new branch for both families.
Martha's siblings, Patrick, and Anne blurted with excitement and wide smiles, "A baby?!"
"You're expecting?" Diana gasped with shock and delight at the new addition of the Burnett family. She and Catherine had a nagging suspicion that the brunette would have a child first after Caroline's extensive traveling lifestyle. The redhead wasn't risking a child with her nomadic nature while Martha wanted to grow her new family.
Catherine clutched her husband happily, peering at her best friend with a wide smile, before turning to her daughter to beam happily, "I'm getting a grandbaby?"
"Am I ready to be a grandfather?" Godfrey shot back nervously after planning only weddings last year. At some point, he knew grandchildren would arrive but not this quickly! Oh, who was he kidding? He and Catherine had Caroline a year after their marriage so it wasn't a new norm. His children were no longer little tots and were now expecting their own. Time really did fly by.
Walter offered his father-in-law a mug of ale and the lumberjack gladly accepted it. He would need a bit of alcohol to process his new role as grandfather. Walter laughed at his shell-shocked expression after experiencing it himself after Dr. White told them the news and sighed aloud, "I hope so because I'm about to be a father and will need advice."
Martha chuckled awkwardly when Corrine, Diana, and Catherine hugged her at once with appreciation, "Congratulations!"
"Nobody wondered about my change in attire?" she asked her family, pinning her sisters with a quizzical eye, but the four women shook their heads. Samuel didn't really pay attention to clothing, much like Elizabeth. Caroline wasn't far from their viewpoint while Amelia and Alice were the only ones that prepared their clothing the night before to iron it in the morning.
Caroline shrugged easily and told her the truth with an impish grin, "We just thought you were getting lazy with married life."
"Carrie!" she exclaimed embarrassedly, attempting to tuck the loose tunic more into her skirt for a lady-like appearance. Caroline grabbed her right arm to pull her away from the fawning women under the pretense of a sisterly word. Martha stumbled forward to her strong grip but her elder sister kept her steady. Just how much did her sister lift to stay that fit?
The redhead scoffed dismissively to maintaining appearances in a town that lived with freedom of expression. She dressed up only for events or going out of Davenport for leisure. At home, she wore casual dresses so her husband didn't think she ditched all of her femininity. Caroline didn't give a hoot about her state of dress unless Ratonhnhaké:ton complained and told her bluntly, "What? I do it all the time, Connor doesn't care."
Martha jumped in surprise when the taller man appeared behind them and admitted casually to his wife, "I do prefer you in breeches."
Caroline grinned mischievously to his down-to-earth nature and loved that he didn't care about her propriety. He had never complained to her sewing two pairs of nightwear for both, only laughing to the smaller and leaner set that was dwarfed by his. She winked at Martha to tease her little sister and sighed dreamily, "He knows how to charm the pants off me."
"Carrie!" the brunette chastised with burning cheeks, wiggling in her grip to threaten release. Maybe she should have stayed with the crushing hug by her elders. Unlike her mother, Martha pegged her to be the first one to fall pregnant from her bold talk but her sister made no mention of forming a family.
Her thoughts were further increased about the two when Ratonhnhaké:ton admitted with a disturbed expression, "No, it is merely that I am downright terrified by the lengths colonial women take for a fluffy skirt and a narrow waist."
Martha's curiosity bit at this but Caroline took this moment to release her into her group of siblings. It was best that the baby was the focus, not colonial fashion. Amelia pulled her into a hug to congratulate her and smiled brightly to ask, "When are you due?"
"December" she answered happily with four months to go until she and Walter would greet their child. Although sons were preferred in colonial society, they didn't care. Walter witnessed what she and her group of sisters were capable of so a daughter would be just as strong as a son. The question that burned now was the design of the baby's crib and keeping it away from any drafty areas.
Elizabeth latched onto Martha's left side with a perky smile and declared, "We're going to be aunts! This baby will be spoiled!"
"We'll help you with whatever you need" Alice piped up helpfully to support her sister and Martha sniffled happily for their help. She had bickered with them during adolescence but they never turned her away, which she wouldn't have blamed them for one bit. Their endless support and love was something she hoped to foster in her first child to continue that family strength. Retrieving a handkerchief from her skirt pocket, she dabbed at her eyes and blamed her changing body.
Unlike Alice, Samuel wasn't entirely sure what kind of influence or role model he would be to a baby and yelped, "I can't believe I'm going to be an uncle. I'm too young!"
What if they asked him to babysit as the last resort and he botched it? Looking to Patrick, who was more of an older brother than cousin, he appeared like a lost chicken on the side of the road. Being the oldest, Patrick hoped that the new generation wouldn't cause hay destruction in a barn down the line – primarily if he had sons and Caroline had daughters. He held nothing but optimism for his helpful little cousin and reassured his nervousness, "Better you be 13 than 3."
Walter walked over to the round table full of food, which had been forgotten among the news. He didn't want his wife's hard work to go to waste with cold food and ushered their guests with a friendly smile, "Please, everyone eat for lunch and thank you for sharing our news."
Oliver and Corrine left their spot at the counter to seek their grandson, ensnaring him into a hug. They never imagined one of their grandchildren moving there to begin their own life. Oliver had convinced Corrine to leave England for the colonies shortly after their marriage and being adventurers by nature, the two survived the long voyage to set up their first inn. After raising their daughter and watching her marry off, they expected to retire after selling their first inn. Unfortunately, the Loyalists changed that and burned their life's work to the ground. Refusing to admit defeat and letting them win, Oliver set out north of Boston with a small wagon with their last belongings and his worried wife. Davenport was what he hoped would be his last rest stop and pass it on to Walter and his family.
Martha sighed softly with endearment to her lovely in-laws and squeezed by her excited siblings, who were devouring the food. Glad to see it disappear from the trays, she found Caroline trying to goad her husband into sipping an ale. A deadpan stare from Ratonhnhaké:ton told his wife that she was fighting a lost cause. The brunette approached the couple, wringing her hands for a moment before requesting quietly, "Can I talk to you two for a minute?"
"Always" Caroline answered cheerfully, handing her ale over to Patrick, before following behind her little sister. She held up a puffy pastry with wagging eyebrows, breaking it in half to give the second portion to her spouse. Ratonhnhaké:ton accepted this gladly because he didn't mind sweets unlike alcohol.
Martha moved to a quieter area of the inn towards the rear to have privacy between them. Neither of the two had any idea what she wanted to tell them. She and Walter had gone over an important part of the baby's future for a mutual decision. Though their elders would love the baby, the young couple sought great godparents and she confessed with a modest smile, "We want you and Connor to be the baby's godparents."
The two stared in bewilderment before glancing at each other for a response. Caroline had never thought of being an aunt, much less a godmother. Frankly, she still wondered if motherhood would bite anytime soon. Ratonhnhaké:ton understood what godparents were after seeing the Galloways act as second parents for the Burnett children, especially the eldest two. Among his people, everyone in the village cared for orphaned children but colonials did not move together as one, migrating alone to far places. Caroline motioned between themselves to double-check her sister's choice with skepticism, "Us? Really?"
It was common knowledge that they were involved in the war effort and Martha knew what kind of life they led in the Order. Caroline would never want to risk the life of her family and wondered why she didn't offer it to Amelia. She was much more of a safer option that could hide their baby well. Martha, however, had her own reasons for the decision and pointed out with a sheepish smile, "You encouraged me not to back down when I met Walter and you've taken such good care of our family, far better than I did. Connor has never failed any of us since meeting and I want you both in our baby's corner."
Neither Caroline nor Ratonhnhaké:ton expected her to feel so strongly about them. Time could really change people. The redhead blinked when her vision blurred to being struck in the heart and sighed softly, "Martha."
The brunette raised her hand because her mind was set in stone and she spoke earnestly about the unknown future, "I don't want to think negatively but if anything were to happen to me and Walter, our baby would be safest with you."
"I don't know what to say" Caroline whispered humbly to the humbling responsibility but she wouldn't let her sister down. Was this how her godmother felt when she agreed upon her birth? Diana was her treasured unofficial aunt and beloved godmother who always watched over her when her parents worked. Even during winter in Davenport, she would let them play in the snow and rush them inside before her parents returned from the city. She would have to live up to great godmothers everywhere.
"We can say yes" Ratonhnhaké:ton proposed easily to his own sentiment which was elation. He never thought Martha would accept him after he first courted Caroline but she had. The brunette, however, had witnessed his distress after her sister left and it softened her heart against her old opinion about the two. He never hesitated to help them, even when Caroline returned and they stayed friends, and she began rooting for them secretly. For Ratonhnhaké:ton, this was simply adding another Burnett to protect.
Martha smiled with relief and delight for their acceptance, absentmindedly placing her hands on her protruding belly. Caroline gave her points for the sneaky use of men's attire to hide the pregnancy and tucked it away for future use. Her little sister's voice shook out of sheer happiness and she whispered, "Thank you."
"I will be there with whatever you need" Caroline assured firmly to protect her little sister and her unborn baby from all harm. She would drop by extra food for them, extra fabric for her and the baby, walks to Dr. White or for safety in the forest, and anything else her heart desired. She would ask her mother what new mothers and babies needed since she had been there for the last two deliveries in town.
"You and our sisters at my side during the delivery" Martha requested tentatively to have her dear siblings close during the delivery. She loved Walter but Martha wanted her mother and family beside her during that physical trial. This time, she trusted Caroline not to run off in fear. The males would be kept outside the home, including her husband, and she chuckled softly, "Maybe not Alice, it might frighten her."
Caroline agreed with that suggestion for their meek sister and pulled Martha's hands into her own, squeezing them firmly, to promise, "Nothing on earth will stop me. We'll take great care of you."
20 August 1778
Walter had sent for Martha from the Mile's End to relay information to Ratonhnhaké:ton and Caroline at home. The couple had been pondering over dinner when the brunette knocked on their door and they tossed a meal from scratch out the window. Martha wanted the two to drop by the tavern after Walter eyed the potential of new residents sticking by their inn. It was a family of three, two adults and a teenager, that had recently arrived a few days prior and were renting a room as they planned a travel route.
Caroline was always curious about newcomers while Ratonhnhaké:ton wanted to assess for safety. For all they knew, they could be Templar agents like Clara. He usually dropped by after sunset every few days to add a protective layer over the elderly innkeepers and the Rolfes. Summer was the Mile's End heavy season so he was always on alert for danger, especially now that his ties ended with Haytham. As the trio walked south on the main road, they heard their names called from the right side of the dirt road.
All their remaining siblings stuck to the white picket fence, staring down at the trio. With the small hill of the original Burnett homestead, they were always able to peer out into town for anything interesting when bored. It provided a beautiful vantage point of the surrounding wilderness but their siblings liked to people watch when free. Alice peered down at her sisters with a perky wave of the hand and called out, "Where are you going?"
"And why aren't we invited?" Elizabeth added in matter-of-factly, crossing her arms to pin them with a playful glare. Now that her sisters were married, the two were closer than ever. But where did that leave her? Being closest to Caroline, she couldn't help but feel a small flicker of envy.
Ratonhnhaké:ton pointed to the Mile's End to grant them an answer while Caroline waved them down to join. She never minded the company of her family, especially if they were free from chores. Martha stifled a laugh when all four left the fence with haste to return to their home for permission. She would often chastise them for such behavior but found it so silly when she thought back on it now. With a baby on the way, she knew what not to repeat with the new generation. Glancing at her older sister, she asked quietly, "Do you ever miss our childhood days and wish you'd done things differently?"
"Always" Caroline answered truthfully with a solemn smile to her less than stellar moments. She was the responsible one of the family by being the oldest but carelessly left them all without a word. Like Martha, she wished to have left home differently in a way that wouldn't have hurt them all. Her husband forgave her but it was a scar she wished had never been dealt in their youth.
Everyone had lessons to learn and they were no different. She smiled with warmth at her sister's humble pale pink dress, straw hat, and cloth shoes that portrayed her as a country lady. She preferred this Martha above all and hoped she felt the same towards her. Her own gray dress was modest since her time was mainly spent at home and she ditched wearing a hoop skirt, even when Martha called. Ratonhnhaké:ton had hidden his Assassin's outfit that summer, refusing to look at it the first month after their return. She had washed it repeatedly to remove the bloodstains from that horrid last mission and didn't present it until it was back to its pristine white. Her husband, however, donned brown trousers and a blue tunic that humorously reminded her of the lumber mill workers.
Caroline darted forward with the giddiness of a child when her siblings bounded up to them. She wrapped up Alice and Elizabeth into each arm for a tight hug as they laughed joyfully while Amelia embraced Martha with a fond smile at seeing her again. Samuel shook Ratonhnhaké:ton's hand before pulling him in for a hearty hug, surprised by the teenager's strength when he yanked him forward. When had little Samuel become as strong as an ox? Their time as a rabble of children was gone, finding each other in their separate homes for time together. All of them missed their childhood gathering spot at the Burnett home but Ratonhnhaké:ton always kept his door open for them.
After everyone greeted each other, they all headed uphill towards the Mile's End. Elizabeth and Samuel led the group as usual but Ratonhnhaké:ton and Caroline weren't far behind. When entering areas with high volumes of people, they entered first to rule out danger for their family. With strangers on the land, he was very cautious. Opening the front door to the inn, he kept the younger Burnetts behind him by entering first with Caroline behind him. He loved his wife but she was the only person he trusted without question at his back.
The inn was half-full with their town residents and those strolling by to reach Rockport in the north, south to Boston, or west to Worchester. He kept the door open to let the entire family pile inside and they scrambled to the counter to greet Walter cheerfully. Their brother-in-law smiled cheerfully in return and set out mugs to fill them with their favorite drinks. With summer in bloom, freshly squeezed fruit juice was heavily in demand.
At the end of the counter, the family spotted a trio of blonds pouring over handwritten maps. The woman and man appeared the age of the older Burnetts while the young man matched between the younger sisters. Martha silently pointed in their direction before reaching over to grab her fresh mug of water to chug it down. The three travelers were dressed in city attire made of linen like most residents of the rural colonies, wearing a mix of earthy browns and white. Unlike Walter, their clothes were clearly made by hand as the young woman's skirt treaded closely to her ankles. Their posture and nonverbal behavior reminded her of Norris, coupled with their simple way of dress.
The three youngest Burnetts gazed at Ratonhnhaké:ton with unasked curiosity about the newcomers and he knew it was time to intervene. Caroline, however, jumped headfirst into conversation by sitting a few stools down from them to ask politely, "Are you lost?"
The young woman and boy darted behind the man with hesitant eyes aimed at the family of redheads and brunettes. That, or maybe Ratonhnhaké:ton. She didn't want to scare them off by being forward and offered a friendly smile, remembering similar expressions on her own face when traveling from log camps to towns and cities. It was clear that the taller man was responsible for them but she couldn't tell whether they were all family or friends. Her approachability doubled when her youngest siblings squeezed behind her stool, mirroring the other family.
"No, we are trying to set a path for Vermont" the blond man answered in a British accent, his sharp blue eyes hovering over the map on the table. Wisps of loose hair broke from his neatly combed hair as he tried to find a decent path for his family. He was not a very good map reader and none of them had traveled without their parents through colonies or the frontier. Trying to make the best out of their situation, he chuckled awkwardly, "Heard it's nice and about the same as New York weather."
"You can try via Lake Champlain" Elizabeth piped up helpfully, wrapping her right arm around her shoulders to join the fray. Caroline was not surprised by this but she was training her to blend in seamlessly amongst strangers. They had all enjoyed their time by the beautiful lake as children, sitting on the rocky shore to eat packed lunches when their mother needed to work for a few hours at camp with loading or sawing. Elizabeth also remembered lots of people in wagons on the main roads heading south or north, telling them helpfully, "Lots of logging camps in the area to prevent being lost and best to reach it before winter."
"Our uncle lives there and it's a quaint place for a homestead" Martha explained with a kind smile, settling herself behind the counter beside her husband. Walter gave her a knowing look that she ignored since he didn't want her on her feet for too long to avoid painful swollen ankles. She appreciated the sentiment but busied herself with cleaning freshly washed tableware, adding in, "Quite similar to Davenport."
"Thank you for the tip" the stranger replied with a tired smile before turning back to his map to sigh softly, "Frankly, we've never gone past this colony."
"Where do you come from, if I may ask?" Caroline asked respectfully, given some colonists held accents from their native countries while those born from the original colonial arrivals held a different 'American' accent (as they were now calling it). One trait that made her and Ratonhnhaké:ton laugh when an argument was ready to happen was her switching to Gaelic while he switched to Mohawk. For the first time, she and her family were testing the visitors instead of him. Flicking a thumb to her chest, she introduced herself with a friendly smile, "I'm Caroline Burnett. This is my husband, Connor Burnett – the town guv'nor and owner of Davenport's Prospect Trading Company. From the tallest to shortest are my siblings, Amelia, Martha, Elizabeth, Alice, and Samuel. You've already met my brother-in-law, Walter, our assistant innkeeper and manager of the general store."
A rabble of chirpy hello's erupted from the small group to welcome them and the blond replied politely, "I'm Michael Archer and these are my siblings, Ruth and Sebastian."
Now it makes sense, Caroline thought to their cohesive nature and hesitancy to approach others. She was the same with her siblings by taking charge over new situations and protecting them. Michael couldn't have been much older than herself but his siblings still carried an innocence about them. She wouldn't have been surprised if he shielded them from the cruel nature of humankind.
"We lived in New York but we've had enough of the conflict" Michael explained carefully, trusting his story to the Scottish family that branched out in the small town. The quiet and tranquility in Davenport was a surreal experience after hearing gunfire, shouting, fighting, and fire run through the city in the past years. He didn't want his siblings to witness that anymore and he worried they would be injured in the rising conflict, even as civilians. After earning enough money to leave the city, he bid it goodbye to keep them safe and added in bitterly, "I've been keeping after my siblings but our English background has not helped with either side."
"You came from England?" Walter chipped in happily, originally pegging him as one who learned the accent from everyday life. In comparison, he had learned his accent from his grandparents and parents, which was now fading with each generation. His parents set up shop with a general store by using their known contacts in New York and continued travel to England while his wife's family labored until finding their homestead to set up their own business. He admired his grandparents and the Burnetts for braving the long voyage across the Atlantic to carve a new life with nothing but the belongings on their backs.
"From London as a child" he answered with a faint smile to happier times because the colonies had not helped their situation. The married couples before him were happy and successful, which surprised him at how colonists reacted to anyone not from overseas or within the thirteen English colonies. What was their secret? Frankly, he was stuck between carving a new life up north or setting sail back to England. Rubbing his eyes to clear the exhaustion away, he deliberated further on their miserable tale, "We lost our mother to typhoid fever a few years back and our father enlisted in the Continental Army for extra coin. Unfortunately, he did not come back after winter ended and we received a letter of his passing in the spring. Our compensation was not enough to stay in the city tenements though we tried working to earn our keep. Unfortunately, three mouths are not easy with scarce jobs."
Caroline looked to her husband with disappointment at failing to deliver the stolen goods earlier. If they had been faster or smarter to beat Church, maybe the army wouldn't have lost so many to the harsh winter. The Burnett children were more than familiar with cramped tenement living and Alice sniffled softly at his somber tale, "We're sorry, Michael."
She remembered being sick repeatedly during their time in city housing and hated the cold bedroom they all shared. Never uttering a peep, she kept close to the endless warmth of her sisters to stay cozy through cold winter nights. Her modest and kind response was unexpected after hearing endless criticisms of working harder to earn his keep. He managed a weak smile, clearing his throat, before telling her solemnly, "It's not your fault, it's something that can't be helped."
"Did you find work in Vermont?" Ratonhnhaké:ton asked curiously to the job market in the area for future investment. Granted, Patrick would have moved there instead of Davenport after traveling to the colony every summer. It would not be ideal to move north if there was no job market.
"I'm going anywhere that has jobs" Michael stated frankly because he needed a permanent position to help his family. One odd job here and there was not enough in the long term. His siblings always tried their best to help but survival depended on earning money for a roof over their heads, food, and clothing. He loved them greatly but love couldn't always sustain them, especially against the harsh natural elements. He was desperate for a helping hand and supplied the family with his family's skill, "My father taught me to trap and fish but my job was teaching at a boy's school. They cut down on teachers soon after the war broke out. Ruth was a baker until the bakery was closed by the owners and Sebastian fished with whatever boat took him onboard."
"I can see why you left" Martha stated grimly to the conditions of the city for people trying to make a living. She had once dreamed of living in a large city and owning a home in the cobbled roads rather than the scary wilds and broken tenements. Instead, that dream shifted when reality at visiting the city didn't fill her with excitement but rather, a need to flee. Meeting Walter worried her that he would return to the city with or without her but he fell in love with her little town. Maybe the same hope could help this family too.
"We're not a city but we have need for a multitude of fields" Amelia spoke up politely from the rear of the group, always observant but rarely a participant. She saw that her siblings were glancing at each other to dare the question of having them stay but Ratonhnhaké:ton said nothing. Her heart hurt for their plight and empathized with their pain after feeling the same from never-ending poverty as a child until her father broke away from the logging camps to find their homestead. Breaking away from the group, she stepped beside her eldest sister and explained their quaint home, "Our town has been growing larger each year and that means open jobs."
Elizabeth flicked a thumb to her chest, puffing it proudly, and told them, "I work with rehabilitating horses and trap on the side. I never mind a helping hand and my boss pays well."
Ruth stepped out from behind her eldest brother, peering at Elizabeth with admiration. She had never seen a young woman dressed in men's attire, finding it rather daring in a positive light. Without a mother, she struggled to mend her clothing appropriately and sew new dresses for the year by herself. With finances tight, she only had two dresses left. She never would have thought of switching to clothing like her brothers. Elizabeth smiled bashfully when the petite blond gazed down at her own worn yellow skirt before smiling at the redhead's trousers. A smile broke over her pink lips as the delicate blond spoke with a soft voice, "Your trousers are quite fetching."
"I made them myself but Ellen is our town seamstress and tailor" Elizabeth informed her helpfully because they didn't judge people based on attire. Her eldest sister gave her the courage to step out in men's clothing and passing on that encouragement to others brought hope. She remembered wearing patched dresses that didn't fit well in the shoulders or waist after wearing only secondhand clothes from her sisters. Kids always laughed at her in school but it never happened in Davenport.
"I work at the lumber mill with my family" Samuel piped up to his first job, following in the footsteps of his oldest sister. Despite complaining initially, he understood the meaning of hard work now and why his father opened the mill to keep their family fed. Growing older opened a new perspective of the world and the dependency on his parents was gradually subsiding to lend them a hand. He was proud to have a father who owned his own business and told them, "Our father owns it."
"They were the second to arrive on this land after our oldest resident" Ratonhnhaké:ton explained to their success after his chance meeting with the two Scotsmen unfolded a new life he didn't expect. Meeting the children took away the loneliness he felt while living and training at the manor, treasuring their friendship. Amongst that friendly group of children, he also found his other half.
"Technically, you arrived second" Caroline corrected cheekily with a grin since none of them would be there without him. He helped pull the residents together to find their homesteads and eventually, form their businesses. Even now, they were trying to help this new family in need. Father Timothy had been their last resident to arrive and now, he was happy with his weekly sermons and feeding chickens. She winked playfully at her husband, who was once an adorably shy teen, and told him, "You just happened to marry me and moved a few houses down."
Ratonhnhaké:ton managed to keep a straight face against her mischievous expression, turning to the Archer family to continue, "Needless to say, we have a bustling community."
"My husband and I run the general store during the day before picking up shifts here in the evening" Martha chuckled warmly to their busy lifestyles that she often wondered if they bit off more than they could chew. She admired Walter's energy and willingness to help but her own energy was dwindling with the pregnancy. Regardless, her husband was by her side to accommodate her and she told them, "We've begun hiring servers and cooks, some which work onboard the Aquila when she's not out at sea."
Before confusion settled over the curious family, Ratonhnhaké:ton explained simply, "I have a frigate to secure marine trade routes."
Sebastian's blue eyes lit up at the word frigate and Samuel chuckled after feeling the same excitement as a kid. His sister might bar him from the Aquila but maybe she'd let Sebastian onboard to earn a living. Like his sister, the blond was observant of everyone rather than taking the proactive role in speaking.
Amelia straightened her shoulders to keep a polite appearance, stirring a chuckle from her laidback redheaded sisters. Elizabeth hung from Caroline's shoulders like a drowsy cub while Caroline leaned against the counter, her chin on one hand with a perky smile. Neither of the two would ever question who their sophisticated sister was, proud of her accomplishments. Nodding to Michael politely, she informed him with a faint smile, "I'm the head teacher here."
"I'm her assistant" Alice piped up proudly to her first job, especially as a young woman. Her sisters fought hard in helping her understand her school subjects, especially when she struggled with reading. Ratonhnhaké:ton had even stayed longer than usual to help her and she wouldn't forget that. She had surpassed their expectations of simply reading and emulated Amelia as a teacher.
"It is a pleasure" he replied instantly, the solemn look on his face disappearing for delight at meeting instructors. The two ladies were dressed in similar shades of sky blue but Alice carried a thin white shawl over her neck and shoulders while Amelia tucked her white kerchief into the neckline as a feminine collar. He was surprised that a school existed in such a small town but they must have valued education to have one erected. This new knowledge filled him with the hope of finding a new home and he confessed sheepishly, "All my colleagues were male teachers, given the all-boy's school."
Amelia was not surprised by that, given that men were expected to receive an education. Women were lucky to learn past primary school, if given the opportunity, and were ingrained with learning homemaking skills first. She encouraged all her students, especially the girls, to push past those barriers. Her hope was that one day, colleges would accept women as students. Her voice remained steady as she recalled her motto for the town school, "We integrate all ages and genders here, we do not judge."
Caroline admired her little sister's triumph over her fears and attaining her dream in teaching. Now, instead of teaching Amelia to read like she once did, she learned from Amelia when her time was free. Being married to Ratonhnhaké:ton, they both had to be smart to keep an upper hand against anyone that would ever try to take advantage of them. Amelia was more than happy to help them after their endless support through the years. Elizabeth smiled brightly at her older sister and spoke confidently, "Amelia taught in Boston until the attack on Bunker Hill-"
"City teaching did not suit me" the redhead chuckled softly, purposely interjecting to steer the conversation. Conquering her fears from that day was not easy but time helped to heal. She did not want to reminisce on it, however, and informed them of her work, "I teach the children in this town and on the weekends, I hold evening literacy classes for adults."
"That is impressive" Ruth blurted with astonishment to the jobs each woman held. Back in New York, she was ordered to only make orders and stay by the hot oven – to never approach customers. Only men were allowed to hand over the baked goods and handle money. Oh, how she wanted to have her own little shop and interact with customers. Pointing at the polite redhead, she asked quietly, "You're the only teacher?"
A serene smile crossed her lips and Amelia answered truthfully, "No, Alice is my understudy but she will be teaching basic arithmetic this fall."
Alice, who had been enthralled with the family's plight, straightened up immediately as she stood between Samuel and Ratonhnhaké:ton. What was this talk about teaching?! Both men smiled when she jerked nervously to the sudden reveal, not expecting this twist in her life. Her time in the school was as her assistant, not an actual teacher. Did Amelia truly see potential in her? Her freckled cheeks turned rosy with embarrassment and she blurted weakly, "I will? Am I ready?"
"Of course you are" Amelia reassured with a kind smile, remembering her own uncertainty at that age. She still couldn't believe her youngest sister was now the same age as when she took her own certification exam. Caroline had encouraged her endlessly and she would continue that tradition with Alice. Clasping her lean shoulder with a firm grip, Amelia spoke earnestly, "I was fifteen when I received my teaching certificate too. It's time for you to take that path and I've no doubt you will succeed."
"Having another teacher during that time would relieve some of the pressure on curriculum planning" Ratonhnhaké:ton remarked to both women, who nodded with bright smiles. Alice would need time off to study for the licensing exam before starting with a small class as a new teacher. Having Michael handle a class would relieve pressure from planning multiple schedules for different age groups, not to mention the adult classes. That is, if the blond man agreed to stay.
Michael, however, smiled instantly at that chance and Ruth dared herself to ask them, "Do you have a baker?"
The Burnett siblings erupted into happy laughter at seeing the initially meek woman break out of her shell. They could see the trio were eager to work and earn a living, not seeking handouts of any kind. If they couldn't get Michael as a teacher, his sister was already vying for a town job. Ratonhnhaké:ton answered her inquiry with a faint smile, "No, just our innkeepers that cook hot meals for purchase."
"A bakery sounds absolutely delicious" Walter suggested with an excited smile, filling a mug with grape juice before handing it out to the blond woman. Ruth smiled thankfully for the free drink, taking a sip of the sweet juice to calm her nerves. Sebastian laughed at her enthusiasm to work but it had been a while that any of them received good news. It felt absolutely liberating to laugh without fear that someone would bang on the wall or be told to act properly. The people of the small town were cheerful and he liked them immediately but his brother would make the final decision. Walter looked to Ratonhnhaké:ton for feedback as he commented truthfully, "My grandparents are getting older in age and they'd surely get a break buying baked goods instead of making it from scratch themselves."
"It would make meal prepping far easier" Martha agreed with a hopeful smile because she would not be able to help as often by the end of the pregnancy. Ratonhnhaké:ton understood that the couple took on much responsibility and relieving some of those jobs would help them. The last thing he wanted was for one of them to fall ill. Dr. White didn't like preventable illnesses so he'd earn a knocking or two on his door.
Ruth didn't hesitate to advertise herself to start off as a solo baker and exclaimed, "I'm good with bread, cakes, muffins, pies- you name it!"
"I can fish" Sebastian joined in to determine if there was a job for him as well in the town. He had walked around the cove in the north, awed by its dark blue beauty, and stopped by the pier to use his fishing pole to fish in the evening for relaxation. While his sister was thwarted by not having a bakery, he didn't have transport for fishing. Running his fingers through his shaggy hair, he chuckled sheepishly, "Still need to find myself a boat. A rowboat will do."
Alice was amused by his optimism, hiding a laugh behind her hands. They appeared like such nice people! Samuel was taken by the family as well and offered the teen, "If you need extra coin, we're always looking for new hires at the mill."
Their worries about making ends meet subsided and Michael turned to his siblings to ask them with a hopeful smile, "Well then, shall we try it here until late fall?"
"Mother would have loved it here" Ruth whispered with regret at losing her parents and having no extended family in the colonies. It was simply her and her brothers, nobody else. Now, there was a town ready to take them in and provide jobs for them to eat and keep renting a room in the inn. This was the best chance they had been offered so far and they both grabbed Michael's arms with glee. Pushing away the fear and loneliness, she told her oldest brother, "I mean, yes!"
As long as his siblings were happy, he would go wherever they wanted. Michael would not disappoint his new employer and put his best foot forward by asking respectfully, "Can we start right away? I have to make sure I can put food on the table for them."
Caroline smiled happily at her husband to approve the new family willing to stay in Davenport for a new future. She sympathized greatly with them, just as she had with each resident that brought their wagon down the main road. The Fortiers, Millers, Norris, and Ellen endured the worst while Lance and Dr. White were threatened with discreditation. Nobody should live in fear every day, wondering if they would see another tomorrow, and it was that hope that she and Ratonhnhaké:ton wanted to change. The Templars might not see order with ending violence, poverty, and discrimination but they did.
"Of course" Ratonhnhaké:ton agreed with a polite nod but his eyes widened slightly when the Burnett siblings encased him in a hug. His wife didn't help at all by encouraging their hugging efforts with hand gestures. He uttered a pitiful groan for the public display of affection when Walter and Martha reached over the counter to grasp his shoulder. The Archer family stared at them all with beaming happiness at their unity and he managed to breathe out through the bear hug, "Welcome to Davenport."
15 October 1778
Ratonhnhaké:ton had finally dared to leave Davenport past Boston and took his crew of the Aquila with him. Caroline was happy to see him return to his old self when she saw him pack his assassin robes once more in his travel pack. His heart healed enough from the last mission, especially with their time spent at home. In a few months, they would be godparents to Martha's baby and the recent arrival of the Archer family boosted the growth of the town. Michael took over the evening classes with adult literacy to give Amelia time at home with her family. She appreciated having more time to enjoy reading for leisure after dinner rather than planning more lessons. Ruth's new bakery was bustling with customers, mainly for her pastries, and she baked anything the Mile's End needed to boost sales. Sebastian spent his time between learning from Lance as his new student and fishing to sell his catches to the town. Being seventeen, he was still trying to find his trade unlike his older siblings. Caroline was pleased to find her little brother and the youngest Archer becoming fast friends as they often passed her in town on their way to their newest adventure.
As for her and Ratonhnhaké:ton, they had headed south to Maryland to steal a Loyalist ship. Despite her captain's indifference with Washington now, they had struck up an unexpected friendship with Major General Lafayette. They liked his bluntness at sharing both the positive and negative aspects of a plan to avoid excess casualties. It was at his behest that they traveled south to meet some of his men to quietly infiltrate a shipyard where Loyalists were stationed. Under the cover of darkness, they snuck inside to sneak on board one of their vessels to quietly eliminate the little guards they had on it. Faulkner originally thought their plan was insane but when the large frigate rolled out to sea in the dead of night with the Aquila providing cover fire, he conceded his original opinion. It also hadn't helped that David suggested setting fire to the other ships to prevent a getaway chase.
Ratonhnhaké:ton briefly wondered what his father would think when hearing that his Templar spies lost a ship meant to help them in the war. Duncan had sent him intel that Haytham was focusing his efforts on the Continental Army's success while Lee continued feeding the British Army morsels of intel. He didn't understand why that was and how it would help the Templars. Jacob and Dobby did not spot Lee anywhere in the north while Haytham was briefly seen further south. Was there discord or a new plan that both were tackling? He couldn't discern what his father was planning and that worried him. The time spent together in the south islands replayed in his mind but the old amusement for that time left when remembering that fateful June night.
Robert stirred him out of his rumination when he declared jovially, "I'd say that's one hell of a job done."
The pitch-black darkness of the sea was broken only by the glittering water reflecting off the moonlight above. They had left the orange flames littering the docks behind and any smaller ships that dared to come after them were thwarted by cannon fire. The stolen ship was already heading south by Lafayette's men to Georgia where they had stronger numbers to retrofit her for an infiltration mission. The aid that Ratonhnhaké:ton sent Aveline led the Assassins in the southern colonies to dominate while the north struggled. Hopefully, that wouldn't be for long.
"I'm sure they'll find good use for the frigate" Ratonhnhaké:ton remarked on the possibilities of its use in the war. They could use it against the enemy by tricking them in battle or overtaking an enemy-guarded coastline. Yawning into his right hand, he knew sunrise would not occur for another two hours. For once, Caroline's suggestion of coffee was accepted.
"We could have kept it for Davenport, given our help to the Patriots" Caroline called down from her perch, tucking her jacket close to retain heat. Now that summer had passed them by, the nights out at sea would grow colder. They were more southbound than closer to home and hoped they would arrive safely with no naval battles. Fights in the dark were never easy and anyone could fall overboard into the frigid water.
While her husband had been off playing the brave and wondrous hero that he was, she had not felt her best out in the field. For the last few weeks, certain smells would sour her stomach and she would need to breathe a lungful of fresh air to get rid of it. She loved eggs but in the last week, she couldn't bear the smell without wanting to retch out the window. When she boarded the Aquila, the sea air was not as comforting as the pine-scented air of Davenport. She said nothing to her husband to avoid being left behind, determined to watch his back, and kept that problem to herself. Unfortunately, she worried about compromising the mission when tobacco smoke filled the air on the docks upon sneaking in and she almost purged her stomach. She had practically crab-walked her way to the opposite side, passing her boggled husband and his team, to stab the nearest guard to escape the smell.
"Lafayette's help in tracking Lee means we have to return the favor" Ratonhnhaké:ton reminded matter-of-factly after hearing repeated suggestions of 'why didn't we keep the ship?'. That wouldn't have gone over well when meeting Lafayette up north with the mission details. He was already running a bit short on allies after the last mission and needed to regain that old balance. What would he need with an extra ship when the Aquila was strong on her own?
Robert tapped his fingers against the banister and joked playfully, "A stolen ship isn't so bad to add to our repertoire."
"Let's go home" Ratonhnhaké:ton told him since they left Maryland's coastline far behind in an hour so they could turn in the direction of home. They had opted to linger behind as bait to let the stolen ship escape but their ransacking of the place caused enough damage not to give chase. With danger not looming over their heads, it was time to begin their route home. He did not want to be far from the town when his father and Lee wandered the colonies unchecked.
"Orders, captain?" his first mate asked to relay them to the ground and sail teams.
"Full sail, 12 o'clock!"
The half-sail of the Aquila gave way for the full force of her large sails as they were unfurled against the wind. Ratonhnhaké:ton turned the wheel sharply to the left to catch the air current flowing north to begin their trip home. The strength of the current rocked the ship from its gentle bob across the water into a powerful surge that cut through the waves. The sailors were happy to return home and get paid for another job well done. So far, it had been one of the easiest with enemy casualties on shore only. David, however, was quick to remind them that the payment part occurred with a docked ship and not half-way there with an enemy on their six.
Sailing in the night shed a calmer and relaxed ambience among the crew. Robert had already informed their cook to make plenty of coffee for the night since they would not stop until reaching their destination. He offered the first cups to his captain and their navigator but while Ratonhnhaké:ton accepted, she declined. Caroline began feeling nauseous with the passing minutes as the ship's speed bounced the Aquila over the water and shook her head to snap out of it. The cold breeze flowing past her and inhaling deeply did not help at all, which usually did the trick when her stomach became queasy. As a new sailor, it had often helped to acclimate herself to the environment and rarely had trouble tolerating sea travel nowadays. The continued bobbing of the ship against the waves was something she had grown used to but the recent weeks led her to keeping a bucket nearby to empty her stomach. Was she finally losing her touch with the sea?
No, that can't be it, she thought pensively because it wouldn't have taken two years for nerves to strike back. This didn't make sense at all!
Keeping her mind occupied helped abate the sick sensation in her belly and she smiled widely when a rogue wind struck. Ah, that was the perfect cooldown. Calling out the direction of the current, her team shifted the sails and she kept focus on the job at hand. Nothing better to distract her than a potential problem, right? She would have laughed if she didn't fear the abdominal movement would send her dinner back up. Breaking through that pesky wind issue with ease, she ordered the sails to return to their original position.
Resting her head against the mast, the bobbing of the ship and the salty moist air didn't help. Saliva began to build in her mouth with an acidic aftertaste and Caroline wasted no time in acting. Peering down at the shrouds clinging to the masts, she called out for her best officer, "Smith, take topside!"
The blond man sat on the highest platform of the foremast to oversee the crew and he turned around with surprise. Was she handing over their entire team to him? During an active trip in the dark? There was so much he still didn't know! Her voice carried clearly across the wind, being picked up by Ratonhnhaké:ton at the stern, and Adam replied warily, "But ma'am-"
"Now!"
She descended the crow's nest without another glance back, opening the latched door from the wooden balcony, to use the pulley system below. She couldn't exactly close her eyes for this ride and breathed deeply to push down the sick feeling in her stomach. After the first few vomit spells at home in the morning, she caught wind of the vanguard symptoms. Upon landing, she ran desperately to the left banister and weaved herself between the cannons to peer out into the ocean. Hoping the wind gust and view of the calming water would help, she groaned miserably when her stomach lurched in protest. This was not good, cursing herself for not keeping a better grip on her summersaulting stomach while out at sea.
Ratonhnhaké:ton spotted his wife's hunched form over the banister and worried for her immediately. Not only did she abandon her post, but the swift speed of the Aquila could send anyone overboard if not careful along the banister. He motioned for Robert to take the wheel, given the lack of danger and traffic, and descended the stairs quickly. The first mate seized the wheel instantly to keep the ship heading north while Ratonhnhaké:ton approached his wife, calling out, "Caroline, are you all right?"
"Give me a minute after hurling my dinner" she shot back hastily before emptying her stomach overboard again, clutching her upper abdomen to stop the contractions. Relief was immediate after vomiting but she gagged with disgust to the horribly bitter aftertaste left in her mouth. Ugh, she hated his part more than the watery eyes and congested nose from the vomiting force. Spitting out the bitter saliva, she backed away from the banister with a sore need to brush her teeth.
Her shoulders were seized but she relaxed at seeing her husband behind her. She hated feeling weak in front of him, in public no less, but his presence calmed her troubled mind. He didn't like what he saw after rarely seeing her ill and wanted her to sleep it off. A sick officer would help nobody and they would be fine without her for the time being. Squeezing her shoulders, he ordered gently to help her, "Take a rest period."
Caroline shook her head vehemently but it only made her groan at the dizzying movement. She would yell at her stomach if it wanted to do an encore. Being sequestered to their room was not what she had in mind and she disagreed, "I'm fine, cap-"
"You look pale, Caroline" he interjected firmly with concern lacing his voice and she quieted in submission. Did she really look that horrid? Was he sure it wasn't the moonlight shedding bad lighting? Her husband was a nonnegotiable man when it came to illness or injury. Onboard the ship, he was her leader more than her spouse. Maybe a nap would help. When she snuggled into bed at home, she did feel better. She caved in instantly when his worried gaze met hers and he pleaded, "Please do this for me."
"All right" she sighed softly with defeat, patting his chest with fond acknowledgment. Being on his ship still meant she was his officer and not only his wife so she had to obey him twice as much. Still, she appreciated his sweet concern and nodded to him before turning to head towards their cabin.
After a nap in the cabin, Caroline snuggled into her sheets to sniff her husband's forest scent from his pillow. It had been quite the calming scent for her turbulent stomach and she fell asleep holding onto his pillow. When she woke, sunlight filtered through the blue, red, and white mosaic windows beside their bed so progress had been made on their path north. She didn't understand why her stomach felt queasy at sea, especially after tackling rough waters without a problem. Heck, she'd survived attacks by Man O' Wars that bounced everyone around the decks and masts. She reluctantly admitted to herself that her appetite decreased in the recent weeks before traveling but ate her meals regularly to avoid rousing suspicion with Ratonhnhaké:ton. She didn't want to tell her husband just yet, blindly hoping that it would fade overnight. They were still a day or so away from Davenport so she would not be able to see Dr. White anytime soon.
She shifted in bed onto her left side to hide in the soothing shadows, peering into their empty room. The lack of smells there kept her comfortable and she dreaded returning outside. What if the dry heaving returned? Would she be able to stay on the crow's nest to continue her shift? It might have ended at this point but she didn't want to abandon her responsibilities entirely. What if a hostile ship lurked somewhere on the path?
The door to the room creaked open slowly and she smiled when Ratonhnhaké:ton stepped inside. He was trying to conceal his footsteps as best he could but when he closed the door and turned around, he halted at seeing her awake. Well, no need for sneaking now. Approaching her with haste, he kneeled on the floor to sweep his gaze over her form for any visible malady. Her cheeks were rosy again with no facial wincing or furrowing of the brow. She worried him with that abrupt shift in health and he smoothed his hand over her loose hair. He didn't fail to notice his pillow in her arms and asked softly, "How are you feeling?"
"Somewhat decent" she answered honestly, hesitant about stepping outside to only scuttle back inside. She released the comfy pillow to rub her eyes and smiled dreamily at her husband, reaching out to brush her thumbs over his freckled cheeks. There was no other she could love in the world. Ratonhnhaké:ton smiled modestly to her affection, leaning down to kiss her forehead, and hugged her around the shoulders. Caroline smiled fondly to his silent sign of concern since he resorted to great affection when at a loss. She was happy to be enveloped in his familiar scent and cozy warmth, whispering against his neck, "Is it possible to grow a little ship inside you that rages war when the big ship is in the spotlight?"
"Caroline, you're not making sense" he stated with light amusement in his voice to her joke, brushing another soft kiss to her temple. If she was making light of the situation, her condition was improving. He wanted her to stay indoors until she felt completely recovered rather than risk a relapse by leaving earlier. Releasing her from his hug, he sat down on the edge of the bed in the open space created from her fetal position. Brushing his fingers down her head, he suggested softly, "I can make you some soup or porridge for breakfast."
"You're the sweetest husband" she smiled with appreciation to his commitment to helping her while managing the ship. He already had enough responsibilities and didn't want to add more burdens for him. The point of her traveling beside him was to have an advantage against their enemies and protect him, not have him coddle her. Her right hand reached out to cup his cheek and she reminded him solemnly, "But I can't ask that of you. You're already an officer down without me."
"Faulkner can man the ship" he reasoned easily since the old sailor enjoyed sailing the frigate on open water without traffic. Now that they were back at sea after his boss' short break from the Order, Robert was happy in his natural element. Ratonhnhaké:ton had no problem with his first mate assuming command while he tended to his ill wife. He grasped her hand to intertwine their fingers and told her with ease, "Soup is simple and I can ask the cook."
"He is rather happy now that your father's gone" she chuckled softly to having the ship back to themselves. The uneasy ambiance from their last trip was gone and they were both happy to have the old Aquila back.
Ratonhnhaké:ton didn't want to dwell on his father and told his wife gently, "Get some sleep, Caroline."
She smiled faintly to his considerate nature and squeezed his hand to ask with disappointment, "Is it weak if I want you beside me to hold?"
His wife rarely asked for affectionate gestures from him, preferring to be the more romantic one of the two. Their marriage gave him the freedom to show his love but he was always cautious in public, given society's norms. He granted her wish without question, removing his heavy coat, weapons belt, and leather boots. She beamed happily for his company and he tossed his hat towards the end of the bed before replying, "Not at all."
Caroline scooted towards the middle of the bed since he would take the side closest to the door to protect her. She handed over his pillow with a shy smile for stealing it but he didn't mind. After all, they shared everything now that they were married. Settling into bed, he laid down on his back and pulled his wife close by the waist. Caroline latched on gratefully, wrapping her right arm over his chest and snuggled up to his side to rest her cheek on his shoulder. His presence comforted her greatly and she apologized for her lousy condition, "I'm sorry for taking time away from your duties."
"The Aquila runs herself well" he assured her without concern for her management but Robert knew to send a man to his cabin for any problem. He would also be receiving a small break away after being awake for almost an entire day. Relaxing against the soft bedding, he exhaled with content and pulled up the blankets with his left hand. Kissing the forehead of his wife, he hoped she would feel better beside him and told her dotingly, "And I have to tend to my wife when she's ill."
Caroline managed a chuckle without having that sickening feeling in her stomach. He really was the best medicine for her when she was under the weather. Her cheek flattened against his shoulder when she hugged him tightly and declared, "You're ridiculously huggable, I'd keep you all night if you weren't the captain."
17 October 1778
An eyebrow quirked in curiosity when her stay didn't meet at the center of her spine. Two fingers fit against her upper back while the lower fit three. How was that possible? She fit her stay perfectly fine a few days ago! Maybe. . . all right, maybe not. She reluctantly admitted that it had become painfully snug to the point that she was using it very loosely. Her diet had not changed recently and though she was living at home now for the past few months, her appetite decreased recently with the nauseous spells. Even now, she wanted to grab an empty chamberpot and hurl her guts out with every sharp bob of the Aquila over water. She had never experienced such a lingering malady onboard after setting foot on her for long trips.
It was at this moment that she remembered a distinct conversation with Martha.
"How did you know you were with child?" Caroline asked curiously as the two washed clothing by the river beside their old home. She didn't mind helping her little sister now that she had time at home, away from the war. After being gone for months on end and missing out on milestones, she didn't want to leave them like that again.
Martha stopped wringing a sudsy blue skirt over a flat rock and answered honestly, "Well, my clothes became tighter despite eating just about the same and my stomach felt queasy for a bit. It stopped just about when I felt the first kicks."
"That sounds terrible" the elder sister laughed merrily and earned a playful smack from the brunette on the left arm. This sent the two into laughter that echoed downwind, bonding over the first baby of their family.
"It did stop my monthly bleeding" Martha pointed out with a cheeky smile to bidding that troublesome visitor goodbye. Caroline's left eyebrow quirked at this with curiosity because that really did sound fabulous, especially when out at sea as the only woman on an all-male crew. She still remembered kicking out Ratonhnhaké:ton from their room during some of those days to tidy up herself in the morning.
"Is that really the only way to stop that bugger?" Caroline sighed despondently and smacked a pair of trousers against her own flat rock to rub a ball of soap over the fabric. Martha snorted to her sister's fight against the body's natural reactions and continued washing her clothing. The redhead brushed a stray lock of hair back from her face and muttered, "I might have to actively seek a child. Last thing I want is for Connor to think I died in bed when he peels back the covers every month to see a bloodbath."
Martha burst into amused laughter at that dark but hilarious image, given his stoic demeanor. Caroline shook her head to forget bringing up that embarrassing moment that left her husband frantic and waved her soapy hands at her. At this rate, their family would think they were drinking and having a party. Exhaling to calm her laughing fit, Martha cleared her throat before dunking her skirt in the water to rinse it clean. Caroline smiled at the rushing crystalline water of the river before remarking wistfully, "I wouldn't mind a baby of my own one day though."
Her eyes widened in realization that she was exhibiting the same symptoms as her sister. Horrid nausea (minus the vomiting), unexplained weight gain, sensitivity to smells, and her monthly visitor had vanished after their return from Monmouth. Could it be true? Logic told her that maybe it was a bug she caught out at sea but nobody else was reporting the same symptoms. She was the only one hurling her guts out there and at home.
Sitting down on the bed, she debated on how to proceed with this important piece of information. Could she really be expecting? The stay desperately clinging to her sides but failing horribly was an obvious indicator and she placed her hand over her lower abdomen. Raising the white shift to inspect her skin, she noticed her lower belly was a bit more rounded. Was she certain she simply wasn't getting fat and caught a malady? She did love eating homecooked food and had not gone out on a mission with her husband since June. The lack of rigorous travel and fighting could pack on the pounds on a modest housewife.
The door suddenly burst open and she yelped in surprise at her husband's arrival. Quickly lowering her shift, she grabbed the stay to cover her midsection to keep the potential pregnancy a secret. If she was grasping to accept it, how would he react? How would she even begin the conversation?!
"I didn't mean to startle you!" he exclaimed helplessly, shutting the door to shroud them in privacy. For good matter, he laid against the door to show his wife that nobody saw anything. Caroline, however, was more concerned about leaking her newest discovery. With the door closed, she could walk around in her undergarments without a care. Ratonhnhaké:ton still averted his gaze politely out of respect but she stayed put to shroud her midsection.
Her brow furrowed in afterthought at forgetting to lock the door after he left that morning, covering her face with embarrassment, and she sighed miserably, "I forgot I left the door unlocked."
"Are you all right?" he asked cautiously, watching her return to the bed where numerous clothes laid haphazardly. Was she having trouble picking her attire for the day? They all wore sailing attire and he found something amiss when regular clothes from home were splayed among the pile. She had been ill yesterday and though he was happy to see her on her feet, he didn't want her pushing past her limitations.
"Yes! I . . . I don't know" she denied hesitantly before sighing with regret, sitting down on the bed. Her mind was plagued with accepting a pregnancy, raising a child, and keeping that child safe from harm. Ratonhnhaké:ton did not plan on the war with the Templars to last this long and that led him to agree to have their children come naturally. They wanted a family but their child would be a prized target if the Templars knew of their existence. Breathing in deeply, she tried to calm her frantic thoughts and told him weakly, "I don't feel very well."
Ratonhnhaké:ton crossed the distance to inspect his crestfallen wife, cupping her right cheek to convey his concern. He didn't like having her upset after taking vows to keep her happy and promising her family to keep her safe. She leaned into him for physical comfort, grasping his left hand into both of hers. Without her numerous layers, she appeared frailer against his larger frame and it struck him painfully. He withdrew his hand from hers and embraced her tightly, placing his chin on top of her head to shield her. His voice was quiet against the crashing waves on the ship and hollers of the crew when he inquired, "What is it?"
"I don't like being ill" she muttered flatly at being unable to keep food down and having to sleep her symptoms away. Her heart sought to be at her position high in the crow's nest but her stomach said otherwise. Her right hand hovered over her lower abdomen, wondering how a baby would change her position onboard. Ratonhnhaké:ton would unlikely let her linger at such heights with a baby on the way. Grasping the collar of his captain's coat, her thumbs brushed over the fabric and she sighed morosely, "I'm sorry to have failed you yesterday."
Ratonhnhaké:ton would never risk her safety over having a better eye at sea. She had her team well-trained to function without her in an emergency which spoke highly of her ability to lead. Her subordinates were worried of their superior just as much as he was with Adam popping out every hours during his breaks to ask about her. His crew rested easier in having her at 100% capacity instead of struggling to carry out her duties. Their current route estimated their arrival until tomorrow afternoon and no sooner. With that in mind, he made the decision to keep her on bedrest and told her, "We'll be home tomorrow, you will sleep in until then."
She hesitated on accepting his order, glancing up at him to ask carefully, "Are you sure?"
"This is the first time you've gotten sick onboard, I'm ordering you to rest" he pointed out matter-of-factly to her inability to carry out her duties. Caroline pouted at being grounded and he brushed a thumb across her lips to wipe it away. His wife smiled instantly at the gesture, grasping his hand into hers to kiss his palm. She loved everything about him and could proudly say she felt the same emanate from him through their toughest moments. Her lips pressed against his with a fond smile and he told her between their kiss, "Smith will take over. We'll be home soon."
"Thank you" she whispered gratefully, taking a deep breath to calm her thumping heart and keep her lunch down. Is this what Martha had gone through for the past months? Would it last the whole pregnancy? Or was she simply sick enough that her monthly bloodletting disappeared? Uncertain to what was happening inside her own body, her throat tightened and her voice broke as she asked, "Ratonhnhaké:ton, why don't my clothes fit anymore?"
"Am I being led into a trap about weight?" he attempted to joke lightly to ease his wife's distress, her eyes watering briefly before she wiped them. He couldn't bear to see her cry and hoped for both their sakes that it was simply a sudden food illness. They were common when eating new food or improper cooking which was probably why he and his wife made sure to poke their food through every time for safety. Onboard the Aquila, they all ate from the same place but nobody was ill – only her. Had it been food from Davenport that caused her illness?
"No, don't be silly" she chuckled weakly, cheering up to his lighthearted poke, and snuggled against him. Ratonhnhaké:ton wrapped an arm around her shoulders to keep her warm and kissed her right temple. He would do everything in his power to improve her health and return her strength. Caroline peered up at him with uncertainty and asked him for more insight, "Have I been eating more than usual?"
"No, if anything, it's less out at sea" he answered because their diets changed dramatically to imperishable foods. They did not have constant access to fresh foods or businesses to purchase prepared meals either. His wife was livelier at home with fresh produce ready to be picked or a hot meal prepared by their loved ones. Onboard the Aquila, they both spent long hours on the top deck and ate only twice daily with snacks in between. He reached out to grasp her navy vest splayed on the bed, running his fingers over the copper buttons, and suggested helpfully, "Maybe the fabrics lost their flexibility."
"I appreciate your kindness" she smiled solemnly for his endless help and wondered if wearing her uniform without a stay would put her at risk. During battle, it served as protection to deflect lacerations with the hardy whale's bone embedded in the corset. She would have to hope that their ride home was smooth and frowned with distaste, "I don't want to be sick."
"It's not something that can be helped" he soothed kindly with a sympathetic expression, pressing his forehead to hers. She smiled serenely to his tranquil presence, peering into his warm brown eyes with a silly smile for the affection. He would protect his best friend from harm until they could see Dr. White. He even pondered over having Jamie assess her but they would deviate from their route and her condition was delicate to smell and motion. His soft expression shifted into his familiar stoicism and he advised her, "I want you to rest so no leaving this cabin. I will bring your meals."
It figured he would oversee her personally and she chuckled softly, patting his chest to say, "I love you."
"I love you too and it will get better" he promised firmly, hoping bedrest would improve her condition. Staying in bed brightened the color in her face and having her walk was far better than last night when she struggled to stand without needing to vomit. He would take that small improvement instead of nothing to maintain his resolve at finding the cause. Together, they could reach an answer together.
18 October 1778
Her husband's order of bedrest improved her symptoms dramatically and he cooked every meal for her to appease her sensitive stomach. Could she possibly love him even more? If so, her heart would explode. Ratonhnhaké:ton made sure each plate didn't have strong scents and were not piping hot to prevent the dry heaving spells. Caroline noted that colder food and liquids were more tolerated while hot food rolled her stomach. Her mind seriously reconsidered a pregnancy at how deeply her digestive system was affected.
Still, it didn't explain the weight gain and tightness of her attire which sprouted another problem to deal with. The bedrest allowed her to recover for the last leg of the trip when they entered the colony of Massachusetts. She refused to be carried out to Davenport, choosing to walk home on her own two feet. Abandoning the use of the stay now that they were entering the cove of their town, she dressed in a loose tunic that fit and squeezed into her breeches, leaving the top button open and widening the belt that normally fit comfortably over her waist. She tried to appear as professionally as she could, slapping on her lightweight sailor's jacket to hide any fashion mistakes. A quick braid to her long hair and she was out the door in a modified uniform.
Holding her breath, the gentle motions of the ship over the calm waters of the cove and lack of open sails was promising. Refusing to take in a gulp of air until she was at the top of the captain's deck, she pinched her nose to prevent any scents from sneaking in as well. Ratonhnhaké:ton and Robert turned at the sound of her footsteps to see the return of their favorite redhead. His first mate took a step back to the rear to let Caroline make her way to the captain as she clutched the banister. Ratonhnhaké:ton had never seen her with a pinched nose and puffed cheeks, watching her take a deep breath to refill her lungs with air.
She smiled widely when the faint pine smell brought comfort and no uneasy sensation in her stomach. They were indeed home. Breathing in fresh air after being indoors for two days, she grinned happily at greeting the emerald forest at the shore. She clung to the banister as a precaution and heard her husband ask from her right, "Feeling better?"
"Quite a bit, yes" she replied earnestly with joy that he hadn't seen in days. He was relieved at the bright spark that returned to her eyes, smiling faintly at having his spouse on the top deck. After years of working together on the Aquila, it was not the same without her. Her weak disposition worried him and he questioned himself for not realizing she was ill before leaving. Once he docked the Aquila, they would fetch Dr. White for an exam to find the cause of her illness.
"I am glad to hear it" Ratonhnhaké:ton smiled warmly at having his partner back and clutched the wheel tightly, admitting softly, "You worried me."
"You have enough with the Aquila" she dismissed with a shrug of her shoulders to show she was fine and dandy. For now, at least. She would have playfully nudged his side but he was steering the ship towards the loading dock. The thick tree line shrouded the view of the town but she knew the gentle hills and rushing rivers were there waiting for her. Their home on the shore of the cove, however, did peek out through the cleared area to lighten her heart. She couldn't wait to walk through its door soon enough to enter her sanctuary and turned her gaze to her husband to inform, "I was able to reflect on the cause."
"What are your theories?" he asked with a mixture of caution and curiosity for the culprit causing her stomach mischief. He couldn't exactly kill improperly cooked food but he could toss it overboard. Once they arrived home, he would go to Ellen's after Dr. White's visit to purchase new clothes for her to keep her comfortable. She never asked him for attire, mending her clothing first until it was worn to its end just as she had done in childhood. As her spouse, it was the least he could do with casual attire now that they were home for longer periods. Even his own clothing needed an upgrade.
"Two" she answered carefully with a nervous smile that caused an eyebrow to quirk on his end. Caroline had pondered the whole day on how to tell him about her strongest contender. It would be lifechanging for them both but they had to prepare for it. How had Martha and her mother done this? There wasn't exactly a perfect manual on how to rule out food poisoning over a pregnancy. Then again, she wasn't a physician like Dr. White. Licking her lips, she began hesitantly with a soft voice, "One is that something hasn't been digesting well. The other . . ."
Ratonhnhaké:ton swept the steering wheel to the left to angle the Aquila towards the dock. Robert signaled to the crew by the bow to be ready to release the anchor to settle the frigate in her cove. With their arrival during sunup, they could fetch a hot meal at the inn or visit the bakery for sweets. Frankly, he simply wanted to drink and unwind. The sailing couple, on the other hand, had a date at the doctor's office. Adam hollered orders to the sail team to begin furling the sails to disconnect them from the masts for a proper wash. The smoke that billowed from the coastline of Maryland left gray ash spots in certain areas and the Aquila deserved to be spotless. Richard corralled the lower decks to prepare the landing platform while the top deck worked on lowering the anchor.
Caroline took a deep breath, her heart beating frantically like a drum, and she met her husband's gaze directly to reveal, "I could very well be with child."
At this, he jerked suddenly with alarming surprise to stare at her with astonishment and his lack of sudden focus tilted the wheel. Before Robert or the men could warn him, the splintering of wood was heard when the Aquila cut cleanly through the dock with her massive weight. The docking platform that stood there before Ratonhnhaké:ton's arrival to Davenport was now a mess of jagged beams and broken panels of wood. Thankfully, the anchor had been dropped to stop her momentum any further and the Aquila stopped halfway between the shattered dock.
He winced slightly when he heard Robert yell frantically, "Captain, you destroyed the dock!"
"How did this happen?" David demanded with shock that his accurate captain deviated into the dock itself rather than away.
Ratonhnhaké:ton peered over the wheel down to the top deck, hesitating for a few seconds to gather his words, and managed to stammer with an apology, "Um . . . I-I think I'm going to be a father?"
He released the wheel to glance at his wife, who placed her hands over her lower abdomen before nodding at him. This was when he remembered Martha's random moments of refusing certain foods during their arrival in June from Monmouth before she revealed the pregnancy. Not to mention, her gradual shift in using her husband's tunics for herself to conceal her pregnancy. He always found that odd but gazing at his nervous wife, who was now sporting a very loose tunic, he connected the symptoms.
Robert's footsteps echoed up the stairs as he ran back up to demand with surprise and flushed cheeks, "You don't say?!"
Caroline couldn't help but laugh and lean against the banister when their first mate raised his arms in triumph. He had vouched for the two to become an item when they were teenagers and even after they ended their relationship, continued to cheer them on to rekindle their romance. He had been there to witness their engagement and marriage – and now, their baby announcement!
"A baby?!" David and Richard blurted in unison to the news of the day but nodded at each other as the reasoning for the crash. Their captain didn't simply crash a frigate into docks on a common basis.
"Congratulations!" Adam called out happily from the crow's nest when hearing the ruckus and the word baby echo repeatedly. Caroline had risked her life to save him and he would help her on the ship however he could to repay his debt. She always told him it wasn't necessary but he valued that she believed in him to become a better officer.
"Let's not get hasty yet" Caroline spoke up sharply because it could still be a pesky infection. Those could be serious as well in comparison to a cute baby in nine months. She was still trying to wrap her head around the idea and saw the same expression on her spouse. They had always joked that happiness would be their first reaction but clearly, confusion and alarm won that day. She threw up her hands helplessly to offer another alternative, "I could just be plumper from sea life."
Ratonhnhaké:ton highly doubted that guess after eating the food on a daily basis and pointed out easily, "You lose weight rather than gain it."
Was this why she worried over the tight clothing? He never imagined the possibility of a baby being the cause of her illness and trusted her judgment. He would much rather have his wife carry a child than endure a debilitating infection from food or water. Life on the frontier was never easy and he was grateful for every day he woke. The thought of fatherhood hadn't crossed his mind since his trip south with his father, which he refused to let sour this new revelation. Was he really going to be a father himself? He never imagined such a possibility so soon!
David peered over the right banister to the shattered dock that still clung to the ship's hull and told the crew, "We're going to have to be careful with what remains of the dock."
"That and rebuild it" Robert told them bluntly because it would be difficult to board the ship from an unstable dock. Hopefully, the old wooden beams could be replaced quickly with the temperature dipping lower by the weeks with fall eventually shifting to winter. Despite the cove never froze from the saltwater content, the water temperature would be frigid for any workers.
Caroline sighed under her breath to their latest blunder and muttered dryly, "Sebastian and Patrick will cry when they see this."
Ratonhnhaké:ton believed he bid his impatient side goodbye after marrying Caroline but it bit back strongly today. After securing the Aquila to the half-destroyed dock, the couple left the repairs in the hands of Robert while they tended to a more important matter. While the first mate tended to his wooden child, they would determine whether a baby was on the way. With Dr. White living practically across the Burnett homestead, their prompt arrival to the clinic to see the doctor had not gone unnoticed by the curious siblings. Dr. White quickly accepted his newest patient of the day, after chiding her for leaving when she didn't feel well.
Caroline was thankful for having access to medical care in her town and trusted Dr. White after the delivery of Prudence's baby. There would be no more guessing games on her recent illness. She sent Ratonhnhaké:ton off to reassure Alice when the brunette ran down to inquire about her sudden visit after seeing the Aquila's arrival. Knowing how worried her siblings could get, as well as her husband, she left them with reassurance that she would be fine . . . probably.
Ratonhnhaké:ton was none too happy to be left outside the exam room and decided to wait on the porch of Dr. White's home, leaning against the wooden fencing around the porch. He couldn't exactly tell Caroline what to do and he understood her fear on a serious illness. They kept no secrets but Caroline would rather hear it first by herself before telling him. Her husband was a naturalist with medicine, like his village taught him, while she followed a mix of that and modern medical science.
By the time she exited the doctor's home/clinic, he was pacing lines on the man's porch. Caroline was filled with guilt for keeping him at bay but illness made one rather vulnerable. Her steps creaked over the floorboards and she rushed to him at the end of the porch to hug him tightly around the waist. Ratonhnhaké:ton returned the embrace immediately but wondered whether it was good or bad news. Why were colonial women so meek with their medical care?
"Are we going to be parents?" he asked tentatively to the final verdict, taking a deep breath to calm his hammering heart, and his tone lowered to finish, "Or not?"
Now that the chance of a family was within reach, he didn't want to lose it. He didn't have a normal semblance of family after his mother died, being looked after by the clan and his grandmother. It wasn't the same when he looked at how Caroline and her family behaved. The love he shared with Caroline was unbreakable and he wanted to share the same family bonds he had with her family with their own child. He would be a better man than his father at caring for their children.
Caroline parted her lips to speak but Dr. White's voice hollered from inside the clinic to answer swiftly, "Yes, my boy, congratulations! I would shake your hand but I'm suturing an open wound here. Tell the Millers to put a wine bottle on my tab for you."
Ratonhnhaké:ton appreciated the sentiment but he stammered with disbelief, "I-I don't drink – wait, I am going to be a father?"
Caroline nodded eagerly to confirm the news and he squeezed her tightly to his chest. They were going to add another member to their family! Their firstborn. Oh, how he wished his mother was alive to meet his wife and future child. For the first time that year, he was hopeful for the future again. Caroline grasped his face to brush her thumbs over his freckled cheeks and she smiled with happy surprise, "I'm with child."
She chuckled awkwardly to saying it aloud after fighting the idea from the beginning. Natural fear from impending motherhood was normal, apparently. Dr. White reassured her that the first months produced her horrid symptoms but it would dissipate. Still, he wanted her to stick around town for safe measure as a new mother-to-be. Vomiting spells could dehydrate mothers and it was better to be home than out at sea or the frontier with provisions. Her vision blurred with tears as worry faded for joy and she sighed, "Dr. White said my maladies match a pregnancy. I should deliver in late March or early April."
His eyes widened slightly at realizing that was only five months away! What happened to the nine-month mark? He had to make or buy fabric for clothing, prepare a bassinet – would she like a cradle-board as his people used? How was he going to plan all of this in that amount of time? This was like their wedding all over again!
While his heart and mind flailed on the inside, he remained the epitome of calmness on the outside. His wife needed his strength for the coming months and his baby was depending on him to be a good husband and father. Cupping her chin, he kissed her on the lips with immense relief at having a clean bill of health. Pressing his forehead to hers, he met her watery eyes and promised with a happy smile, "This is great news. I will take great care of you, my love."
Like her husband, Caroline also wondered about the preparation for their baby. She would seek Martha for advice now that her sister was closer to the end of her pregnancy. Her parents would be overjoyed to add another grandchild in under a year and she chuckled with delight to their future, wiping her eyes free of tears. It was surreal to know she carried a living being inside her but she would protect them for the rest of her living days. Clasping his shoulders, she smiled at him fondly and explained their newest task, "We have to prepare for their arrival. We'll be filling that guest room in a few years."
"We can do this, Caroline" he assured her because they had both watched over her siblings as children. They had role models that they learned from and could lean on without question. Their child would be loved not only by them but their friends and family. He held nothing but hope for their baby's future and their potential in the world. Like his mother, he would protect and guide his little one until he returned to the earth.
"Our first baby" Caroline sniffled joyfully, wiping her eyes again when another stream of tears fell. As a young girl, she never imagined achieving a life with him after leaving Davenport. Time kept them in each other's circles until they were ready and she never gave up on being with him again. He made true on his promise of building them a home and she would keep her promise of giving him a family of his own. She pulled out a handkerchief from her coat pocket to dab at her eyes, inhaling through her nose to clear away the congestion, and handed over the handkerchief when his eyes glistened. He was not a man of public emotion very often but it wasn't every day that one becomes a parent. He blinked back tears before grabbing her offered kerchief with a faint smile, leading her to admit openly, "I'm nervous but quite happy."
Clearing his throat and wiping his eyes free of that emotional moment, he handed back his wife's handkerchief. Embracing her once more, he kissed her right cheek fondly without a care for who saw them. He never worried about being affectionate in town but the instinctive reaction lingered after years of disdainful looks and slurs in the cities. They were going to be parents which meant their child would need to be protected even more so. Hopefully, their little one would fare better in the colonial world than he did. Turning in the direction of the Burnett homestead, he told her with pride, "They look happy too."
"What?" she blurted with confusion and he pointed towards the green hill where she saw Alice, Elizabeth, and her mother standing in the short distance. Had he told them their suspicion? By the perky waves of the hand, she had a high probability of that. Shooting her husband a questioning look, he offered a bashful expression and innocent shrug of the shoulders. So, there was one secret he couldn't keep. Not that she could blame his sweet heart.
Placing her right hand over the round swell of her child, she doted fondly on them with a motherly smile, "Barely a minute into your existence and you're causing a stir. Sounds like our baby."
"Our family" Ratonhnhaké:ton emphasized proudly, placing his own hand over hers. Their child was safely nestled inside their mother and he would protect them both. He would not follow in his father's footsteps and his wife already bore caretaker qualities as the eldest of a large family. They would not disappoint their child but help them become who they were meant to be. He could only wonder how their baby would look and hoped that they held the same freckles they did. After disliking the facial markings as a child, once his mother passed away, he appreciated them even more to carry a piece of her. Caroline was the only one who joked about counting them to see if they matched hers shortly after they met. Eight years had passed since their fateful meeting and he treasured her with the same strength, telling her with a tender smile, "I always dreamed of marrying and having a family with you. Never did I think it would come true."
"I couldn't help falling in love with you" she stated confidently because no man seized her admiration and attention as he did. The norms and traditions of society didn't apply to her, judging people by their merit and actions. She knew within a week of courting him that he was the only man she would love wholeheartedly. Their best qualities and hopes would live on in their child and she smiled mischievously, "And I would have chosen nobody but you."
Glancing down at her belly, she spoke to their baby once more to tease fondly, "Hmm, will you take after your father?"
. . . . in the far future . . .
"Cora!" Ratonhnhaké:ton called out worriedly through the ground floor of the forest, using his special sight to look up into the trees. His daughter cut the corner of the hiking path to dart off into the denser forest, besting his dexterity before he could grasp her shoulder. Remembering his own youth at exploring the forest with eager innocence, he didn't want her out of his sight. She carried the intense curiosity of both himself and his wife which could lead to trouble.
A cheerful voice erupted from the treetops above his head with laughter, "Up here, rakeni!"
Hoisting himself onto the nearest tree branch, he never climbed a tree so fast in his life. He weaved through the ascending branches carefully to avoid jostling them, especially with his daughter up ahead. There was relief and nervousness when he found her settled on the topmost branches, leaning back comfortably against the last thick branch that angled diagonally. She was transfixed with the horizon as a blanket of emerald covered the land before protruding mountains with snowcaps and a blue dome cradled the earth overhead.
"Kheién:'a" he sighed softly to beckon her attention with a tone of concern for her impulsive nature. Cora's large blue eyes shifted from glittering excitement to dulled disappointment at seeing her father's serious face. The six-year-old didn't mean to escape him but she loved wandering through the wilderness when he invited her for a hike. To smell the beautiful wildflowers, climb onto tree branches, and simply rolling down the emerald hills of the forest was freeing. Her father came from a native village so surely, he understood her desire to wander freely.
"I'm sorry" she apologized sheepishly for upsetting him, never wanting to disappoint her role model. Her parents took great care of her and they always encouraged her creativity to live freely in the world around her. They traveled so much during her early years that she expected the same as she grew, only to find that her parents preferred to be homebound now. Ratonhnhaké:ton accepted her apology, reaching over to ruffle her raven hair. Caroline had brushed her long locks into a neat braid but Cora's foraging through the forest undid her mother's work. She smiled playfully to his affection and her left hand pointed to the endless blue horizon to ask, "Have you seen what's out there?"
"I have traveled to many places" he replied truthfully to his numerous travels over the years, much of them before Cora's birth. Parenthood changed his priorities once she was born and he promised his wife that he would always protect her. That didn't mean they kept her in a bubble away from danger since she would tag along on their safe trips and daily wanderings. Even during her early years, she was pulled into his most dangerous missions at the end of the war against the Templars. It was not something he had foreseen or wanted but Cora only remembered fragments of those turbulent times.
"Is it as beautiful as this?" she asked curiously about the endless rolling hills and snowcapped mountains in the far distance. Her trips to towns weren't particularly exciting but she enjoyed her trips out at sea. The mighty Aquila gave her freedom over the water just as Davenport offered freedom into the forest. One day, she hoped to explore it just as her parents had.
Her question didn't have an easy answer for him after experiencing discrimination in the colonies. He was thankful that Cora took after her mother with her fair features and bright eyes. He would not sour the world for her at such a young age and told her cryptically, "Beauty has many interpretations."
"When can I hunt with you?" she asked brightly to the chance of tracking predators alongside him. Like Caroline in her childhood, she helped him with cleaning and preparing his catches. When she liked a particular fur, her mother would sew clothing for her from it and she loved each piece. She clutched the nearest branch tightly, leaning forward to declare jovially, "I can bring istá a wolf!"
"We do not hunt wolves" her father reminded gently, choosing only animals that thrived in large numbers and used primarily for food. He did not kill predators until they risked the lives of the town residents and even then, he tried to relocate them off the scent to their town. Cora was still much too little to wield a weapon but he taught her the basics of trapping to begin her training. Pointing to the top of her head, he pointed out firmly, "And not until you're my height."
"That will never happen!" she declared with a miserable groan to the impossible. He was like an oak tree while she was a sapling. Her hands dropped against her pink skirt in defeat and she pouted dramatically at her father for pity.
Ratonhnhaké:ton was not swayed by her plight at all, remembering the same complaints from her smallest siblings. Was it really so long ago that they were all children? Now, almost all of Caroline's siblings were married with families of their own. He smiled with mild amusement at his daughter and told her easily with optimism, "Your aunt Eliza said the same and now, she's wandering the frontier."
Cora couldn't compare herself to her grown aunts and uncles- they were all grownups! The only little kids close to her age were her cousins. Daniel and Hunter were already beginning to help their fathers at work while she was on chore work at home. Her parents led exciting lives and she wanted to experience the same, telling him with a perky smile, "I don't want adventure, rakeni, just to see the world!"
Her young mind never failed to amuse him and he often wondered if he had been the same with his own mother. Though he lost her at age four, there were little habits of Cora's that matched his own. Caroline joked that he would be chasing her into adulthood with her endless wanderlust to discover the world. He saw a lot of his wife in their daughter as well and told her wisely, "That is an adventure in itself, ask your istá."
"No, it's different!" she insisted hastily before sighing aloud at being misunderstood.
"Of course it is" Ratonhnhaké:ton chuckled with amusement to her interpretation of traveling. The end of the revolution created safer passage on the roads and living in the cities. No matter how much he and Caroline took their little Cora on trips outside of Davenport, she always sought to see new places.
A teenage Cora fiddled with her straw hat, pouting with distaste to its stiffness on her head. She preferred bonnets but her mother warned that they could obstruct her peripheral vision. Today was a special day for her and she allowed her mother to check her attire with approval. Caroline smiled proudly at seeing her oldest child dress in lady attire, remembering her own days as an awkward teenager that worried over fluffy skirts. Her Cora, however, carried an elegant air about her and she wore her attire like a perfectly fit glove. Fashion had not changed much in twenty years since her youth, given that the young country of America was still finding its foothold amongst the great powers of the world.
She adjusted the white lace kerchief folded around the neckline of her navy dress, smiling at the young woman her oldest had become. Her first baby was no longer so little but her love would never waver. Her sharp blue eyes never faded in their brightness, containing both a piece of her and Ratonhnhaké:ton. Caroline's own similar shade met hers with a serious edge and she warned with a motherly tone, "Stay close to your father and keep your eyes sharp."
"Yes, mother" she spoke respectfully to obey her parents without question.
"Do not fiddle with your hair pins" her mother fussed when Cora fiddled with her straw hat again, reaching up to flick her fingers away. Was this how her husband felt when he gave her a hidden blade for the first time? Cora lowered her arms down at her sides to make her mother happy but shot her a disappointed frown. Caroline wagged a motherly finger at her, not amused to her pouting, and warned her carefully, "Touch them only when withdrawing them for a strike. I do not want to hear from your rakeni that you poisoned yourself and required an antidote."
"Istá, I have restraint" she insisted huffily to such carelessness and heard her little sister laughing from behind. The smaller brunette laid on the hardwood floor, pretending to be the wooden horse toys that their uncle Samuel gifted her. Like her father, she was sharp with her senses while pretending to be focused elsewhere. Cora narrowed her blue gaze to challenge the impish glint in her sister's brown gaze and told her mother, "Lecture Charlotte, she's the wild child."
"It might not sound like much but I was your age once" Caroline reminisced matter-of-factly to the good and bad decisions of her young life. She once told herself that her parents did not understand her need to explore but here she was, a mother herself to a headstrong daughter ready to discover the world. It was a sobering reminder that time never ceased and she was now in the shoes of her mother. She never meant to disappoint her parents with rash actions and though they forgave her for leaving home, that scar lingered in her heart. A solemn smile crossed her lips and she admitted to her oldest with regret, "Looking back at myself, I was quite foolish and committed an action that I regretted greatly for hurting your grandparents and father. Don't follow in my footsteps."
Cora shot her a skeptical glance because both her parents could be serious individuals, especially her father. They didn't act impulsively or place others at risk so she could only wonder about her mother's past. She witnessed how careful they behaved in cities, especially when people looked at her father. The mixed blood in her veins did not bring shame but pride at what her parents accomplished. Chuckling with disbelief, she joked casually about her, "I can't imagine you as the careless type."
"The belief of youthful immortality" Caroline sighed softly to the fearlessness of youth and finding her place in the world. Sometimes, you had to learn hard lessons to realize what you had in front of you was all you needed. Amelia and Alice saw that far more clearly than her and their siblings. Cupping her daughter's oval face, she smiled fondly to tell her, "Everything we do is to keep you safe. I didn't understand that back then but now, as a mother, I do."
Cora saw her eyes glisten somberly against the sunlight peering through the windows. She did not like to see her parents cry and leaned over to hug her mother tightly. Gone were the days when she could run to hide behind her skirt or sleep soundly between her parents. There was nervousness at beginning her journey of independence but hearing that her mother experienced similar lightened that flutter in her heart.
"You, your sisters and brother, and your rakeni are my world" Caroline whispered fondly about her beloved children, seeing them as the best parts of herself passing on into the world. Each season, they grew brighter and stronger. They were all special in their own way and she would be there to guide them alongside Ratonhnhaké:ton. Releasing her, she grasped Cora's right arm to conceal the leather gauntlet of a hidden blade under the sleeve of her dress. Her daughter had to be discreet in concealing her weapons as a beginner and advised her carefully, "So, if you choose this life, you must take great care in listening to your father. You become a chameleon among people and blend into the shadows for cover. Trust no one."
Cora swallowed silently with a flutter of nerves shooting down her stomach. She remembered the harsh times of her parents chasing after a top Templar as a little girl. Many dangerous events happened in her young life that her younger siblings weren't privy to. They were born during peace time while she was born in the early spring during the peak of the Revolutionary War. Her father reminisced on how they would cradle her between them to keep her warm during travels in the winter. Still, she summoned the courage that she saw in her father every day when she heard his gentle voice from behind, "Are you ready, Oháhsera?"
"Not as much as before" she answered weakly as fear threatened to consume her heart. A comforting gaze from her parents shot that horrible feeling to the back of her mind. With parents like them, who had taught her from the moment she could walk and talk, she had nothing to fear. She was their legacy and would set an example for the generation of her time to continue their work.
Caroline smiled serenely at the familiar white robes that Ratonhnhaké:ton refused to part with. It was one of the last reminders of Achilles and he refused to let it go. He nodded to his daughter to strengthen her resolve and Caroline hugged her once more with reassuring words, "Go on, I expect both of you home by sundown. You'll do just fine."
Her parents protected Davenport around her age and never failed in defending their beloved land. She would carry out the same tradition to relieve the burden as time passed, following loyally in her father's footsteps.
A/N: And we arrive at Connor and Caroline preparing to be new parents! Elizabeth is now in training to follow in their footsteps, Martha is cooking her own bundle, and new neighbors have arrived. This was a very long chapter to write but I wanted to also provide a little glimpse into who Cora will be. I keep thinking of her as a mix of Altair and Evie while her little sister will be more of an Ezio and Connor mix which will be interesting in their dynamics. More of the sisters will be included in the next oneshot of the spinoff tale I created. In the next chapter, we will see more of Connor and Carrie handling their impending parenthood and taking care of the town while Haytham is outraged at Lee being court-martialed.
Thank you to all of my readers and for the last chapter reviews:
danelleprae: Haytham will be popping out in the chapters, even if not interacting with his son, since I can't keep him out until 1781 till Ft. George. He has too much personality not to write about him.
East Coast Captain: It was definitely one of the emotional ones and I can only wonder about the extra trauma that was added to poor Connor. That and seeing his trust in Washington shatter. I think Haytham is so used to plotting and manipulation that he's frustrated that it blew up against him with Connor. He won't be giving up easily in this tale, however. As for Cora, she'll be thrust into war at an older age than her father but she will have her siblings to protect in the field unlike Connor, who focuses on his wife.
ThyDevoutBeliever: Haytham has a lot of thinking to do after the mission to determine whether the current Templar order is worth it or attempt a bridge with his son. Connor, on the other hand, has gotten over his temporary blues and is happy with his first child. Cora will be a bridge for the two as the chapters progress and Haytham will be pop up in the next chapter.
Next Chapter Excerpt:
After discovering her pregnancy, he apologized profusely for mistaking it as illness. Of course, neither of them knew what a first pregnancy would entail but he still felt responsible. Caroline simply laughed it off and told him to prepare for fatherhood. He was still in blissful shock that a baby would be in their arms by spring. Dr. White would likely be shooing him away from the clinic by the end since he worried for Caroline's health with each passing month. He took the reins in cooking during days when she couldn't hold down her food and made sure to cook tolerable meals that didn't trigger her symptoms.
The town drew together to drop off food for them when they noticed Ratonhnhaké:ton picking up draughts to help his wife tolerate eating. For Caroline, she found the most peace in simply floating in the cove in the cool water and fresh air. He joked that he would tie her by the foot to the small dock by their property to prevent her floating off. Instead, he accompanied her and stayed by the shore to whittle wooden toys for their baby to use when they were older. He was living the peaceful life he dreamed of beside his wife and although he hoped it never ended, he knew he would have to venture out to end the enemy at some point.
It was early in the afternoon when there was a knock on the door while he set up a small log pile beside the fireplace. Their family had been dropping off food for them to help after seeing him tackle the work on the homestead to let her recover. Caroline had stubbornly tried to escape their home to prove she was useful but even Sir Cornelius turned against her by emitting a warning gobble if he spotted her outside.
"I can get it!" Caroline offered swiftly at hearing the knock from her open bedroom doorway. She was not a fan of lying down with nothing to do but the naps were comforting. It was easier to snuggle during cool weather compared to humid hot weather.
"Don't even think about it" he called back playfully to deter any effort to leave their room. He didn't want her wasting energy on something he could do. Her responsibilities were to sleep, heal, and eat to recover. Dr. White had already informed them this could last for the first three months of a pregnancy. Given that their baby would be born in spring, they were closing in on that end time. Martha admitted that her spells were not to the extreme of Caroline and the brunette would often drop by to stay with her sister.
Ratonhnhaké:ton opened the front door and was greeted by the women of Davenport. Surprise was clear on his face, especially when Ruth held up a frosted cake with fresh fruit on top. He noticed that they all carried items in their hands, sparking his curiosity. He remembered the same occurred with Martha soon after her baby news were revealed. The women of the town brought them gifts for the baby and goodies for the mother's health.
"What is this?" he asked uncertainly, still lost to colonial customs, but Elizabeth squeezed through to pull the boggled man away from the door. He would never turn away anyone so she ushered in everyone with a wave of the hand. The shorter redhead wore a gray dress which surprised him, especially when seeing Martha wear a male tunic with her usual blue skirt. The two were shifting fashion attire that year which was amusing.
Prudence held up a basket of fresh fruit and vegetables to smile at him, explaining their reason for visiting, "Given that you brought this entire town together, we decided to drop off a few gifts in celebration of your first baby."
Caroline and Ratonhnhaké:ton had been incredibly helpful during her own pregnancy so it was time to return the favor. She had added a bushel of herbs for tea that helped soothe her own discomfort during the first months. Carrying a child was different for each woman and Caroline's vibrant personality plummeted after her return to Davenport. Her family's concern spread through the town within the week, especially when Ratonhnhaké:ton was spotted going back and forth from Dr. White's clinic.
Ratonhnhaké:ton appreciated the gesture of their visit but his wife was unwell. He didn't want to add more activity to her current condition and told them with apology, "That's very kind but Caroline-"
"I'll be right there! Don't forget me!" his wife butted in desperately for a reason to escape and return to a sense of normalcy. Slowly, she sat up to gather her bearings and breathed in deeply to prevent any bouts of dizziness. On days when she felt no appetite, she would experience bothersome dizziness and her husband would bring her drinks to substitute her meals. Glancing down at her attire, she frowned at her humble ivory nightgown and knew she had to change into something suitable.
From the main foyer, Myriam fought back a grin at her friend's determination and remarked, "She's not enjoying the bedrest."
"Not at all" he agreed with a long sigh at Caroline's tenacity to continue her everyday routine. It was an admirable effort to defy her pregnancy's demands but she couldn't overexert herself. Their baby required her to be healthy for nine months and rest was necessary, even if she didn't agree with it.
"I'll help her" Martha informed the group to break away and headed straight into the hallway of the home. Visiting her older sister had become common, switching their earlier roles in the summer when she visited her to help with housework. She and her family began making extra portions with their meals to drop it off for Ratonhnhaké:ton so the two didn't have to worry with more chores. They had looked after them for so long that the two were unfamiliar to receiving the same care when they needed it.
Elizabeth chased after the brunette and added in helpfully, "I'll go for backup."
Martha shot her a dry glance at needing an extra hand but Elizabeth didn't hesitate to point at her large belly. She was not about to have her sister's baby arrive prematurely and for her other pregnant sister to fall out of bed. Caroline's face brightened immediately when her sisters entered her bedroom and raised her arms happily. She could taste potential freedom at the mere sight of them! She ushered them inside with glee and called out with expectation, "My sisters! Are you here to help plot my escape?"
As much as they loved her, neither of her siblings would risk her health now. Their usually vibrant sister appeared worn with dark undereye circles, dry lips, and more defined cheekbones. Her auburn hair was frizzy and unkempt as loose hair escaped from the long braid over her right shoulder. Martha sat down beside her to offer a sympathetic smile and told her, "No, we're here to bring you cake and gifts."
"Along with the townsfolk" Elizabeth informed to let her know of the awaiting audience. She approached her sister's large cabinet to open it to find a casual dress to throw over her shift. Picking out a powder blue dress, she pulled out the dress along with a black shawl to keep her warm and add bulk to her lean form.
"Best I look decent, then" Caroline chuckled dryly, appreciating the concern but feeling helpless at living her daily routine. She loved her baby endlessly but she never imagined a pregnancy could debilitate her. All she could do was count down each day and remember that the horrid symptoms would eventually subside.
Thank you for reading and stay safe out there!