A/N
Chapter 13, unlucky for some.
As always your reviews and opinions are most welcome.
I do hope you enjoy.
/
Erin wasn't sure how long she slept, she awoke some time later, in the dark warmth of her blanket, her arm still throbbing its little painful beat at being so mistreated. She listened to her own breaths for a moment, letting her mind process everything that had happened, and just how badly she'd handled it all. The effects of whatever drug she'd been given were hazy now, like a drunk memory she could hardly grasp. Her head pounded.
She groaned lowly, knowing she owed Cora an apology. What on earth had she been thinking? She couldn't have left a deep open wound, she goddamn knew that! But fear had overtaken her in the moment and her fight or flight had decided to try everything all at once, reason had not even been an option. She was a wilting violet of a different kind perhaps, she recoiled at the thought.
The soft voices of people in the room distracted her and she listened, stilling her breathing for a short moment.
"It doesn't need closing, just a bandage should do." It was Cora's voice, gentle and low.
Erin quietly pulled the cover down and looked across the gloomy room. Sat upon the table was Uncas, his shirt held up in one hand, exposing the flesh of his side which bore a shallow cut. Erin could see clearly now that his leggings ended high on his thighs, secured with thongs to a belt around his middle, a fact that had been mostly hidden by the length of his shirt. A soft deerskin breech cloth was attached to the same belt, covering his lower region. She couldn't help the wandering and slightly absurd thought flashing through her brain of if he ever felt cold...
Nathaniel stood patiently nearby, watching as Cora tended his brother. She had changed out of her journey stained clothing and now wore a striped skirt and a chemise with long sleeves, which were currently rolled up to her elbows. A homespun linen bodice with simple ties at the front finished the look of practicality and comfort.
"You're lucky it wasn't worse." Cora couldn't help using her chiding tone with all her patients apparently.
"No small thanks to Miss Cooper and the kick she gave that Huron," Nathaniel said, the smile clear in his voice, although Erin could only see his back.
Uncas grinned in reply, shaking his head in slight disbelief at the memory.
"You about done holding hands with Miss Munro?" Nathaniel joked, his tone playful.
"And you Mr Poe?" Cora ignored his jest, not deeming to look at him, still busying herself with tying the last of the bandage before turning her attention to clearing away her equipment. "Are you injured?"
"No Miss, thank you." He shook his head and then pointed at some discarded blue silk, Erin thought it had once been a part of Cora's skirts. "May I?"
Cora's eyes widened only slightly, but curiosity burned within them and she gave a small nod in agreement.
Nathaniel went about cutting off a piece of material with the knife from his belt, and Uncas slowly got to his feet, a little wince of effort appearing on his brow for the sharp pain in his side.
Even from her vantage point Erin could tell Nathaniel was captivated by Cora, he was watching her so closely as to be almost brazen. Sensing his heavy gaze Cora turned.
"What are you looking at, Mr. Poe?" The question held an accusation in it.
"Why, I'm looking at you, Miss," Nathaniel replied, with a steady cadence, his words a blatant declaration between them.
Cora suddenly blushed, looking down demurely, and then she seemed to valiantly gather some part of herself and moved her eyes just as blatantly back to his, staring him down in the same way Erin knew he had just done to her.
It was just as romantic... no... even more so, than Erin had imagined, and the scene before her sent a warm emotional surge of contentment through her body.
Uncas laughed lowly, his gaze going from one to the other, a knowing gleam in his eyes, and then he caught Erin peeking out and nodded in greeting, drawing all eyes to her.
"Awake are you?" Cora said, with a small smile directed towards Uncas, as they shared the knowledge of Erin's childish outburst.
Nathaniel gave a small noise to attract his brother's attention and gestured to Uncas that it was time for them to leave. He inclined his head politely to Cora and the men left, off to find food and a bed for the night.
Erin felt abashed for everything and heat flooded into her cheeks. "I'm sorry Cora," she managed, and feeling more than foolish she rose gingerly to sit upon the edge of the bed. "I think... I'd like to go and find my father now."
Cora came to her with a warm smile, telling her all was forgiven. "Of course. Once you have found him, return here and we'll get you more comfortable," she gestured to the mud and blood stained tatters of Erin's clothing, "and some food."
"I will." Erin stood upon her feet, hopeful that they would hold her weight, and when they did she felt more confident. She pulled the blanket around her shoulders and, not waiting for any more to be said, she walked swiftly from the room and darted down corridors until she found an out of the way food store with no one about.
She slipped inside and sat upon a rather lumpy bag of potatoes, it was musty and dark and just what she wanted right now. She couldn't have stayed a minute longer in that infirmary, she had to get away, to be by herself for a while.
The memories of the men who had died tonight seemed to haunt her thoughts. Reality had come crashing down hard and fast, she could have died, the distant memory of the pain of that damn needle nearly made her wish she had!
She saw that man, the Huron warrior, standing over her, his eyes holding no qualms about ending her life, she had been nothing to him. Duncan had saved her, if he hadn't have come, she'd be dead; and he'd been stabbed for his trouble! That wasn't even in the damn book! Then there was Uncas... his blood, his injury, the threat that he could have been killed, it made her feel sick to her stomach. She could have been the cause of his death! He'd slain that Huron for her sake, with the same blank look upon his features. Death was a constant companion to these men, it was their friend in arms.
How she'd acted with Cora over her injury also made her mind want to curl up into a little ball of embarrassment at the memory.
This wasn't a game, a jolly little Hobbit adventure, where she could bumble along, having a jolly freaking time! This was all real and dangerous, and her actions could easily end her own life or those around her. The harrowing truth left her feeling empty and deeply ashamed.
In the darkness Erin let her tears fall, allowing all of the pain and fear to come to a head as she wept bitterly for all she had been through, the shame, the pain, and the horrors of war.
/
Erin dozed a little amongst the food stuffs and even helped herself to a very hard but surprisingly tasty biscuit she found many of in a box, filling her stomach with something other than uneasiness.
She checked her phone, 53% now, and put in her ear buds, allowing her mind to wander as familiar songs played, giving her some form of tranquillity. She wished she was home now, back with her parents on the ranch.
As she ate she wondered just what she would, or rather, could, do next. She had changed things, but not enough. Uncas had still gotten hurt because of Alice's flight, but it had not been as bad as in the book, he needed no stitches, Erin had been hurt instead... and Duncan.
She felt frustrated and helpless. She'd managed to change the whole outcome of the Cameron family, so they actually had lives to lead, but it felt like in her present circumstances she was pushing against a heavy door that would only give her an inch instead of opening. It seemed like destiny was playing a game of cat and mouse with her, always steering her back onto the same path, no matter how hard she ran.
She shook herself, feeling a chill run through her skin, that was the talk of defeat and Erin had to be the winner! If she did nothing, Alice and Uncas would die and she had a chance to stop that happening, that was all that mattered.
No matter how desperate she felt, she he had to focus on the future. She had changed things, she could change them, she just needed to be smarter and bolder and do whatever was needed, and most importantly, stop making the wrong damn choices!
Finally knowing she couldn't put off going back forever she pushed herself to her feet, careful of her arm, feeling more tired than she ever had in her entire life. She placed her phone and ear buds back in her pocket and went back out into the corridors. She picked her way carefully back to the infirmary and Cora, her nose leading the way, sensing the sharp sweet scent of herbs and crude disinfectant above the stench of unwashed bodies and the distant nasty tang of sewage.
She paused at the end of one corridor, seeing two forms she knew well from her recent travels. Her breath hitched in shock and she took a step back around the corner to conceal herself. Erin listened, ears straining hard for a moment, and finally hearing the soft tone of Alice Munro, her voice stilted and awkward.
"Sir. Wait... but a moment."
"Miss?" Uncas' deep rich baritone, Erin would have known it anywhere.
Erin chanced a quick look and saw Uncas turn upon his heel to face the young woman. He was only half a head taller than Alice, their sizes seeming to match perfectly in Erin's head in terms of romantic ratio, and she couldn't help the childish chant of 'kiss, kiss, kiss!' resounding in her mind.
Alice looked down at her hands which she clutched together at her waist for a moment. "I wanted to thank you," she began but left the silence too long, politeness willing Uncas to fill it.
"Miss?"
"And to say... that I am sorry for the injuries you, Duncan and Miss Cooper received... coming to my... rescue." She gestured with a jerky movement to his side before pulling her hands back to their demure posture before her. She turned her head as if suddenly concerned she had heard something and they were no longer alone, moss brown eyes wide and fearful as a deer in headlights and Erin quickly retreated from sight.
Now it was Uncas' turn to seem uncertain, and Alice's to fill the blundering space between them.
"Are you all right?"
"Fine, Miss." Erin could hear the smile in those words, he was trying to comfort her fears.
Alice exhaled in relief. "I am glad to hear it." A long strained pause came again. "My sister says Miss Cooper will be fine too."
"I'm sure," was all Uncas offered, and Erin felt annoyed for Alice, she was trying her best and all he could give back were his usual restrained few words.
Alice gave a sigh, not of frustration but of acceptance. "I understand it was my fault, Sir. I shouldn't have run ahead like that. I hope you will accept my deepest apologies."
"It's fine Miss. Wasn't your fault."
Silence then, long and deep, and Erin felt her own heartbeat quicken, were they stepping closer? Hands coming to reach for bodies? Lips calling to lips? She glanced around the corner and saw they were still stood a few feet from each other and the atmosphere was still very awkward. It was adorable to Erin as she watched the young woman squirm a little under the heavy gaze of the Mohican warrior who felt no shame in looking.
"Well, I'll bid you good night."
"Miss." He made a gesture of respect with his hand to his brow and Alice hesitated, as if she would say more, but men's voices carried down the corridor from nearby and this stilled her, her lips pressing together. She turned and was gone within a second, her footsteps sounding like fleeing, and Erin suppressed the urge to squee at the fan service.
Her belly tightened unpleasantly as her mind pushed forward just what had happened this very night, all the tears and revelations.
'Not a game,' she reminded herself, with a harsh reprimand.
She saw out of the corner of her eye the shape of Uncas moving, his head turning in her direction, and Erin flattened herself against the wall, her heart now beating out a frantic tattoo at the thought of being discovered spying, and just what kind of excuse she'd make up for that unpleasant occurrence.
She heard his footsteps shift on the wood and Erin closed her eyes tightly, he was going to find her! She gritted her teeth, wondering if she should run, but knowing it would cause too much noise, she felt like a cornered rabbit. Slowly she became aware that the steps were now moving away, not towards her, and Erin let out a breath, then took a slow long deep inhale through her nose before letting it out again.
"Not a game," she said, reaffirming her own convictions.
She stood still for a long time, letting her breaths flow in and out as she tried to allow her mind time to think. She had so few choices left, now they were trapped within the fort, there were no different paths to take other than to wait until the parley and then... the massacre. Erin gulped at the mere thought, even if she got every single person in this fort to believe her, it wouldn't change any outcome, this fort would fall by war or by surrender, and then out there on the road lay many people's deaths.
She couldn't think of any way to change this fate, only diminish the body count if she could, and that included on those damn cliffs! This meant there was no time to follow the gentle path of allowing two people to fall in love and enjoy the ride, now Erin had to keep them apart in the hopes they wouldn't die together!
It was the only way she could see working, if Uncas wasn't besotted, he wouldn't chase after her like a love struck fool, alone! By fair or foul means, Alice and Uncas couldn't be allowed to form any further attachments, and Erin felt queasy with the realization that this meant she would have to be the one to do it. She had a very unpleasant flash of herself dressed as the Terminator, hunting down a running Alice and Uncas, her bullets finding their marks in the targets of their hearts.
"Hasta la vista," Erin mumbled, hoping she'd find it amusing, but instead finding she just felt more annoyed at herself. It was hard separating a story she thought she knew so well from the reality of those very same people existing and breathing right beside her.
She pushed herself from the wall and continued on her way.
She entered the infirmary to find Cora tending to Duncan's injury. She was wrapping a bandage around the bulk of his shoulder, and Erin felt a rush of heat flood through her as her guilt ridden emotions crashed into her. The pair were talking lowly and hadn't noticed her arrival, so she cleared her throat politely, drawing their eyes.
"Miss Cooper." He acknowledged her with a mellow, welcoming tone, the occurrence disconcerting enough to leave Erin's mouth open for a few seconds.
"Are you okay, Major?"
He gave her the same puzzled look he always did when she said something that didn't conform to his expectations of acceptable language.
"Cora has mended me in the tenderest way possible," he said, a little too confidently, his eyes glued to Cora, and she blushed in what Erin could only assume was high discomfort.
Erin fidgeted, knowing it was her turn to apologize. "I'm sorry, you got hurt... you know... saving me."
Cora finished tying the dressing and patted Duncan upon the arm, telling him silently it was done. Duncan pulled his shirt back over his torso with a nod and an intimate smile of thanks, brown eyes twinkling towards the woman he loved. He reluctantly moved his gaze to Erin, and she was surprised to find he was still smiling warmly, the expression changing his face into a handsome young man's instead of the prim officer she had grown so used to.
He rose and came to Erin, his hand outstretched, beckoning hers into his warm large grasp. "It was my honour, Miss." He smiled again, his face aglow with contentment. "And you, Miss Cooper, you are not hurt too badly?" He was genuinely concerned, and Erin found she was completely off balanced by this charismatic and chivalrous man.
"Thanks to Cora, I am well, thank you Major." Her baffled eyes went to Cora, who only gave a small shrug in a tired manner.
"Duncan," he said, patting her hand tenderly, "please."
"Oh," Erin said, once more surprised, "Duncan. I am very glad you are all right."
He grinned, pleased with the whole situation, before he turned to Cora. "I must return to your father. We have a meeting with the three scouts." He stepped forward, and Erin could see Cora resisting taking a step back. "Cora, may we talk later?"
"Yes, of course Duncan," Cora said with a strained smile.
Duncan gave a low bow to both women and left the room, as if he had no injuries troubling him at all.
Erin watched after him until she was sure he was far from hearing. "What on earth was that all about? Did he have a personality transplant?"
Cora had returned to making bandages from the skirts of her old dress, she looked up as Erin spoke, pausing in her task.
"What?"
"I mean, he seems like a different man," Erin said quickly, covering her misstep.
"Oh, yes, well... Duncan feels more... comfortable here than out there." She gestured towards the ceiling. "He and my father are of similar thinking. He's back in his place."
It all clicked, and Erin understood Cora's reluctant mood. On the journey, everything had changed for this young woman, most of all, her feelings. She could no longer be made to be content with a marriage of convenience. Cora had felt true longing and kinship with the man they both knew as Nathaniel Poe. She couldn't go back. Now the ball of reluctance was a raging fire, Duncan only a cage to contain her, and Cora was fighting with her whole being to not be locked away.
Erin gave a smile that she hoped showed her empathy. "Cora..."
"How is your father?" Cora asked, taking a completely different tack, and signalling she did not wish to continue the prior conversation.
"He is as well as anyone can be here." The words echoed Erin's lingering sorrowful mood.
Cora nodded in understanding. "I am glad you found him." She looked Erin over. "How is your arm?"
"It hurts," Erin said sheepishly. "Sorry for all... the fuss," she ended lamely.
"It's alright, I can understand. I've seen hardened army men, with less serious wounds, overcome by fear at the sight of a needle. I'm sorry I had no choice but to do it. It was a good few stitches, but it should heal fast."
"Well, thank you. For doing what you needed to."
"Come," Cora said, abandoning her work to wrap a hand comfortingly around Erin's shoulders. "Let's go and get you a wash, some clean clothes and some food."
"I would be grateful," Erin said, following Cora into the depths of the fort.
They went to Colonel Munro's rooms, he was far too busy to even think of sleep and had given his own quarters over to his daughters, which contained a small sitting room with a fire, and a bedroom. Alice was sprawled on the bed, clean and re-dressed and completely spent, although not yet asleep.
Cora fetched a pitcher of water, a bowl, and a rough cloth, and helped Erin wash, the task difficult with her injured arm and hand.
"I thought it too much in the infirmary, to ask about your hand."
Erin touched the dirty bandages in reflex. "It wasn't too deep. It stopped bleeding quickly."
"Did it happen after you were attacked?"
Erin nodded, "I suppose so, I don't remember it very well."
"Can I see to it?"
Erin held up her hand in complete trust, she would not be a fool again. Cora unwound the linen, exposing the healing skin beneath. She bathed it with the gentle touch of a true nurse, dabbed it dry and smeared it with a strong smelling cream before re-bandaging it securely.
"It looks like it's mending well, no signs of it festering. No more stitches." Cora smiled.
"I'm glad to hear it. I'm starting to feel like a pin cushion." They both laughed at the morbidity of the situation.
Cora had found various clothes from the other women of the fort, Mrs Phelps, the wife of the fort's surgeon, had a whole trunk load of unwanted gowns, bodices and skirts. The poor woman seemed to have almost lost her mind entirely due to the horrors of the siege.
Erin was given a fresh crisp new chemise in soft linen that felt like clouds against her skin after the sweat stiffened feel of her own underthings. She was redressed in her own front lacing stays, the sore on her hip tended with cream and a wad of soft bandages to protect it. Her laces were replaced with longer ones that made for a much more comfortable fit. A few new, rough, hard-wearing petticoats went over the top, and her skirts were replaced by heavy linen in an off-dusky-blue colour; a matching bodice, which fastened up the front with big buttons, was a little roomy but so much better than her old clothing. The arms were fitted, but fell just short of her elbows, allowing her injury to remain undisturbed.
They had no tape or spare ribbon for putting up hair and Cora only had a few pins, which Erin did not want to commandeer for her own use, instead styling her hair into a side braid; it kept it out of her face and only needed a small cut of her old laces to secure it. It was practical and not out of place here, where fashion was the least of women's worries.
"There, you look much better," Cora said, with a reassuring smile. "I've sent for some food to be brought for you and Alice. But it may be a while, sleep."
Cora made to move but Erin stopped her with a soft touch. "Wait. Where are you going?"
"Back to the infirmary, I have bandages and dressings to finish making and Mr Phelps will need help. I will come back here soon to gather all the leftover clothing." Cora had already gathered a bundle in her arms.
"Can't I help you?" Erin said, feeling useless.
"After you've eaten and rested."
"Have you done either of those things?" Erin asked, Cora looked exhausted.
"No, but I will. I will sleep in the infirmary, it is already well into the morning."
This shocked Erin, she'd lost all sense of time.
"Stay here and rest. Come and find me in a few hours."
Erin nodded, letting Cora go. She curled up next to Alice on the bed.
Alice's hand nestled into hers, but her eyes remained closed, as if she was blocking the entire fort out of her mind.
"Are you all right?" The question was soft.
"Yes," Erin said, with confidence, wanting to ease the young woman's unwarranted guilt. "It was my fault," she added, knowing she had played a part in all of this.
Alice nodded and made a small sound of contentment, the noise expressing how glad she was that all was well between them. "Everything will be all right, now Papa is here. He'll protect us," Alice said sleepily.
A knot formed in Erin's stomach, she had only a few nights at most, to work out how she could help, but right now all she wanted to do was sleep, just for a little bit.
