Roses of Stone

The missing officers finally arrived and flooded into the ball seeking out their wives and sweethearts. Andrew found Jeanette as quickly as he could and kissed her cheek as he started to mingle with the guests as well. Tavington, was quite used to the routine that had formed for Tavington’s in these social functions and moved about without being stopped and pestered by anyone, or be drug into a ludicrous conversation. He was certain he would find Katharine standing near Jeanette, but found she wasn’t. It was odd, but knowing how popular Andrew and Jeanette had come in just the short time they were here, perhaps Katharine simply felt to overwhelmed to try and keep her company tonight. Perfectly understandable, Lady Botts tended to exhaust anyone around her with frustration.

He moved about the guests trying to spot her, but it was to no avail. Where on earth could she be? Perhaps she had gone into the house to converse with someone, or at least announce to someone where she had gone. He sighed and raised his brow when he found that she had not been in the manor since she and Jeanette had arrived. This was rather strange, he knew that she had grown weary of such occasions, yet he also knew that she would not leave unannounced.

Tavington returned to the crowds and sought out Jeanette, pulling her roughly from a group of gawking, mindless wives and sweethearts so that he could talk to her in private. “What ARE you doing William Tavington! Unhand me this instant!” She said jerking her arm away from him.

“Where is Katharine.” He said bluntly, simply wanting the answer and no discussion to be had. “Tell me where she is and I shall leave you to those old hens for whatever value you put on yourself for being noticed by them.”

“I don’t know where Katharine is! We got separated earlier in the evening, and she has not come back to me since! Did you not check with the servants in the house? She might have gone in for some refreshment before dinner.” Jeanette snapped as she straightens her dress.

“I have already done that, and no one has seen nor heard from her since the two of you arrived. Did she say nothing of where she was going?”

“What is going on here?” Andrew said quickly walking to Jeanette’s side, having seen the small scene that was going on between them. He stepped between Tavington and Jeanette just to let him know that he would not tolerate any abuse of his wife.

“He wants to know where Katharine is Andrew, perhaps you can help him find her so that he will attempt to find some gentlemanly conduct at a ball?” She said glaring at Tavington before returning to those she was conversing with. It was the most exciting night of her life, this being the first ball she had attended as the wife of a Colonel in his majesties army, and it seemed Tavington was simply attempting to ruin it for her for his own amusement.

Andrew and Tavington glared at each other for a moment, “Oh join your child bride! I shall find her on my own!” He growled and turned to start walking away. However Andrew stayed hot on his heels.

“Jeanette has asked me to assist you in finding, Katharine. Forgive me if I feel a bit of brotherly concern where she is involved.” William just sighed and shook his head as the two men began to search through the ocean of guests.

Katharine slowly awoke feeling a cold wet cloth pressed roughly to her face repeatedly. It was unpleasant to say the least, and she turned her head away from it trying to get out of it’s reach yet it followed after her. Her eyes opened a little at a time as everything seemed so strange like it was in a thick fog and she couldn’t see clearly. “How do we know if she’s even the right one? There were dozens at that party.”

“She was the only one who was being treated like a leper. I watched her for quite sometime before approaching. Even the woman she was with seemed to forget about her. She has to be the one. The British don’t like him any more then we do.” A voice said. The cloth was pressed against Katharine’s face again.

“Stop . . . stop, get your filthy hands away from me.” She would have struck at him but found that her hands were bound tight in place beneath her. “Who are you? What do you want?” The voices were so thick with a French accent. What on earth were these French doing here? They were not part of this war.

“Hush Cherrie, I shall be the one asking the questions. Simply answer them and we shall get along perfectly.” Katharine’s eyes started to clear but everything was so dark, like they were in a room with the shutters all pulled tight. “What is your name?” Katharine clinched her jaw, similar to the way Tavington did when he wasn’t in the mood to talk or was simply being stubborn. “Now now, it is not polite not to answer when someone speaks to you.”

“Do not even dream of tutoring me in manners. Or do you intend to try to tell me how it is ‘mannerly’ to abduct women in your own country of France? Of course, I doubt that you and your countrymen would be above such villainy.” The man let out an annoyed sigh.

“You are very beautiful Cherrie, yet your charms and beauty will not save you if you do not tell me what I wish to know. Cooperate and perhaps you will slip unscathed from this encounter.” He leaned closer to her, and Katharine frowned smelling the foul breath on him. “Tell me . . . your name. It is a simple question that requires the simplest of answers.”

Katharine took a breath and sighed her eyes only starting to adjust to the darkness. “Lady Katharine Elizabeth Tavington.” She snapped, doubting that he would even think of extending her the courtesy of divulging his own name.

It grew silent for a moment as the men looked at each other and grinned. “I told you she was the right one, didn’t I?”

“So you did. What do you want, a commendation for it?” The man said sarcastically. Then he leaned down to Katharine and turned her face towards his roughly. “You have no idea how valuable you are to us . . . Lady Tavington.”

“Release me at once! I shall not be taken hostage by a pair of over dressed, Fops!” She yelled and started to struggle a little more. “If it is an issue you have with my husband, then I suggest it be him you kidnap and NOT me!” She yelled at the top of her lungs and pulled harder at the binds. She didn’t mean it, but at the same time she did. It was all very confusing.

“hush, my Cherie. Rest for now, and all will be explained to you later.” With that, the two men turned and left the room. Closing the door behind and locking it, in the unlikely event she managed to free herself.

Meanwhile, back at the ball. “Jeanette, we have searched everywhere. No one has seen or heard from Katharine. Think my dear, think. Did she say anything to you about where she might go? What she might do?” Andrew questioned Jeanette as Tavington stood nearby.

“No, she said nothing.” She thought hard, through her worry and panic. “Will had a terrible fever, and she didn’t want to leave him when General Cornwallis sent a carriage to bring us here tonight. Perhaps she went back to the boarding house?” She said throwing out a suggestion of one more place to look. Although, it wasn’t like Katharine to just leave Jeanette without so much as a word.

Tavington just gave a sigh and instantly left the two to retrieve his horse and ride back to town to search for Katherine. Needless to say, she was going to get a piece of his mind for running off without telling anyone where she might have been going. It was very irresponsible while there was rebel activity so close to the area. There had been quite a number of raids and uprisings that were quickly crushed and seen to, but it was still difficult to protect anyone or anything from their strike. She knew full well not to go somewhere alone without telling anyone, and Tavington was not the only person to scold her over this.

William left the ball immediately calling for his horse, and began to ride to town to track her down. Jeanette and Andrew followed after and watched him bolt down the road. Jeanette felt as though something was terribly wrong, and felt absolutely horrid for letting herself get separated from her best friend like she had done. She turned towards Andrew, “Andrew?” She said softly. He nodded, and walked away to call for the carriage that had brought her so that they could return to town as well.

Once there, Tavington began to look through their room finding it empty, and began to open closet doors and drawers to make sure she didn’t pack her things and take off like she had threatened to do in the past. However, everything was there, and left perfectly in place. What proved that she had not left was that young William remained under the watchful eye of the nursemaids and nanny’s that looked after the children of the other officers. If she would have left anywhere, she would have come here out of pure terror over her sons condition. No, something was most definitely wrong.

Tavington called for the guards and quickly sent word to several of the Generals, who ordered that she be searched for immediately, leaving no stone unturned. Jeanette and Andrew arrived at the house not long after and hurried up the stairs to Katharine’s room. Jeanette had to bite her lip to keep from breaking into tears with worry that something might have happened to her dearest and closest friend and sister. “What are we to do? What can be done?”

“YOU can leave. I am rather busy and you are in the way and are nothing more then a blasted thorn in my side. I am fully capable of looking after my own wife, and you standing about wailing like a banshee is only aggravating me and ruining my concentration!”

“She is simply concerned about Katharine’s well being!” Andrew shouted at him, growing weary of how the Colonel addressed his wife constantly. Jeanette had told him time and time again that she could take care of herself which is why he rarely stepped into these arguments between them. But when it seemed the worst had happened and he shouted at her for grieving, it was as though the last straw had been added to the camels back.

“YOU TOO!” Tavington shouted as a few more guards came into the room. General Cornwallis had sent word back that he was on his way to help coordinate a search party. Andrew clinched his jaw and wrapped his arm around Jeanette, leading her down the hall to their rooms. Someday, that man was finally going to get what was coming to him.

Katharine had managed to sit up, even with the way her arms and legs were tied. She leaned against the wall watching the only door in the room, her mind just completely blank as she starred. What did they mean? She was so important to them how? They seemed far to excited about hearing her name, this must have had something to do with William. Finally she blinked and her eyes moved around the room as she sighed. There really wasn’t to much in the room except the little wooden bed she was placed on. There was no way she could reach the dagger hidden under her dress with her arms tied behind her back in such a fashion. Something had to be done; she did not intend to play the damsel in distress today. “over 300 other officers wives and families at that ball, and somehow they managed to choose me above all others.” She grumbled to herself.

It seemed like hours before someone came into her small room she had been left in. She was tired and quite frustrated from struggling and trying to find a way to free herself from her captivity. The two French men walked into the room, with serious looks on their faces, not at all like they had been before. “Well? What is it you want now?”

“I think a lock of your hair might serve our purpose.” One said as he took a knife and cut a piece of her hair. Katharine was appalled that he would do such a thing and tried to strike at him. He slipped the lock into an envelope and sealed it.

“WHAT on earth are you doing! What do you want from me? This is absolutely ridiculous, I want to see your superiors immediately!” She shouted. The two just laughed and looked at her.

“Lady Tavington, we intend to random you to your husband, the infamous Colonel Tavington.. For a rather large sum, such as . . . half his family fortune. I am most certain that he will give us anything we ask of him when we have his bride in our possession.”

Katharine just starred at the two men for a moment before bursting into hysterical laughter at their plan. The two men looked at each other as their smiles faded, and a look of confusion crossed their faces, “What’s so amusing?” They questioned, not liking being laughed at in such a way.

Katharine still smiling looked him square in the eyes, “You can’t be so naive, men of your age. You must know by now that Colonel William Tavington is not one to give into threats.” Her smile faded and she looked at them seriously, “He will not give into your demands. Especially when they come from the French. He’d rather let you kill me then bargain with you for my life. So why not save yourself the trouble and kill me now, you ignorant fools.” The man grew angry and backhanded Katharine fiercely. Her contradiction to their plan and the smug way she pointed out the flaw in their idea, only fueled his rage.

“We shall see about that Cherrie.” The two men left the room slamming the door and she heard them pull a bolt to lock her in. She rolled her eyes and sighed, knowing just how true her words had been. William would not agree to their demands.

The next day, Tavington took time out of his search and morning duties to wash up and change into a clean set of clothing. He hadn’t slept but keeping up his appearance was required of all of his majesties officers. When he finished shaving, he washed his face and looked into the mirror and sighed. She should have never come here. They would have stayed estranged but she wouldn’t be prancing about in the middle of a war zone. Her first attempt at this got her captured by rebel scum, and nearly stole her life away. He had no idea what this current catastrophe was, but with as long as she had been missing, he suspected that foul play was afoot.

“Colonel Tavington.” A familiar voice came from the door. The annoying voice of Katharine’s “sister” as she called her. She should have stayed in England as well, but it seemed that the king and Cornwallis were attempting to divide the Dragoon force so that the entire cavalry was not strictly in his hands.

“Do you not know how to knock?” He snapped not even turning to look at her as he dried his face on a cloth, and began to dry his hands. William was already in poor spirits to begin with and this was only going to make it worse.

Jeanette entered the room quietly and stood behind him in silence. Almost as if she was searching for words to say but they weren’t coming. Finally, in a gentle voice she began to speak. “Are you doing everything you can to find her? Have you looked everywhere? Questioned those that were at the ball?” She asked in a soft and gentle voice.

“I have already searched the ball, the surrounding buildings and grounds, the boarding house, and the entire bloody city! Do you think that I haven’t done this!?! Do you think I have not done everything in my power to find her?”

“I am not certain of that William Tavington. Since when has Katherine’s well-being concerned you in anyway? After she came here from England risking her life as well as that of her child, I doubt greatly that you suddenly decided to care for her after that. Find her William. Even if you don’t care for her, I do.”

“Will you hold that poisonous tongue of yours behind your wretched teeth? As usual you are interfering where you have no right to interfere. Which countless people fail to realize! It was Katherine’s choice to come here, it is not my judgment you question by that action, but hers.”

“She only came here because you deceived her and left her feeling as though you loved her. Once the constant ridicule and gossip began, she looked for refuge. Your actions and behavior in this war have condemned her to a life of solitude in the social ranks.”

“You and your precious husband will learn soon enough the sort of war this is and the tactics one must incorporate to carry out ones duty. Or even to simply stay alive.” William replied smugly. This confidence and constant cocky notion that the two carried about with them, was growing annoying as their ignorance more then glowed for all to see.

“Andrew isn’t a monster like you! He follows the rules of war and carries out his orders just as they are given to him. He does not interpret them as a license to murder everyone in his path. Not to mention he is 10 times the husband you ever could be, and takes care of me like a noble and decent man should! Which is more then anyone can say for you!” Jeanette quickly quieted hating the fact that she raised her voice. She had not intended to.

Tavington was attempting to write orders of his own when he sat down at his desk, yet with all the constant yakking going on in his ear he couldn’t concentrate. “Will you return to your quarters you vile and loathsome wretch! You are hindering my efforts to locate my wife! The more time it takes, the less likely it will be that she will be found alive!” He roared at the woman. Jeanette instantly grew silent at his worlds. She had much more to say, but didn’t wish to endanger Katharine by saying them aloud. Tavington slammed down his pen and stood from his desk.

“Do you know what annoys me most about your existence in Katharine’s life?” Tavington said cutting her off not wanting to hear this desperate display that she seemed ready to perform. Jeanette grew quiet to let him speak giving him no argument. He walked over to the bed and picked up his vest to finish getting ready. “She turns to you for companionship instead of me. If there is a problem that needs to be addressed, she turns to you instead of me.” His voice was becoming more annoyed as he spoke. “I have no doubt in my mind that your presence around her has only aided in the strained marriage that has lasted these 11 years.” He buttoned his vest and began to tie his kerchief around his neck. “I dislike you immensely for the simple fact, that you are a child in countless ways, when she has surpassed your maturity years ago, yet you seem to want to pull her out of her current maturity and into the same level with you. She has not and has never been.”

Jeanette had to say something now, but her voice stayed gentle and quiet. Almost submissive and surrendering sort of way. It was obvious she was concerned that he was not doing everything in his power to find Katharine and hoped that she wouldn’t be recovered so he would be free from the marriage and keep her fortune. “I may have had something to do with it, but your philandering and sexual appetites have kept your relationship strained more then I ever could have.” Williams look grew darker as he turned to look at her for only a moment as he continued to dress. “I don’t want to fight with you Colonel, I just want you to find her and bring her back safely.”

Tavington walked towards her and looked her in the eyes, “I am only going to tell you this once. You have no business coming between Katharine and myself. No more then anyone else who thinks they need to step in between us. She is a capable woman who is more then able to take care of herself and stand her ground. Tend to your own marriage, and stay out of ours.” Just then a Knock came to the door, “COME IN” he roared as he turned to take up his jacket. A private walked in and saluted before handing the Colonel a letter.

“This just arrived for you sir.” He said before turning and leaving the room. Tavington sighed and opened it. Jeanette turned to walk towards the door and opened it looking at him one last time. There was no human emotion in this man, how could Katharine stand it.

Tavington’s look darkened into rage as he read the letter, and Jeanette left the room shaking her head as she closed the door behind her. William took the envelope and emptied the contents into his hand. The lock of hair that belonged to Katharine rested there. How dare they! To kidnap her, and threaten to kill her if he didn’t meet there ridiculously ludicrous demands! It was absolutely not his policy to give into such terrorism.

An entire day went by as Katharine lay in the room by herself, starring at a wall. She could only hope that Will was getting better and not getting worse. Out of all the reasons for disliking being kidnapped, her son’s health was the most distressing. What of William? He could simply start over, a new bride, a new marriage, perhaps even more children and he would soon forget about her. It was all for the best really, since their marriage and relationship within that marriage had become so strange, and so incredibly strained between them. Now she simply didn’t know where she stood, and had no idea where Tavington would stand in her own mind. This was the second time she found herself in the hands of rebels, and it was growing quite monotonous. She had a feeling that it was a combination of her actions and William’s. There was no point in placing blame now, it was all over.

Her eyes moved down to her hands, as she saw the wedding ring she had worn and never removed since their wedding day. She supposed that once she was dead, it would be taken since it was so incredibly valuable and would fetch quite the price. She gave a sigh thinking about the necklace that William gave her, the first honest gift that he gave to her out of his own heart, and not out of his duty. Nothing ever seemed to go right for those who bore the Tavington name. It was as though the family was cursed at one point in time and the curse simply insisted on lingering with each generation. She only hoped that perhaps Will could escape it as he grew into a young man.

She opened her eyes when she heard faint voices just outside the door, and turned over on her side holding her breath to hear what they were saying. “There should have been some sort of response by now, and our source says that Tavington hasn’t made one effort or order for her rescue or to meet our demands.”

“Perhaps he did not read the letter, and just put it aside.” The other voice said trying to give their plot a bit of hope. The voices grew quieter and even though Katherine strained to hear, it was no use. There was something going on, but Katharine simply didn’t know what. She layback starring at the ceiling wondering what was going on. Was there nothing that could be done?

The door suddenly slammed open as one of the men stepped inside while the other stood at the door holding a gun in his hand. “Put these on. And don’t try anything foolish, if your husband isn’t going to meet our demands then you are useless and we have no issues with shooting you.” Katharine looked at the clothes that she was given and sneered slightly. She would never be seen in such things.

“You can’t be serious. You expect me to wear these things? They’re nothing more then rags!” Katharine looked at the clothes and then the two men. The one who had tossed her some clothing took out a knife and walked towards her.

“You only have two options, Cherrie. Either wear the clothing that I have given you, or . . .” He slid the blade between her skin and the neckline of her dress and tore it down over her shoulder. Then he held the knife to her throat. “Or you can simply be naked. But I must warn you, it gets terribly cold once the sun goes down. Especially this time of year.” Katharine swallowed and lowered her eyes. “Good.” He used the knife and cut the ropes on her hands and feet then put the knife away. Then he stood back and watched her.

Katharine rubbed her wrists that had nearly begun to bleed from the roughness. After a moment she looked at the two men when she realized they weren’t leaving her. “You don’t intend to stand there whilst I dress. I refuse to remove my clothing in front of two Frenchmen.”

“You can’t expect us to trust the wife of the infamous Colonel Tavington. To turn our backs on you would be the most foolish thing that could ever be done.” Katharine just starred at them. What on earth were they up to? Why were they insisting on this change of clothing? She reached for the blanket that was left on the bunk beneath her and then sat down taking her clothing off while keeping covered. The two men looked at each other and laughed at this. After a few moments, she tossed the blanket aside and went to work lacing up the shirt that she had been given. She stood wrapping the belt around her and making sure it was pulled tight. There was only a dark color to the skirt and the blouse was white and very unattractive.

Suddenly she felt herself being grabbed at and began to hit the man responsible for it. He reached up and grabbed her hair jerking her head back as far as it would go until she stopped struggling. Reaching up he pulled the diamond earrings from her hair, and the jewel hair combs that held her hair in place. He put them in his pocket and then let her go. She clawed at him but he grabbed her wrists and threw her down on the small bed. He reached for her shirt and pulled it up just enough to take the dagger that she had kept with her and did not intend to leave behind and tossed it to his partner. He was so strong and rough and he honestly did not care about her social standing or the fact that she was a woman. The man looked over her a moment then grabbed her wrist and pulled the wedding ring from her finger and she jerked her arm away from him.

The gift that William had given her was tucked into her undergarments and escaped his attention. The man at the door tossed the other a rope and he began to bind her wrists tight. “What are you doing?”

The man stopped and smacked her, still annoyed that their plan did not go as intended. “Be quiet. I am tired of hearing you talk.” Katherine grew silent, and looked away. The rope was so tight that her fingers turned white, and she couldn’t move them. They two men jerked the rope pulling her out of the room and led her to their waiting horses outside. They mounted their horses without so much as a word and began to ride down the road, pulling Katharine behind them with the rope they secured to her hands. She had to almost run to keep up with them.

Tavington stood at the open flap of his tent watching the sun begin to set, getting a report that Katharine still had not been recovered and not one trace of her had been found. It was rather distressing to realize that he wouldn’t submit to threats or demands, even for Katharine’s sake. Yet he could not give into it, for it would spread all over the colonies and his reputation, as someone to be feared would be lost. It had been a useful weapon thus far, and he intended to keep it to wield when needed. Yet he couldn’t help but feel sorrow and regret where Katharine was concerned. Just when he had discovered her anew, she was once again taken from his hands. It was obvious that this instance was entirely his fault, as she was his wife and it was known quite well. “A ransom in the middle of a war. Ridiculous.” He grumbled as he ducked back into the tent.

“Colonel, there is a woman that has come to the camp asking for you. She is a lady, the wife of . . . Colonel Botts I believe.” A private said when he entered his commanders tent.

“Escort her right back out again this instant. I do not wish to be disturbed.” He said between his teeth. Was it possible that she could not take a proper hint, and leave it at that, and had dared to seek him out to continue this useless nagging. The private nodded and quickly left the tent, only to be passed by Jeanette as she burst into the room. Tavington stopped writing and looked up from his papers, but not looking at her.

“I didn’t expect a warm welcome Colonel.” She said intending to keep this brief. “You know how I feel about my sister, and how much I care for her.” She walked towards the desk and looked at him for a moment, “I have made arrangements for your sons burial. He died early this morning.” Tavington remained still and continued to stare straight forward. Jeanette shook her head as she assumed that he wouldn’t care anyway, but it was her duty to inform him. Reaching into her bag she took out a small frame that folded over to look like nothing more then a closed mirror case. “I thought this might aid your soldiers in finding her.” She said as she laid it on the table next to him. Then she turned and walked out of the tent.

Williams jaw clinched tight as he pushed all the emotion he felt down hard inside of him. His son . . . . young William . . . was lost, as Katharine was. It was not even a week ago that he had a family. A wife, a child, and quite the riches awaiting him for all of his efforts in bringing victory to his Majesties army, but all was ripped from him in a matter of days. His eyes moved to the small case on his desk as he reached for it, and opened it slowly. There, was a small painted picture of Katharine that Jeanette had kept with her since before Tavington’s marriage to her friend. It was strange, it seemed as though Katharine hadn’t aged a day since their wedding. He slowly ran his fingers over the figures neck as he looked into her eyes. “Katharine . . .” He whispered in a sigh of sadness.

The next morning, a line of at least 20 men stood at the edge of the dragoon camp. A shaggy and disorganized looking bunch that had been rounded up by soldiers he had sent out the night before. Slowly Tavington and Major Borden walked the line looking at each one with disgust and utter loathing. They were nothing more then rebels, murderers, criminals, thieves and mercenaries who would kill their own mothers for a bag of gold, and perhaps their grandmothers as well. Yet they would serve their purpose, and most likely not even concern themselves with the war once they were given their assignment. Tavington looked at Major Borden and walked back into the camp. The Major stood before the grungy lot and began to explain what their mission was. He officially announced the bounty of 1,000 pounds to the one who brought the woman seen in the painting back alive, well and unharmed. Of course, this was more money then any of these men had ever seen in their entire lives. They were more then ready to start looking for this woman, like she was the goal of a treasure hunt. Once Borden finished explaining to them, the men dispersed and disappeared.

Somewhere deep behind the rebel lines, Katharine sat against a tree that she had been tied to the night before. Even sitting up and bound as she was, she slept hard having walked more then 10 miles the day before. Her feet were sore, her body ached, and she felt dirty from walking in the dust of the two horses for hours and hours on end. Katharine was awoken by the feel of a boot striking her thigh repeatedly, and moved her leg away from each painful blow opening her eyes “Wake up, it’s time to get moving.” The man said as he finished packing up their things on his horse.

“Where are you taking me? I at least deserve to know just how far you intend to force me to walk across this godforsaken land.” She said as she slowly and sorely stood to her feet.

“On the contrary, I do not believe you deserve anything. Yet I will tell you this, one way or another, you are going to get us money. We did not go to all of this trouble just to walk away empty handed.” His partner mounted and he untied Katharine from the tree, tossing the end of the rope up to his partner and climbed up on his own horse. Within an instant, they were off again and Katharine had no choice but to follow.

Not to long after, they emerged from the tree line, near a small town. Or at least, what used to be a small town. They walked down the street in the middle as Katharine saw what looked to have been a fire. Something terrible must have happened, and the smell that still lingered in this place turned her stomach. Her eyes moved about as she looked around to find that there was no one in sight.

The man holding her rope hopped down and pulled her along walking her up to the steps that seemed to be all that was left of the building. “This, was the town of Pembroke. As you can see, this used to be a church at one time. This happened perhaps two weeks ago.” She turned back towards the town finding it eerily quiet.

“Where is everyone? Why is it so quiet.” He walked up the stairs and pulled her next to him showing her what little was left of the doors, and the chain that was fastened around them. It was obvious that they were meant to keep someone from escaping.

“They were in here. Woman, children, the old and the crippled. Every one that couldn’t go to war and fight the British. Of course, that didn’t matter to them. The commander gave the order to shut the doors and windows and lock them up tight, and then . . . . then his soldiers burned the church down. No one, came out of that church. Soldiers stayed until the screaming stopped, to make sure no one would escape.”

Katharine grew nauseous knowing what the horrible smell was now. The smell of burnt flesh, and burnt hair. She had to close her eyes and take a breath before her stomach turned and she would lose anything left in her stomach.

“The commander of the Green Dragoons is responsible for this. I saw it with my own eyes.” He said as he watched her. “Colonel Tavington. This is not the first time he has murdered and destroyed women, children, and other innocents.”

Katharine just kept her eyes closed and her face expressionless, refusing to give this man the satisfaction of a reaction of any sort. Her eyes opened slowly as she gained an expression of defiance once more. Of course she had heard the rumors and the stories always thinking they were exaggerated, but it was different when you were standing before what was left of an entire town. Oh William, what have you done.

“You should be quite proud of your husband for all this. He certainly added to his reputation by this act of brutality. Colonel Tavington is quite feared by hundreds, and thought to be the devil himself.” Katharine just stayed silent starring at the ash and soot that remained after the horrid fire. The other man went inside a few of the houses and came out packing some food and supplies in the saddle bags of the horses until he couldn’t fit anymore. Then once again, it was time to leave.

As they rode back down the main street, Katharine trailing behind, she quickly lowered her head and wiped the tears from her eyes, refusing to let them see how this news had broken her heart.