Roses of Stone

“These orders just came from General Cornwallis, Colonel Tavington.” Major Borden stated as he handed the papers to his commanding officers. “He insists that we attack from the left flank at tomorrows battle.” William snatched the papers away and looked over them.

“It’s where we will wait but we shall see if there is time enough to wait for his order.” He grumbled under his breath as he tossed the papers back to Borden and walked back to his tent. It had been a very long and full day of orders and preparations for tomorrow’s battle and it was now late in the evening and most of the men had already turned in to get an early start in the morning. Tavington undressed from his coat, vest and other loose odds and ends of his uniform leaving only his pants and his white shirt on his person.

He was exhausted, but at the same time, he couldn’t close his eyes for a moment without seeing Katharine in his mind. So many mistakes, so many wasted years and opportunities, and their son . . . . a child that so much controversy surrounded and opened a new facet of their lives with his birth. Even young William was gone now. Reaching over into a box nearby, the Colonel brought out a bottle and pulled the cork on it taking a deep and long drink. If he couldn’t push the images out of his mind to get rest, then he would drown them out.

Jeanette saw to every luxury that could be afforded with the burial of Katharine’s child, knowing that it would be what she wanted. It seemed to be a way of consoling herself over the disappearance of her best friend, and all of the rumors about what the criminals would do with a lady like her if she were captured. The words that William had spoken to her when Katharine was first discovered missing turned in her mind constantly. As much as she hated to admit that William was ever right in any matter, he had finally proven that he was right were he and Katharine were concerned.

Whenever Jeanette began to speak ill of Tavington, Katharine quickly tried to silence her but at the same time she let her speak knowing how her best friend felt. All those times when she could have easily told her to leave her alone and never darken her doorstep again since she was making Katharine more unhappy with the constant ridicule of Tavington, she just stayed silent and listened to all her friend had to say.

Katherine was even more exhausted then the night before and could barely even stand when they finally stopped for the night. She fell to the ground on her knees, feeling dizzy and nauseous. Everything seemed so strange around her, like it was some horrible dream that she couldn’t wake herself up from. It was only a moments rest before Katharine felt herself being roughly picked up from the ground and taken over to the nearby grove of trees.

The rope that bound her hands was thrown around a branch and then secured tightly around the tree. As soon as she was released she slid down to the ground as her head leaned back against the tree. “She’s not going to be worth a penny if we don’t give her water and food.”

“I want to make sure she’s to weak to fight back, and have her learn how to be grateful for such small privileges.” One of the men walked over and wrapped his hand around her jaw and forced her to look towards him. Her eyes opened faintly for a moment, even though it seemed like she wasn’t even aware of her surroundings.

“I think she’s weak enough. Here, give me that water.” His partner tossed him the water he requested and he held the opening of the leather bag to her lips. When she didn’t take it, he poured a little water on his fingers and dapped her dry parched mouth. After a moment, her tongue moved over her lips taking in the few drops that had caressed her skin. Sitting up a little bit she began to drink from the water anxiously, but he put his hand to her chest and forced her back to the tree to halt her drinking. He waited for several moments before letting her drink again. He knew that if she drank to much to quickly she would become sick and be in an even worse state then she was now.

Finally, Katharine stopped drinking on her own and leaned her head back against the tree once more. The man poured a little more water into his hand and washed her face trying to wake her up enough so that she could be given some small morsel to eat. Finally, her eyes opened and she looked around her, not sure when she had stopped walking. Once more he held the water to her mouth, “Drink a little more and I will give you something to eat.” He said through his thick French accent. Katharine began to drink once again and raise her bound hands towards the bag when he took it away from her. “No no.” He said as he put the water aside and reached up pulling the rope tighter to raise her arms above her head.

“Funny, she doesn’t look so rich and mighty now. Perhaps she will be less full of herself and lose some of that pride.” The one said as he built a small fire to make them some hot coffee. “Don’t give her to much, she’ll start talking and nagging at us again.”

The one attending to Katharine broke off some small pieces of bread and placed them in her mouth to eat. She accepted each one and chewed it slowly. Every now and then he would offer her some more water to drink. When he was finished, Katharine was comfortable enough now to rest and fell right into a deep sleep. He stood and readjusted the rope to let her hands down enough so she could lay against the tree instead of sitting up all night, then tied her again so she also couldn’t move.

He moved to sit next to the fire and his partner who promptly handed him a cup and a plate of food. “Your not getting attached to her are you?” The man asked bluntly as he poured himself another cup of coffee.

“No, I just don’t think she will fetch a decent price if she’s near death. She’s had food, she’s had drink, and she’ll rest good enough tonight to be able to continue on tomorrow. If she’s not given water more often then she’ll die and you know it.”

“I’m not so sure that it would be such a loss.” He glared over to Katherine for a moment before he gave a frustrated sigh. “Alright, we’ll give her water every once in a while. Every few hours. But not food. If we’re going to feed her it’s only going to be once a day. We don’t need to watch her every second to make sure she’s not trying to escape.” The other nodded and they finished eating before bedding down for the night.

The next morning, Katharine awoke to the feel of cold water dripping on her face, and her tongue immediately sought it out, still thirsty from the day before. Her eyes slowly opened as she saw the familiar face of the man who had given her water the night before. Once again, he washed her face and let her drink. “Come on, it’s time to leave.” He said as he put the water away and untied the rope from the tree, and handed the end of it to his partner. Reaching down he took her arm and stood her up to her feet, before mounting his own horse.

They took off and the rope jerked Katharine’s sore arms forward causing her to cry out slightly before she could find the pace she had been walking the day before. After having walked it so long, she could almost do it in her sleep.

The dragoon camp was busy with activity as the men prepared for the scheduled battled on the field. There had already been reports that there were nothing more then regulars and very few at that on the enemy lines. It would be a short battle, and easily won. Just another feather in the General’s cap, which he would gleefully place. Tavington starred darkly into his mirror, as he finished brushing his hair and tying it up as his usual morning custom. Needless to say, he slept well but woke up in a very hateful mood. “Colonel Tavington, Sir.” A voice came from the door.

“What is it that you would risk your life by coming into my tent on this day unannounced.” He growled at the solider as he fastened the buttons on his vest. Drinking hard liquor was something he had rarely done sine he was sent here from England, but the occasion seemed to more then call for it.

“My apologies Colonel, but you wanted to be informed if any information about the Lady Tavington was brought back to camp.” Tavington stopped and turned seeing the solider holding a familiar dress. A green dress matching that color of the necklace he had given Katharine the last time he had seen her. Walking over he snatched it away and looked over it.

“Where did this come from?” He said as he turned it over, finding where it had been cut with a weapon and several tears where it seemed like Katharine had walked passed or caught the material on nails.

“It was found in an empty run down looking shack several miles behind enemy lines. There was no trace of the Lady Tavington except for these clothes and shoes. Foot prints and what looked to be horseshoe prints were outside of the building, but the trail was lost when they entered the woods. That was all that could be found out.”

Tavington half smirked in disbelief as he looked at the clothes in his hand, “They wanted her in peasants clothing, so that her social standing wouldn’t be visible to those who saw her.” He threw the dress down on the table in his tent knocking over the candle and writing tools off of his desk. “They wouldn’t go to the trouble of having her change her attire just to murder her. Inform those men that they are to expand their search, they couldn’t get money from me, then they will most certainly try to get it another way.”

“Yes sir!.” The solider hurried out of the tent to send word to anyone who was searching for the missing aristocrat. Tavington moved to his vanity and picked up his jacket quickly pulled it on to finish adorning his uniform. The battle would have to come first but at least this news brought a bit of hope. Whoever had her was managing to leave a trail and they had not killed her otherwise they would have found her body still in her dress. Perhaps, just maybe, she would be unharmed and be found soon.

Katherine’s captors started to stop for a short break, and the one who held her rope looked back at her before an evil grin crossed his lips. Then he jerked the rope hard causing her to fall face down in the dirt. He began to laugh loudly at this and dismounted his horse. His partner was silent, as it seemed he was growing tired of all this abuse that she was being subjected to. It seemed unessicary at this point and was simply cruelty, nothing more. Each mans leather water bag was produced and drank from, and the man who was starting to show a little bit of mercy on her walked back and helped her to her feet, giving her some water to drink.

“It won’t be long now until we reach our destination. Then you won’t have to walk anymore.” He whispered so that his partner wouldn’t hear him. Katharine’s hands moved up to her mouth and rubbed some of the water over her painfully sore and dry lips. Needless to say, she was looking ragged and rather dirty. There didn’t seem to be anything noble or rich the way she looked now. He gave her another drink before closing the water bag and putting it back in his things. The other man came from out of the bushes from whatever he was doing and started to climb up on his horse.

Out of nowhere, two shots rang out and the kinder of the two men fell dead in a matter of seconds. The other seemed to have gotten a wound that was of lesser consequence and grabbed his arm holding his horse in place when the sound spooked her. Yet before he could react there was another shot and he fell from his horse dead, and he released the reigns. The horse that Katharine was tied to took off at a high run down the dirt road causing her to fall and be dragged. She screamed, and futilely yelled for the horse to stop. She felt a rock hit her legs, and then others in her side. The weeds and rocks were tearing at her clothes and her skin and her hands were completely useless now they were pulling her full weight as her body started to turn over again and again. The last thing she heard was another shot and the horse stopping cold in her tracks. Katharine was thrown up against a rock when she finally stopped and it stuck her back hard. She cried out and looked around for a moment, before everything grew misty and then turned black.

It was hours and hours before her eyes started to open and she could see very little. There was something like candlelight, or a fire and she saw someone over her with tools in their hands. Little painful pin pricks in her skin, and then something pulled through caused her to flinch. “Shhhh, just rest.” A mans voice said. In a matter of minutes she was out again.,

After a hard day of battle, Tavington returned to his tent and began to wash the blood from his face and hands. It was a glorious victory for his majesty, and his dragoons were responsible for ending the day’s conflict quickly and efficiently. He removed his vest and took off his blood stained shirt replacing it with another once he had cleaned himself up. One of the orderly’s came in shortly after and gathered the Colonel’s uniform to get it cleaned and ready for the next morning and Tavington sat down at his desk reading dispatches and several letters that had been left.

“How dare you, sir! How DARE YOU!” A voice came from the door of Colonel Tavington’s tent. Andrew’s voice, the husband of that prattling Jeanette that continued to be a festering thorn in Williams side. The whole family was simply irritating. “General Cornwallis’s orders were specific! The Cavalry was to wait for his order before charging and instead of doing so; you waited only long enough for an opportunity to show me up in front of the General! You won’t get away with it this time! I shall have you brought up on charges sir!” He shouted walking closer to William.

However, the reaction that Tavington had to his accusing demands was far from what he expected. William just chuckled slightly as if there was something extremely amusing about the entire scene as he continued to answer one of the letters he had received. This only made Andrew furious and he reached up knocking some books and papers off of the Colonel’s desk trying to provoke him in a fight.

It seemed however, that William was almost expecting this reaction as he stood grabbing Andrew by the collar of his jacket as he pressed the sharp point of a dagger into his throat. Lord Botts eyes went wide as he swallowed starring at Tavington. William just starred into his eyes seriously and unamused. “Do you think you are the first to threaten me with such things? Do you think for a single moment, that I care about any of them and how they ‘scar’ my reputation?” He leaned closer to Andrew pressing the blade even further into his throat, cutting the skin just slightly now, “Do you think that one more blemish on my record is of such consequence that I won’t thrust this into your throat and then watch you die on the floor of my tent?” A slight shiver went up Andrew’s back, unable to look away or move.

“I do what I do for the glory of his Majesty’s Army, and to bring us victory. I incorporate tactics that will cut the time of this war into a fraction of what it would be otherwise. If you think that you, or anyone else will hinder me in doing my duty . . . perhaps you are not the bright up and coming officer General Cornwallis and King George thinks you to be.” With that he pushed Andrew hard away from him, almost causing him to stumble and fall.

Reaching up he rubbed his throat his eyes still wide, “You are mad . . .” He whispered wide eyed. Tavington raised a brow and turned back to sit at his desk putting the dagger aside to return to his work and Andrew quickly left the tent.

The next day, Katharine’s eyes opened once more around noon. She felt a bit better, even though her body ached. It felt like everything that had happened was nothing more then a bad dream, and she was safe and sound in her own room. However, it wasn’t long before she realized that she was in a strange place outdoors and lifted her head from the pillow to look around. Within moments a man walked over to her and smiled seeing that she was awake “You look much better then you did yesterday, how are you feeling?”

He was a handsome man, perhaps in his late 30’s or early 40’s, and had a kind face and blue eyes. Not as blue as William’s but still quite pleasant to look at. He spoke in a gentle voice, as though trying to put her at ease. Katharine didn’t answer his question, not wanting to give herself away by revealing her British accent. This man was obviously not British himself and a colonist. The man still smiling walked over and sat next to her on the ground, causing Katharine to pull back from him a bit, not sure what he was up to. “Now, don’t be frightened, I have to check on your wounds that you received. I had to sew a few up otherwise you could have bled to death, alright?”

Slowly, he reached up and pulled her blanket back looking at the side of her neck, before moving to the bandages on her arms and stomach to make sure they weren’t turning red from an infection. “Looks like your going to be alright.” He said covering her back up with the blanket. “What were you doing with those two men? It seemed like you weren’t exactly choosing their company?” He asked wanting to know more. Katherine just remained silent, and the man still keeping his smile nodded and looked away from her. “Well, you rest and I’ll get you something to eat. I know you must be hungry.” He placed a hand on her arm to give her a reassuring touch before he stood from the bed and walked away. Katharine closed her eyes and lay back down on the pillow. The man was right, she needed to rest, after having been put through so much in just a few days.

There were so many new things to think about, so many different perspectives just in the time she was away from her own peers. Something about hearing and seeing what William had done simply broke her heart. Katharine had always apparently held some pride in her husband’s accomplishments. Of course they were looked down upon for them, but his dong what others would not to get the job done, seemed to be a rare quality that not many of the aristocracy possessed. But, locking women, children, old and crippled civilians in a church and burning it to the ground . . . what was there to be proud in that?

“How is she?” She heard a voice say sometime later, “She looks better then she did last night.”

“She hasn’t eaten yet, I tried to wake her so that she could but it was no use. Who knows how long she went without food and water, or how far she was made to walk.” Katharine stirred slightly and turned over on her other side to make herself more comfortable.

“At least she’s resting now.” The voice said, “What did you find out? Is the enemy still pushing forward?”

“Yes Colonel, at least three new supply lines have begun, and each with armed guards. There should be outposts, here, here and here.” The voice said as he showed the points on the map they were looking at. “You know who will be in charge of the escort details.”

“I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised. General Cornwallis enjoys pretending that he has nothing to do with these murders and burnings. Yet he continues to turn the other way, and they keep happening.” There was a moment of silence before the conversation continued, “How long until the others arrive?”

“They will all be here by morning. You know that the majority of the men have no families left, and the few who do moved them to a much safer place where they couldn’t be found. I don’t know if they’ll all come back, but most of them will.”

“Good, we need all the help we can get.” Then the conversation deteriorated into the two men visiting with each other and catching up on things. Katherine went back to sleep long before this point came.

“Colonel Tavington.” A voice came from the door of the tent, “There are several . . . individuals at the edge of camp ‘requesting’ to be allowed in.” Tavington just lay still trying to relax not even bothering to open his eyes.

“What do I care? It hasn’t concerned me before, why should I give a damn now!” He growled, since he sleep was still quite disturbed and the alcohol he was consuming was only adding to his already dangerously fowl temper.

“Well . . . Sir . . .” The voice began nervously. “Since General Cornwallis issued a warning and new rules about the subject, the commander of each unit and camp is required to allow them in and tell them who can stay and who can’t. To many mothers were complaining that their daughters ran away at night to get money from the soldiers once they heard how easy it was. They have to be of a certain age otherwise they can’t be allowed entrance.”

“Have Major Borden see to it, and stop bothering me about such nonsense.” Tavington growled, trying his best to take a few minutes nap to try and refresh himself from all of the stress and lack of sleep.

“Ummm . . . Major Borden is out on patrol sir, he won’t be back until tomorrow morning.” He was simply not going to go away was he? And if he didn’t see to this matter his men would start to grumble and become agitated not keeping their minds on their duties. Giving a loud sigh of annoyance he stood up from the bed and stormed out of his tent, with the sergeant following close at his heels.

There was a large group of women and girls standing in the same place, being held back by 3 or 4 soldiers almost at gunpoint so they wouldn’t try to get past them. They were all dressed differently, some were in clothing specifically designed to give a sample of their wears they brought to the camp. The Colonel stopped and glanced briefly over the group and then pointed at a few of them. “You, You, You, You, You, You . . . and the two of you, go home.” The soldiers paid close attention so they knew which ones not to let in and let the ladies pass, sending the youngest girls home.

Turning on his heel, Tavington quickly retreated back to his bed to attempt rest once more. It was useless of course, all his mind could do was run scenarios of what had happened to Katharine and where she might be at this moment. The dress was a small clue, and proved that she was still alive somewhere. Why would they dress her in peasants attire just to take her out into the woods and murder her? It wouldn’t make any sense whatsoever to do something that foolish and wasteful.

“Colonel Tavington?” a young voice came from the doorway of his tent, he opened his eyes wondering what it could be now. A young woman walked in shyly approaching where he was lying. “They . . . they said that . . . I should come and talk to you for a while.” Her voice said with a bit of a tremor in it. She stood silent for a moment when he didn’t respond to her, and she wasn’t sure what to do. “My name is . . . is Tawnie.”

“Leave at once, you’ll find no coin for you to sell your body for in this tent.” Tavington reached over and grabbed a bit of cloth placing it over his eyes to keep any light from invading his rest. When all he could think about was Katherine and William, his dreams were filled with the two faces and it was one nightmare after another.

“Please sir, . . .” She began her voice still soft, “I can do other things. I can rub your back, your neck, your shoulders, or your feet? Anything you wish me to do I can do.” Her eyes moved down to the floor again, “I’m new at this sort of thing . . . I don’t think I can do . . . what the others say I have to do.”

“What on this godforsaken earth makes you think I care?” He snapped. Tawnie bit her lip, frighten that she had just walked into a lions den and she trembled all over. However, even with her fear as it was, she grew bold and conjured up courage from somewhere and slowly moved towards him and kneeled down beside the bed. She reached up and paused for a moment, before closing her eyes knowing she was going to get beat or something of that nature. Her hands softly rested on his arm as she began to rub gently moving up to his shoulder.

For a single moment, William started to relax at the soft touch, but suddenly bristled catching himself. Tavington sat up and pushed her away standing to his feet. Then he grabbed her arm and pulled her up to her feet hastening her to the door. “I believe I made myself clear! I would write it out for you, but I’m certain that you cannot read, so it would be rather pointless to expend the effort!”

She whimpered as he squeezed her arm and tripped when he threw her out of the tent falling to the ground on her hands and knees. Tavington grumbled and closed the tent flap so perhaps he wouldn’t be disturbed from trying to rest again.

Honestly, he didn’t know why he turned down the offer of such a pretty young thing, months ago he wouldn’t have hesitated in partaking of the carnal pleasure, but now . . . now it seemed as though it was incredibly in poor taste. He lay back down and reached for the tin that held Katherine’s picture. “I couldn’t count the number of souls that died under my sword today. Each one, I imagined to have been one of those who took you from me.” He closed the small case and put it aside, picking up a familiar bottle and taking a long deep drink.

Katherine opened her eyes to a familiar accent, one that sent chills up her spine. The man speaking was French, and had the same thick accent that the others did. She jumped up from the blankets she had been sleeping on and spun about taking a careful stances, ready to defend herself and fight if need be. All eyes were on her, and everyone went silent. Katherine was absolutely surrounded by the most rugged and grungy looking band of men. Some were clean and shaven, almost well kept. Others however, looked as though they hadn’t seen a clean bit of clothing, or a bar of soap in quite sometime.

The man who had spoken to her the day before stood up and took a few steps towards her, raising his hand trying to show her there was no danger. “Woh calm down miss, your safe now there’s nothing to be afraid of.” Katherine’s eyes darted about, she wasn’t about to believe that for a second. All of these men, they were all colonials. “Just, sit down and we’ll fetch you something to eat. Alright?” Still she made no kind of surrendering movement. “You’ve been through a lot, and I understand that, but we’re here to help, not to harm.”

“Then let me go.” She said trying to hide her British way of speaking, but her accent was simply to proper. The others looked around at each other, and she bit her lip realizing she had shown her hand. The Frenchmen was the first to react and pulled his pistol taking a step towards her.

The man who seemed to be their leader reached out and grabbed his wrist. “Don’t, Jean. British or not, she’s still a woman, and a lady.” The Frenchmen grew angry and threw the others hand from him.

“Don’t give me that Colonel. Do you think they gave quarter to my wife and daughters when they were burned alive aboard that ship because they were women! Why should we let theirs live, if they don’t care about anyone else who aren’t one of their own? No doubt she’s married to one of the officers and will be eager to report back to him where we are.”

“You are here under my command, and I warned you that you will obey my orders or I will shoot you myself. She did not kill your family, she’s a civilian just like those others we buried at the church.” The Frenchmen made rather rude gesture and turned walking away. The man turned and looked at Katherine. “I apologize.” Reaching out he offered her his hand, “My name is Benjamin Martin. I mean you no harm.”

Katherine just looked at him, not sure what to do, or how to think about this. She had run ins with so many other rebels before, there was nothing to prove that these ones were different. “Do you intend to keep me prisoner.” She said bluntly, not wanting to waste time or beat around the bush. She was to tired, and to sore to play any sort of games.

Benjamin took a breath and lowered his hand. She certainly got to the point right off didn’t she? “For a little while, yes. It’s necessary for your safety and for ours. But, I assure you, that we will all act as gentlemen, and you will be quite safe while traveling with us. But I must warn you that if you try to get away, that you will have to be restrained. It’s for your own good really.” Katherine closed her eyes and sighed in frustration. Why, WHY couldn’t these people just leave her alone and let her go home!?

She supposed that on the good side of the whole affair that the two Frenchmen who had kidnapped her in the first place were killed before they could divulge her identity. “Now, you sit down and rest, and I’ll get you something to eat. Alright?” Katherine didn’t know what else to do, and simply sat down gracefully as suggested. She was tired, and hungry and food did seem to sound awfully good about this time. Ben nodded and walked away to get her a plate.

Katherine looked at her skirts and sighed, they looked so ratty and tattered. She began to brush them off and straighten them around her. However, she could feel eyes on her and it was so distracting. She looked over to see a man eating a turkey leg and pulling the meat from the bone as he starred at her, with lust in his eyes as he looked over her. Katherine’s stomach turned at the thought and she turned away from him.

A few moments later, Benjamin returned and gave her a cup with water, and a plate of food. Katherine sighed knowing she would have to make do. “I suppose that utensils are out of the question?”

“I’m afraid so. But your fingers will work just as well. Go ahead and eat. We’ll be moving on in the morning. Don’t worry, you won’t have to walk, I know that your injuries must still be painful and we have more then enough horses for you to share one.” With that, he stood up and walked away to go about his business. Katherine watched him disappear and looked down at the food and sighed. It was far from what she was used to, but she was so hungry that she would have to forgo the formalities. Placing the plate on her lap, she rubbed her fingers together, not really comfortable with this, but what choice did she have? She closed her eyes and reached for a bit of food and ate it slowly. It took only that much for her hunger to take over and soon she forgot how a lady was supposed to act and made short work of the meal.

It was eerily quiet and it was some time before everyone went about their business. With a full stomach and all she could drink, she felt tired and ready to rest again. So she put the plate and cup aside, tucking under the blankets like before and turned over falling asleep.

Katherine had horrible dreams, nightmares about young Will, that he died and was no more. She woke up suddenly in a cold sweat, gasping for air and clutching her chest. She shivered all over and closed her eyes shaking her head and wrapping her arms about herself trying to get that horrible feeling out of her body. He was alright, her son had the best care available to them here in the colonies. “Are you alright?” A familiar voice came from the nearby tree.

Katherine opened her eyes and looked over seeing the one they called Benjamin Martin and sighed. “As well as can be expected I suppose.” She reached for the blanket she had been lying on and wrapped it around herself not ready to attempt sleep again.

“That’s understandable. I have dreams like that of my own sometimes. I’d offer you a drink but I doubt that it would be a good idea for either of us at the moment.” He stood and threw some more pieces of dried wood into the fire to build it up again, to keep the cold chill away before sitting down near Katherine again.

“I’ve had enough of this war. I hate it. I hate everything about it. I despise this country, all the evil that lurks in it behind every tree and in every shadow.” She looked down at her finger that was now empty and rubbed it a few times. It was obvious she had worn a wedding ring for quite sometime. It left the usual mark that rings did when worn very much.

“It’s not all bad. Trying to gain our independence is a messy endeavor. But it’s come to the point where it is necessary. Children and women being butchered like they were nothing more then animals, the families of most of my men murdered except for those who were able to move them into a safe place.”

“I suppose it’s easy to think that those who were red are the horrible monsters, an enemy to be defeated.” She looked down and rubbed her empty finger again. “My house was invaded by a band of thieves, I was captured on a road by bandits who stole everything of value I had with me, threatened my servant, and forced me to choose between my freedom and my son’s life. I was then kidnapped by two Frenchmen that seemed more then content to let me die where I fell.” She looked up at Benjamin Martin for a moment. “You’re the Benjamin Martin who killed the French at Ford Wilderness.” She said softly.

It was obvious that it was a topic he wasn’t anxious to discuss or remember and he took a stick moving the logs around in the fire so they would continue to burn at a decent pace. “For you to have been kidnapped and men to invade your house . . . you must be someone that most would consider important.” He looked at her, “It would really help if you told me your full name.”

Katherine grew silent now that he was hitting on a subject that she wasn’t anxious to speak of. He looked at her a moment noticing this. “I didn’t know that falling victim to villainy required a name. It seemed to just fall on random people who are nothing more then bystanders to this war.”

However, Benjamin wasn’t content to just leave it be as she was trying to make him do. “Are you here for your husband? Your father perhaps?” Katherine still said nothing and quickly laid down covering herself up to go back to sleep. It seemed like the simplest and most effective way to end the conversation. Her eyes were closed, but she lay awake thinking of a name that she could give him tomorrow when she was certain he would ask again.

“Oh William.” She whispered to herself. Wishing to God that he had never been a solider to begin with. Perhaps then they wouldn’t be in constant peril all the time, and she could be in Charleston with Will, or even back home in England where it was safe. It felt like that their lives were going to be ruined forever and that they would have to go to the ends of the earth to try and outrun their reputations. Yet it might all be a moot point, who knows what was going to come next, and if she would ever see young Will, or even William.