Innocence Lost

Chapter Two

Benjamin and Gabriel Martin were puzzled as they rode into Pembroke with their men. They'd noticed black smoke billowing up from the village from the distance and had urged their horses on. As they entered the town, which was silent and deserted, their apprehension grew.

As soon as he saw the burned, ruined church, Gabriel jumped off his horse and ran into the Howard home. "Anne! Are you there? Where are you?"

Other men fanned out through the village checking houses.

Benjamin Martin, however, headed directly to the smoldering remains of the church. He felt sick at heart, as he instinctively realized what had happened. When he saw the chain and padlock around what was left of the church's door, his worst suspicions were confirmed. Suddenly exhausted, he sank to his knees, looking up at the sky as if to ask, "Why, God?"

After a short while, his eyes wandered and he noticed something gleaming in the grass. Moving to pick it up, he saw it was the very same neck he\ he'd given Anne just before her marriage to Gabriel. He didn't dare hope that she'd somehow been spared being burned to death. At this moment, Gabriel came up behind him, his glance falling onto the pendant his father held. He rushed forward, grabbing it from his father's hand.

"Oh, God, let her be alive!" Gabriel fell into his father's arms, who hugged him tightly.

Both men turned when they heard Reverend Oliver walk up to them with a preteen girl beside him.

"This is Betsy Greene," the minister explained. "I found her huddling in the corner of her parents' root cellar.

"Did you see anything," Benjamin asked her softly.

"British soldiers," she said. "Green Dragoons." The girl was still shaking from what she'd witnessed.

"It's all right now," he said, putting a gentle hand on her arm. "What else did you see?"

"They put everyone in the church and set it on fire," she said, tears beginning to form. "They screamed so loud." She was sobbing now. "I was so scared. I wanted to help them, but I didn't dare come out!"

"You did the right thing," Benjamin said.

Looking at Gabriel, she said, "I just remembered that I saw Miss Howard leaving with the British soldiers."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Colonel Tavington had her on his horse with him."

"Tavington!" Gabriel exclaimed. Though relieved that she was alive, he knew that Anne was still in grave danger. "We've got to go after her before he does something to her!"

"I agree," Benjamin said, "Let's go!"

Before leaving, Benjamin turned to the minister, "Reverend, please see that someone takes Betsy to Mrs Selton. We'll keep her with my children unless some of her relatives can be found."

"I'll take her myself," the minister said. "You can count on that."

"Thank you."