Innocence Lost

Chapter Five


"Gabriel! Wake up!"

"Wha-?" Gabriel Martin slowly sat up. After several sleepless hours on the hard ground, he'd finally fallen into a deep slumber.

"It's morning," his father said. "Time to start looking for Anne again."

Gabriel was up in an instant. The first rays of sunlight were evident as pulled his boots on.

"Here," his father said, handing him their canteens. "Go fill them up with water at the creek, while I get the horses ready."

A few minutes later, father and son were on their way.

"We're not going to be able to keep this up for very long," Ben Martin pointed out. "I didn't bring much food. I didn't think it was going to take so long to find Anne."

"We can't just leave her with Tavington!"

"I know that, son," Ben said. "But we'll have to turn back soon for supplies."

"How much longer can we look?"

"We'll have to turn back this afternoon," his father said. "We'd have to go back for reinforcements in a few miles ay; ay; we're heading into a heavily Loyalist area. It would be suicide for just the two of us to look for her there."

"I suppose you're right," Gabriel said miserably.

"I know I'm right," Ben said. "We won't do Anne any good if we get ourselves killed. Tavington probably hopes we'll do something foolish to try to get her back."
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As Anne awakened early the next morning, she felt an arm around her waist. Forgetting where she was for a moment, she whispered softly, "Gabriel," and turned into his embrace. She was brought back sharply to reality as she gazed upon the face of the still sleeping Tavington. Asleep, his features calm and peaceful, he hardly looked capable of the brutality that had earned him the nickname, "The Butcher". Indeed, he looked almost angelic with his hair spread across the pillow.

Tavington's flu fluttered open as Anne looked at him. "Sorry to disappoint you, my dear," he said lazily, tightening his grip around her waist. "But it's no matter; you will soon forget that name."

Anne did not respond, knowing it would be pointless.

"I hate that I cannot tarry in bed with you all morning, as there is nothing I'd like better," he said as he raised himself to a sitting position, allowing the blanket to fall to his waist. "Unfortunately, I have business to attend to this morning."

"Would you like some breakfast?" Tavington asked her as he swung his legs out to sit by the side of the bed.

'Yes, that would be nice."

"Get dressed, then, and I'll escort you downstairs and introduce you to the Sizemores," he said. Tavington had already pulled his breeches on and was standing in front of the mirror fixing his hair. "Once you've eaten, one of the slaves will show you where you can wash," he continued. "I will also arr for for you to have a couple more dresses."

Anne just looked at him, dismayed at the idea she'd be with Tavington long enough to need more clothes.

A short time later, they left his quarters. As theadedaded to the stairs, he said to her, "You are free to wander the house, and to go outside to the terrace and garden. You are not to go anywhere else without my permission and an escort." Stopping and gripping both her shoulders tightly to make her face him, he said, "Do you understand?"

"Y-yes."

"Good," Tavington purred. "I don't think I need to remind you that the consequences would be most unpleasant if you disobey my orders."

Anne shivered, knowing he meant every word.

A moment later, they entered the dining room. Mrs Sizemore was there, along with her teenage daughter Emily. Bordon and Wilkins had already arrived aere ere sitting at the other end of the table from the Sizemores.

"Mrs Sizemore," Tavington said, "This is Anne Martin." Turning to Anne, he said, "This is Mrs Sizemore and her daughter, Emily."

"Pleased to meet you," Anne mumbled, not forgetting her manners.

"Do sit down, dear, and have some breakfast," Mrs Sizemore said.

After Tavington had seated himself to Anne's right, he continued, "Mrs Martin will be staying with us for the foreseeable future."

"Shall I prepare a bedroom for her?"

Tavington narrowed his eyes, pressing his lips together tightly. "No," he said sharply. he whe will remain in my quarters."

"As you wish." Charlotte Sizemore did not approve of this arrangement, especially because she understood Anne to be a married woman, but it wasn't really any of her business. Nor did she want to go into any great detail in front of Emily.

"However, Mrs Martin needs some clothing," he said. "I will pay for any clothing your seamstress makes for her."

"I will take care of it," Mrs Sizemore said. "Meanwhile, she can borrow a couple of Emily's dresses. They appear to be about the same size."

"Thank you," Tavington said. "That will do nicely."

At that moment, Ban Tarleton strolled into the dining room.

"Another late t, Bt, Ban?" Tavington asked.

Tarleton shrugged. "You know how it is, Tav." Regarding Anne with a wide smile, he asked, "And who is this lovely young lady? I don't believe I've had the pleasure."

"This is Mrs Annrtinrtin," Tavington said. Leaning over, he murmured in Tarleton's ear, ”Hands off, Ban. This one's mine."

Tarleton's only reply was a mute nod. Though attracted to Anne, he respected Tavington enough to honor his wishes. She wasn't worth fighting over; Tarleton knew plenty of women who welcomed his attention.

"Good morning, Mrs Martin," Bordon said quietly. "How are you this morning?" Bordon sat to Anne's left.

"As well as can be expected, Captain Bordon," she said, looking up at him with gratitude. "How kind of you to ask."

"I'm here any time you need someone to talk to," he said, glancing to make sure Tavington hadn't heard him.

"Thank you," she said softly. "I'll keep that in mind."
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Shortly after lunch, Ben and Gabriel Martin reluctantly turned back to Pembroke. They'd done all they could on their own, and it was time to get reinforcements and supplies. They urged the horses on, eager to resume their search as soon as possible.

As they neared Pembroke, they met one of their men, Billings, riding quickly toward them.

"What happened?" Ben Martin asked Billings, whose coat was torn and spattered with blood stains.

"Ambush," Billings briefly explained, out of breath. "I was riding out to find you to tell you."

"When?"

"Very early this morning," he said. "Davis was on watch, but they got him before he could wake us up."

"Damn!"

"Tgtongton's men?" Gabriel asked.

"No," Billings said. "Redcoat foot soldiers."

"Tavington probably had something to do with it," Gabriel insisted.

"Doesn't matter who," Billings pointed out. "We lost seven men, either way, and quite a few wounded." As they turned back toward Pembroke, he asked Gabriel, "What about your wife?"

"Tavington still has her," Gabriel said. "We never caught up with him. They had too much of a head start on us."

"I'm sorry," the other man , no, not quite knowing what to say.

"I'll get her back, if that's the last thing I ever do."