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Piety and Infamy	By : MarianTheBlackadder Category: M through R > Patriot, The Views: 2093 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own The Patriot, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
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Heather, finding herself now in the presence of more then one colonial,
was far to scared to even look up. She knew she might have been able to handle
the one, but this many would be impossible. Keeping her eyes on the ground she
heard them talking. �What�s this?� a voice said. The owner of that voice
seemed to be their leader as the rest of the men seemed to be waiting for
instruction or orders from him.


Another began to speak which held a thick French accent in his words,
�What does it matter, she�s seen us. Any British solder could offer her coin
for her knowledge. We should just slit her throat and silence her before she can
go wagging her tongue to someone.� Her eyes went wide at these words and she
pushed up from the ground quickly getting to her feet. They all turned to look
at her in surprise as she seemed to frightened to do so before. Heather took a
breath forcing herself to look up and gaze at the one whom she was now certain
was their leader. He looked like a well-weathered soul, who was perhaps about 40
years old. His eyes weren�t that of a murderer, and seemed almost kind in a
sense. The man who stood next to him was a Frenchmen, and his look was not as
kindhearted.


She began to speak mustering every bit of courage and strength she could,
�I don�t know whom any of you are, just go your way and let me go mine and
we shall both part in peace.� Her words sent a wave of shock over the men as
they all looked about at each other before looking at her. To tell the truth,
Heather was shocked at her own words as well. Being as how she had to force her
words out of her mouth to get them past her lips, she hardly expected that those
would be the ones to emerge. Her voice didn�t break or waver with her words,
and she met each of their gaze without turning away.


On the inside where they could not see, she was shaking from the ground
up. Terrified that they might all suddenly rush her and finish what their
comrades had started back on Cornwallis�s plantation. She repeated the words
over and over in her mind that William had told her while he was teaching her
the art of defending herself when he was not there to protect her. �Fear does
not help anyone, it is a sign of weakness that anyone will take advantage of
should they recognize it.� Silently running those words through her mind
again, she stood up straight and looked into the eye of anyone who starred at
her.


She tried to think of what she could use, a rock, a branch, anything that
might aid her in her escape. But that was a foolish and fleeting thought since
each and every one of these men were armed with loaded weapons.


�I don�t think we need to do that, she�s just a child who most
likely doesn�t know any better. Why would she tell the British anything? More
importantly I doubt they would believe her.� Staying silent, Heather realized
they thought she was a colonist. Of course having been born and raised here, she
was. Yet she was also considered to be British since she was now the wife of a
British officer. She had every intention of keeping this fact closer to her
heart and not breathing a word of it. Especially with the reputation her husband
supposedly had according to the officers in Cornwallis�s headquarters.


The man turned his attentions to her again and addressed her directly
this time, �miss, what are you doing all the way out here in the woods by
yourself?� He inquired.


Heather�s eyes looked around at the others standing nearby for a brief
moment before she answered. �I came out riding a few hours ago. I wanted to be
alone.�


The man smiled a little bit at her at such an innocent response. It made
him stand out and look out of place with all of the other faces that looked at
her. �Well, I can�t say that a ride behind the British lines is a keen idea
for an afternoon activity in the middle of a war. Especially in an area so close
to their supply lines.� Her eyes moved over their garments that they wore.


�Nor can I say that a band of militia taking a stroll in the woods
behind British lines a very safe afternoon activity in the middle of a war.�
She said plainly. The Frenchmen who stood next to the leader began to draw his
pistol at her words, and her eyes turned to him as her body tensed preparing to
run before he took aim. Seeing the way she moved, the leader looked to the
Frenchmen standing beside him and reached over stopping him from drawing the
gun, and looking back at the woman. Heather stopped when she saw the gun that
was going to be used on her halted, she locked eye contact with the leader once
more. �Sir . . . I beseech you. Please just let me go, I know my way home. I
can do you no harm.�


He took a few steps closer to her, and she took the same number backwards
away from him. The man stopped realizing he wouldn�t get any closer to this
strangely cautious woman. �I�m sorry Miss, I can�t let you go by yourself
without escort in good conscience. British officers have no compassion for
civilian woman and children. You will most likely be captured and killed if I
let you go.�


Her voice broke as she watched her small chance of escaping slipping away
quickly, �I�ll take my chances.� She said as her eyes glanced towards the
Frenchmen who seemed a worse danger when it came to her death then anything the
British soldiers would do.


�You have nothing to fear, you�ll be safer with us Miss . . .� He
said pausing so she could fill in the blank of what her name was.


�Heather. My name is Heather.� She said making it as clear as she
possibly could that �Heather� was what she was to be called and no other
name would be given. The man gave a slight nod at this.


�Alright, Heather.� He looked around a moment before looking back at
her. �Where is your horse?� Giving a loud sigh she remembered that the horse
got spooked and took off running when she had jumped up from her spot. Honestly,
it turned out to be a good thing since the saddle that she had rode on was a
British military saddle.


�I don�t know, he ran off down by the river when one of your men
appeared out of no where and startled me.�


�Then you will have to go with us on foot.� The man turned and looked
at a younger man that was standing nearby, �Gabriel, stay with her.�
Heather�s eyes narrowed slightly that he thought she needed a guard. Giving a
sigh she would go with them without a fuss. The man turned and looked around at
the others, �Lets go, before that patrol comes back this way again.� With in
moments, she was swept up near the center of their ranks and they began on their
journey as swiftly and quietly as they could move.


Through all of this Heather had one thought going through her mind. If
William found out about any of this, she would be in more trouble then she could
imagine. She did know better then to go out riding as she had done, but she did
it anyway and now she had been captured unknowingly by the colonial militia.
Shaking her head she looked over to the boy who had been assigned to �stay
with her�. He held the same look to him as their leader did, not as harsh or
uncaring as the others. It was easy to see that he was not but a few years older
then she, or perhaps they were closer in age then she thought. �Gabriel.� He
said breaking the silence as he turned his eyes towards her.


It caught Heather off guard a little bit, she didn�t think she had been
starring that hard. �Is . . . that your name?� She asked softly.


�Yes Mame. I thought it only polite to introduce myself since we all
know your name.� Gabriel said with a smile.


Heather looked towards the front of the group where the leader of this
band was walking. �He�s your father, isn�t he?� Gabriel looked at her
again a little surprised that she was able to know that, he and his father
hardly bore any resemblance at all.


�Yes, yes he is.� She smiled a little bit herself seeing the look in
his face, one of surprise and one of slight annoyance.


�You have his eyes, Gabriel.� She said softly letting him know how
she had placed them as relatives.


�Well, I suppose I should take that as a compliment.� She smiled a
little wider looking down at the ground as she stepped over some rocks.


�That was how I intended it. It would seem by the sound of that he�s
fallen out of favor with you.�


�Not really, there�s just a lot about him I don�t understand at
times.� Heather nodded still smiling. Gabriel looked at her once again,
fascinated how she might have known all of these things when she was obviously
younger then himself.


�Can I ask you something?� She looked at him waiting to hear his
question. �Why did you run? Were you afraid of being caught here, behind the
British lines?� Heather�s eyes turned to him for a moment, before turning
her eyes forward once again debating about how much information would be wise to
share.


�I didn�t want to be captured again.� Her voice was very quiet and
incredibly solemn showing him that it was a memory she didn�t care to
remember, even though it haunted her often. Gabriel looked at her for another
moment.


�Who captured you.� He asked quietly. Heather looked up at him
meeting his eyes for a minute before looking away from him and quickening her
pace to get ahead of him to stop this conversation. Gabriel sighed softly gazing
down at the ground upon which he walked, realizing he might have just made a
huge mistake. It was clear that she wasn�t about to talk to him or anyone else
about her abduction.


They continued on, and every eye in the group kept finding their way back
to her. Heather kept her eyes downcast not wishing to meet any of their stares
and paid them no mind. After the past few months, she was getting used to being
the subject of evil glares. The only thing different was the color of the
uniforms.


It felt like hours had passed, and it felt as if they had been walking
for an eternity, getting further and further away from the fort and any hope of
salvation. Her steps slowed as she looked up, they had entered a clearing where
a bunch of horses stood waiting for their owners to return. It made sense, they
would be able to move much quieter and hide more easily if they were not on
horseback. Everyman moved to their own horses and mounted and Heather just stood
there in silence watching.


The leader turned his horse seeing she was still on the ground,
�We�re a little short on horses miss, your going to have to double with
someone.� On horseback? They could take her miles behind the colonial lines in
less then an hour.


�Where are you taking me?�


�We�re going to take you to the nearest town behind our lines, and
then we shall say our goodbyes. You should be able to find your way back to your
home from there.�


�What of my horse? I can�t leave him out here in the forest, I should
go back and find him.�


�If he ran off down by the river, then it�s safe to say he�s long
since returned to his part eating oats wondering what happened to you.� He
said with a smile. He walked his horse over towards her offering his hand for
her to take so she could ride with him. However, instead of taking his hand,
Heather took a few steps back. The man sat up looking at her, thinking how
incredibly stubborn this woman was turning out to be. �Heather, please don�t
make this any harder then it has to be. You lost your horse, leaving you on
foot, and it�s miles in any direction to get to anywhere and you might be
discovered and taken by British soldiers.�


She stood in place still refusing to go with him. Why couldn�t he just
leave her alone? Ride away and let her find her own way back. The Frenchmen rode
up beside the leader impatiently, �We don�t have time for this.� He
growled, digging his heels into his horse�s sides as he rode to her quickly,
reaching down and scooping Heather up with one arm and pulling her onto his
saddle in front of him.


Heather only fought him for a moment until she discovered that he was far
to strong for her to win this battle, and she just turned away from him. The
Frenchmen rode his horse back over to the man in charge, �We�re wasting time
Colonel, we should be on our way.�


The man seemed as if he didn�t completely approve of the way she was
just treated, but he let it pass. �Let�s go.� They turned their horses
towards the road and began riding off, right into Colonial territory.
To Be Continued .
. .
- 7
- 8
- 9
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Piety and Infamy