The Butchers Love

Chapter 7

That morning all I wanted to do was sleep, well that was until the Colonel came in. Almost instantly I sat and stared at him "Good morning Colonel" I dipped my head slightly but noticed the bandage on his hand and wrist "What in gods name have you done?" I asked with pure concern.

"W-well I er...I dropped a glass and as I was cleaning up I cut my hand" He stammered and smiled slightly "I was just here to inform you that we are going to Fort Caroline and then Middleton Place" With that, he raised his uninjured hand to his mouth as he coughed. I scrunched my brow, unsure of what to say "Pardon me"

"Why? have you been requested there?" I asked with a slight tremble to my voice.

"Lord Cornwallis wishes for me to attend a meeting and then a ball " he answered and looked down to the floor.

I looked at him and lifted his arm by his forearm "That needs a new dressing" His fingers twitched as I moved my fingers up his arm "Have you a bandage?"

"I always keep one on me, you know, just incase" he muttered and hissed slightly as I touched underneath his hand. After a closer examination he quickly took away his hand and turned to leave.

"I-I could dress it for you" I mumbled and looked up at him. A barley noticeable smile invaded his lips and all he could do was stare at me before looking back at his hand "Here sit down" I smiled softly and he sat on the edge of the table. He gave me the bandage and offered me his hand. As I unwrapped the old bandage half expecting him to groan or maybe tell me to stop, but all he did was stare at me.

"Your rather skilled at this" he uttered and shifted his hand when I reached his wound "Where did you learn?"

"Growing up on a farm has it's advantages, when you work the land you get injured" While I spoke I turned his hand another way and looked up at him "and you learn to deal with said injuries" Tavington looked down at the floor and nodded slightly. I tucked a piece of the bandage underneath itself and ran my fingers over his palm "That should do it"

"T-thank you" Tavington stammered and his breath hitched as he looked at me once again "You really didn't have to" he stood back up rather quickly and shifted his weight nervously. The Colonel stood there for a second, softly looking at me with his silvery-blue eyes.

"W-what time do we leave?" I stuttered and took a step away from him.

"In around an hour, or we could go now" he suggested before smiling for a split second "Then you could get settled at Middleton Place"

"Alright, since there is no point in fighting you" in response the colonel bowed his head slightly and walked out of the tent. I packed the few things I had into a small, hole riddled satchel and waited for the Colonel to come back. Tavington emerged from his tent wearing his dragoon uniform with his sabre and pistol sheathed.

He had a small knapsack hung over his shoulder and once he saw me he walked over to me "Are you ready?"

"I guess" I looked down at the floor, realising that I would be further away from my family.

"follow me then" Tavington muttered and offered to take the damaged satchel that I was carrying but I assured him I was alright.

While he was saddling up his horse I looked over and saw Daniel from last night, once he saw me he walked over to me "Good morning Miss Smith"

"And good morning to you too, Captain"

He looked over my shoulder and saw Tavington attaching my satchel to his horse "are you going somewhere?"

"Fort Carolina and then Middleton Place"

"So you won't be coming back here?"

"Hopefully not, I'm only going because he's threatened to kill my family"