Tale of A Widow

The World Was Wide Enough

One-two-three-four-five-six-seven-eight-nine
There are ten things you need to know (number one!)

We rowed across the Hudson at dawn
My friend, William P. Van Ness signed on as my (number two!)

Hamilton arrived with his crew
Nathaniel Pendleton and a doctor that he knew

Thank you, David Hosack, Esper thanked silently.

(number three!)

I watched Hamilton examine the terrain
I wish I could tell you what was happening in his brain
This man has poisoned my political pursuits!

You did that to yourself, Madison glared.

Most disputes die and no one shoots (number four!)

Hamilton drew first position
Looking, to the world, like a man on a mission
This is a soldier with a marksman's ability
The doctor turned around so he could have deniability (five!)

Now I didn't know this at the time
But were near the same spot my (your) son died, is that why?

"We were?" Burr faltered in his anger, a little bit of regret showing in his voice.

(six!)
He examined his gun with such rigor?
I watched as he methodically fiddled with the trigger

Confession time? Here's what I got
My fellow soldiers'll tell you I'm a terrible shot (number eight!)

"You really were, mon ami," Lafayette agreed. Burr merely shrugged.

Your last chance to negotiate
Send in your seconds, see if they can set the record straight

They won't teach you this in your classes
But look it up, Hamilton was wearing his glasses
Why? If not to take deadly aim?

"Probably to see better?" Jefferson pointed out. "In his later life, Alexander didn't have good vision. At all."

"He really didn't," Madison chuckled as Esper nodded in agreement.

It's him or me, the world will never be the same
I had only one thought before the slaughter

"So I do die," Alexander said. It wasn't a question but a clear statement. He knew he was going to die; he just couldn't believe it was at the hands of his first friend-turned-enemy. Jefferson, Madison, Esper, and the children except from Philip and Lilli bowed their heads sadly.

This man will not make an orphan of my daughter (number nine!)

"Your adult daughter?" Madison was pissed. "Esper had kids who had not yet reached the age your daughter was, had not reached the age of sixteen. Did you expect to leave them fatherless? Esper had twins after Alexander was murdered at your hands, Burr."

"Madison, remember, this isn't the Aaron Burr from our time," Jefferson reminded. "However, if our Burr really did think this when he and Alexander met in Weehawken, I wouldn't mind giving him a piece of my mind. For both Alex and Esper's sakes." Madison nodded but sent a glare towards Burr before sitting back.

"Boys, calm down," Esper said. "I understand you're angry at Aaron, believe me, I know, but I forgave him many years ago." Jefferson rolled his eyes.

"The man killed the man you love, angel," Jefferson grumbled. "How on Earth did you forgive that murderer?"

"First of all, this wouldn't be the last time I saw Alexander, don't forget," Esper reminded gently. Jefferson begrudgingly nodded, knowing Esper's belief in the afterlife.