Every Rose Has a Thorn (The Patriot Romance story)

Chapter 10

(TW)

"Yes, my lord," Tavington began, "But to imply such a strategy would require... brutal tactics as you put it."

"Colonel Tavington, everything you do falls back on me!" Cornwallis snapped, getting impatient. 

"My lord, I understand that but what you're asking is impossible without some stressed tactics." Tavington said, folding his hands behind his back. 

"And I understand you've taken a girl from her family a few weeks ago?" 

"Yes sir but-" 

"Tavington I am at my wits end with you, you think I don't know what the local men are calling you? The Butcher! Colonel William The Butcher Tavington!" 

"Sir." 

"Do you know how badly that reflects on me? Do you?" 

"My lord, I understand but the girl is rather... helpful around camp, she cooks, she knows how to sew clothes, the soldiers love her there." 

"Colonel-" Lord Cornwallis was cut off by Captain Wilkins busting through the door, panting and a stressed look on his face. 

"I apologize Lord Cornwallis," He bows, "Colonel Tavington, there's been an accident at camp. You must come right away."

"Pardon, my Lord." Tavington bows and turns to Wilkins, "What is-"

"It's Miss White." Wilkins says, still gasping for breath, Tavington's eyes widen, his heart stops for a minute, and he turns to Lord Cornwallis.

"I deepy am sorry, my Lord but I am needed back at the camp." Cornwallis takes a deep breath and dismisses the two men, rubbing his temple in annoyance. 

"That man..." He grumbles, looking out the window at the two men leaving the mansion. He turns back and sighs, shaking his head, "Something else, that one. He's going to get me in trouble one day..." 

The both members of the Green Dragoons get on their horses and ride back to camp. Tavington shuts his eyes tight at the sound of female screams of pain and agony filling his ears. He cringes as they ride up close.

Tavington digs his heels into the horse's side as he sees Clara tied to the pole, on her knees, being whipped. He leaps off his horse and grabs the man who was hurting his girl, he sucker-punches him across the face, breaking his jaw, knocking him to the ground, and kicking the man in the chest, surely breaking a good few of his ribs. 

"How fucking dare you touch her!" He shouts, grabbing the man by his hair and pulling him up, "You have no right to touch her ever! Do you understand?" He screams at the man, spit flying from his mouth. His face was a perfect shade of red that could be described as the color of a tomato. He threw the man to the ground and spit on man, he stared at the red-coats who stared in fear.

"That goes for all of you too, if I find out any of you have laid a single finger on this girl," He snapped, "I will personally make sure to prohibit your breathing, now get the fuck out." He glances over to Clara who's back was stripped off her clothes, red marks were torn and ripped into her skin, bleeding profusely.

Everyone quickly scattered, the only color Tavington saw was red, "Bordon." He ordered, "Untie Clara and take her to the medic, gently."

After taking a few deep breaths, he turned to Wilkins, "What happened?"

"She," Wilkins paused and looked at the man who was barely breathing on the ground, "She killed a red-coat sir, gouged his eye out with a sewing needle."

"What?"

"She wasn't given any time to explain what exactly happened before she was tied and started to be beaten."

"Lord have mercy." Tavington grumbled and took off his helmet, wiping his forehead from sweat, "Take that man to the medics and make sure he's still breathing."

Tavington took a deep breath and walked to the medic tent, he saw Clara laying on her back, the sounds of her in pain as the doctor dressed her wounds, cleaning them up.

He knelt in front of her and petted her hair, noticing her busted lip and bruise under her eyes. Clara looked at him, tears rolling down her face from the pain.

"Shhh, it's okay. I'm here now, you're okay." He whispered, continuing to pet her head. She gritted her teeth in pain as the doctor wrapped her body up in bandages.

"Nothing's infected, make sure she lays on her stomach for a few nights until it at least scabs over."

Tavington nods and kisses her forehead, "What happened?"

"I was at the river, washing my clothes, and a soldier came up to me and he- he-"

Tavington wiped her tears and gave her a sad look, "He tried to rape me... He had ripped my clothes and I fell and I hurt my head on a rock and he pinned me down and I grabbed a needle and stabbed him in the eye and I ripped it out, he got mad and started to unbuckle his belt, I grabbed his pistol and shot him out of fear."

Clara started to shake and let more tears fall down, Tavington kissed her forehead again and let a tear fall down himself.

"It's okay, he's gone, no one is going to hurt you anymore, not while I'm around, okay?"

She nodded her head slowly, Tavington moved to pick her up, careful not to hurt her or cause her any more pain. He laid her down on her cot and sat down next to her, petting her hair as she winced in pain every now and then. Clara moved to sit up and scooted toward her lover, he kissed her lips softly and stroked her hair softly, being very soft and gentle with her. 

"I love you William." She whispered, Tavington reached behind him and grabbed a simple silver chain with a locket. Inside was a small portrait of him and her in it.

"It's for when I'm away so you don't get too lonely."

"I love it." She says with a big smile on her face, putting it around her neck. She opens up the locket and stares at the picture, "Who drew this?"

"I did." Tavington turned red for a moment, Clara grins and closes the small heart. She pulls him in and kisses his cheek, "I love you so much." He whispers. 

"It's beautiful, shame they call you the Butcher, you should be called the Painter or something," She giggles. Tavington laughed and held her close to him.

"Nothing is ever going to hurt you while I'm around, okay? Nothing, I'm going to protect you even if it costs me my life."