Every Rose Has a Thorn (The Patriot Romance story)

Chapter 13

Tavington had to leave early in the morning for another meeting with Lord Cornwallis, it was now in the beginning of December, snow had covered the camp and it was rather beautiful. Clara got up and got dressed in her warmest clothes, she left the tent and headed to the woods.

"Where are you going?" Bordon asked, tackling her with a hug. Clara squealed and hugged her best friend back.

"Follow me and I'll show you." She grinned, they headed to the river which was completely frozen over.

"What are you doing?" Bordon asked as Clara stepped onto the ice, she took off running and slid across.

"It's called having fun! You should try it!" She laughed, her breath showing as she spoke. Bordon cautiously stepped onto the slippery frozen water, stumbling. She moved over and grabbed his hands.

"Just slide across." She showed him how to skate across the ice. He followed her steps and stared up at her.

"Like this?"

"Yeah!" Clara clapped her hands together in excitement.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah!" Clara spun around on the ice, they both continued to skate across the ice, laughing and having a good time.

"Me and my siblings did this all the time when winter came around!" She giggled while skating across the ice. Snow started to fall down more.

"This is rather fun!" Bordon exclaimed, a bright smile on his face.

"I told you!" She laughed, they continued for a long time. Bordon nearly forgot that there was a war going on. They kept skating on the ice but stopped when they heard a crack.

"I believe we should get off now." Captain Bordon said in a quiet voice, Clara nodded her head and they both moved to get off, Bordon turned and got back on the shore.

"That was fun while it lasted huh Clara?"

....

"Clara?"

....

Bordon turned and saw a hole in the ice, he froze and raced towards the hole, he reached inside and felt around for the fallen girl, he got into the freezing water and dove under to look for her, he saw her and pulled her up and onto the ice, he grabbed her and dragged her along to the shore, gently. He picked her up, he was shivering himself but he knew this was about Clara, she needed to be okay. He picked her up in a princess carry and carried her back to camp and to the medic tent where two nurses were working.

"Miss Malfoy! Miss Carmel! Miss Jolie" Bordon shouted, urging the two women to come over, "She fell through ice and needs instant medical attention."

"What about you Captain?" Malfoy said, tilting her head to the side. Bordon waved his hand.

"I'll be fine, just take care of her." He said and left, the girls lifted Clara onto a bed and wrapped her up in warm blankets and lit a few candles to keep her warm.

About an hour later, Clara woke up.

"Thank the heavens you're awake." Carmel said with a smile, Jolie walked up to Clara and placed a warm cloth on her forehead, "How do you feel?"

"I'm cold."

"I figured as much." Jolie muttered, causing Malfoy to elbow her in the side, "Ow dammit."

Clara groaned, "My body feels sore."

"Well, you did fall in negative 20 degrees water so-" Jolie got elbowed in the ribs again, this time by Carmel, "STOP THAT!"