Every Rose Has a Thorn (The Patriot Romance story)

Chapter 20

Clara laid in William's arms, it's been a few days since he had awakened, he was healed a little bit, he wanted to go back to war but he knew damn well that Clara wouldn't allow it. She had forbidden him to go back, at least until he was perfectly healed. She was frightened that he wouldn't come back alive, she couldn't deal with that. She loved him too much to let him risk his life for her and their freedom.

It was in the middle of the night, he felt horrible and guilty for what he was about to do but as he got on his horse and left the house all he could think about was winning this war and living with Clara with a happy life. That was his only motivation for leaving her.

He headed back to camp and everyone greeted him, they were concerned about him coming back so early.

"So, its true," Lord Cornwallis walked up, "You have returned, so early Colonel Tavington."

Tavington turned and finished putting on his uniform, "Well, the sooner we finish this war the better."

"This time, you will wait for my command." Cornwallis ordered in a low voice. Tavington stood up straight but nodded his head to let the older man he understood.

Bordon came into the tent and saw Tavington getting dressed.

"Well, our Colonel is back." Bordon smiled, "Did you tell Clara you were coming back?"

"No," He said shortly, "She'd tie me to the bed and never let me leave."

"She'll be worried."

"She'll be okay." Tavington said, grabbing his sword and pistol, "When this is all over, this will all be distantly forgotten."

"She'll be mad."

"Indeed she will be." Tavington said, putting on his helmet, "Very mad."

Bordon sighed and walked out of the tent, the Green Dragoons waited on their horses patiently, awaiting orders from their Colonel who stepped out, his chin high, he mounted his horse and looked to his men.

"Onward!" The Butcher shouted, the soldiers rode out into the woods. They rode and went into hiding, hours passed and they finally saw Red-Coats and the Continental Army charge at each other. Guns fired, cannons blasted, men screamed in pain.

"Prepare to charge!" Tavington boomed, ordering his men.

"Sir, we haven't been given that order." Wilkins said, his horse moving back and forth.

"Charge!"

The cavalry rode into the battlefield, Tavington swung his saber down below his horse, slashing at the men before him. Blood splattered everywhere, getting all over his uniform. Tavington used one hand to slash at the men and the other to shoot at them with his pistol.

They were all dropping like flies and The Butcher loved every minute of it. The ruthless, cold-hearted man was back.

Lord Cornwallis glared, "Dammit Tavington." He cursed under his breath.

The Green Dragoons rode on, the screams of pain was like music to Tavington's ears, sounded like pigs being slaughtered. Tavington had a blood-lust look in his eyes the whole time, a sadistic smirk on his face.

The army was now terrified, they ran off in fear of the Green Dragoons. Tavington smirked, he knew it wasn't over. The sun was now setting, the battle has been going on for a long time. When the Green Dragoons went back to camp, Tavington was confronted by a furious Lord Cornwallis.

"Next time, when I say, wait for my order." He warned, "Wait. For. My. Order."

Tavington dismounted his horse and looked at his higher-up, "Sir, it was a great victory for England."

"Yes, but as I said before, you serve me, and in which the manner you serve me," He snapped, "Reflects. On. Me. Don't make me send you home."

And with that Cornwallis left. Tavington glared at the Lord and went to a large tent.

A week passed has passed. 

"Benjamin Martin and his Militia will be driving down this road at 3am tomorrow morning," He said, looking at a map with his men, "We'll split up into 4 groups. One group in the front, back, left, and right, we'll have them all surrounded, am I clear?"

"Yes Colonel."

Wilkins stayed behind for a moment and looked at the Colonel, "You just left her there?"

"I left in the middle of the night, she was fast asleep, can't wake her up that easily."

"You don't think she'll come to camp, looking for you?"

"Of course not." Tavington scoffed, "It's a shame doing one's proper duty but the pleasure that comes after is... rather worth it."

Wilkins sighed and looked at the man, before leaving and heading back to his own personal tent.

Tavington headed back to his tent and laid down, mentally preparing himself for the next battle.

Minutes turned into hours, which turned into days, which turned to be weeks, and then, months. He's been away for two months.

Tavington rode on his horse, watched the dead bodies fall, he smirked and wiped the blood from his cheek, he had forgotten all about Clara. After hours he saw men in the distance waving a white flag, fear filled their eyes, they wanted this to end.

They had surrendered the war, red-coats surrounded the colonials, he rode back to camp and went to his tent to clean himself up a little bit. He looked into his mirror and pulled out a straight razor, he dragged it against his cheek to shave the small stubble that grew, he of course, wanted to look nice and clean for when he got home. 

He got on his horse and rode for two hours to get home to his girl. He went to the house, hitched his horse and walked through the gardens, "Clara? Darling?" He called out as he headed to the front door, the house was silent, no one seemed to be around. Aries was there, hitched at the post, dragging his off along the gravel. 

"Anyone home?" He shouted, Clara came storming through the door, a pissed off look plastered her face. Steam blew through her nose like an angry bull. 

And when you mess with the bull, you get the horns. 

 Tavington's body relaxed, "Oh darling, I never thought I'd see this day again."

She strutted over to the man and slapped him across the face, beating at his chest, "You no good! Lying! Horrible!" She beat his chest, "Bastard!" She hit him again, "Piece of shit!"

She continued to beat him, "I thought you were dead! I thought you were gone forever! I thought you were dead William!" She shouted at him, "Where have you been?!"

"Darling you know where've I been." William said, holding her hands, she pulled out of his grasp and slapped him one more time in the face.

He deserved that and he knew it too, "Darling, we won the war, why do you look so upset?"

"You left me! In the middle of the night! For two months!" She said, her voice breaking.

"But I came back, I'm here now!"

"That doesn't matter!" Clara snapped, her eyes watering slightly, she then let tears run down her cheek, flowing like a waterfall, "I thought you had died, you bastard!! Do you know how worried I've been?!"

"It shouldn't matter now!" William snapped back, "I'm here now! And I'm here to stay! Why are you acting like this?! I'm back! It's okay! Why are you so upset at me?!" 

Clara's body shook with pure anger and sadness, she was happy that he was back and in one piece but...

"Because I'm pregnant!"