Freedom's Horizon (WLW) (Full Trilogy - Ongoing/Editing)

Book Two: Part Four: Chapter Nineteen

July 1747, Grand Cayman Island

Genny was mid-stride on the beach before she felt it. She collapsed and the gasps of her family around her filled the air as her face hit the sand. What was this? Exhaustion? Depleting fear? She felt gentle hands roll her over onto her back and soothing caresses along her cheeks as her breath heaved. Exhaustion. That was definitely what this was and of no use to her family. She had to get up and--

"No!" Ines commanded and she shoved her back to the sand upon her attempt to sit up, making her huff her long red locks out of her face. Ines cupped her cheek and ran her thumb beneath her eye with a sorrowful gaze. "When was the last time you slept, my sweet Genevieve?"

"Four days at least." Margaret answered from her other side and she craned her neck to glance around herself.

To her left knelt Margaret with a very disheveled Dawn at her side. She wore nothing more than a chemise and breeches and ran her hands over Genny's body, most likely checking for nonexistent wounds. To her right sat Ines, brushing her hair from her eyes as she ran hers all over her face. It was as if she was committing all of Genny's features to memory, or rather, that she was reaffirming what she already knew of her appearance. Genny took her hand and cradled it against her chest, pulling her from her appraisal.

"I'm alright."

"No, you ain't." Dawn chimed in and they both looked at her as she grew irritated, crossing her arms over her chest. "You want to be of some real help? Get some rest here while we venture ahead for the children. And eat this."

She handed Genny some fruit, then stood and moved toward the nearby jungle's outskirts where she registered Esme, Aimee and Felipe stood.

"I can't just stay here and--"

"You can and you will." Margaret interrupted as she got to her feet and looked in the direction of the overgrowth. "You're no good to us so decrepit and we can't waste the time it would take for you both to recover."

"Us both?" Genny panned her eyes over toward Ines and found dark circles surrounding hers. "Are you still in pain?"

"No, not at all, but I am a might sleepy."

"You two rest and we will get the children." Margaret explained as she moved to join the others. "We will return soon and the others will also arrive any time. Keep your eyes on the horizon."

With that, Margaret joined the others and Genny looked out at the ocean, willing the remainder of the family to arrive as she spotted Ricky monitoring their dinghy. Luckily, this part of the island appeared less inhabited, only bearing fisherman and other local workers along its shores. Where they remained, Genny could spot men working in several directions, though they paid them no mind as they went about their various tasks. She turned her gaze toward Ricky once more and found him searching the coast through an arched, strained brow as his leg bounced against the boat beside himself.

"Is Cameron with the others?"

"I can't be sure. None of us know who stayed with the others for sure as some of us could have been scattered far apart, but no matter what," Ines placed her head in her lap and ran her fingers along the side of her neck, coaxing her further toward sleep with each loving caress. "We will be reunited. Now sleep. We will need our strength for what's ahead."

* * *

Esme trudged through the jungle with the others until they found something that stuck out like a sore thumb. Or more to the point, someone. Several people stood in a small clearing with muskets hanging on their shoulders as they paced around the area in unison. This had to be it. Taking Aimee's hand in her own, she led her and the others closer and they watched the men from the safety of some nearby bushes. Parting the densely green limbs from her view, Esme ran her eyes over each of the three men and noted their weapons.