Fields Run Red

Chapter 2

"August 23rd, 1786

The day is here at last! Tonight, we hold our grand celebration! We invited so many prominent families from different states - it would be impossible for Jonathan to be unable to find a woman! Oh, I'm so relieved. My son will find himself a wife and our family's legacy will be complete. Thomas and Jonathan will split our estate when his father and I pass and they can pass their land onto their children and their children's children. Ah, it's almost time! I must hurry or I'll miss the arrivals! I'll surely write about how wonderful it was afterwards!

Sarah Elliot."

Once again, I haphazardly tossed my writing utensil onto the desk and rushed to become presentable. I was so engrossed in my fantasizing that I'd forgotten to get ready to attend the actual party. Not only were wealthy families in attendance but I had also invited the family of several political figures! Oh, I would be so pleased if they could attend! Smiling to myself, I quickly finished up my preparations and headed out to the courtyard of my husband's plantation. It was nice enough for a party - a little empty but the grass was well-grown and there were some trees for shade. I had ordered some slaves to decorate said trees with some minor decorations, enough to make the area feel pleasant but not enough to be noticed explicitly.

I was pleased to notice my two sons were already there, standing on opposite sides of their father. For all of his roughhousing, at least Jonathan remembered to be punctual. I went over to join them in waiting for the first guests to arrive. Thomas's wife was coming later with her parents but I wasn't sure how many of the Havershims were coming. Either way, it didn't matter. I was certain there would be plenty in attendance. Sure enough, not ten minutes after I'd come to that conclusion, our courtyard was beginning to fill with patrons of wealthy and/or political families. By ten after the hour, almost all who were invited had arrived and I noticed quite a few lovely women wandering about the crowd.

Smiling to myself, I leaned over to Jonathan's ear and whispered, "Go on now. Introduce yourself to some of those lovely ladies over there. It's about time you find someone more.. permanent." He gave me a sideways glance, possibly showing he wasn't all that pleased. Frankly, I did not care in the slightest. It was about time for him to learn some responsibility and if he didn't appreciate what I'd done for him, he could deal with his father. In the meantime, I left my family to go and speak to some of the attendees of my event, starting with a family I only partially knew. I recognized the mother from another gathering I'd attended only several months ago.

"Hello! It's Mrs. Rockwell, yes?" I questioned as I approached, offering the younger lady a smile. She appeared to be only a few years from my age but she looked so much more youthful than I. I was well aware of my well-worn body but I tried not to mind it all that much. The woman I was speaking to responded and that silenced my train of thought for a moment; she said, "Hello again. We met at that one banquet, didn't we? You've thrown such a nice party!" I chuckled at that and nodded my head. "Yes, we did. That's very kind of you to say. I'm glad you're enjoying it," I responded in kind. I really was pleased to hear that she was having a good time so far.

So far, anyways. Not long after I'd finished my response to Mrs. Rockwell, I heard heavy footsteps approaching the courtyard. Naturally, I was worried so I moved towards the front of the crowd to see who was approaching. "You can't stop us! You never will!" I heard someone shout at the top of their lungs, though I still could not see who it was. Not only that but seconds later, I heard a new voice yell, "Stop him before he escapes!"

And then I saw him. A skinny man crested the hill on which our home sat and burst through the open gate. He was wearing a coat of red, eerily like the British soldiers had worn during the revolutionary war and.. was that a firearm? Before I - or anyone else, actually - could process just what was going on, the stranger raised his weapon and fired it into the crowd without warning. "Death to the turncoats!" the red-coated man screamed just before getting tackled to the ground by the local authorities who had been pursuing him. From inside the crowd, I heard someone cry out between all the guests who, unsurprisingly, were running for their lives.

I could only stand there, fear-stricken, attempting to process just what had happened in the past minute of my life. That was the minute my life was changed irreversibly; and not for the better. I only began to come to my senses when most of the crowd had cleared out but I found myself unable to turn around to see who it was. The fact that it could've just been a minor wound and that they were fine did not cross my mind nor did the fact that someone merely cried out in horror and not pain. I was afraid, more so than I had been in our worst moment financially. It wasn't until the town's Deputy approached me and attempted to get my attention. "Madam. Madam, how are you fairing? Madam, can you hear?" he insisted and I felt him take hold of my shoulders and shake me lightly.

Eventually, I responded with a feeble nod and he backed off. For what reason, I wasn't sure at that time but when I finally turned around, I understood. Some part of me had known who it was - the mere fact that they hadn't come over to me since the crowd had dispersed had given me a clue. The others had come over like I'd expected them to but none had said a word. But, now I understand. I understand that it must have been the will of God to take him from me so soon because if not for God, why else would he be taken from this earth? However, in that very moment, after the tragedy, I could not understand. I could not fathom why he was ripped from my arms on what was supposed to be a wonderful night. I could not stop myself from rushing to his fallen side and wrapping my arms around his body just to feel what was left of his warmth. I cared not for trivial things like getting his blood in my hair or on my dress nor how I must've looked, so desperate and heartbroken. I could only arrest him with my tears, sobbing into his bloodied chest.