Link To The Past

Chapter Twenty-Five

Thomas kicked his horse in the hind again, trying to go faster. His  brother Gabriel was ahead and so was his father. The cold air stung his  face at the speed he was going with his horse and his eyes watered a bit  because of it, chapping the sides of his eyelids. Benjamin stopped his  horse after a while and his sons stopped, too. The loud sounds of horse  hooves pounding after them had stopped but now it was just them. They  were separated from the rest of the group. "We should head back to the  main camp," said Benjamin. "The others should be there."
"And what if their not?" Asked Gabriel. "What if the British took them captive?"
"Or killed them all?" Thomas added, feeling guilty after saying it.
Benjamin said nothing to answer his son's questions. "Let's head back to the camp." He ordered them.

Indeed  some of the militiamen had made it back to the base camp, but not all  of them were there. Benjamin was quickly informed that they had lost a  few good men, and the rest were taken captive or injured.
"We have to go after them!" Insisted Thomas. "We can't leave them there!"
Benjamin held up a hand to his son. "I know, Thomas. But we can't go running in there without a plan." Everyone agreed to this.
Thomas rolled his eyes. "Of course we need a plan first, but I don't want to waste any time moping around. I'm worried."
"We all are," Gabriel said, placing a hand on his little brother's shoulder.
Benjamin  closed his eyes, thinking. "Thomas, Gabriel. I want you two to head  back to your aunt Charlotte. It's just a day ride from here. If you  leave now you'll make it in time for supper."
"We're not leaving you!" protested Gabriel.
"If  the British army has come this far God only knows how soon they'll  reach your aunt's house. If anything happens I want you two to be there.  As soon as the rest of us come up with a plan I'll send for you."
"But-" Thomas interrupted.
"Son...do as I say," Benjamin ordered. "It's been four months since you've seen your family...and wife."
Thomas  and Gabriel were forced to say good-bye to the militiamen for now but  they would see them again and they would get the rest of the men back.  Thomas would be lying to himself if he wasn't little a happy to be  heading back to aunt Charlotte's. He would be able to hold and kiss  Kristine again.

Aunt Charlotte was  sitting on the front porch with William and Susan, reading to them. The  weather had been clearing up since the winter so it was nice enough to  sit outside and get some fresh air. Charlotte was just about ready to  finish the book when she heard the sound of horses trotting down the  long path to the house.
"Look!" said William. Charlotte closed her  book and turned around to see two familiar faces coming towards them.  "It's Thomas! And Gabriel!" he shouted.
Nathan and Samuel came  running out of the house then and shouted at the same time. "Gabriel!  Thomas!" The children went running to their brothers.
It was a happy  moment for everyone and quiet the surprise. After everyone had as many  hugs as they could give the questions started booming: How are you?  Where did you all go? How is the war going? Is father coming? All  questions were answered, of course, but Thomas and Gabriel spared them  the bad news of the militiamen getting taken captive.

Thomas  looked around, trying to find Kristine, but she was nowhere to be seen.  And neither was Margaret. "Where's Margaret and Kristine?" he asked. No  one said anything. They just stole glances at each other and smiled.  Suddenly, Thomas looked up at the house seeing Margaret walking out and  holding the door open for one final person. Everyone stepped to the side  then as Thomas laid eyes on his wife as she walked out the door. He  started running to her as she slowly descended down the front porch  steps but stopped as he noticed a slight bump under his wife's dress.  Thomas stopped for a second and then ran the rest of the way, bringing  Kristine into a warm embrace, careful not to squeeze her too hard.

It  was a beautiful moment as everyone was together again(besides Benjamin  but everyone understood). Their father was right, too, they had returned  just before supper and were able to gather around the table like a  family again and enjoy a hot meal. Samuel and Nathan were still up to  their old tricks and William and Susan had grown some and even started  reading on their own a little. Margaret was a great teacher.
Gabriel  then cleared his throat, the room grew silent. "We can't stay for long."  he finally told them. "Father sent us back to see how you were all  doing." He smiled. "I'm very grateful that you're all okay."
"Thank  you, Gabriel," said Aunt Charlotte. "We appreciate you and Thomas riding  all the way here. We pray for you all every day."
Kristine then  grabbed Thomas's hand and the two locked eyes. "I'm grateful, too," she  said. Thomas held up Kristine's hand and gave it a tender kiss, not  caring that everyone else could see. Of course, the little one's giggles  while aunt Charlotte, Gabriel, and even Margaret stole glances at each  other, smiling.

That night Kristine sat up in her and Thomas's  room, looking out the window and gazing up at the stars. The stars were  so much brighter here. Perhaps it was because of the fact that there was  no electricity, so the stars were able to shine as bright as they  wanted without being overshadowed by city lights.
Thomas joined her  in the room soon after, taking his vest off and then his belt, letting  off that pressure from his stuffed belly. "What's the matter?" he asked  his wife as she continued to look out the window.
"Hmm? Oh...nothing. I was just admiring the stars."
Thomas  joined her by the window then and placed his warm hands on her  shoulders. He bent down and kissed her cheek. "I've missed you," he  whispered in her ear.
Kristine giggled. "Stop that. It tickles."
"What? You mean this?" and he blew in her ear.
"Ah!  Exactly that, Thomas Martin!" And she gave him a playful smack to the  arm. Thomas placed his hands on the back of the chair and moved it,  turning Kristine to face him. "Whoa! Thomas be careful!" Kristine  gasped. She laughed then and so did he.
Thomas bent down and placed a loving hand on her belly, getting a good feel. "This is our son," he said softly.
Kristine smirked. "What makes you think it's a boy, hmm?"
"I just know." Thomas grinned. He then pressed his ear to her belly, listening closely, but he heard nothing. "How far along?"
Kristine rolled her eyes and smiled down at Thomas. "How long do you think? Four months. It's a honeymoon baby."
"Have you thought of any names?" he asked her.
Kristine shook her head. "No. Not really. I wanted to make that decision with you."
It was decided then. Thomas and Kristine would come up with a name together.

That  night as the two lay in bed, Kristine listened to the howling of the  wind trying to get in through the windows. The moon was so bright you  could almost see everything in the room. Kristine placed a hand on  Thomas's face; he had not quite fallen asleep yet as he looked at her  with tired eyes and a silly grin. "When do you have to go?" she asked.
It took Thomas a moment to respond. "Father will send for us. I'm counting on a few days at least."
"Just a few?" Kristine was disappointed. She hoped for at least a few weeks.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize." and she kissed him on the nose. "I love you."
Thomas smiled. "I love you, too." and he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her back.