Link To The Past

Chapter Thirty-Four

It was still another twenty minutes before the sun would appear when Thomas gently shook Kristine awake. She mumbled and fussed in her sleep, not wanting to get up.
"Kristine, wake up. We have to leave." Thomas whispered in her ear. He had been up for the last forty minutes getting things ready; tip-toeing around the room was a skill he had mastered.

Finally, when Kristine still refused to get up, Thomas smothered her with kisses. Kristine laughed and pushed Thomas away, still refusing to open her eyes. She mumbled and moaned and flipped on to her side, one hand holding her belly. There was little time to spare, but these precious moments were few and far between. Thomas gave into temptation and allowed himself a few extra minutes with his wife in bed. He cradled her from behind, nuzzling his nose against the back of her head, her hair soft. Her rubbed her belly first and then locked his fingers with hers.
"Thomas..." It was faint but there was a hint of longing—desire—the way she said his name. She craned her neck to look at him through sleepy eyes. He was a dark figure to her but she could still make out some of his strongest facial features: nose, chin, eyes...
She pursed her lips, planting a kiss on him. Thomas held the back of her head and deepened the kiss, appreciating her sudden vigor to have him.

No matter much Thomas wanted to make love to her, the sudden knock on the door caused him to regain his self control and slip from Kristine's loving arms.

Mr. Howard was at the door, small candle in hand.
"Are you ready?"
Thomas nodded. "Yes, just give us a minute more and we'll be right out." He glanced down at the candle. "Put that out. I don't want any signs of us moving. We'll travel by moonlight. And the sun will be up soon, so no need for flames."
Mr. Howard did not argue. He simply licked his thumb and finger and pinched the life from from the fire. "You have one minute." He said and walked away.
Thomas sighed and closed the door. He turned to see Kristine sitting in bed. Her bed-head was a sign of how hard she slept.
"Let's not waste anymore time." He grabbed Kristine's boots and set them on the floor next to her as she dangled her legs over the bed.
"I wouldn't call that wasting time, would you?" She gave him half a grin as she was still trying to wake up.
Thomas double checked his and Kristine's bags. "Absolutely not." He agreed. "But with the British on their way, it's best not to test our limits."
Once Kristine finished dressing, she put on her boots, brushed her hair and tied it back.
"Put this on, too." Thomas wrapped a shawl around her shoulders. "Mornings are chilly." And he kissed her forehead.

They were ready now and the five of them, Mr. Howard, his wife, Anne, Kristine and Thomas, met up with the others outside. There were four different groups, all of them taking a certain amount of the towns people with them. No one was happy about waking up this early, but they were more scared than anything else. Each group went in different directions: north, south, east, and west. Militiamen would be waiting for them there, meanwhile, someone offered to stay behind and hide. A signal would be made when it was safe to return.
"Fire," One of the militiamen started. "The signal will be a fire. Make it big enough to be seen from three miles away."
"No, too risky." Thomas cut in. "What if the British start a fire?" He knew from Kristine telling him that the church was set aflame, but would they still do the same if everyone was gone? This was information Thomas had to keep to himself.
"Then what do you suggest?"
"Definitely not a fire." He thought for a moment. "Would three others Offer to stay behind?" Once the British left, there would be no need to signal anything, because those who stayed behind would be the ones to fetch the others.
"I'll stay," said a man
"I will, too." A young boy, maybe fifteen, offered his help.
"Anyone else?" Thomas looked around, desperate. They were running out of time. When no one stepped forward, Thomas said, "I will, then."
Kristine was quick to grab his arm and squeeze. "What do you think you're doing?" She kept her voice to a whisper but Thomas could tell she was none too happy with him.
Thomas grasped his wife's hands. "It won't be forever."
"You don't know that." Her eyes searched his face for any doubt he might've had with his decision, and when she could find none, she sighed, head bowed.
Thomas lifted her chin to look at him. "We will see each other again, I promise." He looked at Anne. "Take good care of her, please."
"Of course." Anne took hold of Kristine's hand and gave her a comforting smile.