Heroes - A Short Story Collection

Massacre

The snow fell slowly, softly, huge white flakes that barely frosted the frozen ground like a dusting of powdered sugar. As the sun set lower and lower in the west, the snow fell harder. Twilight fell, the western sky pale blue with a haze of soft purple. The usual busy crowd of people that bustled to and fro on Boston market square thinned as shoppers hurried home eagerly to be greeted by cheerful fires dancing in the hearth.

My breath froze in the cold air, creating little clouds of steam as I hurried to catch up with my husband. I fell in step beside him, withdrawing my stiff, cold fingers from my pocket to take his hand. He smiled at me, his blue eyes sparkling. We were newlyweds, I, seventeen he, nineteen. It was March 5, 1770 and our wedding had been just a short month ago. I was a happy bride, unburdened by struggles even then looming in the path before us.

As we passed the silversmith shop, Mr. Revere called out to us. "Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Davidson!"

Good evening!" we replied.

Mr. Revere was a dear friend of ours, but lately our friendship had been challenged as we learned he had become an ardent Whig.

"Care to stop in for some hot cider?" he asked, his kind eyes twinkling.

"Aye," my husband replied. "Just what we need on a cold day!"

Mr. Revere opened the door wide as welcome waves of heat greeted us almost as warmly as Mr. Revere's wife Rachael. Her young children peeped shyly from behind her skirts as she took our wraps.

"Benjamin! Elizabeth! So good to see you both! Come in and get out of the cold! I'll get the cider."

She stepped over to the wide brick hearth and ladeled steaming, spicy cider from the simmering kettle into pewter mugs.

"So, how goes married life?" Mr. Revere asked as we sat down with our mugs.

"It'll take some getting used to." Ben smiled and I could see the good-natured humor on his face. "It really couldn't be better. Elizabeth here spoils me wtih that delicious cooking of hers." His eyes twinkled as he looked at me over his mug of cider. "I do believe, though, that you could learn a few things about spiced cider from Mrs. Revere."

"You spoke out of turn." I laughed merrily. "I need yet learn many things to become as efficient a housewife as you are, Rachael." I smiled at my dearest friend. Oh, how I wished these dreaded politics had not raised a feeling of tension between us! Though we were all as friendly as ever, we could feel our relationship was strained. The Reveres had become Rebels. I had been shocked when Rachael told me a short while ago. How anyone could be disloyal to the king was beyond me. We couldn't do without the protection of England- our mother country! Yet I tried not to think of our friends' disloyalty as we shared friendly small talk, so unlike our previous deep conversation we now felt uncomfortable with.

Rachael brought out a plate of freshly-baked apple tarts. I bit into one, savoring the crisp flaky texture of the buttery, golden-brown crust and the juicy burst of rich apple and cinnamon flavor.

"Oh, Rachael, these are excellent! I must ask you for..." My sentence remained unfinished as I broke off suddenly and all eyes turned to the window facing the street.

Gruff shouts were heard in the distance as suddenly- all over Boston- bells began to clang. First one, then another, then another joined in till it seemed all the bells in Boston were ringing- sending out a deafening clamor.

"Sounds like trouble." Mr. Revere jumped to his feet and grabbed his coat. "Rachael, stay with the children." He then rushed out the door.

"Really, Elizabeth, we should be going." Ben stood quickly. I could see the worry in Rachael's eyes as she handed me my cloak and muff.

"Elizabeth, you really should stay here!"

"I'm sorry but it would be best if we went home. Thank you so much for your hospitality." I gave my friend a quick hug and followed Ben out to the street were the sparkling white snow was deepening.

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Up ahead, an angry crowd was gathering and we hurried up to see what the trouble was. The mob surrounded an angry group of soldiers who were yelling threats and insults at the increasing group of people.

"Rebels stirring up trouble again," Ben muttered as he pressed closer.

"Don't you dare fire!" A man cried out, his eyes shooting sparks. Others took up the cry, daring, threatening, pleading.

"What's going on?" Ben asked.

"One of these infernal redcoats pushed a helpless old woman and hurt her. Some boys threw snowballs at them- that's all I know." was the hurried and confusing reply.

Suddenly, a volley of gunfire silenced the crowd for only a moment. Women screamed. The crowd scattered. Men fell. Ben suddenly groaned, clutching his bleeding side as he crumpled to the ground at my feet. I too screamed as I fell to my knees in the snow, bending over him. Hot tears streamed down my numb face as I glanced from the soldiers holding their evil, smoking muskets to the prostrate men and blood-red snow. The mob closed in around the soldiers as more troops arrived, surrounding the crowd. All around me, I heard crying. My own cries joined the rest as I stared stricken at my motionless husband.

"Ben? Ben, can you hear me? Ben? Ben!" I buried my face in my hands and sobbed.

Men came through with improvised stretchers to retrieve the dead and dying.

"Massacre!" Someone cried out. "It's a massacre!"

"Five men dead!" One woman close by me whispered. I reached out and felt for Ben's pulse. He was alive! Thank God, he was alive- just wounded. The men with the stretcher came by and carefully lifted my husband. I stood to follow. I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to meet the sympathetic eyes of Paul Revere.

All he said was "How do you think now?"

I knew what he meant. He was asking me whether or not I still held my loyalty to the king. I shook my head numbly.

"I guess I'm a rebel now." I whispered, tears streaming down my cheeks as I hurried to catch up with the men who carried my husband.

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Thank God, he lived! So near death, he recovered miraculously. Never before had I been so filled with joy- happier even than on my wedding day.

Our friendship with the Reveres grew stronger as well as now we held the same views. The king and his soldiers were tyrants. It was time for a change. Revolution hung thick and heavy in the air. The birth of a new nation lay just around the corner.

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