A Woman of Respect

4

["No. Delilah. Get your father and tell him to come to the tree. After, I want you to go straight to the Howards. Ok? I don't want you getting hurt either!" She shouted. I was scared by her sudden change in voice so I just nodded. Before I left, I put my straw bracelet on her wrist and kissed her head.]

It was nearly dawn by now. We definitely had more than 40 soldiers that we were taking care of. Blue and Red Coat alike. It was hectic. The soldier who I was helping said "Ma'am I do believe there is a fellow looking for you." I looked behind me and saw Gabriel buttoning up his shirt. He was looking around trying to find somebody. I looked back at the soldier and said "Thank you. Now you get feeling better. You better not be dead when I come back ok?" He chuckled and said "I will sure try miss." I smiled at him and stood up making my way over to Gabriel. 

"Hey you're awake? How do you feel? Do you need water or anything?" He put his hands on my shoulders and said "Delilah. I'm fine. I just need you to get some sleep. I have been told you have been up all night. I can take your spot." I smiled and said "As kind as that is, I don't think that will be necessary. I am wide awake and still willing to help. Can I look at your wound?" He nodded and lifted up his shirt a little bit. I examined the freshly wrapped slash. "Did you do this yourself?" He smiled and said "Yes. I can help myself sometimes you know right?" I stood back upright and said "I never doubted you couldn't." 

He was looking behind me and I followed his gaze. I turned around just as I heard the sound of grumbling. Well pounding on the ground. There were horses. A lieutenant hopped off his horse and looked around in pity at all of the soldiers. Gabriel was avoiding his gaze. The lieutenant walked up the stairs and towards Gabriel. Luckily Benjamin was behind him. Benjamin spoke up "Can we help you, Lieutenant?" 

"Thank you for caring for the King's soldiers. It is deeply appreciated."  

We heard more horses. These ones looked less friendly than the group the lieutenant was with. They made their way up to the porch and took a long look around. Finally, the man at the front said in a vigorous British accent "What is this?" The lieutenant said "These people were kind enough to take care of our soldiers." The man on the horse replied "Take our men to the surgeons." 

"What of the other soldiers sir?" 

"Kill them."

The Lieutenant looked at the ground and said quietly "Oh, Yes sir." And he nodded at the other soldiers. They were firing at the colonials. When they were done,  Another soldier came running out of the house. He was carrying a leather bag with him. He said to the man upon the horse "Reble communications sir." He handed him the bag stepped away bowing his head. The man shouted "Who carried these?" No one answered. He raised his voice "Who carried these!" Gabriel stepped down and said "I did sir. I was wounded and these people took me in and cared for me. They have nothing to do with this." He nodded and said "Take him. He shall be held as a spy." 

Just then, Benjamin leaped forward saying "Sir, he is only a messenger, he can't be held as a spy." The RedCoat smirked and said "We aren't going to hold him, we are going to hang him. Do I need to teach you a lesson?" He cocked his gun and pointed it at Benjamin. Gabriel struggled and quietly said "Father!" The Red Coat heard him and looked back at Ben. He said "Oh. I see. He is your son. Well then, perhaps your children should learn the lesson." He pointed the gun in our direction. Abigail and I pushed the kids behind us. 

"No lesson is needed sir. Just the rules of the wa-" He was cut off. "The rules of the war are no more. He is a spy and that is that. Now. Get the livestock, burn the barn, and torch the house. You should know that if you help soldiers from the other side, you will lose your home." I was debating whether or not to say something. But still, being reckless intersected." I said "Sir, with all due respect-" I was cut off by him jumping off his horse. He walked towards me. "Well, what do we have here? You don't seem to have a resemblance to these people." I said "No sir. I am not a relative. How ever, it was my idea to help your soldiers. If anyone should lose their life it is me." I looked down to the ground not wanting to make eye contact with him. 

He gently lifted my chin up with his finger and said "We take this one too." I looked back at Gabriel and I said "Sir. Please. Let him go and let this family go. Everything was my idea!" He put his hand up to silence me and said "You both will be coming with us. We are not holding you as prisoners. We are hanging you for treason." Two soldiers came behind me and grabbed my arms. I struggled against them. Gabriel looked at his father while he was getting taken to the back of a wagon. I looked to Benjamin and said "I am so sorry. I said I would protect your family." I was getting taken to the back of the wagon as well. 

A soldier held Gabriel's and I's hands down while another soldier bound our hands in front of us. I heard Thomas say "Father! Do something!" Ben said firmly "Thomas. Stay there." I saw the anger in his eyes. He wanted revenge. I looked the same when I the RedCoats had taken my family. He didn't want to listen to his father so that's what he did. He ran. He pushed the soldiers over and yelled "GABRIEL RUN!" Benjamin looked back but it was already too late. The Col. had shot Thomas in the back. "NO!" Gabriel yelled. The Col. said coldly "Stupid boy." 

He gestured for the soldiers to leave and Gabriel and I were pulled away to be executed.