Forever Young Birth Of A Nation (45 page)

He gently moved her hair to one side and
tenderly kissed her neck while stroking her hair slowly. “Ah, lass,
I am so happy and so content with you in my life. I want that for
James too. He is a fine friend and would make her a fine husband.
They go together well, don’t you think?”

“They do. Why don’t you show me how much you
love me? After all, we have been traveling all day long and
visiting all evening. I have forgotten already.”

“Well, I thought that I would wash your hair
first” he said as he nibbled on her ear and slowly kissed her neck
up and down while caressing her very slowly. She reflexively arched
her back and began to squirm a bit, laughing as she said “Mmmm… I
think… ahhh… it is coming back to me now. Ohhh… yes it is!
Mmmm!

He scooped her up and snatching two towels
he had her in their room at vampire speed as laughing, they toweled
each other dry and fell into their bed.

The next morning, James and Melissa arrived
in their carriage, knocking on the door as Ian was getting ready to
empty their bathtub. Moon Owl answered the door and seeing Melissa
standing there with James she smiled brilliantly, taking both of
her hands. “Good morning you two” she said as she drew her in,
embracing her and kissing her cheek. Holding Melissa’s shoulders
gently she lovingly gazed into her eyes, and then took her hands
and drew her to the sofa.

After greetings the four sat down and looked
at each other with expectant smiles. Finally Melissa spoke, saying
“I’m doing it. How would you two like to help me
imprint
?”

***

Rebecca walked along through the produce
market, hand in hand with Stuart. She had never been happier, even
when with Ian
. It is strange, but I could easily love Stuart or
his brother. I wonder how that can be
she thought. They stopped
to look at some cabbage and she momentarily put her head on his
shoulder as he picked up two heads to inspect. He loved having her
at his side and made all manner of excuses to take her anywhere in
New York City just to spend time with her. The time they had spent
together at the Gala had been especially wonderful for both of
them.

Laura and Sheriff’s Deputy Lucas Ross
accompanied them, arm in arm. The four strolled along casually as
young people in love often do, talking about nothing in particular,
but cherishing the time spent together.

Cosette, Thelma, and Merriam brought up the
rear, talking about the war and comparing what each had heard while
being separated at the last market.

Thelma said “You know, Major James Rogers
Clark took Vincennes on the frontier. It is said that the British
have been paying many of the Iroquois nation tribes for every scalp
they bring to Fort Detroit.” Cosette looked at her with shock as
she continued “They do not care if the scalps are men, women, or
children.”

Cosette exclaimed “My God! That is brutal
beyond belief! Those people out there know nothing about the
grievances that the colonies have with the crown. They are only
settlers trying to build homesteads and raise their children.”

Thelma continued “And down in the southern
colonies Colonel Tarleton has repeatedly slaughtered those who have
laid down their arms and surrendered. He is a butcher of the worst
character. The Hessian mercenaries have been known to do that too.
You can see that this will only end one way can’t you? There can be
no negotiated settlement now. One side or the other must surrender
formally for it to be over.”

Nodding, Cosette thought
will this war
never end? Where are you now, Ian?

Unobserved, a petite brunette in a clean but
tattered dress and a worn bonnet with a very large brim seemed to
be browsing among the produce. She had well-worn gloves and kept
her head down against the glare of the direct sunlight that day.
Skillfully she stayed within earshot of the group, listening raptly
to them talking, but mostly listening for what Cosette might say.
The market made for the ideal place to do this, being that the
crowded conditions masked her presence.

You are a master Adept Cosette. Look at the
way you blend in with these humans effortlessly. Cosette; that is a
French name. Were you mentored in France? Your people must still be
in Europe. You must love your mate very much to come so far to find
him. What is it like to love someone that way? I wish I knew. Do I
dare approach you? It would have to be at nighttime. Why were you
wearing that black suit and why the sword? Where did you ever learn
to use a sword so well? I want to know everything about you. Could
I become like you? Why do you care so much for humans?

A well-dressed man ventured near Cosette,
looking at implements. As Cosette’s group passed by he seemed to
accidentally knock over a display containing some twelve garden
hoes in front of Cosette’s group. Being as he was holding a small
package of produce, he excused himself and asked if Cosette would
hold his package. He stooped and gathered up the implements and
restored them to their place. As he thanked Cosette, he reached and
took back his package, slipping her a small scrap of paper. Tipping
his hat to her with a congenial smile he spun on his heel and
departed from the market, walking rapidly eastward.

Unnoticed by Priscilla, a large man with a
broad-brimmed hat and well-worn gloves watched her from across the
street at a fish market.
Aren’t you the busy little spy now,
Priscilla? Look at you eavesdropping on those humans so well. No
wonder Yvonne likes you so much. You are the hardest worker among
us no doubt. What do I care about working for Yvonne though? I want
to bed you and that is all that I can think about lately. I would
just take you but I know what Yvonne and Grundy will do to me if I
do that! I will bide my time. Those two may go away together after
we kill this McCloud fellow. Then you will be mine or else…
thought Bartholomew as he fantasized further, becoming aroused at
his thoughts.

Oliver Tarrant whistled a tune as he headed
home from the Green Dragon Tavern and Inn. His apartment was not
but three blocks distant from the Tavern and he was tired from an
evening in the kitchen and helping the wenches carry out orders to
the customers. He was still pondering one order in particular that
he had carried to a table where a stunning red-haired woman sat
with a morose-looking man who had a silver hook in lieu of his
right hand. Trying not to stare, nonetheless he could not but
notice that she was an exotic looking beauty. Appearing to be
bored, she gazed about the place as if searching for a familiar
face, as did her companion.

She had looked at him and looked away, and
then had looked again and had actually smiled at him. He could
still recall the feeling of being singled out for even a smile from
such a beauty, and could not but hope that she would return some
night soon without the man with the hook on his arm. A nice looking
young man of twenty years, he was lean and fit looking, with pale
blonde hair and sharp hazel colored eyes, around five-foot ten
inches tall, and maybe around one hundred sixty pounds. Used to
being lucky with the ladies and beyond friendly with three of the
wenches at the place, he was a happy-go-lucky young man with a
steady job in one of the busiest establishments in New York City.
If asked, he would have to say that life was good, war or no
war.

As he ran up the long set of stairs to his
flat, he had just reached his door when his peripheral vision
caught movement on the stairs. Alarmed he whirled and changed his
stance to one of being ready to fight. To his astonishment, the
very same beautiful redhead he had seen at the tavern that night
was coming up the steps, seeming to flow toward him like water. On
her face, he could just make out a mysterious smile and her emerald
eyes almost had a glow about them.

Stopping some three steps below the landing
she said “Why Oliver! Look at your face! You would think that I was
a monster instead of a woman.”

“I… I did not mean to stare… ma’am.”

Coming up another step she replied “I don’t
mind being ogled by a handsome fellow like you. It pleases me,
Oliver.”

“You… you will have to excuse me, ma’am. I
do not know your name.”

“I am Yvonne, Oliver and I have a very good
reason for following you here tonight.”

Still he stood staring as she smiled gently
in the moonlight, saying “”Aren’t you going to ask me to come
in?”

“Oh… uhm… yes, yes. Please excuse me… Yvonne
is it?”

She nodded as she seemingly glided up the
last two steps to stand facing him. He caught a faint scent of
something akin to apple blossom as he continued to stare at her,
seemingly in thrall.

Tipping her head a bit, she smiled again,
quizzically as she raised her eyebrows. Realizing he was expected
to say something he stammered “I… you must excuse me, Yvonne. I
don’t know… I am not used to… what… uhm… won’t you please come
in?”

“Why Oliver, I would love to” she said as he
turned and fumbled with the door lock. Opening it he stood back and
gestured to her as she said “I thought you might never get that
door opened” as he followed her inside. Closing the door he turned
to her and said “What is it you want, Yvonne?”

She glided ever so near then, her eyes
taking on an emerald glow as she said “You.”

***

Cosette sat at the exact table in the
Waterfront Inn and Tavern that the note had specified and sipped a
cup of coffee, seemingly idly staring out of the window looking
onto a busy wharf.

She was aware of footsteps approaching from
her rear and heard a chair at the next table dragged out and
someone seating their self.

A barely audible voice spoke then “Good day,
Cosette. Please do not turn around. I am Samuel Culper Jr. and I
have a good report on you from Anna Strong. I have something that
needs to go to her soon, in Setauket. Can you carry it there for
me?”

“Yes Mr. Culper. I know where to take
it.”

“Very well. You will be number 355 from now
on. Anna Strong is 355 also, as are all women employed in espionage
for the Continental Army. In Setauket there is a Samuel Culper Sr.
who you will meet this time and in the future. You do understand
that these papers are not to fall into the hands of the
British?”

“Yes.”

“Then we are concluded. Welcome and thank
you for your service. Wait until I leave and then take the package
from the chair adjacent to yours. Good day” he said as he rose and
walked out of the door.

Melissa’s imprinting had gone well being
that she had become ambidextrous and had learned basic
swordsmanship, marksmanship, and basic self-defense during that
time. Her tolerance to direct sunlight was no better than James,
being around two to three minutes at most. As soon as she had
finished and was outfitted with the proper clothing and weaponry
they were ready to leave.

The four of them had departed for Seneca
country then in late May. Ian carried a plow and the others had
assorted gifts such as tobacco, knives, lamp oil, salt, a wide
variety of seeds, and other sundries. They had not hurried, or not
so as far as vampires would do, but instead took enough time to see
things along the way, going a different route since they had no
livestock to worry about.

Arriving in the Seneca Village of Tall Elk,
they received a warm and enthusiastic welcome from the people
there. Melissa had been given all of the instruction for speaking
the Seneca tongue while imprinting so she was fully at home among
them, and was a curiosity of sorts, being she had golden red hair,
which none of the Seneca had ever seen before.

They stayed in Moon Owl’s cabin during rainy
weather but stayed out most of the time. The cabin had weathered
well and needed little, but Ian and James replaced the leather
hinges on the door with three iron ones and an iron latch. They put
strips of cured bear-hide around the doors and windows for
weather-stripping and repaired some chinking that had fallen out
from between the logs.

While there, they had taken a ten day
excursion to see the great waterfalls at the land of the Niagara,
which impressed Melissa to no end.

Ian had shown Snow Fawn how to connect and
use the plow with the oxen and had helped break ground in a clear
area near the river for a garden. They all helped her to plant it
and showed her how to use the hoe to chop out weeds, as well as
when to thin the crops and even which ones would be good for
storage during the winter months. The garden was planted late, but
dung from the horses and oxen were used to hasten its growth and
the river was nearby for when it needed watering.

The chicken flock had grown to triple its
size since Ian and Moon Owl had first brought them and they were
producing around fourteen eggs a day which were a huge favorite of
the people. Snow Fawn had no end of help for caring for the flock
and it appeared that she would have a lot of help for the garden
too, once the people realized that some of the food would be good
for storing during the winter months.

The women of the community were a
disciplined work force and the tribe depended on them for storage
of food to last through the winters and upon the men to bring in
meat for smoking and drying. Ian had told Snow Fawn that the people
should urinate often around the chicken coop to keep predators
away. They had only suffered two losses to hawks, so that strategy
worked well for discouraging land predators such as raccoons and
coyotes in spite of the casual way that the villagers contributed.
Shortly after they had arrived at the village two braves calmly
walked up to the chicken pen and urinated while Melissa was feeding
the chickens. That very afternoon she related the incident to Ian
and James. James spoke up saying “Oh that is just a religious
exercise, Melissa.”