A Sweet Surrender (7 page)

Panting, they lay on the stone ground unmoving, still joined together—by body and heart. The storm had passed—both inside and outside the cavern—and the rhythmic sound of the lingering rain filled the now still air. She stroked his back as he burrowed his face in the crook of her neck, pressing his lips softly against the base of her throat.

Holding him close, she finally understood that she did belong to him.

And he now belonged to her.

Chapter 6

The travel to Albany was taking longer than they anticipated.

After the storm had passed, they’d traveled for three days and had yet to arrive. According to James, they still had another day or so. He claimed the frequent breaks they took were to rest the horse, but from the way he watched her, she believed some of his concern was for her as well. They had also gone from traveling during the day to now making the journey at night, under the pale glow of the moon. It was to avoid potential detection, he’d said, but it only added to their slow pace. She hadn’t expected the journey to be easy, but after last night, she was anxious to get to their destination.

She tried to forget the carnage they had come upon. It appeared to have been the aftermath of a terrible raid on a camp that had resulted in bodies everywhere. Those who had not yet passed on had been crying out in pain, some praying, begging for mercy. She hadn’t been able to tell who side those men had been fighting for—and it hadn’t mattered. She wanted to go to them, to help those she could. But James wouldn’t allow it. He reminded her that she wasn’t equipped to help any of them and that it wasn’t sensible or safe for her to even try.

Though he had been right, it hadn’t lessened her pain. He had held her as she sobbed for the lost lives and broken spirits. With two more days’ ride stretched before them, James had decided to scavenge for more supplies and weapons. They had passed a small town not too far from where she now hid. She wanted to go with him, but he’d argued he’d have a stronger chance of success if he didn’t have her to worry about. He’d found a secluded area to hide her and the horse, leaving her with the flint knife and instructions to stab anything that came near, then “ride like hell” toward the North Star. If he managed to find another horse, he wouldn’t be far behind.

But she hated the wait.

This was the first time they’d been apart since the start of their journey. She had grown accustomed to having him near. Being alone now left her feeling strange and uneasy.

She sat with her back pressed against a large tree, clutching the sharp weapon in her hand and watchful for signs of his return—or unwanted company. The departure from her village felt like it had happened long ago instead of only a few days. She had longed to speak to Etu, to ease the woman’s worry, and on the second night after their departure, Siara had gotten that chance. She closed her eyes and smiled, remembering the night Etu had come to her in a night vision. They had spoken and Siara had assured the older woman that she was safe—but she was following her heart.

In the short time she and James had spent together, they had grown close—closer than she’d ever been with anyone. The bonds of the flesh had a way of doing that. Yet it was the aftermath that solidified their unity. She learned more about him as he opened his heart to her and shared his past, including the time he’d befriended a traitor who had left him with that horrible scar on his rib. She also learned that he’d had a younger brother, Matthew, who’d died fighting in this war. The remorse of having to watch his only close relative die and the guilt for not being able to protect him was still very fresh. Her heart broke for him, but she let him know, without words, that he was no longer alone.

After tonight, she never wanted them to be apart this long again.

She didn’t know how long she waited before her eyes began to grow heavy. A faint rustling in the dense trees forced her to alertness. Her eyes widened as she kept them trained on the direction of the noise. It could have been just a scared animal scurrying away.

Scurrying from what, though? 

James hadn’t left from that direction, so she didn’t expect him to be returning that way. When the noise came again, Siara jumped to her feet, her heart pounding in her chest. She kept the flint knife firmly in her grip as she waited for the impending attack.

What came next shocked her and she nearly dropped the knife. One by one, men wearing what resembled the uniform of the British Army appeared before her, until they surrounded her small hiding space. There were as many as fifteen or twenty of them. Their usual bright red coats and white trousers were dark with blood and filth. They were all large, fierce-looking men and her heart raced faster.

When one of the men advanced toward her, she raised the knife in front of her. There was no way she could get to the horse with so many of them near. There was also no way she could fend them all off, but she would die before she let any of them touch her.

“Wallace, bring the light,” the man standing before her said. His hair was as dark as night, but his eyes had a pale glow.

“I believe it’s a savage woman, corporal,” another behind him said.

Anger sprang up in her at the insult. She was no savage. She was Siaragowaeh
.  Onyota’aka and Africa ran through her blood. Before she could correct his ignorance, a small lantern flared to life. The man they called
“corporal” raised the lantern to her face. She flinched from the sudden bright glow.

“Do you speak English, woman? Are you alone? Where is your man?”

Siara debated whether she should respond. Would it be in her best interest if they didn’t know she could speak their language?

Before she could make a decision, the man must have lost his patience because he handed the lantern to another and started toward her again. She had no desire to do anyone harm, but she would do what she must to protect herself. His steps were determined and Siara backed away from him, the knife raised to attack. That didn’t deter him.

“
Thomas
.” James’ harsh shout sliced through the quiet, tense air just as the man reached for her. “Don’t you dare touch her.”

****

James dropped the sack he’d carried and made his way toward Siara. When he’d seen the glow of the lantern flare to life in the distance, he’d been struck with such mindless fear, it had left him frozen. But only for a second. He’d never run so fast in his life and was grateful he hadn’t fallen and broken his neck trying to get to her.

“Back away from her,” he snapped, coming to stand in front of his second-in-command. “
Now.
”

The corporal backed away, his face a mask of stunned disbelief. It was obvious his men were just as shocked to see him as he was to see them. There would be time for questions and explanations later, however.

He turned to Siara and cupped her chin. He hated the fear his men had put there. “Are you okay, love?” he asked, staring down at her searchingly.

She nodded, her eyes glistening. He pulled her in a quick hug before he turned to face his men. Or what was remaining of them. The number that stood there now was only a quarter of what he remembered.

“Sergeant Blake? How are you alive?”

He laced his fingers through Siara’s hand and glanced at each of his men before he spoke. “I’m alive because of this woman here. Her name is Siara. She is under my protection and all of you will give her the respect and civility you would any gentle woman.”

Every one of them nodded, though a few looked at him still in wonder and amazement.

“We found your horse,” Thomas said, among those still dazed. “Or what was left of it. We believed surely you had been blown apart by the blast too.”

“Well, as you can see, I’m still very much whole,” James said wryly. Except his leg. Despite his recovery, he was left with a slight limp and on occasion it would ache mildly. His mad dash through the forest had now brought on a dull throb. “But I lost two weeks of consciousness, so you will need to fill me in on what happened.”

“A group of militiamen had been responsible for the blast,” Thomas explained. “When it went off, we rushed to your aid. But when there was no sign of your body, we began our retreat.”

“Back to New York Island?” James asked.

Thomas nodded. “We couldn’t be sure the rest of the path to Saratoga hadn’t been compromised and I wanted us to get back to General Clinton so that he could be informed of our setback and your…demise.”

More like his failure, James thought with some regret. It had been his responsibility to lead his men, and he had led them straight into an ambush.

“Why are you not there, then?”

“We were captured,” the corporal said with disgusted frustration. “Held on the outskirts of Saratoga. But when word arrived several days ago that Clinton had come up the Hudson River and claimed two forts there, the Continental Army made their way to Albany to halt his advancement. That gave us the opportunity to make our escape.”

“What happened to the rest?” James asked, glancing around the small group.

“Some were killed during our combat with the rebels.” He looked uncomfortable when he finally confessed, “And some decided to renounce their duties to the Crown and migrate west.”

James should have been surprised by that, but he wasn’t. His men were loyal to the Crown and would give their life for their country, but he understood more than many how heavy the cost of loyalty could be. He had lost everything he’d known because of this war. His only family, his home. Himself.

But in Siara, he was rediscovering the essence of who he was—and he found something truly worth fighting for. In the days he’d known her, he’d come to realize that he loved her fiercely for the affection and renewed life she’d given him. He couldn’t stand to lose her, too.

“Clinton must have discovered our captivity hence his sudden decision to make a move toward Albany,” Thomas continued. “But it was a daring effort made in vain.”

James frowned. “What do you mean?”

Thomas’ sigh was heavy. “Word arrived the night before we escaped that Gentleman Johnny has surrendered Saratoga,” he said ruefully.

James eyes widened in surprise. This was surely the first. His Majesty’s army had never surrendered a battle before.

“I cannot say I blame the general,” Thomas continued. “The Continental Army had risen to almost three times that by the time he’d laid down his arms. Whether we’d made it there in time or not, there was little chance we would have won that battle.”

James nodded, taking some solace in his words. He glanced around at what remained of his group. Though he regretted the lives lost, he was glad to see many of them had survived to live and fight another day.

“What will you do next, Sergeant?” Thomas asked. “Will you return with us to New York Island?”

James looked down at Siara and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. They may have lost this battle, but he’d won so much more. His life, as he knew it, was forever changed.

“I believe that is something I will have to discuss with my wife,” he said, smiling down at Siara’s astonished expression.

Thomas eyes also widened in surprise, but then he graciously offered his congratulations. “Well then, I wish you two good health and Godspeed.”

Having been trained well by him, his men had also been travelling at night and had come upon the secluded spot for a moment’s rest. James made arrangements with his men to camp close with them tonight. The added protection wouldn’t hurt and in the morning, they would all go their separate ways.

It was fate and perseverance that had brought his men to him. Now, he could move on from them and focus on his future with the woman at his side.

Once alone and nestled in the roll of their blanket, James held Siara close. He wasn’t surprised when her question came.

“James, why do you lie and call me your wife to your friends?”

He tightened his arms around her and placed a kiss on her forehead. “Because in the eyes of God, you are my wife.”

Every time she opened for him, every time he came into her and shared in the limitless pleasure of becoming one with her, she became more his.

“Will you take me to your lands, then?” she asked quietly. “Show me your home?”

He placed his hand under chin and peered down at her through the moonlight. “Is that what you want?” he asked. “I know you love this land. Are you prepared to leave it forever?”

She shook her head. “I love
you
, James. It is you I can’t bear to leave.”

His heart filled with warmth for her. She didn’t know what those words did to him. He leaned down and kissed her softly. “I love you too, sweetheart.” He kissed her again, then leaned back down and stared up at the bright stars peppering the dark sky. “So where should we go, Siara? Do you want to sail the seas to England or stay in this land? Do you want to continue north, perhaps? Go to Canada? Or take our chances out west?”

She was silent for a moment. “There are so many to choose,” she said quietly.

“I know,” he agreed. Above them, a crescent moon glowed against the black sky. He took her hand and brought it up to his lips. “I would get you the moon if that’s what you wanted, love. Just tell me your heart’s desire, and I will try my damnedest to fulfill it.”