Sophine's POV:            

"We're at the bridge." Aiden told me, placing his hand on my shoulder, causing me to jump.

My startled eyes met his annoyingly amused blue ones. I pulled away from his hand and climbed out of the wagon. Twas' useless to attempt elegance when one's dress is in taters and one's hair is unrecognizable, so I didn't and simply turned my gaze to the river, letting my shoulders slump.

The water swept by at a frightening pace under the old wooden bridge, trees hung over the close bank in a precarious way but cleared into a plane on the far side. The ghost town lined the road on the far side of the bridge. I glanced back at Aiden and caught him staring at me curiously.

"Are we to cross or not?" I questioned, once again exasperated.

"Aye, my dear. Patience. We mustn't forget the wolves are still about." He told me as if it were an obvious reason for his not driving the wagon across the bridge.

My eyebrows gathered together in confusion, ignoring the term of endearment again. What am I missing? I glanced around again. There was no sign of the vicious wolves, even from the horses. Shouldn't we simply drive out of the forest and be on our way to Concord?

"Aiden, you must explain." I demanded, blinking away tears of weariness.

"The wolves wait in the ghost town." He explained, gesturing to it with the reins.

I turned back to the ghost town, peering at it. Why would they wait there? There must be more food in the forest then there? Then again, these are strange wolves; they never expand their territory. But, what are we to do? ...how does Aiden know they wait there for us? How do the wolves know to wait there for us? Is there someway for us to go around the ghost town? Did the ghost town have a name other than 'ghost town' at some other point in history? How far ahead are the red coats?

Oh, God, please help us. I knelt on the bank and watched the shadows around the deserted houses, hoping to catch sight of one of the wolves. ... How are Isaiah, Samuel and Lisa doing? Is Mr. Kings healing well? How am I to know, God? Tears threatened themselves again, which I whipped out of my eyes. I inhaled deeply and cut the thoughts of home from my mind.

Footsteps crunched behind me in the grass. I whipped my head around, feeling for my pistol and met Aiden's solemn blue eyes. They're so blue. Sophine! What's wrong with you?! I stood, startled, and tore my eyes from his.

"Shall we?" I asked, peering at the ghost town.

"You've a plan?" He asked.

I heard him fold his arms as I closed my eyes to think. There's only one way. Around. Swiftly and warily... Why'd he ask me for the plan? Doesn't he have one? My eyebrows furrowed in confusion again as I opened my eyes and met Aiden's gaze.

"Why'd you ask me?" I questioned.

He shifted his weight from one foot to the other and glanced from me to the bridge.

"We'll go around. Have your gun ready. If any wolves come at us, you shoot and I'll drive, since we're as good as dead if you were to drive." He decided with a hint of sarcasm, returning to the wagon.

I followed him swiftly. My tattered skirt brushed my ankles as I climbed onto the wagon seat. I pulled my pistol out and Aiden gave me his musket.

"Backup." He told me.

"Aye." I replied quietly.

Tis' a good thing Father taught me to shoot a musket as well as a pistol... Father. I gripped the musket until my knuckles whitened, squeezing my eyes shut in an attempt not to cry. Sophine, you must protect yourself and Aiden from wolves. Focus. I took a deep breath and settled into the seat as Aiden commanded the horses to cross the bridge.

The wheels creaked as the horses slowly walked across the wide bridge. My nerves were on edge. Sweat dripped down my face as we exited the cool shelter of the trees. I glanced at Aiden, following his gaze to the ghost town.

The second the horses pulled the wagon off the wooden bridge and out of the Morren Forest, Aiden slapped their backs again, making them break into a run. I clutched the wagon seat, my eyes darting around the abandoned houses. Suddenly, a shadow moved, then growls rand through the heated silence. I raised my pistol as we approached and let a bullet ring through the air at the first movement I saw.

The grey and black beasts dashed out from their hiding places as the wagon rapidly rocked on the gravel toward the edge of the town. I aimed, fired and repeated. My arm shook with shock with every pull of the trigger as I killed wolf after wolf. My heart pounded hard against my ribcage. Sweat dripped into my eyes as I shot desperately at the closest of the vicious beasts before turning to another.

They came nearer and nearer the wagon, forcing me to twist in my seat to shoot behind us while still remaining seated. Aiden yelled at the horses again, urging them to run faster, which they didn't hesitate to do. Their eyes had widened in terror at the sight of the ugly creatures.

"Can they run any faster?" I yelled over the deafening shots from my pistol.

I pulled the trigger again, but nothing shot fro it. I'm out of bullets! Grab Aiden's musket! I shoved my pistol at Aiden, hoping he grabbed it as I scrabbled to raise the musket to my arm. I aimed and shot, but missed as the wagon bounced through a rut in the road.

"Nay, if they do, we'll most likely find ourselves stuck in a rut." Aiden yelled back, attempting to refill my pistol and hold the reins at the same time.

I took a deep breath and aimed again. The bullet left the barrel and hit the wolf's head, causing the beast to slump to the ground. I turned on yet another and shot again. Still more wolves swarmed the wagon as I shot at them.

Suddenly, one of them clawed a sac of ammunition, tearing it open and letting the steel balls roll out. I crawled over the back rest of the wagon bench and onto the sacs, shooting into the air and yelling as I did so. God, please make them leave! The wolf on the wagon growled and eyed me hungrily as it clung to the sacs. I aimed and pulled the trigger, killing the wolf, but it's dead body still hung from the sacs as the musket balls continued to roll onto the ground behind us.

I attempted to shove it away, but the wagon jostled through a rut, causing me to fall over. Another wolf jumped at the wagon, thankfully missing and giving me an opportunity to sit up again and shoot it. The abandoned houses to the left of the wagon began to thin out and suddenly end. The wolves halted in their tracks at the edge of the ghost town, growling at me. I gulped in fear and surprise.

"They won't leave the border of the ghost town." Aiden assured me over his shoulder as he slowed the horses' pace slightly.

Heaving deep sighs of relief, I relaxed my grip of Aiden's musket, turning to the dead wolf next to me. I took a deep breath and reached out to shove it off the wagon, watching it tumble out onto the hard ground, leaving stains of blood on the sacs.

Blinking back tears of weariness, I crawled back onto the wagon seat, lifting Aiden's musket with me. I opened the action, finding four balls left, and filled it again.

Aiden exchanged my pistol for his musket and slid it under the seat while still keeping his focus on the horses and keeping the wagon on the road. I slipped my pistol back into my pocket and folded my hands on my lap.

Sweat dripped down my face and neck. I focused on the bouncing of the horses' manes again as the sun blinded us as it set closer to the horizon before us.

Aiden's POV: 

      I guided the horses toward the horizon, knowing Concord was just over the hill in front of the wagon. She's so calm even though she's just risked her life for both of ours. I glanced at her, noticing her tangled hair and the shadows under her eyes. Tis amazing how she can go through her father's death and still risk her life without breaking down in tears. You mustn't care so much of her, focus on the task at hand. We're going to kick the red coats' butts. I slight smirk crept onto my face before I reminded myself we hadn't won yet.

I glanced over at Ms. Liston again. What makes her want to get the ammunition to Concord anyway? She's got to have motivation. My forehead creased as I studied the side of her face. I glanced back to the road.

"So you don't like the king?" I asked bluntly.

She raised an eyebrow, "tisn't logical for him to rule us from across the ocean. I do wish we wouldn't have to go to war over it though."

"And why not? We can give him war and win." I insisted, wishing she'd take to my view.

"But at what price? How many men and women must die for freedom? You may be willing to give your life, but what of those you love? What if they die in the cause of freedom?" Her voice grew more urgent with each question, burning the side of my face with her determined stare.

I met her gaze, pretending innocence. She does provide a point, however the only one I'd grieve for is Braydon. The thought of my brother dying at the hands of the red coats sent a wave of anger through my veins. No one touches Braydon.

"That won't happen." I grunted, clenching my jaw and focusing on the road again.

Every time you converse with her, she challenges something about you. Get through this mission and you'll never need to speak to her about more than the weather again.

"It might." She interrupted my thoughts, "then will you be able to trust God with it?"

My grip on the reins tightened as I tensed my back. God wouldn't let that happen. I shot her a glare to make her shut up. She pressed her lips in a thin line and something flickered in her deep green eyes. I pushed the guilt that crept around my heart away and focused on the horses again.

"How far till' Concord?" She asked, tucking a strand of frizzled hair behind her ear.

"This ain't a stage couch, my dear." I quipped, letting my lips form a smirk.

She let out an exasperated sigh, however remained silent. About half an hour; we'll be able to see the city just over this hill. The wagon tilted as the horses began slowing to reach the top of the rise. Ms. Liston tensed next to me as I gave the horses more rein, feeling them strain against the weight of the wagon. The red coats' drums gradually grew louder, building my adrenaline.

I glanced at Ms. Liston. Her gaze was riveted on the horizon as if she could see what was happening on the other side of the hill. I smirked. She has no idea what's coming, does she? She's probably never had to fight for her life until today. Well, unfortunately for her she'll most likely have to do it again now that her father's gone. Why am I being so insensitive? Why do you care? She can't hear your thoughts. I glanced down at my boots as shame crept into my heart.

"Sorry." I whispered.

"For what?" She answered, her deep green eyes piercing my own.

I clenched my jaw, "for what's coming."

The drums suddenly stopped as the horses pulled us over the rise and the city of Concord spread out before us. I immediately slowed the horses' pace as they brought us down the slope and into the near by trees, out of sight from the marching red coats on the road a few hundred yards away. I jumped out of the wagon and led the horses through the trees and into the closet back yard we came across. Ms. Liston climb now behind me when I halted the horses.

"Hold the horses from eating just yet. They must col off before eating any grass." I warned her, pressing the reins into her hands before running to the back door and ignoring the exasperated glint in her eyes.

I pounded my fist against the door and waited. No songs of any bird broke the tense silence until a young negro woman opened the door.

"We have ammunition for the militia, where are the soldiers?" I whispered urgently.

"They're meeting on main street. Hurry." She replied, stepping back into the house and shutting the door.

I turned and found Ms. Liston leading the horses into the front yard. I followed after her, jumping onto the wagon seat. She threw me the reins.

"Stay with this family. I'll get the ammunition to the militia." I told her.

"Nay." She insisted, her eyes flashing as she climbed up next to me.

I clenched my jaw in frustration, reluctantly giving the horses the command to move forward. She's going to get herself killed.

Isaiah's POV: 

      I gingerly pressed my tiny bouquet of daisies into the soft ground beside Father's grave. Our neighbors and others of the townsfolk had buried to men who had died this morning, while I was crying. Why hadn't I been here helping them? Tears threatened themselves again, but I pushed them away, resolving not to cry again.

"Let us bow our heads and pray." The reverend spoke, breaking the solemn silence.

I returned to where Samuel and Lisa stood a few feet away and bowed my head. I heard Lisa sniffle and a pang went through my heart. God, why are You making Lisa cry? She's to good to cry.

"Dear heavenly Father, we give You our trust for the following weeks, months and years that are to come even without these brave men who have fallen today." The reverend began, "please strengthen the families of these men and protect them from further harm. We thank You for the time You have allowed these men to be here among us and now, even in the midst of grief, we know that they are with You in a better place. Amen."

I took a deep breath before raising my head. My gaze collided with the reverend's. Compassion shone in his eyes, but I hardened my gaze and turned away, only to find Lisa watching me. Something quiet and peaceful sparkled in her sad blue eyes.

"Are you alright?" She asked softly, stepping closer and placing her hand on my shoulder.

I gulped as my muscles tensed with her touch. No, I'm not alright. But I mustn't let it show. I'm the man of the house now, and I can't even tell you.

"Aye." I turned and began walking home.

I heard Samuel and Lisa follow me past the few houses and yards between the cemetery. Everything appeared dim, even the yellow daisies that lined the road and the burning sun that had begun to set in the west. Why is it so? Why did Father die? I kicked a pebble into the wheel of a passing wagon and shoved my hands into the pockets of my black Sunday pants.

You mustn't think of Father again, only on the next step. How are you to support Sophine and Samuel? We mustn't be sent to an orphanage; we could be separated. Nay. When Sophine returns, we'll start the store up again. I hurried my pace as our two-story white house came into view. Jumping to the top step in front of the store, which was on the front of our home, I took the right key out of my pocket and unlocked the door.

I stepped inside, leaving the door open for Lisa and Samuel if they wished to follow. Shelves lined the sides of the room, stocked with books, canned food, building materials and fabric. Everything had it's assigned place, making everything neat and orderly. My gaze swept the familiar sight before I weaved through the barrels of nails, and a counter filled with sacs of flour to the back of the store, where a long counter stood, lined with jars of candy and a scale.

I walked around behind it, sliding my hands on the familiar surface. Lisa and Samuel walked through the door, causing me to glance up from my reminiscing.

"I'm going to make dinner at my house. Come and eat with Father and I at six thirty sharp." Lisa instructed, before walking back outside, her black skirt billowing slightly in the wind.

A small smile crept onto my face.

"Aye, ma'am." I called after her.

Samuel weaved through the barrel of nails and the counter of flour sacs toward me, folding his arms as he did so.

"What's the plan, big brother?" I asked, leaning against the counter.

"Well for starters, we need to find Father's notes on the inventory, what sells fastest and what we can afford to stock up more of." I started, "we're going to reopen as soon as Sophine returns."

Samuel nodded.

"Aye, captain." He replied, saluting and leading the way to the storage room.  

HEY EVERYONE!  THANKS FOR READING AND I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER; IF YOU ENJOYED, PLEASE CONSIDER COMMENTING OR VOTING:) CAN ANY OF YOU REMEMBER WHAT COLUOR OF EYES ISAIAH IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE?  BECAUSE I CAN'T REMEMBER AND I NEED IT FOR THE CHAPTER I'M WORKING ON SO IF YOU REMEMBER, PLEASE REMIND ME:) THANKS AGAIN FOR READING:)