Enoch
There was an uneasiness in my gut that told me I needed to go home. Something felt off, and I couldn’t shake the feeling no matter what I tried to distract myself with or how far or fast I rode. The bulk of the Brits and Hessians were far north of here, but small regiments had broken off and come south. Too close to home.
They weren’t afraid to burn the houses of anyone supporting the Continental Army or even remaining neutral on the matter. If you weren’t thoroughly in support of Britain, they considered you against them and therefore, an enemy of the crown.
So help me, if they fired my house, I’ll make every last one of them wish they’d never set foot on American soil.
I dismounted as a tow-headed boy emerged from one of the nearby houses. “I’ll tend your horse, see that she’s fed, and fetch her some fresh water, Sir.”
“That would be most helpful. Thank you.” I smiled, sliding a few coins into his excited hands. The shiny metal led his attention away from my fangs. His face lit up before he ran away to tackle the chores he’d promised.
I made my way toward the church at the end of the muddy street, pausing just outside the yard. It wasn’t like I’d burn up if I stepped on holy soil, but I wasn’t welcome on it. I couldn’t enter the church and didn’t want to offend the man with whom I’d come to speak.
When the boy finished his chores, he saw me standing alone and rushed toward me. “Is there anything else I can do for you, Sir?”
“Indeed you can,” I answered, crouching down. “Do you know the pastor?”
“Of course I do,” he replied, nodding emphatically.
I pulled another coin from my pocket. “Run and fetch him for me?”
“I’ll be right back!” he exclaimed, pumping his arms and legs as he ran across the yard and up the church’s steps. He pushed open the doors and rushed inside, toeing the line between running and walking. Inside, he knocked on another door, then he and the pastor briefly spoke. The boy ran back outside to me. “He’s on his way. Anything else, Sir?”
“How about keeping my horse company?” I asked, holding another coin.
He held out his palm. “Absolutely. What’s her name?”
“Eve.”
“I’ll take good care of Eve.”
I smiled at him. “See that you do.”
The pastor emerged, his head balder than the last time we’d spoken. What hair clung to the sides of his head had turned from gray to stark white. War could make a man weary, and he was no exception. His three sons were in the Pennsylvania colony fighting for the Continental Army.
I’ve only asked for his help a few times out of necessity. I hated to do it. It put him at risk, as well as everyone else in this town. But the feeling stirring in my stomach told me to make my way to him instead of traveling farther north on my own.
Pastor Brown was well-connected and never failed to deliver a missive that I sent. The few times it had been necessary, he led the townsmen in a makeshift militia not entirely unlike mine and Asa’s. He was a man I could trust, and I hoped he felt the same about me.
“Have you any news from your boys?” I asked.
He shook his head, worrying his hands. “None, I’m afraid.”
“Sometimes that’s a good thing, Pastor.”
He swallowed thickly. “I take it you have intelligence to share.”
“We took out a company of British soldiers far too close to home for comfort.”
His brows rose. “How large a company?”
“Large enough to paint many acres red with blood,” I answered.
“Why were they this far south? Most of the British occupy the north.”
“Most, but not all, apparently. I followed those who retreated. There are more companies camping near the Savannah River. Not a battalion, and probably misdirected and heading north to join up with their other regiments, but a danger to everyone between them and Cornwallis. Unless he’s building a force here slowly, purposefully.”
“God help us,” the pastor breathed. “Surely the war won’t stretch so far south.”
“I doubt there is a land it won’t touch before the British realize they’ve lost.”
The pastor’s lips tightened into a thin line. “Thank you for the information, Enoch. I’ll pass it along the proper channels.”
“Thank you. I was going to travel to speak with Washington, but something draws me back home.”
The pastor nodded. “Never ignore instinct. It’s there for a reason.” He clapped my elbow. “Be careful returning home.”
I gave the child another coin, praising him for taking such good care of Eve before I rode away. Patting her neck, I thanked her. “I know you didn’t get to rest for long, but I’ll make it up to you with a nice, shiny apple when we get home.”
The farther away from town we got, the more unsettled I felt.
Something was wrong.
Eve
Once everyone left the dining room, Asa turned to Titus. “You must be tired from your travels, and since you will wake early to repair the coop you damaged, I wager you need a good night’s sleep.”
“I’m good, actually. Not tired at all,” Titus retorted cheerfully.
Terah growled from her seat. “He would like to speak to Eve without you inserting yourself in the middle of the conversation.”
“I know,” Titus replied, “but you see, I just don’t trust either of you alone with her.”
Terah smiled wickedly at Asa. “Shall I escort him to his room?” she offered sweetly.
“Please,” Asa answered.
Terah blurred to Titus, plucked him from his seat as if his bulky weight was no more than a feather, and dragged him from the room so fast, his hollering was nothing more than a series of garbled noises.
“Was that really necessary?”
Asa smiled. “Yes.”
I sighed and slumped in my chair. “What do you want?”
“For you to speak to your clone.”
“Where is she?”
“Locked away.” I glanced to the floorboards.
“Let me guess – she’s pissed. I’m sure she’ll want to spill all her secrets now that you’ve made her mad.”
Asa shrugged. “She would’ve made your presence here… difficult.”
“She isn’t as obedient as the rest under your command?”
“She isn’t obedient at all. She follows me everywhere. Everywhere. Even into battle.” His eyes flicked to my gown and back to my eyes.
“Which was why your men, and Mary, weren’t surprised to see me. They even said something to the effect that I should’ve learned by now not to follow you around.” Mary didn’t blame her for it, though. She thought Asa was handsome enough to follow. “You don’t seem to hate her presence at all times,” I noted wryly.
“Oh, I do,” he promised. “But I choose to keep her close. She wants me to bite her. Do you have any idea why?”
I could feel my brows kiss. “Bite her, or turn her?”
“Both.” He stood up, the legs of his chair raking across the brightly patterned carpet, and sat on the edge of the table just beside me, crossing his arms over his chest. “Why would she want that?”