Chapter Thirteen

D ark had settled over the area near the bridge. While Liddy slept next to him, Alec remained alert. Deep in his gut he believed that MacDonald, the leader of the Regulators and the Scots loyalists, would not wait for daybreak. The moon would rise tonight around midnight, perhaps providing enough light to make a foolish man more confident than he had any right to be.

By Alec's calculations, it was just the other side of midnight when the crack of a rifle awakened him. All around him, men stirred, instantly alert. He helped Liddy to her feet.

"Can you load your pistol in the dark?"

"Yes."

"Good. Take your horse and move to the back as soon as you have it loaded. I need to move forward on foot."

Alec hated to leave her, but he had no choice. With a quick hard kiss, he shouldered his gear and began jogging toward the sound of the rifle shot. The darkness added complications no one foresaw, but the brightness of the moon showed the loyalists advancing toward the bridge with shouts ringing through the night on both sides.

In just a matter of minutes, he located Caswell. The man was in the thick of it, ordering artillery into place.

Caswell paused to look at Alec. "If we can believe the numbers we've heard, we must convince them we are the superior force. They're fighting with our men at the pickets, but I believe they'll soon turn their attention on getting across the bridge. That's where we'll stop them."

"Your orders?"

"Get the artillery into place. We'll fire on them with rifles and cannons. In the darkness, it might be enough to put them to flight."

The sounds were deafening. Alec put thoughts of Liddy to the back of his brain as he concentrated on the task at hand. Shots flashed in the darkness, momentarily revealing the determination and harshness in every man's expression. From the opposite side of the creek, came the order to charge. From their side, the order to fire the cannons.

The blast boomed, loud enough to make ears ring and temporarily deafen anyone in the vicinity. Shaking his head to clear the ringing, Alec moved forward.

"Colonel!" he shouted. "They're retreating. Shall we pursue?"

"Yes! Get those planks back on the bridge. Take only those men who have mounts ready."

The bridge went together faster than it had come apart, or so it seemed, as plank after plank slid back into place. At last, Alec led a small group of mounted men to catch up with their soldiers on foot.

Ahead, by the light of the moon, he heard the shouts to lay down arms and the grunts of men still fighting hand-to-hand. This was truly a test of men who, until now, had been no more than businessmen and farmers intent only on providing for their families. Alec drew his sword and ordered the men with him to move abreast so they could block the road if needed.

"Captain!" a man shouted a few yards ahead of them. "They have dropped their weapons."

Alec moved forward. "Casualties?"

"Just one, sir, and one wounded on our side. The enemy has suffered more damage."

Alec nodded. "Gather the prisoners. Have another group gather their weapons. We'll treat any wounded from both sides."

The soldier stood straight. "One of the prisoners is General MacDonald."

"He must be treated with courtesy, but he is still a prisoner."

"Yes, sir!"

*

Liddy saw very little but heard plenty. The shots, the cannons, and the shouts of men. She clutched her horse's reins and prayed—for victory, for everyone's safety, but most of all that Alec would come back to her soon.

When the shooting stopped, what sounded like wood being dropped began. Against Alec's wishes, she moved forward hoping to see some of what was happening. A lad she knew from the baker's shop in Wilmington limped toward her.

"How fares everyone?" she asked.

"We have them on the run, Miss Fennell. Colonel is having us put the bridge back together so we can give chase. Mr. Kirkwood's rounding up men to go."

"I can help. Are you injured?"

"Just twisted my ankle a bit. There's one what's wounded. One of the pickets. You might be able to help with him."

Liddy tied her horse and moved forward to find Richard Caswell. He frowned at her until she made an offer to help with the wounded.

"There are two," he told her, "but I fear one of them won't make it. You might make him comfortable, then help the other young man."

Liddy began moving among the men, offering water and helping wherever she could. Through it all, she kept her ears and her eyes attuned for Alec's return. The hours passed in a blur. The amazing thing was that the militia had suffered very few injuries. Just the two, in fact. The other side had not fared as well. Liddy bandaged as best she could, but some men were beyond help.

As dawn broke, she looked up from a campfire where she was boiling water over the open flame to see Alec riding back across the bridge. His gaze found hers just before his expression changed from one of weariness to a broad smile. She released a deep breath of relief to see him finally return.

Next to him rode a plainly dressed man with a broad-brimmed hat. Alec vaulted from the saddle, handing the reins to his companion before jogging to her side. She stood and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"You are well and uninjured? Oh, I can see you are, and I am so very happy."

Alec laughed. Holding her by her shoulders, he stepped back, his expression suddenly sobering so that Liddy's heart skipped a beat. Maybe all was not well.

"Liddy," Alec began and paused to clear his throat. "I know that this is not the most opportune of times, nor can it possibly be how you might have imagined this moment..."

She caught her breath, her hands clasped together to stop them from shaking.

"Your father . . ."

She stomped her foot. "My father sent me to Oak Grove and left me at the mercy of his overseer until Iain MacGill could get there."

Alec smiled again. "Well then, I shall not think more about how improper this might be." He went down on one knee in front of her. "Lydia Fennell, would you do me the honor of marrying me?"

Liddy pulled him to his feet. "Yes. I can think of nothing I would rather do."

He glanced over his shoulder where the man holding Alec's horse smiled slightly.

"Then you would be willing to marry right now?"

"Now?" Liddy gaped, gazing around at what appeared to be an entire encampment of men who had gone suddenly silent. "How can we...?"

Alec put his arm around her shoulders and turned her toward the man who had ridden into camp with him. "May I introduce you to John Hamilton? Not only is he a fine shot and an excellent horseman, he happens to be a Presbyterian preacher from a newly established congregation in Pender County. Most importantly, he is willing to marry us right now in the presence of enough witnesses that even your father would have trouble denying the legality of it."

Liddy threw her arms around Alec's neck. "You know he will disown me? I will bring nothing into this marriage."

Alec rested his forehead against hers. "You bring you, Liddy, and that is all I need."