Tantrum and Tenderness

Chapter 1 - Clouds of Smoke

The huge clouds of smoke that came straight from the direction of the farm warned of very bad things. Judith was on her way to see Sarah. They'd been close friends ever since and Sarah had asked Judith for her help with some needlework. Sarah was expecting a baby, and her dresses had grown tight in the waist as her pregnancy progressed.

As Judith saw the black smoke rising, a horrible thought occurred to her: What if Sarah got injured? A darkened fear took hold of her. She let her knitting basket drop to the ground as she rushed forward to find out what had happened.

Judith reached the yard and found it crowded with soldiers, men attired in regal red coats on horses. For a moment, she was paralyzed with fright, for it was a troop of Green Dragoons! Flames were quickly engulfing the tiny cottage and no one seemed to care. "Where is Sarah?" Judith's mind raced with the thoughts of her best friend's delicate condition. In spite of her fear of the British soldiers Judith slowly approached the gathering, looking about anxiously for her dearest friend. Finally she spotted Sarah, crying hysterically as she frantically spun about in the midst of soldiers.

"For heavens sake, Sarah, what's going on here?" Judith shouted in a worried voice while she did her best to force her way through the crowd of soldiers and horses. At the moment, nothing was more important to Judith than lending Sarah her assistance. She fought her way into the yard and raced to Sarah.

Once by her friend's side, she put her arms around Sarah to give her some shelter.

"Thank God, you are here!" Sarah gave a relieved sigh, "Judith, please, help me!"

"Ssh, Sarah, ssh. Calm down, calm down. You mustn't get so excited. Think of your baby. Calm down. Of course I will help you", Judith reassured her.

Then she glared around to the mob of soldiers and cried angrily, "How can you watch this and do nothing?" She stared accusingly at them; utterly amazed they seemed rather unbothered by the destruction and devastation that took place before them. "Do something or the house will burn to the ground!" Judith demanded.

"Well Madam, you see, that's exactly our intent," declared a cold voice that spoke up from behind her.

Judith quickly whipped around and found herself in front of the commander of the Green Dragoons, who was sitting on his horse watching her closely from his elevated position. Judith shuddered with dread under his piercing stare. There was something very cruel and wicked hidden in his eyes. And now that she was well aware of his presence, she realized all too late that the feeling of foreboding that had weighed heavily in her heart since the moment she had drawn near the burning cottage, was the omen of his evil.

Sarah was so horrified that she had taken cover behind Judith's back and glimpsed with fearful eyes over her friend's shoulder, whispering in Judith's ear, "They accuse me of being a traitor and they say that I'm going to be punished for this... But I'm not a traitor; I've never betrayed anybody. You need to tell them that they are wrong."

Judith gathered her courage, though drenched in the ominous suspense that filled the air, and stepped forward. "But, Sir," she spoke politely as she forced herself to address the man she assumed was the Dragoon's leader. His condescending tone when replying to her call for aid and his pompous expression of annoyed irritation as he rolled his eyes while she continued to make her plea, told her she was indeed correct, "Is that right? You hold my friend for a traitor! I'm sure that is a misunderstanding. Please Sir, can you not see, this woman is with child. She may very well lose her baby if you continue to scare her like this. Please Sir, I beg of you, have mercy on her and her child."

Infuriated at the thought that this simple insignificant woman was to spoil his fun, he viciously peered down at her. Suddenly, he dismounted and swiftly stepped up to her, standing face to face. Even without sitting on a horse, this man was an imposing threat. Commanding and tall, his perfectly fitted uniform showed off his strong and strapping physique. His mere presence as he stood before her in silence was intimidating. Truly, everything about his appearance proved him to be far more powerful and superior than all others under his control.

Judith dared not move while he stood before her, staring heartlessly down at her. Those cold blue eyes revealed nothing to her. There was not the faintest glimmer of his soul present within their icy hue. Never before had she had a stronger feeling of being at the mercy of another person.

"She might lose her child, you say?" he replied arrogantly in a hushed whisper, taunting her by maliciously smiling, playing the part of a concerned gentleman. He then continued loudly for all to hear, "I am Colonel William Tavington of His Majesty's Royal Army, I am the commander of the Green Dragoons. And I would not worry about her losing her child, for I can assure you, she will be dead before that happens."

Judith froze in horror, and blurted, "Good Gracious! Have you gone mad, Sir? Why would you want to harm this woman, she's just an innocent woman who is expecting a child!" The words escaped her too quickly to be stopped.

Unfazed by her outburst, Colonel Tavington replied, "We have information that she is the wife of a man who fights in the colonial militia."

"But, Sir, I beg you, please be reasonable... First and foremost, she is a civilian. She has nothing to do with this war, even if her husband fights. She is innocent... Please reconsider… Don't lay hands on a pregnant woman! I beseech you, have mercy on her...", Judith interrupted him, hastily grabbing at his regal red coat, in her best effort to sway him.

"We're at war, Madam!" The Colonel shouted as he slapped her hands away as if Judith was nothing more to him but bothersome blowflies. He cut her appeals for his sympathy short by clarifying, "This innocent woman, as you call her, is the wife of a man who fights for enemy. That makes her guilty of treason."

"I don't care about this war! I care about my friend and her child!" Judith yelled, overcome with rage at his unfair attitude where women and children were concerned. "I didn't ask for this war, and neither did she. Be a gentleman, Sir, let her go!" Judith demanded, standing just as tall and mighty as he.

As she stepped forward, in an attempt to push past the Colonel one of the soldiers standing nearest her spoke up and said, "No, Judith, don't!"

Although the words were whispered Judith recognized the voice. "James!" Judith asked in disbelief, turning about on her heel to look him in the face. And she was correct, it was in fact James Wilkins. Before he had joined the King's army, James had never missed an opportunity to pay court to her, even if his advances had remained unrequited each and every time.

"This is your fault? You brought them here? No, it can't be…" Judith stammered, trying to understand the situation that had unfolded before her.

"Ah, I see, you know each other?" Colonel Tavington sneered.

James Wilkins' eyes danced between Judith and his superior officer, attempting to make his lips move.

"Now, Captain Wilkins, why don't you let us know on whose side this woman stands? Where do her loyalties lie?" Colonel Tavington mockingly queried, as he looked down at his gloved hands, fixing each finger straight, pretending to give his subordinate not the tiniest bit of his attention.

James Wilkins knew he had to reply. After all, he was asked a question by his commanding officer and there was no way Colonel William Tavington would accept silence from those under his command. In his time serving under the Colonel, James Wilkins had seen enough to know that the epithet 'The Butcher' was well earned.

Feverishly he searched for the right words. He knew they had to be chosen very well now, for this time nobody else's but dear Judith's safety was at stake. Despite the fact that she had always preferred to give him the cold shoulder instead of any answer to all his advances and letters, he still had a strong liking for her.

"Well, Sir, she is... I mean...she was…b-but…now…she is…" He stuttered and stumbled over his sentence.

"Come to the point, Captain Wilkins!" Tavington impatiently raised his voice.

"As far as I know, she has never said or done anything that would make me question her loyalty to King and Country, Sir," James anxiously answered. "Being just a woman, she has little knowledge, if any, of these things. You know how women are, Colonel, they are usually not smart enough to understand the politics of war..."

Judith eyes narrowed in anger, and she cut James off loudly: "I've never taken a side, either for or against King and Country. But now, I do!"

James Wilkins closed his eyes.

"What King is this who reigns above his subjects by oppressing them?" Judith went on unafraid. "Freedom and peace is the only desire found in the hearts and souls of every man that live on these lands. If you really think that you can stop history's course by killing helpless people, you are very much mistaken, Sir! You would have to kill every single person not wearing a redcoat if you want to stop this."

"If that's the case, Madam, and you understand the King's army will do whatever it takes to keep the colonies, then you will appreciate our swiftness and lack of mercy when doing so." Colonel Tavington took one step back from Judith and sneered, "If we are going to have to kill everyone not wearing a redcoat, we had better start right now!"

A shot rang out. Sarah, who had watched the whole exchange from afar in silent weeping, fell to her knees.

"Oh my God, my baby!" Sarah moaned in agony as she held her hands over her expanded waist where the immaculate soul of her unborn child dwelled. Her face was one of indescribable anguish as she screamed in pain, misery and grief.

"Sarah!" Judith shrieked aghast at the heinous display of merciless killing before her. As Sarah collapsed on the ground, Judith raced to her side.

Sarah, a good woman, a loyal wife and expectant mother had been shot in the belly. In a vain attempt Judith tried to stop the blood pouring from Sarah's wound by covering it with her bare hands.

"No, Sarah, no! Don't die. You must not die, Sarah!" With tears pouring down her face, Judith repeated over and over again as she held Sarah's extended hand that became weaker and weaker.

Most of the Green Dragoons turned away and lowered their heads. Not even the most loyal that fought alongside Colonel Tavington, wanted to witness that degrading scene.

"I believe it was you who asked me to be merciful. Hmm?" Tavington asked sarcastically.

Without waiting for Judith to answer, as she still kneeled at her dying friend's side with her back turned upon him, Colonel Tavington fired his weapon a second time. Sarah's weeping, her prayers whispered through labored breath, and her groaning as she endured the pain of her injury ceased instantly. Sarah lay on the ground in a pool of her own blood, her empty gaze fixed up to the sky. The first bullet had pierced her belly, the second bullet had met her straight between the eyes. She was dead.

In a reflex of terror, Judith rose to her feet and stood, rooted in her spot, staring at the lifeless body.

"What have you done?" she wept desperately. She refused to believe what her eyes saw. Tears rained down her beautiful cheeks.

Beneath the mourning Judith felt another stronger emotion welling up. An almighty fury had taken hold of her. How could one be so coldhearted? How could this man regard a faithful wife and expecting mother as no more than acceptable casualty?

Hastily, as she acted on impulse alone, Judith whipped around and slammed her clenched fist with unexpected power right into Colonel Tavington's face. Her hand left a trace of Sarah's blood on his cheek.

Utterly surprised by such an attack, and unprepared for the force of her anger, Tavington reeled back slightly dazed. But Judith's feeling of revenge was not yet appeased. Again she flew at him wildly, letting her hands and fists land upon his body where they may. She closed her eyes and hit, punched and slapped as hard as she could manage, using everything she had in her against him.

After a short scuffle Tavington finally got the upper hand, and he was now shaking with rage. He harshly grasped a handful of her hair.

"How dare you lay your filthy hands on me, you disrespectful loud-mouth little whore! If you want to fight, we shall fight…" He snarled angrily as he put his weapon to her head.

Although convinced that her fate was sealed, Judith managed to stare back and hold his gaze courageously as if unafraid to die. Colonel Tavington felt his irritation increase while looking into those proud eyes that didn't seem to fear him at all. Oh no, he was not about to give her that satisfaction!

"Dying with a bullet in your head is far too good for you," Colonel Tavington declared and removed the pistol from her temple. "You see, Madam," he corrected, hissing in her ear, "First you would learn to fear me and then I will kill you."

Brutally, Colonel Tavington dragged Judith to the direction of the outbuildings. Nobody dared to interfere knowing that she was irrevocably left to the tender mercies of the Colonel now.

Panic-stricken Judith struggled against his hostile handlings. But it seemed the more she defended herself the firmer his grip became and the rougher he treated her.

Judith did manage to get hold of a stake of the clothesline, which she gripped with all her might to stop her way in the unknown. But her mighty efforts were futile at best. The result left the cloth of her dress ripped and all but torn off. The simple cotton garment she had stitched herself could not withstand the tugging and pulling of the Colonel's strong grip. Thus, Judith was now being yanked bare-shouldered. She shrieked, terrified at the thought of being seen in this way by a man, half dressed, and earned a resounding slap to her face. Judith dared not fight back any further, and so, resolute in his rage, Colonel Tavington continued to haul her along with him. Nothing would stop him!

A fact that James Wilkins was also well aware of. Helplessly he had had to witness the murder of Sarah and now again he was condemned to watch Judith meeting her fate with tied hands. At the same time he was both shocked and impressed as Judith indeed had turned violent. He understood her anger and knew Tavington deserved the slap in the face. And yet, he would have wanted to keep her from doing so, to spare her whatever was to come. No one was allowed to correct a man like Colonel William Tavington, no matter how much it was warranted.

Meanwhile, Judith in tow, Tavington had stomped unrelentingly across the yard into one of the barns, where his further actions would be hidden from prying eyes.