woods, a crossbow in her hands, her eyes glazed with a distant look. "The redcoats killed my family. All of them."
The crossbow tumbled from her hands. Her gaze drifted to Hickman's body, and she stepped back as if shocked at what she had done.
Matthias moved toward her. "It was you, wasn't it? You saved my life before?"
Her gaze traveled to Matthias, but appeared unfocused. "They killed my family. They kill everyone. I had to stop them."
"Betsy?" Simon ran from the woods. "Betsy, is that you?"
She turned at the sound of his voice.
Simon gasped with a choking sound and dropped his musket. "Betsy. 'Tis me, Simon."
She shook her head. "You're dead. You're all dead."
"I escaped and joined the army. I didn't die. I thought you were dead."
Betsy blinked and focused on Simon's face. "Simon? You're alive?"
Simon ran toward her with such force that his embrace knocked them both to the ground. His laughter mixed with the halting sound of Betsy's sobs.
He grinned at Matthias. "She's my sister!"
Caroline sniffed. She picked her petticoat off the ground and wiped her nose with it. "Is it really over?" she asked for the tenth time.
Matthias rolled a stocking up her leg. "Yes. Are you all right now?"
She dried her face. "I think so." Betsy's reunion with her brother had started the flow of her tears. Then when she realized that everyone she loved had survived the latest ordeal, her tears had degenerated into sobs. She inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I've had a bad day."
Matthias fastened the garter around her thigh. "I would call it a good day. We're all alive."
"Yes, but 'tis not a day I would care to repeat."
"You need some rest. We'll go my uncle's home - "
"Oh, I do need to go there. My sister and Dottie are headed that way with the children."
"Good. Then they'll be there when we arrive." He slipped on her shoe. "You know, I'll be tempted to take liberties with you tonight. Perhaps we should marry first."
Caroline studied Matthias. He knelt beside her in soggy clothes with his dark hair loose about his tanned face, a handsome man, a fierce soldier who was gently helping her dress. He plucked her other stocking from the ground. She hid a smile at the sight of her delicate underclothes in his strong, calloused hands.
All her anger over his deception had dissipated in the face of death. Life was too short and too precious to waste in anger. And even though she had sworn to avoid the war and avoid soldiers, she had learned the painful lesson that none of them was safe. None of them could hide. They could only cherish each moment they had together.
He glanced at her. "You will marry me, won't you?"
"Marry a soldier? I don't know. I had my heart set on marrying a butler."
His mouth twitched. "Only because you wish to order me about."
"Perhaps." She wiggled her bare toes at him. "You do make a fairly decent maid."
"Yes, madam." He slipped on her other stocking. With a slow smile, he smoothed it up her leg. "In case you're interested, I provide a full range of services."
She snorted. "I have sampled your services before."
"That was only an appetizer." He tied the garter above her knee. "Would you care for the next course?" He caressed the inside of her thigh.
She slapped at his hand. "Not now. The setting is hardly romantic."
He withdrew his hand with an injured look. "But I am always on call, madam."
"Have you forgotten there are a number of dead bodies lying about? It rather dampens the mood. At least for me."
He glanced over his shoulder. "Damned redcoats, always interfering. We'd better leave before Tarleton comes looking for his men." He took hold of her hands and pulled her to her feet.
She stepped into her petticoat and raised it to her waist. With her damp skirt bundled in her hands, she asked, "Can you tie the laces for me?"
With a groan, he stepped behind her. "I'd much rather be taking clothes off. There. Done."
She smoothed down her wet skirts. "I must be one horrid-looking bride."
"Then you agree to marry?"
"Yes, of course. But don't let it go to your head. It may be the last thing we ever agree on."
With a grin, he led her down the path to the Great House. What was left of the Great House. Simon and Betsy were there, their arms still around each other. Jacob stood there with the horses.
Caroline gazed at the smoking ruins. Only the brick chimneys reached out of the ashes toward the sky. "I'm sorry about your home, Matthias. Do you plan to rebuild it someday?"
He shook his head. "I should feel sad, but I don't. It was never a life I wanted."
"It is still your property," Jacob reminded him. "What about your oath to your grandfather?"
"Our grandfather," Matthias said. "My exact words were his land would be in good hands. And since I'm a wanted man, I believe your hands are the best choice. I've heard you have some ideas?"
Jacob blinked. "Yes, I do. But you realize I'll want to free the slaves?"
"I'm counting on it."
"Thank you." Jacob's grin faded. "How will you live?"
"I suppose I'll have to start over. I may need some of the silver hidden in the kitchen, if you don't mind." Matthias turned to Caroline. "Will you have a poor man for a husband?"
She laughed. "I thought you were poor when I fell in love with you."
Betsy grinned at her brother. "I may be poor, but I feel like the most fortunate person on earth. I have my brother, alive and well."
Matthias extended a hand to Jacob. "I am fortunate also to have a brother."
Jacob grasped his hand, his eyes glimmering with tears.
Caroline smiled. "We have family. And love. What else could we need?"
"Liberty." Matthias pulled her into his arms. "And we'll be taking that soon enough. Trust me."
She leaned her cheek against his shoulder. "I do."