He had thought about going to see his own homestead but decided to wait until a later time, when he would be alone. Now, as the cart swayed and bounced along the trail, he glanced down at the fringe of lace on her simple bonnet, the cheap but sturdy printed cloth of her dress, her scuffed shoes, her long eyelashes, and the outline of her face. Mavis felt his eyes on her and moved nearer him. He was overwhelmed with a feeling of tenderness, and was also aroused sexually, which his tight trousers made obvious to both of them. Mavis was not naturally shy, and she looked up into his eyes without attempting to conceal her desire. It seemed that the years of mutual attraction could no longer be suppressed. Neither of them had ever made love to anyone other than their spouse, nor had their feelings toward each other ever been expressed. Now a lightning shock seemed to go through him as she let her left hand fall lightly on his knee. Ethan pulled up on the reins and said “Whoa” to the horse, louder than he had intended. Without speaking, he stepped down to the ground, walked around the cart, and held up his arms to her. He hardly felt her weight as he carried her a few yards from the trail. He found a place under a large white pine and lowered her gently onto its deep bed of fallen needles. It was softer than the corn-husk mattresses in their cabins, and much larger.

Later, they walked back, hand in hand. When they arrived at the trail, the forgotten horse was grazing quietly. Mavis looked up at Ethan and said, “I’ll never forget this place.”

“I’m still remembering it now,” he said with a smile, as he carried her back into the woods.

CHAPTER 53

Cornwallis Moves North

SEPTEMBER 1781

As requested by Governor Tonyn, Thomas Brown assessed the overall war situation in September 1781.

Your Excellency: