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La Belle Christiane

By Lyn Cote

copyright 2011 by Lyn Cote

All rights reserved.

Chapter Five, Scene 5

A tall man bustled into to the tent. “Laurens,” his voice boomed. Immediately Christiane recognized the General and stood up respectfully. On his part, seeing her there made him glance around as though to make certain he were at the correct tent. Then he looked expectantly to her.

Though somewhat nervous at meeting this august gentleman again, she stepped forward. “Lt. Colonel Laurens was called away just a few minutes ago, General Washington.”

“We’ve met, haven’t we?” he asked, scrutinizing her.

“Yes, General. I am Mrs. Jacob Kruger. We met on one of your inspections.” As he bowed over her hand politely, she curtseyed.

Laurens himself came hurtling into the tent. “General!” he panted.         “And I, you.” The General looked somewhat amused at the young man’s breathlessness. He inclined his head toward Christiane. “I was just getting re-acquainted with Mrs. Kruger.”

Laurens quickly outlined the reason for Christiane’s visit. “Of course, Mrs. Kruger, please sit back down and write your letter,” the General said. “Being separated from your son must be very difficult. How old is the child?”

“Just a year,” she murmured.

“Oh, dear. Well, I hope you two will be reunited soon. Come, Laurens, we will talk outside while Mrs. Kruger writes her letter.” He started away, and then abruptly turned back to her. “Where are your friends?”
“Across the Hudson River in New Jersey, sir.”

“Laurens, don’t post the letter. Have a courier take it over for her today.”

Christiane’s heart leapt. “Oh, General, how can I thank you–”

“No, not a word. The mails are not reliable these days. This way you will be sure it has arrived.” Before she could offer further gratitude, the two men were gone.

Christiane was touched by his concern. What a kind man he was. So busy and yet able to sympathize with her. She became businesslike. She must write the letter and be out of their way. An army depended on them.

18, October 1776

Dear Josiah and Sarah Anne,

I have been reunited with my husband. He was quite saddened over the news of his son’s death. We are in Washington’s camp together and are unable because of his duties to come for Jean Claude. I am comforted by the knowledge that he is in your excellent care. I will send word as soon as I am able.

Yours very truly,

Christiane

P.S. Kiss my son for me.

Quickly she folded, addressed, and sealed the letter with hot wax.

Waves of longing seemed to roll over her as she imagined the feel of her small son in her arms. Forcing down the emotions that threatened to swamp her, she stood up. Just feet away from the tent’s entrance, the General and Laurens were finishing their consultation. Christiane waited until they became aware of her. “General, I have finished,” she addressed him.

“Mrs. Kruger, we’ll see that it goes off within the hour,” he answered with a smile.

“Thank you so–”

“Mrs. Kruger,” the General broke in, “think nothing of it. You are making a great sacrifice for liberty by encouraging your husband to serve his nation. It is the least we can do.”

Christiane could think of no reply, so she curtseyed and left them.

As Jacob and she sat together that evening, she began to tell him about her afternoon visit to Laurens. But before she could really start, Sergeant Main and a stranger came. “Christiane, this man would like to see you,” the sergeant said discreetly.

The stranger drew near her within the small circle of light. “Mrs. Jacob Kruger?” he questioned officiously and loudly.

“Yes.” Christiane cringed inwardly, knowing that every ear was now on her. She stood up to see him better.

“The General sends his compliments, Ma’am. I am the courier that took your letter across the Hudson today. I have your answer here,” his large voice boomed out of his long thin body.

Christiane took the missive from him. She could feel her cheeks warming; once more the surrounding tongues would wag about her. She opened the letter.

“Ma’am, if you have no further requests, I’ll be going,” the courier asked.

“I have nothing more, but please thank the General and Mr. Laurens again for me.”

“Aye, Ma’am.” He saluted and left hurriedly as though heading for his own fire. Sergeant Main left quietly, too.

Christiane forgot everything as she knelt by the fire and read the brief note.

18, October, 1776

Dearest Christiane,

We write in haste as not to delay the courier. Jean Claude is well and happy. We will care for him as long as necessary with gladness. It is our great joy. You are in our thoughts and prayers daily. Give our condolences again to your husband.

With all our love,

Josiah and Sarah Anne                                                                                                                    Richardson

After reading the meager lines over several times, she turned to face Jacob who was staring at her intensely. Without comment she handed him the note. She looked up at his face in the dim light and was surprised to find that there were tears in his eyes. He looked down at her for a long silence and then he shook his head. Mindful of all the ears concentrating on them, she watched him struggle with his pride.

“Christiane,” he said as though drawing a long breath.

“I had to do something about Jean Claude, you understand that don’t you?”

He nodded and motioned her to come with him. Inside the tent he embraced her sadly. They went into their blankets silently. Jacob kissed her forehead and tucked her close to him.

#

The next morning Christiane awoke to the sound of gunfire. At first she sleepily marked it off as target practice somewhere, but when it continued, increased, she realized it must be something more. A small fear ignited in the pit of her stomach. She sat up looking around her. There was no sign of Jacob.

A breathless voice called to her and the tent flap flipped open. Tildy ducked inside. “Christiane! Christiane! Get up! You must come and help me pack up and then I’ll help you. Quickly, girl, up, up!”

Christiane sat up in confusion. “What’s the matter? What’s wrong?”

“Michael and Jacob left early this morning. Jacob didn’t want to wake you. Howe has attacked somewhere. Don’t you hear the guns? The men are being called forward. We women must move out first with the baggage train so we are not caught in the line of fire. Up! Up!”

Christiane scrambled out into a camp changed to bedlam. Women and children were rushing around them. Fear and hurry almost seemed to crackle about their ears. Tildy took Christiane’s hand and pulled her off to the Main’s tent. There the two women rushed about packing a few wooden boxes and dismantling the gypsy home. Then they repeated the actions at the Kruger campsite. Finally Tildy was shepherding them to the baggage wagon train that had appeared nearby. Everywhere women were loading their belongings onto the ox wagons and horse carts. The drivers helped here and there, lifting heavier objects and tying down items to their own satisfaction.

Christiane hung close to Tildy’s skirts, doing as she was told, glad to be directed. Finally all had been packed on the line of wagons and women, clutching their children’s’ hands, tried to find room for themselves on the wagons atop and around the baggage.

A quartermaster sergeant rode down the line, bellowing his orders again and again, “Only pregnant women and small children on the wagons! All able-bodied women and older children must walk!” Grumbling answered him as many women and their charges dismounted.

Christiane stood by, holding Nancy’s bridle. Tildy stayed in her place with William at the back of the nearest wagon, but she pushed Michael, her oldest son, down from beside her. “Christiane, can Michael ride with you?” she asked.

Christiane nodded, but then she protested, “But you’re not–”

“Yes, I am, Christiane. Almost five months along. Michael, if for any reason we become separated, stay with Christiane.”

The lad and Christiane mounted the old mare as the wagon train began to creak away. Christiane kept Nancy walking near the wagon that held her belongings, Tildy, and William.

Too much had happened too quickly. All along Christiane had known that she was living in a military camp, but never had she imagined she would be there to witness its transformation during a battle. Howe had attacked! Memories of the day spent hiding in the woods from the Mohawk raid flooded Christiane, almost sweeping her into hysteria. Frantically she fought her emotions down, but one unbidden thought tugged at her anyway. Was Jacob safe?

So now the war continues. What will happen next?–Lyn