Never before had she been so afraid. Not when she uad seen her mother dead, the baby beside her, or when she lost her first young patient during the birthing process. Those she could handle, hide her tears until she was alone. But now her cheeks were stained with them and no matter how hardshe wiped at her face, they never stopped. Keziah had taken William's advice to run and almost been to freedom when one of the militia men in civilian clothes had tackled her down into the packed dirt road. The soldiers that stormed into her house had likely taken what valuables she had, and theone armed soldier too. She thought of him briefly and she frowned. He could die if he didn't rest and take it easy while he recovered.

Keziah was quietas the cart continued along the road. Much like the man next to her, she was bound and gagged, likely to keep her from screaming. She inched closer to William, despite it not being particularly appropriate. He was a stranger and she was still in her nightgown. When the soldiers had broke intoher home they hadn't given her any time to get dressed. Her nightgown was stained with dirt and a bit of blood from her scraped hands and knees. When she seen that he was stirring, Keziah raised her bound hands towards him, more to check his head than anything else.  They hadn't hit her, she was smaller than they were and holding her down to tie her up had been fairly easy. It was fast approaching dawn when they arrived at the camp. Soldiers on watch guarsed the perimeter and tents lined the area surrounding a small house. No doubt that was where whoever had orchestrated this would be. 

The cart stopped just short of a small barn and they were unloaded. She was aware of the looks the soldiers were giving her. Some looked at her with pity in their eyes, others had another look in their eyes that made the bad kind of shivers run down her back. They were each held by two soldiers, the ones holding Keziah mentioned that they would find her more suitable clothing. In response she just grunted and was led to what could have beeb a cellar. They wrre forced inside. The cellar had been barred off on one side, giving her an idea that they were in prison now. 

The soldiers debated amongst themselves for a bit before deciding that Keziah was better off on the other side of the cell. They had assumed that despite having found William on the ground, that he and Keziah knew each other. Well veyond just knowing each other's names that is. They were kind enough to untie their gags and give them water. "Once we get things sorted out you'll be moved to more comfortable accommodations." The soldier promised her. That promise came sooner than she expected when another man, one of higher rank, came into the cellar and asked to bring the woman. 

Keziah didn't want to go with them. She barely knew William but at least she felt comfortable with him. Perhaps it was because Samuel - the thought of her brother made her cry again. The high ranked soldier would have gathered her up into a huf had it been appropriate to do so. With one final glance at William, she was lead away. 

The soldier sighed. "We are to question you as well. You were in the company of a Hessian soldier and..." he didn't want to be cruel but... "He could have let his guard down around you because youare a woman." He had the decency to give her his overcoat to drape around her shoulders. It smelled of sweat and smoke and it made her head spin. 

"Don't....Don't kill him please." She whimpered. 

The soldier shook his head. "Not my call to make."