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Chapter Two: The Munro Sisters

Dressed distinguishly in British military attire, cavalry boots, and a freshly powdered wig, Major Duncan Heyward entered the courtyard of an Albany patroon house. The courtyard was a modestly small one, it's interior made up of exotic flowers, a pale marble fountain and a thin dirt path that cut through the grassy lawn all the way to the front gate.

His eyes were immediately drawn to the lone figure dressed in pale yellow skirts and a veiled hat, her back to him as she gazed longingly at the unfinished circular fountain.

"Cora!"

The woman turned, her thin pink lips turning into a welcoming smile as she recognized the familiar face. "Duncan!"

He smiled brightly in turn as Cora embraced him, asking, "How long have you been in Albany?"

"For days and days," Cora replied, her dark eyes shining with excitement. "My God it's so good to see you!"

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Alice Munro gazed purposefully outside the window, watching the exchange with curious fascination... and excitement. With Duncan present in Albany, both her and Cora could now ride to Fort William Henry to join their father. It was an event that Alice had been looking forward to for weeks and not only would she see her absent father again but she would also get the chance to travel out in the frontier of America.

There existed many unique aspects that peaked her fascination with this country. It could be the fact that it differed greatly from England... but Alice more figured it was the natives and the freedom that the land seemed to exhibit. Cora thought her to be daft... and who knows, maybe she was... but truth be told, she couldn't help it. Maybe it was because she felt trapped and isolated in the world she was in now? Her father, though she loved the man deeply, and her sister both always seemed so eager to shelter her from everything; they kept her from being her own person, from learning by her own mistakes and though Alice never spoke it aloud, she had always felt that way.

She had to practically beg to help out alongside Cora during wartime. Her father had been reluctant to allow his youngest daughter to work in surgery; he had thought that the sight of dying men would forever shatter her "innocent" sense of mind. True, Alice learned the horror that war could cause but nonetheless, she was grateful that her father at least allowed her that much independence.

As the eldest sister, Cora seemed to get the most advantages... and her, the most disadvantages. Alice in no way resented her for it, if anything she only envied it. Cora was the sister that everyone noticed, especially Duncan.

Now watching the two carefully, Alice smiled. She knew Duncan carried a great affection for her sister... and it was rather disheartening to learn that the feeling was not reciprocated. Duncan was a good friend of the family's and Alice knew his feelings were going to be deeply hurt once he discovered what she long since already knew. She felt sorry for the young man... she felt sorry for him as well as the other men that approached her eldest sister. None ever succeeded into gaining her affections.

Cora was quite unsettled about it. Alice didn't understand what she found so utterly troubling about the whole circumstance. A man approaching her was a sign that she was at least desirable as a woman.

Alice sighed aloud at that thought. That was definitely not her predicament. Everyone thought her to be girlish, very gawky, and just too plain. Alice just hoped that her appearance was a divine sign that she was better off not getting tied down to a man.

Snapping out of her ponderings, Alice grabbed her hat, her feet quickly heading toward Duncan and Cora's direction. "Duncan!"

"My God, you've grown up," Duncan uttered, gawking at the young munro sister as she approached.

Alice smiled. "We leave in the morning?" She inquired.

Rising from his position in the chair, Duncan answered, "Yes, Miss."

"I shan't sleep tonight," Alice replied, "What an adventure!"

"I must warn you, Alice, it can be dangerous."

If she guessed her father's over protectiveness right, Alice knew that he would not have allowed them to come along if there was any threat of danger. "Nonsense. Our father wouldn't have sent for us if it were dangerous."