The Price of Freedom

Chapter 1

"That can't be all that difficult." mumbled Sarah as she watched the young boy agilely climb the tree across the way. He had to be all of twelve, his youth obvious as he went ever higher easily. Wistfully watching him, she chastised herself for stopping to gawk, for she was already late. She was supposed to be at the Martin's now, dropping off the biscuits her mother had so delicately prepared. Forcing her legs to move, she pulled her eyes away from the tree wondering how the world must look from all the way up there. It was only another few minutes before the Martin's property came into view. Ben Martin had been a friend of her father's for years. She had practically grown up with his children. His oldest, Gabriel, was in particular, a close friend of hers since they were around the same age. Although he was handsome, their friendship didn't mature into anything more much to the disappointment of her mother.

Crossing the field that led to the house, she stopped when she heard the voice behind her. "Well, it's about time you came around. I was beginning to think you were angry with me."

Turning, she greeted Gabriel with a smile. "Who said I wasn't? And why are you sneaking up on me?"

"Sneaking? This is not sneaking. Sneaking is something that happens when you least expect it, or when someone is spying on you, and I couldn't be spying since it is you who is on my property and not the other way around."

Rolling her eyes, she shook her head as he approached her playfully swatting her strawberry blonde hair behind her shoulder.

"Where you been?" he asked.

"Father has been teaching me some of the aspects of medicine. I've been…studying." she said sighing out the last word.

"Really? Turning into a doctor like your father?" he asked smiling. She took his offered arm as they both started up to the house.

"Oh no! I could never be as good as him."

"I certainly doubt that, you're as smart as they come…and pretty too!" he added.

Blushing slightly at the compliment, she looked down in embarrassment. "You certainly are quite the charmer." she murmured.

"I do try." he whispered back.

"Sarah?"

The call of her name caused her to look up at the porch where Benjamin Martin stood with his hands on the rail in a casual stance. Forcing her stomach to quiet from the massive flip-flopping it suddenly began, she smiled timidly in greeting.

"I thought that was you. I haven't seen you in awhile. You certainly have grown up. How's your father?"

"Fine sir, thank you. He sends his regards along with my mother. She made you some fresh biscuits." she said holding up the basket.

"That's very kind of her."

"She felt it was retribution of sorts, in apology for not being a good neighbor recently. The news of late is…"

"Disturbing to say the least." he finished for her as he walked down the porch steps. "War is never a pleasant subject."

Walking up closely, he gave a grim smile. Sarah thought she would jump out of her skin. She forced herself to stand still but could not muster a response. He was too close. She was always this way around him. He was an extremely attractive man for his age. What was he? Twenty years her senior? It didn't seem to matter when she looked into those blue eyes. How utterly humiliating. By all rights, she should have a thing for the younger Martin, not the older one! But it was what it was, and it had been that way for many years, even before she melded into womanly curves. She had thought that the time spent sifting over her father's books would distract her from this man who seemed to make her into a giggling schoolgirl instead of the young woman she had become. In fact, it had, and she had thought her to be over the silly crush. She actually believed it to be true since he did not once enter her mind in all the months she studied. Well, maybe once or twice and when her mother asked her to bring over the biscuits, she immediately said yes just to prove her theory was correct. Well, that was a bust wasn't it?

Perplexed at her sudden silence, he frowned, furrowing his brows. "Well umm…" he said holding out his hand to take the basket from hers.

"Oh, yes, of course." she said giving it to him.

He furrowed his brows again as he studied her face. My, she did turn out to be a beauty. Her blue eyes accented the tinges of red in her blonde hair. She definitely had her mother's coloring, but it was her father's facial features she most imitated. She looked exactly like Jonathon now with that look of utter horror on her face.

"You look like your father." he blurted. "I mean, you have turned into a beautiful young woman." he said quickly, "But you're giving me the exact look your father does when he realized that he just lost a bundle to me in cards."

Breaking a smile at that, she snickered, "Oh, then I must look absolutely hideous."

"Actually no, you look quite enchanting."

"Enchanting?" Gabriel repeated with a raised eyebrow.

Ignoring him, he continued, "How about coming into the house? I'm sure Margaret would love to see you."

At the mention of Margaret's name, Sarah's smile broadened. She had always enjoyed playing with the youngest Martin. The fact that she was silent, only expounded on the fact that she was a very special girl.

Walking in, she looked around at the modest decoration. The Martin children had been without a mother since Margaret's birth. She barely recalled Mrs. Martin as she had been a young girl herself. She had been envious of her beauty and choice in husbands, thus not engaging in conversation when she was in her presence. Something she very much regretted to this day given her untimely death. Yet, she couldn't help but think what it would be like to reside in the same house as Ben living as his wife. The slight creak of a door snapped her out of her musings. She looked to see a pair of eyes peaking at her from around the frame.

"Hello Margaret." she said walking forward.

The young girl backed away causing Sarah to halt in her steps. Of course the girl would be frightened. She hadn't seen her for many months, did she even recognize her?

"It's me Sarah. Remember?" At the girl's continued look of wariness, Sarah sighed. "Yes, well I guess it has been awhile. I'm sorry for not coming around but my father has been a brute of a man, making me study for hours every day." she said with feigned drama. "He insists on me becoming a doctor like himself. The trials of being an only child I suppose. I would've much rather been here with you. Water under the bridge now, we'll just have to make up for lost time." Turning, she briskly walked towards the door. Looking back at her she stopped in the open doorway. "Are you coming? I can't very well catch tadpoles by myself can I?"

"Tadpoles? Still? I would think you would be squeamish with the slimy fellows." said Gabriel.

"Gabriel Martin, I have never been squeamish with tadpoles in my life! Isn't that right Margaret?" she asked looking at the girl who had come out from around her hiding place with renewed interest. "I guarantee I will catch more tadpoles than both of you or…"

"Or what?" he asked with a sneer.

"Or you will be making me dinner every night for a week."

"Deal! Just remember that you have to make me dinner when you lose."

"I'm not worried, I won't lose."

"You'll be screaming the minute you touch one!" he said laughing.

"Well, let's just go find out! Margaret, are you going to let him mock me this way? Let's show him what we woman are made of!!"

Nodding her head, she followed the bickering twosome out the door towards the creek that lay on the far side of the property line. Benjamin watched the interaction with intense curiosity. It was clear Sarah Ferguson was a child no longer, and not in just the way she looked. She carried herself with a self-confidence that wasn't there before, and her played dialogue with his children had the desired effect in getting Margaret out of her shell. Realizing he clutched the basket still, he walked into the kitchen looking out the window at their retreat. Jonathon Ferguson had been a dear friend since they moved to the area many years ago. He had assisted three of his children into the world and had stood by him as his wife died from childbirth complications five years ago. Sarah was Jonathon's pride and joy. She had come over often with him on visits and had instilled herself as a playmate for his children. But when had she grown up? It's true; he hadn't seen her in a long time. It took him a minute to recognize her when he saw her walking up to the house with Gabriel. Her loveliness immediately caught his attention. Maybe her and Gabriel… Shaking his head, he walked out the door towards the barn. He didn't need to play matchmaker, he needed to work on those rocking chairs. He was having a devil of a time trying to build them strong enough to hold his weight. If he could just figure out what he was doing wrong, he could sell them for a tidy profit. Taking one last look towards the creek, he crossed the yard to the barn.