A/N: I'm sorry it's been so long since I wrote a chapter. This will be a good one and well worth the wait though. For most men this was probably their favorite episode of the Waltons. I know my dad said it was his favorite growing up. Well, let's get on with the story.
It had only been ten days since Ben got his new camera and he was taking pictures of the mountain. Erin convinced Ben to take a picture of her in a pair of shorts to send to their Mama. Erin was upstairs reading some of her "fan mail" from soldiers at Camp Lee. Elizabeth walked up the stairs and opened the door.
"Erin? Mary Ellen said it's time for dinner and told me to come get you." Elizabeth said.
"I'll be down in a little bit. I'm just going to finish answering some of these letters." Erin replied with a smile. Elizabeth sat on the edge of the bed.
"What do they say?" Elizabeth asked curiously. Erin laughed.
"Here, read one for yourself." Erin handed Elizabeth an envelope with a smile. Elizabeth opened it and read the letter to herself.
"Are you going to reply to all of them?" Elizabeth asked as she put the letter back on the bed. Erin nodded.
"I'm going to try." She looked up at Elizabeth. "I just feel so bad for these soldiers. They may not have anybody to write to. I may be the only person who will write to them." Elizabeth nodded.
"Yeah, they might be awfully lonely Erin. Just make sure that you're careful around Daddy. He wasn't too happy to see that picture at Camp Lee. If he finds out that you are writing to those soldiers he may get mad." Elizabeth stated. Erin nodded.
"I know." Erin replied. Elizabeth walked down the stairs. Erin stood up and opened the drawer of the desk. She put the letters in the drawer and then closed it. She walked over to the door and walked down the stairs. John, Jason, Mary Ellen, Ben, Jim Bob and Elizabeth were already at the table. Erin slid into her place next to Mary Ellen.
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After supper Erin walked upstairs and got her diary. She walked to Drucilla's Pond hoping that nobody was on her rock. When she got there, nobody was sitting there so she walked over to it. As she tried to sit down she almost slipped into the water because the rock was wet. Erin squealed and she tried to keep her balance. From across the pond she saw John Boy's writing cabin.
"I'll just go over there." Erin thought to herself. She got off the rock and headed around Drucilla's Pond to get to the cabin. She walked and sat at John Boy's desk. She sighed and smiled as the sun poured in from the window. "Perfect." She thought. Erin opened her diary and began to write to her heart's content.
"I'm not sure how I feel today. It's only been about a week or two since Ben's picture of me ended up in the Charlottesville paper. I don't know what I think of that. At one point I'm embarrassed and upset with Ben. Yet at the same time, I'm kind of excited about all the soldiers I've been able to talk to and the people who have seen the picture. Many people have told me that it's my patriotic duty writing to the troops. So many of them are away from home for the first time. One gentleman even told me I reminded him of his girlfriend back in Kentucky. I want to be there for them but I don't want Mama and Daddy to be upset with me for this. I don't think it is doing any harm talking to the soldiers. Daddy let me go to Camp Lee last week and talk to the soldiers because they wanted me there. He was hesitant to let me go. If it weren't for Mary Ellen, I don't think Daddy would have let me go at all. All of the soldiers were so nice to me." Erin sighed and put her pen down and thought about all the guys at Camp Lee. They treated her like a real nice young lady even if she was wearing a respectful dress instead of shorts. Erin looked back down at her diary and continued writing. "Daddy and Mama just didn't realize the service I was doing for our men in the military. I wasn't doing anything wrong. I was just trying to make the trip for the men at Camp Lee a little easier. Well, it's getting dark out and Daddy doesn't like me to be out late." Erin smiled. "Speaking of men in the military, maybe I will go home and write a letter to Ashley." With that Erin stood up and walked towards the door of the cabin so she could head home.