So we have reached about the halfway point. I figured I should include a bit from before there was really a "thing" between Ben and Elizabeth. I think they definitely needed to be friends before they were lovers so here is that mixed in with a bit of good news... for now... :) Thank you so much for sticking with me so far!


The Brewster home hadn't been so peaceful in almost a year. Elizabeth smiled and even hummed a little as she continued to sew the blanket she was working on. There was a knock at the door and Elizabeth rose quickly to answer it. Had it been her husband, she was sure he would have just entered unannounced. Instead, Major Hewlett stood at the door.

"Good Evening, Mrs. Brooks," he greeted as she let him in.

"Major, please call me Elizabeth," she answered with fake warmth. She knew he would see her offer as a courtesy when all she really wanted was to never have to hear her name attached to her husband's aloud. The Major smiled a sad smile at her and took a seat in her parlor. She wondered what could cause him to be so sad and visit her.

"I wish I didn't have to bring you this news," he said, "but in the raid in Connecticut, our soldiers were blindsided. We lost all of them." Elizabeth took a moment to digest the news. She had to swallow relief and a smile; instead she showed no emotion at all. "I know this is a lot to process."

"Yes, sir," she managed to say. She knew that if the Major stayed in her home much longer, she would give away her true feelings.

"I should leave you to mourn," the Major said. Elizabeth nodded and let him out. She waited just long enough to be sure he was gone before she allowed herself to celebrate. She didn't have much celebration in her, if she was honest but if Johnathan was never returning, she knew she could feel some relief for that. She quickly grabbed her cape and headed out into the orchard. Whenever she needed to think, she always went deep into the apple trees as it reminded her of a simpler time.

All five friends had agreed to meet in the orchard after church. Caleb had just joined Elizabeth and Ben at thirteen years old and Abraham and Anna had reached eleven. They all liked to play in the creek by the edge of the orchard and since the summer air was so warm that day, they had decided to return there.

They ran around the orchard for some time before deciding to engage in a game of hide-and-seek. It was Elizabeth's favorite game as she knew the orchard well and could spend hours hiding in the trees. Caleb offered to search first and the children dispersed.

Elizabeth found her favorite tree and climbed up it. She knew it was improper for a lady to climb trees but she didn't much care. It was her favorite for many reasons but mostly because the leaves were sparse at the top and at night she could see the stars while lying across the uppermost branches. Not even Caleb knew about the tree, so it was the perfect place to hide.

It became dark rather quickly and soon, Elizabeth began to wonder if Caleb had given up. She heard a voice whispering in the dark.

"Elizabeth!" it said. She could tell by the voice that the game was still on but it wasn't Caleb's voice she heard. "Elizabeth, it's Ben. Where are you?" She smiled and climbed partway down the tree. Sitting on a lower limb, she whispered back to him.

"Ben, up here!" He caught sight of her and smiled. "Is Caleb still looking?" she asked as he climbed up to her.

"I think so," he replied. "I haven't seen him yet. We should probably go back."

"Wait," she said pointing upward. "Do you want to see something amazing?" He nodded tentatively as if not completely sure he could trust her. She climbed all the way back up to the top and laid down, making sure to leave enough room for Ben. She watched him lie down and look up at the stars.

"Wow," he whispered.

"Yeah, it's my favorite place to think," she told him.

"And your great hiding place?" he asked. She nodded.

"Don't you dare give me away," she warned as she turned and looked at him. He looked back and they began to laugh.

"I won't," he assured her. She nodded and sat up. "Come on, we need to go before they think we got lost." Ben suddenly blushed. "What?" she asked.

"Actually, I am lost," he answered sheepishly. She chuckled lightly.

"Well come on then," she said.

They climbed quickly down the tree and Elizabeth led them back to the creek. Ben never told anyone about her hiding place.

She found that tree then and looked at it. She was too old to attempt climbing it but just being around it brought back a peaceful sense she often associated with the past. She sat by the tree and prayed for the first time in months. She prayed for her father and for a swift end to the war but most of all, she prayed for Ben and Caleb. She prayed that where ever they were, they were safe.