Chapter 6

Next Day

"Sally, you ready to ask Washington your questions before he talks to Grandpa Ben and Mr Adams?" James asked, smiling as he noticed what his daughter had been doing in her room before he showed up.

Looking up, Sally smiled as she picked up her notebook, leaving her father surprised by what he saw.

"You did this?" he whispered, gently picking up a sketch Sally had done "Grandpa Ben?"

"I wanted to do something... I don't know." she nervously mumbled, hesitant to see her father's expression as she looked up.

"It looks exactly like him Sally." James whispered, very much in awe of his daughter's skills "Come on, grab your notebook and after you talk to Washington you can play in the courtyard with his will be plenty for me to tell you if you don't already hear it over dinner."

Downstairs, George smiled, being met by the journalist he had come to think of as another member of his military family James having been a regular visitor to his camp "And I'm as happy to see you both... but who is this young lady?" he spoke first to James, then Sally.

"Sally Hiller." Sally whispered, her cheeks already warm with the nervousness that she felt "Pleased to meet you General Washington."

"Pleased to meet you as well and I hope to see you reporting with your father soon." Then, with a smile, he held a hand out to the three people sitting on the couch "Allow me to introduce my wife, Martha who your father has met before many times during the war." Then, smiling, he laid a hand on both a young girl and boy's shoulders "These two I don't believe either of your parents have met... are my grandchildren nine year old Nelly and seven year old Washy. These two have to come with me everywhere since... never mind... where's Dr. Franklin?"

"Waiting for us upstairs, he'll push himself past his limits if he can but today wasn't one of those days, Sarah's waiting with him since she... well I guess you already know why." James answered.

A gentle, understanding smile on his lips, George nodded before looking to Sally "Now, I understand you have some questions for me for your father's paper? Please, sit with Nelly and Washy and I will answer them to the best of my ability."

Though she was nervous, Sally obeyed, more than surprised when Martha laid a caring hand on her shoulder as all four of them looked to George. Opening her notebook she slowly sighed, the fact that George spoke as though he were close friends with her parents and Ben made her feel a bit better "Well, I guess what I want to know most... is what's most important to you... I know from Papa that you held the lives of your soldiers and fellow generals dear."

Despite a part of him that still got emotional at the loss of those men he called sons and brothers, George smiled "Sally, you've about got that answer already. The most important thing to me is my family but also my Heavenly Father who without I know we would've never won any of the battles we did... or the war for that matter but the war also cost me my stepson and these two their father, he died from sickness during the war, yet because of Pasty and now Jacky's deaths I have now created a special place for Nelly and Washy for when they need to be alone... not far away from my own spot."

Hearing this, Sally struggled, seeing the pain in the general's eyes "I guess my only other question... what about the women who are now widowed or the men now crippled because of the war? How are they surviving now that the war is over?"

At this, George could only sigh as he smiled a sad smile "Unfortunately there's not much we can do for the time aside from holding events at our plantation where we can collect donations from women in the area around us. I hope soon to allow these men a chance to rebuild their lives by a program to make sure they are able to find jobs despite whatever may have happened to them during the war... This war has ripped apart so many lives but we're hoping the citizens will help us give back."

"General Washington... Sally whispered "Thank you so much... Mama and Papa were journalists but because of you and the soldiers... we now are building a country all our own... a country where I won't have to fear for myself or my little siblings."

"Sally..." George whispered as he wrapped his arms around her.

Dearest Sarah, James and Sally,

I'm pleased to know Dr. Franklin is feeling better but I still worry for him and Sarah. Your father and I both have been restless since you left for Philadelphia. We have decided to come a bit earlier and will be there in a couple weeks instead of a month like you and I had decided. I know you... and your father tell me I don't understand how strong you are but you're also my only child and as your mother I feel a duty to make absolutely sure you and James are alright, not to mention Sally and my new grandchild. I know someday you'll understand this yourself.

Your loving mother

"Elizabeth?" Samuel Phillips called moments before appearing at the doorway to their sitting room "Elizabeth, I finished it!"

"Samuel, What on earth are you yelling about?" Elizabeth asked with an exasperated sigh, standing up from her desk as her husband gently squeezed her shoulders.

"Two things I've been working on since our daughter gave us her wonderful news." He he stated, a twinkle in his blue eyes "You know I've been working in the shed the last few months... been creating and carving some things for our daughter and grandchild."

"You're not the only one." Elizabeth admitted with a smile, thinking of the things she'd been sewing, knitting and crocheting for her daughter and grandchildren.

"Well come then." Samuel pleaded in a whisper before, despite his wife's silent protests, gently pulling her out the back door into the sunny afternoon.

Once she saw her husband's work, Elizabeth could only gasp as she sank down into the rocking chair, her eyes misting as she ran a hand over the carvings her husband had put into the crib "Samuel, they're beautiful. I think Sarah will love them." she whispered as her husband knelt, his own eyes ever so slightly twitching as a couple tears trickled down his cheeks into his beard.

"Elizabeth, I've waited for this chance to create something beautiful like this... I can't wait until we take these to Philadelphia in a couple weeks. I'm excited to talk with Dr. Franklin."

"So am I, Samuel but I am worried... what if Sarah and James decide they're going to stay in Philadelphia?" Elizabeth whispered as she looked into her husband's eyes, laying a hand on his cheek, now loving the feeling of his beard beneath her fingers.

"Then we shall move to Philadelphia with them." with a sigh, he gently took her hands, the fact he had something on his mind evident "Elizabeth, as I've told you I loved this land since I came here, I loved the open land, the freedom here... but what I wanted so desperately was you and Sarah. Now we're together after so many years I won't abandon our daughter again... especially now she has two young ones... I can't do to Sally what I did to our daughter."

"Samuel..." Elizabeth whispered, her desire being only to support her husband and daughter, all the while having yet to fully grasp the beliefs her husband and daughter now shared "I'm mailing a letter to Sarah hopefully tomorrow... I want to go to Philadelphia in a couple weeks... I know James is so... so supportive of Sarah but with her looking after Dr. Franklin,... it cannot be good for her... or the baby."

"Elizabeth, I think you've been a little paranoid since we moved to New York but I agree. I'm just happy James isn't like I was when you were pregnant. I know me being a soldier was what made you so sick. I wish I could forget how much of her life I've missed but now she needs us both and I I haven't said anything but James wrote me a few days after she gave him the news, his greatest fear is her needing him and he's not there because he's reporting. I know we've got time but it's my conscious Elizabeth,... if something happens to her or the baby I would never forgive myself if she and James have to do any of this alone whatever happens."

"Samuel, we need to start packing tonight." Elizabeth gasped, her husband's words having scared her "Ill still send that letter to Sarah but I'm not sure I can wait two weeks."

At this, Samuel could only sigh, secretly wondering what he'd done though he himself had desired to once more be with his daughter, he'd also forgotten just how emotional his wife could get.

"How was your day?" Sarah asked as her daughter sat beside her in her and James's bed.

"I love General Washington. I never expected him to be the way he is, like I'm with an uncle,... I feel so comfortable with him." Sally replied as she subconsciously fiddled with one of her parents' rings.

"Same way I felt with him." Sarah agreed with a smile "Your father said you asked some good questions. I can't wait to read your article on him."

Thanks. I think I'll have a second article about his wife and grandchildren if papa wants me to."

"I think it's a great idea. The people need to know Washington is just as human as they are but, Sally,... how do you feel about everything happening? Any fears you have about becoming a big sister?" Sarah asked, her eyes full of love for both her children.

At this, Sally could only sigh "What do I do when I loose more people I love?" she whispered, making what she feared immediately evident "Will I possibly be back on the streets again?"

Though initially surprised, Sarah hesitantly smiled as she brushed her hand over her daughter's hair "No Sally, you won't. We don't intend on going anywhere soon as your father doesn't want me taking the trip back to New York until the baby's old enough, which I still have a couple months before that happens... and of course he desires to stay with Grandpa Ben... Sally, we don't know how much longer he has and your father only wants to be with him but I know Grandpa Ben isn't your only fear and if it comes to that you have grandma and grandpa Sam and many people your father and I know who would care for you... that help?"

"Not really but at least I won't be alone."

"I know... I wish I had the words to speak." Sarah whispered as Sally gently laid a hand near her own, both of them silent until they both gasped, surprised by a sudden kick from the baby they and the others in their lives couldn't wait for the arrival of.