Chapter 2: All He Could Do
"'Dear Thomas,
Though many seasons have passed, it seems like only yesterday when we last saw each other in Charleston. It was with great sadness that I learned of its fall to the British under the command of Lord Cornwallis. I received a letter from Aunt Charlotte telling me she had closed her home in Charleston after the city fell and moved to her plantation on the Santee. Here in the North our campaign has been marked by defeat and privation. Our losses have been grievous. My good friend, Peter Cuppin, fell at Elizabethtown. His death has been difficult to bear. We are told that soon we will march South with General Gates to fight the Redcoats under Cornwallis. I envy you, your youth and your distance from this cruel conflict in which I am a part. But I consider myself fortunate to be serving the cause of liberty. And though I fear death, each day in prayer I reaffirm my willingness necessary to give my life in its service. Pray for me, but above all pray for the cause.
Your loving brother,
Gabriel.'"
Thomas read aloud to the children.
They had been so happy to hear from him. Lily especially was. She had not seen him in two years. Her heart ached for him. Letters weren't enough to satisfy the dull ache deep inside. As Gabriel envied Thomas, Lily envied Katarina for having Thomas with her. She scolded herself for this.
Later that day, there were distant thuds coming from nearby. Almost like distant thunder. The family gathered on the porch behind their father.
"Six pounders - lots of them."
"How for away?" asked Samuel
"Oh, they're a long way off. Most likely headed in the other direction."
Thomas entered, bearing arms and giving one to Nathan. Benjamin stopped him.
"Put those in the house."
"But father, they might come in hand if - "
"Thomas, must I tell you again?"
Reluctantly, he took them back inside.
"Let's all stay close into the house tonight, alright?"
ยค
Lily sat at the table with Nathan, Samuel, Margaret, and Susan. Abigail was helping bring out the rest of dinner.
"We'll have to fight them off." said Nathan.
"Won't father do that?" Samuel replied.
"They'll probably kill us men. And do Lord knows what to you women."
"Nathan." Abigail scolded.
Lily glared at Nathan for saying such a thing. Nathan smiled to himself. Normal conversations resumed until they heard a gun's hammer being cocked back in the hall. They looked up.
"Slowly turn."
"Father..."
Lily sat up - Gabriel. She ran out into the hall, calling for him.
"Abigail - bandages and water!" demanded Benjamin.
Thomas and Katarina dashed down the steps to see what the noise was. Lily and Abigail quickly ran into the room after Benjamin helped Gabriel in. Thomas ran in.
"The battle, where you there?"
Lily stared at Thomas, "Not now."
Abigail took the children upstairs so they wouldn't see their brother's wounds. Benjamin left to see what was going on outside, the noise had gotten closer. Lily took over and began cleaning and bandaging Gabriel's wounds.
"What did this?"
"A bayonet."
"Dear God, Gabriel."
Outside the battle raged on. Soon more wounded would gather upon the Martin's porch like flies to a garbage pile.
Gabriel looked up at Lily after she finished dressing his wounds. She gently cleaned the blood from his face.
"Thank you."
"I had to. No need to thank me."
He kissed her hand.
"Sleep now, my Gabriel."
"Only if you give me a kiss goodnight."
"I think that's possible."
Lily leaned over and kissed him lightly. She would have made it more passionate, but he was wounded.
"Night." she walked out of the room.
"'Dear Thomas,
Though many seasons have passed, it seems like only yesterday when we last saw each other in Charleston. It was with great sadness that I learned of its fall to the British under the command of Lord Cornwallis. I received a letter from Aunt Charlotte telling me she had closed her home in Charleston after the city fell and moved to her plantation on the Santee. Here in the North our campaign has been marked by defeat and privation. Our losses have been grievous. My good friend, Peter Cuppin, fell at Elizabethtown. His death has been difficult to bear. We are told that soon we will march South with General Gates to fight the Redcoats under Cornwallis. I envy you, your youth and your distance from this cruel conflict in which I am a part. But I consider myself fortunate to be serving the cause of liberty. And though I fear death, each day in prayer I reaffirm my willingness necessary to give my life in its service. Pray for me, but above all pray for the cause.
Your loving brother,
Gabriel.'"
Thomas read aloud to the children.
They had been so happy to hear from him. Lily especially was. She had not seen him in two years. Her heart ached for him. Letters weren't enough to satisfy the dull ache deep inside. As Gabriel envied Thomas, Lily envied Katarina for having Thomas with her. She scolded herself for this.
Later that day, there were distant thuds coming from nearby. Almost like distant thunder. The family gathered on the porch behind their father.
"Six pounders - lots of them."
"How for away?" asked Samuel
"Oh, they're a long way off. Most likely headed in the other direction."
Thomas entered, bearing arms and giving one to Nathan. Benjamin stopped him.
"Put those in the house."
"But father, they might come in hand if - "
"Thomas, must I tell you again?"
Reluctantly, he took them back inside.
"Let's all stay close into the house tonight, alright?"
ยค
Lily sat at the table with Nathan, Samuel, Margaret, and Susan. Abigail was helping bring out the rest of dinner.
"We'll have to fight them off." said Nathan.
"Won't father do that?" Samuel replied.
"They'll probably kill us men. And do Lord knows what to you women."
"Nathan." Abigail scolded.
Lily glared at Nathan for saying such a thing. Nathan smiled to himself. Normal conversations resumed until they heard a gun's hammer being cocked back in the hall. They looked up.
"Slowly turn."
"Father..."
Lily sat up - Gabriel. She ran out into the hall, calling for him.
"Abigail - bandages and water!" demanded Benjamin.
Thomas and Katarina dashed down the steps to see what the noise was. Lily and Abigail quickly ran into the room after Benjamin helped Gabriel in. Thomas ran in.
"The battle, where you there?"
Lily stared at Thomas, "Not now."
Abigail took the children upstairs so they wouldn't see their brother's wounds. Benjamin left to see what was going on outside, the noise had gotten closer. Lily took over and began cleaning and bandaging Gabriel's wounds.
"What did this?"
"A bayonet."
"Dear God, Gabriel."
Outside the battle raged on. Soon more wounded would gather upon the Martin's porch like flies to a garbage pile.
Gabriel looked up at Lily after she finished dressing his wounds. She gently cleaned the blood from his face.
"Thank you."
"I had to. No need to thank me."
He kissed her hand.
"Sleep now, my Gabriel."
"Only if you give me a kiss goodnight."
"I think that's possible."
Lily leaned over and kissed him lightly. She would have made it more passionate, but he was wounded.
"Night." she walked out of the room.