Chapter 9

January 17, 1789

"Sally?" Ben whispered, his eyes twinkling as they both sat at the window, both eating warm bowls off oatmeal as they watched the still falling snow "I believe today is the seventeenth or has my memory begun to fail me this horribly?" he asked with a chuckle as he shook his head, almost positive he was correct.

"Your birthday?" Sally whispered, a knowing look in her eyes as she laid her head on his shoulder.

"Sally, my dear, a man never thinks he'll be lucky enough in eighty three years to have a sweet, precious, talented granddaughter like you. Why don't you tell me more about when James and Sarah first took you in?"

"Well,... I admit I didn't feel like I was their daughter... didn't deserve to be."

"Why on earth not, Sally?" Ben whispered as he gently laid a hand on her knee, a mixture of concern and confusion in his grey eyes.

"I was an orphan, why should they have wanted me... they have one they're waiting for."

"But now you know about your papa... what changed your mind?" Ben asked, knowing this was not how Sally currently felt.

"He stood up for me... again." Sally sighed as she remembered something that had happened not long after she came to live with her parents.

"Papa,... Sally called as she stood on a chair, secretly worried she hadn't done her job correctly.

"You finished?" James asked with a smile as he walked away from the printing press to where Sally had been sorting the letter blocks "You're fast." he committed as he helped her down.

"Anything else?" Sally asked, feeling as though it was her job to take care of everything her new mama normally would.

"I suppose you can sweep up a little if you want, I want you to be a kid too." James assured her before walking to the storage room to get more paper.

As she swept, happy to be of some assistance to her parents, Sally was soon surprised as a teenage boy walked in "Hello, what can I do for you?" she spoke up despite her nervousness.

But to her surprise, the boy in turn glared at her, his jaw clenched "Pa sent me here with this." he growled, holding up what he needed printed "You that brat the printer pities?"

"You mean my Papa?" Sally asked, a confused expression on her face as she held the broom steady "He did take me in from the woods."

"Like that's old printer Franklin took him off the streets? Sure that was nothing more than pity." But just as he was about to shove Sally to the floor, the boy was surprised when James rushed in, his eyes burning with rage as he grabbed the boy's arm.

"Dr. Franklin and I helped children who needed it and we did it with love. I am Sally's father whether you or anyone else says otherwise. I know your father has a runaway poster he wants printed. Tell him I'm not doing those but I want you out of here now." James stated, managing to only raise his voice as he watched the boy.

"Men like you are why we have useless girls like her." he stated before heading out the door.

Still burning with anger James knelt on the floor, a hand on each of Sally's shoulders as he looked into her pain filled eyes knowing he'd gone through the same thing when Dr. Franklin took him in.

"Papa..." Sally whispered as James wrapped both arms around her.

"Sally, that boy has been rude to your mother and I since we moved here but his father of course is the one who fills his head... promise me you will never let anyone convince you that you're less than they are because you're our daughter, never mind how you become our daughter because that doesn't matter, only the fact that your mother and I love you and will do everything for you that we can... I'm anxious for you to meet Dr. Franklin before long."

"Dr. Franklin?" Sally whispered, merely knowing the man by his reputation.

"Yes, your mother and I have worked for him for years." James whispered "You'll love him."

"Just like your papa endured." Ben agreed with a sigh "Sweetheart, I hope you know I love you just as your parents do."

"I know." Sally whispered as she took his bowl, smiling as she walked down to the kitchen to wash the breakfast dishes.

Once she'd finished the dishes, Sally started back upstairs when she was surprised as her papa and Grandpa Sam came in from outside, both with relieved expressions as they had obviously been trying to hide something.

"Sally, how's your mama?" Samuel asked.

"Grandma's with her, Grandpa Ben and I just finished breakfast... what are you hiding?"

"We were going to wait until tonight but..." with a mischievous grin as he and James revealed the handcrafted cane the two had been trying to hide.

"For Grandpa Ben's birthday?" Sally whispered, marveling at what Sam had created.

"Who else?" James asked her with a wink.

"Can't think of another man I'd rather create this for." Samuel agreed before the three headed up the steps, the men relaying their plan of action to Sally as they went.

Finally at the top of the stairs, all three walked into Ben's room, the elderly man appearing to be lost in his thoughts.

"Grandpa Ben?" Sally whispered as she laid a hand on his arm "Do you feel alright?"

Looking up Ben smiled, gently laying a hand on top of Sally's "I'm fine, dear just thinking... about how fortunate I am to have people like you, your parents, your grandparents and my friends who are here for me... even if I am obnoxious sometimes."

"No, you're not..." James whispered, Ben's words confusing him as he knelt "you're caring and courageous, I probably wouldn't be here if it weren't for you but that's why all of us are so willing to help you... because you've done so much for the rest of us."

"I'm glad, it just seems nowadays how many nights I lay in bed, where I could've possibly done some good, something an old man seldom does."

"Dr. Franklin,... you can't mean that."

Turning around all three men and Sally looked to the doorway, all surprised to see Elizabeth and Sarah.

"Sarah..." Samuel whispered, forgetting about their surprise entirely as he handed the cane to James before taking his daughter in his arms and leading her to the chair beside Ben "is everything alright?"

Past her irritation at the overly caring men in her life, Sarah could only shake her head as she smiled "I'm just tired Father, nothing unusual... not now anyway." she whispered, her hand resting on it's usual spot, something that had become normal the closer she and James came to becoming parents.

"Dr. Franklin, What Sarah means is what you do day to day, talking to Sally and easing her worries... how can you think you're not doing acts of goodness?" James questioned as he handed Ben What Samuel had created, his arm now lovingly wrapped around Sarah's shoulders "I know it's not what you're used to in Congress but what little acts of kindness you do... bringing happiness to a young girl's life, it's every bit as meaningful... I know you'll do the same for Sally's little sibling."

"You're right." Ben admitted with a sigh "But James what is this beautiful creation?" Ben questioned as he looked over the cane, running his fingers over the eagle head Samuel had carved as the top of it, looking at the other details that had been carved into it as well.

"Happy Birthday Dr. Franklin." James grinned "Samuel made it."

"Samuel..." Ben whispered, shaking his head as he looked to his friend "I've had many a cane over the years, most of my own design but this is one of the most beautiful one's I've ever laid my eyes on."

"That's not all." James added, causing Ben to gasp with surprise "Special edition of the Gazette with a new piece by Sally."

"James..." Ben whispered, his emotions now overwhelming as tears trickled down his cheeks "I feel so honored."

"Sarah?" Ben whispered as the two sat together after supper, smiling as he thought over the day he'd just spent with so many of his family and friends "Sally told me about her early days with you and James but I can't help asking... what were your parents' reactions to her?"

"Well..." at this Sarah sighed as she looked down, knowing her mother meant well but she was insistent her daughter had the best by British standards.

"I understand, your mother has been a friend of mine for years and she's a great person but what we, you, James, your father and I, she'll never understand... well not yet, the passion we share for this land but she did seem willing to listen on the ship from England. Of course I've known your father longer and I don't believe he will try anything against our current beliefs."

"All I want is for her to allow Sally to be our daughter without trying to push her views from England on her and I'm sure she thinks she'll have an easier time manipulating this little one."

"I'm not so sure your father will allow that." Ben stated with a smile, knowing how tolerant Samuel had been when they'd worked together during the French and Indian war " Now, your parents and Sally aren't here, I want to know what was so upsetting you didn't want to tell me."

"Dr. Franklin, like I said mother means well but..."

"You excited to meet my parents?" Sarah asked as she, Sally and James walked to the garden where her parents spent most of their time.

Hesitantly Sally nodded, hoping her new grandparents accepted her as well as her parents had.

As she and her mother followed James into the garden where they were met by a smiling man wearing a buckskin suit, his red beard showing some grey though his face didn't reflect his age.

"Samuel." James greeted his father in law, despite their still budding friendship not being fully concrete both men were obviously comfortable with one another.

"My granddaughter?" Samuel asked as he took Sarah into his arms, still unable to believe his precious daughter would soon be a mother herself.

"Sally... she's still a bit uncomfortable father but James and I... helping us at the printshop has helped her some." Sarah quickly whispered, hoping her father wouldn't be too overbearing.

Understanding, Samuel gently kissed his daughter before kneeling as he held out a hand for his new granddaughter "I'm happy to finally meet my new granddaughter... Sally, I hope you'll accept me as I already have you."

"Grandpa Sam?":Sally whispered as she hesitantly took his hand.

"Sarah?" Elizabeth soon called, laying down a tray before she sat down, returning to her needlepoint "I was wondering when I'd see you again. I hope James is good to you and my... granddaughter."

"I couldn't ask him to do more mother." Sarah whispered, glad her father and James were leading Sally to the stables, already knowing she didn't want her to overhear anything that was about to be said.

Nodding in response to her daughter's words Elizabeth sighed, obviously on edge "Are you sure you and James can handle this... raising a proper young lady and a baby?"

"Mother," Sarah gasped, not believing what her mother had just said "do you think I'm a proper lady?" Sarah whispered, wondering where her mother was going with their conversation.

"If they consider you one over here I suppose you are but truthfully... I have to say no." Elizabeth responded, the irritation in her voice unmistakable.

"Mother, you've only just met Sally and despite what tragedy she's already had to endure she's perfect... she's still overcoming her emotional issues, which I admit I am the one who sits with her at night when she wakes up, thinking she's back with those horrible men."

"Exactly What a mother does." Elizabeth stated, giving her daughter a look of slight disapproval.

"James finds us both the next morning, asleep in her bed... James has done so much more than I would've imagined asking of him. I'm so greatful to him and Sally, despite the fact she's still uncomfortable when someone comes in the shop she helps him... while I rest some... I admit I do feel slightly guilty about it."

"Because he's doing his job? Why isn't someone else doing some of these things for you?" Elizabeth questioned, not understanding why her daughter was doing so much she didn't need to.

"Mother, this isn't England, we don't have servants to do the things we don't feel like doing for ourselves. James and I are a team, I help do everything in the printshop just as he helps me care for Sally and cooking."

"James?" Elizabeth gasped, obviously irritated.

Sarah prepared to defend her small family when-

"Elizabeth! What are you yelling at our daughter about?" Samuel shouted as he rushed up to his wife and daughter, gently accepting Sarah into his open arms, as tears of frustration and hurt trickled down her cheeks "I've been and will continue to be patient with you as you adjust to life here but leave our daughter and her family out of it. She's built her life here whether you like it or not and I'm proud of everything she's accomplished... I only wish you could be too."

"Sarah..." Ben whispered, the fact he sympathized with her and James's difficulties obvious "I see why you're feeling this way but... I can assure you your mother will come around once this little one is here, she seems to get along with Sally now and everything should fall in place in due time."

"She and Sally do get along well but how do you know she won't try manipulating the baby?" Sarah whispered, her eyes still filled with uncertainty.

At this, Ben smiled as he gently squeezed Sarah's hand "Because I was a father too, I wanted to have a say in my sons' life changing decisions but the first time I laid eyes on my firstborn grandson... it changed me and I believe your mother will too."