Hey here's an update and I apologize for taking so long to get it too you guys. Hope you enjoy this chapter.

I don't own Liberty's Kids or any of it's characters.

RETURN TO PRESENT:

1779, September, 50 miles outside Charleston:

That had been a few weeks ago and now James lay in the bushes with his comrades waiting, for the British convoy. During his time at the camp it had become apparent that James was a natural with a musket, never missing a shot and being the quickest at reloading.

"Looks like you're as good with that gun as a pen eh." Captain Smith had commented impressed causing James to smile with pride. This praise also helped him get integrated into the camp, with many young men coming to watch him shoot and timing how fast he could reload. James competed with many of the other soldiers, but none could beat him. He was seen as a "god" by the other soldiers and treated well at the camp. During his first day at the mess hall he had awkwardly sat by himself but later on found himself surrounded by the other soldiers, the same men who surrounded him now. Hidden in the shadows poised to shot anything baring red.

This didn't mean James wasn't home sick. No he was extremely homesick. It wasn't the same fighting over food with the soldiers. When he fought Henri he always won, but here he sometimes didn't. Not to mention his time with the Captain Smith had shown him what a kind soul Moses had been, being not nearly as strict as the Captain. Most of all he missed Sarah. He had written her everyday since his arrival at the camp, but only received a few letters in return. The first time had receive a letter from Sarah the other men had poked fun at him and his little loyalist, but soon they were asking all about her. All the men had loved ones that they missed and hearing a letter from Sarah was comforting to them. They simply would replace Sarah's name with their loved one and be content.

The men had asked James what Sarah looked like one day. James remembered looking up into the blue sky and smiling. He had closed his eyes picturing Sarah and described her to them.

"Well she has this fiery mane of hair, red like the flames of our camp fires. Her eyes are huge and a green, a deep green like grass after the rain. Her lips are so full and soft."

"How do you know that mate?" One of the soldiers interrupted.

"Because she kissed me, on the cheek, before I left." James said opening his eyes and looking at the men with a sad smile, "But that's all I've ever received."

"You love her don't yah." Another soldier said giving him an empathetic look.

"How could I not." James said looking passed the men. He felt his chest clench and ache missing her, God how he missed her. He never would tell the men but there were days when he had difficulty bring her face to memory. Mornings he would wake up from nightmares of Sarah crying over his body asking him why he left her, why he didn't love her.

Clenching his hand into a fist James tried to focus on the task at hand. Maybe if this ambush was successful he would see Sarah. Maybe she would come to report on it. Maybe he would be able to hold her in his arms and never let her go. Maybe he would be able to tell her how much she meant to him. But it was all for nothing because he knew this ambush was unimportant compared to the other battles of the war. Plus in her last letter Sarah had said she was heading to New York. He remembered the letter line for line, but he had memorized all of her letters. They were his only source of comfort some days, because as much as he loved his companions no one could replace his family at Dr. Franklin's print shop.

Dearest James,

I don't know how much longer I can bare this separation and it tis not only I who is affected. Poor Moses has to work even harder now and with his poor back causing him problems often had difficulty printing the paper. Henri has retracted into himself. He no longer smiles or laughs. The most drastic change is that he is hardly ever hungry. I fear that he will soon become ill ill from lack of food. The journal is doing well, but at times I do find it hard to cover everything on my own. I never realized how much of a help you were until you were gone. I do not know when you shall receive this letter but I leave in a few days for New York. I do not yet know where I will be staying but when I have an address for you to contact I shall write again. I wish you the best and send my prayers everyday that you return home safe. Please be careful James.

Yours truly,

Sarah Phillips

Yours truly Sarah Phillips how beautiful that sounded, almost like something a lover would send her love while he is at war. But James knew it was not so, simply a kind farewell, a heart full ending to a letter noting more. No matter how much he wished it were. James closed his eyes a took a deep breath trying to ease the ache in his chest. Unconsciously his mind formed the image of Sarah smiling at him telling him to come home soon. The ache grew stronger causing James' eyes to tear up, but he wouldn't let them fall.

James opened his eyes and noticed how quiet the woods had become. He looked around him noting how his men seemed to all be frozen, listening. He scolded himself. He should be like them, focused on the mission not on a girl at home. He should be, but his train of thought was cut short by a loud crack of a twig under someone's foot, someone in red.

Oh a somewhat cliff hanger! Hope you enjoyed this chapter and I will try to update soon so as to not leave you hanging for too long, but no promises. Thanks for reading!

~Purplepanda2