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I do not own Liberty's Kids or any characters.
The sun light streamed in through the windows of the shop onto James' bed where he slowly woke. He rose and looked out the window onto the street; people were already starting to move about their days and he realized that he had over slept. He was supposed to have set the type for a new article before breakfast, but based on what he could smell Sarah had already taken the biscuits out of the fire and people might even be eating already.
He hadn't been sleeping very well the past few nights and he couldn't figure out why. At first he thought that the beds in New Jersey were just so comfortable that since then his own rock hard mattress wasnt satisfying him, but now a few nights later he wasnt sure. He had been uneasy and stressed ever since he and Sarah had gotten back, especially since their conversation together in her room. But James didnt want to think about that. That conversation bothered him. Sarah hadnt acted like herself at all, in fact she hadnt been acting like herself in general since the news of Ericson. But then he hadnt been acting like himself either. Why had he ever said that he would drive them around town? Why couldnt he sleep now? What possessed him to start acting a fool yesterday when Ericson had left? He was quite happy with the result of his mockery, and even surprised that Sarah was so light-hearted about it. He had expected her to be her usual self, and hit him or something. But instead the joke had been great fun, and James couldnt help but find himself actually enjoying his time with Sarah, an unusual occurrence.
Things were becoming different now. The two of them were different, their lives were different. Soon he figured Sarah would go off and marry Ericson and possibly go back to England, and eventually they would settle down and have children and all that stuff that grown ups did. It was weird to think about. Sarah doing grown up things like having children. He would miss her, but he would be very happy for her, I mean that is what all women want isnt it? To go and have children and find a husband. Sarah would be very happy he was sure, Ericson really was the perfect person for her.
"James! Get down here!" His thoughts were broken by (well speak of the devil) Sarah herself.
James spun around and frantically began to dress. He had stared out the window for quite some time, and he was only getting later and later for breakfast. Now he had Sarah yelling at him too to hurry up. With that he tossed on his shoes and buttoned his last shirt button, throwing open his door and jumping down stairs, to an expectant Moses, Sarah and Henri.
"James we must go. There's a story breaking right now down town." Sarah said to James clearly exasperated at him for taking so long and looking so disheveled.
"But I havent even had breakfast yet. Im going to go grab something to eat." James whined making his way to the kitchen.
Moses pulled his arm back just as he tried to go. "No time James, Cesar is already all saddled up for you and Sarah."
"A shop caught fire, and while no one is hurt Moses says that the owner is a staunch patriot and may have had army supplies in his store room. We need to go and start interviewing." Sarah said taking James' other arm turning him towards the door.
"Alright lets go!" James said, practically running out the door now. He hadn't known it was so serious, but really a story like that he couldnt give up. He and Sarah needed to get there as quick as they could. He grabbed her hand and pulled her out the door and towards the barn. Within moments the two were ridding towards town.
"Oh my!" James could hear Sarah gasp from behind him as they got closer to the shop. "James there's so much of it." And Sarah was right. The whole shop was steadily becoming engulfed in flames. Though luckily there were no shops or homes right near it, it was clear that the building would be destroyed soon. When the two got close enough James stopped Cesar and they hopped down. Sarah ran ahead to find people to speak with while James tied up the horse. He then wandered around trying to find Sarah in all the hazy smoky air.
"Sarah!" James called, worried that he would not be able to find her. It was so smoky and hard to see, his eyes began to water.
"James!" He could hear Sarah call. "Im over here! Theres less smoke this way!" He headed towards her voice and sure enough there was a little less smoke, though some still lingered, around the back of the house. This was good because this also seemed to be where all the action was happening. Sarah was standing speaking with another girl about their age who looked quite a mess.
"Whats happening?" James shouted to Sarah over the din of everyone moving and helping. To James' shock he saw people going into the building, though the flames were growing. "It someone still inside?"
"No I dont think so." Said Sarah back. "I was just talking to this young lady, Isabelle Smith. Its her father's shop and she says they are going in to get things." Sarah gestured to Isabelle, the disheveled girl on her right.
"What are they getting that's so important?" James asked Isabelle, clearly incredulous about what was worth possibly burning to death
"Its supplies." She said softly. "For Washington's army. Some food, clothes, gunpowder"
"Gun powder!" James yelled, his eyes widening at the thought of explosives in this burning building he was standing near. He quickly grabbed the two ladies' hands and started running up the hill away from the building.
"Dont worry they took the gun powder out first, and put it way off in the distance. It wont be a problem." Isabelle explained. While this somewhat comforted James, he still felt more comfortable with their new place up the hill away from a possible fiery inferno.
"So your father was housing supplies for the army. When were they going to be shipped? How much did he have? Do you think much was lost? How did the fire start anyways?" James questioned in a flurry, leaving Isabelle no chance to respond. He realized with a look from Sarah that this was not the best interview technique, but sometimes he go excited and couldnt help himself.
"Um well..." Isabelle started out.
"Oh James look!" Sarah shouted pointing down towards the street. There the three of them could see a set of red coats marching towards the shop, and James didnt need to many guesses to figure out what they were doing there.
"Oh no!" Shouted Isabelle looking like she was about to cry. "Papa stop oh Papa you have to leave!" But of course they were far away and her father couldnt hear her shouting. What exactly she wanted him to do James wasnt really sure. The red coats had already seen him, and all the supplies were sitting out on the grass. But still she yelled to her father, and the three watched as the soldiers came and confiscated all of the supplies and took her father with them for questioning.
James decided he needed to say something to Isabelle, who soon was sobbing and on the ground still yelling to her father.
"Do you have a family Isabelle? Maybe we can take you home..." This was apparently the wrong thing for James to say though because Isabelle only sobbed harder and muttered something into her hands that neither Sarah nor James could hear. James didnt know what else to do, he clearly wasn't very good at this. Luckily Sarah, always the practical one, did know what to say.
"Isabelle, would you like to come back to the news paper with us?"
"Yeah you could give us an interview" James said, though quickly regretted it when Sarah sent him a stare that could cut glass.
"James!" She whispered to him. "How could you be so insensitive!"
"Really though Isabelle. You need some food and water and rest. You've had a long day and all this smoke in your system cant be good. We can give you some water to clean up with and Ill even let you borrow some of my dresses if you like. I know you need some help and someone to talk to." Sarah said back in her calming tone to the still crying and dirty Isabelle.
"Yeah and we have some great friends at the shop. They will be able to help with your father and all of this mess. Really you should come back with us." James said in what he hoped was a soothing voice. Slowly Isabelle nodded and stood up. She didn't bother to wipe off her face or dust off her dress, she just started walking. Past the building that was once her father's shop and towards Cesar. Jame helped her and Sarah up onto the horse as he walked beside them slowly all the way back to the news paper.
-Thanks for reading-