After supper that night Sara was glowing. Aunt Catherine noticed Sara's attitude, but did not say anything. She simply smiled at her niece as they put away the leftovers. When the dishes were done, Sara heard a light knock on the kitchen door. Aunt Catherine opened it and Gil stepped in. Sara smiled at him and he smiled back.

"Would you like to take a walk with me?" he asked Sara.

She looked back at Aunt Catherine, who smiled and nodded. Sara untied her apron and hung it on it's peg. She wrapped her woolen shawl around her and tied her hood on, for the days were getting colder. She had a silk shawl, but it was for springtime walks.

"Mind the time, Sara," her aunt said as she stepped outside with Gil.

"Where shall we walk to?" Sara asked him once they were outside.

"Do you know of a good place?" Gil asked.

She thought for a moment. "There is the river," she suggested.

Gil nodded and offered Sara his arm, which she hesitantly took. As they started their walk, she couldn't think of a thing to talk about. The usual topics, such as the weather, bored her.

"What do you plan to do once the war is over?' she asked.

Gil thought for a moment. "I don't know for sure. I would like to go back to New York state and continue my teaching. Perhaps I may settle down again," he said.

"How long do you think before it is over?" she asked.

Gil shrugged. "It shouldn't be long. I mean, we've written the Articles. They wouldn't have done so if they didn't see a end in sight," he said.

"I'm still confused on how the war started," she said to herself.

"It started because of taxes and trade," Gil said.

Sara wrinkled her forehead. "I don't understand," she said.

"After the Indian war Britain was in a rough financial situation, so they created the taxes because they had defended us from Indian raids. Then, we were not permitted to trade with other countries. Taxes were imposed on tea, sugar, news papers and other goods. Then we weren't allowed to print paper money, and the colonies are still in that economic battle. It wasn't right that we couldn't feed ourselves and yet we had taxes on everything," he said.

Sara ran her tongue over her teeth and turned all of his words over in her head. She remembered when the acts were passed and her parents couldn't afford things. They had owned a boarding house, but the money that came in from the boarders went to her father's whiskey supply.

"I tried to read Common Sense, but I couldn't finish it," Sara said.

Gil nodded. "It's a wise pamphlet," he said. "the writer made some good points."

Sara nodded. "One thing I'll never forget is that solider we had to board. He smelled terrible!" she said.

Gil chuckled. "I hope I smell better than he did," he said.

Sara wasn't sure what to answer. "No… you … you smell normal," she said.

Gil looked over at her and smiled. "Thank you, you smell good too," he said.

Sara couldn't believe they were talking about each others smell. This was more than likely going to be one of the worst conversations in history. She could feel her face getting hot and she was sure that it was going to be as red as a tomato.

"Thank you," she said hesitantly.

They walked in silence again for a while The sun was setting up ahead and the sky had turned a beautiful shade of pink. The scene took Sara's breath away.

"Isn't the sky beautiful," she said.

Gil looked at her and gave a nod. "Everything out here is beautiful," he said.

Sara felt her face flush again, it was rare that she was told she was beautiful. Her Aunt Catherine had told her she was when she was younger, but not for a long time now. They walked further until they reached the river and they stopped. There wasn't much to do at the river in the winter, but in the summer it was good for swimming.

"Sara," Gil said.

"Yes," she replied, turning to him.

"Will… will you really write to me?" he asked.

"Yes, I will," Sara said. "I was being honest."

Things grew quiet again and Gil licked his lips. "They hung Hank in town," he said.

Sara was surprised. "How come?" she asked.

"He killed a man. I suppose I should feel bad about it, but he was bad news. You reap what you sow," Gil said.

Sara nodded. "Indeed you do. I never did thank you for saving me that day," she said.

Gil held up his hand. "You don't need to," he said.

"I do so!" Sara said. "I could have been killed if it hadn't been for you."

"I have a confession to make, Sara," he said. "I was so near that day because I was trying to talk to you."

Sara wrinkled her forehead. "What about?" she asked.

"I'm quite taken by you, and I was hoping to tell you so. I had been following you around for a few days, and that's how I was able to get to you so quickly."

Sara wasn't sure how to respond. She was a little shocked that Gil had been following her, but truthfully she was flattered.

"I do suppose we better get back," she said.

~0~

"What did you and Gil talk about?" Aunt Catherine asked later that night.

Sara pushed the needle through her fabric and sighed. "Not much," she said.

Her aunt put down her sewing and looked at her. "Your Uncle and I took many walks together, and we never did lack for anything to talk about," she said.

Sara smiled and lowered her voice. "He did admit he was taken by me," she said.

Aunt Catherine smiled, but then grew serious. "The feeling of love is wonderful, but you have to remember that he is a solider and the risk of him dying is great," she said

Sara nodded. "I know," she said. "we've agreed to write one another."

Aunt Catherine nodded and picked her sewing back up. "I'm glad. Just remember that you fall in holes and grow in love," she said.

Sara let out a huff and used her nails to pick her stitches out. She hated when she miscounted, but her mind seemed to be elsewhere tonight.

~0~

The next day Gil got a letter confirming that the troops had made it to Valley Forge and he began to ready himself for the journey ahead of him. Uncle Jim lent him one of their horses and Aunt Catherine packed a bag full of food for him.

"What are you gonna do if you run into an Indian, Gil?" John asked as he helped saddle the horse.

Gil shrugged. "I guess whatever I have to do ?" he replied.

"Here," Aunt Catherine said as she brought him a gunny sack full of food. "It's not a lot, but you won't go hungry."

Gil accepted the sack and tied it to the saddle. "Thank you, Mrs. Brass. You and your family has been very kind to me," he said.

"You've helped us as well," Uncle Jim said. "If it hadn't been for you I might have never gotten that wheel fixed!"

Sara lagged behind as everyone said their good-byes. Gil ruffled John's hair and shook Uncle Jim's hand, but said not a word to Sara. Soon Gil mounted the horse, a beautiful bay that Sara rode in the summer, and everyone waved.

"Keep warm," Aunt Catherine said. "It's cold this winter."

Gil nodded. "I will. Farewell," he said.

Sara tried to get her voice to speak up, but she was afraid. Gil looked back at her and gave her a smile. She was sure she would dream of his smile every night until she saw him again.

"Bye Sara," he said.

Somehow, Sara was able to make it past the lump in her throat and speak. "Goodbye, Gil," she said as a tiny tear escaped.

Gil chirruped his horse and he trotted off over the hill. Everyone stood waving to him until he was out of sight, then they returned to the house. Sara lagged behind, looking towards the direction he went until Aunt Catherine said it was time to prepare supper.

~~0~~

December 1777

Sara was sure that she had never been in so much pain in her whole life. She had missed people before, especially after her mother was taken, but Gil had a different place in her heart. She went through her daily routines numbly; like she was an empty shell. She looked for a letter from Gil everyday, but she knew it was too soon to expect one. Finally, one day she heard the postman ride up and hand Uncle Jim a collection of letters. He sat down at the table with them and read one from Uncle Charles, then he opened one from Cousin Nick. Getting mail from family was a highlight of the month. Aunt Catherine loved to hear from Nick and kept every letter that he sent. Finally, Uncle Jim handed her a letter and she saw that it was from Gil.

"Sara got a love letter from Gil," John teased.

Aunt Catherine shot him a stern look and John wiped the smile off his face. Sara turned the letter over in her hands and debated opening.

"You can go upstairs and open it," Aunt Catherine said.

So she hurried up to her bedroom and shut the door. She let the silence ring in her ears a moment, then sat down at her roll-top desk. With a hairpin she swiftly and carefully opened the envelope and read.

Dear Sara,

I didn't know what to say to you the day I left and I hope you still want to write to me. I dream of you every night. Your wonderful thoughts still entertain me and your beautiful face still warms my heart. I arrived at Valley Forge safely and your Aunt's food kept me filled up. I hope this letter finds you and your family well, please do write back. I miss you and I will return to you as soon as I can.

Gil.

Sara put down the letter and sighed. She wanted to respond as quickly as she could. Perhaps, if she wrote it now then Uncle Jim could give it to the postman tomorrow. Quickly she took out her ink and quill pen. Paper was a little hard to find, but she found a new stack in her Aunts room. She sat down and wrote from her heart.

Dear Gil,

Your letter did indeed find me well and I am glad to hear you made it to Valley Forge. I do want us to keep writing and I too didn't know how to say good-bye to you. I dream of you too. Your blue eyes remind me of the sky and I see them when I wake up in the morning. I do pray that you come visit me when you can. I long to hear your voice.

Your Sara