May 1778
Sara counted her remaining money and looked in the glass case at the fabric. Uncle Jim had taken her and John with him to Philadelphia and Sara was browsing at the dress shop. So far she held a brown package that contained a fitted straw hat. It had a dark blue ribbon that tied under her chin and white false flowers on top. She also bought a yard of lace and a silk ribbon of deep blue.
"What do you see, Sara?" John asked as he walked up with his cork gun and hat.
Sara sighed. "This blue calico," she said.
John looked into the case. "The one with the lilac sprigs on it?" he asked.
Sara nodded. "It will go perfect with my new straw hat. I can make a lace collar and use the blue ribbon to put my mother's charm on," she said.
John popped his gun and smiled at her. "You want to look nice for Gil," he teased.
Sara pulled his hat down over his head. "That's not your business," she said.
"Sara," Uncle Jim said as he walked up. "I am packing the wagon. You and Johnny need to hurry up."
Sara pursed her lips and nodded. "Sir, can I have six yards of the blue calico and a packet of lemon drops?" she asked.
She counted out the money and laid it on the counter. The storekeeper nodded and measured out the fabric. The calico would also go nice with the new black shoes she bought. The shoes were leather and had shiny silver buckles so she could fasten them. All of Gil's letters made her want to keep up her appearance. She had been giving her skin an almond paste treatment once a month and had been trying her hair in different styles. Since her hair was naturally curly, she would sometimes try it held back while her brown curls cascaded down her back. She figured that with, her new hat, she would look like a portrait. Face paint was one thing that she had never gotten involved in, but she had tried a bit for practice. It was frowned upon and most women only wore a little.
"The natural look is what is in style," Aunt Catherine had said. "you have natural rosy cheeks and beautiful skin."
The storekeeper handed her the package of fabric and she stepped out with John into the brightness of the day. Outside the town was busy and horses' hooves could be heard going Clipity-Clop down the street. Sara loved going to Philadelphia. They were able to visit with Uncle Jim's brother, Uncle Charles, but most of all Sara was interested in the College. She wanted so bad to walk into the building and wander the halls.
Uncle Jim had parked the wagon just outside Independence Hall, where the Spring Ball was held. Sara had never been interested in the Ball, but Gil's interest in her made her wonder about such things. If he happened to visit the week of the Ball, then no doubt they would go together. Of course, she would have to get out her mothers Ball gown. She only hoped it wasn't too moth eaten.
"John, Sara," Uncle Jim said. "come now."
~~0~~
It always took hours to drive to Philadelphia and the wagon ride was always boring. The valley they lived in was called Brandywine and was still recovering from the battle. There were many homes along the way, but not as many around Uncle Jim's land. Sara and John had finished sucking on the tart lemon drops and were now gazing at any animals they could see along the road home.
"Do you see that fox , Sara?" John asked.
Sara looked where he was pointing and saw a bright red fox scurry away with a kit in it's mouth. It looked at them with it's black eyes as it crossed the road and hurried into a thicket.
"Oh look," she said with a smile. "it has it's baby."
"I wonder if that hurts," John said. "being carried in your mama's mouth like that. If mama had carried me in her mouth I don't think I would have been comfortable."
Sara laughed. "Animals have extra skin," Sara explained. "it doesn't hurt them so much."
"I guess," John said.
Again silence fell. The wagon creaked along the road, bouncing them back and fourth. The air had turned warmer, though it wasn't warm enough to walk barefooted yet. Sara knew that she was too old to go barefoot, but nothing felt as good as feeling the dewy grass on your hot feet.
"Are you going to marry Gil?" John asked.
Sara wrinkled her forehead. "What makes you ask that?" she asked.
John shrugged. "I was just wondering. You always get sad when you read his letters. Why do you want to marry him if he makes you sad?" he asked.
Sara smiled. "I'm sad because I miss him. I'm afraid he won't come back," she said.
"I don't think anything can kill Gil," John said. "did you see him climb on the roof and plug up that hole!? Papa never lets me on the roof."
Sara did remember that day, only because she was holding the ladder for him and was scared to death that he would fall and break his neck.
"It's dangerous on the roof," Sara said.
John shrugged. "I like it better in trees anyway," he said. "do you remember when you used to climb trees with me?"
"Yes," Sara said. "but I am too old for that now."
"Well, I don't think I want to grow up if you can't climb trees," John said.
"It just happens, John. We can't stop it," Sara replied.
"Well, if I have to grow up then I'm still going to climb trees with my children. Are you and Gil going to have children?" he asked.
"I don't even know if we will marry!" Sara said. "but if we do, I suppose so."
John nodded. "Do you love Gil?" he asked.
Sara gaped at him. "What's with all the question!? I suppose I do. He says he loves me," she said.
John shrugged. "I was just asking. You don't have to be a girl about it," he said.
Silence fell again and Sara looked out into the forest. Now and then she would see an animal or two wobbling away form the noise the wagon made. In her heart she wondered where Gil was and what he was doing. Though they expressed their affection for each other in their letters, she was still unsure. Time was passing by so slowly and sometimes she couldn't remember the sound of his voice. Was all their writing in vain or would he come back to her?
~~0~~
The next day was house cleaning day. Sara and Aunt Catherine moved everything out of the kitchen and scrubbed the floor. They wore old tattered house dresses so that they wouldn't ruin their good clothes. After the floor was scrubbed they polished the chairs and the silver that always sat out on the sideboard. Then, with John's help, they moved the cook-stove out and raked out all of the ashes. After the kitchen was clean as a whistle, they started on the sitting room. Aunt Catherine loved her sitting room and kept the doors closed unless company came.
"Now, be mindful of the carpet," Aunt Catherine instructed as she opened the doors.
First they moved the sofas and chair out into the foyer, then they pulled all the tacs out of the carpet and hung it on the wash line outside. They gave John the broom and made him beat the dust out until no more was left. While the carpet was up they scrubbed the floor and washed the windows. Sara used a long pole to reach the cobwebs in the high corners. The pole had a bunched cloth at the end to clean the ceiling. After the floor had been scrubbed and not a web was in sight, they polished the furniture. Uncle Jim tacked mosquito netting to the windows so that air could come into the stuffy house.
"There," Aunt Catherine said as Uncle Jim tacked the last of the netting up. "now it won't be so stuffy. We can breath the fresh air."
Sara sighed. "It's time to stop for lunch. Do you want me to make something?" She said.
Aunt Catherine nodded. "Heat up some of the bean porridge from last night," she said.
Sara nodded and took her apron of it's peg. She uncovered the bean porridge and started a fire in the hearth. Lately, she had been wanting to practice her housewifery. She didn't know for sure if she and Gil would marry, but she supposed it couldn't hurt. She hung the kettle of bean porridge on the hook over the fire and added some slices of ham that had been left over. Nothing was better than bean porridge after you had worked long and hard. She imagined Gil working hard, maybe he would still teach or maybe he would get another job, and he would come home and she would have supper waiting. She wanted to put her best foot forward and be the best lady he could have on his arm.
"Next is the bedrooms," Aunt Catherine said as she set out the plates and bowls.
Sara nodded. She loved her home, but she hated to clean it. She wondered why it was that they had to clean everything in one day. Why couldn't they do a little one day and a little the next. Instead from sun up to sun down they were doing house work. The house wasn't small, but it wasn't big either. Upstairs there were four bedrooms and downstairs there was the kitchen, the sitting room, the foyer and an office. Luckily, the office didn't have to be cleaned.
"Okay, I will dish out lunch and you go and wash up," Aunt Catherine said.
~~0~~
June 1778
"Sara, we have a guest. Why don't you wash up and come down," Uncle Jim said to her one day.
Sara washed her face, to hide the tears that had made their marks on her cheeks, and went downstairs with him. She had been crying because she hadn't gotten a letter from Gil in a while and she was sure he was dead. Then, by the door with his cap in his hand, she saw Gil. Everything around her seemed unreal then and she thought for sure that she was in a dream. He looked worn and tired. Dark circles were under his eyes and a beard had started to grow. He had also lost weight.
"Hello, Sara," he said with a smile.
It had been so long since she heard his voice that she had nearly forgotten it's sweet sound. For a moment she just stood looking at him, as if she were paralyzed. Beside him stood Nick, with Aunt Catherine hugging him and kissing his cheek.
"I'm staying in town for a few days," he said.
Sara only nodded. "I'm happy to see you," she said as she descended the stairs.
"I found it hard to believe that Gil was talking about the cousin who pushed me into the river. He told me you were kind, but I begged to differ!" Nick said with a laugh .
Sara hugged him and noticed that she could feel his bones through his clothes, something that scared her. Nick had always been healthy and muscular, but now he was thin.
"Well," Aunt Catherine said. "I have supper ready. Gil, stay and eat with us."
Gil smiled. "I will, thank you. Sara, I brought you something," he said.
Sara stepped into the sitting room with him and for a moment they did nothing but look at each other. It took a moment for either of them to speak, for they felt as if there were not enough words.
"I was wondering if I may court with you," he finally asked. "I've written your uncle and he said that I could ask you."
It all seemed to be happening so fast. First Gil was standing by the door, and then he was asking her to court with him.
"I don't know what to say," she said stupidly.
Gil smiled. "Well, you say yes or no," he said.
"Then I will have to say yes," she said. "I will."
Gil patted his pockets and smiled nervously at her. "I have to be honest. When I came into this war I was ready to die. I thought that I didn't have anything left to live for," he said as he pulled a ring out of one of his pockets. "It's not your engagement ring, but when I saw it I knew you had to have it."
Gil lifted Sara's hand and slipped the ring onto her finger. It felt cool and new on her hand. It was a simple gold ring, but it had a blue diamond setting that was in the shape of a butterfly. Sara didn't want to think of how much it had cost.
"It's beautiful," she said.
"You're beautiful and I've missed you so much," he said.
Sara smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She wanted to kiss him like an engaged couple would, but the time would come.
"I love it," she said. "and I am very happy that you are back. I have missed you too."