Two days before the wedding Gil and Sara drove to Philadelphia to do some shopping and visit with her Uncle Charles. Uncle Charles had never married and didn't have any children. He loved Sara like a daughter and was eager to meet Gil. Sara, on the other hand, was always reserved when she saw Uncle Charles. He always smelled like liquor and tobacco. A smell that never set right with her.

"So you're the man my brother tells me about!?" Uncle Charles said heartily.

Sara nodded. "This is my Gil," she said with a smile.

Uncle Charles shook Gil's hand firmly. "I hope you are worthy of little Sara. She is our only little girl," he said.

Gil laughed. "Sara is my life, sir," he said.

"That's just what I wanted to hear," Uncle Charles replied.

They walked into the house and Uncle Charles had his house servants prepare a nice meal and they ate at the big dining room table. Uncle Charles talked about his days in the Indian war and of his younger days. Sara smiled politely, but Gil was able to converse with him. Sara wasn't too much into politics and such, but tried to be a polite guest.

"Well, " Uncle Charles said as he pushed his plate away. "I suppose you and my Sara have some shopping to do."

Gil nodded. "We just need a few things for our home before it is all finished. I just put brass knobs on the doors," Gil said.

Uncle Charles nodded. "You'll need to keep her safe while you return to the troops," he said.

Sara's eyes widened. She had forgotten that Gil had to go back to fight in this war. All the happiness she had been feeling suddenly disappeared and in it's place was dread.

"I see I have said the wrong thing," Uncle Charles commented when he saw the depressed look on Sara's face.

Gil looked over at Sara and smiled. He thought that she looked beautiful in her blue dress and straw bonnet.

"I suppose we better get our supplies and head back," Gil said as he stood.

Uncle Charles stood. "Yes, I wish you the best," he said as he kissed Sara's cheek.

On their way to town square Gil noticed that Sara was downcast. He tried his best to cheer her up, but noticed he didn't do much good.

"What's troubling you?" he asked.

"I just didn't realize you had to leave again. It slipped my mind," she explained.

Gil picked one of her hands and gave it a kiss. "With the house and the wedding plans, it's understandable," he said.

Sara sighed. "When do you have to go?" she asked.

"I am not sure," Gil replied. "Nick is going to be here soon and we will discuss it. I won't leave right after the ceremony."

Sara laughed at his joke. "I know you won't ," she said.

Gil scratched his beard and thought for a moment. "You know," he said. "how about we get a dog. The rats are bad in the spring and I will feel better knowing you had a dog."

Sara turned to him a smiled. "Can we afford a dog?" she asked.

Gil nodded. "Before I leave we will find a nice young one. One that is gentle, but has a watchful eye," he said.

Sara smiled widely. All her life she had wanted a dog. Her father never allowed it because of the guests and her Uncle Jim said a dog sucked chicken eggs.

"We will have to keep it away from the hens," she said.

Gil nodded. "If a man trains one right then nothing is better than a good watch dog," he said.

When they reached town they tied the horses to a hitching post and Sara grabbed her basket. Gil waited for her to take his arm and they walked towards the hardware store. Philadelphia was busy that day. Children ran to and fro and buggies drove by. When Gil opened the door to the hardware store a bell rang and the owner looked up and greeted them. Gil was looking to buy more nails so he could fashion a shelf for the dishes. Next they went to the dry goods store and bought flour, wheat, sugar and coffee. Gil even surprised Sara and bought her a pound of lemon drops, for he knew she had a craving for them. Sara also bought some fabric for a new dress and some thread for socks. They went back to the wagon and Gil got the horses some water while Sara set her basket in the wagon.

"I figure we better get back," Gil said.

Sara nodded. "I get excited when every day is over," she said with a grin.

Gil pulled Sara close and gave her a kiss. She loved all of his kisses and wanted each one to last forever. In her mind, no one was more perfect than him.

"Gil? Sara said once they settled back into the wagon.

"hmm," he replied.

"Will we have children?" she asked.

Gil looked over at her and smiled. "I hope we do, but that's something we can't say for sure. If we do I will try to be a good father, but if we don't that will be alright too," he said.

"I hope we do.," she said.

~0~

The next day Sara missed work to clean her new house from top to bottom. First she scrubbed the floors and then she shook out the braided rugs. She wiped down the table and cook stove, then lastly she washed the windows. When she was done she sighed with content and sat on the bed that would soon belong to both her and Gil. The pantry had been stocked with food and an Iron skillet hung on the wall. There were eggs that she had collected from the chickens and a few vegetables. She wanted to start her own garden, but that took plowing, something she doubted could be done before Gil left.

"It looks nice," Aunt Catherine said as she walked in through the open front door.

Sara smiled and nodded. "I think so as well," she said.

The two women stopped and looked at each other for a moment. Deep inside Sara was sorry to be leaving her aunt, who had always kept her fed and healthy.

"Tomorrow is going to be the beginning of something new for you," Aunt Catherine said.

"I know," Sara said. "I'm a little nervous."

Aunt Catherine smoothed her hair back. "Don't be. I feel like my daughter is getting married. I have seen you grow up," she said.

"I know. Sometimes, as a child, I liked you more than my own mother," Sara said.

Aunt Catherine looked at her with love. "You're mother loved you and I know you miss her still. She will be smiling down on you tomorrow," she said.

Sara sighed and held back her tears. She didn't want to cry when everything was so wonderful. She was going to be Gil's wife in a matter of hours and that meant that she would never truly be alone again. It meant that through all times that they would have each other.

~0~

The next morning Sara awoke with a start. She had been unable to sleep and had tossed and turned all during the night. Before she had gone to bed she had packed up the last of her belongings and made sure that her dress would fit her perfectly. They had made the dress so that she could wear it on more than one occasion. It looked like a white garden dress and she would be able to wear it to tea parties and such. She hurriedly got up off the couch and looked out the window. It was perfect weather for a perfect day.

"Move along cousin," Nick joked from the doorway.

Nick had arrived the day before and had been teasing her nonstop. He said she was about to take 'the big leap' into the 'wild blue yonder'. She was too excited to take all his teasing to heart.

"You mind your own business." she said as she got up and shut the door in his face.

Getting prepared for her wedding seemed to take longer than the actual wait itself. She took her bath and washed her hair. She let it dry on its own and it dried into ringlet curls. Her dress was short-sleeved and was all white. It fit snugly around her bosom, but had a full skirt. With her molded hat she would look beautiful.

"You need your something borrowed," Aunt Catherine said.

She disappeared upstairs and soon came down with a pair of white shoes. They looked almost exactly like her black ones except these were white and had silver buckles.

"Oh, they're lovely," Sara said as she took them.

Aunt Catherine smiled and looked at her with admiration. "Beautiful shoes for a beautiful bride," she said.

Sara took inventory of everything she had. She had her something borrowed, blue , and new. She also had the rest of her things packed and ready to go. Aunt Catherine had baked her a cake out of white flour and had mixed a white icing for it. There would also be a roast chicken, potatoes and cheeses biscuits for the wedding supper. As soon as it was noon Gil came for her. He was wearing what looked to be a new suit. It had a blue tailcoat and black breeches.

"We'll be waiting," Uncle Jim said as he kissed her cheek.

John came up and gave her a hug. "I am so happy for you, Sara," he said.

"Thank you," she said to everyone.

"We'll have a supper ready," Aunt Catherine said.

Tenderly she took Gil's hand and they walked towards town. The chapel was just on the outskirts, before they reached main street, so they hadn't far to walk. Reverend Tucker was in his study and his wife told them to wait while she got him. While they waited Sara felt her heart thud in her chest. She was amazed that she made it to this point in her life. What other surprises did this life have for her?

"The Reverend will see you," Mrs. Tuckers said.

Gil and Sara stood and slowly entered the sanctuary. It seemed unusually big to Sara that day. She had sat in these pews as a child and heard countless sermons, but today she was entering for a different reason. They joined hands at the alter and they said their vows to one another. Vows to honor and protect each other in sickness and in health. Then before she knew it, they were married. They shared the first kiss of their married life and Reverend Tucker shut his Bible. Gil tipped the Reverend and turned to Sara.

"Does it feel any different yet?" he asked with a smile.

Sara concentrated on her body for a moment. "I feel… like I belong," she said.

Gil kissed her again. "We belong to each other know," he said.

~0~

As soon as Sara stepped back into her uncle's house everyone applauded. Aunt Catherine gave her a kiss on the cheek and John gave her a rose he had picked.

"Welcome to the family, Gil," Nick said.

Sara laughed. "I beg you not to scare him off," she said.

Gil laughed as well. "Don't worry, my dear. It would take an act of God to get me to move from your side," he said.

"I hope everyone is hungry," Aunt Catherine said. " I made enough food to feed the Continental Army!"

Sara attempted to tie her aunt's extra apron on. Aunt Catherine took it away and told her to sit at the table.

"Today is your wedding day! You and Gil are our guests of honor," she said.

Sara took her seat next her new husband and waited while Aunt Catherine dished the food out. She heaped everyone's plate, but Sara was afraid that she had lost her appetite. Her stomach seemed to twist into knots, for she knew that the wedding was not entirely over. That night she knew that she would truly be his and she was afraid.

"Sara, did you hear me?' Nick said.

Sara looked up. "I'm sorry," she said.

Aunt Catherine seemed to catch her eye and she winked. "Sara is still nervous," she said.

Nick took a bite of potatoes. "I said that it was a nice day," he said, repeating what he had said.

Sara nodded. "It is," she said.