Dearest,
I have news to tell you. There is a young lady in town named Amanda, but we call her Mandy for short. She is truly a beautiful girl and she seems to fancy Nick. I am usually not the one to meddle or pry, but I think we should introduce them to one another. I miss you my darling and still ache for your dark blue eyes and gentleness. To ease my loneliness I have struck up a friendship with some other ladies and we are selling ready-made shirts and dresses. Business is already booming and we have sold a good deal of clothing. How are you, my dear? I hope that you are not ill. I wish I had followed you to Stoney Point. Then I would be reassured that you are getting along fine. I know you worry about me, but I worry about you too. I am afraid that you aren't eating well and I am afraid that you are ill. Oh, when will this war be finished!
Lovingly yours,
Sara
Darling,
I find it funny that this Amanda has a fancy for Nick and I think that he needs to settle down. I am not usually one to meddle either, but since we are family now, it might be proper. I wish you wouldn't worry about me, dear. I would rather you relax and enjoy your walks and visit with your friends. I am glad to hear of your project. It sounds like you will soon be making dresses for the queen! I hope, my darling, that this war will be finished soon. I can not see it lasting much longer and I hope I will return to you soon. How is our child? Can you feel it inside of you yet? I dream every night of seeing our baby and of being a father. I have waited so long to have children. I am afraid , my dear, that we will move after the child comes. I want to raise it in a good environment. Maybe after the war is over, we will move back. Maybe this will be the end of it and we will not have to move. I have to go now, dearest. I hope this letter finds you well. Take care of yourself and of our child.
Your loving husband
My dear husband,
My group of ladies have started a project to make clothes for the soldiers for the coming fall. We have already begun to make socks for the troops. I cannot feel the baby just yet, but soon I will be able to. Hank is being mischievous, you would be proud of him. He is quite a hunter and our rat problem has gone down. There has been a Tory problem in Chadds Ford. There had been some buildings burned and am afraid the madness will come here. I am so glad you are excited about being a father. I know you will do fine, but I doubt my mothering skills. I am planning on introducing Mandy and Nick when both of you come home. She has dark hair and a small face. I think she is an exceptional beauty. My darling, if you thing moving is what we must do then I guess we must. I want to stay home, where I have spent the better part of my life and where I had met you, but I know we will be happy. If this war will soon be over, then perhaps we don't have to move at all. I don't think I will making dresses for the queen anytime soon. I love you and I miss you, my husband,
Lovingly yours,
Sara
~0~
September 1779
"We have two orders for dresses to be made by the end of the week and three shirts!" Sara said as she read an order out.
Wendy lifted up one of her hands. "My fingers are numb from all the sewing," she commented.
"Well, we have to make the clothes for the soldiers before it gets cold," Mandy said as she slipped her thimble on her thumb.
Sara nodded. "Wendy, how is David?" she asked.
Wendy smiled. "He is fine. Glad to be home. How is the baby?" she asked Sara.
"Oh it's fine I'm sure. I can't feel it move just yet, but Dr. Robbins said it won't be long now," Sara said with smile.
Mandy sighed. "Sara I am so Jealous," she said. "I wish I were married and with child."
Sara lowered her voice. "Well, when Nick comes back I'll tell him," she said.
Mandy blushed and Wendy laughed. Nobody knew that Sara had plans to get the two together when the moment presented itself.
"Sara," Wendy said. "David says that he knows your husband, Captain Gilbert."
Sara nodded. "That is him. I miss him so," she said as she pulled out a few uneven stitches.
"Well," Wendy continued. "David tells me that he is very honorable. Though my husband has been know for being a goody two shoes in the past. I just can't help but love him."
Sara nodded. "Gil is a very honorable man. We have only been married for four months!" she said.
Mandy gasped. "And you are already expecting?"
Sara nodded. "I guess you can say we didn't waste time," she said with a laugh.
The other ladies laughed with her and they continued their work. It was good to have friends, but nothing took to place of Gil.
~0~
My sweet Sara,
I am pleased to hear that you will be helping the troops for the upcoming winter. We had a battle in Newton and we had another victory. I wish I could tell you that I was on my way home, but I am not too sure just yet. I am glad that Hank is acting like a good dog. It would be a shame if the rats killed the chickens. An opportunity presented itself and I was able to ask Nick about his future plans. He told me he wanted to marry, but admitted to not having a lady to court. I hope that the two hit it off as we did, but if not then nature will take it's course and it will be fine. I am sorry to hear about the uprisings in Chadds Ford. I hope battle amongst the people does not break out. The main reason I am staying, my dear, is for the civilians. The kings men have been hurting innocent people and we have to defend them. Just the other day I saw a house that had been burned to the ground and I had the urge to run home to you. I hope the new country that we establish protects it's people. Soon we will be free my love. I just keep telling myself what it says in the Declaration of Independence- that our rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. When I see what the enemy does to us, I feel fear for what will happen to you and our child. I fell failure. If we fail in this war then the king we see our land as his. The soldiers will take our women as punishment and kill our children. America, to me, will not just be a body of land, but people. I hope I have not depressed you. I keep each and every one of your letters in my saddle bag and read them over and over. I love your words and can almost hear you speaking them to me. I hope you are well. I love you more than the breath in my body.
Your lover,
Gil
Dearest husband,
Gil, you are the light in my life and my strength. You have not made me depressed my speaking you heart. I share your fear of failure. I remember once when I said that I didn't think any of this was worth the fight, but your words have proven me wrong. I went, with my uncle, to the first reading of the Declaration. We bought a paper copy and John keeps it in his trunk. I know this sounds selfish, but if the Declaration promises us life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, then that means you will come home to me. Gil, my dear, you are all these things to me. I am sad to hear that there are civilians that are being murdered. In a way it reminds me of one of my terrible dreams, but I have faith that God will protect us from harm. I can feel the baby sometimes, but I think it is my imagination. I feel something moving, and when I close my eyes I picture a little head and little arms. We have been working from morning until night on clothes for the troops. We have sent a few boxes, but we will send more by the time the month is out. My hands are spotted red from pricking my hand with the needle and my back aches from hunching over my sewing. I wish with all my might that you were on your way back to me. I keep all your letters as well. They comfort me more than words while you are away. I miss you more than words and miss your hands on me. I ache for you to touch me, my love.
I will love you always,
Sara
My darling,
You can feel it? I don't think it is your imagination, I hope you can feel it. I hope that when it stirs, you are reminded of me. I feel that part of me is there with you, my dear. I do remember when you said that freedom wasn't worth fighting for. It hurt me then, but I am proud that you have realized the toll. I wish I could have been there when those powerful words were spoken, it would have been something to remember. I don't think your admittance sounds selfish, I think that is what freedom is about. The promise of safety and happiness. True that sometimes hard work will come with that, but it is worth it. You can't make a cake without cracking some eggs! I am pleased that you have been working hard. As a matter of fact, one of your boxes came here and I recognized your stitches. I am pleased to say that my wife helped to make these shirts and I hold my head up high. I am wearing a pair of your knitted socks right now! One thing I ache for is your Birds Nest Pudding. I miss the tangy apple and the sweet sugar drizzled over the top. If things go as planned I should be home by Christmas! This will be our first celebration together as man and wife, and I hope to make it memorable for you. I like to hear that you ache for me to touch you. I am lonely at night time and am unable to sleep without the sound of your breathing right next to me. My love for you is more than the stars in the sky and goes farther than they eye can see. I love you so much, my dear.
Love always,
Gil
~0~
October 1779
The clothes for the soldiers were popular and soon Sara had more help than she could ask. Catherine came to help often and struck up a friendship with Mandy and Wendy. She wanted to tell her aunt about Wendy's fancy for Nick, but she held her tongue and did not say anything.
"Sara," Wendy said. "did anyone keep count of how much money we have made?"
Sara shook her head. "Everything we earn I divide up between everyone. I know that I have added to my savings," she said.
Aunt Catherine nodded. "Things to be going well. Has Gil said anything about getting the boxes yet?" she asked.
"He said they received some," Sara said. "he said he recognized my stitching."
Mandy placed her hand on Sara's. "Oh Sara, don't worry. Gil said he may be home for Christmas remember," she said.
Sara nodded. "True, but I still worry. I miss him," she said.
"When David was away I worried too, but you and Gil hadn't been married long. David and I already have children," Wendy said.
Sara sighed. "I forgot I have an appoint with the midwife," she said as she packed her things.
"What's wrong?" Aunt Catherine asked.
"Nothing," Sara answered. "she just wants to make sure that I am coming along alright."
~0~
"Have you had any pains?" the midwife asked.
Sara shook her head. "I am getting hungry more often," she explained.
Sara's midwife was a woman named Riley. At first she was put off by her, but she soon was put at ease. She explained to Sara about being careful and getting plenty of rest.
"That is normal symptom," Riley said.
Sara stood and grabbed her basket. "Well, I suppose I will see you next time. Thank you for seeing me," she said.
Sara left Riley's house and started down main street towards the dry goods store. Inside she bought some new fabric for a dress. Riley had explained that she would need a few large dresses so that her belly could grow into them. It made perfect sense and she didn't know why she hadn't thought of it. She picked out some blue and white gingham and a dark blue with tiny red raspberries for a good dress. While she was shopping she saw a shelf that displayed bonnets.
"Oh," Sara gasped as she fingered a tiny blue bonnet.
Sometimes Sara found herself dreaming of what the child would be like. She imagined that if they had a son then Gil would teach it how to do things that boys do. Of course, as a young girl Sara climbed trees and walked the crocked fence, so there really was no boundary there.
"Will that be all?" the store keeper asked.
Sara bought a pound of lemon drops and she finished her shopping. One the way home she looked in the store windows and sighed. There, in one of the windows, was a beautiful gold pocket watch. Sara leaned closer to see it and envisioned giving it to Gil when he came home. She opened her mother-of-pearl wallet and counted her money. Surprisingly, she had just enough to buy it!