The Second Shot

Chapter Seventeen

"There's a letter for you, George." Hamilton said, setting it down next to Eacker on the bed. Maria was taking a nap, and Eacker had decided to sit with her and read while she slept.

"You called me George again." Eacker said. It was only the second time since knowing each other that Hamilton had called him George, but Eacker loved it every time he did.

"I did not!" Hamilton argued, walking out of the room. Burr, who was laying next to Maria, shushed them. Ever since Eacker had introduced his friends to Maria they had taken a liking to her, and tended to show up at his house more, just to see her.

"Whatever you say, Philip." Eacker called back, despite Burr's shushing. Maria had grown up in a loud Virginian home- she could survive a little yelling.

Eacker herd Hamilton stumble on the stairs, and Laurens laugh from downstairs. He smirked.

Carefully, Eacker opened the letter sent from his family, probably responding to his previous letter about Maria.

Dear George,
We received your letter on the matters of Maria's wearabouts, and to say the least, Father is not pleased.
He says that young women should not sneak onto trains and behave as she does. Which I interpret as Maria should probably stay in New York with you a bit longer, just to avoid Father's wrath.
Father and I are too busy to come and collect Maria, and Mother says she is too tired. I can assume you're too busy to bring her back down to Virginia as well.
I'll tell Father that unless he can come get her, she'll stay with you until you can take your next vacation. Write to me if your plans are otherwise, and, if you can, please send me some books to read. All the books that I haven't read in our library are about Law, or religion, which I take no interest in.
Your sister,
Catherine.

George set down the letter on his bedside table and smiled. Catherine was smart beyond her eighteen years, and he suspected that by the time she reached his current age in three years, she would be smarter than he had ever been.

George looked out his window and watched the January snow fly past. Though it was terribly cold outside, his house, filled with people, was the warmest it had ever been.

(I think I have an actual plot for the next few chapters....)