Patriots: New York

Chapter Twenty Five: A Visit to Morristown

That Christmas, though without my family, was one of the best I had. Of course, the next night they were all crossing the Delaware over to the Hessian camp in New Jersey. Danny hated not being able to go, but it was probably best he stayed with me. I continued to work in the tavern day after day. There were noticeably more civilians and fewer soldiers in there these days. Most of the soldiers had gone over to New Jersey. They had taken the Hessian camp
in their first victory in a while. I of course knew this from the papers and overhearing customers talking, but Audrey made sure I knew from a letter from Will.
Danny had been walking everyday with longer step, with stronger step, the worst was over. He would pester me daily about letting him go back, but I explained it was best to let the weather grow milder before traveling to New Jersey. We agreed that he would no longer have to stay in bed everyday, for his fever had gone down and his health returned steadily. One day in early January he was sitting in the tavern at a table with Conall, reading from Art's bible. Then Audrey burst through the front door with a huge smile on her face.
"Liza! Liza, you won't believe what's happened!" She exclaimed, waving a letter around.
"What? What's happened?" I asked, picking up some empty glasses from a table.
"The Continental Army won at the Battles of Trenton!" She said happily. "Can you believe it?"
"I can, but only because I heard before," I laughed. "That's wonderful." I eyed the letter and smirked playfully. "Who's the letter from?"
She blushed, "William."
Danny perked up, "Will? Will told you?"
She nodded muttered shyly, "And some other things too..."
I giggled, "What sort of things?"
"Oh you know...things..."
"Audrey! Please tell me?" I begged.
"No, no, not here...in this company," she nodded to Danny and Conall.
"Now hold on a moment!" Danny said suspiciously. "What sort of things is Will writing?"
"Things!" Audrey and I said in unison.
"Sorry, I don't understand girlish code," He said flatly.
"Neither do I. What are you two saying?" Conall demanded.
"I don't even know, Audrey. What did he say?" I asked desperately.
She laughed uncomfortably, "Is there a room?"
"Of course. Right in the back..."
"Can we go?"
"Absolutely!" She whispered excitedly, taking her by the hand and pulling her into the empty bedroom. "Spill everything!"
"Alright," she whispered, still pink and beaming. "I'll read the letter to you." She cleared her throat, "Dear Miss Audrey Winslow, I so thoroughly enjoyed dancing and getting to know you at the Schuyler Christmas Eve Ball. I had the most enjoyable and memorable time I have had in a very long time. I can not shake your lovely image from my mind nor your charming voice from my ears. Of course the very next day I had to pack everything I owned and ship out across the Delaware River on a frigid night to attack a Hessian camp the next day. Though it was so cold, the memory of you kept me quite warm. It also lifted my spirits enough to put my all into the battle. I did not need to fight too hard, as it was a fairly quick surrender and win. I am very glad I am able to write to you about such great news, and I long to see you again soon. Keep yourself safe and warm. Your loving admirer, William Gannis."
This was so exciting! I knew Will liked Audrey, but I had no idea he fancied her that much! "Oh Audrey, darling! I'm so happy for you! How lucky you are to catch such a man!" I laughed, grasping her hands with delight.
"I know! He really is something! Charming, witty, gentle, and kind beyond belief! He told me at the ball that sometimes he felt lonely with no one to write to from the army, besides his mother, whom he does not want to worry, but I was not expecting such a wonderful letter so soon!" She exclaimed, beaming and still blushing. "I'm just so happy! Happier than I have ever been in my entire life!"
"Did he fancy you this much at the ball? Did you fancy him?" I asked.
"Well, I thought he was handsome the moment I saw him, but as we started talking and dancing we realized we had a lot in common and I guess made a bit of a connection. We promised to write to each other, and I want to write something equally wonderful, though I'm sure I can't fully do it justice." She laughed.
We heard the sounds of two pairs of boots and a cane clicking down the hall.
"Looks like the spies have arrived," She laughed.
"Let's make it a show," I whispered, then said loudly, "And then he pulled out a gun and...!"
"What?! What?! I wanna hear!" Conall whispered furiously.
"Whoah! Really?! Wow! That sounds so intriguing!" Audrey said loudly as I had.
"What the hell..." I heard Danny whisper.
Audrey whispered something loud but unintelligible and then I yelled, "He did not!"
Danny finally burst the door open. "What is going on?! Violence?! Scandal?! And this all has to do with my brother?!"
Audrey and I looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"I fail to see what is so funny here," Danny said impatiently.
I sighed, "Nothing is funny, Danny. We just wanted to fool you two into thinking it was."
He paled and his eyes widened, "Uh oh...I'm still very confused."
"I ought to run along home, but I'll see you both soon," Audrey said, rising to leave. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye," Danny and I said in unison.
"Well, I ought to get back to work," I said once she was gone.
"Liza," Danny demanded as I turned to leave, "What really was in that letter."
"How rude it would be of me to tell!" I exclaimed playfully.
"What's so juicy I can't know?" He asked, irritated.
I smiled mysteriously, "Your brother is in love."
"Love...love? With..." he looked back at Audrey walking down the street.
"Yes," I giggled.
"Wow. That's...wow," he said, a little bit in disbelief, "And she feels the same way?"
"Oh yes," I laughed.
"My brother Will? Will Gannis?" He clarified.
"Of course," I said.
"I just can't believe it. He's pretty shy, not really outgoing...how did that happen?" He asked.
"I don't know. He's a great catch, and so is she. They're very sweet people," I said.
"Yeah, I guess...wow...well done, Will," he said, still a little surprised.
It warmed up a little in late January, enough that Danny and I found a way to get to the army encampment in Morristown, New Jersey where Will and everyone else was. I washed his uniform for the last time so that he looked presentable and he packed up his things, which really only consisted of his muffler, mittens, and the food I packed him. I mixed up some new hardtack that would hopefully last the rest of the war, and some cornbread, salt pork, and figs.
"Do you really have to go, Danny?" Conall asked tearfully as we made sure we were not forgetting anything in the bedroom.
"I'm afraid so. I have to get back to the army because that's what I signed up for," He said quietly.
"But can't you not go because of your leg?" Conall asked.
"It's better now. Don't worry about me," He said kindly, tussling Conall's floppy red hair.
"But who's going to help me read books?" Conall asked.
"We'll still do that, Conall," I laughed.
"Danny's more fun though. He does different voices for the different knights," Conall muttered.
"Maybe Liza can do the voices too," Danny smirked.
"Or maybe not," I said sharply.
"Danny, please don't go," Conall begged.
Danny got squatted down to Conall's level. "Now look here, Conall. I am a soldier of the Continental Army. We are fighting for the freedom of the American colonies. Wouldn't it be nice to not have those pesky red coats roaming the streets while you play? No one scaring you with their guns?"
"Maybe," Conall said unsurely.
"Wouldn't you like to live in a country that is free from British rule?" Danny asked him seriously, "Where you are free to go to school and pray your rosary and vote for your leaders when you're older?"
"Who would want to go to school?" Conall huffed.
"Well, some people would. But think of the way you have to hide the way you pray, and have to dodge those soldiers in the streets. I need to go to the army so that we can win the war and get those soldiers out of here. Once we do that we can have our own country where we are truly free. Now do you see why I have to go?" He asked.
Conall sighed sadly, "Yes. I see now. Doesn't mean I like it though."
"I know. My mother didn't much like it either, but you'll like the end result. Now, we must be off," He said, pulling Conall into a quick hug.
"Goodbye, Danny," He said sadly. "Be safe, and win."
"Will do," Danny smiled, then looked to me. "You ready?"
"Yes. And don't you dare go out without your muffler and mittens," I said, tying his muffler around his neck.
"Alright, Liza. You're sending me to the army, not to grammar school," he laughed.
"Well, once I do, I won't be there to remind you to stay warm and keep you inside. I can't believe you're going. It will be so lonely without you," I said, tying the fur cape I had gotten from Audrey around my shoulders.
"You'll manage just fine. It will be a relief to not have me drinking all your ale and taking up your time," he said jokingly.
"You never drank too much, or ate too much at all. And time spent with you was some of the happiest I've had lately," I said.
"Well, I'm very glad...but Will and I will pay you back, somehow. I promise..."
"Take as long as you need," I said. "Well, we better meet Captain Hamilton."
He nodded and we headed out. Alexander met us where he said he would with a horse. Danny and I shared the horse and the three of us rode for hours as fast as we could into New Jersey. We had to ride in the woods, as out of sight as we could be in the hope that we would go unnoticed by the British or Hessians.
"So you're in a Connecticut Regiment?" Alexander asked Danny.
"Yes. And you're Washington's Aid-de-camp?" Danny asked him.
"Sure am. Any interest in trading?" He laughed.
"Alexander," I sighed.
"Just a thought," He muttered. "I joined up as a solider, you know, hoping to fight. Apparently I was too smart for my own good and got the job of sitting around writing letters."
"That's a good job though, isn't it?" Danny asked. "The general must like you a lot."
"I guess," he sighed.
"Now, that's enough complaining. You fellas won a battle for the first time in a while! That is quite an accomplishment!" I said, turning the mood to something more fun.
"Wish I could have been there," Danny muttered unhappily. "Instead of cooped up in that bedroom all day."
"Well, now you'll have your chance, whether I like it or not," I laughed. "Please be safe, Danny. I would hate to see any of you get hurt."
"I'll certainly try, but I can't make any promises. That's up to the enemy," He said with a smile.
"Just please don't put yourself in a position to make it worse. Your leg still isn't completely better," I said nervously. "It may never be."
"Never?" He asked sadly.
"Maybe, but you see, you are still able to walk pretty well, and if you keep progressing like this you could be good as new. Don't worry, just don't do anything stupid," I said, trying to sound sure.
"I'll try. I really can't thank you enough for taking such good care of me," He said. "I know I was probably a pain in the ass sometimes, so thank you for putting up with me."
"You most certainly were nothing of that sort, Danny," I laughed. "You were an absolute joy to spend time with. In fact, I think you pulled me out of my slump. Things will be hard without you."
"You will do just fine without me, Liza, but I'm glad I could help. I really enjoyed your company as well," he said.
Soon enough we had made it to the camp at Morristown. Our legs ached from the long ride. Danny got off the horse and fell to the ground. I was a little nervous about him walking after this, but he got up and walked pretty steadily with the horse to hitch it up with the rest of them. Alexander lifted me off and we went to find where the Connecticut soldiers were. Will must have seen us coming because he ran up and hugged Danny so hard I was afraid he might brake him.
"Oh my god, Danny, you're back! For good! Are you alright? How was your trip?" He asked frantically.
"It was fine, and I'm fine. I'm here to stay. No more sitting around. Congratulations on the battle. I wish I could have been there to see it," Danny said.
"That's alright. You won't miss a beat here now. It's so great to have you back! Jack and Abe get a little unbearable sometimes..."
"Did I hear my name?" Abe asked, popping his head out of a tent. "Oh Danny! You're back!"
"Yep, sure am."
"Hey Jack! Danny's here!" Abe called back into the tent.
"Really?" He popped his head out as well. "Oh hey, Danny, how are you?"
"I'm great!" He said, but then his face fell when Abe and Jack came out of the tent and over to embrace him, "But you don't look so great, Jack."
Jack scoffed, "Do I ever?"
"No," Danny said uneasily, "but today you look extra pale and..."
He was interrupted by Jack having a massive coughing fit that was so loud I felt like I immediately had to run over, "Oh my goodness, are you alright?!"
"Yes, yes, of course," he said hoarsely.
"That's a nasty cough," I said worriedly.
"Yeah, I know, it's nasty, just like the British. I'm fine though. It's just a little cold I caught from standing guard every night," he said, coughing again. "Your Christmas present has helped immensely though."
"Well, I'm glad. It's very nice to see you all," I said.
"Nice to see you too. And thank you so much for delivering Danny back to us. I still don't have all the money I need to give you yet but someday I'll make sure you get every cent," Will said gratefully.
"It's quite alright. I really don't need..."
"Yes you do," he said firmly. "You will get every penny."
"Alright. If you really insist," I said.
Just then I felt an arm wrap around my shoulders. "Miss, are you familiar with the rule that women may not speak to soldiers in camp?"
I looked up and it was Ben, "Oh, umm...no...."
"Well, I'll have to show you out," He said shortly, guiding me away.
  I was very confused and annoyed, "Ben, what is th-"
"Just come with me," he whispered.
  He took me into his own tent. "No women especially in the tents is a rule, but I'll let you be an exception," he shrugged.
"Alright..."
"Keep your voice down. Anyway, I have been thinking about how lovely you looked at the ball Christmas Eve," he began.
"Thank you," I blushed.
"You're welcome. And if I did not recognize you at first, probably no one else who does not know you well would either, so I have created the perfect cover for you. Clara Doe, your code name, shall be the out of town niece of a wealthy Tory by the name of Joshua Weston. Mr. Weston is a real man I know in New York from a Tory family, but he himself is a rebel sympathizer. He hosts British officers at his home quite often and gets invited to parties as well. If you can pass as his niece and attend these parties as well, you can charm slightly drunk officers into revealing secrets about troop numbers and movements. Do you think you could do that?" He asked.
"I-I could...maybe...you want me to be an informer now?" I asked in disbelief.
"If you are up to it."
"You think I'm pretty enough? Sweet and charming enough? I am not very good at making people do what I want," I said slowly.
"Sure you are. You may not realize it, but you are a very pretty and sophisticated young lady when you try. It almost seems as if you have had some sort of etiquette training. You have fine posture and manners when you try."
"I have had etiquette training...when I was little...you really think I'm pretty, Ben?" I asked uncertainly.
"You're asking my opinion? Well, my opinion doesn't matter, only the opinions of the officers you're trying to sedu-I mean charm for secrets," he said quickly, a little flustered.
"Seduce?!" I burst out.
"I said charm. Did you not hear me?"
"Yes, yes, of course, but that's all I will do. You won't make me sleep with anyone, right?" I asked desperately.
"No. You don't think I'm cruel, do you, Liza?"
"No, not at all. You just seem...I don't know...
are you alright?" I asked.
"I'm fine," he said flatly. "Do you have any questions about your mission?"
"What's his family like?" I asked, "Mr. Weston's..."
"He is married but has no children. His wife, Catherine Hastings Weston, came from a family with twelve, so he has many nieces and nephews. You are to be the daughter of her sister Odetta Hastings Doe and her husband John. You are their only child and you came over from England to visit your Aunt and Uncle. Can you shake the Irish and do a proper British accent?" Ben asked.
"Yes, I think so," I said.
"Alright. Any more questions?"
"How do I find out when these parties are?" I asked.
"Mr. Weston will write you at your tavern, giving you all the details you need in a very long letter. He will also include a paper with holes in it that will give you a more specific message when it is placed over the note. Do you understand all this?" He asked.
"Yes, absolutely."
"Then can I send you on your way out of the camp, Miss?" He asked sternly and loudly in case anyone was listening.
"Yes, sir. This mistake won't happen again." I said obediently.
"It better not." He said, then waved goodbye solemnly and I left.
This was as exciting as it was terrifying. While becoming an informer was an honor, at least to me, and getting to dress up and gain secrets was going to be fun, I felt like he had the wrong woman. He did realize I was a barmaid who did not show much beauty or class, right? I was also only sixteen years old. I knew deep down he wanted someone with a bit more sex appeal to tempt the officers, whether he wanted to admit it or not. Would the officers really be so stupid as to let information slip to a young girl? I would have to find out.
As I left and prepared to return home, I thought about how different my exchange with Ben had been from the others. He seemed so dark and intense this time around. He almost seemed sleep deprived and on edge as well. Things had been going pretty well in the army compared to how they had been, but there was clearly something missing from his life that was no longer here: Nathan. It broke my heart to see the playful light in Ben's eyes gone and replaced by a grave seriousness. He had been such a jokester and optimist in his youth, at least everyone said. I had seen the fun in his relationship with Nathan, but looking at him now I never would have guessed.
I began to unhitch the horse I had ridden here when Will came up behind me.
"You aren't leaving so soon, are you?" He asked.
"I ought to. No women in camp, especially for the night," I said with a sigh.
"It wouldn't be right for you to try to ride home tonight. It would take far too long, and it will be dark quite soon. You ought to spend the night." He insisted.
"But Will, Major Tallmadge said..."
"He's cross for months. He and Captain Hamilton, just little sticklers for the rules," Jack said, coming into view. "Washington's lap dogs."
"But they are rules, and I would hate to break them," I said cautiously, "And don't talk so loud about them like that!"
"Come on, Liza. You can't ride for hours and hours in the dead of night, pitch dark, bitter cold, not knowing where you're going. If there are Hessian scouts around here and they hear a rider, they'll shoot. They won't be able to make out a figure of a lady. You'll be killed on the spot," Will warned. "Please stay the night. Consider it the start of payment for your services."
"I really shouldn't..."
"It would be death," Jack said flatly." You would definitely die." 
"No, I wouldn't..."
"Take it from the king of putting himself in the way of death, Liza. You can't go tonight," Will said.
"What will I do here though? I can't be discovered," I whispered.
"Here," Jack said, taking off his jacket and handing it to me.
"No, Jack, you will die. You're ill..." I said, handing it back.
"I'll live, you need to blend in somehow."
"Then you take my fur cape..."
"I would look ridiculous!" He laughed.
"So would I with a uniform jacket over my dress," I said.
"That's fair. Well, here, just wear it and run to our tent. It may be a tight squeeze but at least you might be warm with Abe, Will, Danny, and me," Jack offered.
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Positive," they said in unison.
"Alright," I sighed, slipping into the jacket. The arms were comically long and the shoulders giant as well, but at least I could hide in it if I needed to. I tried to give Jack my cape but he refused it.
"I would look like King George," He laughed.
"Fine, just don't get sicker," I said nervously.
"I won't," he coughed as he said it. "Now, you run."
I nodded and took off to the tent. I found where Abe and Danny were and dove in quickly.
"What are you doing, Liza?" Abe asked, startled.
"Spending the night with you boys, I guess," I said, "Will and Jack's idea. This is his jacket."
"Damn it, he ought to have it on! He's sick!" Abe sighed.
"That's what I told him," I said. "They should be right behind me though."
Sure enough Will and Jack came in just minutes later. There was no supper that night because they did not have enough food. I didn't mind terribly much. I didn't eat that much anyway normally. The five of us just huddled together in the tent trying to keep warm. Jack was a big heat source because of his fever that no one had bothered to treat, but his hands were like ice even with the mittens.
After a while Danny asked, "Why are they so particular about not having women in the camp?"
"Well, think of the kind of women some of the soldiers would have in here. They don't want to have problems like that," Abe said vaguely, but Danny seemed to catch on.
A few minutes later, Isaac stuck his head into the tent. "I've received information from an anonymous source saying that you boys had a whore in here-oh!" He turned bright red when he saw me, "Son of a bitch..."
"No. No whores here, Lieutenant," Abe said sharply.
"And don't call us boys, three out of the four of us are older than you!" Jack snapped.
"My apologies," he said, slowly pulling back the folds of the tent opening and running away in shock and embarrassment.
"My god," Will muttered.
"Well, that's what most people think when they see me," I laughed uncomfortably.
"They shouldn't," Danny said protectively. "Especially not now. You've cleaned up quite a bit, though they never should have assumed that in the first place."
"Thank you, Danny. I'm going to miss those sweet words," I smiled.
"Just don't think those terrible thoughts. They shouldn't even cross your mind," Danny said seriously.
"Well, I ought to go stand watch," Jack said, standing up.
"Not tonight, Jack," Abe said.
"Why not? Not like I'll get any sleep," Jack shrugged, starting to sneeze.
"Jack, you get worse every day. Please just stay in tonight. Some one else can watch. You need sleep," Abe pleaded.
"Sleep is for the weak, Abe. You think I'll be of any use inside?" Jack scoffed.
"Actually, you were keeping me quite warm," Danny said quietly.
"See? Your fever is good for something," Abe said.
"You were keeping me warm too, Jack," I said, pulling my fur cape around my shoulders.
"Well..."
"Jack," Will said sharply.
"Please, Jack," Danny said in a small voice, his eyes look like a sad puppy's.
"Damn it, Danny! Why do you have to be so damn manipulative!" Jack exclaimed.
"What did I even do?!" Danny asked.
"You just...looked at me," Jack sighed. "Fine. I'll stay in."
He sat back down next to me, and I could feel him shivering. I untied my cape and draped it around his shoulders.
"Thank you," he smiled.
  Danny laughed, "You look like-"
"Shhh!" Will hushed him up.
"Sorry," Danny whispered.
And so we fell asleep that cold winters night all packed together in that dark tent. There was a sense of warmth and love in the air though. It made it feel homey. I knew I would have to return to the tavern the next day, but this night was not so bad.