Valley Forge

Chapter XVI

Friday, February 13 - Saturday, February 14

The questions fired at me like blasts of grapeshot as soon as I entered the small hut

"You're the daughter of a congressman?"

"Whats it likes?"

"Were you a valet? Did you serve tea to them?"

"Why didn't you tell us!" 

"Are you Rich?"

"You got to be rich!"

"Why would a congressman ride such a sickly nag?"

"Enough!" I shouted. "I cant answer if you keep shouting."

I took my time sitting in front of the fire, trying to sort out what and what not I should tell em 

"When I was with Charles-" I was cut off by Aaron Barry "He your father? right? Why don't you call him by 'father'" 

I rolled my eyes "He was not a congressman. I cannot say for sure that he is one now. He's a man of business" My eyes darted across the room and I pulled off my right stocking and wrung the cold water from it "His Brother was a firm supporter of the King, But Charles was not, I don't think. He wrote Pamphlets  supporting the rebellion and joined the Sons of Liberty, Which angered his brother so much, He banished him from the family and that's when we moved to New York"

"The two of you moved together right?" Asked Eben

I laid the stocking right in front of the fire. "He and my mother moved. She later left, I went with them because, you know."

I took the second stocking and squeezed the water from it too. "Charles opened a trading firm there, both for his livelihood and as a ruse. Part of the true purpose was to operate a hive a spy for the Father. New York was crawling with two-faced tories."

"Hold there a moment." Eben Interrupted. "Your Father a nob who worked for His Excellency George Washington" 

I laid the second stocking to the first "I just said that, Yes"

"Have you ever seen the General? Ever served him wine or light his pipe?"

I dare not admit the truth of the matter. "Only from a distance," I said "When I was holding Charles horse or delivering a message"

One of my stockings started to smoke, I pulled it away from the hearth before it could burst into flame

"I'm confused" mumbled  Silvanus "How'd you get here?"

"I left my father to enlist just before the British invaded New York"

"You must have been young as a pup when you left" Greenlaw added

"Surely was" I answered

"The past does not matter" Benny came in "Tomorrow does, we should all go with Ali"

"Oh, No," warned Eben. "We weren't invited"

"What if those ruffians come after her again," Benny asked "We'll wait in the kitchen. Think about it I don't trust Charles, Plus there might be food, some leftovers."

"Not to mention a proper floor and chairs to sit upon," Silvanus said.

"No," I said Firmly "I'll go alone"

"She's right." Eben said "There is a reason she's the only one invited"

Both Benny and Silvanus both sighed deeply

"Want to wear my boots?" Benny asked, "My feet are the closest to yours in size." 

"Thank you but no," I said. "I'd rather have Silvanus's " Silvanus lifted his tattered shoes into the air "A walk that far will be the death of them"

"If it happens, I shall be sure to shame the congressmen into finding you another pair" I promised. "Your shoes are the closest to what most fellows have. I aim to show them the real Valley Forge, Is there any flour left? I want to cook up some fire cake for them to eat their tea."

They roared with laughter, and I finally relaxed in succeeded in diverting their questions for the moment.

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That night the fellows stacked on the bunks above and below me snored and itched through all the hours of darkness. The wind blew through the cracks in the walls, the fire hissed and popped. I watched the light and shadows chase each other across the floor and pondered the course of action 

Charles Bellingham was overly fond of two phrases; "This tea is cold" and "Everything is trade." He always claimed that all of the issues of the world can be boiled down to a bargain sealed between two people. I didn't have much to bargain with, but I had little choice. We'd be stuck in camp for months, yet plenty of time for Aaron Barry to get up to more mischief

I hit upon my plan just as the rat-a-tat-tat of the brigade drummers signaled the new day. 

*Nag; Old Horse 

*Grapeshot;  ammunition consisting of a number of small iron balls fired together from a cannon

*Valet; a man's personal male attendant, responsible for his clothes and appearance