SS&SP Drabble: Homeward Bound
Hello, everyone, and Happy Easter or Passover or just a regular Sunday! I thought I’d share a little scene I’ve had sitting in my notes app today, as a gift and an apology for the incredibly long wait for the next chapter! With college and transferring and research project my life has just *explodes.* Anyway, here it is! Benjamin and Elizabeth have their most intimate conversations right before she goes home, which I think is interesting. Perhaps it’s their way of unwinding after a day full of supply talk and dealing with Congress’ bullshit and Hamilton being Hamilton (I say this with love.) Enjoy, and thanks for sporting me and SS&SP!
“Is it true, Major Tallmadge?”
“Is what true, Miss Walker?”
“My father-“ she began, remembering the look on their faces whenever she brought him up, the flashes of disdain and resentment. Did she have any? “He always said New York had too many Tories and not enough Patriots. Said it was more divided than Pennsylvania could ever be- which seems impossible now that I know- now that I’ve seen it.”
Benjamin let out a soft whistle between his teeth. “I don’t want to agree with your father. He seems to assume rather than know.”
“Believe me, I learned that quickly.” She never wanted to leave him to be exposed vulnerable, alone. “He promises rather than acts, too.”
“But it- it’s complicated.” His fingers fell back onto the map, his gaze gone for a second, before he spoke again, “Do you remember where I’m from?”
“Setauket?”
He smiled, that wistful, sad smile- torn and frayed, a hint of defeat. “There’s a troop of British soldiers quartered there. No, not quartered- occupying. Ruling.”
Her heart dropped as soon as he said it, her stomach turned when she glanced down and saw where his fingers were- tracing the Long Island coast, subconsciously showing it to her.
“They- they turned my father’s church into a stable. Terrorize the citizens. They don’t respect them- they hate them-“ he inhaled a sharp breath, “they want them to suffer.”
“And there was nothing you could do,” she said.
Just like there was nothing anyone could do when the British burned the valley. When she saw the smoke from her window, all she did was stay inside, trying to hide instead of fight.
“I tried. I tried, Miss Walker.” His eyes met hers- did they match the color of the sound? She never stood at the edge of the shore, so close to the fathomless deep. “Do not doubt that for a second, I tried.”
“I know you did, Major. As you did at Brandywine, and Germantown, for Philadelphia.”
She rested her hand on the table— silence laid over the wood, the maps underneath their palms, their homes written in ink.
“I hate that living in an area they destroyed is something we have in common, Major Tallmadge. I’m so sorry about Setauket.”
He shook his head, as if it would solve and dispel his troubling thoughts. It never works for me. “Tis alright, Miss. It makes us work harder.” He said.
“It makes us fight for what we believe in. For our God given rights.”
“You truly are a preacher’s son, Major.”
“So you always say, but why?”
“You always find the blessing in disguise.”
The dragoons were outside.
It was time to take her home.
Benjamin smiled.
“I’m not the only one who does.”
At the tent’s open flap, she asked, “Will you tell me about Setauket, if I ask?”
“Well,” he considered it, a second too long. “I’m not sure it is beneficial for your mission.”
“Really? You are not the only Long Island soldier I feed, Major. Is that a sufficient answer?”
“Yes,” he said, clearly refraining his laugh, “yes, of course.”
She nodded, and laughed for both of them. Then she raised her chin, “Good. You just earned yourself an extra piece of ham.”
“Miss Walker!”
“I’m coming, Captain Seymour!”
“I’m not counting on the ham,” Benjamin remarked, “You’ll give my extra piece to a foot soldier, won’t you?”
“I-” she paused. He knows me.
“Yes, I would.” She moved forward, “Seymour is getting reckless. Goodbye, Major Tallmadge.”
“Goodbye, Miss Walker.”
And she left the soldier from Long Island.
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