Kaitlyn sat straight up in bed, awakened out of the soundest slumber she’d had in nearly a week, as the shout reverberated across the room. Eileen ran to Kaitlyn’s side and clutched her hands, staring at her with wild eyes. “They are gone!” she frantically repeated. Kaitlyn rubbed the sleep out of her eyes with one hand. “Who?” she asked gently. “Gabriel, Henry, all the men!” the younger woman replied, nearly tripping on her words. “They left early this morning without even so much as a goodbye.” Kaitlyn paused, staring at Eileen in disbelief. “What do you mean gone?” she asked as sudden spasms of alarm coursed through her heart. She threw the blankets off and nearly jumped from the bed as she raced for the door. “Mrs. Washington said that they had to march into battle this morning,” Eileen explained as she hurried after her. “Some of our troops are under attack about thirty miles south of here.” Kaitlyn crossed the hall and threw open the door to Gabriel’s room.
