Posted by Nancy, the dark haired lass on March 07, 2000 at 18:59:59:
Many Flags--
I take quill in hand to inform you a few lines about your wonderful cousin, Seamus. When you asked him to escort me to Ft. Augusta a few weeks ago, I was quite apprehensive of going on such a journey alone with a man who looks like he looked...his leathers so worn, moccasins about to tear right off his feet, and such a filthy shirt!! I wonder how long it has been, if ever, that it was washed and stoned in the river. The odors that eminated from him put me at once in mind of fire, smoke, gunsmoke, bacon grease, tobacco, sweat, and sheep. The last is particularly intriguing...as I have not seen ANY sheep since I left Fort Cumberland. Wherever did he get that breechcloth? I have never seen such a large one! They way he wears his pouch and powder horn, and carries his rifle assured me he must know his craft very well. I was intrigued with his belt axe...it has the look of a very useful weapon in his hand, and the knife he wears in his belt looked sharp as a razor. He constantly honed it and his axe when we were in camp. I must admit that my fears were unfounded, Seamus was absolutely a gentleman in every aspect and meaning of the word. He always placed me and my comfort ahead of his own, he saw that I was warm and well fed, and at night he gave me his blanket while he slept without. I think he slept, but I noticed that whenever I was awake, so was he...tending the fire or just sitting with his back to me and watching out into the darkness. The river was so high and ice-choked that we could cross nowhere safely until we reached opposite Augusta. That crossing, I will say, scared me out of my wits. I clung to Seamus for comfort...which he readily gave me. At that moment I felt his strength and the tenderness in his hard body and the warmth of him settled in my breast and made me warm and confident, too. The evening we spent in the gardens was...well...it made me all tingly, and...when he kissed me, I got all weak in the knees and my heart pounded wildly. I have not felt that way before. I have had no man, ever, and I have these strange, unexplainable feelings which set me afire. Many Flags, I have grown quite fond of your cousin. He is at once kind, strong, gentle and very sure of himself. And now I am afraid for him...afraid that since he's gone with Colonel Armstrong, that he may come into harm's way. It is a very dangerous thing they are doing. Many will be killed and wounded...and I am so afraid he will be among them. OH, Many Flags, I sit and weep freely when I allow my mind to wander, and I pray constantly to the Almighty to keep a watchful eye on him and the rest of the men! I have a terrible knot in my stomach, and it will not go away. I LOVE SEAMUS!! I now know I do, and I will tell him if...no, when...he returns.