The Savage Chronicles 3: Thomas Savage: An Historical Romance

By Earl Sanders

John Savage (the hero of The Savage Chronicles 1: John Savage) established his family, Quaker converts, on a substantial tobacco plantation along the Nansemond River in colonial Virginia in the mid-1600s.

His son, John Jr. (JJ), (the hero of The Savage Chronicles 2: JJ Savage), assumes leadership in the family and guides his family through planter attacks on Indian friends and an assault by bloodthirsty pirates.

In the course of time, the Savage family relocates to the coastal Perquimans area of what will become a part of North Carolina, continuing in the farming of tobacco. Then, in the mid-eighteenth century, Thomas Savage's family further relocates to the central part of the colony, a place called Harpers Crossroads.

As in the family's past, this is sadly not a time that permits peace and forbearance.

The Savage family, as faithful Quakers, do not own black slaves. When an escaped slave couple appears on their land, they face the challenging decision: return the slaves to their cruel owner or find sanctuary for them.

One solution is to lead them to safety among Indian friends. These Indians, the Nansemond Algonquians, are friends of Thomas and his family who grew up playing with them as children, as did their early Virginia forebears.

In the midst of helping the slaves, the family is attacked by marauders. For a family that does not believe in firearms, how can the family protect itself?

And Thomas finds himself in a romantic quandary: The girl he loves is Anglican, and he wrestles with the prospects of marrying outside the faith.

In the midst of these challenges, a battle looms between the English army and patriots at Guilford courthouse. Does Thomas join with patriots to end English rule or stick with his Quaker principles?

In a time of such turmoil and danger, one wonders how it is possible for love to succeed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9781685266066

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Preface to the Savage Chronicles 1: John Savage

Preface to the Savage Chronicles 2: JJ Savage

Preface to the Savage Chronicles 3: Thomas Savage

A Raucous Business Meeting—May 1780

A Cautious Return Home

Surprise at the County Store

The Arm Wrestle

A Scary Encounter

A Family Council

A Not So Normal Day

Runaway Slaves

What to Do with Runaways?

Talbot Descends on the Savage Place

Family Instructional Time

A Ticklish Question for Dad

Benjamin and Leah Consult

Discussion Over Breakfast

A Summit with Blossom and Hector

The Sabbath

The Trek Begins Tearfully

Searching for Indians—Day 1

Searching for Indians—Day 2

Marauders Come to the Family House—Day 2

Searching for Indians—Day 3

What to Do with Dead Marauders?—Day 3

A Reunion of Old Friends—Day 4

Dead Marauders Go to Town—Day 4

Sabbath Meeting Attendance—Day 5

A Silent Return Home

The First Debriefing

Benjamin and Thomas' Story

An Unwelcome Visitor

Thomas Sent Back to Town

An Interlude with Elizabeth

The King's Soldiers

A Kiss from Elizabeth

A Quandary for Elizabeth

A Quandary for Thomas

A Tranquil Interlude Triggers a Plan

A Suggestion at Meeting

Plans Move Forward

Chain Pullers

A Family Consultation

The Decision

Pulling Chains

First Survey Evening

The Business Meeting

Organizing for the Bash

Working with Pastor Duncan

Return of the Chain Pullers

Socializing with Friends and Friends

Mr. Wilson Visits with Parson Duncan

Joel Consults with Mom and Dad

A Special Sabbath

The Selection of Mentors

Planning the Party and a Marriage

A Chance Meeting with Elizabeth

Chasing Chains and More

End of the Week

Saturday Kickback

Elizabeth's Quandary

The Ride Home

The Encounter Discussed

Marriage Grooming on the Sabbath

Country News Link

A New Dress

The Last Week of Pulling/Dragging

Harvest Begins

The Kids Gather

The Sabbath Before Harvest

The Harvest Begins

End of the First Day of Harvest

Osborne to the Village

Harvest End and Osborne Explores

Harvest Hoedown and a Dress

Prelude to the Bash

Osborne Tells of His Excursions

Kids Enjoy Each Other (Mostly)

The Bash

The Circle (Boys…and Girls)

The Circle (Men, No Ladies)

The Meal

The Dance Kicks Off

Encouraging the Dance

A Tender Conversation

A Sleepy Sabbath

The Ride Home

Parents Talk

Post-Harvest and Gala Interlude

A Difficult Conversation

The Marriage Day

A Weary But Upbeat Sabbath

An Erosion of Peacefulness

New Taxes

A Trip to the Village

Osborne Protects Mrs. Godfrey

A Savage Family Counsel

A Perplexed Meeting

Thomas Sits with Nancy

An Anglican Wedding

Thomas Contemplates Ways of Marriage

Fallout from Cowpens

A Self-Protection Militia

Checking Out the Muskets

A Visit from the Osbornes

A Call to Arms

A Family Counsel on Fighting

Benjamin and Leah Consult

Leah Meets with Gordon Wilson

Awkward Moments for Thomas

Benjamin Calls an Emergency Business Meeting

A Weary Sabbath

Banastre Tarleton Pays a Visit

Benjamin and Tarleton Exchange Pleasantries

The Reception at Harpers Crossroads

A Bit of Craven Excitement

Word of Thomas' Bravery Spreads

The Townsfolk Talk

The Constable Eats Crow and More

Another Family Counsel

More Taxes

Benjamin Calls Yet Another Business Meeting

Leah and Benjamin Consult

A Chest Removed from Hiding

Some Savage Family History

Yet Another Guilford Edict

Elizabeth's Quandary

A Distressed Sabbath Meeting

A Quick Consultation with Leah

The Ride Home

A Week of Work

A Baptist Preacher Arrives

Thomas Bumps into Elizabeth

Alvin Duncan Confides with Wilson

A Quiet Return Home

Gordon Wilson Brings Devastating News

Events at the Williams' Home

A Depressed Ride Home

A Somber Sabbath

Benjamin and Wilson Plan

The Work Meeting

A Mound and Planning a Farewell

Thomas' Perplexity

Thomas Ponders His Conversation with Osborne

A Solemn Memorial Service

Thomas and Ferdinand Come to a Decision

Thomas Meets with Elizabeth

Another Visit from Ferdinand

Thomas' Saturday Preparations

A Happy/Sad Sabbath

The Adventure Begins

Firing a Musket

Joining the Patriot Army

Osborne Assumes Command

Sergeant Hagerty Tutors the Newcomers

Craven Earns His Due

The Haze of Battle

The Boys Ponder Their Friend

A Survey on the Way Home

The Return Home

The Sabbath

Osborne for Monday Breakfast

Tuesday in Harpers Crossroads

Thomas Confides to Elizabeth

Thomas Heads for Home

Benjamin Makes a Discovery

Leah Learns What Happened

Thomas and the Kids to Town

A Meeting with Elizabeth

Osborne Apologizes to the Savages

Working on Details

Counsel from Friends

Final Details with Elizabeth

A Not So Private Wedding

Epilogue

About the Author

cover.jpg

The Savage Chronicles 3: Thomas Savage

An Historical Romance

Earl Sanders

ISBN 978-1-68526-605-9 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68526-606-6 (Digital)

Copyright © 2022 Earl Sanders

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Preface to the Savage Chronicles 1: John Savage

One must wonder how a young man with absolutely no experience in tobacco could migrate from urban England in the early sixteenth century and shortly thereafter become the master of a tobacco plantation in colonial Virginia.

And that is what truly happened with my progenitor, John Sanders. Not long after his arrival in the colony from mother England, he married Susannah Ravenett, the daughter of William Ravenett, an early tobacco plantation owner. How John and Susannah met, courted, and married is hidden in the clouds of time. I am confident, however, that this was a true love story in the difficult times of early Virginia.

John and Susannah became parents of seven children who would continue in production of the weed for several more generations. John and Susannah converted to Quakerism when Quaker preachers migrated from mother England to Virginia around 1650 or so. Thanks to their records, it has been possible to capture a glimpse of John and Susannah and their posterity.

The Sanders family departed Quakerism around 1800. Thanks to U.S. and other public records, it has been possible to also trace pieces of the Sanders line from John to the present.

One may wonder, then, why is this book entitled The Savage Chronicles 1: John Savage? Why not just call the hero John Sanders?

With such scanty details available, I am left to largely conjecture about John's first year, much less the rest of his life.

So I have invented a storyline about John's first year in America. The story includes fictional characters like the Rolfsons, the Hardings, Governor Dinwiddie, Mr. Thompson, Ralph, and many others. It also includes several duels, an occasional bit of excitement in colonial times.

John's was not the only love story. Indentured servants, black slaves, a government bureaucrat—these too contributed to colonial Virginia society, and they also waded through romantic challenges.

Given the uncertainties of John's life in early Virginia, I feel more comfortable attributing the fictional events to a John Savage. In the course of time, I hope that it will be possible to become acquainted with the story of the real John Sanders.

It may be as eventful as that of his fictional counterpart.

Preface to the Savage Chronicles 2: JJ Savage

John Savage, the hero of The Savage Chronicles 1, found his first year in colonial Virginia a tumultuous experience, marked by a seemingly frustrated love for his plantation owner's daughter, digging in the Virginia soil as a humble tobacco worker, and fighting several duels.

But John prevailed where most others would have yielded to what seemed insurmountable opposition. John went on to wed the owner's daughter, the beautiful Susannah, emerged victorious in his duels, and established his own tobacco plantation along the Nansemond River. There he and his family embraced the Quaker faith.

In his old age, John passes leadership in the Savage family to his son, John (called JJ), who awkwardly, but with developing confidence, continues the leadership of his father in the family and in the Nansemond community;

It is a difficult time. Tobacco soils have declined in fertility, and the solution for many plantation owners is to invade and kill the neighboring Nansemond Indians and take their lands, following the lead of the infamous Nathaniel Bacon. These are the native peoples that JJ and his family grew up with, his dear friends…and more.

A grave difficulty, too, are pirates who have ransacked the Savage plantation twice, now poised to do it a third time. JJ and his family face a difficult quandary: When the pirates swoop in once more, do they resist, contrary to their Quaker beliefs, or do they let the corsairs pillage and burn as they did before?

It is a tumultuous year with challenges to life and livelihood. But the difficult events confronting the Savage family, met with dignity and poise, provide opportunity for romance and to expanded family relationships.

As with father John, I have opted to create a fictional John Savage Jr. (JJ) who indeed lived as John Sanders Jr. and presided over a tobacco plantation on the banks of the Nansemond River in the third quarter of the seventeenth century.

It is a story of personal and spiritual courage of both colonial men and women.

It is a testament to patience in plowing through multiple challenges, in finding love despite race and heritage.

Given the uncertainties of John Sanders (Jr.) life in early Virginia, I feel more comfortable attributing the fictional events to a John Savage (Jr.). In the course of time, I hope that it will be possible to become more acquainted with the story of the real John Sanders Jr.

It may be as eventful as that of his fictional counterpart.

Preface to the Savage Chronicles 3: Thomas Savage

Thomas Savage's forebears, John Savage and his son, JJ, were planters of tobacco along the York and Nansemond Rivers in early colonial Virginia, embracing the Quaker faith that came from Mother England. They and their families and friends faced, and eventually surmounted, obstacles, both natural and manmade, that overwhelmed many others of their time.

But by the late seventeenth century, it became clear that soils on the Savage lands could not produce a reasonable crop of tobacco, and other crops did not generate income enough to support the family. In the early eighteenth century, the Savages migrated westward to the Perquimans area of what would eventually become North Carolina. There they continued to grow tobacco.

As before, declining production of the weed prompted further westward movement of a part of the family led by father Benjamin Savage, this time to the central part of the colony, a place called Harpers Crossroads.

The family now turned to cotton as well as tobacco production. While the farm produces well, family fortunes are endangered by other forces: the ongoing practice of slavery and opposition to it by the Quakers, the growing opposition to English rule, and the hostility of the Anglican church to Quakers.

Too, the practice of expelling Quaker members who marry a person out of the faith faces several of the Savage family, including young Thomas Savage.

Although not the oldest of the children, Thomas finds himself at the center of all the turmoil enveloping the Savage family. How to deal with a slave couple who have escaped their owner; English marauders who plunder their way through the countryside? Most perplexing, how to deal with romantic feelings for a beautiful young woman of Anglican faith?

As with Thomas' forebearers John Savage and JJ Savage, I have opted to create a fictional Thomas Savage who actually lived as Thomas Sanders during the Revolutionary War period of American history.

It is a story of personal and spiritual courage of both men and women, young and old, in the turbulent times of the War for Independence.

It is a testament to patience in surmounting multiple challenges and finding love despite opposition.

Given the uncertainties of Thomas Sanders' life in the late 1700's in rural North Carolina, I feel more comfortable attributing the fictional events to a Thomas Savage. In the course of time, I hope it will be possible to become acquainted with the full story of the real Thomas Sanders.

It may be as eventful as that of his fictional counterpart.

A Raucous Business Meeting—May 1780

Thomas Savage squeezed in between his brothers, Joel and John, on the hard seats of the Cane Creek Quaker meetinghouse, not very happy to be there on a Saturday. His father, Benjamin, had called a business meeting of local Friends to consider the increasing contention between citizens in the area who still supported the English government and those who encouraged the growing opposition to it.

Children did not usually attend business meetings, but recent happenings at the family home prompted Benjamin and his wife, Leah, to bring the children with them this time.

The monthly business meeting, usually a sedate discussion of needed business matters, quickly degenerated into an unusual shouting match.

Benjamin glanced at his wife, Leah, who sat opposite him with downcast eyes. Next to her were their daughters, Lydia (age eighteen), Miriam (thirteen), Sarah (eleven), Mary (nine), and Rachel (five). His sons—Joel (twenty), John (sixteen), Thomas (fifteen), and Benjamin Jr., the baby (three)—sat down the hard row from him. Benjamin couldn't tell how his sons, seated next to him, were reacting to the ruckus, but the girls were all wide-eyed in amazement.

Benjamin opened the meeting realizing that the widely divergent feelings of the congregation on several matters called for a special restraint among the Friends in this unusual business gathering. He had called on John Powell, usually one of the more peaceable members of the congregation, to offer a prayer as the meeting began. Vocal prayer was not often done in Meeting, but Benjamin and others felt a spoken invocation would invite a spirit of peace. In his prayer, John petitioned the Lord to bless the King of England, George III, as well as the local Tory government.

John's prayer provoked members of the group who supported the King, but who harbored a growing dislike for the local colonial government, to loud mutterings. Their mutterings triggered a verbal response from members who agreed with John's invocation. In a few moments, the muttering degenerated into a shouting match filled with a mixture of threats and swear words.

Not sure how to deal with this most extraordinary turn of events, Benjamin quietly stood. It took several minutes before the men and women took note of his stance, and in a few minutes, they ceased their hollering.

When silence was restored, Benjamin gently chided his friends for their lack of decorum. This is the Lord's house, and we do Him and ourselves no honor in behaving in this way. Yes, times have been difficult for all of us. And there don't seem to be any easy ways to handle many of our problems. Some Friends have left our fellowship as their way to deal with them. I am not sure they'll be any happier or better off for doing it. Our great advantage is to seek the Lord's direction and to work together…yes, together, even when we don't agree on some things, like the colonial government.

Benjamin's rebuke softened the mood of the meeting, and several of the congregation stood to offer apologies for their untoward behavior. The meeting adjourned shortly afterwards with no agreement on how to resolve the many challenges that faced all of them.

A Cautious Return Home

The Quaker gathering split up without the usual hugs and handshakes that normally concluded their meetings. Benjamin gathered his family, loaded them onto the rickety family wagon, and headed homeward several miles away. There was no chatter that usually accompanied their journey home. Even the children, crowded uncomfortably in the back of the wagon, seemed lost in their own thoughts.

It was, Benjamin reflected, a different time. In the early 1700's, Quakers from Virginia migrated into the territory that would become North Carolina. Essentially empty then except for Indians, the Friends enjoyed a period of relative peace and prosperity. Benjamin journeyed from the Perquimans area with several other family members and settled in the area that became known as Cane Creek. He was moderately well off. He secured one hundred fifty acres on Tyson's Corner, another one hundred acres on Indian Creek, and some two hundred twenty-five acres on Flaggy Branch, all in Chatham County.

Benjamin had farmed tobacco all his life but found that tobacco did not prosper in this area as it did in Virginia or Perquimans. He planted tobacco, but he also found that cotton, a relatively new plant, produced well in these soils. Over time, he shifted the majority of his land to cotton, although he continued to produce some of the weed. Smiling inwardly, he had found that there continued to be a market for tobacco; too many local folks depended on it as a stimulus for their day.

Arriving at home, Benjamin cautiously approached their house. It was a modest place. The Savages could afford a larger and more elegant home, but they knew that such ostentation would attract the attention of unwanted people. Their home had already been ransacked by several groups purporting to be soldiers.

Benjamin cautiously guided the wagon around the house. Things appeared to be as they were when the family left for meeting hours earlier. Still, better careful than surprised again. He sent Joel and John to scout the barn, who returned several minutes later to report that everything was undisturbed. Only then did Benjamin have Leah and the children climb off the wagon and go into their home.

Still reluctant to relax his vigilance, Benjamin remained uncomfortably on the wagon for some minutes, remembering their return from Sunday meeting several months before. As soon as the family had settled into the house, a ragged group of men sprang out of the forest and banged into the kitchen, demanding their food, money, weapons, and anything of value.

Benjamin had explained to them that they were Quakers and did not take part in any violence. We've been invaded before, and the guys took everything worth anything. You're welcome to our food. But we do not have any money or anything worth much. You can search our house and barn. If there is anything there, you're welcome to it.

The ringleader gestured to two of his cronies to search the barn. The others wandered through the house throwing things around and ripping the mattresses apart for anything of worth. Finding nothing, they wolfed down the food in the kitchen, throwing the crockery to shatter on the floor.

Several of the gang eyed the girls covetously. When it became clear what their thoughts were, Benjamin quietly fingered the long knife in the scabbard at his back. He was willing to give these thugs everything they wanted…except the virtue of his girls.

Leah glanced at him, understanding his thoughts.

The leader considered the possibilities, then spat and ordered his friends to leave. We ain't gots nuthin' worth anythin' here. Better we gets goin' for we'ns gets catched here. He spat again, pointed a threatening finger at Benjamin and promised to come back again and get what they didn't take this time. With that, the rabble had kicked their way through the kitchen door and disappeared into the surrounding forest.

When Benjamin remained for some time on the wagon, Leah eventually slipped out to the porch. What are you doing, my husband? The house hasn't been broken into, and everything is okay. The children are hungry, and the evening meal will be on the table in a few minutes.

Coming, my Dear. I was just thinking about the business meeting today. It's the first time we've had such a meeting. We've always had peaceful gatherings before, even when people didn't agree on something. I wonder if we're going to have this happen again. And I'm wondering how we can avoid another disagreement like this. Maybe you have some ideas.

I think you handled it as good as it could be, Dear. I don't think much inspiration will come to you if your stomach is growling. The children are already at the table waiting for you.

In his haste, Benjamin almost fell jumping down from the wagon. He didn't notice that his sons had already unhitched old Rufus and led him to the barn. Indeed, Benjamin found the children already seated at the table. He noted a guilty look on Joel's face, suspecting that his son had snitched a bite of something while waiting for Dad to come to the table. A soon as Benjamin took his seat, Miriam blurted out, Daddy, Joel ate a piece of bread before the food was blessed!

Benjamin smiled inwardly (he had been the main snitch in his family growing up) but mustered up the proper scowl. Joel, since you didn't wait for the blessing on the food, you'll have to wait until everyone has had some bread before you can have any.

Joel attempted, without much success, to muster up the appropriate face of repentance, fooling no one. He knew his mother had baked several loaves of bread. He would get his fill of it, if not at the dinner table, then raiding the kitchen after dishes were done.

The family ate hungrily and in silence for some minutes. Leah reminded the girls to scrub the dinner dishes thoroughly. It was a time-honored part of the mealtime conversation. The girls expected it; mealtime would not be complete without this reminder.

Surprise at the County Store

Thomas drove slowly up to the country store at Harpers Crossroads, pulling the wagon to a stop under a large tree for shade. For some reason, Leah always designated him to make the periodic trip to the store to purchase needed items. The store was owned by an Anglican man who occasionally voiced his disdain for Quakers but, for some reason, had a special liking for Thomas.

Hello, Thomas. What did your mom tell you to buy today?

Good morning, Mr. Wilson. Fishing around in his pockets, Thomas finally found the list his mother had given him with a reminder not to lose it. It's the same stuff Mom wants every time.

Mr. Wilson grinned. The list never varied, and he often asked Thomas why she ever made a list. Thomas only smiled and shrugged.

The store owner chattered away as he gathered the items together—the weather, marauders who prowled the area, Mrs. Eubanks who finally had her baby, the poor fishing on the river…nothing new except for Mrs. Eubanks' baby. Thomas filed that away to tell his mother who would send a small gift for the occasion.

The list completed, Mr. Wilson slipped Thomas a candy stick with a promise he wouldn't tell other kids. I'll never get them out of the store, and I'll never have any candy in my jar. In a moment of rare thoughtfulness, he told Thomas to pay his respects to the Savages.

When Thomas left the store, he found a small crowd of young people gathered not far from his wagon. Often shy around Anglican people, Thomas took a roundabout path to the wagon, hoping to be unnoticed. His effort failed. One of the young men called out to him, Hey, Savage! You Quakers come out of hiding? Thought you didn't come around us heathen Anglicans.

Unsure how to answer, Thomas loaded his purchases in the back of the wagon, then turned to the group that now approached him. Among them were several young ladies, both pretty, but one was especially attractive. Her name was Elizabeth, and Thomas sometimes lay in bed at night and pictured himself giving her a kiss. He glanced at her, and she gave him a smile. It almost took his breath away.

Before he could absorb this surprise, the three young fellows began to push Thomas around. The ringleader, larger than the other two, taunted him. Hear you Quakers don't believe in fightin'. So you cain't do nothing if'n I push you around. He reached up and slapped Thomas in the face. What youse gonna do 'bout dis?

Thomas had often thought about what to do if he found himself in such a quandary. His natural instincts were to push back, but the teachings of his parents restrained him. Faced with such a situation, Thomas had devised what he hoped was a way to peacefully avoid too unpleasant a confrontation. I don't fight. You're right. I don't think that's a good way to treat other people. So I won't fight you. But I have a way for us to handle this, if you have the guts. I'll arm wrestle you, and we'll see who's the toughest. I'll take each of you on, including the girls.

Thomas' challenge was greeted by curses from the boys, smiles from the girls. The ringleader snarled that he was going to be the first to put this Quaker jerk down.

The group returned to the store porch, and Thomas and the ringleader sat at a table opposite each other. Thomas noticed as he took the ringleader's hand that it was soft and fleshy, not callous and hardened like his. Don't do much work in the fields, like I do, Thomas muttered to himself. Mr. Wilson stepped out on the porch to witness the contest. The ringleader asked him to give the go signal.

The Arm Wrestle

At ‘go,' both boys put their weight into the wrestle. Wanting to gauge the strength of his opponent, Thomas initially strained just hard enough to maintain a neutral level. The ringleader gave it everything he had. He grunted and strained, obviously giving it all his effort and not budging Thomas at all. His companions hollered encouragement to him, but that availed nothing.

When it was obvious that the ringleader had done his best, Thomas gave a sharp pull, slamming his opponent's hand hard on the table. It was so sudden and decisive that everyone gave a gasp, except for the ringleader who expressed his anger in a string of profanity. Mr. Wilson, although accustomed to the language of rough men, voiced his irritation and ordered the boys to leave his property.

In minutes, the boys vacated the area. Thomas readied himself to leave when the prettiest of the girls, Elizabeth, confronted him. You said that you would wrestle each of us. You haven't wrestled me yet.

Thomas didn't know whether to be mortified or ecstatic. To wrestle with a girl? Especially with Elizabeth! Should he beat her, or should he be the gentleman and lose?

Thomas took her hand and noticed immediately that it was not the soft skin that the ringleader had. This was a working hand. Thomas didn't want to be ungentlemanly and planned to simply hold his grip upright until Elizabeth tired.

It was not to be. At ‘go,' Elizabeth put her weight into the wrestle and slammed Thomas hand down on the table…hard. The result was shocking.

While Thomas sat in stunned silence, Elizabeth stood. What prize do I get for beating you?

Not sure how to react, Thomas shook his head, finally asking what prize she wanted.

Without a word, Elizabeth leaned over Thomas and planted a kiss on his mouth. That's my prize. I'll look forward to my next prize. Then she and her friends slipped away, leaving Thomas in total bewilderment on the porch.

Mr. Wilson, having witnessed this series of unusual events, slapped Thomas on the back and wished him luck. Good luck, Thomas. I think you're gonna need it.

A Scary Encounter

As soon as he was away from the store, Thomas stopped the wagon. Anticipating marauders who might sometime steal Thomas' purchases, Benjamin had skillfully built a hidden storage compartment under the bed of the wagon. Although not large, it hid most of Thomas' purchases. Thomas left a small bag of flour out, as well as several other unneeded foodstuffs. Leah had also packed several food items that were on the verge of spoiling. These Thomas also left out of the hiding place. Done, Thomas continued on his way home.

In a reverie about his arm ‘wrestle' with Elizabeth, Thomas did