My husband neglected to inform me of his plan to add his contribution to my own. You can imagine my surprise when I sat down to write this and saw what he had written. 

He also neglected to tell me about that little conversation he had with Colonel Hamilton about me. I thought that honesty was an integral part of any relationship. 

Now, shall we continue with the narrative you were expecting?

About a week after the events we have already discussed, winter was starting to set in. The temperature had dropped sharply, and storm clouds rolled in the sky. 

The winter threatened to be cold and devastating, as it would turn out to be.

It was a cold night. We had supped, and Mother, Tempe, and I were knitting socks and hats for the soldiers, many of whom had none. The general and his aides were on the other side of the house, and my father was on duty, as he was many nights. Outside, it had been snowing since late afternoon, gently at first, then heavier as the storm continued. 

Looking up from her work, Tempe glanced at the window and said, "Goodness, what is that?"

Mother and I turned to the window. I dropped my knitting and stood quickly. 

"Strange to see a light this late, and in the middle of a snowstorm," Mother commented. 

"It looks like someone carrying a lantern!" I exclaimed.

"What fool would be traveling in this storm?" Mother queried. 

"It doesn't matter," I said, already pulling on my boots. "We need to bring them in here before they freeze!" I shoved a hat on my head, wrapped myself in a coat, and grabbed a lit lantern.

"Henrietta! Don't be foolish!" 

"Henri, please, you'll be frostbitten!"

"Tempe, go get the general. We don't know who this is. Mother, get something to warm them. Friend or foe, they will need it." I opened the door and stepped out in to the blowing snow. I held my lantern in front of me, trying to extend my circle of light as far as I could. 

"Hello!" I shouted into the wind. "If you can hear me, come here! I'll bring you inside, to shelter!" I stepped further out in the direction we had seen the light, straining to see anything through the snow. It had looked like it was moving towards the main encampment, so I forged that way through the snow. After a few more steps, I saw a glimmer of light. 

"Hey! Come here!" I pushed through the snow, my lantern as far ahead of me as I could reach. My teeth chattered as the wind whipped around my face. I kept pushing through the snow, until the moment I glimpsed a man in his army uniform pushing through the snow as I was. I lunged forward and grabbed his arm.

"You're coming with me! It's not safe out here!"

I dragged him up to the house and to the door. I pushed him in ahead of me and closed the door behind, blocking out the snow. 

My mother flew onto me, brushing off snow and rubbing my hands to bring the warmth back into them. "Henrietta, you foolish girl! The good Lord only knows what could have happened to you!"

"Mother," I protested. "This man is in more need of your help than me."

I turned to look at the man I had pushed into the house. To my surprise, he was the same major I had greeted outside. He was shivering, his coat layered with snow and his face red with cold, or embarrassment. General St. Clair was chastising him openly in front of all of us. 

"You foolish boy! What were you thinking, walking through this snowstorm! You could have frozen! honestly, I expected better judgement from an officer. You're unbelievably lucky that this young woman recklessly volunteered to go get you, and even more that she managed to find you out there! I cannot imagine-"

"Sir," I interrupted. "The major just came out of the storm, and his clothes are covered in snow. General, I'm sure admonishing him can wait until he has warmed up some."

"Very well, Miss Henrietta. Major, sit by the fire."

The major mouthed "thank you" to me, and staggered to the chair, his walking hindered by the stiffness in his limbs from the cold. My mother hurried forward and pressed a cup of coffee, likely braced with some type of alcohol, into the major's hands.

"Drink," she said. "It will warm you, and Lord knows you will need it."

He drank from the cup and looked up at my mother. "Thank you, Mrs. Wick."

"Of course, Major." She smiled at him. "You should take off that coat of yours and leave it to dry by the fire. It's soaked."

"I'll leave you three to take care of this." The general nodded to us and left the room. 

The major removed his wet blue coat and placed it on the ground by the fire. I hurried forward to flatten it.

"It will never dry crumpled like that," I said. Tempe handed me a towel, which I immediately handed to the major. 

He handed it back to me saying, "Don't forget, Miss Henrietta, you need to dry off as well."

I blushed and accepted the towel, drying my hair and sleeves. I ignored my skirts, because it would take far too long to dry them. "Thank you, Major."

"Benjamin Tallmadge." He took my hand in his gloved one and pressed his lips to my knuckles. "At your service, Miss Wick."

I felt a blush and smile rise on my cheeks, but I quickly stopped and stiffened.

"You are in no place to make such gestures after I have just saved you from freezing in the snow."

He chuckled and looked at me, smiling. "True."

Our gazes locked for several seconds, until I looked away.

Tempe cleared her throat. "Our father is not home, but I'm sure he would gladly welcome you here for the night."

"Tempe!" I exclaimed. It was not her place to invite an unexpected guest to stay the night, but then again, nor was it my place to to drag an unknown man, even an officer of the Continental Army, inside out of a snowstorm.

"Of course! Major Tallmadge, in my husband's stead, I extend his hospitality to you. you may stay the night. It would be incredibly rude for us to turn you away, back into that storm, not to mention how much danger you would be in. This army needs all of its soldiers well and whole, especially a brave officer such as yourself."

"You flatter me unnecessarily, Mrs. Wick."

"Nonsense. Temperance, prepare a bed on the general's side of the house for the major. Henrietta, keep him company while I fetch him dry clothes. Both of you need to stay by the fire. And no funny business. I'm trusting you, Henrietta."

"Mother!" I exclaimed.

She turned and walked away, going to the room she shared with my father.

"I apologize for my mother. She assumes things, and-"

"No, no, don't apologize. I don't know why she would assume such a thing, but it doesn't matter. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Wick."

"Likewise, Major Tallmadge."

My mother came hurrying back with a nightshirt that she handed to Major Tallmadge.

"Your bedroom is down the hall. Turn left, and it's the second door on the right. Tempe is just finishing making up the bed. Good night, Major."

"Good night, Mrs. Wick."

"Good night, Major," I said, smiling.

"Good night, Miss Wick." He smiled back. He bowed and went to his room as Tempe walked out of the hall. 

"Good night, Mother. Good night, Tempe. I'll see you when you come upstairs."

They murmured their goodnights, and I went up to bed. I lit a candle as I readied myself for bed, and blew it out after climbing in.

After my prayers, I closed my eyes and saw Major Tallmadge's face. 

I whispered his name to myself. "Major Tallmadge. Tallmadge. Benjamin Tallmadge. Ben. Benny." I loved the way it sounded. On a whim, I added my name. "Mrs. Tallmadge. Henrietta Tallmadge. Henrietta Wick Tallmadge."

I smiled into my pillow. It was silly to jump to such a far-fetched conclusion, but such a wild fantasy made my heart flutter with happiness. I barely knew this man, and yet I was just as, if not more, transfixed by him as I was by Colonel Hamilton.