The reprehensible state that our army was in at the beginning of 1780 was due almost wholly to the inadequate leadership of our Congress. Thankfully, the citizens of New Jersey rose to the occasion, donating all they could to the cause. It was the work of regular people, not the power of politicians, that fed the army. 

It demonstrates how the common, hardworking people are the true spirit and backbone of a nation, persevering even as spineless fools control it. 

I digress. So, I shall return to the task at hand. 

I stood at the front of m house, gazing in almost fearful wonder upon the glittering white drifts surrounding me. Tempe came out the door behind me, thumping it close as she left. 

"It's... incredible," I said, pausing between the words. "How much snow can fall in such a short time." 

"Three days is not a short time, Henri. I'm going to the barn. Help me break a path." 

Obligingly, I walked behind her until walking through the resting two feet of snow, in low parts, was tiring. I switched to the head of the line, and, in that manner, we broke a path to the barn.

"I haven't groomed him properly in days. I'm lucky I could even get out here to feed him." 

"Colonel's fine, Tempe. I'm going back to the house." 

As I neared the house, Benjamin came trudging along his regular path to headquarters. Though breaking a path is tiring work and he had come a good distance from his cabin, his slump and irregular lack of energy worried me. 

"Benjamin? Is that you?" I called out, proceeding toward him through the snow.

"Oh, Henrietta. Lovely to see you again," he answered, turning around and shielding his eyes from the sun to better see me. "Lovely day, isn't it?"

Though he smiled and greeted me cheerfully, there were tired shadows under his ravenous eyes. I rushed towards him, as best I could through the snow. 

"My goodness! Have you slept? Are you alright? When was the last time you ate? Come inside, come inside!" 

"I'm sorry, I need to be on my way to headquarters-" 

"I insist. Come inside." We locked eyes and I stared steadily into his, leaving no room for discussion. 

"I need to-" 

"Eat. And sleep. Come inside. I don't believe I gave you a choice." I enunciated every word, making each a command. "After you." I gestured towards the door. 

He cocked his head sideways and looked at me pleadingly. At the time, I was not one easily undone by puppy dog eyes, so I glared back, and he reluctantly plodded inside. 

"Don't track snow inside. Brush it off your boots here." Turning from Benjamin, I called out, "Daisy!" 

As Benjamin brushed the packed-on snow off the sides of his boots, our cook, Daisy, appeared from the kitchen. 

"Yes, miss?" 

"Is there any porridge left from breakfast?" 

"No, miss. I'm sorry." 

"No, no, it's fine. Could you scrounge up something for the major?" 

"Yes, miss. I could." 

"Then please do so. Thank you." 

"Henrietta," Benjamin spoke up as Daisy returned to the kitchen. "This is not necessary. I'm fine. Please." 

"Nonsense." I glanced up and down, appraising him. "You are clearly hungry. When did you eat last?" 

"We were given some meat a few days ago, and some bread on and off since then, but I assure you-" 

"My goodness, you must be famished. There is nothing to assure me of. Come, sit at the table." 

As Benjamin sat, the realization hit me. This had been a whirlwind without thought, simply action. I invited, nay, ordered, a bachelor officer into my home. 

"My God," I whispered. "Mother will be furious." 

"I beg your pardon?" 

"It's nothing, I assure you. Now," I continued, sitting myself. "is the army in such a state that it cannot afford to feed its own soldiers?" 

Benjamin's eyes flooded with a sadness that nearly washed away the hunger that had resided there just a moment before. "I'm afraid so." 

I inhaled sharply. "That's terrible." 

"I believe Washington is planning to ask the citizens of New Jersey for contributions. That should provide well enough for us." 

"I am sure we shall rise to the occasion." I met his eyes with a warm smile that widened with sincerity at the one he gave in return. Beside me, Daisy cleared her throat. 

"Miss," she said, holding a plate of coarse bread and cheese. I started, having been completely unaware of m surroundings while lost in our exchange of smiles. "Some bread and cheese for the major." 

My face was hot as I thanked her, avoiding meeting her eyes or the gaze of my friend seated across from me. Gathering my wits, I looked back up at Benjamin, who had not touched his food, but stared at it with a mix of longing and disbelief, like a child presented with an unexpected but clearly desired gift. "Benjamin, eat." 

He looked up at me, then back down. Closing his eyes and folding his hands, he said, "Good and gracious Lord, I thank you for this food placed before me, as well as the woman who gave it to me. Amen." 

Finishing his grace, he embarked upon his meal in a civilized manner, though, given the chance and solitude, he surely would have bolted it down in a fashion similar to how a wild animal would. 

Tempe opened the door, speaking as she did. "On my way back, I saw a cardinal. They're some of my favorite birds, so bright and colorful in a dreary winter..." She trailed off as she saw Benjamin and I both looking at her. "I'll take Colonel out on the trail." As she left, she winked at me.

After a moment of silence, my mother's businesslike footsteps were audible from the kitchen. Following a brief exchange with Daisy that I could not make out, she entered the dining room, stopping short in the doorway. 

"Major Tallmadge. It is lovely to see you again. I trust you are well?" As she spoke, I turned slowly, maintaining a demure smile, though I could feel the heat of the blush on my cheeks. Without pausing for an answer, she looked at me and demanded, "Henrietta, what is this?" 

"Mother,-" I began.

Major Tallmadge cut across my words, standing and preparing to leave. "I apologize for my presumption, Mrs. Wick. I'm sorry for the intrusion. I'll be on my way now." 

"Sit, Major Tallmadge. Henrietta, continue." Benjamin sat down slowly. I met my mother's glare and continued. 

"I came upon Major Tallmadge outside as as he was on his way to headquarters. I noticed how hungry and tired he seemed and brought him inside for some food. Once he was inside, I learned that the state of the army's supplies is so dire that they have not been consistently fed for weeks. Major Tallmadge has been given little to nothing to eat for the past few days and I took it upon myself to give it to him. Seeing as he was in need and I could help, I saw no issue with the action and found no reason why you would object." 

I watched as Mother's expression softened into the kind smile she generally wore and she diverted her attention to Benjamin. 

"Major, you are, of course, welcome in our home and to our food. Please, stay and finish eating. Are you quite sure you have enough food?" 

Benjamin smiled. "Quite sure. Thank you, madam."

"Ne l'écoute pas. Vous êtes bienvenue ici." 

"Merci, madamoiselle. Votre mère est gentille. Et vous, bien sûr." 

"En anglais, s'il vous plaît," my mother interjected, annoyed. 

"D'accord, maman. There is no need to compliment me, sir. We are only doing what is right. In what world could we let you starve?" 

"I would hope none, of course." Benjamin replied, chuckling. "Though I assure you, I would have been quite alright."

"Of course. Since you insist that what you have is enough, could we give you a few loaves of bread to feed some of your men until more supplies come in?" 

"It's quite alright, Mrs. Wick, the general-" 

"That's a good idea, Mother. Even after Washington sends out an order for donations from the public, it will take a few days before the rewards can be reaped. It's the least we can do." 

"I assure you, we will be-" 

"Very well, then. I'll ask Daisy to fetch some." Standing, Mother looked pointedly at me and said, "Behave." 

"Mother, what do you think-" Buy the time I began speaking, she had exited into the kitchen, and my words were rendered futile. 

"I see that I will not be allowed to leave here with anything less than a full stomach." Benjamin chuckled, finishing the last of his food and wiping the crumbs from his mouth. 

I chuckled in return. "You most certainly will not." 

"Truly, people such as your mother and yourself, willing to give what they have to this army, as just as, if not more, valuable than any single man in its ranks."

"You flatter us. We do what we can for the cause we place our trust in, for we cannot fight for it ourselves." 

"I assure you, your support does not go unacknowledged. We are forever in your debt." 

"Thank you, Benjamin. We are indebted to you and your comrades as well." 

My mother came into the dining room, placing a basket of bread wrapped in cloth before Benjamin. "Here you are, sir." 

"Thank you, madam." 

"Now, that'll go stale quick, but, with luck, it should last you a couple of days. Enough until supplies come in from the citizens of New Jersey, I hope." 

"I cannot properly express my gratitude. The men in my cabin will eat well tonight, and tomorrow. I should be on my way." 

"I'll see you on your way, sir." I stood and walked with him to the door. 

Once outside, he asked me, "I hope I may still call you Henrietta? I noticed you referred to me as Major Tallmadge to your mother, and-" 

I interrupted, "Yes, of course. I only did that because I-" I paused, realizing that I had no reason. "I don't know why. On that topic, my friends and my- those I love call me Henri. I wish for you to do so as well." 

"I- well, I would be honored to. In that case, I want you to call me Ben, as my loved ones do."

"Of course, Ben." I smiled. 

Shifting his weight, Ben continued. "Sometimes, when I speak with you, I wish we had met under better circumstances." 

"What do you mean?" 

"This damnable war controls all my actions, all my movements. Come summer, I will have no choice but to go with the army wherever we are headed, leaving you here." 

"I suppose that's true. But remember, this 'damnable war', as you call it, is what brought us together. We would never have met without it." 

"Yes, that's true." 

"And, I trust we will keep a correspondence once you leave." 

"Yes, yes! Of course!" The wide smile that consumed his face was the most beautiful thing I had seen in days, He took my hand in his and pressed his lips to my knuckles. "I should be on my way now. Thank you. Thank you!" 

He practically leapt in the direction of town. Seeing him so happy was ratifying, to tell the truth. Any spring in his step was leaps and bounds compared to the plodding of earlier. And now, I had the promise of a future correspondence with him as well. I smiled again, wider this time, say, under my breath, "Adieu." Then, I shouted to his back, advancing through the snow, "Adieu! Until we meet again, dear sir!"

"Adieu, mademoiselle!" he replied, turning around. "Adieu!" 

Shielding my eyes from the sun, I watched until I could no longer see him. Then, I returned inside, finding my mother waiting in the parlor. 

"Henrietta," she said. "I would like to speak with you. About an important matter. Please sit." 

Slightly apprehensive, I took a seat across from her. 

"Now," she began. "About Major Tallmadge."