Authors note: here's my first patriot fanfic. Hope you all enjoy.

Simple things in life are free
South Carolina 1776
Martin plantation

She brushed off the gleaming coat of her walking horse. The rich bay coat simmered in the isolated rays of sunlight that found their way through the cracks of the barn. Bob stood still almost like a statue one back leg resting on its hoofs edge. She smiled not minding the dirt or the hair getting on her hands and dress.

Grace Martin was content with her life. Though it seemed all around her there was the potential for great upheaval so far there was nothing that had affected her family. Though if Gabriel and Tomas had anything to say about it they would be fighting in the war soon enough.

She always figured that they would cause their father to go grey much quicker. She put bob back in his stall and then moved down the row of stalls. Stopping only to pat her quarter horse mare before she left. She was simply happy her father allowed her to own two horses and ride them.

She moved out of the horse barn and toward the workshop she normally found her father in. The same rocking chair design she found her Samuel and Nathan watching as once more her fathers chair failed to hold his weight. His angry cry and slinging the broken pieces into the large pile caused all of them to laugh even harder except little Susan.

"That's right little Susie tell father how inappropriate it is to get so angry!" She teased. Susan's face immediately lite up and her father smiled as the little girl dashed over to her older sister and was caught up in her arms.

"Yes your right up to the house with you both. Try to help Abigail with getting supper finished."

"Samuel Nathan come along as well you both need to wash up. "

The two boys followed obediently after their eldest sister.

"Grace a post rider came today!" Nathan said excitably.

"Did he? I wonder what came in the mail?" She said

"Tomas and Gabriel will be tearing to get into it. " little Samuel said.

"That little one is without a doubt. " she chuckled.

Benjamin Martin gazed after his eldest daughter. She had the same way her mother did. The gentle kindness that coupled with a great air of respect she commanded made all look to her and listen. She was a bright light indeed in the dim world.

Once inside the calming bustle of finishing meal preparations was a balm to a day well spent for work. Abigail and Grace bustled in the kitchen while Margaret made sure Susan was occupied. Gabriel was seeing to the boys washing up.

He moved into his own room to wash away the sweat of labour.

***********************************

After the dinner was complete and the younger children were all asleep. Grace and the two eldest boys sat in the parlor waiting for the mail to be read. She kept her chuckles to herself as their father dragged it out.

"So what was in the mail?" And off the two boys dashed to gaze through it. Reaching their father what was addressed to him and a letter addressed to her from aunt Charlotte.

The two boys she saw were crowded around the newsletter. Seeing who had joined and what was going on in the other colonies.

'My dearest Grace,

You are now 17 and I pray this letter reaches you with good health and happiness. I am glad to know that you have perfected side saddle and are enjoying your studies. Learning foreign languages will be difficult at first but practice makes perfect.

It is time now that I feel you should come and stay with me. With your fathers consent so that we can introduce you to the society here in Charlestown. It is time now for you to try finding a husband or at least start courting properly with a suitable young man. I have written a letter to your father to explain all of this and with his consent and your agreement we may begin this new step.

I can't wait to read your letter and to see all of you once more. Give my love to all your brothers and sisters.

Your loving aunt,
Charlotte'

She glanced up to her father who nodded and put away his own letter from aunt Charlotte. She smiled slightly and put the letter away as he picked up another letter addressed to him. She was remiss to find a husband. Her small freedoms would soon end.

It was the way life played out. A young woman needed to find a husband and she realized clearly that she couldn't do that on the farm. The isolation of the plantation made it difficult. She turned once more to her seeing as the boys talked of joining the war.

"Charlestown we're going to Charlestown. " Tomas exclaimed

"Yes we leave tomorrow. "

A little while later after she finished mending the shirt she put it aside and headed to her own bed. Nervous about the coming day.

If only the simple things in life could be free forever ...