Although the Morris and Pratt homesteads were in a remote area, everyone in Wrightsborough knew that there had been no Indian or Ranger attacks on any settlers within the Quaker community. The devout Friends assumed that this was in answer to their fervent prayers, but some of their leaders knew that they were protected by a special order from Governor Wright, who was soon to return from London. Mavis had been working as a house servant in the town since her husband was killed, and was surprised one morning to meet Epsey and seven-year-old Henry on the village street. Mavis was impressed with how much the boy resembled his father, and had difficulty looking anywhere except at the tall child with long blond hair, tied like Ethan’s in a ponytail down his back.

Almost apologetically, Epsey said, “For several months, Ethan has been spending almost all his time on his military duties and has had little opportunity to care for growing crops or our cattle, hogs, and sheep. I’ve sold all I could round up, except our milk cow, and plan to move into town here until the fighting’s over.”

Mavis concealed her surprise and replied, “I’d be very glad to be of help until you get a place to stay.”

“Oh, I’ve already visited Brother Joseph Maddock, and he has promised to arrange with one of the other Quaker families to accept me and Henry as boarders until my husband decides to come back home.”

Mavis asked, “Have you already moved your things?”

“I’ve brought my spinning wheel and loom and stored them in Maddock’s barn, and we’ll go back home to get the rest of what I’ll really need. I’ve hired a man to do the hauling.”

When Mavis casually asked about Ethan, Epsey just replied that he was off somewhere in the Carolinas, fighting along with some other men from Georgia. She said that he was with Captain William Few but did not add that she had not heard from him in several weeks.

Although they had lived as neighbors for almost seven years, the two women were strangely ill at ease in each other’s presence and rarely saw each other thereafter.

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