Tabitha's Tale

Simons’ Pitch

Andover, Vermont

Early May of 1778

Still a few months shy of nine full years, Tabitha sat on the rear of the heavily loaded oxcart.  Swinging her legs tanned and muscular from the many days of constant walking, she clutched her baby sister more firmly around the waist.  “Stop squirming, Sarah!” she hissed.  “Mama said to stay with me!”  The pudgy, tousle-headed three-year-old struggled against the restraining arms before settling down to suck her thumb and scowl at the cluster of strange men and boys gathered in the dusty road around their father.

“Well, Captain Utley!  I’d not expected you to come to greet my womenfolk,” Tabby heard Pa exclaim to the obvious leader of the group.

“Thought it best that I did, Captain Simons.  We wouldn’t want anyone confused as to where your pitch joins mine, would we?”  The burly man dressed in homespun and deerskin laughed and winked broadly at the young men and boys surrounding him.  “These be my other sons, Simons.  Asa you’ve already met, I know.  As you can see, I have a good company of strong backs to help me these days.”

Tabitha smiled wryly, noticing her father’s eyes spark with irritation quickly concealed behind his jovial reply.  “That’s some crew, I’ll admit, William, but you, no doubt, have noticed that I’ve mustered a husky squad of my own.  My brother-in-law and partner, Abbe, is busy elsewhere these days and John Jr. and I were tied up for a bit with that nasty business around Boston, but aside from Loton and Eb who are still doing their bit for independence we’ve been back here on site for a good while now.  I’m sure you remember that I had my wife, Miriam, with me last season.  In fact we had a child born here not too long before we went back to Enfield for the winter… seems to me your good wife and daughters came to help.”  John turned away to hide his smirk when Utley shifted his weight and spat into the dusty road.

“This be Alvin,” Simons went on quickly, turning to a dark-haired, brown-eyed youngster of about eleven who was hovering at his side.  “You’ve not met him before. He’s been doing a grown man’s work for his mother this past year.  Don’t let his size fool you.  He’s about the age of your Oliver there, isn’t he?”  Utley grunted a reluctant response so Simons continued.

“I expect Eb and Loton will be arriving soon, once their military duties are finished,” he hastened to add.  “No doubt you’ve noticed that we’re well on our way to establishing our business on this stretch of river.  I’m sure you’ve not been unaware of our efforts.”  The younger Utleys muttered to each other, grinning.  Captain Simons continued.  “This fine gentleman is my son-in-law, John Chapin.  We also delivered a couple of wives and a gaggle of children to Eli and Jacob Pease upstream a bit.  Place is beginning to fill out, wouldn’t you say?”

Utley leveled his steely gaze at the newcomer, hesitated then offered his hand to Chapin.  “Welcome, stranger.  You have the look of army life about you.