While rumor has it that Benedict Arnold has been sharing secrets with the British, young Thomas Hutchinson is struggling to keep a few of his own. His brother, Sam, makes him promise not to tell what he knows about a possible spy in town. Then, Francis Pickering entrusts Thomas with the secret of what happened to his missing medicines. And when Thomas discovers that Malcolm, too, is holding back something about a mysterious orphan girl who was shot in the foot, the weight is nearly more than he can take. Is this what the preacher meant when he urged the congregation to bear one another's burdens? Would God want Thomas to tell his Papa what's going on when it could mean the difference between life and death for both his brothers? Can anyone help him carry the load?The Christian Heritage Series is an ongoing line of Focus on the Family youth books that explores the role of faith and family throughout American history. These engaging stories help young readers better understand their country, its values, and its God. The Williamsburg Years books take place in early 1780s Virginia.Nancy Rue's writings have appeared in a number of youth publications, including Clubhouse, Campus Life, and Teens Today. She has won a number of literary honors, including the 1991 C.S. Lewis Honor Book Award.