As Emma was getting ready for bed, eager to read the letter from Ben, she heard a knocking on her door. "Emma, its me let me in." Anna's soft voice came from the other side of the door. Hurrying towards the door, Emma let her sister in law in.

"What's the matter?" Emma said looking concerned.

"Abe came to see me just a little bit ago. He is going to do Ben's mission. He needs my help." Anna said looking almost excited, "How are you going to help him?" Emma asked knowing Abe would never try to intentionally put her in harms way. "He asked me to hang a black petticoat on the line, to signal the courier. Emma, he said this will be our way to get rid of Simcoe."

The more Anna talked, the more Emma was invested and needed to help. "What can I do?" She asked eagerly. "Well for now nothing but if something ever happens to me then I thought you should know the signal as well. I trust you more than anyone else." Anna said hoping to convey just how serious this was. If she was in then they were both a party to treason and she hoped Emma understood that her actions will have consequences.

"With the exception of Mr. Woodhull," Emma said with a cheeky tone, "Thank you Anna, I truly mean that. You know how important this is to me. Anything I can do to help and take down those...those bloody bastards!" Not one to swear overmuch, the words felt almost foreign on her tongue, yet she knew they were the most accurate words ever spoken.

Anna smiled at her sister in law, feeling closer to her now more than ever, not only were they bound through marriage but now through the secret that they shared. "I'll let you finish readying for bed, I just could not wait another moment knowing how you would feel."

"Much appreciated. Good night Anna," Emma said leading her out of the room. As soon as she was out of the room Emma hurried to finish her night routine and quickly grabbed the letter. To eager to pray before reading it. She opened it slowly, not wishing to rip it in haste and miss anything. Bringing it towards the light she was greeted with familiar scrawl:

Dearest Emma,

There is so much I wish I could say to you yet words seem to be failing me now. Hearing from our mutual friend, that you are doing well has brought me peace of mind, I have worried everyday since I left. Hoped that you would find happiness even if that means you could no longer wait for me. Though I must confess it brings me joy to know that you are still waiting for me, as I wait for you. I think of you everyday, at times thoughts of you are the only thing keeping me going. Knowing I am fighting to make a difference for you and for our future, it is the only thing stopping me from returning to you. I want you to know that I love you, more than words can say. As soon as this is over I plan to return to you and wed you. As long as you will have me. I hope to hear from you, if you are able, send a letter with our mutual friend, and it will get to me, I promise I will respond as quickly as I am able. I eagerly await your reply.

Forever yours,

B.

The words on the page made her heart soar. She felt at ease now knowing he was safe and missing her as much as she missed him. However, it made her long for him even more now. Wishing she could feel his arms wrapped around her once again. Closing her eyes she tried to imagine how she felt when he would hold her. The feeling of warmth, love, and safety.

Knowing without a doubt that she would not feel those feelings until he was with her once more, made her a little sad. She tried to hang on to the happiness she felt from his letter, determined to write to him while the emotion was fresh. She immediately began writing her reply. Afterwards, she folded the paper and knelt by her bed, tucking the letter under her pillow before she began to pray. Praying for Ben's safe and swift return to her and for all the other men fighting. This night she even included Abraham in her prayers, asking God to look after the man who would be spying for the continentals.

The next day, Anna hung the black petticoat and Emma made sure to catch Abe before he went to talk to the courier. "This is for Ben.. can you give it to the courier please?" Emma asked gently, hoping he would not find it a burden.

"Of course," Abe replied taking the letter and sticking it in his coat. He walked off into the forest making his way to the rendezvous point. Suddenly he was grabbed and immediately pulled out his knife, twisting and raising the knife against his assailants neck. "Quicker this time, huh?" Caleb said.

"Jesus, Caleb. What are you doing here?" Abe said, knife still held against Calebs throat. "Why don't you lower the butter knife first?" Caleb replied, eyeing the knife. Abe pushed away from him, sheathing the knife.

"What about Ben?" Abe asked, concerned his friend had been caught smuggling and forced to go through the same treatment. Caleb looked confused for a moment, "Huh?"

"Ben Tallmadge! Did he catch you? Did he find you?"

"He didn't find me. We found you." Caleb replied, a small smirk on his face. Now it was Abe's turn to look confused, "What?" Caleb pushed him, repeating himself once more, "We found you!"

"You...you're the courier?" Abe asked, Caleb nodded his head, "That's right, now he gets it!" Abe still didn't quite get it, "But back at Frogs point…?"

"That was your first interview. The second was with Ben. You passed when you refused to give up my name. I thank you for that, I was very touched!" Caleb said, laughing a bit. Not realizing the other man was in anything but a joking mood.

"You bastard! You set me up!" He then threw a punch, which began a full out brawl between the two men. In the midst of the fight Caleb was able to explain to Abe that he was second company fourth battalion, and that he served under Ben.

Abe still was unhappy, "Who else knows my name?" when Caleb replied 'no one' Abe still didn't believe him and he began to run off before he heard the words, "Or hers" spill from Caleb's lips.

"Yeah? And what of Emma? Does Ben know she is in on this as well? Or does he not care what happens to her now?" Abe said, walking towards the scruffy man.

"Of course he cares, he just knows how important this war is and every bit of information counts. No one knows her name either, I don't think Ben realizes that she intended to become an actual part in this. He just hoped for a way to communicate with her." Caleb said, trying to placate his friend, "Now she put that petticoat up for a reason, what was it?"

Later in the afternoon, the whole town gathered as Abraham made a vow over a bible to bear true allegiance to King George III. Emma couldn't help but feel sorry for the man, knowing the guilt must weigh on him. His father being a loyalist and all. His wife was obviously one as well, seeing her face of approval with each word spoken.

Afterwards, Anna and Emma returned to the tavern ready to finish the day. Both wondering how the meeting went and what exactly was going to happen when Simcoe was gone.

Meanwhile, at the Safehouse in Connecticut, Ben and his men, along with Caleb had just finished taking out the redcoats, all with the exception of one Captain Simcoe.

"This doesn't feel right Ben," Caleb said looking at Simcoe. "Yeah, I know" Ben replied, "General Scott asked if I thought there was a breach in our ranks. I have no better way to explain how the redcoats knew about-"

"No Ben," Caleb cut him off, "I'm talking about how Woody came through for us and his sole request we chose not to honor. This man is living in the same house as your intended...you know that right?"

Ben nodded, knowing the risk of letting this man live, "We will, once we get as much information out of him as we can."

"You are assuming he even knows anything worthwhile…" Caleb muttered as Ben walked off calling the men to get ready to move out.

That night at their camp Ben eagerly retired to his tent, anxious to read the letter from Emma, one of the many benefits of having Abe as a correspondent.

My Dearest Benjamin,

First let me say that reading your letter and knowing you are safe has brought me such joy I can hardly express it. I miss you so much I feel as if I have lost a part of me and I eagerly await your return so I may feel whole once again. Next I would like to say that if you think I would not wait until the end of time for you then you are not as smart as I thought you were! I love you Ben and I would wait through a thousand wars if it meant we would be together in the end. Do not ever doubt that. Of course I will have you and I look forward to the day when I shall be able to call you husband. Promise me you will stay as safe as you can, I pray for you every day. I want you to know how proud I am of you. You are standing up for what you believe in and helping to make a better future for us all. You are an amazing man Benjamin and I will be proud to bear the name Tallmadge. Write to me as soon as you are able, let me know you are safe. I love you more and more every day, never forget that.

Yours always,

E.