Chapter 4
Gabriel awoke slowly and just laid there with his eyes closed for several minutes listening to the sounds out side the tent. Finally opening his eyes Gabriel was momentarily blinded by the bright sun light filtering into the tent through the tent flap.
Looking around Gabriel noticed he was alone taking a deep breath and gritting his against the pain Gabriel slowly sat up his side exploded into agony breathing deeply Gabriel fought done the urge to be sick. When the pain had subsided back into the normal throb Gabriel grabbed a hold of the chair beside his cot he pushed himself the room swam sickenly, closeting his eyes Gabriel took slow even breaths when the vertigo passed Gabriel began walking forward slowly Gabriel looked around for his father and not seeing him walked slowly out of the tent and towards where the militia was grouped around a camp fire.
As he approached the fire where the militia was drinking coffee Gabriel spotted his father knowing he wasn't supposed to be out of bed Gabriel retreated hoping none of the militia had seen him but Occum had
"Gabriel good to see you back in the land of the living," called Occum, Gabriel froze where he was standing. At Occam's shout Benjamin had turned and spotted his son trying to walk away inconspicuously. Standing up Benjamin walked over to where Gabriel was standing and angrily confronted his eldest son.
"your not supposed to be out of bed."
"I know I just couldn't lay there any longer," complained Gabriel hiking a look of innocence onto his face.
"to bad your going strait back to bed," growled Benjamin taking his son's elbow and walking him back to their tent. After getting Gabriel back in bed Benjamin began to walk out of the tent.
"father," called Gabriel softly causing Benjamin to turn around and look at him " is there a battle soon?"
"Yes we will engage the redcoats tomorrow in a field about a quarter of a mile to the west."
"I should help prepare then, I know you won't let me fight but let me help, please father."
"How do you plan to help son you can barley stand by yourself," Gabriel began to protest but Benjamin cut him off "I have made my decision you will stay in that bed if I have to tie you to it I will." Gabriel let out a frustrated sigh but suddenly brightened.
"Father will you please hand me my pack?" getting up Benjamin crossed the tent a picked up the pack handing it back to Gabriel. As soon as he got his pack Gabriel began to dig through it. Finally finding what he was looking for Gabriel carefully pulled out the flag he had been mending a offered it to his father. Benjamin took the flag and looked at it carefully it was obvious that it had been destroyed but also very obvious that Gabriel had worked on restoring it lovingly. "Father will you carry the flag into battle since you will not allow me to carry it?" pleaded Gabriel,
"I will," promised Benjamin, with his father's word Gabriel relaxed and settled back to sleep. Benjamin returned to where the militia was sitting carrying the flag the remaining members of the militia looked at the flag curiously but didn't ask. Benjamin continued the battle planes where he left off.
The next morning The militia and the regular army set out before dawn. Leaving the tent quietly Benjamin looked back at his peacefully sleeping son. Sighing Benjamin grabbed the flag and mounted his horse and rode over to his militia most of which were walking to the battle. "Alright men you know what to do I can't promise we'll win this day but if we do what we have been doing for the last year we will come away better off.