"Please, I have a family, my wife, my children!" cried the man hysterically as the British soldiers dragged him up the gangplank and onto the large naval ship.
"Good heavens, whatever are they doing to that poor man," gasped Sarah having to look away at the devastating sight, while James watched, a scowl on his face, and Henri hid behind a barrel.
"I've got to do something!" growled James, furious at the cruelty of the British soldiers. He took a step towards them until a hand stopped James in his path.
"I wouldn't do that boy unless you want to join him," whispered the old fisherman who'd blocked James' path.
"What are they doing to him?" whispered Henri, trembling behind the barrel.
"It's called impressment. They grab lads like your friend right off the street and force them to join the British navy, so I suggest you all skedaddle before they spot you. The girl is safe, I'd say the little one too, but you boy, you're prime impressment material!" snapped the man, pointing an accusing finger at James, and unbeknownst to them drawing the attention of a few of the naval officers.
"I can't leave there's a story to be told here!" whispered James angrily when Sarah suddenly gasped behind him. "Sarah, what it-" James froze, seeing three armed officers now walking towards them.
"Too, late boy. No sense in running now," muttered the fisherman before sauntering off.
"Eh street rat, stay where you are!" called the leader of the group of soldiers, causing James to flinch and Sarah to let out a silent cry of "Oh no". The soldiers reached the three teens, a feral grin plastered on the leader's face.
"Hello good sirs, is there something we can help you with?" said Sarah with a strained smile.
"What are you lot doing out here, and what is a fine young lady such as yourself doing with a couple of street rats like them?" said the leader, leering at Sarah. This did not go unnoticed by James, and Sarah had to put a hand on his chest to stop him.
"We are journalists for Doctor Franklin!" shouted Henri proudly, earning a scowl from James and Sarah for intervening.
"I see, well this lad's coming with us, but don't worry I'm sure he'll come up with some great stories while at sea," smirked the man as the other soldiers reached for James. Sarah knew she didn't have time to react, so she did the first thing that came to mind. Without hesitation, she threw herself into James' arms, stunning everyone including James, who wrapped his arms around her out of pure instinct.
"Please don't take him!" cried Sarah, barreling into this without a plan.
"Shh...Sarah...uh, it's going to be okay," soothed James, confused by Sarah's sudden change in behavior.
"It's alright lassy, he won't be gone long. What is this scruffy yank to you anyway?" said the leader, once he'd gotten over the initial shock of a proper British lady leaping into the embrace of a filthy American.
" 'ow dare you try to take a husband away from his wife!" shouted Heri, trying to hide his smile at his friends' embarrassment as both Sarah and James blushed.
"Yes, my dear sweet husband. Please, you can't take him from me now!" cried Sarah as James looked down at Sarah dumbfounded.
"Husband, huh. Where are your rings?" questioned the officer. Sarah paused, but this time it was James who spoke up.
"You see that locket around her neck? That's them, we melted them together after the wedding," said James smirking as the soldiers tried to catch a glance at the locket glistening on Sarah's neck.
"He's right, with all the strife between England and the colonists, my dearest James was worried that some people would take drastic action against us if they were to find out he'd married a British girl and become a loyalist, so we concealed our rings by making them into a locket," sniffed Sarah, snuggling into James' embrace as he awkwardly rubbed soothing circles on her shoulder with his right thumb.
"Don't worry ma'am we'll bring him back to you, but all men must serve in the king's military," stuttered the man, unused to seeing such public displays of affection.
"Oh please sir don't take him, he's planning on joining up later. He can't wait to join up, but can't you just wait a little longer my love? Please I can't be without you right now!" cried Sarah, once again turning up the tears once again as the soldiers watched on.
"And why shouldn't we take him now?" questioned the leader, as his soldiers once again began to close in on the "happy couple".
"Because they are going to 'ave a baby!" shouted Heri, barely concealing a chuckle when he saw the stunned look on Sarah and James' faces.
"Uh, why yes. You can't take him now, he has to be there for the birth of our first child! Please, the baby will be here in a few months and there's no way I'll be able to run the print shop in my condition. He'll join up after the birth of our child, but please, don't take him from me right now, I don't think I could bear it!" sobbed Sarah, grabbing James' hand and placing it on her abdomen, letting her own hand rest atop his, as James rested his chin on the top of her head.
"Alright missy, you've got yourself a deal. We'll see you in a few months lad, oh and I believe congratulations are in order," smiled the leader his gaze softening as the group of soldiers turned and walked off in the other direction, leaving the three teenagers behind.
"So, 'hen am I going to become an uncle?" asked Henri chuckling as Sarah and James realized they were still caught up in such an intimate embrace. James pulled his hand away from Sarah's abdomen as if it had burned him while blushing furiously. The pair untangled themselves as James helped Sarah up before chasing after Heri.
"Get back here you little troublemaker!" shouted James chasing after the giggling by, leaving Sarah to watch them fondly, blushing at what daydreams had flashed through her head following Heri's statement, not even realizing that her hand had never left its place on her abdomen.