1818
Felicity and Ben sat in the shade of a large elm in the backyard of their plantation. The War for Independence had long since past. After the war ended, the Nickerson family went to retrieve Zachary's body from its makeshift grave. Sarah visited the fresh grave everyday and tried to smile again for her husband, but it was always a sad smile. That May she died of a broken heart and was buried besides Zachary under the words "If I know what love is, it is because of you"
The wedding of Elizabeth and James was a joyous occasion and Elizabeth made a beautiful bride. Elizabeth and James continued to live in Williamsburg for the remainder or their long, happy lives, raising four children: Edward, Charlotte, Margaret, Robert.
A few short months after the marriage of Elizabeth and James, Felicity and Ben had their happy union. In 1792 they moved their growing brood out of Williamsburg and to Felicity's grandfather's plantation, which he had years previously bequeathed to his grandchildren. There the Davidsons raised their five children and many, many horses.
"Grandmama come watch me ride Independence!" the oldest of the grandchildren cried. A small child of ten with copper curls and green eyes ran up to Felicity and cheerfully pulled her towards the awaiting horse. Felicity laughed and Ben smiled back at her, his glance turned to the yard which was littered with children. Their oldest, Zachary, and his wife Emily had come down from Delaware for a summer holiday with their three children: Benjamin, Sarah and Grace. Feeling a need for the entire family to be together, Zachary's other siblings had come to visit. Freedom with her husband and two children; Andrew, his wife and young son; Samuel who brought both great joy and sorrow with him for his wife had recently died giving birth to a daughter, Hope, who now slept peacefully in Ben's arms.
"She has your smile, Papa" Ben's youngest, Sarah, laughed and kissed him on the cheek.
"Here, you hold your niece for a bit, you need the practice." Ben handed the sleeping babe into his baby's loving arms and patted her expanding belly. "Where is that husband of yours?"
"Robert is over with Zachary, being regaled with tales of the War of 1812 with little Benjamin hanging on every word.
"Well if they want war stories, I have a few to offer." Ben got up, his bones aching; he winced as he used his shoulders to push himself up off the chair. "Old war wound," he smiled at his daughter and offered her the chair. "Stay out of the heat," he kissed the top of her head. Glancing up again he smiled at his and Felicity's growing family. This is what he fought for.