Emerging from the tent, Cinnamon veiled her eyes from the dawn sun until they adjusted to its brightness. Morning birds fluttered about, singing merrily, slicing through still air carefree. She smiled at them, envying their freedom.

She glanced down to find Caleb smiling up at her, extending a mug of coffee. This time she accepted and squatted beside him.

"I know ladies are delicate and while I was unable to obtain sugar, I managed to find some milk from a farmer south of here."

She sipped the creamy brew. "Thank you, Caleb. You may pretend not to be a gentleman, but your endearing actions prove otherwise."

"I ain't no gentleman, miss." He grinned shyly.

"Where is Ben?"

"He has ridden to arrange a courier to deal with Simcoe and his superior. He will return shortly. The exchange will take place today."

"Tell me more about Ben, please. He intrigues me."

"Well, lets see. Ben and I grew up together. We are like brothers. He went off to Yale while I took to Greenland and joined a whaleboat crew. He is a good man, miss. He might not seem like it now, but he is. Ben, like all of us, has endured hell and lived through it."

"This war is hard on everybody."

"Yes, miss, it is, but forgive me for saying so, you ladies are not on the battlefield. You do not witness firsthand your friends being torn apart by bullets, watching them bleed to death before your eyes, hearing their final words. We have seen it all. Old men, boys, and it is all the same. You never know which breath will be your last."

"I am sorry." Cinnamon lowered her lids. She had never really thought about the horrors of war.

"You fancy Ben, don't you?"

She shot up. "No...Do not be absurd. I am just curious to know the enemy."

"He is not your enemy and neither am I."

Cinnamon placed her palm over Caleb's hand. "I know that."

"Caleb, we have to meet Simcoe after dusk!" Ben called, storming up the hillside.

Caleb drew to his feet. "Why so late?"

"Those are his terms. Just us three. No one else. Same goes for him."

"Ben, that is dangerous," Caleb warned.

"I am leery too, my friend, but what choice do we have?"

"I will go and prepare the men just in case…."

"You do that, Caleb." Ben winked.

Cinnamon watched Caleb until he was out of hearing range and then said, "you will soon be free of me, Major."

"Isn't that what you want?" Ben asked suddenly playful.

"Is that what you want?" She was serious.

"Cinnamon…" Ben's teasing demeanor sombered. He was about to collect her hand when Jeffrey interrupted.

"Sir, our scouts have returned."

Ben nodded. "I will follow." To Cinnamon, he whispered, "it is not what I want." He turned and abandoned her, the weight of the war bearing down on his young shoulders.

Cinnamon watched him stroll away with feline-like grace. He was magnificent, absolutely the perfect portrait of a virile warrior. She closed her eyes and sighed, dread plaguing her heart. Soon her hands would be tied and she would be once again thrust into life's play, a puppet living by another's leave.