The moon hung low tonight, casting a fairy mist upon the midnight forest. Ben was reclining outside his tent, enjoying the melody of nearby crickets summoning the rain.

"Do you miss her, Ben?" Caleb asked, chewing on a slither of long reed.

Ben knew exactly who Caleb was referring to. "Constantly…"

The men bolted to the echo of hoof echoing through the pines. Clutching their weapons, they watched as the horse revealed its rider; the silhouette of a female garbed in a white nightgown. Long wind-tossed hair clung to her shapely waist and breasts.

"Cinnamon!" Ben blurted, rushing to collect her from the horse. The closer he drew, he noticed blood stains surrounding her lush lips and bruises snuggling swollen eyes. Heart slamming into his chest, he knew he was the fault of her tortured appearance.

"Ben..." she uttered with tears in her voice.

She fainted from the horse into his strong arms. He carried her inside his tent and held her while Caleb saw to her injuries.

After some time, she woke and sat up. Caleb gave her some water and ducked outside, leaving them to privacy.

"I seek sanctuary," she started the conversation.

"You told Simcoe?" Ben asked a question he already knew the answer to.

"I did. It was the right thing to do."

"And he beat you for my touch?"

"He did. I barely escaped with my life."

Ben shook his head. "I raped you, Cinnamon. You did not deserve …"

"You did not rape me. I laid down for you. I wanted you to be my first."

Gripping her chin, "no, little one, I forced myself upon you in the most vile, vicious way a man could take a woman. I am shamed-wash. I can only beg for your forgiveness."

"I only ask that you protect me until our child is born."

"Child?" Ben broke into a half smile. Caressing her belly fondly, he beamed, "you carry?"

"Are you angry?"

"God no, Cinnamon! I am far from angry!"

"My family has disowned me. After I bear, I have friends in England.."

Ben cut her off, "you will take not our baby from these shores. Let me make this right, if you will have me."

"You want me? A British born loyalist?"

Ben smiled a tender smile meant to heal her pain and soothe her worries. "I want you. I've always wanted you and I want our baby. And I will make a Patriot out of you."

She smiled a faint smile.

"I will be gentle with you. The man before, his heart was shattered, but now you have mended it. I will be a good husband to you, love."

She closed her eyes as he caressed her lips with his own. He was in love with her and she felt it, but she also felt his anguish. He now more than ever wanted to kill Simcoe.

"Simcoe knew about the baby, didn't he?"

"He did," she replied.

She felt Ben stiffen, his fingers tightening into her flesh. Simcoe had murdered everyone he loved and now he sought to murder Ben's unborn child. There had to be reckoning and Cinnamon prayed it would end with Simcoe's death and not Ben's.

Notes:

Feedback is most appreciated as I am pondering writing another Ben fic and would like to know how many Ben fans are reading.