Cinnamon held her son up so that he could see the flying colors of red, white, and blue. She smiled. "Because of your father, and men like him, this flag can legally fly free. Free because we are free."
The toddler giggled, having no idea the importance of his mother's address. It was the colors that delighted him. She hugged her cooing son before releasing him to play in a bed of moss.
She watched Benny play and soon her smile faded. He was identical to Ben with shaggy blonde hair and enchanting eyes, and the sight pained her. She had not seen her husband in months. She did not know if he was dead or alive, only that the new country prevailed against her country. She suddenly winced. England was no longer her country. She was American.
She knew Ben had engaged in numerous battles against tyranny. She had read his regiment had been victorious, but that did not mean that he had survived and her fear was suffocating. She loved Ben more than the very air she breathed. He had thought him her demise, but to her, he was her savior.
He had sworn revenge against Rogers and Simcoe. The last she had heard Rogers had been snared by an American privateer and now dwelled in a New York prison. And rumor had it that Simcoe had fled to England, defeated, after the Siege of Yorktown.
A sound broke her thoughts and she glanced up into the smiling face of a beastly man. He was dressed like a scruffy privateer, an AMERICAN PRIVATEER, and wore a long beard.
"Cinnamon!"
"Caleb!" she squealed, rushing into his embrace. "Where is my husband? Have you seen him? Is he alright?"
"Slow down, Mrs. Tallmadge, and ask him yourself."
"What?" she choked, glancing wildly in all directions, until a gentle hand caressed her back. She turned, tears streaming and leaped into Ben's open arms. He kissed her until she lost her breath and then reached for his son in Caleb's arms. The family cuddled, emotions flowing. They had their freedom, faith, love, and now their family was finally together. And this was their happy ever after...this was what they had fought for...this was what so many had died for and their sacrifice would not be in vain.