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News reached camp that Ben was killed just a few days before they were able to collect his body under the flag of truce.
Gamble bragged about it, because of course he did. It made Caleb want to kill him more, to strangle him with his bare hands.
Ben wouldn’t have wanted to be treated like this. Nathan hadn’t, he’d been buried in a grave right next to the gallows where he died. So why was he any different?
Because of Andre, perhaps. Andre had that sense of propriety. He knew that Ben was a worthy man, a worthy opponent.
The fact that they even had to trade Ben was a slap in the face. In Caleb’s, at least, because no man was worth Ben, except for maybe himself. He would have willingly given his life to be captured instead. The ring could survive without him.
“Shoulder firelocks!”
Caleb tried not to think of the man he loved, wrapped in a British shroud and twice as heavy as usual. If Caleb had his way he’d be buried in Setauket. With Judge Woodhull and Simcoe in charge, that would never be possible. Nor was the site that Caleb’s uncle was buried at their old camp.
The barn that was once an extension of their operations. Now Ben’s temporary resting place.
“Do you know how to wrap a body?” Anna asked, with a barrel of salt on her hip.
“I know enough. Go and get me his uniform.”
Anna didn’t comment about his tone. If there was anyone Caleb felt he could tell the truth, it was Anna.
He laid Ben down in the hay, a parallel to the Bible stories that Ben staked his eternity on.
Are you really in heaven, Benny? Then maybe it’s worth believing in so I can see you again.
Caleb took a breathe to prepare himself before uncovering Ben’s face.
There was a hole in his head, slightly off center of his forehead but unmistakeably intentional. Put by a coward.
At least he was spared the noose. It was quick.
Blood caked Ben’s sunshine blond hair. Another injustice. Another sob that Caleb choked back.
The casual clothes Ben was in made him look unnaturally at peace. If you looked past the gaping hole in his head, he may just have been asleep.
Right, Benny. Catch up on the sleep you always missed out on.
Anna returned with his uniform. Her steady hands unbuttoned the coat Ben wore and Caleb gently lifted him so she could slip the shirt off of his shoulders and slide one of his arms into his waistcoat.
They worked in silence. Caleb knew Ben would have a fit if he knew Anna looked at him when he was indecent, so Caleb worked on the belt and the pants, cleaning as he went.
“Did you tell his father and brothers yet?”
“I thought you were going to,” Anna said. “Hamilton sent a letter.”
“A letter.” Caleb scoffed. “Right.”
“At least that way he has a shot at going home!” Anna snapped, dropping the cloth into the water with enough anger that it splashed salty water onto Caleb.
He took a moment to collect himself. “You’re right. He belongs with his family.”
Don’t be selfish.
Caleb wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Ben’s face forever. He could pretend like he’d remember it forever, but the sickness- Caleb’s memory was already failing.
“You think you could give us a minute?” He asked Anna.
She nodded. Caleb was left with Ben’s body, head and face still visible. Striking blue eyes that would never open again.
Caleb ran a hand through Ben’s hair. It was free, fanning around his head.
He looked truly beautiful like that.
“It should have been me, Benny,” Caleb whispered.
He could imagine Ben’s protest. He would give anything to have Ben yell at him again.
No one saw him run his fingers through Ben’s hair one last time.