But One Life Page 9

  She bounced up on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on his cheek. “Until the war is over, Ethan.”

  Epilogue

  Thursday, September 25th, 1783

  The dining room was finally quiet, now that Ginny had chased her seven rambunctious wards out into the orchard to burn off some energy before bed. Hopefully Benjamin, now almost 20 years old, would be able to keep the horde from getting into too much trouble in the interim. She laughed softly, shaking her head, before rising and making her way to the dining room window. She rested one hand on the window frame and looked out on the orchards. The brilliant glow of the setting sun burnished the nearly-ripe apples, turning them into visions of the legendary fruit of the Hesperides. The orchards rolled away over the hills, and beyond them the mountains rose, shrouded in blue as the sun slid behind them.

  She was glad it was over, now. Even though most of the fighting had ceased after the Battle of Yorktown (nigh on two years ago), the British had yet to leave New York City free, and so Ginny’s spying had continued. But now, she’d be able to live in peace, without fear or tyranny.

  “I wish you were here, Papa,” Ginny whispered. “It is a beautiful land.” A tear dripped on her hand. “This is my land, and this is a free land. I’m an American, and America is free.”

  At that moment, the door slammed open behind her. Ginny didn’t move at first, thinking it was one of her boys—(most likely Reuben or Levi with some interesting new frog that they wanted to show her). But the silence dragged on, which was very unusual and usually dangerous where her wards were concerned. She turned around and felt her heart nearly stop.

  Major Ethan Armstrong stood in the doorway, mud staining his boots and uniform, his tricorn hat askew, his eyes wide and full of words as he stared at her.

  Ginny put a hand to her mouth as her heart resumed thumping with unprecedented speed.

  “Ginny, I mean, Miss Phillips, I…” he began, paused, then said, “The treaty’s been signed. The war is over. America’s free.”

  Ginny smiled and raised an eyebrow. He blushed and amended, “Of course you must have heard that already. But anyway, I meant to say… I have… I’ve come…”

  The lady smiled and said, “Is there something you’ve come to say, Major Armstrong?”

  The Major straightened up, set his tricorn hat straight, and then bowed deeply, his voice stiff and formal. “The war is over. Miss Phillips, I have returned as I said I would, to collect an answer, as you promised.” He paused significantly.

  Ginny said nothing. He coughed, and then said quietly, with blended hope, love and fear in his tone, “And what is your answer, Miss Phillips?”

  Ginny looked over her shoulder at the orchard, at the mountains, at America, “I only regret…” she said softly, “that I have but one life to live in this country with you.” Then she turned back to him, met his eyes, and smiled brighter than the setting sun. “Yes.”

  The End

  Character List

  Miss Guinevere ‘Ginny’ Phillips: daughter of George and Charlotte Phillips. Supports the American Revolution by serving as a member of the Culper Spy Ring in New York City. Born 1762.

  Colonel George Phillips: (later Lieutenant Colonel Phillips): husband Charlotte Phillips, father of Guinevere Phillips. Served under General Washington until his honorable death in battle. Born 1740. Died 1778 (Battle of Monmouth).

  Mrs. Charlotte Phillips: first wife of George Phillips (1760-1769), born into the Oneida tribe of the Iroquois coalition and lived with her people until shortly before her marriage to George Phillips. Mother of Guinevere Phillips and an unborn child. Born 1774. Died 1769.

  Mrs. Martha Phillips: second wife of George Phillips (1774-1778). A widow who remarried in search of money and security, a Loyalist who strongly detested the American rebels. Born 1742. Died 1779.

  Captain Ethan Armstrong (later Major Ethan Armstrong): Native of New York State, served in the New York 1st Battalion Light Infantry, and later in the 2nd Continental Light Dragoons under the command of Major Benjamin Tallmadge. Sometime after the main events of the story he was promoted to Major. Served as the contact for Guinevere Phillips during her spying days. Born 1756.

  Old Isaac: born in Africa, was later brought across to America as an indentured servant as a young teenager, where he hired by Guinevere Phillip’s great-grandfather. When his indenture was complete, he was hired on as a regular servant and has served the Phillips family faithfully ever since. Birthdate unknown.

  Major John André: an officer in the British Army, promoted to deputy Adjutant General under British Commander-in-Chief Sir Henry Clinton in November of 1778. Born 1750.

  Captain Richard Garrett: an officer in the British Army, and a friend of both Major André and Martha Phillips. Born 1747. Died 1779.

  Mr. Hercules Mulligan: a tailor in New York City who worked as a spy for the American Army, and was a member of the Sons of Liberty. He was not a member of the Culper Ring, but helped its members in numerous occasions, especially Guinevere Phillips. Born 1740.

  Seven Orphans:

  Benjamin: Copper skin, black hair, brown eyes. Born 1763.

  Simeon: Dark skin, black eyes, longish curly black hair. Born 1765.

  Asher: Blond, brown eyes. Follows Ben around like a puppy. Born 1768.

  Ephraim: Copper skin, blue eyes, curly dark brown hair. Born 1770.

  Reuben: Red hair, blue eyes. Born 1772.

  Judah: Copper skin, back, wavy hair, black eyes. Born 1774.

  Levi Church: son of Anna Church (the orphan’s benefactor) and her husband, Cecil Church. Brown hair, green eyes. Born 1775.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Wyn Estelle Owens is the penname of a young woman who’s still figuring out what this whole ‘adult’ thing is all about. She lives in a big, old house in Maryland by a Hundred Acre Wood (dubbed Neldoreth) with her parents, three occasionally obnoxious brothers, her dog Jackie, and her rabbit Joker. She is fond of reading, writing, drawing, speaking in dead or imaginary languages, playing videogames, quoting classic or obscure literature, being randomly dramatic, and generally making things out of yarn. Her dream is to write stories that inspire people to chase after the wonderful world of storytelling. Her favorite all-time authors are Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Christa Kinde, and above all, J.R.R. Tolkien, who first inspired her to pursuing novel writing when she read the Hobbit at the age of seven.