Disclaimer: Any characters or situations from "The Patriot" are not mine, however, original characters and situations are mine. Please read, enjoy and review.

Chapter One.

The thundering sound of horse hooves could be heard long before the Green Dragoons rounded the last corner to the British encampment. They were returning from four days of patrolling in the unseasonably warm spring weather in South Carolina. The patrol had seen no skirmishes but they had managed to threaten enough Colonials that the British were now even more hated than before.

Colonel William Tavington led his men into the camp. He sat tall in the saddle, an aristocratic air about him. Despite attempts at maintaining his usual grooming habits the Colonel looked sweaty, dirty and tired. All he had on his mind was food, drink, a bath and sleep, not necessarily in that order. It had been a long four days away from the relative comforts of the camp and Tavington was ready for the rest, as where his men.

A groom approached as Tavington dismounted, taking his horse off to the stables. Captain Borden followed Tavington as the Colonel approached a group of new recruits now assembled for his inspection. They had been waiting for many hours and a few were having trouble with the heat and their thick uniforms. They stood at attention, some slightly swaying with heat exhaustion, awaiting the orders of their new commander who couldn't have cared less about them at that moment. Tavington walked briskly past them, hardly waiting for Borden's reports of names and ranks. All, but one, met his expectations. He was shorter that the rest, small in stature, but Tavington was informed he was an excellent shot, sniper material, and an accomplished rider.

Tavington placed the man around thirty years of age, with the cold unemotional eyes of a soldier who has seen some fighting. His brown hair was pulled back in the customary queue but the Dragoon uniform was ill fitting across the shoulders, this the Colonel put down the hurry in outfitting the new men. He was on the shortish side but looked solidly built enough to withstand the rigours of battle. He was also so fully armed he could have taken on the militia alone and done well. Tavington begrudgingly sniffed his approval before leaving for his tent. He did not want any weak links within his ranks and he had reservations about the Lieutenant.

Tavington couldn't quite name what was wrong about the new Lieutenant but something didn't feel right. He keep his reservations to himself, however. The Lieutenant hardly spoke, acknowledging orders with only a quick nod of his head. Tavington knew many stayed silent when in his presence out of fear of the Colonel's reputation. Others talked incessantly from nerves, desperately wanting to impress him.

Within a week Charleton had shown what a great shot he was, his accuracy erasing the other mens doubts, but the Colonel still wasn't assured. He had a calm, accurate shot that had proven a deadly combination. If the young officer was aware of the Colonel's doubts he didn't show it, nothing rattled Lt. Frank Charleton.

One evening after returning from a successful skirmish, an aide to Colonel Tavington arrived at Lt. Charleton's tent with the command to report to the Colonel's tent. Charleton was anticipating a special assignment and hurried to his commander's tent. He was surprised to find he was actually being invited to dine with the Colonel and several other officers. All of a sudden Charleton wasn't so sure of himself.

"Ah Lieutenant, join us." Tavington motioned the young officer to a seat opposite to the Colonel's. Charleton nervously sat down and Tavington smiled as he noticed the discomfort of the other man. Tavington figured that a few drinks might loosen the tongue of the Lieutenant and get him talking about himself allowing Tavington to catch any hints as to what his history was.

"Tell me Lieutenant, where are you from?" Tavington asked before taking a mouthful of his dinner.

Frank Charleton gulped down his mouthful of wine, wishing he could disappear or feign some illness to avoid talking in front of all these people. "I was raised here, sir. My parents came from England when my brothers were young." Frank said nothing more.

Tavington swallowed, not wasting any time he asked "where are they now, do they fight for England or these wretched colonies?"

"My mother died when I was young, my father and two of my brothers died in this war, one remains fighting for the British." Charleton allowed as little information as possible, his voice shaking from nerves. " My oldest brother left many years ago."

" Mmmm, left for where? Might we run into him one of these days?" Tavington pressed as he did with all recruits that were from the colonies.

"I doubt it sir, he went west, with fur traders." Charleton stuffed his mouth with food hoping it would stop any more questions from the Colonel. Tavington smirked and left the man alone for awhile, continuing to talk with the other officers at the table.

The evening passed too slowly for Charleton, who wished he could excuse himself but the Colonel would not let up on him. Tavington asked about his military record which had been non-existant. Charleton explained he had been trained to shoot for food, and that riding was an essential part of life in the colonies, so he felt he could use his skills to help the British in the war. His voice was quiet, he answered questions as quickly as possible, hoping the Colonel would assume he just didn't boast about his abilities.

The meal with Tavington had left Charleton feeling very uneasy. The Colonel was suspicious of the young Lieutenant and was not hiding his suspicions at all. After the other officers had left, Tavington stood and asked Charleton a very pointed question.

"Tell me Lieutenant, do you prefer the company of women or little boys?" He asked before draining the last of his drink. The man opposite him almost choked on his port.

"I beg your pardon sir?" He managed to get out eventually.

"You heard me" Tavington answered, staring straight at the young man, convinced he had him all figured out. Homosexuality was looked down on but accepted as a form of control and humiliation within the military. Some hid their sexuality behind formal marriages. Charleton froze, his secret was threatened.

"Sir, I am not what you think." Charleton said, watching for a reaction that never came. Tavington revealed little in his expression but even he was not prepared for what Charleton was about to reveal. Charleton stood at attention, facing the Colonel, "I am not a man..."

"Well I.."

"Please sir, let me finish before I lose my nerve." Charleton interupted, risking the Colonel's wrath. "My name is Beth, Frank is my brother's name. He was killed two years ago when this war first began." Beth Charleton stayed on her feet although she felt her legs would give out on her at any moment. Tavington's face showed such a slight reaction, his eyes open wide, his jaw slightly dropped, but for him it was a slip of his cool demeanor.

"Why would a woman fight, don't you know your place? You're a disgrace to the uniform!" Tavington's famous control was at risk of slipping as he rose so quickly from his chair that it fell backwards, hitting the desk behind it.

"Please let me explain" Beth pleaded but Tavington was in no mood to listen. He moved around

the dinner table intending to strip Beth of her rank insignia, but she stepped back, away from Tavington's reach.

"You're a disgrace, no woman..." Was all he got out before Beth's courage returned full force.

"Sir haven't I proven my worth many times over? I have the skill, the ability to fight any enemy. My father did not raise any weakling children. I am just as capable as any man!" Beth hoarsely whispered through gritted teeth, stopping William in his tracks. "I am good at what I do, don't send me away. No one suspects that I'm anything but a man." Her voice softened, "Please don't tell anyone."

Tavington stepped towards her, this time Beth stood tall and did not back away. He reached for her rank insignia on the baldric across her chest, instead he grabbed the baldric itself and gave her a quick shake.

"Do not disappoint me." He commanded, emphasizing each word. He let go, giving her a shove backwards. "Dismissed." He turned to his desk.

Beth, knowing the evening was through, left his tent. She didn't know where she stood with him, was he going to turn her in or keep her secret? Bethany Charleton was amazed that her deception had worked at all in the world outside the family's farm.

Her mother had died before Beth's third birthday and her father had no idea how to raise a girl so he had raised her as a boy like her four older brothers. She learned how to hunt, shoot, climb trees and ride a horse just like the boys. By the time she was in her late teens many people didn't even realize she was a girl. The hand-me-down clothes from her brothers confined her female body sufficiently so that her shape was not obvious. She helped to run the family farm as one of the men, her fathers slaves were left to run the house.

Her father and two of her brothers had joined up with the British as they were loyal to King George III and England. Their loyalties ended up costing them their lives as they were murdered by militant colonials. Her oldest brother was traveling as a guide further west and no one had heard from him for close to a year. The brother closest to her in age, Robert, was with the British Army already and he had helped her to join up, helped her hide her true sex from everyone. She walked, talked and fought like a man. At a time when men never appeared naked in front of each other it was easy to hide her womanly figure under tight binding and a mans' uniform.

The best that Lt. Charleton could hope for was that Colonel Tavington would need her skills. In that case he couldn't afford to let her secret come out. She returned to her small tent doubting she would get any sleep tonight.

Tavington sat at his desk, lost in thought. He needed the skill of every soldier under his command. Turning one away because she was a woman was not an option at this time. He decided to keep quiet and cut her no slack, she would be held to the same standards as all the men and now he had something to use against her if needed.