AN: So, more Zach, hope you like. I think I rambled alot, so review and tell me what you thought. :)
Cammie stared hard at her bowl of soup, wishing that she had ordered the winter squash soup instead, because now she couldn't help but compare the soup to the emerald eyes of the person sitting across from her. She blushed at the thought and quickly turned to Elizabeth to finish the statement she had been beginning to make.
"Hey Lizzie, remember that...." she trailed off, feeling the intense gaze of Mr. Goode on her. For some reason, she felt ashamed to talk about Josh's proposal in front of this man. It was probably because he was staring at her so much. Nothing else.... right?
"Remember what?" Liz hissed under her breath. Cammie shook her head. "Never mind."
"My sister...." Zachary muttered, causing both Liz and Cammie to look up at him.
"Excuse me sir?" Lizzie asked, confused. He looked at the, flashing them a brilliant white smile. "I'm sorry to have startled you out of your conversation ladies, but I couldn't help but notice that you looked like my sister Anjanette, she's very short and petite, just like you Miss Sutton."
Liz looked shocked, while Cammie blushed, again. Of course he wasn't looking at her; he was looking at Lizzie because she looked like his sister. Why did she think he was looking at her, and why was she blushing so much....
"But how Mr. Goode? Lizzie has brown eyes and blonde hair, and freckles, and you have green eyes, brown hair and you don't have freckles," Cammie blurted out, blushing.
Humor danced in Zachary's eyes and one side of his lips quirked up into a half-smile. "My father remarried after my mother's death, a girl from down South, actually. Ann is their child, my half sister. But she's amazing, the light of my life almost. And I like to think of her as a symbol almost." Zach looked Cammie directly in the eyes. "A symbol that love can survive a civil war."
Cammie blushed and looked towards her father, who had stood up, glad for the distraction. But all the while, her mind was buzzing.
What had he meant by love surviving a civil war? And why had he looked at her? With all these thoughts spinning around her head, she didn't hear a word her father said, or notice that he had stopped talking until she heard chairs scraping around her.
Looking around, she got up hastily, and felt a hand grab hers.
It was Zach. He grinned and offered his arm.
"Well Miss Morgan, the men and women are retiring to their separate rooms for a wonderful evening of gossip and cards. Can I interest you in a walk in the gardens instead?"
Cammie nodded and blushed. What was this feeling?
So they walked out into the gardens and began talking.
"So, why did you join the army Mr. Goode?" Cammie asked, testing her luck. Zach stared at her for a few seconds before saying, "I believe in the cause," before continuing to walk. Her shock caused Cammie to stumble, and Zach caught her before she fell.
"Careful Miss Morgan," he chuckled. "Don't want any rumors to spread around."
Cammie stared at him, a blush of anger spreading across her cheeks. "How dare you!" she cried, gathering her skirts and walking off to sit on a stone bench.
Zach walked after her, and when she looked at him, she couldn't help but sigh and tuck a tendril of hair behind her ear.
"What? What did I say?" he asked, his eyes searching her own. She sighed and looked at him. "Mr. Goode, you insinuated that I'm one of those girls," she said, stressing the word those, hoping he'd get the idea. He nodded solemnly. "I'm sorry, I should've thought about that. At home, it's an acceptable enough joke. I'm sorry," he apologized. Cammie nodded before smiling.
"So, why didn't you tell me that the war is no place for a woman to be when I asked you about joining the army?"
Zach looked at her nervously. ".Why would I tell you that? Everyone has a right to be interested in the war. You Dixies sure are weird."
Cammie sighed longingly. "You Yankees sure are lucky. Here, every time I mention the war, people go around shushing me."
Zach smiled and pulled Cammie to her feet. "Well Miss Morgan, I'm sure by now your friends will be missing you, and my unit will be missing me. How about we return inside?"
Cammie took Zach's arm, trying to ignore the fluttering inside her. "I think that will be a good idea, Mr. Goode." He laughed as they began the walk inside.
Once they got inside, Zach walked Cammie to the tea room where they could hear the chattering of women inside.
They stopped outside the door, and Cammie turned to wish Zach good night.
"Good night Mr. Goode," she said.
He groaned and shook his head. "Miss Morgan, if we're going to be seeing a lot of each other, than you have to call me Mr. Zach, or Captain Zach if you like."
"Well, then you have to call me Miss Cameron.... and wait, you're the captain?" She cried incredulously.
He smiled slowly. "Yes Miss Cameron," he smirked, lifting her hand to his lips and kissing it before turning on his heel and walking away, leaving her alone in the hall.
She opened the door to the tea room, and was instantaneously bombarded with questions.
"Where were you?" Tina asked, her unruly red hair actually controlled. Everyone froze and then turned to face her. Even Bex looked interested while she was pouring tea.
Then Macey slowly stood up, almost bumping Bex.
"Maybe she was out with Captain Goode," she said mischievously. Immediately everyone began talking.
"Oh, he's so cute,"
"I think he likes Cammie,"
"Do you think he noticed me?"
But the one that stood out the most was, "You are so lucky that your father let him stay with you!"
Cammie turned to Eva, shocked.
"What?" she cried.
"Didn't you hear?" Eva asked. "You and the Captain are going to be house mates!"
Through the din of her friends teasing her, Cammie realized what he had meant when he said they'd be seeing a lot of each other. Of course that's what he meant.
So why was she so disappointed?
AN: So??? Press the green button and tell me. "After all, buttons were made for pressing!"