The next day the group set off for the fort, Charity was unusually quiet and couldn't help but yawn all the time. She could have fallen asleep if it had not been for Margaret and her changing the subject every five minutes. She was happy but the day dragged on and on. When they stopped for lunch Charity had fallen asleep at the base of a tree. She didn't eat at all that day.

"Charity why are you so tired?" Her mother inquired looking at her sleepily daughter. Charity only gave her a blank stare. "I was just asking," She said patting her daughter's hand. "Colonel," she called to grab the Colonel's attention.

He turned, "Yes Mrs. Preston?"

"Are we almost there yet, Colonel?" She asked gently.

Colonel Tavington rolled his eyes. "Almost, if we ride hard enough we could make it, but we will most likely have to set up camp for tonight."

"That is madness, do you know how many men are looking for my daughter and I –"

"I know!" Yelled the Colonel. "That is why we are here. Can you not see that?! We are here to protect you and your daughter!" He was mad and Charity rode next to her mother.

"Colonel don't talk that tone-"

"Mother!" Charity screeched, "Will you stop acting like a little child?! Must you complain about everything?!" Charity was tired of people yelling and complaining that was what she was brought up around and she hated it.

"Charity, what has gotten into you?" Her mother asked giving her a look of questioning.

"Nothing that you taught me," she said ridding ahead of the group. Leaving her mother to wonder.

Charity muttered to herself, "Why is she always this way? Why can she never be civil when men are around? God sometimes I wish she was never my mother." Charity shook her head. "I just want a life that is free of war and everything that comes with it."

"Charity?" Charity turned around to see Bordon riding up to her. "What was that about?"

"Nothing, I am just so tired of everything that is going on in the world to day. And I lost it at my mother's outburst and I guess it didn't look too good. I am sorry."

"For what?" He asked moving his horse closer to hers.

"For embarrassing you," She lowered her head.

"You didn't," he said putting his hand under her chin and lifting her face to look at him. "I am happy about it."

"Why? My father hates it."

"It shows that you don't let people walk all over, you stand up for yourself. You've showed me over and over how strong you can be."

"I have?" Bordon nodded.

"Many times. I only have one thing to ask you, will you come back and be agreeable with your mother?" Charity nodded with a smile. She could not believe Bordon was asking her this, but she would do anything for him.

"Charity, Elizabeth!" Charity's father was running towards them as they entered the gates of the fort.

"Father!"

"William!"

Both women jumped off of their horses and ran into his open arms.

"I was so worried about you," He said pulling them tightly to him. "But you're save now." He looked around. Only two members of his family were hugging him and only the dragoons were watching the happy reunion. "Where is Thomas?" He looked down. Charity and her mother pulled away. Charity lowered her head and her mother just became silent. "Elizabeth? Charity, what happened?"

Charity slowly lifted her head. "I am sorry Father, it was my fault. I should have stopped him…" Charity's eyes filled with tears as she fell to her knees.

"Charity, please tell me where is Thomas. I will not be mad," He said leaning down and looking to his daughter.

"Everything was picture perfect and I screwed it up. It was my fault he got shot it's my fault that John came back and…and…" after that Charity broke into tears.

"John? As in John Turner?" He asked and Charity nodded. "I'm going to kill that man!"

"Daddy no!" She grabbed his coat as he got up in a fiery rage. "Please daddies don't. I am fine, see? No harm done." She said shakily but the bruises on her shoulders proved otherwise.

"When I find him he will fall for what he has done,"

"Daddy please," Charity said as her mother helped her to her feet. "I am sorry that it was Thomas!" She yelled at her fathers back. "I wish it had been me and not him! So I could have rid you of your disgraceful daughter!"

Her father stopped in mid step and turned to face his daughter. "You think you're disgraceful? Do you?!" he yelled coming back to her and taking her roughly by the arms. "God blessed me with you. You where my first child and I always will love you," His voice was soft and gentle but his grip was firm, "I love you Charity and you are in now way a disgraceful daughter. Do you understand that?" Charity nodded as silent tears ran down her face. Her father pulled her into a tight hug. "I don't ever want to hear you say that, never again Charity, You're my everything."

By now the Dragoons had left and the family of now three walked into the house, Margaret followed slowly behind.

"Oh William, Margaret has come with us as a companion for Charity. I do home the Lord General has room."

"He always has room for those who support the British," he with a smile.

"Thank you Mr. Preston," Margaret said meekly, Charity went back and took her hand.

"Don't worry, we have each other, we are going to get through this together." Margaret smiled; she knew if anything was going to happen to either of hem they always had the other.

"Thank you Charity."

(Cornwallis' office, Attendance: Bordon, Tavington, O'Hara, Cornwallis, Charity, Margaret, Charity's mother and father.)

"Well it is a great pleasure to finally meet the two women in Colonel Preston's life." He looked at charity and her mother, and then his eyes found Margaret. "Who might I ask is this?"

"Lord General, this is my good friend Margaret Coalman. She has offered to join me as a companion." Charity looked at Bordon then back to the Lord General.

"Buy shall one, like yourself, be lonely? I think not there is much to do and many to befriend. But you seem to be good friends so I will grant you this, I would hate to break up such a good pair," he smiled warmly at them. Both bowed their heads before standing behind Charity's mother and father.

"We thank you, Lord General, for your kindness."

"Its nothing, after hearing your ordeal with the local militia, I am happy to offer all of you the protection of the crown as well as taking you under my personal protection."

"You are very kind, Lord General," Charity's mother said with a curtsy.

"General O'Hara, will you show Ms. Preston and Ms. Coalman to their rooms?"

"My lord," He said with a slight bow before turning to the two girls. He eyes shone with something Charity could not make out, but it made her stomach turn and flip. She looked to Bordon in hopes that he could do something. But he only lowered his eyes.

"This way ladies," O'Hara said opening the doors for them. Both slowly walked out with O'Hara following the closely.

"I am sure you both want to freshen up before dinner, so I have ordered you both a bath."

"Thank you General," Charity said not willing to look at him.

"Ah, here we are. Mr. Coalman your room is to the left, Ms. Preston yours is to the right. If any of you need anything I am right across the hall."

"Thank you, General," they said in unison before going to their rooms and locking the doors.

When they reappeared O'Hara was no where to be found, which they counted as a blessing. They both let out a sigh of relief.

"Now where?" Margaret asked walking towards Charity. Margaret wore a dress of light yellow with white trim. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail at the back of her head and tried with a white ribbon.

"May be we should follow the sounds of people talking?" Charity said with a half smile. Charity wore a dark purple dress with black trim for her brother's death. She also wore her hair in a long braid tied off with a black ribbon.

The two girls were the best of friends, but the looked greatly different. Margaret was very fair skinned; she had long bright blond hair, and light brown eyes. Charity had lightly tanned skin, long strawberry brown hair and bright blue eyes.

They followed the sounds of people talking and laughing. And soon they entered the dining room. It was filled with officers and their wives. Charity looked for her parents but they were not there, so they girls waited to be noticed. And they soon were.

"Hello," a woman about their age walked up to them, "you must be new. I am Melissa Scavar. My father is Dragoon."

"Well, I am Charity Preston; my father is Colonel Preston, one of Lord General Cornwallis' tactical commanders. And this is my good friend Margaret Coalman." The three of them smiled at each other as Cornwallis came in.

"Please, let us wait no longer," he said waving his hands for people to come and take their seats. The three girls sat together towards the head of the table.

"So where are you from?" Melissa asked taking a bit of her salad.

"On the Santee, east of Black Swamp," Charity answered before she took a sip of her wine.

"Both of you?" Melissa asked, not truly believing them.

"Yes, our parents owned plantations next to each other. We came close as we grew. Our parents also pushed for us to get along, I guess we were meant to be good friends."

"Oh. I see you two are almost like sisters?"

"Yes," Charity said with a smile. She looked up to see Captain Bordon and Colonel Tavington walk in.

"Our apologies my lord," Tavington said with a bow.

"That's quite alright." He said as the two took their seats.

"I do hope that you will stay down here with me," Melissa said with a great smile," finding women your own age is hard, most are older and have wifely duties." She had a glint of humor in her eyes. "But I would really like to get to know both of you, if that is alright?"

"Of course it is," Margaret said looking at Charity. "Right Charity?" Margaret smiled as she realized Charity hadn't been really listing to the conversation.

"I am sorry, what was that?" She asked trying not to sound rude.

Melissa giggled, "I would like to get to know you, and become friends."

"Yes, that alright with me. I'd be happy to be friends."

Melissa smiled. "Thank you."

Dinner was slow and the chatter around the three girls was of the latest fashion and war tactics. After dinner some of the elder guest had retired to their rooms, but most stayed in the rather large sitting room and library.

"What do you normally do during your day?" Melissa asked as she took a sip of her tea.

"Well I," Started Charity, "like to practice my violin, then maybe I would read a book and do a little bit of sewing and embroidery."

"You play the violin?"

"I play the cello as well," Margaret said looking at Melissa whose eyes were large with excitement.

"Do you think you might be able to teach me someday?"

"I don't see why not," Margaret looked at Charity then back to Melissa who looked like a child in a candy store. "The only question is which one would you rather learn on? Because they are almost the same once you learn one."

"Which is easier?"

"Nether, you have to have a lot of patients. They are very tough to learn, but in the end it's worth it," Charity stated.

"I have enough, or at least I think I do." Both girls laughed.

"I am tried; I think I will retire now. See you two tomorrow," and with that Melissa got up and walked out.

"What do you think of her?" Margaret asked leaning towards her friend and speaking in low tones.

"Same thing I thought of you when I first met you, odd and desperate for a friendship." The girls laughed.

"Did you really think that?"

"Yes, in away but I got to know you and saw that you were a really fun person to be around. I really hate for judging you like I did," Charity smiled at her. "So what-"

"Ms. Coalman, may I have a word with you?" Both looked up to see Colonel Tavington towering over them.

"Of course Colonel," She said getting up, placing her tea cup on the table and looked at Charity, "I will talk to you later."

"That's fine." Charity smiled warmly at her friend as Tavington lead her out and away.

Charity looked around for someone she might have know and liked to talk to but no one fit that description.

"Ms. Preston," Charity closed her eyes tight knowing the sound of O'Hara's voice. She turned slowly.

"General, what a… surprise." She tried to smile as warmly as she could. But after the way he looked at her when they first met she had a feeling she wasn't going to like him much.

"Might I be able to sit with you?"

"I don't see why not," Charity said moving over so he could sit next to her. She desperately looked for someone to save her. She found Bordon but he was talking to Cornwallis.

"Have you live in the Carolina's long?"

"My whole life, General."

"How old are you, Ms. Preston?"

"Nineteen," Charity stated plainly.

"Nineteen, that's a long time to be living in one place, don't you agree?"

"Yes, but… never mind." Charity said placing her cup down on the table. As she did so O'Hara placed his larger hand over her smaller one, causing Charity to knock over the cup. She turned back to O'Hara. "Excuse me. I have been over come with a sudden wave of nausea."

"Was it something you ate?" He asked not removing his hand.

"I don't know." She said pulling her hand out from under his and getting up.

"You must let me walk you to your room-"

"I will be fine; I just need to lie down. Thank you for your offer though," and with that Charity left. She looked to Bordon who slightly nodded and understood what happened.

"Excuse me my lord."

"Of course Captain." Cornwallis turned and started talking to someone else.

Bordon walked out of the room and looked around.

"Are you really that blind?" Charity asked coming out of the shadows.

"No, not yet," Bordon walked over to her. "I am sorry for General O'Hara's actions."

"Shh, that's not your fault nor should I blame you for it." She said talking his hand in hers. "I hear they have a nice garden here," Charity whispered in Bordon's ear.

"They do," Bordon said looking into Charity's eyes.

"Show me."