The 23rd regiment, consisting of twelve men over the age of twenty five, fifteen men over the age of eighteen, three sixteen year olds and one worn out fifteen year old female disguised as a man.

David was marching next to his brother Clay who was getting looks of well not quite disgust but something of that caliber causing both brothers to be wary of their fellow mates who were supposedly fighting for the rights of those like Clay yet still couldn't stomach the thought of working with one, he nudged his brother making Clay turn his attention away from the man's back in front of him, "Did you see how sweaty Spence looked at the last stop?"

Clay shook his head with a slight chuckle, "She isn't cut out for this,"

"Neither are we," Glen spoke from behind David. He'd been talking to another man around his age, Tommy Larson, the kid needed money to keep his mother's farm going since his father's death a few months back so he couldn't pass at the chance for thirteen dollars a month, which he could send all of it home seeing as he had what he needed here and his mom could live comfortably.

"Yeah but we're guys she's just so small," David softly spoke not wanting any one else to hear them speaking. He knew how tough his sister could be but at the end of the day she was still just that his sister, a girl. No matter what he still pictured her as a small new born wrapped in a pink blanket that cost a fortune at fifteen dollars but Paula spared no expense for the little one, David was only ten years old at the time. Remembering one summer night when his father and mother stepped out to town and he was in charge, he'd put a hyper two year old Glen to bed while six year old Clay had easily put him self to bed knowing that he'd be rude making things harder on his ten year old brother. Once the house was quiet David snuck into their parents room to see his baby sister in her make shift crib, curled in her blanket sucking her thumb. He sat on his parents bed staring at her little body, tracing his rough ten year old fore finger across her chubby baby cheek and smiling as the little girl latched on to his finger with her free hand, snuggling into the warmth it provided. Seeing how small and fragile she was David swore on his own life to keep her safe from any harm and now that was all he seemed to be doing putting her in harm's way.

A war was no place for a fifteen year old boy let alone a girl but he had no choice in the matter, they lost their house and with even two of the boy's gone it would take months to rebuild the ranch and living in the cold for that long with hardly any food he was sure one of them would die so to take her along was for the best at least it's what he kept telling himself.

"Small my ass that girl can take half the men here down," Glen scoffed. He should know how tough his sister was she took him down a peg or two in the past and although he laughed it off saying it'd given it to her he knew the truth that she beat his sorry ass like no tomorrow.

"So what's that say about you?" Tommy asked leaning into the conversation. The three boy's eyes shot wide at the unexpected intrusion, "You might want to whisper a bit more."

"If you say anything..." Glen grabbed his coat pulling the slightly shorter boy closer.

Tommy gripped the hands around his collar making Glen release his hold, "...Don't worry your secret's safe with me alright?"

"You won't tell?" Clay pleaded.

"Nah, if she is as tough as you say I'm sure she'll beat them no matter what they throw at her." Tommy beamed. He'd never had too many friends in the town, his folks were considered the poor ones around there and he never met the outsiders who lived on ranches on the outskirts of town and was glad to maybe get some new company.

"You help us out and there's a few bucks in it for you," David squinted his emerald green eyes at the boy, jaw set ready to take the kid down if a syllabi is uttered to put his sister in danger.

"Keep your money. Just let me hang with you guys is all I ask?" Tommy quirked an eyebrow while licking his lips. David looked him up and down; the kid was five foot eleven with wavy thick red hair and bright blue eyes, chiseled jaw and prominent features that made him a very good looking young boy who might just make a good man for his sister.

"Sure thing, you can hang with us all you want," David smirked, "Just one thing what's your opinion on self assured women?"

Meanwhile a mile up the road Spencer was huffing and puffing away, her legs felt wobble like jelly and sweat poured out every pore soaking the shirt she was wearing in non flattering places. She glanced up and saw the camp coming up in the distance and groaned as she noticed the last of her two mile run would have her going through the camp, passing all the tents and other soldiers, up to the end of the path which connected to a round about dirt trail leading up to a beautiful mansion.

"Got in trouble already, kid!" A guy about twenty called over seeing her pass by. She briefly wondered if she'd be called kid by every person around her and when would it stop, when did she become a man or well...you get what she was thinking; "I was there five months ago how long you been running for?"

"Nine hours," she wheezed not counting the small breaks she got for having to wait for the others to join her. She sat down, she isn't going to lie, and those other men were slow.

"Damn!" the boys around a camp fire yelled out making her smile in triumph at the fact she probably just out ran all of them.

Finally she passed everyone and was standing in front of one of the biggest, whitish house in all her life. Big fat pillars held up the beams of the porch that led to a balcony overlooking the great expanse of the land from what appeared to be the master bedroom on the second story. Rose vines clung to the walls, climbing as high as possible as if reaching for a heaven that may or may not exist for pretty little flowers with such evil thorns; yes she had a hatred for all things thorny since she was five years old and proud of it too.

Her blue eyes scanned every window, crack and square inch of the house from the top to bottom. When she reached the last window on her right side her breath hitched and she felt light headed for inside the window looking out seemingly at her was a thing of perfection. Wavy auburn hair clinging around her shoulders and just a bit of bangs hiding her warm hazel eyes with a hint of edginess to them. The girl smiled lightening up the world to Spencer making her forget the sun was setting due to the brightness the smile caused as the girl's nose crinkled adorably.

She waved and mouthed 'hi', Spencer furrowed her brow and looked around her noticing no one else she turned back to the brunette who was now smirking as Spencer pointed to her self and mouthed 'me' back. The other girl nodded and the blonde could almost hear the giggle escape from the brunette behind the window.

XXXX

"Ashley what are you looking at?" the voice rang through the study making the brunette glance away from the cute boy on her front lawn.

"Nothing father," she sighed heavily sitting down in one of the plush chairs.

"I have told you many times not to stand there I do not want those men biding for your attention and mess up their training." General James Davies leader of the 23rd regiment looked hard at his daughter. He was forty three years old with full blown gray hair and mustache to match, strong features and stone grey eyes making them stand out.

Ashley Davies was fifteen years old and really smart. She's had the best teachers and nannies around. Her good looks got her everything she wanted and the puppy pout she developed at age one in half made men and women alike melt for her to mold and do her biding but she was far from a spoiled brat. Sure she could get on most people's nerves due to the fact she got what she wanted pretty much no matter what but she never made any one go against their own will to get it for her, she'd bat her eyes and whine a tiny bit but if she as told no sternly enough she back off gracefully. For as long as she could remember she has had a thing for girls, she liked them more than boys, for company and more. She kissed one of their servant's daughters at age six and never looked back.

James and Christine Davies knew of their daughter's predicament and didn't care who she lusted after as long as in the end her affairs were hidden and she married a man, who could know about his wife's preference on the side or not.

Christine Davies walked into the study with her flowing gown made from the finest silk imported from China; she was a fine woman every man wanted and knew they couldn't touch for one reason or another. She loved her husband but the last few years his sexual appetite has dropped so she'd find her self laid over the kitchen table banging the stable boys, "Good evening honey," she stood on tip toe to kiss her husband's cheek.

"Evening darling, how was your women's meeting?" he wondered with a twinkle in his eye, never getting enough of his wife who to him was the most beautiful in the land.

"Wonderful, we're starting a new book but for the life of me I can't remember the name of it," she laughed.

"Well be sure to let me know if it's any good I could use a new relaxing hobby with the war going on and Ashley stay away from the windows and stick with the back of the house I don't want one of those idiots accidentally shooting out a window and getting you."

Christine glanced over to her daughter, "So who's caught your fancy?" she breathed out glad her daughter may have gotten over her sinful desire for other women.

"No one," Ashley's eyes cast downward indication she was hiding something.

"Oh come on Ashy dear it's just me," Christine got up and sat down next to her daughter so they could whisper and her husband wouldn't hear.

"Well..."

"...I knew it so who is it?" she clapped her hands.

"I don't know his name but he was running through the camp and than was standing outside, I think he's part of the new recruits father sent Corporal Dennison out to get."

"What did he look like?"

"I couldn't see much with the lightening out there but deep blue eyes and blonde hair, he was so shy when I smiled at him I swear he blushed, can you imagine a man blushing over me?" she laughed nervously still a bit weirded out talking to her mother about these things as her mom was hardly around and twenty year old Victoria Dashford, lone daughter of the butcher down in town who watched after Ashley since she was little for extra cash to send home to her father, was around all the time giving Ashley advice and being more of a parent than her real folks.

"He sounds cute,"

"He sounds like a pansy, I'll have to whip him into shape." The General barked with furrowed brows not liking the fact one of his soldiers was looking at his daughter.

Ashley rolled her eyes, her father was always putting the boy's who liked her through the ringer once or twice demanding that if they were any where near good enough they'd pass all his tests, "Please leave him alone father we barely said hi I doubt he is into me anyway."

"Please any man with eyes would be into you sweetie," James gushed with a brilliant smile, his daughter was his pride, "but fine I will this guy alone for now."

"Thank you," she beamed standing up to give him a quick hug.

"Now do you mind accompanying me out to talk to the new guys?" he asked politely although Ashley knew it was more of a nicely put command. She nodded and followed her father out side.

XXXX

Spencer kept glancing at the window as she stayed at attention hoping beyond anything that she'd see another glimpse of the attractive brunette. Finally after what seemed for ever the group of soldiers caught up with her falling in line beside her, "Well done recruit!" Aiden smiled warmly telling her to get in line beside her brothers.

"How you doing Spence?" Glen asked a bit worried, the boots on his feet were already causing some trouble just from walking and he was afraid with all the running she'd been doing hers must hurt worse.

"Tired," breathing out a sigh of relief to be with her brother's yet again and not singled out but she was sure going to teach that old fart who ratted her out a lesson the moment they had some alone time.

"At least you're on the Corporal's good side," Clay whispered.

David nodded his approval with Clay's statement as the group was called to attention and told to shut it as a man stepped out of the house with a soldier on his right and a pretty young woman to his left, "Welcome men...I'm General James Davies, the highest ranking officer here so in general that puts me in charge. This here is my daughter Ashley, if I catch any of you eyeing her in an indecent way or pawing at her with your dirty hands you'll spend the day in the hole with ten lashes to remind you keep your distance."

Spencer watched Ashley roll her eyes and couldn't help the ghost of a smile trying to tug at her lips, the brunette glanced her way waving secretly causing the blonde to blush and cast her eyes back to the General missing the smirk riding Ashley's perfect tanned face.

"Is that clear?"

"Yes Sir!" the new soldiers barked out making their commander happy.

"Good, now Corporal Dennison will get you all set up. Training starts bright and early tomorrow so rest up boys." James saluted the soldiers below waited for them to salute back than took his daughter by the hand and led her back inside.

"There will be tents divided among all of you, five to a tent, along with any other necessities deemed by me or any other officer here, when I dismiss you fall in at the table to receive your bunk mates for the remainder of this war. Dismissed!"

The group broke up high tailing it to the table, the Carlin's along with Tommy stood more at the back, "So what was that?"

"What are you talking about David?" Spencer questioned unsure what her brother was talking about.

"I saw that cutie waving to you," raising his eyebrows with a smirk.

"She saw me standing there waiting on you slow pokes, she waved, I waved are interaction ceased...nothing more,"

"Oh there is more," Clay nudged his sister.

"I heard from another guy that Miss. Davies has a soft spot for girls if you know what I mean," Tommy leaned in and whispered to the four. His breath tickling the hair's on the back of Spencer's neck making her step a little to the side keeping her eyes forward missing the slight frown masking over the usually bubbly boy.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," she huffed while folding her arms. This line seemed to be never ending and all she wanted was a warm bath which she knew was far from happening and probably for a while too and a nice long sleep under warm blankets.

"What I mean is she prefers women's company rather than men's,"

"Are you saying she's a...a lesbian?" Clay wondered wide eyed, he'd heard his father talking about a couple living twenty miles away, two women, he remembered there was no malice in his father's voice, the man was quite calm about it while his mother well she was a different story so he wasn't sure how to go about dealing with the idea.

"Do you have a problem with that my brother is gay?" Tommy took a step toward the brown skinned boy who shook his head vigorously.

"No...No problem here," Clay breathed out when Tommy took a step back with a smile on his face as if nothing had happened.

"Are you Clay Carlin?" General Davies spoke roughly behind them. All of them spun around snapping to attention and saluting like Dennison explained to them before they got the mansion, "At ease, so are you?"

"Yes sir," Clay nodded kind of scared of the man in front of him.

Davies licked his lips while steeling the boy with weary eyes, "What do you think you're doing here boy?"

"I...I'm serving my country and fighting for what's right...um sir,"

"And what makes you think a black boy is fit to fight next to a white one huh?" Davies stepped forward into Clay's space.

"Isn't this war about abolishing slavery?" hand running over her almost bald head in fear of what the man would do to him, "And I'm as free as any man here and would love to free more of my kind," it felt strange to say his kind since in his mind and he was sure in the minds of his brothers and sister there was only one kind.

A smile played on Davies lips, "I like you...standing up for what's right even though I could lynch you right here right now."

"He's smart," David shot out barely catching him self just wanting to put a good word in for his brother.

"Who are you?"

"David Carlin,"

"Carlin?" Davies cocked an eyebrow staring between the two boys, "Are you..."

"Brothers, yes sir. My parents were friends with his, when they died we took him in and our parents raised him as one of their own, to us he isn't black and we ain't white, we're just the Carlin family fighting to survive."

Davies looked between Spencer, Glen, Clay and David than over to Tommy, "You part of this too?"

"No sir just a friend,"

"Usually we're suppose to make you colored...excuse me for saying that, we are suppose to set you up in a different unit but seeing how your family is all here and we don't have a black unit I don't see why we can't have you fighting with us, I'd be proud and honored to work along with you." Davies shot his hand out which Clay took quickly.

"Thank you sir,"

"Don't thank me, thank Lincoln he's the one making it easier on your kind. Now get going!" Davies took on the role of General again and walked off to inspect the rest of the company.

David laughed and slapped his brother on the back, "Be glad we're on your side,"

"Trust me I' am," Clay nodded earning slight nudges from Spencer and Glen as well.

"You're the last five so here is your tent, rations for the next two days, sleeping bags and you'll get your equipment tomorrow. Now find a place and post it up for tonight," Corporal Dennison nodded toward the large camp behind them, the Davies' mansion sat on acres and acres of land making it quite easy to find space and post a tent, they'd set up closest to the house but further into the forest so no one would catch on if Spencer was not in her boy form.

An hour later they'd pitched the tent, started a fire sitting down and warming up. Spencer could hardly keep her eyes open and decided to skip dinner and go straight to sleep. Getting up she headed into the tent but halted when she saw Tommy snuggled in to his sleeping bag already, "What are you doing in here?"

"Same as you getting a good nights rest," Tommy shot back getting more comfortable in his bag.

Spencer nervously eyed the boy than her own bag, she needed to take off her clothes and take the rags off to let it air out of sweat allowing her breasts to be breath but didn't know how to go about it with a boy in the tent who wasn't her brother, "Huh...can you close your eyes?"

Tommy sat up on his elbows staring at Spencer, "Why you ain't got nothing I haven't, just strip already!"

"You trying to get a peek at my sister?" David shot in after hearing the conversation, Spencer's mouth dropped slightly angered that her brother gave away her secret so fast.

"David!"

"Hush Spence he knows you're a girl,"

"You what?" Spencer asked directing her anger toward the cowardly boy in the sleeping bag.

"I was just joshing, ha ha a joke serious I wasn't going to look or anything," he stumbled over his words.

"Yeah well I'm going to make sure," David growled, "Go ahead Spence I won't let the pervert look."

Tommy quickly shut his eyes and for extra security hid under the covers while Spencer sat down and took off her coat suspenders shirt than the rag holding her breasts together and making it a bit harder to breath, once all that was off she slid her long john back in place, "All clear?" Tommy called out.

"Yeah," Spencer spoke as she took off her shoes wincing at the pain. Tommy came out just as David slipped out of the tent leaving the two of them alone.

"Honestly I wasn't going to look I was just joking," Spencer looked up from her sore cut up feet to see the honesty flowing from the boy's eyes.

"I believe you," she smiled before tending to her feet.

"That looks pretty bad," he leaned over some to see blisters forming, "Do you want me to rub'em out?"

"Won't that be weird?" she asked unsure if she wanted him touching her feet.

"Nah my pa showed me how so when he went away I could give them to my ma or you know my grandpa, he always had sore feet at night, so how bout it?"

She shrugged so he slipped out of the sleeping bag crawling over to her, picking one foot up he began to carefully massage from the heel to the toes staying away from the most ticklish spots, she moaned in satisfaction while sliding down to a laying position.

"What the hell is going on?" All three Carlin boys shot into the tent eyeing their sister and Tommy.

"We heard moaning," Glen growled ready to take the kid out.

"Guys he was just giving me a foot massage," Spencer giggled, sometimes no matter how much she wished to be treated like one of them, her brother's would always be just that her brother's.

"Keep those hands at a safe distance at all times," Clay warned as they stepped out side again.

"So...are they always like that?" Tommy smirked.

"Yeah, unfortunately, sorry,"

"Don't be I got a sister at home too, I'd hate it if a guy took advantage of her as well, so I guess we should probably sleep now right?"

"Probably," Spencer nodded as she watched Tommy smile with twinkling eyes as he crawled back into his sleeping bag and going to sleep. Taking a deep breath Spencer slid under her sleeping bag, "Good night boys!" she called out.

"Night Spence," her brother's called back as they moved from the flap of the tent back to the fire safe in knowing nothing was going to happen. With a smile and shake of her head she closed her eyes falling into a deep sleep her dream centered around auburn hair and hazel eyes.

TBC...