Tantrum and Tenderness

Chapter 7 – Joys and Sorrows

It was late in the afternoon when the Dragoons made their next halt. Colonel William Tavington had decided to stop in time so that they could pitch their night camp without hurry.

He was in a fairly good mood since they had made the rest of their way without any further incidents. He left it to his men to arrange all things necessary for the night, while he took the liberty to refresh himself at a near creek. When he turned around and watched his men settling into their duties, he noted with contentment that everything was going according to his order again.

Nearly.

Something struck his eye and didn't please him at all.

The last riders were just arriving and among them he spotted James and Judith in what appeared to be a romantic embrace. It was not often the case that Tavington regretted his orders, but now he did. He himself had given permission to Captain Wilkins to take the woman along with him, never knowing Wilkins would have the cheek to show up with her in a presumptuous, loving cuddle. He had put his arms around her in a possessive way and she seemed to be content in the safety of his caring hug.

To tell the truth, neither Judith nor James harbored very romantic feelings for each other at the moment. It had been no fun to ride for hours now sharing one saddle.

Once the Green Dragoons had started to move again, it hadn't taken her long to understand that there was little to no point in leaning back against James' chest in order to find hold. Her back was still aching terribly and really didn't need a refreshment of pain. Thus, Judith had done her utmost to sit up straight. And furthermore, she had soon found out that it helped her to keep her balance on her own, while James was forced to ride the same speedy pace like everybody else.

Nonetheless it was a welcome circumstance that James had his arms around her reassuring her at least a light support.

Now, that they finally came to a long-hoped-for halt, Judith felt the entire extent of the exertion of the last hours. She turned her head aside so that she rested her temple against his chest and closed her eyes. Her body was completely exhausted, her limbs had almost gone numb with all the pain and she cared no longer whether she slumped back into him.

James sympathetically stroked her arms and gave her a solicitous cuddle.

However, Tavington was all but a man of indulgence or generosity and so it angered him to see the apparent display of silent understanding between Judith and James. It had already displeased him when Wilkins had comforted her in the yard, but now that he knew Wilkins had stronger feelings for her than just sympathy, he felt the urge to call a halt to their present confidentiality, which was extremely disagreeable to him.

Tavington interrupted his current activities and set to meet the two of them personally to forestall their attachment to each other.

Not that he had developed a sudden miraculous and strong affection for Judith in the first place, but the fact that someone else was laying claim to her just rubbed him the wrong way. To see the both of them in an unintentional yet intimate, tight hug stirred up his greed and jealousy. He would no longer tolerate their loving familiarity with each other. If that woman needed a chest to nestle against then she would have to be content with his.

And added to this, it was a marvelous occasion to set another boundary to the colonial intruder, James Wilkins.

"Captain Wilkins, you are late!" Tavington pointed out with an annoyed voice. James and Judith had not yet really arrived when Tavington gave them such a frosty reception.

"Excuse me, Sir," James answered warily, "It's not that easy to ride with two…"

"None of your excuses, Captain!" in a violent fit of temper Tavington cut him short. "I expect you to dedicate yourself to your duty all out; always and any time!"

"Aye, Sir!" James stood at attention automatically as he had become subdued at once with the icy welcome.

"Very well, Captain. Then you will certainly not mind to take on an extra duty subsequent to your arrival, will you?" For seconds Tavington and James eyed each other with hostility. James understood very well that it was the Colonel's sole and only interest to separate him from Judith and it bothered him to have no means to avoid it. Without waiting for James to answer, Tavington addressed Judith, "You, Madam, may dismount now."

Judith was entirely willing to follow his order, but it was impossible for her to dismount with James sitting behind her. Well-behaved, she waited for him to get off first.

"Not so daring this time, are you?" Tavington dropped his pointed remark with a sneer.

Judith understood that he was referring to the incidence this early afternoon, when she had jumped from horseback without much asking, and didn't answer.

James felt called upon to lend her a hand and was about to dismount, but Tavington told him off.

"Captain, you stay where you are!" Tavington ordered in a sharp voice. "Your services will be needed in another place. Let's see, whether our little tomboy here will be able to help herself."

Judith's mind raced. She knew she had to act and quickly reflected on her possibilities. It filled her with the greatest uneasiness when it burst upon her that there was only one practicable way to get off that horse. Anxiously Judith stared at Tavington, who returned her gaze totally unmoved. The wickedness in his eyes told her clearly that it was exactly this way he expected her to dismount and she understood that it was his very subtle kind of retribution for her misbehavior when she had tried to take her letters away from him.

Judith had painfully learned that it was pointless to ask a man like Colonel Tavington to reconsider and so she thought it best not to keep him waiting unnecessarily.

Without a single word of objection, she leaned back against James to shift her weight. James did his best to give her support. One last time, Judith held tight on to his arms and peered reassuringly around. Everybody was busy with something and didn't seem to be all too much interested in her problem. Thus, she regarded the moment right and quickly swung her leg over the neck of the horse. Just as expected, there was no way she could avoid her skirt slipping back to her hips.

To Judith, it appeared to be a matter of endless minutes that she was fixed in this unfavorable, exposed position, which seemed to leave her most intimate parts just barely covered, giving unrestricted sight to every man. She did not wear a single piece of undergarment since Tavington had shredded it. Suddenly it couldn't be fast enough for her that she got out of the safety of James' embrace right into the most feared arms of Colonel Tavington. And not regarding the fact that it scared her to death to be taken away from James, she felt grateful to stand on firm ground with her skirt back in its proper place.

Judith prayed that nobody had watched her. Again she hastily glanced around. With some relief she could detect that she seemed to be granted at least a little blessing in disguise. Despite her misgivings, nobody was gaping at her. The men were concerned with their own stuff and proceeded with their work as if nothing had happened.

Merely one man had been lucky enough to take a very short peep at the delicate private place between her legs, though. And it had not been Tavington, although he stood nearest.

Unnoticed by anybody, it was Captain Bordon who had been in the best position to watch and delight in Judith's ungraceful attempt to dismount. Strictly speaking, he was not even really sure if he had seen anything at all, for it was only for the split of a second that her spread legs were just in the right angle toward him to give him an idea of her most womanly place. In every case it had been enough to inspire some very wishful thoughts that set him on fire.

Way too soon she had landed clumsily but safe and sound in Tavington's arms and Bordon kept on unsaddling his horse as if nothing had led his attention astray. He chuckled to himself: nobody had taken notice of his pleasurable outlook. It was his clandestine thrill of joy alone and for the moment he would keep it to himself.

If Judith had been aware of it, her stomach would have turned. So, it was her greatest fear to be left alone at the mercy of Colonel Tavington.

James Wilkins felt ill at ease in a very similar way and only reluctantly he asked, "What is my order, Sir?"

"Captain Wilkins, since you know this area best, I want you to take the first watch tonight," Tavington wasted indeed no time to make Judith's worst nightmare come true, when he ordered James away from her to guard the camp. "Go and find yourself an advantageous place for your duty! Now!" When Tavington saw that Captain Wilkins was not immediately following his order, though, as he unhurriedly untied the sewing basket to give it back to Judith, he stepped up to him.

"Do you have a problem with the word 'now', Captain?" he asked in irritation.

James Wilkins had straightened up in his saddle, "No, Sir. I haven't." he replied with bridled annoyance. "Your order is received and understood. I only thought I'd give this back before I part…"

Tavington ripped the basket out of Wilkins' hands and pointed out the priority of his order by a sharp, menacing: "Leave the thinking to me! My orders are to be followed at your earliest convenience! Are we clear!"

"Aye, Sir!" With pretended zeal he tipped at his helmet, gritting his teeth. Then he turned his horse and rode off.

Quivering with fright, Judith stood at Colonel Tavington's side. With a swift, powerful movement, he pressed the sewing basket upon her and set about to stride off into another direction. Powerlessly, she watched James riding away from her and she was terribly afraid of staying in the camp without him. New tears poured from her eyes. She sniffed and wiped her face with a sleeve of the borrowed red coat.

When she looked up again, she caught sight of Captain Bordon, who observed her somehow warily. He was about to lead his now unsaddled horse to the water and barred her view of James who was leaving. Judith couldn't help but reading disdain and disapproval toward her in his looks. He had riveted his eyes on her and seemed to register her every single movement.

Bordon truly examined every inch of her. He boldly searched her from head to toe, hoping to be granted another small peep of her bare skin anywhere that would rally his sexual fantasies. Fervently, he speculated on what she would look like under his coat.

From what he had seen in the barn, he knew her dress was severely damaged and now he wondered whether her breasts happened to rub against the fabric of his coat. And if so, what did she feel? Had the friction already let her nipples harden? The idea of a full, rounded breast in ecstasy called a lustful smile upon his face. What a nuisance that Tavington had claimed her already!

Anyway, thoughts were free and in his mind he painted an untroubled picture of himself seducing that woman. Before his mental eye Tavington had no say in that matter and he, Frank Bordon, alone would delight in exploring her body. In his fantasy the Colonel was a nobody who might consider himself lucky, if he could barely manage to watch him having a go/start on her at best.

Although he would never admit to it, Bordon was tired of playing second fiddle. It bothered him to see Tavington taking the best of everything while he had to content himself with the crumbs that happened to fall from the Colonel's table. Disgruntled about this bitter realization the rapt smile vanished from his face as his expression darkened.

That was when Judith had looked up. She saw him glowering at her. Hence, Judith totally misinterpreted the close stare of Captain Borden. She believed he was still peeved about the derision to which Tavington had subjected him due to his erroneous conclusion about the letters. Maybe he thought she had taken the better of their argument, since the letters were safely hidden from anybody's sight in her sewing box again and in addition to that she had been allowed to keep the coat on.

The coat! Of course! Finally Judith had realized that it was his coat and most probably he didn't appreciate her moistening it with her tears. She stopped sobbing and wiped the rest with her hands away. She even made an attempt to lighten his tiff and managed to muster a small apologizing smile.

Telling from his unceasing glare, her gesture did not placate him. Obviously he still grudged her the luxury of wearing his coat. And although it was her last bastion to hide from view, she suddenly felt most uncomfortable in it. Intuitively she tried to get away from him. But after only a few steps backwards she ran into something hard. A mix of pain and terror flashed through her body. She had not given heed to Tavington, who had stopped only a few feet behind her to wait for her. It was the handle of his saber, which had painfully hit her back. She shrieked and started with horror.

"Pull yourself together, Madam," Tavington said frowningly. "Those, who show their weakness so clearly are usually the ones who will be attacked first." He stirred up her fright. "Get your gear and follow me!"

Judith held tight onto her sewing basket and cared to hurry after Tavington. Wherever he would lead her, she had no desire to stay any longer under the odd stare of Captain Bordon.

Something in the look of that man gave her the creeps and filled her with an indefinable uneasiness. Not regarding the fact that Tavington had done the worst to her, oddly enough, he seemed to be the minor evil.

The moment Judith turned her back to Captain Bordon, the desirous smile returned to his face. Even dressed in a man's coat, which was way too big and unbecoming to her, she still radiated an irresistible feminine charm. It pleased and flattered him to see that he had been able to rattle her.

Unlike most women, who scarcely granted him any recognition once the Colonel came in play, this woman here had undeniably taken notice of him.

He had a joyful feeling they would be the perfect match. She was just his cup of tea and the more he thought about it the more he got stuck to the idea she too had taken a liking to him. He remembered her sight in the barn when the Colonel had been done with her. She'd appeared so alluring and fragile at the same time that he couldn't help but offering his coat to her. Without a moment's hesitation she had accepted it and in return she'd given him such a deeply grateful look he would never forget.

Later, when it had come to the incidence with the letters, despite his anger, he'd got even fonder of her. Subconsciously, it had enticed him to see her getting upset, even furious about him sorting through her letters. And on second thoughts, he regarded it as a fine hint of fate that it had fallen to his lot to take hold of her. Once in his embrace she had turned out to be just the perfect armful for him. That she had gotten out of his hands was no more than an annoying adversity, which definitely wouldn't occur a second time.

And now that she seemed to feel a little disconcerted under his eyes, she would rather meet him with respect as her marvelous fearfully widened eyes had told him when she had tried to place a smile in his direction.

Maybe it was her silent begging for forgiveness and a first shy request to him to save her from the Colonel, since Captain Wilkins had failed to do so. Searching for a new hero was the only natural consequence of her dilemma, Bordon told himself and obviously she had decided on him.

However, all in all it was an extremely appealing mixture that needed only one further seasoning: Passion.

And Frank Bordon was convinced he could draw it from her when occasion arose.

At the same time, someone else was reflecting on his relationship to Judith.Only that James Wilkins' thoughts and feelings were considerably less frivolous.

For him it was rather like collecting the few pieces of a former immaculate illusion that had been hopelessly destroyed in the emotional tempest of the last few hours. He sat in front of a heap of broken dreams and the more he stirred it the more they went to pieces.

James Wilkins stood on top of a rise and let his eye wander over the recently built camp he had been sent to guard, knowing that the person who needed his shelter most was left behind without protection.

What was he doing here?

Instead of following his conscience he was following an order of a man who seemed to have no conscience. Full of self-disgust he kicked away a stone as hard as he could, meaning to kick someone else.

Judith had asked for his support and all he had been able to give her were some empty phrases of consolation created by his own helplessness. He remembered how firmly Judith had clutched to his arms out of mere desperation and on the very first opportunity he had failed to be her reliable guardian. How could he claim to be her friend when he did not even attempt to shield her as there was danger ahead? It rankled that he had abandoned her to Tavington so cowardly. He despised himself. He was not worth being her friend.

Dejected, he sat down. Lost in those painful thoughts he grasped a handful of dusty ground and held on to it tight with firm pressure. It was a piece of the land where his family had spread roots.

James Wilkins had grown up as the son of the owner of a great plantation.

From the early days of his childhood on he had learned that people met him with respect due to the influential social position of his father. And it stood to reason that one day James would inherit the position and property of his father.

Being the heir of a wealthy man, James had had the benefit of a carefree youth and a good education. But he had neither been taught to form himself an opinion of his own nor to fight for his aims.

Oh, yes, certainly he had a firm opinion and a rigid angle to watch the world. Long before James would take up his father's business he had adopted his political outlook and ethics. He was no fanatic but he had taken it for granted to be given liberty and welfare by birth.

No one had ever expected him to make up his own mind on that matter but merely encouraged him to be proud of his privileged position as a member of upper class society. James had never seen need to reflect critically on this attitude as he was on top of the social hierarchy and well off with that. His whole life he had been prepared to be a leader one day, only to find out that he knew nothing about responsibility at all. He had perfectly adjusted to his role as a superior person and prided himself on his special standing. For what reason, he wondered now.

Disenchanted, he set about to comprehend why he had been so very much mistaken. It hurt him to see that all his life he had believed in a fallacy. After his father's death he would advance to become the head of his family, but he would hardly ever be a person in charge. Virtues like authority, steadfastness, reliability, honor, and moral courage were not to be inherited but had to be gained by every individual. At the moment he was lacking each and everyone of them. He was far from being an honorable, free man. He was no more than a slave, a slave of his spinelessness.

He felt sick. Consumed with the yet undigested impressions of the day's events, he proceeded in pondering his past.

As long as he could think, he had never experienced privation. Thus, he had not learned to overcome obstacles using his own resources. Whenever a problem had occurred his family had known how to solve it, and what was more, had solved it in his stead.

The only time this hadn't been the case, was when he had taken a liking to Judith.

His father was not all too pleased that his son was going to court a woman who was below their social rank. James was supposed to marry a well-bred young lady from a wealthy family. And Judith, decent as she was, did not fit into the image of a proper daughter-in-law that James' father had in mind. And as marriage was family-business, his father had decided that James had better call on Elisabeth Putnam, the daughter of a highly esteemed family.

As James was used to respect his father's wishes he did not object and yielded to them for the time being, at least to keep up appearances.

Once he had made closer acquaintance with Elisabeth he had got fond of her quickly, though, and tried to forget about Judith.

Everything seemed to be in perfect order again, until Benjamin Martin had started to show his interest in Elisabeth Putnam as well. In no time she was so enthralled by Benjamin's charms that James had soon lost the race for her favor. And strange to say, it had bothered his father more than himself as James had never really got Judith out of his mind. In fact he was rather glad he could take up his former efforts to call on Judith.

Only that he needed to play things a little more safe now, since he had no desire to attract his father's annoyance a second time.

Back on the market again, James Wilkins was very well aware of his situation as a bachelor in great demand and that people would observe his further efforts of courtship with close interest. Knowing how fast gossip could spread and knowing about his father's avowed disapproval for a liaison with Judith, James forwarded his letters to her in secrecy.

For James it had been a bold act in two different ways.

With his letters he had meant to impress Judith. He had a romantic vein, which he had never been allowed to show as according to public opinion it was unbecoming of a man in his position to bother with poetry and the like.

James knew about Judith's sense and appreciation for arts and literature from their common days of school. Thus, he felt encouraged, at least for once in his life, not to care about what others might think and had started to write his letters to Judith. It was the perfect outlet for him. Here he could give free reign to both, his want to tell Judith frankly about his true and heartfelt emotions toward her and his talent to express himself by using the mightiest and most colorful words he could think of.

Added to this it gave him the satisfaction to have found a way to oppose his father's demands. With every new dispatch for Judith he felt like a rebel in disguise.

Nonetheless, out of the apprehension his letters might get him into disgrace or trouble he had only signed them with a mysterious, simple 'W', so he could always disclaim to be the initiator.

What a fool he had been!

He had never watched himself in such unpleasant light before. A fine hero he was, not even daring to put his full name under his writing. It was only now that he understood that he had no more than evidenced himself a true craven.

Without noticing it, he had slightly opened his hand and some of the finer, dry dust was falling back to the ground. Seeing this, he realized that this earth was a part of what he called home; a part of his past, present and future and now it was getting out of his hand, running through his fingers, while he did nothing but watch it.

When Judith had not appreciated his affirmation of affection but instead had turned more unapproachable than ever before, he had believed her silence to his advances was meant to pay him back for his temporary interest in Elisabeth. How could he have been so blind? Quiet seriously, he had talked himself into the idea Judith would reconsider as time went by and forgive his mistake one day. Now it dawned on him that he had better ask forgiveness. Much too late he had seen what had made her keep silent.

With the hand in which was still a rest of the soil, James clenched his fist until it hurt.

Never before had it come to his mind she might have taken offence at his gutlessness or even worse had laughed at his romantic lines, just as Tavington had alleged. How could he have been so ignorant not to see behind the curtain that had fallen between him and Judith. With only a little more pluck from his side he could have thrust aside this network of misunderstandings, disappointment and unspoken accusations at long last that had barred their way. Did it really take a foreigner like Colonel William Tavington to come along and point out the truth to him?

Tavington! Tavington! Damn!

James needed to do something, anything! If he kept sitting here any longer, he would explode. He knew it was high time to stand up. He had to stand up for Judith, he needed to stand up for himself! James felt that his chest was way too small for all the anger, guilty conscience and self-reproaches; if he didn't let off some steam, he would explode with self-contempt.

All of a sudden James jumped to his feet and flew into a tantrum. He flung the dirt in his hand far away from him. In a mad fit of temper he gave vent to his rage. Like a madman, he kicked several stones and beat the branches of a near bush.

Only by the time he went out of breath, James ceased his pointless action and calmed down.

Now that his mind had cleared up a little, he couldn't help but thinking of Judith. He wished he could talk to her for he was sure she would bring some clarity and order into his troubled mind. But then again, what reason did he have to be so sure about it? Never had she replied to any of his letters. He actually knew so little about her.

Colonel Tavington had denounced his letters as nonsense.

But what did Judith think about them? She had kept them, very well. But was Tavington right, was it for amusement? Suddenly he remembered the letter in his pocket. He reached for it and hesitated. Had he really believed he could impress her with his swollen speeches? Did he really want to read more of his overloaded rant? Well, if he wanted clarity, he had to face some irksome truths.

He pulled out the wrinkled envelope and opened it. To his surprise, he saw that it was not his handwriting. Did she receive letters from another admirer? Hastily, he searched for the sender and it struck him. It was a letter from Sarah. He felt the whole weight of guilt pressing heavily on his shoulders. His head swam.

No, there was no way he could back out now. He pulled himself together and began to read:

Dear Judith,

You may wonder that I write this letter to you, since it was only yesterday that we had a long conversation. But I feel that we did not speak about the most important thing as you know how to artfully change topics as soon as it comes to James Wilkins.

Yes, my dear, I can see you blush now. You may mislead others with your obvious disinterest in that man, but you can't deceive me. I am your friend. Thus, I regard it as my obligation to tell you a thing or two, before you're pulling in a wrong direction with the whole fuss you are making. I would also have told you personally, but you simply refuse to listen to me, so I write these lines to you and, please, read!

Do you remember the time Michael had started to call on me? It was you who advised me to keep him waiting for a certain time. And I will not deny that it worked out very well for me.

But the silence you keep toward James is just too much now. What's the point of putting him off for so long? I know you're fond of him, no matter what you say. How much longer do you want to play that silly game? Why do you keep rejecting him so persistently?

If you should regard it as a kind of funny game, stop it! If you don't appreciate receiving his letters in the future, go and tell him.

Otherwise it is about time for you to put your cards on the table. If you have serious feelings for him, please, give him at least a small hint of your affection. It won't compromise you. James is a nice, decent fellow, he'd rather cut off his hand before he would get you into trouble. So, come off your high horse before it is too late! It is one thing to keep a man waiting in suspense, it is another to act like a statue of stone towards him.

I see, that you're different from the average girls around and that you still have these admirable plans for your future, which seem to leave no place for marriage, and still, I can't imagine that you want to stay alone for the rest of your life. Just call me pragmatic, but from my point of view, James was just the right one to support you and your plans with both his mind and money. Quite frankly, it shouldn't hurt to marry a fortune.

But it hurts me to see how much difficulties you have in dealing with your emotions. What's wrong? You and James would make such a nice couple.

You've always been a good reliable friend to me and you've helped me out so many times in every respect. Now I feel, it's my turn and I should be glad to reciprocate for all of it; take my advice and listen to your heart!

Think of it, one day even the most patient admirer will be tired of an all too stubborn woman.

With that being said, I'm looking forward to your visit next week. It's about time to widen my dresses. With every new day, the baby seems to claim more space.

Love,

Sarah

James swallowed hard. How much guilt could a man load upon his shoulders?

With a dry mouth and watering eyes, James put down the letter. At that moment he saw neither need nor point in adhering to fake self-control and uttered a heavy sob.

Not enough that his composure was already in a terrible tangle, this letter made it even worse.

Sarah was dead and he had read her lines in devout silence. Although knowing it was practically impossible, still, in his mind, James could hear her voice with an appallingly real sound echoing through his head, haunting his soul.

Either way, this letter was difficult to bear as it revealed more to him than he had ever wished to find out.

His early cheer over the pleasing ascertainment that Judith had indeed feelings for him had shrunken to insignificance by reading ahead.

Sarah had meant to put in a good word for him and he had thanked her for it with treason.

He felt his heart hammering wildly in his chest.

Unintentionally his hand cramped and crumpled the letter. Suddenly the paper seemed to burn his fingers.

In a wild haste he put up the letter again in order to flatten and fold it away. On that occasion his glance fell on the writing again and he noticed that Sarah's signature had nearly vanished. All what was left over from it was a taint of blurred ink.

It was only then that he realized that he was actually crying.

Some of his tears had nearly extinguished her name and he had a feeling as if he had just murdered her a second time.

For a moment he almost forgot to breathe. And right into this desperate helplessness another voice had forced its way to his mind and made itself heard. This time he remembered Judith telling him: 'We always have a choice, James Wilkins!'

Yet knowing, she had said it in reproach, he saw the challenge in it now.

If he didn't want to detest himself for the rest of his life, he needed to change. He had to talk to Judith, apologize, put things straight and redeem himself for his failures.

When there was always a choice, there would be a choice for him now and in the future. Perhaps it was not yet too late, perhaps he could really change.

At the moment, though, he had no idea how. What could he do? There was no way he could act openly against Colonel Tavington's orders or let alone simply quit the army.

So, what could he actually do to help Judith? He promised himself, whatever was to come he wouldn't act so cowardly again. No matter how badly he had failed in the past, next time Judith needed his help, he would be prepared.

Down in the camp, near the creek Frank Bordon had just promised himself the exact same thing. Next time that woman needed to be helped, he would be prepared. Still, his basic intentions were not as honorable as those of James Wilkins by far.

Since Tavington had left the camp with Judith, Bordon had delighted in recalling what he had already seen of her body and he tried to picture out in vivid detail how pleasurable it would be to give her alluring physique a closer examination.

As far as real life was concerned though, it was beyond his boldest expectations what he actually got to see at that moment.

Not long after Tavington and the woman had vanished from sight, Frank Bordon had felt the urge to relieve himself. For that purpose, he had withdrawn from the busy camp to procure himself a place and moment, in which he would be undisturbed. Intuitively, he'd left the camp in the same direction that Colonel Tavington and the woman had taken. It was not that he intended to spy on them, he had simply followed his subconscious wish to get closer to the woman.

Captain Bordon had just finished the simple act of emptying his bladder when his attention got caught by a movement further up the creek.

At first, he believed in a mere figment of his imagination, a trick his longing mind was playing on him. Bordon shut his eyes and opened them quickly again. To his delight, the scenery had not changed a bit.

Through lightly swinging branches, he saw the woman who had so stoked the fire of his passion sitting near the creek, not wearing a single stitch of clothing, the colonel fully dressed behind her.

Bordon opened his mouth with incredulous astonishment at the pleasurable picture that had just revealed itself before him.

It was a riddle to Bordon how the colonel always found a way to bring the fair sex round. Not long ago Tavington had given her hell and now she was eating out of his hand. Without showing any sign of reluctance, she cut a fine figure in the buff as she squatted before Tavington, sweetening the time he had elected to be off-duty.

Whatever the colonel's method was, for the moment Frank Bordon was just content to witness the result of Tavington's miraculous skill of persuasion.

Under cover of the light-green leafy branches, Bordon gazed at the unveiled beauty of Judith. There he stood in speechless fascination, with his breeches unbuttoned, one hand still on his member and not trusting his eyes.

Not even the fact that Colonel Tavington was close behind the woman caressing her back could spoil his bliss. Although he could have done without Tavington's presence, Bordon could not avoid to get spellbound by the lure of Judith's breathtaking curves. Obviously that woman had enough magic in her to bewitch more than one man at the same time.

Captured by the stunning sight of Judith's unclothed body, Bordon continued to keep his eyes on her and could hardly believe his good luck when things became even better. The woman had reached for her hair and put it up high so that it wouldn't hinder Tavington in his actions. To Bordon, it was as if she was posing just for him now, the unnoticed spectator.

Frank Bordon took it for an unspoken invitation. Overwhelmed with rapture, he simply ignored the presence of his superior officer and fully concentrated on the object of his desire. The Colonel's attendance could not thwart his basic instincts as Bordon felt his member growing.

He had full sight of the shapely frame of Judith. He yearned to touch her well endowed breasts and wished to grasp and grope them to perfect his bliss. Instead he tightened the grip on the most sensitive part of his own body. He simply couldn't resist to satisfy the hot burning desire of the flesh.

His member in the embrace of his hand had hardened. He began to massage it from the shaft to the top and back again. The movements of his hand became faster and faster, firmly rubbing the most sensitive part of his body until it had grown to full length. He indulged in the thrilling sensations that he felt when his hard member thrust into the hollow space of his curved palm.

It was not the first time Frank Bordon saw need to gratify his sexual desire by using his hand. Despite the nearly ever present host of camp followers, it was nothing unusual among the soldiers to serve themselves and save their pay. At times they could just not afford it or had only little to no occasion to attend one of the love maids for reasons of duty. However, living in the cramped circumstances of a military camp with close contact to each other and only little space for one's privacy, Frank Bordon had learned to deal with his most intimate needs in silence. Many times before, he had appeased his carnal appetite with a good hand-job only separated from his comrades by a simple and not exactly soundproof tent wall.

And so this time not a single sound escaped from him when his hot seed squirted right in the lap of nature.