By the time Tabitha made it back to her tent, most of the blood on her face had dried, and the sharp, stinging pain had subsided to a dull ache. She didn't need a looking-glass to know that her mouth and left brow would be a fine painting of bruises and swelling by the next morning. She winced as she pressed a finger to the split along the curve of her eyebrow. She hadn't expected Ben to have such a hard head. In a literal sense, at least.

Her heart still drummed against her ribcage, and though her cot looked inviting enough and her eyes felt as though they were lined with sandpaper she couldn't bring herself to lie down. Ben's words were still echoing in her ears—particularly the ones concerning the baby. Theirbaby, the one he thought long dead. Or perhaps not dead, because as far as Ben was concerned, the child had never lived.

With luck, that would be enough for him. Ben would forgive her eventually, as he had before on numerous occasions. One of his most glaring flaws, she always thought, but now that same mercy was working in her favor. As a courtesy—and if Ben was anything, it was courteous—she knew he would refrain from encroaching the topic of their failed engagement, and any event that may have come after. She was counting on it. Because as long as he kept his distance, she was safe.

A small smile formed on her lips before she could think, and she immediately winced. Her tongue darted from between her teeth to graze along the broken flesh of her bottom lip as she brought her fingers to press against it.

"Surprised ya got off that easy," Caleb's voice said from behind her, and for the second time in as many hours, Tabitha's arm was twisted behind her back before she had the chance to turn around. This time, however, she didn't bother struggling. Whether it was the simple familiarity or sheer exhaustion, she wasn't sure.

"What do you want, Lieutenant Brewster?" she droned irritably. "I'm tired, I'm hungry, and I am not interested in any lecture you might want to give me."

She felt rather than heard the low rumble of laughter from his chest. "I'm not here to lecture you, Tabby-cat," he said. "I'm here ta warn you."

Tabitha resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Of what, exactly?" she said through ground teeth. She felt his hand briefly tighten before her forearm was unceremoniously wrenched back to its original position, and fought not to stumble as Caleb pulled her back to face him.

This was not the same Lieutenant she'd encountered in the forest. The humor was gone from his face, and the laughter in his eyes was replaced by a cold fury Tabitha knew she was the source of. "Hurt him again," he hissed, "even upset him for a fucking second, and I will destroy you." Tabitha felt her blood run cold as Caleb continued. "You didn't see what he was like after you left. Ya left him all kinds of screwed up, and I'll tell ya this right now," he paused for breath, and seemed to be searching for the right words, finally settling for, "You're poison."

"Poison," Tabitha echoed softly.

"Honestly, I don' care what you do with your life," he said. "But when it involves the guy I call my brother, you've got something else comin' to ya."

Tabitha wrenched her arm free of Caleb's grasp. "You didn't see what he was like before I left!" she shot back, eyes flashing. "He was no more suited to be an officer than you are to wear a skirt!"

"You watch it," Caleb warned, paying no mind to the haughty look on Tabitha's face as he took a slow step closer.

"Or what?" Tabitha replied with a casual tilt of her head. "You'll strike me? Go on, then. What makes you think you'll fare any better than Ben did?"

"First off, that's Captain Tallmadge to you," came the sharp retort, "And if it were up to me, I'd have you reported to General Scott for strikin' a superior officer. However," he added somewhat bitterly, "Ben seems to have other plans for ya."

"Oh, I'll bet he does," Tabitha muttered darkly. "Would you care to elaborate?"

Caleb shrugged. "You're goin' with us to Setauket."

Of all the things she'd been expecting, this hadn't been one of them. "What?"

"Oh, ya deaf now?" Caleb snapped. "Ben wants you there when he meets Charlotte."

"I got that much, thank you." Tabitha's irritation seemed a distant memory as her mouth hung slightly open in surprise. "Did he give a reason?"

"Nope. Just asked me to make sure ya don't go opening that big mouth of yours."

"Who am I likely to tell, Lieutenant?" she retorted. "You and Captain Tallmadge have made my situation quite—"

Caleb shook his head as he interrupted, "We're not worried about that. I meant, when you're with us. Charlotte Adams is no fool, and she'd probably figure out what you are the second you open yer mouth." He grinned. "So keep it shut."

"Why bother bringing me, then?"

Caleb gave her a sharp poke to the chest. "You could start practicin' now, if you want," he said. "It's easy. You just shut your mouth." Tabitha glared. "You're in the army now, Tabby-cat. Better get used to followin' orders."

"Yes, sir."

Caleb seemed satisfied with her humble reply. "Good. I'll come and collect you tomorrow night. Stay out of trouble until then."

"The same to you, sir," she replied, glaring daggers as he exited her tent.