AN: Ugh. School is so crazy. I'm finally back, with this painfully short chapter. Hopefully it meets any and all expectations! Without further ado,

*Disclaimed*

Cammie leaned against the window pane, looking out into the dismal weather. If she strained her ears, she was able to hear the rhythmic patter of trained footsteps of soldiers marching and practicing in rain.

Zach claimed that the troops' time in the South, away from action had softened them. He had spent every day and night for the last two weeks training his men. He hadn't taken his meals in the estate either.

Cammie herself hadn't dared to leave her room, and her only company was Bex. She sniffed disdainfully and turned away from the window. She was a Southern heiress. She didn't need to spend her time contemplating that Northern... pig. She sighed again and stood up on the step stool that had been placed to help the seamstress.

In another two days, Cammie Morgan would officially become Cammie Abraham. She still couldn't say the name without making a face, but at least Joshua loved her. Her cousin was always sending her letters from the India. One of her letters detailed the wedding of one of her maidservants. The marriage had been an arranged one. If the barbarian girl could learn to love someone, then so could she, Cammie decided. *

With that set in her mind, she took a confident step onto the step stool.

The seamstress immediately got to work, sewing this, hemming that. This left Cammie time to think, and only a few hours later, when the seamstress pricked her, did Cammie get startled out of her thoughts and snap at her to be careful.

That was when she noticed that the pitter-pattering of the rain and footsteps had stopped.

"Stop, stop!" Cammie commanded the seamstress. Hastily stepping out of her half-finished wedding gown, and scrambling into her previous gown, Cammie ran out of her room. Running down the grand staircase and out of the door, she was able to see the last of the regiment marching away from Morgan Estate, and a young girl with long blonde hair tied in a braid, waving eagerly and jumping up from time to time.

Cammie collapsed on the lawn, too shocked to even stand.

The regiment had left. Their captain had left with them. Zach had left her.

Immediately she jumped up. Why did that bother her? She was getting married in two days, and Zach had his fiancée... Whom he had left here...

Nothing was making sense to her. Why would Zach bring his fiancée down south, and then leave her here while he left?

Cammie shook out her skirts and walked over to girl. Gripping her shoulder, Cammie whirled the girl around and immediately took a step back.

The girl looked like Liz, and entirely too young to be engaged!

"Who are you?" the girl asked her, impatience laced in her voice.

"I'm Cameron Morgan. My father owns the estate." Cammie's voice was tense and clipped.

Immediately the girl dropped into a semi-curtsy. "Good day Miss Morgan. I was beginning to think we would never meet! Zachary has told me so much about you!"

Cammie's eye brows shot up. "Really?" she said, keeping her voice cool and distant. She didn't want to reveal anything to this girl just yet.

The girl nodded eagerly. Cammie pursed her lips and then reached out and grabbed the girl's arm, dragging her back to the estate.

"Come on. It can hardly be good for us to be standing out here in the damp air for too long."

Cammie gestured for the girl to sit and she settled herself on the couch opposite her.

"What has Captain Goode told you about me exactly?" she asked.

"Well, Zachary wrote home one day and told us all about a spunky Southern girl he'd found. He said he was insistent on marrying her- I mean you."

"The Captain told you that?" Cammie exclaimed, incredulous.

The girl tilted her head. "Of course. In fact, I was so looking forward to calling you my sister"

"Sister!" Cammie shot up out her chair!" "My goodness, don't tell me the Captain is a Mormon!" +

"A Mormon? No, we're good honest Christians!" The girl said.

Cammie's head spun from all the information she received. "If you're Christians, how could you look forward to your fiancée intending on marrying another woman?" She finally exclaimed.

The girl stared at her for a moment before finally bursting out laughing.

"Miss Morgan!" She exclaimed once she had settled down. "Captain Goode isn't my fiancée! He's my brother!"

Cammie blinked in surprise, before gasping. She remembered vaguely a conversation in which Zach mentioned that he had a younger sister, Anjeanette.

"Oh- so you're Anjeanette! I'm so sorry for the way I have been acting, I"

"It isn't me you should be apologizing to," Anjeanette said. "You broke my brother's heart! How could you lead him on, knowing you were engaged to another man?"

Cammie laughed, finally. "But you see, I'm not! I never agreed to Mr. Abraham's proposal! In fact, I had full intention of running away with your brother up North! That is, before I overheard the conversation!"

Anjeanette's face light up. "So you and my brother will get married!" She clapped her hands with glee. "This is so wonderful!"

But Cammie groaned and fell back on the couch. "I fear we won't. Zach's gone ahead with his regiment, while I am still here. I have no idea where to go, and how I will ever catch up with him. And besides, this time, I really am engaged to Joshua!"

She looked over at Anjeanette, who had a menacing twinkle in her eye. "Why don't you just run away? Brides up north do it all the time. In fact, I could help you!"

Cammie sat up. "That's a great idea! In fact we can leave tonight!"

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and a voice called out.

"Leave where tonight?"

Both girls froze, and waited for the full force of the storm.

AN: Alright-y, hopefully you enjoyed. Please review! Some historical notes:

*- Around the time the Civil War started, England had claimed control of India, and was well into the time period known as The British Raj. Second, young girls in India were often married at the age of 10 or older, and often arranged marriage. Indians were also considered beneath the British people.

+- I'm sure some of you know what Mormons are. They are people who practice Mormonism. It's a religion where men can take multiple wives. Often Christians believe in polygamous marriages (marriage to one person) so Mormonism was looked down on.

So, I hope that clears things up for you. It's also not meant to offend anyone

G-Rose

P.S. Who do you think overheard their conversation? Go to my poll to put in your opinion!