Captain Bordon sat under a canvas cleaning his boots when Col. Tavington went stomping by. He was in yet another of his moods, this time because a continental sliced his jacket during yet another militia encounter. Bordon, for the millionth time, started laughing when the Col. picked at the tear and cursed under his breath.
"It's not funny," the Col. growled.
"It's quite funny,sir. You could have lost your arm and all you're worried about is a simple tear. You don't even need a seamstress to mend that."
"The last thing I need is to go before the Lord Gen. with a torn uniform. You know how he is about that."
Bordon perked up,"When are you to see him?"
Tavington noticed the hopeful look in his Captain's eyes and smirked,"Who wants to know?"
"Don't play with me, William. It's no secret why I want to know."
Tavington placed his hands behind his back and began pacing,"I don't know. Perhaps I should let you sit on it and find out for yourself."
"Alright I'm sorry I laughed at you. It won't happen again. Now will you tell me?"
"Mmmmm..."
"Fine. Keep your secrets. I won't help you mend your jacket for the occasion."
"Alright, alright," Tavington said quickly,"We are going back to Ft. Carolina in a couple of days, after the ambush on the militia."
"There now," Bordon said smugly,"Was that so hard?"
"Very funny Bordon. Now you hold up your end of the bargain and fix this rag."
He threw his jacket at the Capt. who chuckled and set to work as promised. His mood was increased a great deal after the news of returning to the Ft. He would write to Julia as soon as he was finished with his task and tell her. But then again, it would be a wonderful surprise if he just showed up. He poked his finger which jerked him from his thoughts. As he sucked the tiny bead of blood away he and several others jumped at a gun shot not too far away. They stared for a moment in the direction the shot came from.
"Bordon, Wilkins," Tavington practically whispered," come with me. The rest of you be on your guard."
They moved slowly through the foliage, pushing branches aside and pausing now and then to look around. Eventually they split up, but stayed within sight of each other.
"Col.," Capt. Wilkins shouted.
Neither Tavington nor Bordon bothered to be quiet as they crashed through bushes and trees. Bordon skidded to a stop as he almost stunbled over the lifeless body of one of their own officers. The disturbances in the dirt said that the soldier had been on a horse, which was most likely stolen.
"He was carrying a messege," Tavington said," They took that as well."
"What do we do?" Wilkins asked.
"We can't linger here. We need to move on quickly. They will be back."
Rosalie was a sweet girl, but she was irritating the daylights out of Julia. She was happy for the company but Rosalie's paranoia at the lack of females around Ft. Carolina caused her to be glued to Julia's hip, and if there was one thing that she absolutely hated it was a clingy person. Today it had gotten to the point where Julia actually decided to take refuge in Cornwallis's quarters. She stopped outside his door, having seconds thoughts until she heard a female voice calling her.
"O for fucks sake," she whispered and flew into the room.
Cornwallis and O'Hara looked at her, and she at them.
"Don't ask," she said and went to hide behind another door just as Rosalie knocked at the one she had just come through.
"Good afternoon Ms. Tylor," Cornwallis said, immediately catching on to Julia's ailment.
"Excuse the interruption, sir," Rosalie said with a curtsey," I was looking for Ms. Villani. Have you seen her?"
"I'm afraid I haven't," Cornwallis lied," perhaps she has gone to the stables."
Rosalie sighed," That silly girl. She shouldn't roam around by herself. Who knows what trouble she could get into."
She left without another word. Cornwallis waited a moment then went to the door that Rosalie's fugitive hid behind and pushed it. He was amused to see her standing there making choking motions on an invisible throat. She stopped when she saw him and blushed as she stared at the floor.
"Thank you, sir," she said timidly.
"Having fun with her?" O'hara asked as he joined them.
"O so much fun," Julia exclaimed throwing her hands up as she pushed past them and flopped down on the sofa,"It's wonderful that even my own room is no safe haven from her constant pestering. O! And the best part? We are such good friends. She feels as if she has known me her whole life! Not a moments piece for days. And it's not funny Gen. I think this was your doing."
Both Cornwallis and O'hara laughed as they joined her on the sofa. Cornwallis put an arm around her and kissed her head.
"You know," Julia went on," If you wanted me to have a playmate so badly, couldn't you have sent for Kay? Or Abby?"
"You know my answer to your sister child," Cornwallis said a little sternly,"But I didn't expect Ms. Tylor to come around at all."
"I'm too young to be a caretaker. She has way to much personality for my nerves. We are at opposite ends of that spectrum."
"Well I have no other solution for you other than you using this room for refuge if it gets to be too much."
"Well in that case I will start moving my things in immediately."
Another round of laughter as everyone stood up,"Not like that, now why don't you take the scenic route out to the stables. It didn't slip my notice that you have taken interest in that Arabian that was brought in the other day."
Julia smiled at the thought,"Is he to be a war horse sir?"
"We haven't decided yet."
He caught the flash of hope in her eyes, and knew what she was going to ask. Sure enough she faced him fully, a humble look on her face," Sir...I don't suppose...well..if he won't be a war horse..if I could maybe...have him?"
O'hara straightened up with a curious look in his eyes,"I do believe the world is ending if Julia Villani is asking for something."
She smiled,"Please? I'm sorry but I gave him a name and he answers to it now."
Cornwallis thought for a moment as he went to look out the window,"Go to your horse, Julia. I will speak to the horse master this afternoon."
Julia squealed with delight as she ran out of the room. She poked her head back in and said,"Thank you," before racing out again. Rosalie watched in the shadows as she tore down the stairs.
Mrs. Greer knocked on Kay's door several times before she answered it.
"Good morning, Ms. Villani," she said.
"Any news?" Kay asked as she invited the older woman in.
Mrs. Greer flashed an envelope in front of her," I haven't opened it yet. It's only right that you be the one to read it."
Kay snatched the letter and ripped it open. Hey eyes darted left and right as she read, and with each line, more tears welled in them and began to fall.
"No!" she cried and dropped to the floor. Mrs. Greer knelt down beside her and grabbed the letter.
I am afraid it is true that Julia has been abducted. I have sent for Col. Tavington and have heard nothing back from him as of late. I am very sorry but be assured that I am doing everything in my power to find Ms. Villani. She and the kidnappers will be found, and proper action taken. I am aware of the conditions in which she will be released, but I warn you now, Ms. Villani, do not act upon this threat. Stay where you are and let us handle it. We will keep you informed.
Lord Gen. Cornwallis
"He wishes me to sit around and do nothing," Kay squeaked, then she jumped up and walked towards the door," Well he is a daft fool. I will not abandon her."
Mrs. Greer grabbed her arm,"Now we talked about this Ms. Villani. We still must hear from Col. Tavington. Don't forget that you promised you would wait."
"I'm running out of time! It's a threat on her life Mrs. Greer! Her life! I will never live with myself if I knew she was killed on my account."
"You still have enough time to wait a few more days. Col. Tavington has been contacted by us and the Lord Gen. himself. We could receive news any time now. And besides, do you really think his adjutant will let this go?"
Kay relaxed for a moment, remembering the day that Capt. Bordon had proclaimed his love for her sister. She felt and knew that Bordon would flip shit and go scouring the entire countryside to find Julia. He would find the man who personally did the snatching, rip his heart out and nail it to his lifeless face. The thought calmed her down.
"I will wait a few more days," she said quietly,"but only a few. I am impatient madame, and only out of respect for your kindness will I give it that much."
Mrs. Greer smiled,"That's all I ask."