Chapter 2

Rescue

A/N: See info and disclaimer in the first chapter

"So you are the ghost that I have been warned about," Anna looked at Colonel Martin with some interest, "You don't look like a ghost to me."

Colonel Martin laughed, "I don't know why the British gave me that nickname, perhaps it was because when my militia attacks they can't see us, we move too fast."

Anna nodded, "An apt name I am sure. Now on to other things, what is going to happen to these wagons and more importantly what is going to happen to me?"

He regarded her for a minute then left to confer with his men. After a few minutes he came back, "The men are split, half say we should take you as a prisoner and use you as a bargaining chip with your father. The other half say that we let you go, we don't take women as prisoners."

She looked at his face, torn with indecision, "And what do you say Colonel?"

He sighed and said, "My gut tells me not to take you as prisoner, but my head says yes you must be taken."

Anna nodded, "Your gut tells you that women should never be prisoners. But your head tells you I must be taken as a prisoner because I know your name and I can report it to my father. It seems you have a stalemate Colonel." She sat down heavily on the wagon, "But I have a solution for you."

He raised an eyebrow, "And what would that be Milady?"

She stood and said, "Leave me here with an empty wagon and no horses, take everything that you want. When my fathers men come to find me I will say that in the beginnings of the fighting I was knocked unconscious and when I came too the men were dead, the horses stolen and that I did not know who did it. He will believe me because he has no reason not too."

Colonel Martin regarded her for a minute, "You think that would work." Leveling her gaze she replied, "It is the only option that works for the both of us Colonel."

After several tense minutes Colonel Martin finally replied, "Very well, I will go with your plan. It seems the only viable option.

Anna nodded, "A wise choice Colonel. Now I suggest you take what you want and leave. I doubt you killed all the men with me, one has surely escaped and reported the ambush. My fathers men will be here soon."

Colonel Martin quickly mobilized his men and soon all the wagons were looted and all the horses cut free. They also took the uniforms and munitions from the killed soldiers. Soon they were ready to depart and Colonel Martin walked over to her, "Milady, how will you fake an injury bad enough to knock you unconscious?"

Sighing she replied, "I won't fake it." Then she bashed the side of her head against one of the upright supports of the wagon. Instantly she saw stars and almost blacked out, but was able to keep her composure.

Satisfied that she was keeping her end of the bargain Colonel Martin mounted his horse and rode off with his men and several wagons full of things plundered from the soldiers. She was left with just the wagon she was sitting on, a trunk of some of her personal things and the dress on her back. They had even taken her pistol but they had left her a canteen of water so she would not go thirsty waiting for her rescue. Lucky for her, the rescue was not far off.

By her estimation her rescue came only a couple hours after the attack which said to her that her father was patrolling for this "Ghost" and his men. Her rescue came in the form of a company of dragoons and from the looks of their uniforms it was the infamous Green Dragoons. They were led by a tall, almost aristocratic looking man whom by the insignia on his uniform was a colonel much like the "Ghost".

This colonel called for his men to halt, dismounted and walked towards her in an authoritative way. He had a terse, cold look on his face and anger showed in his eyes. He stopped a respectable distance away from her and introduced himself, "I am Colonel William Tavington of the Green Dragoons, may I ask your name?"

Giving a curtsy then wishing she hadn't because of her head Anna replied, "I am Lady Anna Cornwallis, I am surprised my father did not mention to his officers that I was coming."

Colonel Tavington looked shocked for a moment then regained his composure, "Unfortunately your father does not tell his officers everything. May I ask what happened here. One of your men escaped and said that you were ambushed. Could you perhaps shed some light on what happened?"

Anna touched her head where she had hit it, "I am afraid I cannot. I was sitting in this wagon when I heard gunshots. Then the wagon lurched and I hit my head on the upright and lost consciousness. When I awoke the men were dead, the horses were gone and I was left with only a trunk of personal items. Everything else was apparently taken. I do not know who committed this act and I do not know what they would want with my clothing."

Colonel Tavington looked her over from where he stood then remarked, "It appears they did not harm your person."

Anna glanced down, "No, it appears they did not."

The Dragoons looked around the site and came to the conclusion that it was either a band of local rouges or the "Ghost" and his men. Anna for her part kept quiet, not knowing anything about what happened. When it came time to depart they realized they didn't have an extra horse for her to ride. This did not concern Anna, she was intrigued by this Colonel Tavington and feigned a fainting spell to get him to let her ride with him.

Soon she was situated on the front of his horse with her right leg draped over the saddle horn almost like riding sidesaddle. He sat in the saddle behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist to keep her from falling off in case she should faint. They left the wagon behind and the men carried her items in their saddlebags as they also left the trunk behind. Some local would find the wagon and put the wood to good use.

They rode for what seemed like hours and during that time Anna made small conversation with the Colonel. She found out that he was from a minor noble family and that his father had gambled and drank them into ruin and for that he despised the man even though he had been dead for several years. Somehow, he didn't tell her how he made enough money to buy him a commission in the army and came to the Colonies where he planned to settle when England won this silly war as he called it.

They also talked about literature and Anna found out that Colonel Tavington was a very well read man, one of his favorite books being "The Prince" by Machiavelli. This told Anna that be subscribed to the theory that the end justifies the mean and that he most likely often resorted to brutal tactics on the field and off.

Inwardly Anna smiled; this Colonel was exactly what she was looking for in a man. He was intelligent, educated, and handsome. She knew she could whittle away the cold disposition to the point where it would not show in private. She knew if she tried hard enough and used everything at her disposal she could and would make this colonel hers.

Soon they were riding into the courtyard of what was once a plantation house. Now it was a garrison for her fathers' troops. A high wall made of logs encircled the house. They stopped in the middle of the courtyard and Anna could see a man in uniform walking towards them. It was her father and he did not look pleased.