AN: Sorry it took me so long to update. Anyway, I know that Tavington might seem a bit out of character here, but I think everyone has a history, and nobody starts out as icy as Tavington is in The Patriot. So, I gave him a bit of a boyish side to begin with. And now, on to the chapter, enjoy!
Rebecca was seriously thinking of kicking the young sergeant in front of her. She knew that being captured by British soldiers and escaping was supposed to be terrifying, but Good God! How many times could she cry and wring her hands in despair, honestly?
"Are you sure that you don't want to see a physician?"
Rebecca shook her head and tried again for the 'pitiful woman' façade,
"I just want to forget what happened."
The Sergeant James Patterson nodded sympathetically, and patted her arm,
"You just go and rest in the tent. The young boys will be sent over to your tent in the morning."
Rebecca mentally groaned, before responding,
"Oh, thank you so very much, Captain."
Sergeant Patterson blushed before stammering,
"Oh, I am just a sergeant, ma'am."
Rebecca feigned surprise,
"Is there a difference?"
The sergeant just waved it away. Rebecca was almost to the tent when she heard the Sergeant speak up again,
"Ma'am?"
She turned around,
"Yes?"
"We'll get those redcoat scoundrels."
Rebecca pretended to be thrilled by that news,
"Thank you, Captain."
She turned and entered her tent.
'Redcoat scoundrels' Ha! She thought indignantly, They have more manners in one finger than you damn rebels have in your whole bodies!
Rebecca had studied the security of this camp when she was found and brought in by a patrol. She was having serious doubts about her ability to get back out of the camp unnoticed. Not to mention the number of higher-ranking Continentals that were here. Something was definitely afoot.
However, after a day of questioning, and a night of 'running' from the British she had not had to lie about her state of health. She was exhausted and so she had no difficulty at all falling asleep, even on the uncomfortable cot. Her last thought before she completely faded into darkness was of William,
I am coming home soon, I promise.
However, William was having no such luck falling asleep in his own, better appointed, tent. He was pacing, cursing himself for allowing Rebecca to leave when he heard Bordon outside of tent,
"Enter."
Captain Bordon studied his pacing commanding officer, mildly surprised by his open show of agitation but made no comment of that,
"There are a high number of rebel officers at the camp. Though, it appears that the rebels are moving out sometime soon."
William looked up,
"How do you know that?"
Bordon shrugged,
"The scout sent to follow her noticed signs of breaking camp."
William nodded,
"And the scout has his orders."
Bordon nodded,
"Yes, sir, exactly as you gave them to me."
William nodded,
"Good. Thank you, Captain."
Bordon left the tent quickly, but not before hearing his normally silent commanding officer curse worriedly,
"Damn it Rebecca, get out of there!"
Rebecca counted the number of cannons with growing dismay. The rebels were obviously planning something rather large to have this much artillery. However, no matter how polite the officers were, they clamed up about military matters when Rebecca came within view of them. She turned around and saw her nephews running toward her. Rebecca plastered a smile on her face. She was fond of the boys, but they would hate her if they knew what she was doing. Their parents were staunch Colonials. However, for now, though, she was still their beloved "Aunt Becky", so smiled and caught them up into huge hugs.
Over the next few days it was her nephews who provided her with the most useful information they informed her of the different troops, and where each regiment was sleeping. Matthew had even overheard the officers talking about towns and troop movements. Rebecca had smiled to herself while answering his questions honestly. She contained her excitement for the rest of the day as she waited anxiously until she could plead exhaustion and creep out of the camp.
The colonel watched the young woman answer the boy's questions. He saw what looked like a look of triumph on the young woman's face and wondered. He turned to the lieutenant next to him,
"Who is that?"
The lieutenant shrugged,
"Rebecca… Rebecca something, I don't remember. Shall I find out?"
The colonel shook his head,
"No, she came in with the boys then?"
The lieutenant shook his head,
"No, sir. She came in a few hours later looking… well… distressed, sir." The young man finished, mumbling and blushing. The colonel looked at him sharply,
"Did someone question her?"
The lieutenant looked surprised,
"Why, no, sir. She was distressed and asking after the boys, and…"
"And she has had free reign of the camp?"
The lieutenant was beginning to understand,
"Yes, sir."
The colonel watched the young woman glance toward the woods,
"I want her followed, and when she runs bring her to me."
The lieutenant frowned,
"Run? Run where sir? Her brother-in-law is in the Continental Army."
The colonel gave a humorless smile,
"She will run, straight to the British if we let her go."
The lieutenant looked shocked,
"Do you mean… That is to say… She is…"
"A spy."