Dinner in the Rodkins' house was unlike any other dinner Tavington had ever attended. There was not only an assortment of wine, but also of meats, and desserts. Ellie, Tavington noticed, barley touched any of it. She would take a bite or two out of something, and then put her knife, fork, or spoon down, and not eat another bite. The servants started pouring in from the kitchen.

"Miss Ellie," one of them said.

"Yes," Ellie answered.

"Are you finished with your plate?"

"Of course I am," Ellie said brightly," Otherwise I'd still be eating."

Everyone in the room laughed at that. The servant picked up Ellie's plate and took it into the kitchen.

"Ok," Ellie said," Everyone into the visitors room, unless you are going to bed, of course."

Some officers went outside or up to their rooms to retire for the night, and some, including Tavington, followed Ellie, Margo, and Theresa into the visitors room. They took seats around the three women. Margo was now more nervous then ever, and Theresa was fighting hard to stop trembling. Ellie however gave a stiff smile to Colonel Tavington as he slipped onto the couch next to her.

"So," Theresa said shakily," Does anyone have something to converse about?"

For an hour, Ellie sat and listened to the many stories that all the men had to tell. Some were very interesting, and others brutal and disgusting, but Ellie was enjoying herself all the same. Theresa and Margo decided to excuse themselves and go to bed.

"I think the stories got to them," Tavington whispered to Ellie. She giggled.

"A lot of things do," Ellie said. Tavington inched a bit closer to her as Captain Wilkins went into his story about the raids. If Ellie noticed this she ignored it. Gradually, the room began to empty, and in no time the only people left were Ellie,Tavington,Wilkins, and another known as Bordon.

"Well I must say that those stories are nothing like the ones I've heard from other soldiers who have been here," Ellie said," Dragoons must see more action then anyone.And more blood."

"Now I think it's time you told us a story," Tavington said.

"I don't have any stories to tell," Ellie said," I have never been anywhere except around here and the town."

Wilkins and Bordon laughed.

"I have you can tell," Tavington said," how your mother and sister became so paranoid."

"Well," Ellie said," It actually started when the war started. My father had left for the war, and a few days later, these continentals came."

Tavington straightened more in his seat," Continentals?"

"Yes," Ellie said," Discusting pigs if you ask me. They came in the house one day, and I wasn't here. They tried to get my mother to get in bed with one of them, and Margo tried to hit him. You can imagine what happened next."

"No," Wlikins said.

"Well, they started struggling. Margo got hit around the face, and she was knocked out. I walked in to find my mother laying on the table with a continental about to get on top of her. I did the first thing that came to my head first."

"You shot him," Bordon guessed.

"And where, Mr. Bordon would I have gotten a pistol?" Ellie asked," I wouldn't dare put a pistol in my hand with a houseful of continentals. No, I took a vase and smashed it on his head. A few other men tried to come at me, but I took care of them. Gave a couple a good kick, and the other one bailed on them. Since then my mother and sister have been afraid of anyone who even dresses like a soldier, and I end up having to take over the household whenever soldiers come around."

Silence followed this. Ellie actually enjoyed the silence.

"Where is your father now," Tavington asked.

"Dead," Ellie said simply," He was killed about two months after he left."

"I'm sorry," Wilkins said. Ellie smiled.

"I'm getting a bit tired," she then said," I think we should all turn in."

Colonel Tavington escorted Ellie to her room, and then went to his own. He had always told himself that no matter what, he would not become attached to or like any woman while this war was going on. He had the feeling that was changing.


"What the hell is all that noise about?" Tavington screeched down the stairs.

Margo appeared at the bottom of the stairs, her face, if possible, paler then ever, and she was shaking violently.

"T-there was a problem outside," Margo said in the same squeaky vioce," E-ellie is t-taking care of it-"

"For goodness sake," Tavington said," She's right you know, you need to show some spine. Your mother too."

He walked past her and outside. Ellie was standing with her hands on a horses reigns. An officer was trying to say something to Ellie, but she wasn't going to listen.

"If you want the horse to listen to you, you need to be gentle with it, not hit it with sticks," Ellie was saying.

"It keeps them under control," the officer said. Ellie hit the man hard with the riding crop she was holding. He flinched but was not about to show pain to a woman.

"How dare you," he said.

"I'm pretty sure that if the horse could talk he'd be saying the same thing to you," Ellie said,"I'm surprised he hasn't kicked you yet."

"Miss Ellie," Tavington said," What are you doing?"

"Colonel your men are so cruel to these horses," Ellie said," Riding crops, honestly."

She walked past him, and he followed her.

"I must ask you not to intefere with my officers."

"Colonel Tavington," Ellie said," As long as they are here not only will they go by your rules and commands, but they will go along with mine as well. Either way, riding crops are for women, and god help the ones who actually use them."

She walked away, leaving Tavington standing where he was, and staring at the spot Ellie had just been standing. He looked back at the officer Ellie had been scolding, he had abandoned the riding crop, and was now talking gently to the horse, and trying to get it to move. How does she do it,Tavington asked himself.