When the Dragoons arrived back in camp Colonel Tavington ordered the surgeon to take a look at the woman, and it was agreed that she would be safer under guard in Tavington's own tent rather than with the wounded in the hospital tent. An extra cot was placed in the tent and a guard posted at the entrance.
As he left the tent that evening William Tavington turned to the guard 'no-one but I or the surgeon goes in and she does not leave, you understand?'
'Yes Sir'
Later when he returned and the surgeon was leaving he spoke with Colonel Tavington 'she has had a rather nasty fall, not to mention that someone shot her in the arm' the surgeon looked amazed that anyone would shoot a woman.
'When will she wake? I need to know why she ran and what she knows'
'Colonel, you cannot really believe this woman to be a spy surely?'
'She ran from us for a reason and I want to know why'
'Why? For pity's sake man, she was probably afraid'
'Well I will determine this when she wakes, which will be?'
'There is no sure way of telling, it could be days or even weeks, women are far weaker than men, she took a nasty fall, a shot in the arm and a head injury, there is a chance she may never wake.'
William Tavington looked over at the pale figure lying on the cot 'oh she'll wake, I know she will.'
Once the Surgeon had gone William removed his dress jacket and un-braided his hair, checking the guard was still posted he tied the flaps of his tent and sat at his desk to write in his journal. Every so often he stopped writing and glanced over at the figure in the cot, he had no idea of even her name, he could see from her figure in the bed and from what he saw of her dressed in mans clothing that she was slim but strong. She had long chestnut coloured hair that spilled out over the pillow he could not help but wonder what colour her eyes would be and whether he would see them open. Throwing down his pen he stalked over to his own bed to try to sleep.
The next morning Colonel Tavington was to leave camp to go meet with General Cornwallis; he would be gone for 3 days, he left orders with his officers to ensure that the woman did not leave his tent if she woke in his absence and the only person to be allowed in to see her was the Surgeon and word was to be sent to him immediately should she wake.
Three days later when he returned to camp William was concerned to see that the woman was still not awake. Part of him felt guilty, which was a first for him, he had killed many people in his military career, men, women and even children, but for some reason this felt different. He was also annoyed, as he wanted to know what this woman knew and why she ran.
He freshened up and changed his uniform; he was sitting back at his desk writing up the report of his meeting with Cornwallis when he heard a slight murmur. Raising his head he glanced around his tent, nothing, not a single sound. Returning to his paperwork he heard it again, this time as he glanced up he saw her move; she raised her hand to her head and tried to sit up. William dashed over to the woman on the cot and called for the guard to bring the surgeon. 'Shhh' he whispered 'don't try to move.'
'Where am I?' she rasped, her throat sore and dry.
'You are in the camp of his Majesties Green Dragoons'
'But how? Why?'
She did not get her reply right away as the surgeon arrived then; William left the tent as the Dr examined her. As the Dr left he reported that she should be fine now, she would be sore for a few days and she should be given plenty of water as she was dehydrated and only a light broth to eat for a few days. As he was about to head back to the hospital tent the Dr turned to Colonel Tavington 'I know your techniques of questioning, may I remind you that this is a woman'
'She is a prisoner'
'She is still a woman, and she is still weak, and what I know of you the poor girl would probably have been better off had she died.'
He stood and watched the Dr walk away, he was partly annoyed at the Drs words but he understood the root of them, he had been know to be rather fervent in his questioning of suspects.
Returning to his tent he poured a cup of water, taking it and a stool over to the woman. Sitting on the stool he helped her to sit up and held the cup of water to her lips encouraging her to drink. 'What is your name girl?' he was transfixed by her, she appeared to be naked beneath the covers and as she held the sheet against her skin he could not take his eyes from the pale flesh of her shoulders with her rich thick hair spilling over them.
'Actually Sir, I think you will find that I asked the last question, and I am still awaiting my answer' she responded.
'Ah, yes' Tavington replied with a smirk 'you were brought here injured and you are suspected of spying for the militia.'
'Militia? I do not knowing know of any who serves with them, how was I injured?' she touched her head and glanced at the bandage on her arm.
'You were shot, and your horse reared and threw you.'
'I was shot?' she looked puzzled and then realisation dawned 'I was being followed, chased, soldiers … YOU!' she moved to sit up more and back away from him, as she did the sheet covering her slipped slightly and he caught a slight glimpse of one of her breasts before she pulled the cover tighter against her.
'Yes, me' he replied trying to keep his composure 'I was not aware you were a woman. Now what is your name?' He glared at her, indicating he was losing his patience.
'Rebecca'
'Your full name' he said exasperated.
'That's all the name I ever use, but my mother's name and her mother's name and all my ancestors was Atherton.'
'Your mother's name? What about your father's name?'
'What about it?'
'Why do you not bear your father's name?'
'Why should I? I never met the man.'
'Your mother was widowed young?'
Rebecca could not help but smile at this, 'no, my mother never married my father, as far as I am aware he is not even aware of my existence.'
For a man who had experienced and seen many things in his life this shocked him. 'Are you telling me your mother slept with a man, became with child and never saw him again?'
'Yes' she nodded.
'Well you are better off without a father like that'
'No, you misunderstood, he did not abandon my mother, once she was with child my mother left him'
William for the first time in his life was speechless.