HEY! I'M BACK! I'm soo sorry to have to leave you guys hanging like that any way I have missed writing my parents wouldn't let me write anything on our back up computer so I had to stop for a while but now I'm back. And Yay! So is obsessed-1! Oh and I lost all of my data so I had to start from scratch.

Ch 20

Cat and Thomas walked down to the stables where Bordon was having his horse cared.

" Hey Cat look! That guy looks like a Christmas elf!" He laughed pointing at Tavington who was walking back up to the manor.

' Great minds think alike.' Cat smiled to her self.

" James!" Cat called from the top of the hill.

" Catherine!" He responded back with a wave.

" Cat who's that?" Tom asked.

" That's- well he's kinda my boyfriend." Cat said sheepishly.

" Eww." Thomas made a disgusted face sticking his tongue out.

Cat laughed as they slowly made their way down to James.

" Hello Catherine." He said smiling then he noticed Tom.

" Who's this?" He asked confused.

" James this is my brother Thomas." Cat said.

" When did he get here? I didn't even know you had a brother." He said a bit disappointed she had kept so much from him.

" Hi! I'm Tom, I'm guessing you're my sister's boyfriend, I think you look awesome!" Tom said taking the hint that the two were in an awkward moment.

" Um, thank you?' James said. He was a bit taken aback by these boys' blunt comments.

" Hey! Cat its Beth." Thomas said pointing to a figure running down the hill with a little girl practically flying behind her as she ran down to Cat.

" She- popped- up in – my room." Beth panted.

Krista Braden plopped down on the grass.

" Elizabeth that hurt." She complained. She was only six.

" Sorry sweet heart but I needed to talk to Cat." Beth said.

James looked down at Krista then at Beth.

" Hello Captain this is my sister Krista Braden." Beth said.

" It's very nice to meet you Miss Braden." He said.

Krista looked at him and just as a young girl would a handsome prince she developed a girlish crush.

" Eww slime ball!" Tom said realizing his classmate was now stuck here too.

" Retard!" Krista retorted.

" Moron!"

" Duck face!"

" Rot in a horse stall!"

" Eat my Shi-" Cat quickly covered her brother's mouth.

" Guys!" Beth scolded. James merely stood there his mouth gaping.

Never in his entire life had he expected children of that age to curse worse than sailors.

" Catherine?" He asked offering his arm.

" Hey where are you taking my sister!" Tom demanded. He had always taken after his father.

" I wish to converse with you're sibling with whom you will currently be residing with for causes which I do not wish to discuss with a child such as yourself, and Further more young master Okano, I have heard sailors who do not speak with such language to ladies of their acquaintance. And I think your sister would much appreciate a break from the likes of you!" He said darkly.

By the end of his speech Thomas looked as though he was ready to cry and Krista was hiding in the folds of her sisters gown.

" Come Catherine." He said.

" Look James, I don't think now is the best of times." She said.

" Well neither do I! In fact you've hidden so much from me I wonder what types of tricks you have up your sleeve to further humiliate me! Popped up in my room? Are you practicing witch craft?" He asked.

" No, It's just I can't tell you!" She said.

" Oh so another secret? Is this part of your plan miss Braden? I wouldn't be surprise if General O'Hara thought twice about marrying you." James sneered.

" STOP IT! DAMNIT STOP! HOW DARE YOU EVEN THINK OF PULLING BETH INTO THIS!" Cat screamed at him.

" I WILL DO AS I PLEASE! AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK WITH YOU EVER AGAIN! I HOPE YOU'VE LEARNEDYO-" He was cut off when Cat slapped him soundly across the face.

" Shut up." She hissed darkly.

" MISS OKANO WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!" a very enraged Tavington demanded.

" Colonel it's not what you thi-" Beth tried to intervene.

" Quiet." He snapped.

" You have just hit an officer of his Majesty's army! I could have you hung for this and maybe I will." He said.

" Hey Nobody Talks to my sister like that Punk!" Tom said.

" Excuse me? Young man how dare-" Tavington started.

Then suddenly as if rethinking he smiled.

" Young Man how old are you?" He asked.

" Eight." Tom answered proudly.

" Do you like to ride horses?" Tavington asked.

"Sir-"

" Silence Bordon. Would you like to join the Green Dragoons?" He asked a wicked smile playing on his face.

" No! He will not be joining you or the other merciless men out on your pathetic excuse for murder!" and with that Cat grabbed her brother's hand as she and Beth stormed back toward the manor.