Thanks, as always, for reading and reviewing. Y'all give me something to look forward to. :-)

Disclaimer stuff: I don't own Patriot (alas, not even on DVD...can't find it in my neck of the woods) I don't own any of the characters from the movie, and I'm not getting paid for any of this writing. It's just for fun and a little creative writing exercise.

Chapter 9

I wanted to tell him everything I knew. I wanted to grab him by the lapels and tell him to forget his obsession with the Ghost. Oh, how I wanted to make him see himself the way I now did. He wasn't really a monster. He was a warrior, fighting in the only way he knew how, for a cause he thought was right.

But I had to tread carefully. A man like Tavington would not change over night, and the information I could give him could mean the downfall of so many others...and lead in the end to his as well. For his own good, I had to keep my knowledge to myself. The tricky part would be in hiding it from him. The man saw everything...even when there wasn't anything to see.

About half an hour later, we arrived at the camp. As Colonel Tavington slid down so expertly from his horse, I could not take my eyes off of him. So full of life...so young. He couldn't die. There was potential for love in that heart of his. He just had to be shown he was capable of it. When one is told something often enough, one begins to believe it. He had to see that he wasn't the monster he'd been made out to be. Could I help him see that?

He tethered his horse beside his tent, then turned, catching me still mounted and staring at him. His eyebrows arched, and he cocked his head slightly to the side as he ambled up to Shadow and me.

"Are you all right, Miss Hanson? You look as if you've suddenly begun to believe in ghosts, and that you've actually seen one. Your as pale as–"

"No, no. I'm fine." I threw him a quick smile, hoping to cover any emotion left on my face. I mustn't have been very successful, for he continued to study me, a slight frown creasing his forehead. My cheeks grew hot at his perusal.

"I was making fun about you believing in ghosts, but you do look frightened. Is it something I said or did?"

"Is that a hopeful note I hear in your voice, Colonel?"

He shook his head and clucked his tongue. "I am doing my best to be kind, and all you know how to do is mock me." He let out a forced, melodramatic sigh.

My lips twitched with a smile I tried hard not to show. "No, no, no. You are simply not suited for the role of victim. It doesn't fit."

He shrugged and reached up toward me. "Do you need a hand down? Maybe you're not used to riding for so long."

"A hand down?" I didn't need his help, but I couldn't deny how much I wanted it. Just for the chance to touch him and be touched by him. Oh boy, I'd gotten it bad. I had to rein in my emotions or they would take over and I wouldn't be able to accomplish my new found objective.

Determined not to give in to my silly, romantic desires, I shook my head. "I think I can manage on my own, thank you." But as I moved to dismount, the layers of skirts I just knew I would never get used to tangled with my already weary legs. I grasped for the saddle horn but it was just out of reach. I was going down, and it wasn't going to be a pretty fall. I sucked in a breath, bracing myself forimpact with the ground.

The impact I expected never came. Warm, strong arms moved about me, and I was gathered tightly to a firm chest.

"It's all right. Open your eyes," Tavington coaxed softly. "I've got you."

I did open my eyes, and found myself looking up into his face...so close to mine. My gaze flicked to his mouth. What would it feel like to kiss him? The thought sent a tremor through my body.

For a few blissful seconds he continued to hold me. He roamed my entire face with his eyes, his gaze settling briefly on my lips.

"This has been a long, hard day for you. Maybe you should get some rest," he said, then loosened his hold on me.

"Yes, I suppose you're right." I pulled away, looking down and feeling the blush creep into my cheeks all over again.

"I will arrange for you to have your own tent while you stay with us. It won't be large, but it will allow you some privacy."

"Thank you." I still couldn't bring myself to look at him.

"Very well." He whirled about and strode off in the direction of his tent. "Wilkins, I need to speak with you."

I stood in the same spot, watching him. Was this part of his plan? To make me fall so completely in love with him, that I'd do anything for him? He couldn't have known I would fall off my horse. But had that little accident played right into his hands? I could not allow myself to be this vulnerable. The man had a seductive quality that seemed to wipe away all sense. But I had to hold on to mine. If I was going to save him, I had to remain rational.

I wandered toward the wooded area behind the camp. If I had my bearings right, a small brook ran through that forest. I could use a little alone time to think, and maybe to bathe, if I got up enough courage to do so. A shiver ran up my spine at the thought of the icy water.

I ambled through the trees, thinking what my next move should be. Ironically, the one thought that would not leave me alone was that I should become the spy Tavington accused me of being. Very risky. But maybe if I could get information to Martin and his men, then they would be able to keep their families safe. And if their families remained safe, then the hatred toward the colonel might not be quite as intense. A long shot, but it could help to keep him alive.

The only other option was to give Tavington his Ghost. And that was an option I was not willing to take. Those men were my fellow patriots, and I would not choose the object of my romantic affections over the lives of the men fighting for my freedom. A freedom I had taken for granted, though I had not realized it until that moment.

I sighed, and stepped up to the banks of the brook. The sound of water bubbling over stones had a soothing effect on my nerves. I began to remove the heavy dress, the layers of skirts, then the stays. Such an awful invention, although it did a lot for my figure. It was no wonder women of old often died in childbirth. Using such a contraption likely squeezed a woman's insides together to the point there was no room for a baby to grow properly. I shook those thoughts from my mind and proceeded to dip my hands into the cold water.

The wind picked up, blowing its icy breath through me, down to my bones. I shivered, glad for the jeans still covering my legs, and thought better of getting wet. I certainly didn't need to catch something like pneumonia and be laid up sick, unable to carry out my mission. I splashed a little water on my face, and under my arms, then proceeded to pull the clothes back on. I fought with the stays for a few minutes, then gave up. The dress probably wouldn't fit right without, but I wasn't too concerned. I pulled my flannel shirt and my jacketfrom a leather bag Wilkins had given me for the trip, and slipped into them.

The sun had dipped behind the trees by the time I finished dressing. Soon enough the stars would be blinking up above. I found a fallen log and plopped down onto it.

"I need help," I groaned, and rested my face in my hands. But who could I turn to? Never in my life had I felt quite so alone. How I could have used the wisdom of Uncle Dave. Even if he didn't know what to tell me, he'd at least work with me to figure something out.

I'm not sure how long I sat on the log, taking turns staring up at the sky, and then out at the brook which I could barely see in the limited light. A twig cracked behind me.

"Here you are. I thought maybe you'd run off to find your compatriots." Colonel Tavington approached slowly.

I smiled and shook my head. "Even if I knew where they were, you should know by now I would not purposely lead you to them."

"Well, now. That was a mild response. You seem rather subdued. May I sit with you a moment?"

I thought he might just take his place on the log beside me, butagain I was reminded how little I really knew of him. He stood in place, waiting for my reply. Just like a well-bred English gentleman should.

"Please, have a seat." I scooted over, although there was plenty of space for both of us.

He sat and looked up at the night sky. "Do you enjoy the outdoors, Miss Hanson?"

"Making small talk, now, are we? Why don't you just ask what you really want to know?"

He smirked. "And what exactly do you think I really want to know?"

I shrugged. "I asked first."

He let out a long sigh. "You could have tried to escape. I gave you the opportunity and plenty of time." He turned his head to look at me. "Why did you stay?"

There was no denying the hopeful note in his voice. But was it put on?

"For one, I have no where else to go."

"Don't you?"

"I already told you, I don't know the Ghost, or his whereabouts." At least worded that way, it was the truth.

"Very well. Let's pretend I believe that. If you had somewhere to go, would you go?"

Whatwas his deal?

"I can't answer that question, I'm afraid. I don't have anywhere to go, so how can I know what I would do if things were different?"

"Now you're being evasive." He chuckled, then slid a bit closer. "You intrigue me, Miss Hanson. I've never met a woman quite like you."

"And now you're trying to be charming. What exactly do you want from me?"

"Oh, I'm sure we can think of something." He reached out and took a strand of my hair. "Even in those funny looking clothes of yours, you stand out as a very attractive woman."

I wanted to bask in the warmth of his words, but I could not trust him. Snatching back the lock of my hair which he still held lightly between his fingers, I stood and stepped away from him.

"Don't try to use flattery to play with my feelings. It is not becoming, even of you."

He too, stood and came toward me. "Did you give up on the dress I had brought for you? You looked very nice in it. I ordered Bordon and Wilkins to find a blue one because I could just tell it would bring out thecolor in your lovely eyes."

I understood just how Eve felt in the Garden of Eden, with that slithering serpent tempting her to eat the forbidden fruit. But certainly Eve's forbidden fruit had not been as tempting as was mine right now. I could almost see a forked tongue sliding in and out of Tavington's mouth, fangs on either side. Forbidden fruit and serpent wrapped up in one.

"I'm sure your powers of seduction work well on most women, Colonel."

"Please, call me William." He stepped closer, and I knew I was at the edge offalling right into his trap.

"But you see, I am not like most women, and your scheme won't work." I faced him, knowing it was the only way to give any credibility to my words. "I happen to have a brain, not air, inside my head." With my index finger, I poked at my temple. "I know just what you are trying to do, and it won't work." I glared at him a few seconds, then turned and, using every drop of will power within me, walked away.

"Must I remind you, Miss Hanson, that you are never to walk away from me without my permission?"

Ah...the Tavington I knew was back. Whew! And a lot easier to deal with. I ignored him, stopping only to snatch up the dress and stays I'd left hanging from a tree branch.

"I hope my tent is ready." I yawned. "I could use a good night of sleep."