Thanks again, y'all,for reviewing. The family took off for the afternoon, so I came rushing to the computer to get this next chapter up. As long as they're out and it's quiet, I'll by typing away on chapter 16. :)

Chapter 15

As we rode into town, the church once again drew my gaze. Ghosts, who were only ghosts in my past, seemed to haunt the area anyway. Only in my mind, of course, for they were not yet ghosts. And maybe they would live a little longer, if I had my way. I looked forward again, seeing out of the corner of my eye that Wilkins looked at me curiously.

"What is it about that little church that bothers you so, Miss Hanson?" he asked.

"I think it's haunted." I grinned, trying to makelight of his question. "You don't see the ghosts?"

We had pulled up in front of a little building with a white picket fence about the front yard. I dismounted in a rush to avoid trying to figure reasonable sounding answers to give Wilkins.

"Will you be long?" he asked as he, too, slid to the ground.

"Oh...I don't know. But why don't you go on now, and go see your girl. Meet me back here in about an hour."

"I don't know." He shook his head, scrunching up one side of his face. "Colonel Tavington said–"

"Yes, yes, I know. He told you to babysit me all day." I grabbed the big man by both arms and looked up into his face. "We've become friends, haven't we?"

"I-I guess so." His frown deepened.

"And if I tried to escape, you're the one who would pay. Right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"And a good friend wouldn't do that to her friend."

"Hopefully not, but–"

"I give you my word. I will not run away." I let go of his arms and shrugged. "Where else would I go? I have no desire to run away, for at least while Tavington thinks I'm in league with the Ghost, he'll keep me around. I get free room and board that way." I slapped him on the back. "So go on, you big lug. Go spend a little time with your girl. But the longer you stand here arguing with me, the less time you'll have with her." I held outShadow's reins. "Take my horse with you if you don't trust me. I won't get very far on foot even if I do try to run away."

He sucked in a breath and looked up to the sky. "Miss Hanson, I am insane to even be here, let alone to listen to you." He gazed back down into my eyes. "If you do try to run away, so help me, I'll–I will kill you with my own bare hands if you do anything stupid."

I grinned. "A threat I would never take lightly."

He mounted his horse, then reached down. "Give me those reins." With one last empty glare, he took the reins I handed up to him and trotted away. I stoodwatching until Wilkins and the two horses were no longer in view.

As I turned to go inside, I wondered how I would make these people believe me. They would think of me as a mad woman if I told them the truth. I stepped inside, and looked about.

A young woman with long, curly hair sat at a tall desk, writing. She turned, offering me a wide, friendly smile. "May I help you?"

"Hi, yes." I returned her smile and walked toward her. As I drew closer, I could see her gaze flick down to my jeans, then back to my face. Curious confusion registered in her large, expressive eyes. "Actually, I was just looking."

The girl gave a little humph and giggled. "No one comes in here just looking."

"Not even Gabriel Martin?" I watched her closely for a reaction.

The smile disappeared, and a wary coldness infused her eyes. But there was no mistaking the light blush that crept into her cheeks at the mention of the eldest Martin boy.

"What do you want, miss? I'm quite busy, so if you really don't need anything..." She turned back to her desk in a dismissive gesture.

Acting purely on impulse, I grabbed her arm and turned her back to face me. "Anne."

She yanked her arm from my grasp and glared at me. "Who are you? What do you want?"

I let out a quick breath and tried to smile. This was turning out to be much harder than I thought. "I'm sorry, I know you must be really freaked out right now."

Her delicate eyebrows drew together, deepening her frown.

"I-I mean, you must think I'm some crazy woman out to do you harm." I laughed and looked down, pointing to my jeans. "I'm not dressed very womanly, right?" I looked up again, hoping to see I'd made progress, but instead, the fear in Anne's eyes had melted, and something akin to anger had replaced it.

"Look, I don't mean to be rude," she said, "but please leave. I don't know who you are, but I have work to do."

"Please." I cringed at the desperate note in my own voice. "I cannot explain much, but I need you to warn–" I paused, looked about, then lowered my voice. "The Ghost."

Her eyes widened just a bit, then that guarded iciness returned. "I don't know the Ghost."

"You don't have to admit anything to me. I'm not trying to glean information, butdispense it. Just tell him–tell him that Tavington is very close to finding out his identity, and his sister-in-law may be in danger. I don't know when, but I believe Colonel Tavington is going to burn down her home. To get at Be-the Ghost. Just tell him." I could feel my own face contorting into a desperate frown. "Anne, your own life may depend on it."

I whirled around and strode to the door.

"Wait." Anne ran after me, placing her slender hand on my shoulder. "Is there anything I can get for you?"

"Don't worry about me." I turned back to face her and smiled. "I just want you to go on and marry Gabriel and live a long, happy life together."

"How do you know these things?" She now gazed at me with a mixture of emotions in her eyes. Although I could not read her mind, I thought doubt and wonder were foremost.

I shook my head. "I really can't tell you. Just please try to put all logic aside and believe what I'm telling you."

She nodded, finally smiling again. A smaller smile, but one that imparted gratitude.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Wilkins riding up. "Look, I've got to go." Again on impulse, I reached out and hugged the startled girl. "Be careful," I whispered, then let her go and ran out to meet Wilkins.

"What are you doing back already?" I placed my fists on my hips and, trying hard to look angry, glared up at Wilkins.

He jumped to the ground, his gaze roaming past me to the girl still standingat the door. "Youfriends with the Howards?"

The question was asked casually, and although Wilkinshad been kind to me all this time, he was still a loyalist. And the Howards were obviously "rebels."

"Had never met aone of them before today." I grinned, proud of my very true answer. "But Anne's a nice girl. We had a very short, but enjoyable chat. It was nice to talk to another woman again. I don't get much decent conversation, stuck with you ignorant men all the time."

"What did you talk about?" Wilkins was obviously working hard to keep his voice light and casual, but I suddenly grew wary of him.

"Why the twenty questions?" I humphed. "And you never did answer me. Why'd you come back so quickly?"

"You didn't really think I was going to go off and leave you behind, did you? I wanted to see what you'd do."

So I'd been right. I pulled my lips into a taut line, trying to remember just the expression Tavington used when he was trying to intimidate someone.

"James Wilkins, I'm offended." I swung up into the saddleand kicked Shadow into a gallop.

Wilkins caught up with me in a flash.

"Laura, wait." It was the first time he had ever used my first name. I slowed Shadow into a trot.

"Ah...so we are on a first name basis, now, eh James?" I grinned, unable to keep up my angry demeanor.

"Oh, um, I'm sorry. Miss Hanson." He blushed, and I couldn't hold in the laugh. The color in his face just looked funny considering his size, and his status as a dragoon captain.

"No, that's fine. Laura. I think our friendship--even if you don't trust me for real--has earned us first names, don't you think?"

"If you say so." He gave me a look that washard to read. That he did not understand me in the least was very clear, and I liked it that way. Hopefully I was just as much a mystery to Tavington. "Don't be angry, ok? I just couldn't in good conscience leave you behind. If Colonel Tavington–"

"Don't worry about it," I said softly. "They didn't have what I needed anyway."

"I'm sorry." He shrugged, but with a lightness that seemed to come from relief. Maybe I, too, rode with the same lightness, for once again I felt I had taken another step in the right direction. Maybe I would be successful in my mission.

Wilkins seemed more than relieved when we rode into camp at dusk, and Tavington and Bordon had not yet returned. We did, however, receive a few odd stares from the other dragoons.

"Once again, I'm sorry your trip was unsuccessful," Wilkins said as I was about to turn off toward my tent.

"That's ok.I'm sorry you didn't get to go see your girl. I don't know about for you, but it was still a nice change to get away from this boring camp for a little while." I shrugged, hoping to convey a brave front in the face of disappointment. He could never know just how successful my trip had been.

Not too long after I'd settled into my cot for the evening–it wasn't late, but there was nothing better to do–I heard pounding that could only mean galloping horses. I jumped from the cot and rushed outside in none-too-graceful a way, nearly tripping as I did so.

Tavington pulled his mount to a stop, then slid to the ground and took off at a fast march for the tent where Wilkins bunked. He didn't even take the time to tether his horse.

Uh-oh, I thought. Something had happened, and from the look on his face it hadn't been good. Bottled up anger and frustration, along with some meticulously concocted evil plan.It seemed the cork was about to pop off and the contents erupt.

My heart hammered my rib cage as I ran in the direction of Wilkins' tent. No one noticed me slip in at first. All eyes were glued to Tavington, then to Wilkins, who was apparently having a hard time looking at the rest of his comrades.

"That would be Benjamin Martin's farm, I believe." Wilkins finally looked up, and then his gaze strayed from his commander to me.

Following the line of Wilkins' gaze, Tavington turned, and rested his hard stare on me.

"What are you doing here, Miss Hanson? Return at once to your own tent until I call for you."

I swallowed the smart answer I wanted to give. "Yes sir." I gulped, and then hurried out.

"Well, well. Miracles never cease!" I heard Tavington grumble just as I retreated.

Something big was about to happen. I could feel it, but I could not figure out what it was. I wracked my brain, trying to remember what I'd read. Of course, the history books never went into such minute details as I now lived them.

I hadbarely entered my tent when Tavington stormed in after me. I whirled about, feeling my eyes grow wide as he came toward me.

"Get ready to ride, Miss Hanson. Your comfortable riding clothes. There will be no need for frilly dresses tonight."

"Where–" I had no chance to get the question out.

Tavington grabbed me by the shoulders and gave me a hard shake. "Don't question me this time. Just do as I've asked."

Asked? Again, I bit back the word and just nodded.

One side of his mouth twitched in what I suppose was meant to be a thank you, then he left.

I pulled on my leather jacket, and grabbed my helmet. As I stepped into the night, the flurry of activity in the camp told me everything. The dragoons were going on one of their raiding expeditions. My stomach knotted. Why would Tavington want to take me along? Certainly he didn't expect me to join in their terrorist-style intimidation tactics. So why?

I would soon find out, and his reason didn't make me feel any better.