It was late in the evening; the couple were back in their bedroom after dinner. She sat in his lap on the sofa, next to the fire burning, her head resting in his neck. One of his arms was around her waist, and the other resting on her thigh. The day had been hard on both of them, so they enjoyed a bit of tenderness and each other company. A knock on the door broke their peaceful moment.

"Not now," William yelled through the door.

"Colonel, sir. Lord Cornwallis summoned you in his office right now," the voice said.

"I'll be right there."

The footstep moved away. He looked at her, she was beautiful with the light reflecting in her hair she had let down. His hand moved from her thigh to the side of her face.

"Did I tell you that I love you?"

"Not yet today. I love you too, William," she said as she leaned into a soft kiss, their lips almost not touching, just brushing against each other. She pulled away, resting her forehead against his. "As much as I want to keep you here with me, you should go meet my father. For him to summon you at this hour, it must be important."

She moved from his lap to allow him to stand up. He put his jacket back on, attached his belts with sword and pistol. Even if he was staying inside the fort, he made a point of leaving the room as if he would leave for battle. She had seen many men in uniforms in her life, not only her father and brothers were all defending king and country, but she also attended many military even. But every time she would see her husband dress like in his dragoon uniform, she swooned. His tall built, strong shoulders were enhanced by his jacket. His collar always knotted to perfection and his hair neatly tied in this queue showed his square jaw line. She could not help but fall in love again every time she saw him. His hand was on the door handle as she stood up and walk to him. She wanted to kiss him once again before he left. As she did, his hand left the handle and crushed her against the wall, deepening the kiss. She moaned as she felt his hand running on the bodice of her dress. His tongue slid in her mouth, circled passionately, as she hold each side of his face with her hands. He had to talk to himself to let her go, this being only a taste of what was to come later tonight.

He went inside Cornwallis' office, as the general was almost done with his meal.

"That man insulted me!"

"Quite impressive for a farmer with pitchfork, wouldn't you say?"

"I want you to find that man. I want you to capture him."

"The man has the loyalty of the people. They protect him, protect his family. I can capture him for you. But to do so require the use of tactics that are somewhat… What was the word you lordship used? Brutal, I think."

Cornwallis was thinking fast. He knew the Colonel already had a bad reputation. The nickname the Butcher was still following him amongst the colonies. He wondered for a second his Charlotte knew. This ghost had to be stopped at any cost. The man was threatening his own reputation, and that was something the general could not stand. The only person he could think of to stop the ghost was Tavington. Of course, he used to blame those brutal tactics he used, but they would sure be practical now.

"Did you know the ghost threatened Charlotte?" Tavington said.

"He what?"

"Just before leaving the fort with his men. Charlotte was outside for a second; he saw her and said he wanted her."

Cornwallis's blood seemed to boil in his veins. He was torn by this affirmation, knowing it's probably to hurt Tavington he made this claim. But this was another reason to catch the leader of the militia. Nothing could happen to his beloved daughter.

"However, if I do this, you and I know that I can never return to England with honor. What, I wonder, is to become of me and Charlotte."

"When the conflict is over, here in the colonies, the new aristocracy will be land owners."

"Tell me about, Ohio."

...

Just before riding out of the fort, Tavington looked over his shoulder to his bedroom window, Charlotte's figure looking at him in her nightgown. She lifted her hand and waved him goodbye. He nodded as Bordon and he left the Fort to the camp nearby. He had made a deal with the general, a huge land in exchange of the capture of one man. He knew this would not necessarily be easy, since he had been chasing the ghost for weeks now.

Both men entered a tent in the nearby camp. Wilkins would now be of some used. Tavington was never really sure he could trust the man, but he was eager to prove himself since he joined the unit.

"Wilkins!"

He heard his name and was pulled out from his sleep. He opened his eyes and saw the Colonel standing in from of him. He was talking fast so he tried his best to gather his thoughts around.

"A plantation… seven miles from Wakefield, on the Santee, east of Black Swamp. Who lived there?"

"Benjamin Martin"

"He's the ghost." Bordon stated.

"What do you know about him?"

"Hell, everything. I could tell you the size of his boot."

"Does he have family? Where would he hide his children?"

"His wife's sister has a plantation. It's not far."