Elizabeth felt the warmth leave her body as Will gathered himself from the bed.

"Where are you going?" She asked, sitting herself up.

"Last night remember? The General asked me to show him around the land. He said I was a good of a man as any to show him the terrain." He replied as he fastened his belt.

Elizabeth grimly and threw back the covers.

"Its early yet" said Will who pulled his arm through the last sleeve. "You still have a couple more hours of rest." He walked over to her side of the bed and spoke with a gentle trim in his tired voice.

"No…" she replied in restlessness. "I might as well start my day." She went to the oak chest where her robe was draped. "Its just that…well its nothing really –" she said, attempting to take the nervous note out of her tone. But Will put a hand on the small of her back, making her snap to attention, something his touch always resulted in. "I worry about staying here without you."

He gathered her warmly in his arms and his eyes crinkled into a smile. "I don't worry about you staying here with them. Now what I am concerned about is what you might do to them if that fierce temper of yours decides to pay a visit."

Liz laughed and hit his chest lightly with her fist. "Oh its not all bad! But truly Will: do your business with the General, but come back home as soon as you can." She said in all seriousness.

Will nodded and kissed her forehead "Just try and take it day by day."

He released her and finished dressing. After he had left, Elizabeth cleaned up and tidied the room. She decided that she would wear one of her work dresses today for there was no reason to attempt to impress. She needed to clean up around the house and barn, the fireplace needed sweeping and a few more logs of wood could stand to be brought in from the stack. First, she thought, she would need to make breakfast. This was the first morning, after all, that the troops would spend in her home and the last thing she needed was for them to think she was entirely against them or completely rude. Before she could bother herself with taking care of the strange men downstairs she had to check on Katie. She entered the room quietly and peeped in. The little girl was breathing steadily, her soft curls laying lightly on her pillow and one foot just barely peeking out of the covers. Elizabeth approached and placed the blanket back over her. The blonde cherib was never disturbed. Before she left she drew the heavier curtains over the window to make sure no strong ray of sunlight streaked its way in, then she departed as quietly as she came in. When she went downstairs she noticed all the men on the floor. Almost all were snoring with their boots off, arms flailed, mouths open, and bodies strewn across the living room. Elizabeth tiptoed and made her way to the kitchen where she saw one of the young soldiers sitting at the small table near the window, Thomas, she thought his name was. He had slightly started her, but the reaction was returned by the groggy young man. He was her age, just barely old enough to be living out on his own, his hair was disheveled, his jacket was undone and his slump backed posture, reading the paper, was quickly straightened when Elizabeth emerged.

"Good morning ma'am."

"Good morning to you." She said, attempting to give a nod and polite smile.

"I hope you don't mind ma'am, but I did myself the liberty of getting my own tea. You weren't up so I…well."

"Its fine." She shrugged. "I was just about to start breakfast now. I didn't think any of you would be up this early. Its just barely light outside." Her hands were moving quickly to take out the pans, the butter and flour as she glanced out the window.

The young man was quiet for a moment before speaking. "I haven't slept well lately..."

Elizabeth gave him a questioning glance but he didn't notice. "I see." She replied quietly as she tied the apron around her waist. She didn't need to inquire to his vague reply. She knew the reason he was losing precious rest was because of the fighting. She could see it in his eyes, the way he warily looked out the window, as if he never wished to belong to that world again. His eyes retreated back to the toffee colored tea before him as he lost himself momentarily in the slight ripple of the lemon slice daintily floating in the steaming liquid. This house he was in now was in some sort of Utopia…the war hadn't reached this far – yet. Elizabeth saw his withdrawl and she shivered.

The next hour was almost completely filled with the noises and clatters of baking, all in the futile attempts of Elizabeth to be as stealthy as possible – buying her more time to avoid the men in the adjacent room, didn't work… soon the door opened and one of the swarthy men entered with his nose in the air.

"Is that biscuits I'm smelling?" He quickly walked over to the piping hot oven and leaned down to inspect the aroma further. "Jesus Mary and Joseph…real flour and egg biscuits! I haven't sunk my teeth into one of those since I joined. I guarantee its been nigh 15 years since I've been so lucky!"

Then he stood and turned his attention to the woman who was so busily working at the cutting board. Her back was turned to him, obviously diligently working. Her dress was slightly tattered, not 'rags' by any means, but a working girl's wear for sure. His eyes roamed her up and down, three or four times over and a wry smile crept over his unshaven face. Slyly he crept towards her, his eyes hungrily taking her in. Suddenly he grabbed her with his arms around her waist as he easily bent over her, hovering. Elizabeth jumped with surprise and immediately stiffened, unsure of what was happening. "Hello there missy! You wouldn't be the one blessing me with this fine food?"

Elizabeth set her teeth and was unmoving. "Sir, remove your hands."

Instead of following her instruction he smothered her harder and tucked his head in the crook of her neck with ungentle force. "Oh come now! You are under appreciated for all of your …talents…I can tell. I bet I know what you're really worth." He said with his arms like a vice around her. Quickly he began to plague her with his rough kisses along her neck and cheek, then unkindly turning her around to ravage her mouth. Before he managed to spin her towards him, Elizabeth kept the kitchen knife in her hand and before his lips reached hers she lifted the blade to the column of his neck. The man immediately recoiled just as the soldier at the table, who watched with a guilty heart, jumped up in case the unjust act continued to worsen.

"I warned you sir." She said, her eyes burning, her fingers tightly gripping the handle.

The man's eyes narrowed from their widened state, suddenly realizing that this woman was the mistress of the house, the same one he had dimly seen last night near the fire. "M-My apologies Mrs. Turner." He said, almost inaudible. It didn't take him long to regain some of his previous swagger and he slightly put his weight back on the island counter behind him with calculated ease. "Honest mistake ma'am…you understand…"

Liz gritted her teeth and her fingers twinged on the handle of the blade. Thomas, now near enough to grab the man if anything else should happen, watched her face for a silent plea. But there was none. Instead Elizabeth stepped back and dropped the knife to her side. As if brought back to reality she breathed heavily and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her feet drew her to the back door where her other hand rested on the handle before she turned again towards the frozen men.

Liz gestured to the table and oven before them, eyes adverted. "There is your breakfast gentlemen…excuse me."

She stood straight and walked out the door and down the steps carrying her head high. Once Liz turned the corner and faced the east side of the house out of sight, she immediately leaned against the wall and covered her face with her hands. With a few tearless and breathless sobs she turned and wretched on the ground below her. Again she straightened up and rested her head against the side of the house. Then she began to wipe and rub at her skin. Her neck, mouth, cheeks, ears, chest, waist…anything to get the smell, the touch and the slime of that man off of her…then she looked down, without realizing it, she had carried the knife outside with her, still clenched tightly in her hand. For a moment she paused, then without a seconds more hesitation the slipped the blade in the tie of her dress then pulled the apron back over it to its rightful place….

The remainder of her morning was spent inside the house as little as possible. After a long while of piling up logs Thomas, who she saw watching her from the window with slight concern drawn on his slim face, came out the door and beckoned.

"Do you need any help Mrs. Turner?"

She held the logs tightly in her bare hands, the warmth of the sun beginning to throw its full affect down on here as the heat rose off her cotton dress.

"No…but thank you for your concern." Then she lay the logs one on top of the other, allowing her task to divert her attention. Liz knew that Thomas was only being kind but she would rather be left alone. Actually she would rather Will ride up at that exact moment with a warm smile for her and a loving embrace of comfort. Instead, after Thomas had shut the door, she saw another familiar face – Lucy. Her neighbor called her name from the other side of their short, rod ironed fence.

"Hello Lizzy! G'morning to you! How is everything on your side?" The fiery redhead asked as she approached with a wide smile, curly hair moving in the warm brisk morning wind.

Elizabeth laid down the last log with a breath of relief and straightened her dress while she walked toward her friend. "Good morning! Oh everythings fine…I was just cleaning up around here. Its well needed since Will's been gone so much lately – what with the business and all. You know how it goes." She laughed.

Lucy nodded with an agreeing chuckle. "Oh yes, all too well!" Then she took a breath and put one hand on her hip while she looked in thought. "You know, after our husbands get their own business running they'll be able to make their own price and profit. And maybe if we win this war against those Torys then the taxation wont bleed us out of our own money!"

Her statement was said matter-of-factly as innocently as if she had been speaking of the weather. But Elizabeth felt a pang in her heart. Just inside those doors behind her were men of the Royal Army, the men of King James…and just as if events were planned on an ill conceived timer, Will and General Graham rode up on their shining horses.

"Good morning Lucy!" Will said delightfully. His remark was out of complete friendship and politeness but the look on Lucy's face couldn't have been more sinister. Her eyes, at first, were focused on the man in the red coat riding side by side with her neighbor. Then they followed from the stranger to Will Turner who looked at her so happy, so unaware.

Elizabeth knew what she was thinking. It was now evident that they had relations with the 'enemy'. She cleared her throat and gestured to the soldier. "General Graham this is Mrs. Lucy Harrington, my good friend and neighbor. Lucy this is General Graham…he and his men have…decided to stay with us." Elizabeth added the last bit of her introduction with some hesitation, but at the last moment decided that she might as well say it – Lucy had a right to know that the red coats were indeed being quartered next door. Besides, she was her friend, and she would find out eventually.

The General tipped his tri-cornered at to the young lady in front of him and slightly bowed in his saddle. Lucy's politeness, however, was very much on ice. She gave a hard, stern look to Elizabeth who made no move to correct her, then she picked up her skirts and quickly left the yard, going up the few steps to her door and shutting it firmly. The trio stood in silence and Liz put her hand to her head in frustration. Will looked down, quite shamed that his friends now thought he was a supporter. Now it wouldn't be long until the whole town might think that he was a loyalist. But he looked around him and realized that it was going to be his own doing - not Nate or Lucy's that the people would find out from, for he had just ridden across half the countryside with a British soldier at his side.

The General slid his hand down the reign and gave a small smile. "Well…what a delightful woman." Then he turned his steed and lazily guided it towards the stable.

Liz looked up at Will who gave a heavy sigh.

He reached down and took her hand. She placed her chin on his knee and gazed up at his saddened face. "Day by day…right love?"