Riley barely remembered the walk back to camp, her mind coming up with every excuse in the book as to why this was happening. Maybe she was hallucinating, maybe she was dead, maybe she had tripped and fallen into some sort of weird coma. By the time they broke the tree line she had failed to come up with any plausible explanation, but one thing was certain. She was not in the year 2016 and she was most definitely not on Long Island anymore.

Major Tallmadge watched as Miss Sammis sat silently on the cot back in the IHQ barn, staring vacantly at the floor as he draped a blanket around her. Her hands were shaking slightly as he pressed a warm tin of coffee into them and she absentmindedly took a sip, not even cringing as the steaming sludge hit her lips.

"I just, I don't understand how this happened… and that man, he…"

"Was deemed as a traitor to the crown."

She looked up at him and shook her head.

"You can't just kill someone because they don't agree with what a certain leader is saying!"

He bit back a smile and she shook her head.

"What am I saying, this is the revolutionary war, that's exactly what you are fighting against isn't it?"

Ben nodded and sat in a chair across from her.

"Amongst other things, yes."

"I'm sorry, this is just going to take a while to wrap my head around. Yesterday I was out driving my car and watching television and now I just saw someone get decapitated. It's a lot to take in."

"What, may I ask, is a television?"

Riley groaned and took another sip of her coffee.

"I don't think you would believe me even if I told you."

"You said that you were from the year 2016, is that what you truly believe."

"If I say yes are you going to throw me in the crazy house?"

Ben gave her a gentle smile and shook his head.

"I don't know how it is possible."

"Trust me pal, that makes two of us. I liked 2016, we had things like showers and air conditioning, not to mention practically no road decapitations."

He let out a bark of laughter and stared at the woman in front of him. The more she talked the more she seemed to calm herself.

"Miss Sammis, why don't you try and get some sleep. It is early and I am sure that you are exhausted. I will send in the medic tomorrow to make sure your head and arm wounds are healing. I know of a few people that will wish to speak with you, however I do not believe that it would be wise to announce your presence to camp."

Riley sighed and downed the rest of the coffee, letting the drink warm her from the inside.

"That's probably smart. Who knows maybe this has all just been a bad dream."

Ben gave her a sympathetic smile and nodded.

"Perhaps. I will make sure that a bath is drawn for you in the morning. Until then, I trust that you will let me know if there is anything else that you require."

Riley pulled the blanket around her tighter and nodded, watching as Ben placed a lit candle on the table next to the cot. Giving her a small smile and a bow before leaving her be.

Exhaustion overtook her and her eyes closed before her head hit the small pillow.

As soon as Ben was outside of the barn he turned to Caleb.

"Keep an eye on her, I don't trust her."

She awoke to the feeling of someone's gaze on her and shot out of bed when she saw the bearded man, Caleb, sitting next to her cot. She bit back a smile at the bruising around his eyes and nose and in turn he glared at her.

"Oi you think this is funny do ya?"

At this Riley smiled wider and shrugged, wincing at the pain in her arm.

"Teaches you not to touch a woman when she doesn't want you to."

"That's enough you two."

Both of their gazes snapped to Major Tallmadge who tried his best to look disapprovingly at them. Caleb shook his head and smiled at her.

"I have to say Miss Riley, you sure do know how to throw a punch. That considered a lady like thing to do where you're from?"

Riley laughed and took the warm mug that Ben offered her, grimacing at the bitter coffee before answering.

"Where I'm from women can do whatever pleases them whenever it pleases them. Even if that means putting a man in his place with a well aimed punch."

"Not sure if I like the sound of that so much."

Riley rolled her eyes and took another sip of her coffee.

"Of course you don't. What man would like their delicate sensibilities being challenged by a woman?"

Ben couldn't help but smile and pulled up a chair to the table, placing a tray of food down and gesturing Riley and Caleb over to join him. She sat down at the chair and eyed the plate in front of her before taking the weirdest fork she had ever seen and digging into the eggs and bread that had been provided for her. She let out a loud moan and shoveled the eggs into her mouth, not realizing that she had done so until she glanced up to see both men staring at her. She swallowed and used the cloth napkin provided to her to dab her mouth.

"Sorry."

Ben swallowed thickly and gave her a tight smile before continuing with his breakfast.

"You know Miss Sammis, we are still going to have you answer some questions if that's alright with you?"

Riley shrugged and continued to eat her toast.

"I don't mind. Out of all of the people I've seen here you haven't tried to slice my head off so you seem to be alright in my book. I don't have anything to hide. You're probably going to think I'm crazy though."

"It's a little too late for that."

Riley laughed as Ben kicked Caleb under the table causing him to curse.

"If you wouldn't mind Miss Sammis, your assistance would be greatly appreciated."

"I won't answer any questions until you start calling me Riley."

Ben gave an exasperated sigh.

"That is not proper edict, Miss Sammis."

"Guess you'll just have to suffer then."

Caleb looked on in amusement between the two.

"Fine, Miss. Riley, would you please go over how exactly how you came to be here."

She shot him a glare.

"We'll work on the name thing Benny boy," Caleb snorted and Ben tried not to be insulted that she didn't address him by his formal title. "And I'm not really sure. All I know is that I was out for a run in the woods behind my house and the next thing I knew I was waking up here."

"Your house in Huntington, on Long Island?"

"Yup."

"Miss Riley, you do realize that Long Island is occupied by the British Army, and is chock full of Tories."

"Well the Long Island I come from it very much a part of the United States of America and I can count on one hand the number of British people I know there."

She looked on confused as the men both gaped at her.

"Did you say the United States of America? As in, we win the war?"

"Ummm, yes."

She couldn't help but laugh along as Caleb and Ben both beamed at her.

"That is…" Ben trailed off, lost for words.

"Bloody fucking brilliant, that's what that is. I sure hope you're right."

She smiled at them and shrugged her shoulders.

"I can tell you whatever you want about the future if you want. Don't know how much good it will do though."

"When does the war end?"

"1783, I think"

"So long?" Ben furrowed his eyebrows at her and she shrugged.

"I think it took some time to figure out that fighting against the British head on wasn't going to win you anything. Once you transitioned to Guerrilla warfare and the French threw in their help it was all but over."

Ben sputtered and looked at her wide eyed.

"The French!"

"I bet you wouldn't believe me if I told you that England was one of our closest allies now either."

Caleb laughed and leaned back on his chair leg.

"Now I know you're pulling our legs."

Riley gave them a coy smile and shrugged letting them think what they wanted to. Ben looked like he was chomping at the bit to ask more but when Riley leaned back in her chair the rough wood scraped over the cut on the back of her arm causing her to wince.

"I apologize Miss Riley, I will call for the medic at once."

She waved him off and finished the last of her toast.

"I'd actually rather have a bath if that's alright. And maybe some clean clothes."

Ben nodded and stood up from his chair as she did.

"Of course. I will have a dress sent for you at once."

Riley narrowed her eyes at him and shook her head.

"How about some pants?"

Ben balked at her and shook his head right back.

"I apologize, a lady cannot be seen wearing trousers as if she were a man. It is entirely improper."

"Good think I don't give a crap if it's proper or not. I've been shot, I'm in a weird time period and I am most certainly not wearing some ridiculous corset dress that I can't breathe in. I've seen Pirates of the Caribbean and I'm not about to pull an Elizabeth Swan."

She chuckled and shook her head at their confused stares.

"Sorry, modern reference. Look, you said it yourself, I'm not leaving this barn anyway. Why does it matter what I wear?"

Ben looked like he was ready to argue with her when Caleb pipped up.

"You know tallboy, it would be easier to hide her if she was passing as a man."

Ben looked between them incredulously, trying to decide which one to address first.

"How are we supposed to explain a woman comin and goin, unchaperoned, and sleeping in your headquarters? Gonna sully yer pristine reputation Benny."

Ben was mortified as his cheeks flushed red, before shoving Caleb.

"You know, shorty over here is right."

"Oi, I'm not that short."

Riley smirked and crossed her hands over her chest.

"It would be a lot easier to move around."

"It would also be a lot easier for you to escape."

"Oh yeah, cause I'm so excited to go get my head chopped off."

Ben let out a disgruntled sigh and shook his head.

"I don't like this. It is too dangerous. I think we should bring you to the women of the camp. They can keep you busy."

"You think that's a good idea? She doesn't have any idea how to act like a woman here."

"I'll let that insult slide little man, but he is kind of right. Don't you guys have like ridiculous rules and stuff about women and men interacting? I don't really want to end up arrested because I said something wrong or hurt someone's outdated sensibilities."

She looked at Ben with an eyebrow raised he looked as if the wheels in his head were turning.

"Come on, I'll be fine. I played sports in college, I can do anything any man here can."

"I suppose this is an acceptable solution for this problem. Only temporarily."

Riley grinned at him and nodded.

"Good. So, not to be annoying, but I stink. Can I get that bath now?"

Riley smirked as she took the cloth from Ben's hands as he blushed and explained to her that she could use it to bind her chest. She laughed and took the rest of the clothing from him, hands running over the rough cloth before taking the hat that Caleb shoved at her. The more he looked at her the more he doubted that anyone would mistake her for a man.

She had hidden behind a wall in the barn while a bath was brought into the barn, waiting as it was filled with heated water from various pots. When the attendants had finally left she stepped out and was met by a steaming basin of water just big enough to squeeze herself into. On a small side table lay a natural sponge and a crude looking bar of soap. Ben and Caleb were quietly speaking, cutting the conversation short when she emerged.

Riley shooed them all from the room before peeling off her disgusting spandex, dropping them on the floor before doing the same thing with her underwear. She peeled off the partially blood soaked tshirt and sports bra and let out a sigh of relief as she dipped her toes into the warm water. She let out a moan as she submerged her body and dipped her head underneath the water, holding her breath as she let the warm water encompass her.

She emerged and reached for the sponge and soap, knowing she only had a limited time before the bath turned cold. She worked quickly, scrubbing the dirt and blood from her body. She hissed as her fingers brushed the wound on her arm but worked to clean around it. When she was done and the water was a few shades darker she pushed herself up and stepped out of the tub. She let herself air dry for a moment before reaching for the coarse towel left on the table next to the tub.

She picked up the cloth binding and managed to wrap it around herself well enough that it held her boobs down, enough that they hopefully wouldn't be noticeable underneath the baggy shirt that was provided for her. She grimaced when she pulled up the coarse trousers, using the belt to buckle them at her waist. She plopped the hat onto her head and eyed the uncomfortable looking boots that they had provided before shoving her feet back into her Nikes, they were black and hopefully wouldn't draw too much attention.

She couldn't help the bark of laughter as she saw herself in the full length mirror. The shirt was loose enough to conceal the rise of her chest and tucked sloppily into her trousers which hung loosely around her ankles, partially covering her sneakers. If she pulled the hat down low enough over her face she had the potential to pass as a man. She reached up and braided her wet hair, securing it with the rubber band around her wrist. She looked around the room for the final touch, walking over to the fireplace and leaning over to blacken her hands with soot, she stood in front of the mirror and rubbed the dark soot over her chin, giving the pretense of a five o'clock shadow. Finally satisfied she quickly washed her dirtied clothing in the remaining bath water, cleaning them to the best of her abilities before hanging them to dry over the back of a few chairs. When she finally popped her head out of the barn door she found Caleb propped up against the wall and he did a double take as he took her in. She tipped her head up so her eyes were visible from underneath her had and gave him a grin.

"Well I'll be damned," Riley let out a bark of laughter and opened the barn door to let him in. He eyed the drying clothing and raised an eyebrow.

"You planning on running around in nothin but yer skivvies again?"

Riley rolled her eyes and gestured to her outfit.

"Those are ten times more comfortable than these potato sack pants."

Caleb snorted and nodded, leaning against a desk as he looked at the clothing.

"Yer tellin me! I have a man back in Setauket, master with leather. I'll see if he can get something made for ya if you end up sticking around."

Riley smiled and Caleb meandered to where her Victoria's Secret underwear were hanging, waggling his eyebrows.

"These things what the women where you come from always wear? If so, sign me up."

He yelped as Riley's foot shot out and found his shin.

"Shut up."

"Don't know how you ever think of finding a husband acting like that."

"Good thing I have no intention of finding a husband anytime soon."

"It's a good thing we aren't back on Long Island, I think you an Annie would get along like a house on fire and I don't necessarily think that's a good thing?"

"Who's Annie?"

"Ah, ol childhood friend from Setauket."

"You're from Setauket? That's right by Port Jeff right?"

"Ah, don't know of any Port Jeff. It's on the north shore of Long Island."

"Yeah, I guess that makes sense, nothing really gets named for the founding fathers until after the war I guess. I've been out there a couple of times. There are some pretty great vineyards, well I guess there will be some really great vineyards. Have you ever been to Huntington?"

Caleb snorted and shook his head.

"Once, before the war. Sailed out of Cold Spring Harbor on a whaler a few times."

Riley laughed and nodded her head.

"Sure, sure. I launch my boat out of Cold Spring."

Caleb opened his mouth to respond but was beat to it with Riley's anxious questioning.

"Do you think there is any chance that I can get back to Huntington? I'm thinking that if there is any way for me to get back to my own time it has to be there right?"

Caleb snorted again and shook his head.

"Long Island is crawlin with lobsters. You'd need the proper papers and connections just to get along the road. I have no doubt that yer mouth would get you in trouble before you could get close enough."

Riley glared at him and slugged him in the arm.

"See! Exactly what I'm talkin about."

They stopped talking as the door to the barn slid open revealing Ben and another man. Ben stopped in his tracks as he took in the woman before him, eyes widening causing Riley to laugh.

"Not too bad eh major?"

Ben shook his head and smiled.

"I suppose not," he turned to the man next to him and gestured to Riley who took the hat off of her head, letting him see her face.

"Please may I introduce Mr. Nathaniel Sackett."

"Ah yes, and you must be the Miss Sammis that the Major has been on about. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Riley blushed as he placed a kiss to the back of her hand and laughed once he had re righted himself. She turned to Caleb and Ben, gesturing to the funny man in front of her.

"See boys, this is how you should treat a lady."

"You don't look like much of a lady."

Caleb ducked under her punch aimed for his arm and Ben laughed.

"I have informed Mr. Sackett of your odd appearance in our camp. He has his doubts but I have assured him that you have no intention of running to the enemy with precious information."

"What precious information? I'm an American, it would be pretty hypocritical for me to celebrate the 4th of July back home only to try and help the Brits."

Mr. Sackett raised a brow at her staring at her from above his glasses.

"You are right Major, she is quite odd."

Riley glared at Ben and Caleb let out a laugh.

"I'm odd? You guys live in a world where bathing is optional and you fight against each other by standing in lines without cover! But yeah, I'm the odd one."

Caleb snorted and jumped up to sit on one of the desks, fiddling with the hatchet in his hands. Ben leaned over to Mr. Sackett.

"I told you."

Riley rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.

"So what's the plan here Benny boy?"

Ben narrowed his gaze at her.

"It would be proper to address me by my title, Miss Sammis," he was met with another eye roll and she met his gaze before dramatically curtsying.

"My apologies, what is the plan here Major Benny boy?"

Caleb laughed and Mr. Sackett looked like he wanted to. Ben glared at her, the smirk on her face infuriating him to no end.

"Miss Sammis…" he trailed off, taking a deep breath to calm himself and bringing his hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose.

"Ah let er be Ben," Caleb tried to calm him, smirking towards the infuriating woman. "She's just havin a bit of fun."

Riley snorted and eyed the rickety barn.

"Yeah, cause this is exactly what I'd consider fun."

"I don't have the men to spare to keep guard over you."

"That," Mr. Sackett jumped in, "Will fall to me."

"Sir," Ben pulled the man aside, away from Riley's prying ears. "Do you really think that wise. We still don't know if she can be trusted."

Mr. Sackett eyed him before looking over to Riley.

"I take on responsibility for her, Major. She is lost and will surely find herself in trouble if left to her own devices."

Ben sighed and turned away, eyeing Riley as she chatted with Caleb.

"Alright, you will accompany Mr. Sackett for the time being. I expect a daily report and for you to stay confined to IHQ until we can determine further action."

Riley rolled her eyes and plopped down in a chair.

"Whatever, not like I have anywhere else to be."

Ben nodded and turned towards Caleb, gesturing outside with his head.

"This is where we must leave you," he bowed towards Mr. Sackett and Riley, his gaze narrowing as she smirked at him.

"Adios," she gave him a mocking salute and Caleb laughed, following him out of the barn, chuckling all the way.

The first few days in 1776 were jarring. Riley still would wake up every morning convinced that she was back in 2016 and this all had been a bad dream. The realization that this was in fact her reality was a difficult pill to swallow. She accompanied Mr. Sackett during his daily tasks, holed up in the barn and fiddling with the different trinkets she found. After a week, she had apparently gained some sort of seal of approval, as he allowed her to perform menial administrative tasks. Later in the week he had even showed her around a little bit of the camp. He still stepped out of hearing range whenever he would receive any visitors or deliveries, not fully trusting the woman who had taken over his space. He had been appointing her menial tasks, more time filling than anything actually useful and she was well on her way to being bored to death.

She had once attempted to copy a letter for him and quickly realized the absolute terror that was a quill and ink. Sackett had raised his eyebrows at her sloppy attempts at writing causing her to scowl. She had broken no more than 3 quills before he took the parchment and writing implement from her shaking his head with a chuckle before pointing her in the direction of something else. She was alphabetizing yet another drawer of maps while lazily looking over at Sackett. She watched as he poured over parchment, jotting down notes and muttering to himself as he shuffled papers.

"Look, isn't there anything actually productive that I can do to help?"

Sackett glanced up at her studying her quizzically before glancing back down to the page in front of him.

"I suppose you could be of some use," he glanced around the barn and his eyes fell on a block of wood, his eyes lighting up before he turned back to her.

"How good are you at wood carving?"

Riley's brow furrowed as she looked at him.

"I took woodshop in the 7th grade, but other than that I don't know shit."

Sackett's eyes lit up and he nodded his head.

"That's perfect."

"Perfect for what?"

He gave her a grin and pushed up from the desk, meandering to the back of the barn.

"You'll see."

Ben followed Caleb into the barn, his head snapping up at Riley's curse.

"God damnit!" She glared at her finger before sucking it into her mouth. "Fucking splinters."

Ben glanced over to Sackett who merely raised his eyebrows.

"I trust everything is going well here?"

"As well as can be expected. Miss Sammis is just finishing up our newest tool to get information to 355."

Riley's head popped up from behind a work bench, finger still in her mouth before she brought her hand away and glared at the back of Sackett's head.

"I don't know how you think this monstrosity is going to fool anyone. It looks like a blind monkey carved it."

Mr. Sackett pushed back from his chair, Ben following over to where a truly pathetic wooden ship lay on the bench. He tried to bite back a smile at the harsh lines of the carving, Riley's description was not too far off.

"And that is precisely the point my dear. It is supposed to come from 355's son. He is only 10."

"Yeah well I hope '355' enjoys it because I have more splinters than I know what to do with."

Ben smiled as Riley glared at the boat in Sackett's hands. He watched as Sackett pulled the front mast out, revealing the hidden paper inside with instructions on how to properly form reports.

"Ah yer a right Michelangelo aren't ya Miss Riley?"

She glared at Caleb and held up the carving knife in her hand.

"I wouldn't insult someone when they have the means to castrate you Brewster."

Caleb barked out a laugh and held up his hands.

"No need to go for the family jewels so quick, unless yer into that sort of thing."

Ben balked at the innuendo and turned to Riley, expecting her to be horrified, as any lady would be at his crass words. Instead she let out a laugh and reached over to ruffle Caleb's hair.

"Your not so bad short stack,"

"Oi, I'm not that short. It's not my fault yer freakishly tall."

"I'm not freakishly tall where I come from. Everyone here is so tiny."

"Aye, cept fer tallboy over here."

Ben flushed as their eyes turned to him.

"I'm not that tall."

Caleb laughed and patted him on the shoulder.

"Compared to ol Georgie I guess."

Riley perked up and cocked her head.

"Georgie?"

"Aye, General Washington is heads taller than most of the men in camp."

Riley's jaw dropped as she looked between them.

"As in George Washington? He's here!"

Ben looked at her skeptically.

"Yes, he is the Commander of the Continental Army."

Riley shook her head and took a deep breath.

"No, no, I know, it's just… he is like a huge fucking deal where I come from. It's just a little surreal. He is like, the most well known person in America. I mean, there are states and cities named after him. He's on the freakin one dollar bill for crying out loud! And he is here, somewhere in this camp," her voice trailed off in a squeak as she started to pace.

"I'm sorry, I'm not freaking out I just… freaking George Washington!"

Ben watched in obvious amusement, any skepticism fading as Riley tried to get herself under control, obviously flustered by the idea of General Washington. She turned and opened her mouth as if to speak before snapping it shut and turning the other way.

"Freakin George Washington!"

Her shout startled the men as she let out a hysterical laugh.

"What is my life?"

Ben was under the assumption that the question was rhetorical as Riley started to calm herself down.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Oh my god I can't believe that I just fangirled over GW. What is wrong with me?"

"That's alright, you should have seen tallboy's face the first time he met the ol Commander."

Ben flushed and glared at his friend.

"Made yer reaction seem kinda tame."

"That is not… Caleb!"

Sackett chuckled and shook his head at the trio.

"You've met him!"

Riley was back to shrieking as she turned to face Ben.

"Yes, we all have. We work very closely with his excellency."

"Oh my god!" Riley's hand came up to run itself through her hair. "Oh my god. You've freakin met George Washington!"

Ben was back to smirking at the disgruntled woman in front of him.

"That is… that's amazing," she sighed and flopped down into a chair.

"If you are quite done Miss Sammis, I do believe that we were discussing the implementation of 355 protocol."

"Sorry, sorry. I'm done, I swear."

Sackett gave her a gentle smile and patted her gently on the shoulder.

"It's quite alright my dear."

Riley sat back and watched as Sackett, Caleb and Ben discussed the means of getting the information to Philadelphia.

"Why don't you just use invisible ink?"

The trio turned to look at her and she shifted under their gaze.

"That's a thing right? I saw it on Orange is the New Black."

Sackett blinked at her before turning to scurry over to the desk.

"Is is, and has been used by many a spy. However, all of the acting agents are brought about with simple heat. Therefore it is too risky."

Riley huffed and looked around the barn.

"Well can't you make one that isn't exposed by heat. What if it was only exposed by another substance?"

Sackett looked at her for an unnerving amount of time before nodding.

"Hm, I suppose. It would be quite difficult to concoct such a substance, however I believe it is worth looking into the possibility. In fact I know..." he trailed off as he turned from them, walking over to a chest and talking to himself as he went.

Riley smiled as Sackett mumbled to himself, flitting about the barn and paying her no mind as she sat down to look over the map in front of her, Caleb and Ben talking quietly in the corner. Her fingers traced over the fish shape of Long Island, pointer finger hovering over the Huntington area. Her eyes scanned the familiar shape of the harbor, brows furrowing as they flicked over to Lloyd's Neck, looking over the sharp lines of a fort that had been sketched in. She had never known there had been a revolutionary war fort there. It looked to be around the same place that Caumsett State Park was, a place she had visited so many times during the summers of her childhood that she lost count. She smiled at the memory of learning to ride her bike there, the many summer days she had spent speeding around the paths and roads of the park. Her first kiss had been on the bluffs overlooking the Long Island Sound, sloppy with too much spit at the tender age of fourteen.

It seemed a million miles away now, a place that she had spent her childhood was the same place that the British now held a key fort. It was hard to believe the two were the same. It was difficult to compare the two, and made her feel a little bit dense for not knowing the significance of Long Island in the Revolutionary War during her time. Her gaze continued to pour over the map brows furrowing at some town names she didn't recognize.

She glanced up as Ben stopped in front of the desk, giving her a small smile.

"I never knew there was a fort on Llyod's Neck."

Ben glanced at the map and frowned, nodding his head.

"Yes, it is quite troublesome."

She smiled and shook her head.

"There is a park there now. It used to be someone's estate. It's beautiful. We used to go there all the time in the summer and ride our bikes down to the water."

Ben gave her a small smile as she traced the lines of ink with her fingers.

"There's a small man made pond at the bottom of this huge hill beneath the mansion. The owner had it made in the shape of a heart so whenever his wife would look out of her window and see the pond she would know of his love for her."

"That is a nice story," Riley shrugged and pulled her hand away from the map, meeting his gaze.

"She died before construction was finished."

Ben frowned and gestured back to the map.

"Where is it that you resided?"

Riley's gaze flicked down towards the map and she followed the causeway out of Lloyd's Neck up Westneck road before stopping and pointing to a general area.

"I think around here. It's not exactly like there are road signs, you know?"

Ben chuckled and nodded.

"I was telling Caleb, I think if I can make it back there then maybe I can find a way to make it back home. It was the last place I remember before I ended up here, there has to be something there."

Ben opened his mouth to inform her about the near impossibility of that action but she beat him to it.

"I know, Caleb already told me it's not going to happen anytime soon."

"I apologize, but due to the close proximity to Fort Hill there is no way you would be able to get close."

Riley gave him a sad smile and nodded, drawing her hand away from the map with a small sigh.

"I know. I just...it hasn't exactly been easy here."

Ben frowned, overcome with the urge to place a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry. I know this can't be pleasant."

Riley shrugged.

"I just don't like feeling useless. I'm used to being productive and working and I am just stuck in a smelly barn alphabetizing documents like some incompetent child."

Ben tried to respond but was beat to it by Caleb.

"You know tallboy, we would train her. Let her serve with the dragoons."

Ben scowled at his friend.

"Absolutely not."

"Why not? I can serve."

"You don't know the first thing about living in this time, let alone about being in the military. Not to mention it is not allowed for any woman to serve in such a position."

Her eyes narrowed and her shoulders straightened.

"Why not? What is it that you can do that I can't? I am probably in better shape than most of the men that serve under you!"

Ben's gaze narrowed even more at the fire behind her gaze.

"Women are not equipped to handle the effects of war."

"Not equipped!"

"You lack a certain mentality and physical ability required to perform everyday tasks in this army."

Caleb watched in equal parts amusement and worry as Riley's face turned progressively redder, her gaze burning holes into his best friend as he continues to dig his own grave.

"This conversation is over. You will not be posing as a man in this army, end of discussion."

His condescending tone had her fuming as she looked at the pompous ass in front of her.

"You fucking asshole!"

Ben reeled back as if he had been slapped, wide eyed at her language.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me, you think that just because I'm a woman that I can't do exactly what you do, if not better? You have no idea what I'm capable of you egotistical sexist prick!"

Caleb snorted in laughter at the look on his friend's face.

"Miss Sammis, I am an officer in the Continental Army, you can not-"

She cut him off hands waving to make her point.

"I don't give a rat's ass who you are. You can't just talk to me like I am some spineless woman that's going to bend to your every whim. You're not the one stuck in some hell hole time period being told what to do by some backwards thinking jackass!"

Ben stood there speechless as Riley ranted eyes burning into him as if she could incinerate him with a single glare.

"Fucking men! I swear to god, this time era is so messed up. You know, it's people like you that are the reason women don't even get to vote before the 1900's!"

She was breathing heavily and gave Ben one last glare before flipping her middle finger at him and stalking out of the barn, leaving three flabbergasted men in her wake.

Caleb let out a low whistle and patted Ben on the shoulder.

"Well that went well."

Ben shook his head and glared at his friend as Caleb made his way to the door.

"I'm gonna go make sure she doesn't go kill some poor bastard that crosses her path."

Ban and Sackett eyed each other, Sackett gave the other man a small smile.

"Well, I think I finally do believe her story."

Ben let out a groan and brought a hand to cover his eyes shaking his head and letting out a breath.

Why did this woman have to happen to him?