Rules

Sadie told her uncle everything that happened during their 9-year-separation period. It was almost dusk by the time she had finished.

"Well I am glad that your years in England were good," the lord general said.

"Yes but now I am here and my years here will be even better," Sadie said.

Cornwallis smiled at her. Tavington noticed the look he was giving her, the look of pure love and caring. Tavington would bet anything that if he tried to hit her he would find himself on the ground with a bullet to the head. He gave a quick smirk at the thought.

"Now," Cornwallis said,"while I have your attention I have some rules to lay down for the both of you."

Sadie straightened in her chair. Tavington Didn't move at all.

"We will start with you, Sadie,"Cornwallis said,"Now I trust you remember the letter I sent you before you left?"

"Yes uncle I remember," Sadie said.

"Good," the Lord General said,"Now, as you know I have appointed Colonel Tavington as your caretaker. I expect you to show him respect and maturity. Any rule breaking or disobedience and you shall be punished. Is that understood?"

Sadie shot Colonel Tavington an evil glare. To the General she said," Yes uncle. I will show the Colonel respect, though I don't understand why I need a caretaker."

Cornwallis ignored that remark and turned to the Colonel. Tavington stared straight into the General's eyes.

"You are on probation,"Cornwallis said,"I have given you the job of watching over my niece. If you can show me that watching a young lady is no trouble for you, then you shall resume your daily duties of raiding. If not you will be stripped of your rank, and I will either have you work around the manor house, or I will send you back to England. Is that clear, Colonel"

"Crystal sir," Tavington replied. He looked at Sadie out of the corner of his eye. Her eyes were beginning to droop a little. Cornwallis looked at her.

"Sadie are you alright?"

"Yes I am," Sadie answered," I'm just tired. It was a long trip."

"Well then, I shall escort you to your quarters,"Cornwallis said. He got up out of his chair and offered Sadie his arm. She rose slowly and took it.

"Colonel you are excused," the General said.

As the two walked by, Sadie gave the colonel a kick. He jumped out of his chair, causing the General to stop.

"Is there anything wrong colonel,''he asked. Tavington glared down at Sadie. How could she look so inoccent when she knew she had just done something wrong.

"Well,Colonel," Sadie said,"is anything the matter?''

"Nothing at all,"Tavington sad through clenched teeth.

Sadie and the general exited the room.

You want to play it that way,the colonel thought,I'm in.


Colonel Tavington slept a little better that night. He had a dream that Sadie decided to go back to England, and the General resigned and Tavington became general. Tavington woke up in a good mood. He knew all too well that it would not last.

'Time for my first day watching that brat' the colonel thought. He rose slowly from his four poster and began dressing just as slowly as he did yesterday. He looked himself up and down, and finding himself satisfactory exited his room and went to wait for Sadie.

"Good morning colonel," said a voice behind him. Tavington turned around and stared straight into Sadie's green eyes.

"Why didn't you wake me when you got up," Tavington asked," You know you are not to be wondering by yourself."

"You looked so peaceful when you were sleeping," Sadie said with the same innocent stare she gave him the previous night,"I figured I could handle it. I am after all 15 years old, and perfectly capable of going to the washroom by myself."

"I will be reporting this to your uncle," Tavington said.

Sadie laughed," What's the matter Colonel, you can't handle it yourself? How did you get through all those raids? Surely you couldn't have handled those rebels. You probably came running to my dear uncle."

"You are taking advantage of your uncles generosity,"Tavington said.

" No," Sadie said," I am taking advantage of your one weakness."

"How dare you," Taington said," You will be punished for this."

Sadie showed no expression. The smile disappeared off her face.

"I will take any punishment you or my uncle can dish out," she said," Believe me no matter what it is I'm pretty sure I have experienced it. We are in a war of our own colonel. You are fighting to win back your position in the raids, and I am fighting to rid my self of you."

Tavington said nothing. He stared at her for a moment, wondering where she gets the guts to talk to anyone the way she did.

" If it is a war you want to call it, then a war it is," Tavington said," I'm ready to take you on."

"Then let the 'war' begin," Sadie said.

" I will tell you right now that I wont go as easy on you as I did when you were younger."

There was a moments silence between the two.

"Do your worst," Sadie said.