AN: Same as before….

NO PLACE TO GO BUT DOWN

The Colonel watched as his men drew into formation. Secretly he was hoping this would be the end, but somewhere deep inside, he knew it was only the beginning. Somehow it was. And somehow, he'd get thru it without killing at least one of his own men for being stupid.

Well, perhaps not, but that's what he was hoping for.

A slight figure approached where he sat his horse. He smiled inwardly.

"Colonel?"

He simply nodded in acknowledgement.

"We have made ourselves comfortable as best we could. My father, of course, couldn't be bothered to come and see us. Not that I expected him to, but still..."

He looked at the figure in their deep purple gown, sighed softly to himself, and forced a grinned to his weather beaten face.

"Of course not, Catherine. He is quite the busy man because of this war."

Catherine Cornwallis stared up at him for a moment. How handsome the Colonel was. He could still make her weak...

...always.

"I didn't think he would, Colonel. Never does. He'd much rather go view his new dogs or horses, then he would in coming to see his own flesh and blood. Not that it matters to me if he had, or he hadn't. I'm too used to it to expect anything else."

Tavington stared at her for long time. Used to it? How could she be used to her own father wanting nothing to do with her? What intrigued him the most, was how much he wanted to see her. How much he needed to be near her.

What a stupid man Cornwallis was.

Very stupid.

"Do you find the house in good order, Lady Cornwallis?"

Such ignorant pretenses.

Colonel and Lady

It had to be this way when they were among the other Dragoons. When Cornwallis' lackey, O'Hara, was snooping about.

But soon...

Soon they would know the truth.

And when they did?

All hell would break loose. And Tavington might very well find himself on the end of a noose.

He shuddered slightly.

Catherine studied him.

"Are you alright, Colonel Tavington? You look worried."

"As fine as one can be in the time of war, my dear. "

She nodded.

"Ah yes, I can imagine it's very difficult for you..."

"You can't imagine." he cut in.

"No, actually I can. I was raised on war, remember Colonel? I am, after all, the Lord General's eldest daughter. Weened on war."

He nodded curtly.

"Yes, I suppose you're right. You, however, are not in the thick of it..."

"Yes, but neither is my father. Sat comfortably in that huge montrousity he calls a mansion."

Again the curt nod.

He dismounted quickly, slipped his arm around her waist, and moved her off towards the grove of oaks standing sentry by the creek. Here, they could speak privately.

"They will know soon enough, my dearest."

Catherine nodded in agreement.

"I'm sure they will, William. If, that is, they don't already know?"

He eyed her suspiciously.

"What do you mean?"

"O'Hara has been sneaking around the house. Watching me, of course. Always did that. Hasn't changed much. He over heard me and Aimee talking earlier last evening."

Colonel Tavington blinked at her as if the sun had managed to break thru the trees and shine directly into his eyes. This couldn't be true...not yet.

"And just what does your middle sister know about us? And, what O'Hara actually overhear?"

Catherine grinned faintly.

"She knows we were married on the way here. She knows that bothe Borden and Wilkins stood as witnesses. That Mona desserted us in Ohio, and that she has joined the Rebels. She also knows, that I am pregnant with your child. As for O'Hara..." she sneered slightly, "He knows nothing. What he did overhear, was how we thought father treated us dreadfully upon our arrival."

Tavington smiled slowly.

Good.

"Just so O'Hara doesn't go off telling your father anything, other then how dreadfully he is to you. We don't need him saying anything, until this war is over."

Catherine nodded.

"Exactly. Aimee knows not to mention it. Not in her best interests to do so."

"Oh?"

"She married one of father's other officers. And, he doesn't know about that one, either."

Tavington chuckled softly.

"Ah, I see it runs in the family..."

"It does."

He nodded, then pulled her close for a kiss. When they moved apart, she was flushed and smiling widely.

"I do miss not being able to sleep with you at night, William. Or, to have you hold me close when you speak about your day...I can't bear this weight. I do hope we tell them soon."

"We will, my love, we will." He kissed her deeply.

When they emerged from the trees, a Dragoon walked towards them.

"Sir!" he stood to attention.

"What is it Kincaid?"

"I have a message from the Lord General, Sir."

"Well, what is it?" Tavington hissed.

The Dragoon paled slightly, then handed over a wax sealed letter.

"All in the letter, Sir." he said as he turned and headed away.

Tavington eyed him for a moment, then tore open the Lord General's letter.

He read in silence.

Catherine watched him expectantly.

"What does he want now?"

"Seems we, myself and the Dragoons, leave here at first light tomorrow."

Catherine nodded and sighed.

"Where to this time?"

"In South Carolina, of course..."

"Yes, but where?"

Tavington grinned oddly and shuddered.

"COWPENS."