Author's Note:I am so sorry that it has taken this long to get more of this story published. When real life surges up and snatches you, there isn't much you can do other than hang on. I've tried several times between my last update and now to write more, but nothing seemed to do them justice. I hope this does.

The days slipped on without more talk of the nightmares that plagued Cassandra. She learned to keep them to herself when she could, and when she couldn't, she played them off as just that – dreams. She couldn't bring herself to come to terms with the fact that there was precious little time left for them.

William's missions seemed to last longer, it would sometimes be days before the saw each other, and although Cassandra tried to keep herself as busy as possible, she could not escape the thoughts that followed her everywhere. How to stop the unstoppable.

One spring morning, Cassandra watched from the main house as the gates opened, and several of Tavington's men rode through, at least two dozen others with them. She watched, horrified as the men were led to a makeshift prison while the gallows were prepared. As she gathered her skirts to seek out someone and find out what had happened, what crimes these men had committed, the gates were opened again and a lone rider came through, carrying a white flag. Cassandra gasped, even from her distance, she knew who the man must be. Benjamin Martin, riding into the heart of enemy territory to save his men.

Cassandra moved away from the window, she had to get downstairs. She knew it was pointless to try and argue the case against the prisoners, she didn't even know their names, but she had to find her husband. Why hadn't he rode in with the rest of his men? Where was he? Hurrying as fast as she could, she made her way outside, ignoring the calls and pleas from the imprisoned men. Finding one of the soldiers, she grabbed his arm. "Where is Colonel Tavington?" she demanded. "Why have you come back without him?"

The soldier opened his mouth, a sarcastic remark on his tongue before he remembered himself, and who was speaking to him. "Begging your pardon ma'am" he said tipping his hat, "The Colonel and several others stayed back to make sure we rounded up as many of the rebel forces as we could. He ordered us to return with the ones we had, to ensure there would be no farther hostility from them"

Cassandra nodded, "And his return?"

"Unspecified" the soldier replied, "I'm sorry ma'am"

Nodding again, Cassandra turned, noticing that Mr. Martin had been escorted into the house. She took her time, glancing over her shoulder every few moments. She couldn't go inside now, not with him in the house. She needed to be outside, at least until William returned or Benjamin left. She could not leave them to see each other.

It seemed like hours, but finally, Benjamin re-appeared on the steps, and the release of the prisoners was announced. Cassandra breathed a sigh of relief, not only would innocent lives be spared, but Benjamin was sure to be long gone before William returned.

As the gates opened, and Benjamin moved to take his horse from where more of his unit stood, Cassandra watched in horror as William rode in. She could tell by the way he stiffened in his saddle that he recognized the man.

Cassandra picked up her skirts and ran towards the men as the door to the prison was opened, and she saw William speaking with Cornwallis' second in command. She knew without a doubt that the man would impart the news of the prisoner release to him, and as she knew her husband, she knew his temper would rear up and get them all into trouble.

As if on cue, Tavington whirled around, yanking his sword from its sheath as he rounded on Benjamin. "William don't!" Cassandra called out, even as one of the other General's hollered out the command to stop. She heard the things her husband called out to the other man, things that she was certain were meant to entice him into making a move.

As William and Benjamin stood toe to toe in the open gateway, Cassandra moved towards them, only to be stopped by Captain Bordon. "This is not the place for you" he said, his voice low even as his meaning was clear. Cassandra strained to hear the exchange, slapping at Bordon's arm when he moved to restrained her. "Do you not see what is happening?" she demanded as her husband offered his sword to the other man, "If he takes that..."

"He won't" Bordon cut her off impatiently, "To do so would risk the lives of the men he just saved. Do you honestly think the rest of us would stand by and do nothing?"

Cassandra opened her mouth, but quickly closed it again, breathing a sigh of relief as Martin turned from her husband and left, the gates closing swiftly behind him.

As soon as she was able, Cassandra moved to his side. "What were you thinking?" she asked him, the worry plain on her face.

"I was thinking to put an end to this ghost nonsense once and for all" Tavington replied, "But it wasn't meant to be"

Later that evening, Cassandra looked up from her book, a smile on her face as William walked into their home.

"What did the Lord General require?" she asked pleasantly. She knew he didn't often discuss his private meetings with her, but the curiosity had been eating at her ever since he was summoned. She had assumed that it had something to do with the scene that had taken place earlier, he really did need to control his temper sometimes.

"He requires me to lead my men out tonight" he told her, crossing the room to press a kiss to the top of her head.

"Tonight?" Cassandra repeated, "But you just returned"

"I know my darling, and I apologize, but it is necessary"

"Where are you going?" she asked him quietly, "Will you be far?"

"Not far" he assured her, "And most certainly in no danger. It is simply a scouting mission, the Lord General requires information"

"And he can send no one but you?" she argued softly.

"He can trust no one but me" William replied. "Do not worry my love, I will return to you quickly"

That night, while Cassandra laid in bed, staring out the open window and praying for her husbands safe return, William watched as the home of Charlotte Selton, the sister of Benjamin Martin's late wife, burned to the ground. He had been unsuccessful in locating either the woman, or the Martin children. He knew they must be close, he could feel it. When the gunshot sounded behind him, he turned, a cruel grin appearing on his face. He should have known the Ghost would be keeping an eye on the place.

"To horse" he yelled, as he quickly mounted his own. He would chase down the ghost, and he would end this. Tonight.