is a typical town found in Virginia, with a mix of large and medium size houses and different classes of people. There are a couple of stores as well.

He rode down the street atop his fine Indian pony, ignoring the looks he was getting from the townsfolk. He didn't really care if people were staring, he'd long-since gotten over being offended or annoyed, now he just took it in stride. He did look an odd sight, though, dressed in a buckskin jacket and grey pants, with a long barreled gun over one shoulder and a tomahawk strapped to the opposite leg. His long, straight black hair fell mid-way down his back and his piercing blue eyes stood out against his bronzed skin. But for all his not caring about what the townsfolk thought, he desperately hoped that he didn't run into any Union soldiers.

((there, all done with his entrance into the town.....mwahahahahaa!))

He rode out of town, off towards the Confederate encampment.....

Katherine wandered through the town, accompanied only by a strange-looking dog who tried to bite at her basket. She sighed and patted the dog's head, bending down to show him the contents. It wasn't much, just today's harvest of carrots. However, she seemed satisfied and even laughed when her dog took a carrot from the basket.

"Silly thing." she teased.

Robert walked through town, leading his horse by the reins. Dressed in his blue uniform, he was hard to miss against the dreary greys and browns of the scenery around him. He sighed, life stunk, that was for sure. He didn't even want to be in the military at ALL let alone for the Union. Caught in his own thoughts he accidentally ran into a girl who had walked across in front of him.

Patrick Brighelm urged his Company through the streets. When he saw the caveryman talking to the pretty girl he shouted, "Get back to your damn squadron. There are Rebs all round ya, boy." He snached off his kepi and smiled at the girl.

((he hadn't been talking to her, he accidentally ran into her))

Rob frowned. "I'm sorry, sir, but my captain told me to meet up with a Captain Brighelm. You wouldn't happen to know where I might find him, would you?"

"Sergent, halt the Company," said Brighelm. "I be him."

"With plesure sir," said Sergent Robert Marson. "Stop ye buggers.

Rob raised an eyebrow and stood straighter. "I'm supposed to join your brigade, er, company, Captain, sir."

Brighelm raised an eyebrow. A cavalryman in an infantry company? The army was dumb but not that dumb. "Do you 'ave written orders?"

Damnit, it wasn't working! Rob swallowed, "No, I'm afraid I don't, sir."

(He's Union ya know. So why is he cruseing?)

"Then, judgeing by that accent I could treat you as a spy, me boy."

"My accent is Southern, Captain, I admit to that," Rob answered, still standing at attention, unwavering, "I was living with my uncle in New York when the war started, sir. And, frankly, sir, I hate my brigade. I had to think of some excuse to try and join someone else's. I'm terribly sorry for lying, sir." He actually was sorry, mostly. Sorry he got caught at his game.

"It's fine me boy, but I'm worried, that you knew me by namesake," he said. "Try Captain Mclaw down the road, he needs men bad!"

What? No being yelled at? No punishment or anything? Rob stared for just a second and then saluted the captain. "Thank you, sir and again I'm terribly sorry."

"Do I look like a damn Provost?" he smiled. "Now, how did ye know my name?"

Rob blinked. "I make a point to know everyone in command, sir. It's easiest for me to find people when they need to be found or when someone tells me to bring them something." Yeah, so he was mostly used as an errand boy. He didn't care so long as it kept him away from the majority of the fighting.

He smiled "Smart. You'd better go see Mclaw."

Rob held back a smile and nodded. "Thank you, sir."

"Aye. He turned to the girl.

"Good luck," said Marson in Irish.

"Now that wouldn't happen to be your dog, lass?" he said with a warm smile.

Rob nodded to them and started off to find Captain Mclaw.

(I might make him., but I hate the cav...well cav reenactors anyways. But youse could!)

((*shrugs* maybe tomorrow. I'm off to bed. Night!))

(Me too :D)

Katherine and her dog had moved off in the midst of the two soldiers, avoiding being trampled by horses. She patted the dog's head and pretended not to listen, but heard the conversation as plainly as if they'd been speaking to her. She smiled at the man in the blue uniform.

"It is." she replied. "Strange thing, but a good dog nonetheless."

She pretended to pay attention to Vitus the dog, but kept her ear trained for the man's response.

"Its a nice one." he comented. "What kind is it?"

Katherine shrugged.

"Not quite sure." she said. "Pa brought it home one day. Said it was lying in the field an almost hit it with the scythe."

She scratched the dog's head and chuckled as it practically engulfed her hand with it's tongue.

"Big one though; maybe some kind of wolfound."

"Have a name?" he asked. "I had a foxhond when I was a wee boy in Ireland, Wolfe was his name, nice dog, but lazy hunter."

(Oh, going to camp for a week.)

(cool)

Katherine smiled.

"Vitus." she said. "Not sure where the name came from. Foxhound, huh? Sounds like a nice dog."

She held her head up and gave a small curtsey as her mother had taught her.

"Katherine." she introduced herself. "And you are...?"

"Patrick," he said with a smile. He should have given his full name and rank, but damn the army just once. "He was a nice thing, had wonderful fur, soft as a clould."

Katherine nodded.

"I'm sure he was." she said, ruffling Vitus' ears. "A friend of mine used to have one. Beautiful creature, loved to sit on the furniture and eat newspaper."

She grinned and laughed.

"Well then, Patrick, what brings you out here?"

"This sad little war," he said.

Katherine nodded.

"I see." she said, unsure of how else to respond. She had very little knowledge about the war, next to nothing for one who seemed to live in the midst of it.

"I'm sorry if I'm keeping you."

"Not at all miss," he said. "We ar' sationed just down the road."

"Ah." she said with a nod. "Well, I suppose that's good then."

Vitus gave a loud, bellowing bark and Katherine looked in his direction.

"What is it?" she asked the dog as it decided to lie across her feet. "Vitus?"

The dog began to snore.

Brighelm laughed. "Me dog could sleep anywhere too," he smiled. "You live 'round here?"

Katherine couldn't help but laugh as well.

"Yes, just down the road actually." she said, glancing towards her farmhouse. "Howard Caine's farm."

Vitus continued to doze.

"Farming? Oh wonderful. I t'ink we shall be seein' each other for awhile..," he said trying to hide a blush, but a little showed through.

Katherine smiled.

"I hope so." she said. "You seem like a kind man."

Her feet were going numb, but the dog refused to budge. She finally knelt down and hissed in the dog's ear.

"Come on, before a cart flattens us."

Vitus opened one eye, gave a huge yawn, then reluctantly stood up.

(Sorry if these are so long, it's kinda habit XD)

(Its all fine, you're a very good writer!)

"Would you like me t' walk ye back t' your fram," he offered, the light blush showing again.

He glanced at his company. "Sergent see the boys get set."

"Aye, sir."

Katherine smiled.

"I'd like that." she said simply, calling Vitus back to her side as he snuffled at some grass.

She took Patrick's arm, blushing as much as he was. Vitus wagged his tongue, his tongue lolling as he trotted back to his mistress' side. He seemed quite protective of her.

(why thank you :D)

(Yeah..even if you're a bio stealer! :D)

He walked wit her, last6 girl he walked with was his wife. But she was gone now. "Well, do you have any family?"

(Oh, you'll get over it. :D)

Katherine nodded.

"My parents, of course." she said. "A younger sister, and Vitus."

She looked up at him.

"And you?" she asked. "You must have a family somewhere."

"Me da was killed in '98 in Wicklow, which is where grew up. My brothers died in gun fights and me mother is god knows where..My last brother was killed at Gettysburg."

(Wow, he has NO family, I didn't relize that till now..I feel emo again. And no I won't."

((You're just an emo little person over there, aren't you? XD))

Katherine nodded and bowed her head.

"I'm sorry." she said meekly. "I didn't realize... VITUS! Watch out!"

The dog managed to bound back towards her before being flattened by a cart. She rolled her eyes.

"You'll be the death of me, won't you?" she asked the dog. His only response was to wag his tail.

"Its fine," he said. "Sounds like my old dog."

Katherine shrugged, giving him a smile.

"Well, here's the farm." she said with a sigh. "Thank you... thanks for walking me home."

Vitus barked and wagged his tail enthusiastically again.

(Find the rest of this post at Howard Caine's Farm)

Brighelm looked up from his cookfire just a few yards away from her farm. He nodded his greeting but didn't know if she could see it.

"And how is the lady, sir?" asked Marson sucking on his cigair.

"Shut-up, muttered Brighelm.

"I'll take that to be right as rain, sir."

((From the farm...))

Katherine caught sight of Patrick and nodded back, giving him a smile as she entered the store. The woman behind the counter eyed her basket with an assesing gaze.

"How much?" she asked, as if she were purchasing something illegal.

"Ten cents a pound." Katherine replied uncertainly, her father not telling what the price ought to have been.

(brb.. and I said abbrevations were lost on me... XD)

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