"Nope they've used Patrick Humfrey Brighelm enough."

"So I get him all to myself?"

"You sure do honey."

Kath smiled and kissed him.

He kissed her back.

Kath smiled at him.

"Should we head home?" she asked, blinking away sleepiness.

"Why not?"

She sighed sleepily and waved to Granny, signaling she was leaving.

"I'll find out who won the piglet tomorrow." she said. "Or tonight. Whenever I tell her about... our bet."

"sounds good..."

Kath nodded, then sighed.

"Come on." she said with a smile. "Let's go home."

The sticky heat of a Virginian summer evening seemed cool after the stifling smoke filled little room in the back end of the seedy little tavern, five or six men of varying states of cleanliness and station gathered around a small table, stolidly studying their hand of cards, then gazing across the table at their counterparts, then back at their hands. Sergeant Hale stood without the establishment, breathing deeply of the warm, fresh air. He smoothed back his wheat colored hair and replaced his non-regulation slouch hat, which he felt a bit more charming than the kepi that he kept for everyday use; before stepping out into the street. He’d had quite a successful evening, his wallet was quite a bit heavier than it had been when he’d entered the tavern, but it wasn’t about the money… His step was lighter, his carriage more proud, he was his old self again. He even whistled as he strode down the main-street, there might’ve been no such thing as war, for all he seemed aware of it just now.

If he were to be honest, he didn’t mind the war so much, before, his prospects had been…not limited, they had been decided. Not by he himself, but by his Mother, and his Uncle, and even his Aunt; society in general had decided what William Hale should be. He was going to get the Plantation back, he was going to restore it to its former glory, he was going to marry a suitable young woman, and he was going to live and die in quiet, polite obscurity. Mother wanted this because Uncle told her it was what she wanted, just as Uncle had told her to sell the plantation in the first place, but no one spoke of that without adding that ‘it was the only thing to do, considering…’ but now William was a man, and he could set it all to rights.

College was a mere diversion on the road to his final destination, his final destiny. Mother had only allowed it because it was ‘proper’ that a young gentleman should be so educated, and because she knew it wouldn’t last long. Then the war had broken out…Why had he joined? Because he was a Virginian, like his father, and his Grandfather, and his father, back to the Colonies, and so when Virginia seceded, he seceded, if Virginia was confederate, so he would be. …And if it kept him from that final, inevitable end, well so much the better. He would take purgatory over hell.

It's getting late.

You should've been home hours ago.

Mother'll be scared to death.

"I know." Jen muttered to herself, wiping her brow with a sigh. How anyone in their right mind could enjoy this summer was beyond her. Jenny Walsh knew only the occasional rainstorm or mild rain, but that was typically in wintertime. Summertime heat waves weren't anything she was used to. She looked around for her horse in the dark.

When he stumbled upon the girl, (for stumble he did, not having been paying the slightest attention to where he was going) he was so startled that he let out a long curse, it rolled of his tongue as smooth as cream, but the words themselves would’ve made most people’s ears burn. Sergeant Hale liked to curse, when not in the presence of ladies of course, and being surrounded day after day by like-minded, often less-genteel men had enforced the habit. He steadied himself, and the girl, whom he had nearly knocked over, “oh—er—I’m terribly sorry Ma’m.” He said, offering her a sheepish grin.

Jen glanced up, looking quite confused as she brushed off the dust on her skirt.

"Huh?" she asked, "Oh no, it's just fine, sir."

She smiled back.

"I'm afraid I'm quite used to colorful language."

“One may grow accustomed to anything I suppose,” he spoke rather cryptically as his grin faded into a polite smile, “never-the-less, I apologize. I am Sergeant William Hale, in case you’d like to report my negligence to my superiors,” he seemed inclined to grin, for he did so once again.

Jen smirked.

"No need for that." she said with a chuckle. "The only negligence you seem to have is failiure to notice the heat. Hardly reportable."

William fanned himself with his hat jokingly, “it isn’t the heat so much as the humidity, they say, but I was raised south of the James, so I never took much notice of it...” It occurred to him that this was not an appropriate hour for a young woman to be out alone, but did not wish to pry into her personal affairs. Instead he offered her his arm, “you must at least allow me to escort you home, Miss, to amend my previous offenses.”

"I can walk myself." she said with a smile. "I still have two legs, don't I?"

She chuckled.

"Thanks for the offer though."

He raised his eyebrows at her response but returned her smile, unruffled, “yes, I suppose you do. I would press the matter but I feel it would do little to persuade you.” He replaced his hat, tipping it politely, “So Miss, I shall take my leave.”

She nodded.

"See you again soon, I hope." She replied politely, turning away and continuing on down the road.

*The Next Day*

Sergeant Hale whistled as he strode down the main street, with his hands thrust in his pockets and his hat tilted forward to shade his eyes, he seemed quite content. And so he was, to a certain degree, his furlough wasn’t up for another three days yet, and though he would’ve preferred to spend it with his family in Richmond, he didn’t mind this solitude either. He’d spent the night at a hotel, alone (though he’d never admit it to his messmates), in a real bed, with clean linen sheets, and hadn’t bothered to get up till noon. He’d had a quiet brunch in the hotel restaurant, and then spent the afternoon strolling about, acquainting himself with the town and its folk, mostly of the young, female and unattached persuasion.

There were of course, obvious signs of the times, from the quality and quantity of his lunch, to the empty store-windows and abandoned homes that appeared here and there along the street, but these things he ignored; the war would be waiting for him back at camp, that was enough.

Jenny came out of her house, yawning and drowsy-eyed. Her blonde hair was held back in a snood under a cap, shielding her scalp from the sun. She scratched at it occasionally, the crude wool itchier than rabbit hair.

She wandered the streets awhile, heading towards the hospital.

Hale saw her, for, with the exception of last night, he was a very observant sort, though he made no effort either to avoid or approach her, for he saw that their paths would soon cross, and remember her smooth dismissal of him the night previous, he wished to seem neither eager nor reluctant to meet again so soon. When their courses did converge, he smiled politely and tipped his hat, “why Miss—“, he paused, “well, you never did offer your name.”

Jen had been busy rifling through her basket when she heard the familiar voice. She glanced up and smiled.

"Forgive me." she said with a chuckle. "It was quite late and I had much on my mind."

She curtseyed.

"Jenny Walsh. And forgive me again; what is yours?"

William brushed away the apology with a wave of his hand, “never mind, Jenny Walsh,” he turned the name over on his tongue as he removed his hat and gave a slight bow, “Ms. Walsh, my name is Sergeant William Hale, but you can ignore the rank title if you like…well I didn’t fancy, when you said you ‘hoped to see me again soon’, that you intended it to be quite so soon.” He grinned.

Jen smirked.

"If I had control of the time, it would take away the fun of it." she said with a hint of flirtation in her voice. "Ranks and titles are nonesense around here; I suggest you only use them in uniform."

“No, I suppose time is not for we simple mortals to tamper with.” William chuckled, then gave a nod, “I shall remember that, it’s habit you know, I haven’t been on leave since the war broke out… well no, that isn’t quite true, I spent a couple months in hospital last year,” he smiled wryly, “I prefer William anyway, or Will, on more personal terms.”

"Then you won't mind if I call you Will?" she asked. "William Hale would positively butcher my tongue if I said it too much."

He laughed, “no, I wouldn’t mind in the least, though if you think William Hale is a mouthful, try William Sherrerd McCaity Hale, which is my full title, thank you.” He rolled his eyes, “my mother was a little... eccentric when it came to names.” A beat passed, “might I enquire where you’re off to this afternoon?”

Jen blinked at the name.

"Oh my..." she mumbled. "That is quite a name."

She shrugged.

"Hospital." she replied to his next question. "I work as a nurse down there."

He smirked at her reaction, then nodded to her next response, “Ah, yes, well I’m not particularly fond of hospitals, but might I escort you?” he lowered his voice into a mock whisper, “to refuse twice would be unbearably cruel of you Jenny.”

Jen laughed gleely.

"What can I say; I'm not a bearable girl." she said with a shrug. "However I will allow you whatever pleasure you may have of walking with me."

“I think you quite bearable,” he grinned and it made his eyes gleam, “Any gentleman would take pleasure in accompanying such a pretty lady as you,” the compliment was smooth, it was hardly noticeable, he offered her his arm, “Do you enjoy your work at the hospital, or is it more a matter of duty?”

Jen swiped at the air and snapped her fingers, sighing in disgrace.

"Than my attempts at being horrible have failed." she said with a smirk at his compliment. "Ah well, I learn by trial and error."

She took his arm and shrugged.

"Duty, I suppose." she replied. "My father passed away earlier this year, so I'm the breadwinner nowadays."

“I’m sorry to hear that, though I commend you for taking responsibility for your family.” He knew what it was to lose a father, but didn’t wish to cheapen her loss by comparing it with his own. He walked a moment in silence, musing over this, before he spoke again. “This war has taken many before their time, both directly and indirectly, was your father a soldier—or, forgive me, does it bother you to speak of it?”

"I don't mind." she said with a small shrug while she was still on his arm. "My father was shot in the line of duty. He died at home, though. They brought him back to us to spend the rest of his days at home with us."

She sighed and looked down, her face grave but showing no emotion. She'd hardened herself to the point of being almost unbreakable a long time ago.

"I suppose that maybe it was his time."

“That must have been some comfort, having him home.” He watched her as she fought to hide her emotions, though she said it didn’t bother her, he suspected this wasn’t entirely true…a change of subject was perhaps best.

Thinking on this, his whole disposition began to change, he became more lively, animated, “We won’t think of that today, no,” he said, his grin returning, “I declare we will not speak of, not even think about, anything relating to this dreadful war, or indeed any other thing dismal or depressing for the rest of this day—this walk at the very least! Now, quickly, think of something that makes you happy, and then you must tell me what it is.”

Jen looked up at him like he was crazy, then laughed as his energy seemed to reach her.

"Lord, Will!" she grinned. "You could charm a snake from it's basket."

William’s grin turned almost wicked and he laughed, “It’s not the snakes I’m trying to charm,” he stooped and picked a wildflower from the roadside, and presented it to her, “now Jenny, you really must tell me…what makes you happy?”

Jen smiled and took the flower, spinning it absentmindedly between her fingers.

"Well," she sighed, looking pensive. "I'm not really sure..."

She thought for a moment as she looked up at the sky with her head tilted.

"Lakes." she decided, looking back at William. "I don't know why."

“Lakes,” he smiled softer this time, a genuine smile, “did you know, well I’m sure you do, up north, there are lakes so big you can’t see across them, like oceans?"

Jen nodded.

"Used to tell my parents that I'd go up there one day, build myself a cabin and spend my dyin' days by the lake."

She chuckled.

"Long time ago, though."

“I used to know someone who’d been there, John,” he smiled at the memory, “he’d tell stories about the different ships he’d seen, he is—.” His smile faded, was, he was…because John couldn’t do any of the things he’d always talked about doing after college, John was dead…and William had killed him. It could have been any of the dozens of shots that had gone off in the volley, but William knew, he just knew it was his. He shook himself from these thoughts and looked back to Jen, “A long time ago?” he smiled, “I should like to have seen you then.”

Jen tilted her head when he stopped, detecting something in the way his eagerness faded. Perhaps John was a childhood memory; a beloved Uncle? She didn't know. When he came back to the present she smiled and squeezed his arm.

"You wouldn't have been amused." she said with a smirk. "I was - and still am, it seems - one of the boys."

“Because there’s nothing amusing about a little girl who behaves like a boy.” he smirked, teasing, and touched one of a few freckles on her nose that had not faded with childhood, “outside without a bonnet I see, I’m sure your Mother disapproved of that.”

Jen tried to brush his hand away, chuckling a little.

"What can I say, bonnets are annoying things." she said with a grin. "I wouldn't even wear one until I was twelve, and that was on a dare."

“Oh-ho, impudent girl!” Will laughed, dropping his hand, “And who dared you?”

Jen grinned.

"An old friend." she said. "'Said I was too much of a boy. At first I agreed with him, then he teased me to the point I got fed up. I stole my Ma's bonnet and wore it to school the next day. Everyone stared in awe."

“I should think so,” a beat passed, “I never much cared for bonnets…make’s it hard to see a woman’s face. As a boy I always thought they must be hiding something under there that gave them those mysterious powers over my childish heart... now of course I know better,” he grinned, “I’m sure of it.”

Jen laughed. She'd never been so amused in her life; there was something so pleasant about this man.

"If there has been something hiding, I'm afraid I've misplaced it." she said. "A good long time ago."

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