Thread: Asking for Directions {darkangel76 & Alan23}

As Andie stood there, her dark eyes fixed themselves upon the wretched scenery that seemed to engulf them allhow she loathed the Ozarks! If she never saw mud and dirty trails again, she'd be more than happy. Plus, this journey through backwoods trails was not bringing out the best in her. Luck, it had seemed, had decided to leave her entirely the moment she'd agreed to go on this horrendous trip. And now that she was in the wilds of no man's land, things were only getting worse... steadily worse. Andie had heard the crude and callous comments made by the soldiers. How dare they even look at her breasts let alone comment on them! Not even her intended had gotten a peek! Honestly, it was more than she could bear to hear such whispers, knowing she was the center of gossip and the prattling of men that she looked after. These were her men, her soldiers! Such disrespect was unheard of! Wasn't it? Frowning, she wanted to stomp her foot, but unfortunately her shoes were ruined. Doing so would only call attention to how muddied they'd become. It was a disaster, a nightmare, a... While her thoughts ran wild, her temper flaring at the boorish manners of the men she was traveling with on her way to New Orleans, Andie suddenly realized that her zipper on the back of her gown indeed hadn't been zipped properly, the thing ever so slowly making its way downward along her back the more she moved. As if the day could get any worse! She'd been certain the incident with her corset was the worst it could get, but oh she'd been wrong! So very wrong! For as humiliating as it had been when it had shifted, the fact that her zipper had come undone was far worse. Andie knew her back was becoming exposedcorset, flesh and all. What would Harry say if he could see her now? Surely he'd never touch her again. Not that he ever had to begin with. Not really... Eyes beginning to dampen with tears, Andie averted them and suddenly found herself staring at the ground. She knew more teasing and mockery would be well on its way. After all, these men were now on her 'list'. Well, nearly all of them since one had managed to stay off of it. But with this new onset of shame, she was certain that Charles would be added to that 'list' within the hour. After all, the man was a prisoner, beneath the soldiersfor the most partso naturally, he'd be laughing along with them soon enough. She had no doubt about it. As her cheeks reddened and a tear threatened to fall, she suddenly heard a voice interrupt her thoughts while a pair of warm hands went to quick work on her zipper. Andie's dark eyes widened, but her body shifted out of its own accord so that Charles would be able to do what was needed. It was almost as if it knew it was suddenly getting the assistance it both needed and craved and how that reminded her of being home. When the zipper was in place, she watched Charles go back in line to where he'd been standing, her eyes lingering on him for a moment as he stood there. She had to fight the urge to look at the rest of his body though much to her luck, he was at least fully clothed now unlike earlier when he'd been half naked. Even still, it was disconcerting as to how difficult it was to keep her eyes fixed upon his. Though fortunately, she managed. Barely. At that, Andie curtsied for Charles, her dark eyes narrowing as she eyed the rest of the men surrounding them all. Looking back at the only one who'd taken pity on her, she let out a soft yet haughty sigh. I accept your apology, Mr. McAuley, she said, her words in reference to Charles' excusal. No harm was done and your intentions were gentlemanly. Andie tilted her head slightly, a curious expression crossing her angelic features. Truly this man was unlike any she'd ever come across beforeso different from Harry and nothing like the criminal she'd expected him to be. As she looked down at her soiled hemline, she let out another audible sigh knowing full well she needed to change before her next meeting with him, a task that would take her quite some time seeing as she'd have no one to help her given the state of everything. And they needed to get moving soon, break camp and get back on the road and make more headway if they wanted to arrive in New Orleans on time. Though, I must take my leave for the moment and tend to other things, Andie said as she turned to head back toward her tent. But I will be back around the lunch hour to see how things are faring. It... she continued. Is my duty to do so, her cheeks reddened as she spoke her final words, though she tried to hide her blush by turning away, her body facing the opposite direction of where Charles stood.