James had gotten to his camp an hour or two after he had left Victoria. He didn't want to think about how much she was hurting. He missed her so much already. It was early afternoon when he had arrived. He went to go see how Joey was doing. He had seen Jamie and Charlie, but they were already trying to make new friends and become popular. Joey had been put next to Topthorn, Jamie's horse. Topthorn was a magnificent, large, black horse.

"Joey, meet Topthorn. Topthorn, this is Joey." Perkins was saying. "Sort out who's in charge between the two of you, you 'ear? If you want to fight, get it over with because once we're over there, you're going to need everything you've got for Fritz."

"Gently, Perkins!" James said. "I don't want to sour him."

"There be nothing gentle about a war, sir." Perkins said. "And there be nothing gentle about this one, either."

"I understand that, Sergeant, but I want him fit and shining." James said, handing off his riding crop and cap to someone passing by. He took Joey's reins and turned to give Perkins a look. "He's my horse."

"Sir." Perkins nodded and left.

James patted Joey's neck. He was very tense. "Easy, boy."

"Scares the living daylights out of me." Charlie said. James turned. He must have just come up behind him. He hadn't seen him.

"Who?" James asked.

"Perkins!" Charlie said, as if it was very obvious. "I'm glad he's on our side."

James turned to see Jamie (who had been made a Major in the army) coming up behind them with a few other soldiers. Jamie eyed Joey up and down.

"Not bad. Not bad at all." He said. "Still, not a patch on my Topthorn."

"I wouldn't be so sure. I think he's got potential." James smiled, patting Joey's neck. "He's certainly got the bit between his teeth!"

"I actually think my Blenheim's faster than the pair of them." Charlie said. Blenheim was a small, white horse. He was a little smaller than Joey.

"Clear off." Jamie said. Charlie and James fell in with the other soldiers, leaving their horses behind. James took his riding crop and hat back. "All right, gentlemen, listen here. Everything tells us the same story, from Waterloo to Omdurman, from Pickett's Charge to the Battle of Mars-la-Tour. The first attack can and should be the decisive one. Perkins?"

"Yes, sir?" Perkins said.

"No excuses, no mistakes. Every horse groomed and fit for presentation." Jamie said. "I want a full practice charge tomorrow."

"Sir." Perkins turned around and headed back.

James and Charlie grinned at each other. This was just what they had been waiting for. After listening to Jamie for awhile longer, they went to groom their horses. James found himself talking to Joey.

"I think my wife would have loved you. Her name is Victoria. She's got gorgeous brown hair and beautiful brown eyes. She's got such a way with animals. She says she didn't want a dog, but I saw the joy on her face when I gave her that puppy. I doubt that she'll ever get me my belt back." He laughed. Joey snorted. "Oh, don't be like that, now. I'll have to write her soon. I promised I would. I should also write a letter to the boy who owned Joey. I think that we've both adjusted miraculously well, don't you?"

Joey didn't make a sound. James sighed. He couldn't talk to Jamie or Charlie about how much he missed Victoria because they would just regard him as a sentimental fool. They loved their wives, but they and their wives didn't share the same bond that he and Victoria did. And his horse didn't respond to him. He had to write to Victoria, and soon.

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The morning after everything had happened, Victoria woke up with a splitting headache. She wondered where James was before everything from the previous day came back. She blinked back another wave of tears. She wanted James home. Bailey was still asleep, but he woke up as soon as Victoria removed her head. Victoria pushed him off of her when he tried to lick and nip at her chin.

"Bad." She said.

Bailey tucked his tail between his legs and started to lick at her chin again. Victoria knew he was acknowledging her as the alpha. She pushed him onto his side and gave him a belly rub. Bailey's little pink tongue lolled out. Victoria giggled a little. She finally got up.

"Come on, Bailey." She said. "I'll make you breakfast, and then I'll write James a letter."

Victoria went downstairs and collected some eggs. Bailey scared the chickens. Victoria went in the house and whisked the eggs and poured them in a bowl. She set it down in front of Bailey, who lapped it up eagerly. Victoria sat down at the kitchen table with paper and a pencil.

My darling James,
               I miss you very much already. I hope you're doing well. Bailey is a very sweet puppy. He scared the chickens, but was utterly terrified of Blaze. He hid in the hay. I had to dig him out of it. How's the new horse you picked out? I hope he's working out for you. Are Jamie and Charlie well? I know their wives are missing them. 

             James, I'm sorry for anything I said that hurt you. I'm sorry if I ever made you angry. I never had a chance to apologize before. Know that I'm truly sorry for anything I did that angered or hurt you. I love you very, very much, sweetheart.
~ Victoria

Victoria went to the post shop. It was already crowded with people sending letters to their children and spouses. Victoria finally was able to send hers and went home. She started doing James' chores, Bailey tagging close behind her. Victoria giggled when he started trying to herd the sheep. It was purely instinct for him. He finally got a lamb to move. The lamb's mother charged him, and he ran behind Victoria's legs. Victoria picked Bailey up and kissed him on the head. 

Victoria finished her chores, and then took Bailey in to eat lunch. He sat at her feet, hoping that some of her sandwich dropped on the floor. She finally rolled her eyes and gave him the crust of it. He wolfed it down. Victoria decided to go and read. After several pages, she found herself looking at her locket. She ran her thumb over James' picture. She missed him terribly. She sighed. How was she ever going to do this? 

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The next morning, James rose bright and early. He went to groom and tack Joey up. Joey seemed a little happier than normal to see him. Jamie was already in there grooming Topthorn. The black horse gleamed in the early morning light.

"How did you sleep, Jim?" Jamie asked.

"Fine, fine. You?" James asked.

"Very well, thank you." Jamie said.

"Jamie, do you miss Evelyn?" James asked.

"I suppose." Jamie said. "I don't miss our arguing, though." Jamie impersonated a women's voice, "Jamie do this, Jamie do that!"

"Victoria and I never argued about petty things like that." James said.

"Then consider yourself lucky." Jamie said.

When the two friends had finished grooming their horses, they went to the field where they were doing the practice charge. Most of the other soldiers were already there. Jamie took his place at the front. James and Charlie rode up beside them.

"I thought you two had bottled out." Jamie said.

"As if." Charlie scoffed.

"Alright, let's see what you two jokers are made of, shall we?" Jamie asked. 

"This is what quiet confidence looks like." James grinned. 

"I'll wait for you two at the Duke of York." Charlie said smugly.

Topthorn and Joey pawed at the ground with their hooves. Jamie tried to steady Topthorn. 

"Over to you, Captain Nicholls." He said. Topthorn nipped at Joey.

"DRAW SWORDS! GIVE POINT!" James yelled. "CHARGE!"

James and Jamie quickly pulled to the front. They were neck and neck. The two of them looked at each other. Jamie and Topthorn pulled ahead of James and Joey. James felt he had to win. He had always been very competitive, but now he felt like he had an actual reason.

For Victoria. He thought.

"Come on, Joey! I know you've got it. Come on, boy! Come on!" James said. 

Joey ran faster and caught up to Jamie and Topthorn. The two men looked at each other for a moment before James and Joey pulled ahead. James smiled back at Jamie, thoroughly amused. Jamie cursed himself and put his sword down. He knew he wasn't going to win now. James snagged the ring that had blue ribbon tied around it. Jamie slowed down and James rode up to him.

"Nice of you to turn up!" He joked.

"He's got speed, I'll give him that." Jamie admitted. "But has he got stamina?"

"Oh, he has everything." James said. Joey nipped at Topthorn. "I'd like to keep the ring."

"Why?" Jamie asked.

"I'm going to send it to Victoria." James said.

"I doubt she'd really care for it, but alright." Jamie shrugged. 

James dismounted Joey and took him back to the stables. He gave him some water and then went inside. He put on a record, got himself something to drink, and sat down at his desk. He started to draw a picture of Joey for the boy who'd owned him. When he'd gotten a bit tired of that, he started to write a letter to Victoria.

My beautiful wife,
             Words cannot describe how much I miss you, my love. I hope you're doing alright. If you need to know how to do anything, just write me and I'll let you know how as soon as I can. I love the locket. I'll be able to look at it and think of your beauty when things get hard. I tried to draw you, but it didn't turn out too well. I feel awful. I'm entrusting this picture to you so you can burn it. Jamie would never let me live it down.

             You may be wondering why the ribbon I've included has been attached along with the picture. I know it's nothing valuable, but I won it for you. You see, we were doing a practice charge today and the goal was to pull ahead and snag this ribbon. 

"What are you up to?" James was pulled out of his train of thought when Jamie spoke to him.

"I'm writing a couple letters." James said.

"With pictures in them?" Jamie asked. 

"One is to Victoria, and the other is to the boy who owned Joey. I want to show him how wonderful he's looking." James said, covering the picture of Victoria with his other hand. 

"Before we take him across the Channel to face a million German guns." Jamie said.

"Yes, before that." James said, a little more quietly.

"Four A.M. start tomorrow. We're travelling with the Dragoon Guards and the Royals. Transport detachment. They need to be at the dock at five A.M. to check all the kit." Jamie said. "Battle orders, no polishing. Buttons, helmet buckles, stirrups, let them all go dull. I don't want anything to flash in the sun and give us away."

"Of course." James said. There was no way he would leave his locket behind. He would just tuck it into his shirt. Charlie suddenly came into the room.

"Charlie." Jamie nodded.

"Jamie." Charlie nodded back.

"Hello, Charlie." James said. 

"What do you think of the new cap?" Charlie asked. James looked up. "Silk lining. I quite like it."

"I'm not sure it's going to make a lot of difference to the Germans." James said.

"Oh, I don't know about that. Think about it." Charlie said. "You're a Boche, just working out which of two chaps to shoot, and you thought, 'Good Lord, one of them is wearing a very stylish cap indeed!' You might shoot the other one instead." 

"Or alternatively think, 'I fancy that cap,' and kill you first of all." James said.

Charlie paused for a moment before taking off the cap and tossing it to the side. "Hadn't thought of that."

James turned back to his letter and drawings. He finished Victoria's letter first. This was the final draft:

My beautiful wife,
                Words cannot describe how much I miss you, my love. I hope you're doing alright. If you need to know how to do anything, just write me and I'll let you know how as soon as I can. I love the locket. I'll be able to look at it and think of your beauty when things get hard. I tried to draw you, but it didn't turn out too well. I feel awful. I'm entrusting this picture to you so you can burn it. Jamie would never let me live it down.

              You may be wondering why the ribbon I've included has been attached along with the picture. I know it's nothing valuable, but I won it for you. You see, we were doing a practice charge today and the goal was to pull ahead and snag this ribbon. 

              Jamie just came in and told me that there will be a battle in a few days. I've decided that if I survive, I will make some sort of excuse and come home to you. I don't want to be here anymore. If I don't come back, I'm so, so sorry, darling. I love you more than anything.

Your loving husband,
                   James.

James finished the letter and put it in and envelope. He finished the drawings of Joey and also put those in an envelope. He would have to send them when they got to the new camp. James sighed. He prayed to God that he didn't die and was able to return home to his beautiful Victoria. That was all he wanted. He would give anything to see her just one more time.