It had been two years since Victoria's and James' marriage. They were very in love. Victoria didn't think that life could ever get more perfect for her. Every week, she had to go into town for groceries. This week was no different. She usually went with Amy, but Amy wanted to spend some extra time with Charlie, so she went alone. She couldn't help but notice another brunette lady staring at her. The lady finally walked up to Victoria.

"Can I help you?" Victoria asked.

"Are you Victoria Nicholls?" The woman asked.

"Yes, I am." Victoria said. "Have I done something wrong?"

"Oh, no, nothing at all!" The woman said. "It's just...your husband isn't very loyal."

"I'm assuming you're one of the women he courted before me?" Victoria asked.

"Yes. I was his fiance before he called off the engagement." The woman said. "He has a tendency to get bored and leave the woman he has chosen to settle down with."

"James and I are very happy together." Victoria said. "He has told me on multiple occasions that he loves me. Thank you for your concern, but I think I can handle him myself. Good day."

Victoria was about to leave the market all together when she heard the sound of a motorbike. She jumped out of the way so she didn't get run down.

"It's war! We are at war with Germany!" The man on the bike shouted. "England is at war with Germany! They're going to ring the bells at six O' clock, and they'll never ring them again until the war is over!"

Victoria gulped nervously. "How recent is this news?"

"Only a few hours, miss." The man said.

"Why are we at war?" A man shouted.

"The Belgium ports are close to our borders and Germany attacked France through Belgium." The man said.

James! Victoria thought.

Victoria abandoned her shopping and ran home. She opened the door and threw her bags on the couch. James wasn't in the living room.

"James?" She called.

"Upstairs in our room!" James called back.

Victoria ran upstairs. The sight that greeted her made her heart drop. James smiled at her and stood up straighter than he'd already been standing.

"Well? What do you think?" He asked.

James was dressed in an army uniform. Victoria shook her head to try and clear it. She didn't want James to go! Why was he going?

"I take it you heard the news, then." Victoria said.

"Yes. This was just dropped off. Jamie, Charlie, and I applied awhile ago to be in the army should the need arise. I'm a captain, Vic! Can you believe it?" James asked.

"No, I really can't." Victoria said. She swallowed back the lump in her throat and stood up straight. She would have to fight her emotions, for James' sake. "Well done, my love."

James tilted his head. "Vic, are you alright?"

"I'm perfectly fine." Victoria said. "Never better."

"Victoria..." James reached out towards her. Victoria pulled away.

"I'm going to go start making dinner." She said as she left the room. James sighed and shook his head.

Dinner was very silent. James tried to make conversation, but gave up after Victoria wouldn't answer him. She seemed very calm on the outside, but on the inside, she was a hurricane of emotions. Her head suddenly snapped up.

"You shouldn't have to go! There are plenty of young men to fight!" She yelled.

"It's an honor to protect you and my country." James said.

"So you'll die for honor?" Victoria asked.

"I'll die protecting you." James said. He was very calm.

"I don't want you to go! I don't want to lose you!" Victoria yelled. "You are the only thing that makes me happy anymore!"

"Oh, Victoria." James got up and hugged her tightly. Victoria cried quietly, letting her pent up emotions out. "I'm going to come back. I promise you, I will come back."

"You promise?" Victoria asked, looking up at him. It was like the night they had gotten lost in the forest. James tilted her chin up and kissed her on the lips.

"I promise." He whispered when they broke apart. Victoria ran her hand over James cheek.

"When do you leave?" She asked, wiping the tears off her face and sniffing a little.

"Two weeks." James said.

"Two weeks?" Victoria whispered. "I only have two weeks left with you?"

"They're saying this war won't last even a year." James said. "I'll be back before you know it." (HA, YOU'LL BE GONE FOR FOUR YEARS, DUDE.)

"You better be right." Victoria said. "If you aren't back in at least a year, you're finding a new place to live."

"Oh, really?" James asked.

"Really." Victoria nodded. "You know, this is a good look for you."

"Is it? I'll have to dress in it more often then." James said. He kissed Victoria on the cheek. "Everything will be okay, my love. It's all going to be alright."

Victoria nodded. "Can we just, um, go to bed?"

"Of course." James said. "Come on."

James took Victoria upstairs. They laid down on the bed together after changing into their pajamas. Victoria held James tightly. If she could help it, she would never let him go to war. James kissed her on the head and talked to her quietly.

------------------------------------------

(Two weeks later)

Victoria was asleep next to James. He was going to war tomorrow. She had been dreaming of all the things that could go wrong. The one she was currently having was the worst so far.

James was charging a German camp with his troop. He was riding a chestnut colored horse with a black mane and a white diamond on its forehead. It had four white socks. It was a magnificent horse.

Machine guns were firing all around them. James looked at one of them, his face changing to a state of terror. He knew he was going to die. The machine gun fired, hitting him in the chest. James fell off his horse, his body being trample by the other horses running behind him.

Victoria's eyes snapped open. James wasn't next to her. Victoria looked around before seeing the closed door to the walk-in closet. She breathed a sigh of relief. James was alive...for now. Victoria started pulling on a dress. She would go as far as the market with James and then they would have to say goodbye. James had spent the last two weeks teaching Victoria how to do the farm work by herself, since he usually did most of it. After Victoria had pulled her hair up, James came out of the closet. He was in his army uniform. Victoria wanted to sob.

"Will you be taking Blaze with you?" Victoria asked.

"No. I'll be buying a horse in the market." James said. "I won't spend too much on it, since I need to leave most of the money for you."

"I'm going to miss you, darling." Victoria said.

"And I you." James said. He bent down and kissed her. Victoria sighed sadly.

"Must we go now?" She asked.

"Yes." James nodded. "Are you hungry, or can you wait to eat?"

"I'm a little hungry." Victoria said. She wanted to spend all the times with James she could.

James and Victoria sat on the couch while Victoria ate. She made sure to take small bites and to chew carefully and slowly.

"I know what you're doing." James suddenly said. "You don't want me to go, so you're eating slowly."

"How do you always know?" Victoria asked.

"I'm your husband." James said. "Of course I know."

Victoria, after nearly a half hour, finished her breakfast. The two of them were snuggled up on the couch. James deeply regretted his choice to join the army. He would much rather stay here, with Victoria by his side.

"Victoria, if I don't get up now, I never will." James said.

"Good. You can stay here forever, with me." Victoria said.

"Vic, I have to go." James said.

"Oh, fine." Victoria got up.

"Do you mind if I go say goodbye to Blaze?" James asked.

"No, not at all." Victoria said. "I'll wait outside for you."

Victoria waited outside for James while he said goodbye to his beloved horse one last time. Victoria never wanted James to leave her. This was going to be the hardest thing she ever had to do. James came back after ten minutes.

"Alright. I'm ready." He said.

Victoria and James went to town. It was crowded with young men itching to sign up for war and to go. James met a Sargent named Perkins who said he would help him pick out a horse. He seemed very rough to Victoria.

"He's like the male version of you." James whispered.

"Oh, shut up." Victoria said, whacking James on the arm. James laughed.

"I'm going to get a horse." James said. "Look around for anything you want. I'll buy it if I can."

"Alright." Victoria said.

James and Victoria split up. James went to go look for a horse when something caught his eye. It was a woman selling a litter of the cutest puppies he had ever seen. He walked over and got down on his knees to say hello to the puppies. They ran over to the side of their fence where James was. They licked and nipped at his fingers.

"What breed are they they?" He asked.

"Their Bearded Collies." The woman said.

"How much?" James asked.

"Five pounds each." The woman said.

"I'll take the one with the most black fur and the white muzzle." James said.

"His name is Bailey." The woman said.

"Here." James said, handing her the five pounds and picking up the puppy. "Thank you."

James went to go look for Victoria and finally found her. She was smiling at him. James smiled back. He hoped she liked the puppy.

"I got us both something ." She said.

"What is it?" James asked. "I also got you a little something."

"I got us lockets with our pictures inside. Mine is in yours and yours is in mine. It's so we can see each other even when we aren't around." Victoria said. "You don't have to wear it if you don't want to and I didn't mean to sound conceited, if that's what it sounded like."

"I love it." James said. "Now, I have something for you."

"What is it?" Victoria asked.

"Now, don't get mad..." James said. He pulled the puppy out from where he had been hiding it in his coat. "I don't know how this happened. One minute I was just looking around and the next, I was holding this puppy."

"A dog? James!" Victoria said in a scolding tone.

"Hear me out." James said. "You will need help doing your chores on the farm. Bailey here will be a great assistance."

"What kind of dog is he?" Victoria asked.

"A Bearded Collie." James said.

"I suppose he is a little cute." Victoria said. "Still, James-"

"Hold on." James held the puppy's mouth up to his ear. "Yes? Okay. Uh-huh. Alright, I'll tell her." James looked back at Victoria, who was giggling. "Bailey says he likes you very much and would love to help you out on the farm. He wouldn't mind taking care of you while I'm gone."

"Oh, alright." Victoria said. "Give him to me."

James handed the puppy over. It licked Victoria on the chin and tried to chew on the new locket she was wearing. Victoria handed James his locket.

"Do you have a piece of rope or something I can tie around him?" Victoria asked.

"Here." James said. He pulled unbuckled his belt from around the waist of his army coat. "I will need that back."

"I'll send it to your camp." Victoria said, buckling it around the puppy.

She set it just tight enough that Bailey wouldn't be able to escape, but not tight enough to hurt him. She set Bailey on the ground. He whimpered as a horse passed him and ran behind Victoria's legs. James smiled and laughed. Perkins suddenly came up to him.

"Captain, I think I may have found a perfect horse." He said. "Come with me."

"Come along, Vic." James said.

Victoria followed James, tugging at Bailey's 'leash' to get him to follow her. He didn't want to at first, but he seemed to learn what she wanted him to do. Perkins led James and Victoria up to a gray-haired man in a bowler hat standing by a magnificent horse.

"I know him." Victoria whispered in James' ear, referring to the man. "That's Ted Narracott. He's a drunk."

"Oh, stop it. You've been spending too much time with your friends." James said. "Hello, Mr. Narracott. This is a very beautiful horse you have."

Victoria looked at the horse and did a double take. It was the horse from her dream. She swallowed, hard, hoping that something prevented James from picking this horse. Perkins and James started to examine it. Victoria moved to help, but Perkins roughly pushed her back.

"This is a man's work, ma'am." He said.

"Leave her, Perkins." James said. "That's an order."

"Yes, sir." Perkins said, giving a slight glare to Victoria. Victoria glared daggers back.

"Take my word for it, finest horse in the parish. Goes like a racer. Strong, decent, very fine." Ted said.

"No curbs, no splints. Good feet and teeth." Perkins said. "He's as sound as a bell, sir."

"And how much are you charging, sir, for this strong, decent, and very fine animal?" James asked, rubbing the horse's neck. Victoria noticed its muscles ripple.

"Forty." Ted said.

James considered it for a moment. He needed to leave Victoria with enough money to take care of herself. "I'll give you twenty, and not a penny more."

"Twenty's not good to me, Cap'n." Ted said. "Thirty-five, and he's yours."

"I don't even know how he rides!" James protested.

"He rides splendidly." Ted said.

"He's a very beautiful horse." Victoria spoke up. "What's his name?"

"Joey." Ted said. He looked up at James. "You'll be astonished, I promise you that. Finest horse in all of Devon. Finest horse I ever seen."

"I'll give you thirty. That's my final offer." James said. "Take it or leave it, sir."

"Fine." Ted said.

"Excellent." James got the money out of his pocket and handed it over. Joey's reins were handed to Perkins. James and Ted shook hands. "Thank you."

James looked up as a young boy's running stopped in front of them. He looked like his world was crumbling when he saw Joey. Tears gathered in his eyes. He looked towards Ted.

"You can't." He said, shaking his head. "You can't, he's mine. I trained him!"

"Albert..." Ted said slowly. James guessed that this was Ted's son.

"You can't have him, he's my horse, sir." Albert said, looking towards James.

"I'm afraid it's too late, lad." James said. "I've just paid thirty guineas for him."

"Please. I'll get you money! I will, I'll get you money! I'll work for it! I'll work for it!" Albert said. He pushed past his father and hugged and stroked Joey's nose. Tears were starting to fall from his eyes. "Please. He won't obey anyone else. He won't be any good in the war neither. He shies at every sound!"

"I'm sorry." James said.

"Well, if Joey's going, then I'm going, too." Albert said. "I'm volunteering."

"I see, what's your name, lad?" James asked.

"Albert, sir." Albert said.

"How old-" James started.

"Nineteen, sir." Albert cut across James.

James raised his eyebrows, giving Albert the look he gave Victoria when she lied. "Is that the truth?"

"No, sir, but I look nineteen, and I'm bigger than most nineteen-year-olds, and, and I'm strong, sir, and I'm not afraid of anything." Albert said.

"I don't doubt your qualifications, Albert, but the law is very clear about the proper age for soldiering." James said. "Your father's done what he had to do, you know that. Thirty guineas isn't nearly enough to purchase a horse as fine as your Joey, I know that. But it's all I got. Will you lease him to me, Albert? To be my own mount?" James took off his cap and placed it over his heart. "I promise you man to man I'll look after him, as closely as you've done. I'll respect him, and all the care that you've taken with him. And if I can, I'll return him to you." James put on his cap. "Now say goodbye. Victoria, come with me."

James held Victoria's hand as he led her to an alley. He didn't want to be near everyone while he said goodbye. Victoria knew that this was it. This might be the last time that she ever saw James. Victoria kissed him before they had even exchanged any words.

"I love you." She whispered.

"I love you, too." James said. "I'm so sorry. I never should have signed up for the war."

"It's okay." Victoria said. "Besides, how many girls have a captain for a husband?"

"Probably quite a few will once this war has ended." James said.

"But I had one of the first." Victoria whispered. She kissed James again and then rested her head on his chest as they hugged for the last time. Victoria closed her eyes, savoring the moment and memorizing how James' felt. "I love you so much, James."

"And I you." James replied quietly. "I'm going to miss you so much. I'll write you every day."

"I'll reply every day." Victoria said.

"Cap'n! Where are you? We have to go!" Perkins called.

"I'll be right there!" James called. He looked back at Victoria and kissed her one more time.

James went and climbed in a car. There was a sort of parade being given for the departing soldiers. Victoria chased after James' car. He had just told Perkins to let Albert say goodbye to his horse again. James looked down at Victoria and took her hand.

"I love you." He whispered, kissing her one last time. He let go of her. "I'll write you tomorrow."

"Okay." Victoria said.

Victoria fell back. She still chased after the car, James looked back at her. He looked like he felt awful for leaving her. He looked back at her sadly.

"Goodbye!" She called. "I love you!"

"I love you too!" James yelled, waving his cap at her.

Victoria slowed down her running by the bridge to the river. She watched James leaving her. Albert was standing on the other side of her. Victoria couldn't stop the tears from running down her cheeks. Albert looked at her and smiled at her sympathetically.

"Look at me, crying over a horse." He said. "You lost something much more precious to you. You lost your husband."

"Your horse- Joey- was very precious to you." Victoria said, putting a hand on Albert's shoulder. "He was your best friend. Take care, Albert."

Victoria found Bailey and untied him from where she had kept him. She picked him up and hugged him tightly. Bailey licked her face and tilted his head, sensing something was wrong. Victoria went home and wanted nothing more than to go to bed. She went upstairs and closed the curtains. Bailey leaped up on the bed. Victoria pushed him off. He just leaped right back up. Victoria rolled her eyes.

"Alright. Fine. Come here." She said. Bailey curled up under Victoria's arm. Victoria opened her locket and looked at the picture of James. She started to cry into Bailey's fur. She cried until it was actually dark out. She finally wiped her eyes and rolled over. Bailey had fallen asleep while she was crying. Victoria was still sniffling. It should be James laying beside her, not the dog. Victoria prayed that the war was over soon.