<span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: comic sans ms;"> (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j164/chachi9/ashley2-1.jpg)<br/><br/><br/>Ashley, Coach# 3 (Isabella Levoreaux, Ivy Montague, Imogene Campbell, Ashley Browly, Emily Laroche]<br/><br/><br/><br/>Jumping each time a musket shot rang out, it was at moment’s like this that Ashley longing for the comfort of another’s arms seemed overwhelming. She had peered through her eyelashes at Imogene and Ivy as Imogene lowered Ivy to the floor and comforted her. Seeing the gentle and loving way Imogene and Ivy console each other, Ashley couldn’t help but feel that old familiar twinge of envy at the ease in which they touched</span><em><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: comic sans ms;">. <br/> ‘Stop being such a "Ninny and longing for what you know you can’t have, Ashley admonished herself.</span></em><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: comic sans ms;"> ‘ She had learned very young that touching could bring about the visions, so she simply quit touching people. Now, other than to offer quick comfort or a gloved hand, Ashley remained apart. But, oh how she longed for those touches, even if she didn’t quite realize how much. <br/>Ashley rapped her arms about herself. Realizing she was now staring at Ivy laying her head against Imogene’s chest, Ashley cleared her throat and was about to speak when a loud banging came upon the carriage door. Ashley jerked away from door and let out a wobbly scream.<br/>Feeling a big ridiculous when she realized it was the boys, who upon being frightened in their carriage, were seeking shelter with others. Ashley reached up to remove the walking stick blocking the door, but the stick wouldn’t budge. Pressing more weight into the jammed stick, Ashley tried again, but still the stick wouldn’t move. Frowning at the door, she shouted out to the boys, "Hurry boys, run up to the next carriage, our door is barred shut, and I fear I can not remove the jam." <br/>Moving back to reseat herself, Ashley ran smoothing hands down her velvet traveling outfit, then, she took a firming breath, and tried to steady herself once more. If Father had gotten anything into her head (besides the fact that she should never ever speak of, or for that matter have, visions) it was that Browly’s were always steady and true. Being Papa’s good girl, Ashley would be a Browly. <br/> Again Ashley took herself to task</span><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: comic sans ms;">, ‘<em>Whatever is to came, it will be happening soon enough. Acting a coward about it won’t change it</em>.</span><em><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: comic sans ms;">Besides,</span></em><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: comic sans ms;">’ she allowed. </span><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: comic sans ms;">‘<em>It has to be ok. She reasoned with herself, I didn’t see anything…</em></span><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: comic sans ms;">’ <br/> Ivy’s words broke into Ashley’s self-examination. "That’s so like you Ivy Sweet, to credit your friends with comforting and petting you and here you are holding Imogene, and assuring us that Lily will take care of things. Although, I must agree with you about Lily, even the a whole invading army would not deter her from a goal." Ashley emphasized this statement with a wink. Her eyes danced now as she was never ashamed to let Ivy know how much she admired Lily’s tenacity, even if it did occasionally get them into scrapes. <br/></span><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 1em;"> Not hearing any more gunplay from the outside, Ashley rises and gently peels back one side of the window cover to peer out. "Lily!" She exclaims, with a hand to her throat, "No! Don’t." <br/></span>[/]