The Last, Long Night (#5 in the Bregdan Chronicles Historical Fiction Romance Series) (16 page)

Rose walked slowly down the dusty road back to the cabin she shared with Moses’ sister, June, and her baby boy, Simon.  One of the other women had brought baby John home earlier, but it was time for Rose to feed him. She knew he would be demanding his mama very soon. The image brought a soft smile to her face.  She loved her baby with a fierceness that surprised even her, and she hoped the day would come when she could have more children with Moses.  She gently touched the envelope in her pocket.

It had been a long day, but the advances her students were making filled her heart with such joy.  All of them, even the youngest, were now reading and writing and absorbing all the books Aunt Abby was sending down in the barrels that arrived every week. 

Rose took deep breaths of the soft spring air.  If not for constant worry about Moses, nothing would have marred the happiness she experienced as a teacher.  It was everything she had ever dreamed it would be. 

Rose knew the war would come to an end.  She already had so many plans for how she would help her people as well as how she would continue her education. 

She was just steps from the porch of their cabin when the door flung open and June ran out onto the porch.  “Rose!  Come quick!”

Rose’s heart sprang to her throat as she ran up the stairs onto the porch.  “John?  What’s wrong?”  Her alarm was lessened by the smile spreading on June’s face.  “What’s going on?”

“You don’t want to miss the first one,” June said simply, motioning her inside.

When Rose walked inside the cabin, her baby John had pulled himself up next to the chair, his hand grasping it with a look of determination she recognized instantly.  It was the same one Moses got when he was about to do something important.

John looked up, saw her enter the cabin, and gave her a big smile.  “Mama!” he sputtered, then held out his arms to her, and tottered across the floor.  He took only three steps before he fell, but his grin never wavered.  “Mama!” 

Rose scooped him up and held him close.  “What a big boy!” she cried.  “You walked!  Won’t your daddy be so proud of you when he sees you again?”  She forced down the tears that threatened to come because Moses had missed his son’s first steps, and instead she focused on celebrating. 

“Walk,” John babbled, kicking his feet.

Rose laughed, lowered him to the floor, and joined June in cheering as John practiced his new skill.

The house had grown quiet, with John and Simon tucked in bed and June in her own room, before Rose opened the envelope she had carried in her pocket all day.  She had not wanted to share this moment with anyone.

Dear Rose,

You’re right.  Matthew is a good man.  I’m so glad I got to meet him.  And I’m glad I can get a letter to you through him.  But I can’t help wishing I was the one who could bring it to you.

There are times I fear this war will never end.  Pompey is dead, as are many of my men.  There are times I want to run away and just come back to you and John.

Rose wiped at the tears streaming down her face.

But then I remember why I’m doing this.  I remember my daddy.  And your daddy.  And your mama.  I remember I’ve got to go back and find Sadie and my mama.  I have to help them build a new life.  I can only do that if we are all free.  So I will continue to fight.

Mostly, though, I will continue to hold close the truth of how much you love me.  It means everything to me, Rose.  It’s all that keeps me going most of the time.  You and John.  I will do everything I can to come home to you.  I love you so much.

Moses

Rose grasped the letter to her heart, listened to John’s even breathing in his crib, and finally slept. 

Her dreams that night were all of her husband fighting to survive in the midst of death, flashing guns, and burning smoke.

Chapter Nine

Carrie was upstairs in her room, washing off the dust from the streets and changing her dress, when she heard her father’s voice boom through the house.

“Jeremy!  It’s good to see you, son!”

Carrie smiled; glad to know Jeremy had come home safely.  She had daily scanned the list of dead and wounded for him, grateful she had not found his or Robert’s name on that hated list.  It was not conclusive however…

“Aren’t you going on down?” Georgia asked.  “I’ll be fine.”

Carrie shook her head.  “I’ll give my father some time with Jeremy.  It will be a little while before May has dinner ready.”  She turned back to Georgia.  “I wanted to talk to you, anyway.”

Georgia nodded.  “I’m doing right well.  I reckon it’s time for me to go back to the hospital.  It shouldn’t be long before I can go back to fighting.”

“That’s not what I wanted to talk to you about,” Carrie responded, “though I am pleased you’re doing so well.”

“My arm is getting better every day.  I’m even starting to use it a little.”

“Ready to shoot a gun with it?” Carrie asked.

“Well…,” Georgia hesitated and then admitted. “My aim might not be so good.”

Carrie nodded decisively.  “Exactly.”  She settled down on the edge of her bed.  “What do you want to do when this war is over?”  She had put off this discussion for a while, but it was time.

Georgia stared at her and then shrugged.  “I haven’t looked much past being a soldier.”

“I know you may continue to pass as a man,” Carrie said gently, though she had doubts Georgia could pull it off when people were paying attention and not just seeing a soldier because they were so desperately needed.   Now that Georgia was putting on some weight, her true beauty was shining through.  Carrie had decided she didn’t need to voice her skepticism; she just needed to offer Georgia an opportunity.  “This war won’t last forever.”

“Things going bad?” Georgia asked sharply.

“Right now General Lee is holding Grant back, but things are going badly around the rest of the country.”  Carrie took a deep breath.  “It’s just a matter of time, Georgia.  The South doesn’t have enough men or guns or money to win this war.”

Protest sparked in Georgia’s eyes, and then she closed them for a moment.  “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I genuinely like you.  You may go back to fight when you’re well, but when the war ends you will have to figure out how to live in a brand new world.”  Carrie reached out to take Georgia’s  hand.  “Do you know how to read?”

“Read?” Georgia echoed.  “Now you got me totally confused.  What’s reading got to do with anything?”

“Do you know how to read?”  Carrie repeated patiently.

“Never saw no use for it,” Georgia said defiantly.  “Didn’t need reading to plant crops and bring in a harvest.  Me and Jimmy never had a chance to go to school.  We did just fine.”

“Janie and I want to teach you how to read,” Carrie responded, holding up her hand before Georgia could protest.  “Whatever you decide to do after the war, reading will help you.  It will help you if you decide to live as a man.  It will definitely help you if you decide to live as a woman because it will open doors you can’t imagine right now.”

“I don’t see no reason…”

Carrie interrupted her.  “My father had to fight my mother for my education.  I broke all the rules and taught Rose how to read.  Then Rose had a secret school in the woods on the plantation, so she could teach our slaves how to read and write.”  She paused and stared into Georgia’s eyes.  “Reading opens up a whole new world, Georgia.  It means that no one, neither man nor woman, can take advantage of you because you’re ignorant.”

“Why are you willing to teach me how to read, Carrie?” Georgia asked suddenly.  “Ain’t that a lot of work?”

“You’re smart,” Carrie said with a smile.  “I don’t think it will take too long, but it’s more than that….”  She stared out the window for a minute.  “I don’t believe anything happens by accident.  You were meant to end up in my ward.  I was meant to know your secret and bring you home.  And I believe we’re meant to help you learn how to read while you’re here.”

“Amen!”  Janie strolled into the room and headed straight for the water pitcher.   “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”  She washed off her face, drank a large glass of water, and then turned to Georgia.  “I still remember the thrill of learning how to read.  I was a teenager before I learned.”

Carrie gasped.  “I didn’t know that!”

Janie nodded easily.  “My father wasn’t strong enough, like your father was, to fight my mother.  She believed education would make me less desirable to the boys she thought I should marry.  I finally took things into my own hands when I was fifteen and found someone to teach me how to read in secret.  It was the greatest thrill of my life when all the letters finally made sense.”

Georgia smiled.  “I reckon it would be nice to have the letters make sense,” she murmured and then nodded her head.  “When do we start?”

Carrie and Janie laughed and replied in unison, “Tonight!”

Carrie reached down to pull Georgia up.  “After we have dinner.”

“May will bring it up to me soon,” Georgia replied, her eyes confused again.

Carrie shook her head.  “You’re well enough to join us downstairs.  You’re part of our family now.  Let’s go eat some dinner.”

“I ain’t got no clothes,” Georgia gasped.  “Just this gown from the hospital.”

“Sure you do,” Janie said, grinning.  “I got you some the other day.”

“I ain’t putting on no dress,” Georgia protested, her eyes flashing.

“A dress would look strange on a man,” Janie agreed calmly as she reached into the wardrobe and pulled out a pair of pants and a shirt.  “They might be a little large, but I think they’ll fit pretty well.”

Georgia grinned and reached for them.  “Why are you two doing this for me?” she asked suddenly.   “Most women would be appalled that I’m living as a man.  They sure wouldn’t be giving me men’s clothing!”

Carrie turned serious.  “How you live your life is up to you, Georgia.  All I’ve ever wanted is for people to give me freedom to live my own life without making me feel bad about my choices, no matter how much they may disagree. “

Janie nodded her agreement.   “I sure am hungry.  Can we go eat now?”

Minutes later the three of them entered the dining room.

The table was crowded with people since all the boarders had joined them for dinner.  Georgia looked panicked, only relaxing when Carrie instantly introduced her as George and let everyone know
he
was convalescing in a spare room in their wing of the house until he could return to the army.  Thomas, Janie, and May were the only ones who needed to know the truth.  There was hardly a house in Richmond that didn’t have a wounded soldier.

Carrie headed straight to Jeremy after the introductions and gave him a warm hug.  “I’m so glad you’re home safely.”

              “Was it horrible?” Janie asked, her gaze including three of their boarders who had also been called to duty when Butler headed up the James River.