“I’ll see she gets the letter.” He tucked the paper into his shirt pocket. “They’ll be happy to know you’re coming home soon.”
With a nod of thanks Luke turned and trudged back to his own mat. Luke’s family would receive good news, but Manfred mourned for the thousands of others who wouldn’t.
St. Francisville, Louisiana
After a while Sallie left the piano and gathered up her cross-stitch sampler with her threads and needle. The desire to write had left her, so she headed for the coolness of the front porch. The laughter of her brothers rang in the air as they entered the stables to take care of the horses. Hannah’s voice reciting her French lesson with Mama drifted from the parlor through the open window.
Sallie breathed deeply then let her breath out with a puff. What good would it do to try to rebuild the house in Woodville? She didn’t want to return to Mississippi or her old home, ever. The memories now associated with that place erased all the happy times. If she returned, she’d remember what had happened there every day for the rest of her life.
A tear dropped on her cheek. She was a grown woman now and could choose to stay here if she so desired. Her gaze swept across the beauty of the well-kept lawn of her grandparents’ home. Living here would not be bad at all. They had managed to escape with only a few personal belongings, but Mama, in her wisdom, had brought clothes in the past to have here in case of an emergency. This certainly qualified as an emergency in anyone’s estimation.
Mama said God would help her through these days, but He’d turned His back on her. Praying hadn’t made the memories go away, so why waste time on God? She needed Manfred, but even he might turn away from her when he learned what she had done. Why did life have to be so complicated? She’d much rather be the young girl of fourteen before the war when her only worry had been what to wear and what party to attend.
The door opened, and Hannah stepped onto the porch. “I’ve finished my lessons.” She plopped down into the chair next to Sallie.
Although she was twelve, Hannah still enjoyed playing with her dolls. She had managed to grab one to bring with her when they had fled their home, and she held it in her arms along with two Grandma had saved from Mama’s childhood. Her calm expression and smile as she sat up straighter gave evidence of the girl’s spirit. Despite her handicap, Hannah seemed to find joy in everything she did, and she could make the simplest tea party with dolls into a grand affair. Oh, to be that innocent and unbothered by the war.
While her sister arranged the dolls in a semicircle on the wicker table between them, Sallie stitched and let memories of Manfred play through her mind. Those memories drifted back to the first time the two had seen each other. She had traveled down to St. Francisville to visit her grandparents during the summer when she was ten years old. Closing her eyes, she let it unfold now as though it happened yesterday instead of eight years ago.
The aromas of peppermint, coffee, spices, and lamp oil filled the general store. Sallie stood on tiptoe and eyed the shiny jars of multicolored candies. She clutched a penny in her hand and licked her lips in anticipation of the sweet taste of peppermint.
“I like the cinnamon ones best.”
She jumped at the voice so close to her, and she turned to see a boy taller than she standing beside her. He had to be at least thirteen to be so tall. Her gaze took in his sandy-colored hair, gold-flecked brown eyes, and neatly tucked-in shirt. She didn’t remember ever seeing such a handsome boy in town before today. He stared back with an even look that sent heat to her cheeks. Sallie reached toward the containers of sweets and shrugged to cover her embarrassment. “Peppermint sticks are my favorite. Cinnamon’s too hot.”
The boy shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked on the balls of his feet. “No, they’re not. But I like peppermint too.”
Mr. Brady leaned over the counter. “Now what can I be doing for you two young ’uns today?” His blues eyes twinkled as he smiled at them.
The boy plopped two coins on the counter. “Two peppermints for her, and two cinnamons for me.”
Sallie gasped. She quickly plunked her penny beside his. “I have my own money, thank you.”
The boy pushed her money back. “Don’t be getting all huffy. I want to buy the peppermints. My name’s Manfred Whiteman. What’s yours?”
Sallie’s head bowed, and she shuffled her feet. “Sallie Dyer.” No boy had ever bought her candy before, nor had one ever been so bold. Even though he was nice looking and polite, he had been quite forward in shoving her pennies aside. Besides, she wasn’t supposed to take things from others without permission. She raised her head slightly and peeked up at Mr. Brady.
The pink-faced storekeeper leaned over the counter and crossed his arms. “Now that you two have met, here’s an extra peppermint and an extra cinnamon for you both. Go on and enjoy them.”
She glanced over to her grandmother, who gave a nod of approval. Sallie picked up the sweet treats. “Thank you, Manfred. It’s nice of you to buy them for me.”
Manfred grabbed his treat and swung his hands behind his back. Bright red splotches rose in cheeks as he moistened his lips. “I . . . I think you’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.” As soon as the last word left his mouth, he bolted out the door as if the law chased after him.
The heat rose again in her cheeks, and she stared at his fleeing back. Mr. Brady chuckled behind her. “I think you have an admirer there, Miss Sallie.”
Hannah’s voice brought her back to the present. “What is it, Hannah?”
A frown wrinkled the girl’s brow. She now sat on the floor with her dolls around her. “Do you think I could ever be a nurse like that Clara Barton lady who is helping take care of wounded soldiers?”
“Hannah Grace Dyer, I think you can be anything you want to be.”
She pushed her feet out from under her dress. “Even if my legs don’t match?”
Sallie scrambled from her seat to kneel beside her sister. “Honey, that won’t keep you from learning all you want to learn and being a nurse if that’s what you want to do. Your personality and sweet nature make you the person you are, not your legs or feet.”
Besides, as Sallie noted inwardly, Hannah loomed on the edge of becoming a beautiful young woman. Her flawless skin and golden-red hair along with eyes as blue as the sky on a summer day created a smidgeon of envy in Sallie, whose own unruly locks wanted to curl and fly in every direction and whose eyes couldn’t decide if they wanted to be blue or green.
Hannah sighed and leaned against Sallie’s chest. “I just wish God had given me two good legs. It’s hard to run and play, even with the special shoe Papa had made. I always feel so awkward and clumsy.”
So despite her outward sunny disposition, Hannah did worry about her leg. Sallie hugged her sister and placed her cheek against Hannah’s head. So many times she’d seen Hannah stumble and fall when she got in too big a hurry and ran for something. Life could be most unfair at times, especially when it hurt her sister.
“Hannah, when this war is over, we’ll be able to make plans for our futures. Papa will let you go to school to learn whatever you want. We’ve already learned a great deal from Mama and Papa here at home, and with your head for details, I think you’d make a wonderful nurse.”
Hannah lifted her gaze to Sallie, and a smile played about her lips. “You really think so?”
At Sallie’s nod of affirmation, Hannah sat back and held her head high. “Then I’m going to study extra hard and be a good student.”
Laughter pealed forth from Sallie. As if Hannah wasn’t already the smartest of the four Dyer siblings, except maybe for their brother Will’s arithmetic skills. “Oh, Hannah, I love you so much.”
Lettie stepped out onto the porch. “My mam has refreshments prepared. She sent me to fetch you.”
Sallie hopped up and helped Hannah beside her. “We’ll be right in.”
Hannah steadied herself and frowned. “I hope Papa can repair our house. I want to go back to Woodville as s
oon as we can. I miss being there.”
Sallie said nothing as she walked with Hannah into the house. Woodville held only bad memories, but if she had to, Sallie would return to that house. If only Manfred would come and ask her to marry him, she could forget Woodville and settle here as his wife. How much more exciting that would be. Someday, somehow, her love had to come home.
CHAPTER 4
* * *
Outside Point Lookout, Maryland, Wednesday, April 12, 1865
THICK COILS OF rope secured a barge at the dock on the Potomac River below. Manfred and more than fifty men followed a Union officer along with several blue-clad guards to the water’s edge. Sand slowed his steps, but at least he had shoes. He glanced around him. Most trudged the path on their own steam, but a few lay on makeshift litters pulled by a comrade.
At the landing the group halted. Manfred stood next to Edwin and watched the officer as he strolled through the ranks deciding if a man’s injuries were sufficient enough to give him special treatment and transportation home.
A sergeant tapped Manfred then Edwin. “You two go there.” He pointed to the group boarding the boat on foot.
Edwin stumbled, and Manfred grabbed his arm to steady his brother. The boy leaned his weight against Manfred. When they reached the plank set up to board the vessel, he cautioned Edwin and assisted him up the ramp. “Careful, little brother, you’re still weak.”
The two young men stepped gingerly over several others already lying or sitting in exhaustion amidst the crates and barrels on the deck of the barge. Manfred picked his way among the soldiers to find a clear spot near the back of the boat.
“Here, Edwin, by the rail.” Manfred tossed his bundle to the space then helped Edwin with his belongings. He sank onto the wooden planks beside his brother. “We’re going home, little brother. We’re on our way.”
Edwin shrugged. “Who knows what we’ll find. The Union Army is in control.”
“It’ll be all right. Look at the river. Isn’t it beautiful? Breathe the fresh air. Look at the sunshine. We’re free men, and we’ll soon be away from Maryland and on the Virginia shore.” Manfred took a deep breath, savoring the warm sun and gentle April breeze. He lifted his eyes toward heaven.
“Thank You, Lord, for taking care of us these past months. We have a long journey home, and I pray Your light will guide us, protect us, and provide for us as we go.”
Edwin hung his head and didn’t respond to the prayer.
Manfred ran his hand over his brother’s thick brown hair and spoke softly. “I figure we can be home by early June even if we have to make a few stops along the way. We can most likely travel eight or nine hours a day. Do you think you’re strong enough to go that long?”
The slender boy only nodded and hugged his knees to his chest. When he finally raised his head, his cheeks held rivers of tears. “Now that it’s all over, I’ll walk until my legs drop off. I just wanna get home.”
“So do I. So do I.” Manfred leaned back and closed his eyes, basking in the warm sun. The vessel shuddered, and Manfred listened to the slap of the water against the hull. All around the murmur of voices spoke of freedom and home.
After a bumpy trip across the river that emptied into Chesapeake Bay, the boat hit the pier with a jolt. Manfred stood and reached down to pull Edwin to his feet.
“Come on, boy. We’re in Virginia, and I see gray jackets coming to meet us.”
A shout of greeting rang from the men on the boat. The gray-uniformed men on shore waved, whistled, and hollered back. The stoic expressions of the Union soldiers now changed to frowns. Those men would rather see their prisoners dead than going back to their homes. Even now the hatred on both sides sent chills racing through Manfred.
An older soldier wearing the gray of the Confederates stood at the bottom of the plank on shore. Manfred greeted him with a salute. Although Manfred was no longer the eager young man who’d joined Confederate forces four years ago, being back on Southern soil renewed his hope and energy. “It’s good to be back with ya’ll. We may have lost, but we’re not beaten.”
The soldier gripped his hand. “We’re glad you survived. We’ve heard of the harsh conditions of the prison.”
“It was bad, but now we’re free, and home beckons.” Harsh barely began to describe what he and Edwin endured for those few months. Starvation, disease, and cruelty had taken their toll on too many men, but that was behind him now. He faced his future with high hopes and complete trust that God would see him home safely.
Manfred then glanced beyond the man and grinned at the number of gray uniformed soldiers who welcomed the freed men with open arms and shouts of greeting. Younger men picked up the litters of the wounded and toted them to the field surgery, no more than a tent with rows of cots and a few medical supplies. Manfred observed the scene and breathed a sigh of relief to be on Southern soil again.
Those not headed for medical help remained near the shore and huddled to wait for someone in authority to join them and give further instructions. In a few minutes the others seemed to fully realize their freedom. Young men and old milled around talking and laughing. Even with his heart heavy over the defeat and worry about what might await him at home, Manfred wanted to join in and shout, sing, and dance all at one time. The days of pain, hunger, and bloody battles lay behind him. He hoped he would never again have to lift a weapon to fire at another man. The death and destruction of the past year would stay branded in his memory forever, but someday he’d be the doctor he’d dreamed of being since childhood and give life and hope to men rather than destroying them.
The sharp clang of the bell on the ferry rang out as it shoved away from the shore and headed back across the river for more young men to bring to freedom. It was not much to look at as far as boats went, but to Manfred it represented an end to all he’d endured the past months.
When they left the pier, Manfred relaxed as others around him sighed and dropped their gear on dry ground. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted his brother, who finally smiled, and that brought more hope to Manfred’s heart than being on Virginia soil. If Edwin quit fretting over the South’s defeat, the journey home would be much more pleasant.
An officer in a gray uniform trimmed in gold approached the group. “I am Captain Parker. We don’t have much, but our cook has managed to set aside a meal for you. You need that and a good night’s sleep before beginning your journey. Wash up or take a bath in the river if you like. We’re glad you’re here.” His black eyes looked stern, but a hint of smile played at his mouth. Then he grinned broadly and announced, “Troops dismissed. Go fill your bellies.”
A whoop went up from Manfred and the others as they all scattered to the mess area. Several tables stood filled with piles of sourdough biscuits, kettles of steaming potato soup, and pots of hot coffee. Manfred marveled at the orderly way the men lined themselves up to be served after so many days of dreaming of food like this. The cook ladled the warm grub with a warning. “Careful how much and how fast you eat. It’s been a long time since solid food warmed your stomachs.”
Manfred listened, but he still filled his plate with sourdough biscuits and potatoes swimming in thick gravy. He and Edwin joined a small group sitting under a tree. He ate in silence for a few moments, enjoying the taste of tender potatoes and sweet carrots, almost forgotten in the months past. The laughter and talk soothed his soul as he sat back and enjoyed his meal, savoring each morsel as it slid down his throat. Remembering the cook’s warning, he ate slowly as he drank in all the details of the scene around him.
Captain Parker wove his way among the groups before reaching Manfred. He stopped at the grove of trees where several had joined Manfred. “I’m glad you’re enjoying the rations. I only wish we had more to offer you.”
Manfred swept his arm toward the tent barracks behind them. “How did all this come about?”
“Part of the exchange agreement included treatment of the wounded and provisions for all prisoners released to our regiment,
or what’s left of it.” The captain knelt to talk to the group.
He placed an arm across his knee and leveled his gaze to fix on their faces. “Our boys fought valiantly, but the Yanks were too much for us. We had to evacuate St. Petersburg and Richmond. Lee wanted to retreat to the west and join Johnson, but Grant barred his way.”
A few murmurs of protest scattered through the men. When silence again fell, the captain continued. “Lee figured more fighting would mean useless sacrifice of lives, so he wrote to Grant and asked for a meeting. The end came at a courthouse in Appomattox on Sunday. That’s a sight I won’t soon forget.” He paused and peered around the group.
No one spoke. They all needed time to allow the words to sink in. No more fighting, no more killing, no more injuries. Peace had finally come, but at what price? He’d probably see more death in his days ahead as a doctor, but it wouldn’t be the same as it had been on a battlefield.
Edwin asked, “Has all the fighting stopped?”
The captain stroked his chin. “Don’t know if Johnson’s got the word yet, and there’s probably fighting in Mississippi and farther south, but it won’t be long before the news is spread and the war will be over for good.” He let the words settle over the men. “You found out so quickly because you’re just across the river. You’re the first group to be exchanged.”
Edwin’s eye’s burned with excitement in the wake of Captain Parker’s announcement. The smile of joy at being free a few minutes ago disappeared.
Somehow Manfred would have to help Edwin accept their defeat so that they could put their full strength toward the trip back to Louisiana. Their journey home would not be easy. Weather could be unpredictable and fickle in the spring in the South. He’d have to make sure they had provisions, which meant stopping in some towns to seek work. And they would have to watch out for thieves and renegades. Manfred picked up his spoon and finished his soup. They were almost sure to get home, but how many more trials would they face before the journey ended?
Love Stays True Page 4
