Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War in Virginia

by Jessica James

  Andrea nodded in response. Alex did not respond at all. “Fight, Alex,” she whispered, laying her head on his chest for a brief moment to soak in the essence of him. “Please fight like you’ve never fought before. You cannot leave me now.”

  There was still no response. His eyes were slightly open, but they were not seeing. He had fallen back into the darkness Andrea knew so well.

  * * *

  Doctor Hobbs stood in the hallway with Pierce, eyeing Andrea from head to toe with a disapproving look. “You are a mess,” he said gruffly, squinting at her. “I don’t know why you are dressed like that and what you are doing here, but you cannot be permitted to continue this charade any longer.”

  Andrea looked at him defiantly. “I’m not—” But catching a look at herself in a hall mirror made her lose her train of thought. Black, sooty streaks marred her face, but did not conceal the red, swollen cheek or dirty, stringy hair. She could barely even recognize herself. She wondered how Pierce had.

  “I need to get back to my duties.” Pierce gave Andrea one more backward glance of disgust or bewilderment, then hobbled down the stairs, his leg obviously causing him great pain.

  Hobbs did not even wait for his footsteps to fade away. “I shall order a bath drawn for you. There is a lady in the house about your size. You should be able to find something appropriate to wear.”

  Andrea stared at him, her eyes blank. Exhaustion and worry left her too tired to argue—almost. She gathered her strength for one final skirmish. “I have ridden all night to find out the Colonel’s condition, not to take a bath and change my clothes.

  Hobbs led her by the arm a short way down the hall, but still spoke in a whisper as if someone might hear. “He’s got a good chance.” He gazed down the stairs, avoiding Andrea’s eyes.

  “That’s all? A good chance?” When he did not respond, Andrea grabbed him by the arm. “In mercy, speak! Tell me the truth!”

  “He was hit in the lower abdomen,” Hobbs answered in a low voice. “I took the bullet out of his back. We have no way of knowing what damage was done in—”

  Andrea swayed and grasped the banister for support. It was worse than she had expected. “Like Stuart,” she said in a whispered voice.

  “The fact that he’s still alive is encouraging.” Hobbs ignored her reference to the fatal wound. “That makes it appear the bullet missed all his organs.”

  Andrea nodded, but her mind was miles away, stuck on that night in the cabin. She thought of all the terrible things she had said—and all the heartfelt things she had not. Her hand and her eyes dropped to the torn fabric of the coat she still wore. Running her fingers over the wool, she found it was no longer damp. But a dark stain around the gaping hole showed where the bullet had penetrated.

  Feeling that cavernous hole was more than Andrea could take. She felt sick, like she was going to faint or vomit, or both. Her legs began to tremble. She looked helplessly into the eyes of the physician and tried to speak, but could find no words.

  He grabbed her by the arms and shook her. “You’ve got to be strong. Do you understand me? And that is an order!”

  Andrea blinked back tears that hopelessness and fatigue forced into her eyes. She nodded, and in a quivering voice responded in a way that Hunter would not have believed if he had heard it. “Yes, sir … I’ll do whatever you say.”

  * * *

  A warm bath and clean clothes served only to make Andrea’s eyes heavy as she sat by Alex’s side, fighting to stay awake.

  “Go get some sleep,” Hobbs said with a commanding hand on her shoulder. “I’ll stay with him the rest of the night.”

  When Andrea started to protest, Hobbs pointed his finger in her face. “I’m not prepared to handle two patients. Go to bed. And that’s an order.”

  Andrea came close to reminding the cantankerous doctor in no certain terms that she did not take orders. But upon reflection, she bent down and kissed Alex on the cheek instead. After exiting the room, she ran into Pierce talking in low tones to a private at the head of the stairs.

  “Captain.” She nodded curtly.

  “Miss Evans.”

  Pierce quickly removed his hat and elbowed the private beside him to do the same.

  “The apology I offered yesterday was most sincere,” he said, his eyes cast on the floor.

  “In that case,” Andrea said, holding out her hand, “it is sincerely accepted.”

  Pierce looked into her eyes to test her sincerity, then grasped her hand firmly.

  “No hard feelings I hope.” Andrea stared straight up at him, conveying her desire for reconciliation.

  “None here, Miss Evans.” Pierce finally released her hand, but did not unlock his gaze from hers. “Boz told me again what you did yesterday. Words cannot express—”

  Andrea held both hands in the air to stop him and closed her eyes to shut out the memory. “I beg of you, if you value the service, do not pain me with mention of it again, Captain Pierce. Ever.”

  “Of course. I’m sorry. I understand.” Pierce touched his hat and headed down the stairs, leaning heavily on the handrail, but limping slightly less than before.

  “Captain?”

  He turned. “Yes?”

  “You’ve had your leg properly cleaned and dressed?”

  Pierce cocked his head, seeming to be surprised that Andrea had noticed or that she cared enough to ask. “Yes, ma’am. Doc worked on it last night.”

  “Very well. Please continue to see it is properly taken care of. I would like to have the Colonel’s best officers stay healthy during his convalescence.” Andrea did not give him time to respond to the compliment before turning and walking away.

  From the hallway, she heard Gus Dorsey greet Pierce at the bottom of the stairs. “Captain Pierce. How goes it with the Colonel?”

  “Tell the men not to worry overly much,” Pierce said. “The lady up there has will enough for both of them.” The words sounded sarcastic, but Andrea thought his tone revealed a hint of respect.

  She heard the door below creak open and the sound of Gus’s voice with a touch of humor in it. “But what shall become of us when they are both at full strength at the same time?”

  To this, she did not hear Pierce’s reply.

  * * *

  When Andrea awoke again, light was pouring in the window. She had no idea how long she had slept. An afternoon? A day? More? Although her eyes were still blurry with sleep when she entered Hunter’s room, it took only a moment to realize it was full of people. Her heart lurched hard against its cage.

  But the sight of an older woman sitting by the bed dispelled any gloomy illusions of death. “Ah, there you are, dear,” the woman said, leaning over Alex and feeding him a spoonful of soup. “The Colonel was just telling me a secret.”

  Andrea’s heart slowed its violent hammering when she realized Alex was not only alive, but apparently had the strength to flirt with the hostess of the house.

  “He said he needs to get back to Hawthorne for a wedding,” she announced.

  “A wedding?” Andrea pretended to be surprised as she walked toward the bed.

  “Most decidedly,” Alex answered, taking her hand, his eyes sweeping her appreciatively. “Don’t tell me no one informed you.”

  “Perhaps it was an oversight.” Andrea sat down and Alex motioned for her to come closer.

  “It appears you are out of uniform.”

  “If I’m to be a wife,” Andrea responded, “I have no more plans to be a soldier.”

  “If you are half as good at the former as you were at the later, I’ll be the luckiest man in Virginia.”

  “Just Virginia?” Andrea bent down and kissed him on the forehead. His color looked better, she thought, but he felt awfully warm. And she could tell by the lines and the tension on his face that he was in deep pain. He was apparently only pretending to be stronger—for her sake.

  “Oh, all right, the world.” He grabbed her weakly and pulled her down for another kiss.

&nbs
p; “All right you two, break it up,” Hobbs said gruffly, walking to the bed. “I want no more talk of moving back to Hawthorne. Not yet.”

  “It’s not that far. I can—”

  Alex looked instinctively to Andrea for backup, apparently assuming she would agree with him wholeheartedly. But she remained silent, her gaze instead going to the doctor. “I believe, perhaps, Doc knows what’s best, Alex.”

  Hobbs looked at her appreciatively. “You are weak. There’s still a chance of infection. The stronger you are the better chance you’ll have to fight it.”

  The sound of hoof beats thundering into the yard below interrupted the conversation. Andrea ran to the window. “It’s Carter and some of your men.” She tried to sound calm, but she could see by the look on all of the faces in the room that Carter would not have come if there was not trouble.

  By the time Andrea turned around, Carter’s spurs were already jangling up the steps and he burst into the room.

  “’Scuse me, sir,” he said, relief evident in his eyes at seeing Hunter sitting up. “We got trouble in blue coming down the pike. I’m afraid you’re gonna have to move.”

  Andrea’s gaze went to the doctor, but he looked away. “But where? Where is safe?”

  They’re searching every house within fifty miles,” Carter reported. “We got two choices. We can go to the Carvers, about five miles, and then move again, or we can go to Hawthorne. The Yanks have already been there. Searched it up and down. Chances are they won’t be back. We got townspeople out spreading rumors that you’ve already been taken south.”

  Alex looked at Andrea. “Got a wedding to go to. Let’s go to Hawthorne.”

  A smile flashed across Carter’s face, but he quickly became all business again. “They’re hitching a wagon now,” he said. “Loading it with vegetables. Might be a bit uncomfortable.”

  “I’ll drive it.” Andrea stepped forward.

  She saw Carter look questioningly at Alex. “Give her a gun,” was all Alex said. Then he looked at Andrea. “You spoke too soon. Your soldiering days are not yet over.”

  Before Andrea had time to think another thought Alex was loaded and an advance guard had been sent forward. Twelve more riders waited nearby to serve as rearguard and flankers. She tried to appear calm as her gaze landed on Pierce, but when their eyes met, she knew he saw the panic there. He smiled and nodded in a reassuring gesture, and she nodded back in acknowledgment and appreciation. It somewhat unnerved her to see his confident gaze, a look that told her he would defend both lives in the wagon, unhesitatingly, with his own.

  Before she picked up the reins, Andrea jumped back out of the wagon and grabbed Carter by the arm as he walked to his horse. “I have no one to give me away. You will come to the wedding?”

  Carter looked at her with surprise and then shook his head in feigned annoyance. “Just like a woman, thinking about her weddin’ instead of her life. Now git!”

  Before she could turn, he grabbed her and kissed her on the cheek. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world, darlin’,” he whispered. “That man’s like a son to me.”

  Chapter 67

  Amor de mi alma.

  “You are the love of my soul.”

  Andrea tried to control the racing of her pulse as she guided the horses toward Hawthorne. When the majestic house appeared beyond the trees, she could not keep her hands from shaking, nor stop the memories that besieged her mind. There it stood, the beautiful, magnificent shrine, just as she remembered it. She knew as never before that this is where she belonged.

  By the time she was able to pull the horses to a stop in front of the porch, four men had already dismounted and hopped into the wagon, removing the covering they had placed over their leader. Andrea jumped down and leaned over the side. Finding Alex’s hand, she gave it a squeeze. “You’re home.”

  He weakly squeezed it in return. “We’re home.” He took a deep breath of Hawthorne air then as if having it inside him again was all he needed to heal.

  Andrea watched the men unload Alex and carry him into the house. Then she paused on the porch long enough to give a hurried hug to an excited Mattie, Izzie, Gabriella and Zach.

  “Where’s Andrea?” Alex was already asking for her by the time she arrived in his room.

  “I’m here, Alex.” He took her hand when she sat on the side of the bed and brought it to his lips. “Two days,” he said, with unopened eyes.

  “What’s in two days?”

  Alex opened his eyes, long enough to say two words. “Our wedding.”

  “You must have a fever.” Andrea placed her hand on his forehead. “We cannot possibly be married in two days.”

  “Don’t worry,” he replied weakly. “Everything is taken care of.”

  He sounded convinced—and tired—so Andrea did not argue. “Get some sleep. We’ll talk when you wake.” After kissing him on the cheek, Andrea headed toward the kitchen, where she found Mattie and Izzie in a state of complete pandemonium.

  “Gal, I gonna wup you from here until Sunday if you don’t stop that clatternation.” Mattie scolded Izzie when she knocked a dish off the table, causing little Angelina to cry.

  Andrea ran over and picked up the baby. “Look at you, you little darling! Oh, how you’ve grown!”

  The women barely looked up from their work. “What’s the rush here?” Andrea asked, rocking the child in her arms.

  Now the heads of both women jerked up at once. “Why, there’s to be a weddin’ drekly.”

  Andrea’ drew her brows together. “I was somewhat aware of a wedding, but I did not know a date had been set.”

  They both went back to work, ignoring her. “Two days,” Izzie said. “Ole Him gived us two days.” She paused. “And den the dinner party.”

  “Such jollifications as ain’t neber before been seed,” Mattie added.

  “Dinner party? Whatever are you talking about? Has everyone at Hawthorne gone mad? There is not possibly time.”

  “Now, Miz Andrea,” Mattie said, taking her by the arm and leading her from the room like she was a misbehaving child. “Why you gotta be all worriment and act so confuzzled? Ain’t no botheration at all.”

  “No botheration?” Andrea shrieked. “Why, for heaven’s sakes, I don’t even have a proper gown.”

  “Natchelly Ole Him took care of dat.”

  “Ole Him took care of it?” Andrea stood blinking in complete bewilderment.

  “He done sent a courier. Zach got the material and Gabriella, she workin’ sun to sun on a gown. Why such amazinations as you never before sawed been going on around heah. Wait and see if she don’t make you the most splendiferous gown you ever sawed!”

  Andrea cocked her head, trying to figure out how a brilliant military leader would think of such a thing as material for a gown at such a time as on the battlefield. Then she wondered if the entire household had indeed gone mad if they believed there was actually going to be a wedding in two days.

  “Don’t matta about all the extra work,” Mattie said interrupting her thoughts. “Ole Him say he pay extra.”

  Now Andrea became even more bewildered. “Pay you extra? Whatever do you mean?”

  The servants looked at each and rolled their eyes. “We done been abolished since befoe last frost time.” Izzie leaned over the table, “Don’ tell no one, though.”

  “But,” Andrea said, trying to think back. “I was here until September.”

  “Prezactly,” Mattie said. “I dismember the exactified day, but Ole Him proclaimated us free right after you lef’. Now you go gets some rest.” She looked at Andrea sternly. “You looks like you need it. The boys start coming and jubilatin’ day after ’morrow. Natchelly, they out gettin’ them Yankees off the scent fust.”

  A hurried knock and the sound of the door opening interrupted Andrea’s confused thoughts. Carter walked into the house with a simple nod in her direction when she went to see who it was.

  “Gotta see the Colonel,” he said.

  “Wait!” Andrea gr
abbed his arm. “He’s resting.”

  “That’s all right. I won’t disturb him.”

  Andrea put her hands to her temples.

  “Just gotta leave something for him,” Carter said over his shoulder as he took the steps two at a time.

  * * *

  Hunter slept all that afternoon and completely through the night, just as the doctor said he might. When his eyes finally opened, his first words, to Andrea’s surprise, were, “Did Carter come?”

  She looked at him in complete confusion. “Yes … he said he had to leave something for you. Alex, what—”

  “Can you hand me that?” He ignored her words and nodded toward a small package on the stand beside his bed. Andrea walked over and handed him the box she had not even noticed, while he struggled to sit up. “Sit down, please,” he commanded, opening the package.

  Andrea lowered herself onto the edge of the bed, so confused she did not know what to do or say.

  “Andrea Evans, I wish at last to claim you as my bride. Will you accept this as evidence of my desire to give you my name and my loving protection and esteem?” He paused for a moment and seemed almost worried of her answer, because his voice got low. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  Shrieking with mad joy and surprise at the sight of the beautiful band, Andrea laughed and cried at the same time. “Alex, it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen!” She took the ring in shaking hands.

  “Does that mean yes?” he asked innocently.

  “Yes! Yes! Yes!” She handed him the ring and watched him slide it on her finger. “I shall cling to you for life! You shall never be able to get rid of me!”

  Alex held both of her hands in his and looked her directly in the eyes. “My darling, I shall never wish to be rid of you.”

  The door burst open and Mattie, Izzie and Gabriella came rushing in. “What’s all the screaminations up heah?” Mattie asked breathlessly.

  “Look!” Andrea stood and held up her hand.

  The three women nodded and shrugged, making it clear the news was not unexpected. “I done told you everything was takin’ care of,” Mattie said, shaking her head. She gazed directly at Alex then. “Massa, Zach out front with the—” She stopped and looked at Andrea, then back at Alex. “You know.”