Camellia

by Diane T. Ashley

  “So He liked children?”

  “Yep. In fact, He loved them. And He loves you, too.”

  Jasmine tossed her hair over one shoulder with a flick of her wrist. “I love Him, too, Papa. I want to be close to Him like those children in the Bible.”

  Her sister’s words took Camellia back to the day she had confessed her faith in Jesus. She had been even younger than Jasmine was now, but she had known exactly what she was doing.

  “Tell me what you know about Jesus.”

  Why was Papa questioning Jasmine? Why didn’t he tell her she was saved?

  “He is God’s Son who was born a long, long time ago in a stable. When He grew up, He did miracles like healing people who were sick or lame or blind. The important people were upset with Him, and they killed Him and buried Him in a cave.”

  “That’s very good, Jasmine. I can tell that you’ve been listening closely in church. So why do we talk about Him? After all, He’s been dead for a long time.”

  “No, He hasn’t.” Jasmine looked toward her father. “When His mama went to the cave where He was buried, He wasn’t there anymore.”

  “Where was He?”

  Camellia could see Jasmine’s shoulders bend forward as she considered how to answer Papa’s question.

  “He rose from the grave and told His friends not to worry. He said He was going to heaven to make houses for them.”

  “That’s exactly right, honey. I’m so excited for you.” Papa hugged Jasmine. “Once you ask Jesus into your heart, the rest of your life will be different. Are you ready to take that step?”

  Camellia’s little sister nodded. “Yes, Papa, I want Jesus to fill me up with His love.”

  Unable to contain her joy, Camellia clapped her hands. Both Papa and Jasmine turned to where she stood. She ran forward and embraced both of them. “I’m so happy for you, Jasmine.”

  “Let’s pray together.” Papa glanced back at the river to check their progress. Then he put an arm around each of them and closed his eyes. “Father God, we come into Your presence with hearts of thankfulness, praise, and joy. We give thanks for these my daughters who are Your children. Thank You for revealing Yourself to them, and thank You for letting me witness their abiding faith firsthand. Please accept Jasmine into Your fold and watch over her as You do for all your children. Keep us ever mindful of You and Your wondrous plans for our lives…. Amen.”

  “Amen.” Camellia and Jasmine chorused the word at the same time.

  Looking out on the winding river ahead of their boat, Camellia thanked God again for this day, her sister’s faith, and the wonderful Christian examples in their family. On a beautiful morning like this one, everything seemed perfect. Even the war seemed a continent away.

  “Grant is obsessed with winning Vicksburg.”

  Jonah stared at his brother across the counter at the shipping office. Eli had aged a decade since the war began. His hairline had faded back, making him look more like Father, and the furrows on his forehead had deepened since the last time they’d been together. “Yes, but for good reason. If we can only gain control of Vicksburg, we’ll choke off the supply lines and communications of the Confederacy.”

  “I know.” Eli put a hand over his mouth and coughed long and hard. When the paroxysm was over, he drew a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his forehead.

  Jonah wondered if the physical changes in his brother were more from illness than advancing age. “You sound terrible.”

  “I’m better than I was a week ago.” He reached for the goblet sitting on the desk in front of him and took a long swallow of water. “Renée and I have both recovered, but the children are still struggling with fever and chills. We are just thankful it’s not yellow fever.”

  A shudder passed through Jonah at the dread his brother’s words caused. With the privations of war and the arrival of summer, an outbreak of yellow fever was likely.

  Eli put down his water. “You’re not going to get me off the subject of General Grant. Is it true he’s trying to dig a tunnel around the city of Vicksburg?”

  “Yes, it’s true.” Jonah sighed. Concentrating on the campaign strategy of his leaders was better than worrying about the future.

  “Does he think he’s trying to change the course of a meandering stream? That’s the Mississippi, the Father of Waters. He must have no concept of its strength. The spring rains have already begun. The floods will wipe out his efforts and probably kill a lot of good men.”

  “I know. The water is already threatening the dikes at New Orleans.”

  “You’ve been to New Orleans?” Eli’s expression turned eager. “Is Sarah still holding court? How are Mama and Papa?”

  “Well enough, although Father almost shot me when he realized I was wearing a Union uniform.”

  Eli chuckled. His cough returned with a vengeance.

  Jonah wished he could do something to ease his sibling’s symptoms. The thought took him back to the days when Camellia tended him so gently. Nostalgia and yearning swept through him, but he’d become adept at pushing those feelings to the back of his mind. “I think you should go upstairs and rest.” He pushed himself up from the leather chair on the opposite side of his brother’s desk.

  “Visiting with you is as good as any tonic my wife has given me.” Eli stood, too, stepping around his desk to give Jonah a hug.

  “What does your doctor say?”

  Eli threw him a rueful glance. “Doctor? We’ve not seen one of those for the past month.”

  “There’s help at the fort.”

  “But they’re needed to tend the soldiers.”

  “That’s a ridiculous notion. I can find someone to at least prescribe a remedy for your cough.”

  “Don’t worry about us. God will provide.”

  Jonah put a hand on Eli’s shoulder. “Perhaps He is providing … through a brother with the right connections.”

  “Just pray for us.”

  “Always.” The love he felt for his sibling swelled up. Before Jonah could form the words to express his affections, someone knocked on the library door.

  Eli’s frown returned as one of his servants poked her head into the library. “I’m sorry to disturb you, sir, but you have visitors.”

  “I thought I left instructions that we are not receiving.”

  The young woman bobbed her head. “They are from out of town.”

  No matter who the visitors were, they would not want to remain in a sick household. Jonah looked at his brother. “Why don’t you let me go and explain the situation?”

  “I wouldn’t mind your support.” Eli swallowed hard to suppress yet another cough, and the two of them walked to the parlor.

  When they entered the room, the first person Jonah saw was Blake Matthews. His heartbeat increased a notch. Then he realized that two ladies were with the man—and one of them was the only woman who’d ever turned his world upside down. His mouth turned as dry as a desert. “Camellia.”

  While Eli greeted Blake and Lily, Jonah could hardly keep his eyes from devouring Camellia. She was wearing a yellow dress almost the same color as her hair. In combination, they formed a halo around her that made him think of angels.

  His brother indicated the sofa and chairs. While he explained the situation in his home, Jonah took a seat next to her. A thousand contradictory impulses attacked him.

  “What are you doing here?” Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

  “This is my brother’s home.” He saw her cheeks redden and wished he could recall the words. He hadn’t meant his answer to sound so insolent.

  “Of course. I just thought you would be in Confederate territory somewhere gathering information. But I see you are wearing your true colors now.”

  The venom in her words opened a gulf as wide as the river between them. A gulf he knew he couldn’t bridge. She was as dedicated to preserving the Old South as he was to changing it.

  “I thought you would be in Vicksburg with people who think like you do.”
The sarcasm in his voice was a mask for the pain in his heart. Why did this one woman cause so much emotional turmoil in him? She didn’t even have to try to be aggravating. Her presence in his brother’s parlor was enough.

  “As a matter of fact, I’ve spent the last several months in Cape Girardeau.”

  His jaw dropped. “With Yankees? Have you had a change of heart?”

  “Not that it’s any of your business, but Blake’s family lives there. His father was in a bad way, so we went up to see if we could help.”

  Jonah snapped his mouth shut. She was right. She didn’t owe him an explanation. He had absolutely no claim on her. But that didn’t stop the curiosity consuming him.

  “Camellia.” Her older sister’s voice interrupted their private conversation. “Did you hear that? Eli, my sister has learned so much about taking care of the sick and infirm that she now carries her own medicine bag. It’s chock-full of everything your poor family could need.”

  Eli’s gaze met his own. A thankful prayer filled Jonah’s heart at the answer God had sent before they’d even made their requests. Perhaps he would even get a chance to explore the changes in Camellia while she was here.

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Camellia hummed a song as she climbed the stairs, a tray with bowls of warm broth in her hands. Although she missed her sisters, taking care of the Thornton boys and Renée had filled her time.

  Blake had returned to the Water Lily with Lily and Jasmine as soon as they realized the danger, but he had come to check on her and the Thornton family daily.

  She bumped open the boys’ bedroom with a hip. “How are y’all doing this afternoon?”

  Brandon and Cameron were out of bed, studying their lessons in one corner of the room. Remington, the youngest, had been the first one to catch the croup, and he was the slowest to recover from its ravages.

  Setting the tray between the two older boys, she walked to Remington’s narrow bed. He was propped against several pillows, his dark hair falling over his forehead. “I’m ready to get up.”

  Although she sympathized with him, Camellia shook her head. “One more day to make sure the fever doesn’t return.”

  He groaned and rolled his eyes. “It’s not fair. Cameron and Brandon don’t have to stay in bed.”

  “At least you don’t have to read this awful poetry.” Brandon made a face at the book in his hands.

  “Or find the answers to equations,” Cameron chimed in. He put down his pencil and reached for one of the bowls of broth. “This smells great.”

  Remington looked toward the table. “Can I at least get up and eat at the table?”

  “Your fever is gone.” Camellia reached for his wrist and checked his pulse. It was no longer rapid and thready. “I think it will be all right.”

  Pleasure entered his face, but the youngster did not throw off his covers. “You’ll need to leave, then. I only have on my nightshirt.”

  Camellia nodded. “Be careful, though, and get right back into bed as soon as you’re done.” Exiting the room, she checked on Renée before heading back to the first floor. Everyone was on the mend. She should be able to rejoin her family in the next day or two.

  She saw Jonah before she was halfway down the staircase, and her cheeks flamed in reaction to his intense gaze. Why did he always affect her this way? Straightening her shoulders and taking a deep breath, Camellia continued her descent after a brief pause. She wanted to check her appearance before facing him, but retreat was not an option. “Hello, Jonah.”

  He nodded his head in greeting. “I was looking for Eli.”

  Of course he was not here to see her. Why should he be? Jonah had left her behind after she’d thrown herself at him the last time they were together alone. Her pride rescued her from making a fool of herself again. “He’s at the shipping office.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. How are your other patients?” Jonah’s gaze slammed into her.

  Trying to keep her heart intact, Camellia told herself his eyes were the color of wet moss in a swamp. “Mostly recovered. They don’t really need me anymore.”

  “I’m sure you’ll be glad to be back with your family.”

  “Yes, Blake and Lily have promised to stop in Vicksburg so I can check on Thad and Jane.”

  His lips lost their supercilious curve. “You must be kidding. I cannot imagine the Rebels will let you make a landing.”

  “Don’t worry.” She wondered if he regretted telling her to fix her interest with Thad. Or did he even remember giving her advice? The incident that seemed so clear in her memory apparently had no place in his. “Blake has spent some time in Vicksburg, and he has friends who will vouch for us.”

  “I hope you don’t intend to stay there. General Grant has made that town his main target. When Vicksburg falls, the town’s residents may well pay a high price for their resistance.”

  She could not believe the man’s effrontery. Who did he think he was to attempt to advise her? “It’s really none of your business what my plans are.”

  Green fire seemed to shoot from his eyes. “You really haven’t changed at all, have you, Camellia? I should have known it was only a vain hope on my part that you might have set aside your childish tendencies, but you are a socialite at heart, and you will never change.”

  His words struck her heart with deadly force, their power shattering the protective wall she’d erected between them. Tears burned at the corners of her eyes. “At least when the South wins this war, I’ll have Thad to care for me. I’ll be surrounded by my loved ones while you either flee northward or land in prison for your betrayal of our way of life.”

  The color washed out of his face, and Camellia realized she’d gone too far. She opened her mouth to take the words back, but it was too late. Jonah turned on his heel and strode out of the house, slamming the door behind him.

  Camellia sank onto the bottom step and rocked back and forth as anguish burned her heart. She ought to be glad they had been so honest with each other. Now she knew without a doubt they could never be happy together. But as she considered her future, she wondered if she could be happy without him.

  “Good morning, sunshine.” Renée’s familiar greeting brought Camellia’s head up.

  She planted a smile on her face for her friend’s benefit. “I’m happy to see you up and about.”

  “Not as glad as I am to be out of my bedchamber.” The short, dark-haired woman was pale, but Camellia could see the determination in her eyes. “I don’t know how to thank you for all you’ve done since you got here.”

  Even though sadness lingered deep inside her heart, Camellia felt a sense of contentment in the knowledge her skills had helped the Thornton family recover their health. “It’s my pleasure.”

  “Have you seen Brandon and Cameron?”

  “They’ve gone to open the shop with Blake and Eli.” Camellia rose from her place at the table and went to the sideboard to help Renée get some breakfast.

  Renée pointed to the toast. “I think that’s all I want to eat.”

  Her nursing sense took over. “You need something more substantial than that.” Camellia spooned scrambled eggs onto the other woman’s plate and added a slice of cured ham.

  “That’s enough.” Renée laughed. “I don’t want to be as large as a cow.”

  Remington dashed into the room then, his normal high spirits in evidence since he’d thrown off the effects of his illness. “I’ve finished my lessons. May I walk to Pa’s shop?”

  Renée kissed him on the forehead. “I’m glad you feel so much better, but I think you’d better stay inside today.”

  “Aww, Mama.” He broke away from her, picked up a plate, and filled it with slices of crisp bacon.

  Camellia put Renée’s plate on the table and returned to her seat. “Blake said Jasmine and Lily are planning to visit again this morning.”

  “Really?” Remington was already chewing on bacon as he sat next to her. “I like Jasmine. She’s funny.”

 
Camellia and Renée exchanged a glance. Camellia doubted her sister would appreciate his description of the impromptu theatrics she’d performed for him during her visit the day before.

  She sipped her coffee as she listened to Remington’s rapid-fire comments and his mother’s calm responses. Renée obviously knew how to respond to boyish enthusiasm.

  “How much longer will you stay with us?” Renée’s question interrupted her musings.

  “Lily is anxious to get to Natchez.”

  “I can understand that. She’ll want her family around her when the baby comes.”

  Camellia nodded. As long as she had the chance to visit with the Watkinses in Vicksburg. She had no doubt she could wrangle an invitation from Jane to stay with them. And Lily seemed amenable to allowing her to remain behind since she’d conceived the idea that Camellia was in love with Thad. And she was … or at least she would be as soon as she was near him again.

  A flash of lightning, followed by the crash of thunder, made all three of them jump.

  Remington’s voice rose an octave. “Is that cannon fire?”

  Camellia glanced toward the window and shook her head. “It’s just another spring storm.”

  Renée shook her head as rain peppered the window. “I feel sorry for the soldiers outside in this deluge.”

  Where was Jonah? The question trembled on Camellia’s tongue, but she could not voice it. She had not seen the man since Tuesday. Not that she cared, but she did want to apologize for her angry remarks. He had a right to his opinion the same as she did.

  Had he been sent somewhere to spy once more? Or was he on board one of the naval ships? She shuddered to think of his pointing a cannon at the bluffs of Vicksburg.

  “It’s been a stormy spring.” Renée pushed back from the table. “Eli says the river is high now and likely to flood.”

  “Lily will probably be more anxious than ever to depart.” Camellia put down her coffee cup. “I suppose I’d better get my things packed.”

  Renée sighed. “I wish we had more time to visit now that I’m feeling better. I can never repay you for taking care of me and my household.”