a woman in a prison like this.â
One of the prisoners who had been sitting close enough to overhear said, âSome talk about hanging her.â
âOh, they wouldnât do that!â Leah cried out.
âNo, I donât think they would. That would be too terrible,â Nelson Majors agreed. He looked at Leah and said, âYou better be a little bit careful though. Theyâre going to be watching everyone that comes to see Mrs. Greenhow. Sheâs a famous person.â
His warning alerted Leah, but during the next week she came to the prison several times, eachtime stopping by to see the woman and the little girl.
Every time, Lieutenant Simpkins searched her bags before she went in and as she left. Once he said, âI donât understand you. That womanâs an enemy of your country.â
Leah thought he was a sad-looking young man, rather sour and bitter. âI donât know about that,â she said. âI do know sheâs not young anymore, and I donât think little Rose is an enemy to anybodyâs country.â
âThatâs what you think!â Simpkins said. âI tried to be nice to her the other day, and you know what that child said?â A look of disgust crossed his face. âShe said, âYouâve got one of the blamedest little Rebels here you ever saw.ââ Simpkins shook his head in disgust. âWhat can you expect though with a mother like that?â
Leah did not argue with the lieutenant but made her way back to camp. When she got there she was met by her father.
âCome in and get warm, Pet.â
She removed her heavy coat and hugged the little cookstove he had set up in the tent.
âHow was Mrs. Greenhow and little Rose?â
âOh, about as usual. So sad their being there! I wish they could leave.â
âWell, I expect theyâll be released and sent South one of these days,â he said. âHow about Nelson?â
âHe looked fairly well,â Leah said, holding out her hands to warm the numb fingers.
âWell, Iâve got something for you.â
He held out an envelope, and when Leah saw the handwriting, she cried out, âItâs from Jeff!â She ripped it open and stared at the single sheet ofpaper. When she had read it, she then read it aloud to her father.
Dear Leah and Mr. Carter
,
I find myself well and hope that you are the same. I trust that things have been going well with my father. I canât tell you how much Tom and I appreciate what youâve done for him. I really donât think he would have made it if you hadnât been there
.
We havenât done much soldiering here during the winter. Itâs too cold, I suppose. I think a lot about Esther. Tom and I both would like to see her. I want to get back to Kentucky as quick as I can. Of course, Tom wants to go too, but I think you know someone he wants to see just as much as he wants to see Esther
.
Thanks for the long letters youâve written me. I look forward to them. I think a lot about the birdsâ nest collection and wonder if weâll ever get one of those downy woodpecker eggs. Remember how hard we looked for that one last summer? And how you fell out of the tree, right on top of me? I didnât know you were so heavy until you lit right on top of my head
.
Well, thatâs about all I have time for now. I will write again when I get your letter
.
Yours sincerely,Â
Jefferson Majors
âA nice letter,â Dan Carter said. âYou can tell the boyâs lonesomeâbut thatâs only natural.â
Leah looked at him with a light in her eyes. âThatâs not all the letter,â she said mysteriously. âItâs not? Is there more on the other side?â
âNo, but weâve got a secret code. Look here, Pa.â Leah held the paper near the flame that burned in the small stove.
âWhy, youâre going to burn it up, Daughter!â her father