Free Yankee Belles in Dixie by Gilbert L. Morris

a woman in a prison like this.”
    One of the prisoners who had been sitting close enough to overhear said, “Some talk about hanging her.”
    â€œOh, they wouldn’t do that!” Leah cried out.
    â€œNo, I don’t think they would. That would be too terrible,” Nelson Majors agreed. He looked at Leah and said, “You better be a little bit careful though. They’re going to be watching everyone that comes to see Mrs. Greenhow. She’s a famous person.”
    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, “I don’t understand you. That woman’s an enemy of your country.”
    Leah thought he was a sad-looking young man, rather sour and bitter. “I don’t know about that,” she said. “I do know she’s not young anymore, and I don’t think little Rose is an enemy to anybody’s country.”
    â€œThat’s what you think!” Simpkins said. “I tried to be nice to her the other day, and you know what that child said?” A look of disgust crossed his face. “She said, ‘You’ve got one of the blamedest little Rebels here you ever saw.”’ Simpkins shook his head in disgust. “What can you expect though with a mother like that?”
    Leah did not argue with the lieutenant but made her way back to camp. When she got there she was met by her father.
    â€œCome in and get warm, Pet.”
    She removed her heavy coat and hugged the little cookstove he had set up in the tent.
    â€œHow was Mrs. Greenhow and little Rose?”
    â€œOh, about as usual. So sad their being there! I wish they could leave.”
    â€œWell, I expect they’ll be released and sent South one of these days,” he said. “How about Nelson?”
    â€œHe looked fairly well,” Leah said, holding out her hands to warm the numb fingers.
    â€œWell, I’ve got something for you.”
    He held out an envelope, and when Leah saw the handwriting, she cried out, “It’s from Jeff!” 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 can’t tell you how much Tom and I appreciate what you’ve done for him. I really don’t think he would have made it if you hadn’t been there
.
    We haven’t done much soldiering here during the winter. It’s 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 you’ve written me. I look forward to them. I think a lot about the birds’ nest collection and wonder if we’ll 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 didn’t know you were so heavy until you lit right on top of my head
.
    Well, that’s about all I have time for now. I will write again when I get your letter
.
    Yours sincerely, 
Jefferson Majors
    â€œA nice letter,” Dan Carter said. “You can tell the boy’s lonesome—but that’s only natural.”
    Leah looked at him with a light in her eyes. “That’s not all the letter,” she said mysteriously. “It’s not? Is there more on the other side?”
    â€œNo, but we’ve got a secret code. Look here, Pa.” Leah held the paper near the flame that burned in the small stove.
    â€œWhy, you’re going to burn it up, Daughter!” her father