Free The Girls of Gettysburg by Bobbi Miller

men tended to lose their senses.
    â€œIt’s just me, Mr. Tilimon,” Grace shouted back, disguising her voice. “My sisters and I are helping Miss Mary. One of the babies is sick. We’re on our way back now.”
    â€œIt’s mightily late for you to be out and about, don’t you think? Soldiers might be out there.”
    â€œGlad to see you’re safe, too! Babies don’t work on anyone’s schedule except their own, Mr. Tilimon. With all the commotion these past few days, Miss Mary just thought it best to git while we can.”
    â€œRebels surely did cause a stir. Who did you say you were?”
    â€œIt’s just me, Mr. Tilimon. I’ll tell Miss Mary I saw you. She said she had a meat pie for you, knowing you were feeling poorly of late. She’ll be glad to hear you are doing better. Give my best to Mrs. Tilimon!”
    Whistling for Weezy and Sorry to follow, she bolted down the alley. She stopped again just before the alley opened up onto Washington Street. A block down the way was the diamond. She motioned for the two to stay put as she moved ahead, looking up and down the road. Behind her, she heard Mrs. Tilimon shouting now at Mr. Tilimon. Mr. Tilimon was shouting back, so loud that a dog barked in complaint. Another man was hooting at all the commotion.
    Grace motioned to them,
Hurry on!
At a full run, they crossed theroad. Grace hoped no one would pay attention to three more running in the streets, after all the dozens who had fled in the night. She angled off the main road, entering another alley.
    Once more she heard voices, and instantly slowed, clinging to the shadows. She motioned Weezy and Sorry to stop, but the two came up, easing next to her.
    â€œWho’s there?” someone called out, her voice clear as church bells.
    Grace shivered. This one wasn’t swooning from too much drink.
    â€œI say, who is there? Come out now!”
    â€œIt’s just me,” Grace said.
    â€œShow yourself, I’m warning you! If I scream, I’m sure to attract lots of attention, and then you’ll be in trouble!”
    Grace swallowed hard, looking to the runaways, motioning them to stay put. Then she stepped free from the shadows. “It’s just me, I tell you. I’m doing an errand for Miss Mary.”
    â€œGrace Bryan?” Tillie Pierce stepped forward. “Why would Miss Mary have you out and about at this late hour with rebels so near?” Then Tillie wrenched to a stop, and Grace knew she had seen Weezy and Sorry.
    â€œWhat are you doing, Grace Bryan?” Tillie whispered hard, her voice trembling. “The rebs will kill us all for sure because of you! I have to turn you in!”
    Grace took a step back, but not in fear. “And what are you doing, out and about in the dark by yourself, Miss Tillie? That don’t seem like the proper thing to do.”
    Tillie huffed. “You can’t talk to me like that.”
    â€œYou’re not stealing more peaches, are you?” Grace said.
    â€œI was visiting my friend,” Tillie huffed. “Not that it’s your concern.”
    Weezy took a slow step forward.
    â€œIt’s a brave Miss Grace taking us home, miss,” she said. “I see you all atremble, and I all atremble. It’s not always easy, doing the right thing. Sometimes it too hard to tell the right thing from the proper thing. Sometimes more brave to look past what’s proper, and do what’s right. Like Job, all them troubles he seen. He was a good man, just like Miss Grace here, just like you, miss. But none of that mattered.The lord giveth and the lord taketh away, my auntie says. And Job had nothing left. Evil did the best it could to beat Job down, but Job kept true to what’s right. He only hoped for the light to show him the way. There’s light in your eyes, miss. Please, we just want to go home.”
    Tillie offered a weak smile. “Well, I can understand, but I