Free The Long Way Home by Lauraine Snelling Page B

in with a shirring of lace to be proper, and a full skirt gathered to a waist that dipped in front. She smoothed her hands down her sides. And stared at her boots. She daren’t go barefoot. But boots with this dress?
    Whirling in place so the skirt billowed and swished around her legs, she stretched her arms above her head.
    A knock sounded on the door. ‘‘Jesselynn, I brought you some slippers.’’
    ‘‘Come in. I’m decent.’’ Slippers even. How would she ever repay Rebeccah for these luxuries?
    Rebeccah came through the door and stopped, her eyes dancing in delight. ‘‘Oh, I knew you would be beautiful. How lovely.’’ She crossed the room and handed Jesselynn the slippers. ‘‘I do hope they fit.’’
    ‘‘Anything is better than those boots. Couldn’t picture myself clumping down the stairs, trying to keep from stepping on the hem.’’ She slid her feet into shoes that were a bit tight but certainly tolerable. ‘‘Thank you, dear Rebeccah. I’d almost forgotten . . .’’ She gestured to the dress, the hair. Further words refused to pass the lump in her throat. If only Wolf could see me like this .
    ‘‘You are most welcome. My husband sent a note saying he was bringing company for supper, so as soon as you are ready, please join us in the parlor.’’
    ‘‘Thank you for the invitation.’’ Wolf leaned his rifle against the wall. ‘‘I need to wash first.’’
    Captain Jensen pointed to the door leading to the back of the building. ‘‘There are basins and towels right out there. I’ll give you five minutes. Rebeccah dislikes me being late, so when I can, I make sure I’m there early.’’
    Wolf nodded and headed for the back of the building. While he had no clean clothes, he would wash off what dust he could. He shucked his shirt, washed, shaved, wet his hair, and combed it back for retying. With the latigo knotted in place, he shook the dust out of his shirt and pulled it back over his head. The wavy mirror only told him he had no dirt spots on his face, or razor cuts either.
    Together the two men crossed the parade grounds and took the two steps as one. Captain Jensen held the door open and motioned Wolf to precede him. Just inside the door Wolf looked up to see a vision descending the stairs. The woman looked vaguely familiar, so he nodded and smiled.
    He doesn’t even recognize me . Jesselynn swallowed hard to get her butterflies back down to her middle. She lowered her lashes to keep him from seeing her soul. He looks, he looks . . . No words powerful enough came to mind. She trailed the banister with one hand and raised her chin just a mite.
    ‘‘Hello, Mr. Torstead. How nice to see you again.’’

C HAPTER S EVEN

Richmond, Virginia
    ‘‘Take this note to Carrie Mae, please, Reuben, but don’t let her know we’re gone.’’
    ‘‘Yessum.’’ Reuben took the envelope, shaking his head all the while. ‘‘I knows dat what you do is good and is de Lawd’s will, but dis ol’ darky goin’ to ’sail the gates of heaven dat He brings you back safe.’’
    Louisa patted his arm. ‘‘I am grateful for any and all prayers. Our Father says He puts His angels in charge of us. I surely do hope He sent an entire brigade this time.’’ Her stomach hadn’t stopped fluttering since the afternoon a few days before when Zachary broke the news. Zachary nearly didn’t come home the first time they went to Washington. While she’d made it straight through, his trip back had taken him three weeks. During that time, they didn’t know if he was dead or alive. That after the months of not hearing from him when he was off fighting and then showing up in her hospital, wounded and unidentified.
    With a black hat and veil, along with widow’s weeds borrowed from a neighbor, she looked near like a spook, far as she was concerned. But there was no way to disguise Zachary’s injuries, so they had capitalized on them instead. He sat hunched in a chair with wheels, his dark