Free Her Rebel Heart by Shannon Farrington Page A
Authors: Shannon Farrington
hands." Julia unfolded the letter carefully. Stephen wrote of regimental drilling and of Virginia farmland hospitality. Her heart then soared. "He is with Edward!"
"Yes," Sally said happily. "Tent mates. Isn't that wonderful?"
"Indeed."
When Stephen mentioned chess matches and Edward's snoring, Julia had to laugh. "I am so pleased that they are together."
"Yes. They can look out for one another. Oh, Julia, I was so relieved to hear from him. I pray that you will hear from Edward soon."
"You must promise to bring the letter to me as soon as it arrives."
"I will. You have my word."
Julia smiled. "I cannot wait to tell Mother and Father."
The church door creaked. She quickly gave back the precious news and Sally slipped it in her pocket.
My brother is safe, Julia thought. Thank You, Lord.
"
Sam drew in a deep breath and started down the steps. Sally saw him before Julia did.
"Samuel!" she said, smiling with pleasant surprise. "Are you assisting us today?"
"I am."
Julia turned, her face draining of all color. He wanted to laugh. He couldn't help it. She looked as though she had just been caught in a traitorous act. Sam decided to make it known that he had seen the letter. After all, he too was eager for news.
"Have you heard from Edward?" he asked casually as he placed the box of tin cups on the table.
She blinked, blue eyes wide and uncertain. "Yes. Well, from Stephen. Sally did, that is."
He wondered why she felt it necessary to state Stephen Hastings had not written her personally . He took it as a hopeful sign.
"Are they both well?" He asked.
"Yes."
"Good. I am pleased to hear that."
Sam wanted to act as if there was no division between them, as if Edward and Stephen had simply gone on a fishing trip and would return in a matter of days. He smiled at her.
Julia's face was still as pale as a winter moon.
Sally, on the other hand, was grinning, a conniving expression at that. Sam figured she knew all that had taken place. Julia always told her everything. By the look on her face, Sam guessed Sally was still on his side.
"What kind of bread did you bring?" he asked evenly.
Julia gestured toward the loaf on the table and absentmindedly mentioned strawberry jam.
"She made it yesterday," Sally added.
"Fresh jam," he said. "That will bring the people in droves."
"That is what we are hoping for, isn't it, Julia?"
She nodded politely then gracefully moved to the far end of the table, placing Sally between them.
"
The noon bells chimed and as anticipated, the street traffic increased. Many people stopped by the church table out of curiosity.
It was a wonderful sight to see'yet Julia moved about in a daze, feeling out of place and ineffective.
Samuel ladled out the water and Sally smiled sweetly as she offered each person something to eat. The pair invited everyone to join those in the sanctuary for prayer.
Most declined.
"Oh, I'm on my way to such and such," they would say, "but thank you."
Undaunted, Sally responded politely in kind, promising to pray for the person's well-being. No one chaffed at her promise. They thanked her for her kindness.
Julia envied her. Sally was lifting heavy spirits, showing God's love. She was doing what Julia longed to do.
As for Samuel, a smile filled his face and his voice held its usual warmth. Little children giggled at the jokes he made. Laborers going about their tasks stopped to ask him to pray for specific requests.
"My cousin's joined up. Pray he will come home safe when all is said and done."
He would do so on the spot. Samuel never mentioned politics; he just offered a simple prayer for the one in need or the loved one they had mentioned. The person then usually went away with a smile.
A cloudless sky stretched
"Yes," Sally said happily. "Tent mates. Isn't that wonderful?"
"Indeed."
When Stephen mentioned chess matches and Edward's snoring, Julia had to laugh. "I am so pleased that they are together."
"Yes. They can look out for one another. Oh, Julia, I was so relieved to hear from him. I pray that you will hear from Edward soon."
"You must promise to bring the letter to me as soon as it arrives."
"I will. You have my word."
Julia smiled. "I cannot wait to tell Mother and Father."
The church door creaked. She quickly gave back the precious news and Sally slipped it in her pocket.
My brother is safe, Julia thought. Thank You, Lord.
"
Sam drew in a deep breath and started down the steps. Sally saw him before Julia did.
"Samuel!" she said, smiling with pleasant surprise. "Are you assisting us today?"
"I am."
Julia turned, her face draining of all color. He wanted to laugh. He couldn't help it. She looked as though she had just been caught in a traitorous act. Sam decided to make it known that he had seen the letter. After all, he too was eager for news.
"Have you heard from Edward?" he asked casually as he placed the box of tin cups on the table.
She blinked, blue eyes wide and uncertain. "Yes. Well, from Stephen. Sally did, that is."
He wondered why she felt it necessary to state Stephen Hastings had not written her personally . He took it as a hopeful sign.
"Are they both well?" He asked.
"Yes."
"Good. I am pleased to hear that."
Sam wanted to act as if there was no division between them, as if Edward and Stephen had simply gone on a fishing trip and would return in a matter of days. He smiled at her.
Julia's face was still as pale as a winter moon.
Sally, on the other hand, was grinning, a conniving expression at that. Sam figured she knew all that had taken place. Julia always told her everything. By the look on her face, Sam guessed Sally was still on his side.
"What kind of bread did you bring?" he asked evenly.
Julia gestured toward the loaf on the table and absentmindedly mentioned strawberry jam.
"She made it yesterday," Sally added.
"Fresh jam," he said. "That will bring the people in droves."
"That is what we are hoping for, isn't it, Julia?"
She nodded politely then gracefully moved to the far end of the table, placing Sally between them.
"
The noon bells chimed and as anticipated, the street traffic increased. Many people stopped by the church table out of curiosity.
It was a wonderful sight to see'yet Julia moved about in a daze, feeling out of place and ineffective.
Samuel ladled out the water and Sally smiled sweetly as she offered each person something to eat. The pair invited everyone to join those in the sanctuary for prayer.
Most declined.
"Oh, I'm on my way to such and such," they would say, "but thank you."
Undaunted, Sally responded politely in kind, promising to pray for the person's well-being. No one chaffed at her promise. They thanked her for her kindness.
Julia envied her. Sally was lifting heavy spirits, showing God's love. She was doing what Julia longed to do.
As for Samuel, a smile filled his face and his voice held its usual warmth. Little children giggled at the jokes he made. Laborers going about their tasks stopped to ask him to pray for specific requests.
"My cousin's joined up. Pray he will come home safe when all is said and done."
He would do so on the spot. Samuel never mentioned politics; he just offered a simple prayer for the one in need or the loved one they had mentioned. The person then usually went away with a smile.
A cloudless sky stretched
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