Free Her Rebel Heart by Shannon Farrington Page B
Authors: Shannon Farrington
over them. His hair shone reddish-brown in the midday sun. Julia marveled at theeffect he was having on others until she thought better of it. More is needed than prayer. Even Jesus told his disciples at one point if they didn't have a sword to sell their cloaks and buy one.
Time marched on. The bonnet covering her head was beginning to feel like a bread oven. Though the emerald green dress she wore was made of light silk, the fabric clung to her uncomfortably. She took out her lace handkerchief and blotted her face. There was a lull in the traffic and Samuel mentioned Edward.
"Did your brothers say where they are camping?" he asked.
"Indirectly," Sally innocently answered. "They are in'"
Julia quickly caught her best friend's arm. What was Sally thinking; ready to report Edward and Stephen's activities to him?
"They have gone south," Julia said.
"Yes," he chuckled. "I suppose they would."
His lightheartedness was infuriating. "What do you find so amusing?" she asked.
"Forgive me," he said, though still chuckling. "It was the look on your face, just now. Don't worry, Julia, I have no intention of reporting your letters or your brother's activities to the Provost Marshal."
His promise gave little comfort. "Then what are your intentions?" she wanted to know.
"The same as yours. I would like to send Edward a letter."
Her anger brewed. Her head felt even hotter. "And just what would you say to him, Samuel? Would you condemn his actions? Would you argue your so-called abolitionist views?"
Her emotions had gotten the better of her. She hadraised her voice. Samuel looked embarrassed. Sally did, as well. Her face was three shades of red.
A woman with a baby carriage and two small youngsters had approached the table. Julia felt her own embarrassment rising. She tried to remember why she was here, the mission of kindness she had undertaken. But as Samuel took her hand and steered her to the nearby maple tree, all thoughts of Christian charity evaporated.
"Julia, I have nothing against your brother. I pray daily for his safety."
"But not his victory," she said.
"I pray that God's will, that right, will prevail."
"Right will prevail? I suppose that means the Federal Army?"
"I didn't say that."
"You have by your actions."
"You have misinterpreted them."
"Have I?"
He stepped closer, his brown eyes full of intensity. "I would give my life for you, for your family if necessary."
"Would you?" she scoffed. "Where were you the night my brother tried to keep the army from invading this city? Where were you when those soldiers approached me yesterday at the market?"
"
Sam's heart filled his throat and the hair on the back of his neck stood up. Julia's jaw was clenched but the emotion in her eyes had shifted from anger to fear.
"What soldiers? What happened to you?"
"They were watching me as I was shopping. They asked if I needed help with my basket."
It was obvious that she thought the men had been insincere in their offers of assistance. She looked himfull in the face. All her anxieties were openly displayed. His heart ached for her and without thinking, he took her hand in his.
"What did you say to them?"
Her fingers were trembling. Her voice was, as well. "I told them no thank you and then I ran away as quickly as I could."
"Did they follow you home?"
"No. I made certain of that."
He had feared such things from the Federal occupation and much worse. The troops were here to keep the peace, to preserve the Union. But at what cost? The memory of what they had done on Pratt Street still made his blood boil, and the thought of one of them harming Julia'or any lady of this city'made him want to pick up a musket and join the Confederate
Time marched on. The bonnet covering her head was beginning to feel like a bread oven. Though the emerald green dress she wore was made of light silk, the fabric clung to her uncomfortably. She took out her lace handkerchief and blotted her face. There was a lull in the traffic and Samuel mentioned Edward.
"Did your brothers say where they are camping?" he asked.
"Indirectly," Sally innocently answered. "They are in'"
Julia quickly caught her best friend's arm. What was Sally thinking; ready to report Edward and Stephen's activities to him?
"They have gone south," Julia said.
"Yes," he chuckled. "I suppose they would."
His lightheartedness was infuriating. "What do you find so amusing?" she asked.
"Forgive me," he said, though still chuckling. "It was the look on your face, just now. Don't worry, Julia, I have no intention of reporting your letters or your brother's activities to the Provost Marshal."
His promise gave little comfort. "Then what are your intentions?" she wanted to know.
"The same as yours. I would like to send Edward a letter."
Her anger brewed. Her head felt even hotter. "And just what would you say to him, Samuel? Would you condemn his actions? Would you argue your so-called abolitionist views?"
Her emotions had gotten the better of her. She hadraised her voice. Samuel looked embarrassed. Sally did, as well. Her face was three shades of red.
A woman with a baby carriage and two small youngsters had approached the table. Julia felt her own embarrassment rising. She tried to remember why she was here, the mission of kindness she had undertaken. But as Samuel took her hand and steered her to the nearby maple tree, all thoughts of Christian charity evaporated.
"Julia, I have nothing against your brother. I pray daily for his safety."
"But not his victory," she said.
"I pray that God's will, that right, will prevail."
"Right will prevail? I suppose that means the Federal Army?"
"I didn't say that."
"You have by your actions."
"You have misinterpreted them."
"Have I?"
He stepped closer, his brown eyes full of intensity. "I would give my life for you, for your family if necessary."
"Would you?" she scoffed. "Where were you the night my brother tried to keep the army from invading this city? Where were you when those soldiers approached me yesterday at the market?"
"
Sam's heart filled his throat and the hair on the back of his neck stood up. Julia's jaw was clenched but the emotion in her eyes had shifted from anger to fear.
"What soldiers? What happened to you?"
"They were watching me as I was shopping. They asked if I needed help with my basket."
It was obvious that she thought the men had been insincere in their offers of assistance. She looked himfull in the face. All her anxieties were openly displayed. His heart ached for her and without thinking, he took her hand in his.
"What did you say to them?"
Her fingers were trembling. Her voice was, as well. "I told them no thank you and then I ran away as quickly as I could."
"Did they follow you home?"
"No. I made certain of that."
He had feared such things from the Federal occupation and much worse. The troops were here to keep the peace, to preserve the Union. But at what cost? The memory of what they had done on Pratt Street still made his blood boil, and the thought of one of them harming Julia'or any lady of this city'made him want to pick up a musket and join the Confederate
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