“My goodness, it’s wet!” Arthur exclaimed as he flung open the door. Behind him trooped in all four of his sons and his wife, all soaked to the bone. Puddles quickly began to form on the floor, and Cordia wondered if they might form a river, what with so many drippy people all entering at once. The three younger boys all ran to the fireplace, stripping off coats and hats as they went. They didn’t see Frieda there at first and almost knocked her over, much to her chagrin. Julia scooted over to help her aunt get out of her wet things, and Will simply slid over to make room around the fire. Meanwhile, Jaris had yet to notice Cordia standing across the room. He was also trying to get out of his wet coat, hat, and gloves. It was Margaret’s cry of surprise that first made him look up and realize that she was there. Cordia was beginning to wonder if their wagon hadn’t floated away. Normally, people noticed when someone else pulled up and hitched in at th
Weekday evenings were generally quiet in the town of Lamar. Cordia usually spent the time after supper reading in her room or playing the piano for her father in the den. Occasionally, a few of the elder men in town would meet with her father in the parlor, the door closed, voices low and secretive, and the only indication of what was going on in there was the continual smell of pipe smoke that seeped out from around the door. Of course, Cordia knew they were discussing the imminent war and the defense of the town, which was a welcome idea, at last. By late April, there seemed no way around it. There was a fight coming, and they could no longer pretend it away. Several men were leaving the county every day to meet up with regiments from one side or the other.The State Guard continued to drill on the square, and sometimes, when she was bringing lunch to her daddy, Cordia would see Jaris drilling right along with them. He was very good, too, she had noticed, never seemed to mi
Now Cordia understood. That’s why Jaris had come. He was finally going to join up with the army. Though she had known he was going, and though she only loved him as a friend, it was still a little difficult for her to bear. She let go of his arm, walking a little ahead of him at first. But he caught up to her and took her arm again. “Cordia, don’t be cross,” he said pulling her back toward him. “You knew I was going.”“Yes, yes, I did,” she admitted, turning to face him. “But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.” She looked at him, straining to see his face in the dim moonlight. “I’m not mad, Jaris. I’m sad. I’m sad for all of us, sad that this war ever had to happen.”“I know, I know,” he said, putting his arms around her. “Me, too. But I have to go. We’re leaving this Saturday. All of us, riding out together. Only leaving about forty militia behind
On Friday afternoon, the whole town seemed to shut down early. When Isaac Pike had heard that there was to be a big send-off for all of the boys going out to fight, he insisted on hosting it at his house. And no one protested, as the Pikes were known for throwing some of the best social events in the county. After the double wedding at the First Baptist Church, they all walked or drove their horses and carriages the few blocks to the stately, two-story brick house on Broadway. Frieda had stayed behind to ensure everyone would have plenty of libations when they arrived. It was almost like a parade, Cordia noticed, as she walked along beside her parents making their way back home. Some of the fighting men were in their uniforms, many carrying their guns, sometimes firing them up into the air. And though not all the uniforms were the same, some for one side, some for the other, no one seemed to be disagreeable or ready to fight the folks from their own town. This was the last celebrati
Cordia did not like to hear men sit around and talk about such things as war. She was seated next to Julia, who had been nothing like the solemn child she was when Cordia first met her. She had even danced with a few of the men earlier. Will was also still there, standing across the campfire from them. Her eyes wandered to him more often than they should have, but a few times, she thought she saw him looking back at her. Or maybe he was just checking on his sister. She couldn’t be sure. How was it that she could be just as upset about him leaving, someone she hardly knew, as she was about the man she was to marry, someone she had known her whole life? She was hoping that, before he left, she would get just one more chance to talk to him. Perhaps, she could write to him, maybe under the guise of keeping him informed of how Julia was doing.Jaris was sitting a few benches away from her telling a story, and everyone was listening intently. She glanced back up to where Will
So many thoughts went thundering through Cordia’s mind as time seemed to stand still once more. What was she thinking, kissing Will when Jaris was seated not a hundred feet away How could she do such a thing? What if Jaris found out? How would she explain herself to Will, who would obviously be outraged that she should violate him in such a way?But then, she realized, he was not outraged. He was kissing her back. And then, she felt his arms around her, a smile spreading over her face like none she had ever felt before, and she was kissing him even more passionately.There was noise behind them, people standing up, getting ready to go, and it brought them back to reality, brought them back to war. He released her then, and she had only a moment to look into those mysterious eyes before she gave his hand a gentle squeeze and turned to walk back toward the others, still feeling the warmth of his lips on hers.A glance over her shoulder told her Will had gone
May 16, 1861Dear Jaris,I hope this letter finds you well. I decided to wait a few days before writing to you because I wasn’t sure how long it would take for you to meet up with your unit and get settled. And, until today, I really couldn’t bear to think that you were gone. The town has changed in the last few days. It seems all the young men are gone, all the old men are politicking, and all of the women are trying to keep their minds preoccupied with something other than the fact that their sons or their sweethearts are off fighting. Rumor has it that your side is planning an attack soon, that Gov. Jackson has decided to take the state back from Union hands. I pray that you will be safe, no matter what lies in the future. I hope that you will find some solace in thoughts of me and of your home, which awaits your safe return.Your fiancée,CordiaCordia sighed, rereading the letter
Julia took the picture she’d drawn of Will and set it aside, but Cordia’s eyes followed it. Then, she caught herself, and realized that Julia had moved on to the next image. “This is a picture I am working on,” she said, opening a sketchpad. It looked new, and she wondered if Mr. or Mrs. Adams hadn’t gotten it for their niece. “It’s a sketch of me. I’m going to send it to Will so that he can remember me by it.” The picture was only half done but already Cordia could see that it was going to look just like Julia when it was finished.“That’s a very good idea,” Cordia agreed. “I am sure he will treasure it.”“I have an idea,” Julia said, her face lighting up. “Maybe I could draw you and send it to Jaris! I am sure he would love it!”Cordia knew that he would—what she wouldn’t give to confiscate that picture of Will and take it home. But she wasn&
Army life was not at all what Jaris Adams had thought it was going to be. He had been in camp now for just over a week, and he hated every minute of it. Though he was raised on a farm, he could not get used to sleeping on the ground, using a latrine, eating hardtack. And he hated the noise. The men all seemed to be in high spirits, which he knew was a good thing. But they were up playing music, gambling, carousing, until all hours of the night. As an officer, one of his duties was to try to enforce curfews, but it was damn near impossible at this point in the war effort. They had word that Franz Sigel’s men were headed toward them and that there could be a skirmish, maybe even a full-blown battle, any day. That was enough to keep morale—and noise—at an indescribable high.His days consisted mainly of drilling the troops. As a lieutenant, he was in charge of a certain number of men. Of course, he had officers above him as well. A good portion of the day was s