When Seline rode up the drive, it was clear that her absence had been noticed. Her mother was standing outside with her hands on her hips looking very upset. She did not say a word but pointed to the barn. Seline dismounted and turned to her mother. "Mama Heinz is dead. He must have fallen from the horse and was killed. he is in the woods on the far side of the road going to town after the Evan's farm drive." Mama covered her mouth with her hand and looked at Seline in disbelief. She began to cry. Mama put her head down and sucked in a deep breath. "Alright. I will tell your father. I do not know who they will send out to get him as all the men have been called out to fight. Mr. Dells is here and I need you to go in through the kitchen and straight up to your room. The water in the basin on your wash stand was warm a few hours ago but you will have to do with cold now. wash up there is some rose and lavendar water that Henni made for you. Put it on after you wash and then I will be up

Seline welcomed the chance to go upstairs and get away from everyone. Instead of going to Alice and Alene’s room she went to her own and shut the door. She leaned on it and sank down to sit on the floor. She hugged her knees and cried. Mr. Dells was not the man that she had always felt sorry for. He was a cruel, uncaring man. The thought of marrying him was frightening. At one time she thought that she had accepted that she would have to marry whom ever her father chose for her, but now it seems even her father has no choice. For her, everything changed when she first kissed Will. She knew at that moment that she could not marry another, her heart was his. There has to be a way that she can get out of marrying this awful man. She had to be careful how she did this because if she didn’t marry him she had a feeling that he would go after Alice, or even Alene since her marrying Mr. Glassman was a condition of his original letter. She would think on this long and hard. She would talk to

“It seems there are a lot of people looking for him tonight.” The guard said. He pointed to a Row of tents and told Papa to follow it to the far end and he was in the 3rd tent from the end. Papa thanked him and moved on. At this time of night most of the men were asleep, but there were a few that were still awake because they were nervous about what lies ahead. They walked the horses single file between the tents and found the one they were looking for. There were already 3 horses staked outside. Papa quickly dismounted and handed his reins to Pastor Oliver. He walked around the other side of the tent. When he came back he was followed by not only Will, but his brother Zeb, and Mr. Glassman. They all walked up to the group standing with the horses. “Did they explain to you why we came out here tonight Will?” Papa questioned him. “Yes Sir, they did. I am ready.” Will looked him in the eye and stood tall. Papa turned to Zeb and Mr. Glassman “And how about you two? Are you both ready?

Seline woke drowsily but warm and comfortable against Will’s side. He still held her in his arms. She could be very happy waking up like this for the rest of her life. She heard lots of bustling outside the tent. Men’s voices were carrying through the tent. Seline suddenly realized that she should not be in camp. She rolled over and shook Will’s shoulders. Will woke up with a smile on his face. He wrapped his arms around her tighter and leaned up to kiss her. She kissed him back but put a hand on his chest. Will suddenly froze, realizing that it was morning and the men were getting ready to move out. Seline was not supposed to be in camp. He had been told last night by his commanding officer when his brother and Mr. Glassman showed up that they needed to be gone by the time they were ready to move out in the morning, and that there were to be no women in camp. Mr. Glassman had bribed the guards at the gate with the money that Seline’s father had given Zeb to let the girls in with the

They continued to ride right on past the place that Seline would need to turn onto to go home. The commander riding with a small grin on his face as he rode. They rode right on past it and on until evening. Seline was a long way from home by the time they stopped. She was tired, hungry, sore and scared. Will had not looked up once the entire ride. The commander finally left their side when he announce that they were going to make camp and that he expected them to both report to him when they had set up their tents. Seline made her way over to a more secluded spot near the trees. She dismounted and turned to Will. Since she was not an actual soldier they had not issued her a tent or a bed roll or a mess kit. She only had the clothes on her back that Will had taken from the young soldier and her dress that was in the saddle bag. Will did not move. He was still in a state of shock. She pulled on his leg and then his arm as he slid side ways off the horse when she pulled on him. She bar