Carried Forward By Hope by Ginny Dye Page A

stared southeast over the fresh green just emerging on the trees; over the housetops; over the spires of the churches below her; over the blackened remains of buildings; over the vibrant white of the dogwood trees exploding into bloom. None of it held her anymore. After three years of being locked in the crowded, turbulent capital city of the defeated Confederacy, she wanted nothing more than to return to the open, lush fields of Cromwell Plantation. She wanted clean air to breathe. She wanted open spaces in which to roam. She wanted to see new growth in the tobacco fields of her childhood.
    Tears filled her eyes as she thought of Sam and Opal. She frowned briefly as she thought about Eddie. Imprisoned in the infamous Castle Thunder prison for almost two years for suspected Union spy activity, he had escaped just days before the fall of Richmond. He was staying with friends in the city until he could return to the plantation with her and see his children. He had been heartbroken when he discovered his wife, Fannie, had been killed in an explosion at Tredegar Iron Works, but the hope of being with his children again kept him going. Would all of them still be on the plantation? Captain Jones had sent word the plantation was still there, but what condition would they find it in? What would life be like now?
    Carrie pressed her hands to her head. She had little more than questions with no answers. She took a deep breath to steady herself. She had learned to survive years of war by refusing to look beyond just the day ahead. The end of the war had produced as many questions as the war itself, but all she had to focus on was the day in front of her. And the day ahead of her had Aunt Abby arriving at the train station in little more than an hour.
    A rumble of wheels on the road outside made her take her eyes off the horizon. A smile flitted across her lips as she identified Spencer sitting erect on the seat of his carriage.
    Carrie looked at Robert one more time to assure herself he was sleeping peacefully before she moved from the room and ran down the stairs.
    Aunt Abby was coming today!
    When Carrie reached the bottom of the stairs, Rose was just entering the house. Spencer had taken her into town to do some shopping for food their garden couldn’t provide. “Good morning, Carrie.” She moved forward and wrapped Carrie in a warm hug and gave her a big kiss on the cheek.
    Carrie smiled. “What did I do to deserve that?”
    “Nothing. Other than living,” Rose added. “I’m simply making up for lost time. I spent so many hours in the contraband camp staring toward Richmond, wondering how you were…if you were still alive…if I would ever see you again…” Her voice caught before she forced a laugh. “I have no idea why I’m thinking of all this today. I’m here. We’re together. That’s all that counts!”
    Carrie understood completely. She stepped closer to give Rose another huge hug, adding her own kiss on her friend’s cheek. “I’m all for making up for lost time. Every time I see you, my heart just wants to sing. I missed you so very much during all those years! As much as we have talked in the last couple weeks, I still feel like we haven’t even scratched the surface of telling each other all that has happened.”
    “That will take a very long time,” Rose murmured.
    “Good! At least we won’t get bored,” Carrie said teasingly, her earlier heaviness evaporating.
    “You have a point,” Rose said, laughter dancing in her eyes.
    Spencer poked his head in from the kitchen, his hand wrapped around a big piece of cornbread. “You ‘bout ready to go, Miss Carrie?”
    “Yes, Spencer. Is it warm enough to go without my coat today?”
    “Oh, yessum, you won’t be needin’ no coat. Spring done really sprung. I’s gonna finish up this here cornbread May fixed for me. I be meetin’ you out front in just a few minutes.”
    His head disappeared but the door flung open to reveal May’s shining face with