Billy with me. It wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for someone to need a horse these days.”
“We’re assuming the rebels have left any available.”
“They must have,” Em said. “The stage needs them.”
“Exactly. Any that aren’t owned by the coaching company have probably been appropriated by the army.”
“It won’t hurt to try. As much as I want you to stay, your mother and sisters need to see you are healthy.”
“Well, somewhat healthy.” Thinking of his family made him look to the future, when the southern states had been made to realize their folly in thinking to secede. When he and Em could marry. “My mother will love you. My sisters, too. We’ll want to travel there after we’re married. Perhaps in the winter, when your family can spare us.”
She looked up at him, her face free of the tension he often saw there. “Spare us? You want to remain here, on the farm?”
“I want to be wherever you are. I’ve come to like it here. Perhaps we can build a house of our own in the clearing to the south. Maybe even buy more land, make the farm even bigger. If Tom and I both work here, we can make it profitable someday.”
“I’d like that. Having our own house, staying close to Ma. I worry about her.”
“She’ll be happy.”
“She has been lately.” Em looped her arm through his, the first time she’d taken a move like that on her own. “Before you and Tom went back to Springfield she began to smile more often. She didn’t sing, or read to Harvey until you arrived. Maggie or I did it, and then Susie when she learned.”
“I’m glad she’s doing well. It must have been hard on her to lose your father. Hard on all of you.”
“It was. I believe that’s why I’m so fearful of you going back into battle. I couldn’t bear to lose you. That’s why…that’s why I made you promise to keep yourself safe.”
He pressed her arm against his side. “As I said, if it’s within my power to do so, I will return to you and we’ll spend our lives together.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
September 30, 1861
Em watched Levi tie his bedroll and haversack onto the back of the saddle. She’d succeeded in buying him a horse. Old though it was, it should get him to Rolla where he could take a train to St. Louis. Of course, that assumed his superior officers agreed he wasn’t well enough to return to service yet.
Was she wicked to pray they decided he couldn’t return at all?
Her family stood on the porch behind her to see him off. For Ma’s sake, Em tried to be strong and not cry. For Levi’s, too. She wanted him to be proud of her, to tell Tom how well she’d borne his departure.
Levi turned from his horse and met Em’s gaze. “Now I will ask a promise of you.”
She tilted her head to one side, waiting.
“Promise me you won’t cry for me while I’m away. Think of the fun we’ve shared, not of the dangers. Can you do this?”
His words made her eyes well, and she laughed at her weakness. “I will. I’ll try my best.”
“It could be a long time before I can return.”
“It will seem like forever.” She wouldn’t lie. Every day without him would be a lifetime.
“I’ll write when I can. Certainly when I reach Rolla, and from St. Louis if I’m allowed to go.”
“I look forward to reading your letters. I’ll write too.”
He grasped her arms, brushing his thumbs over her bare skin. “It will seem like forever.” He bent to kiss her.
Em treasured the warmth of his lips on hers, burning it to memory, knowing how long it would be before she could kiss him again.
He mounted his old hag and waved to her family. “Take care of each other. I’ll tell Tom you’re all well.”
They called their goodbyes. Em stood in place and watched him go. Billy, Harvey and Rufus trotted down the drive after him.
He was going. She’d tried to prepare herself for this moment, but had failed miserably. She turned away. “I’ll be in the springhouse,” she called to Ma. Hurrying off,
“We’re assuming the rebels have left any available.”
“They must have,” Em said. “The stage needs them.”
“Exactly. Any that aren’t owned by the coaching company have probably been appropriated by the army.”
“It won’t hurt to try. As much as I want you to stay, your mother and sisters need to see you are healthy.”
“Well, somewhat healthy.” Thinking of his family made him look to the future, when the southern states had been made to realize their folly in thinking to secede. When he and Em could marry. “My mother will love you. My sisters, too. We’ll want to travel there after we’re married. Perhaps in the winter, when your family can spare us.”
She looked up at him, her face free of the tension he often saw there. “Spare us? You want to remain here, on the farm?”
“I want to be wherever you are. I’ve come to like it here. Perhaps we can build a house of our own in the clearing to the south. Maybe even buy more land, make the farm even bigger. If Tom and I both work here, we can make it profitable someday.”
“I’d like that. Having our own house, staying close to Ma. I worry about her.”
“She’ll be happy.”
“She has been lately.” Em looped her arm through his, the first time she’d taken a move like that on her own. “Before you and Tom went back to Springfield she began to smile more often. She didn’t sing, or read to Harvey until you arrived. Maggie or I did it, and then Susie when she learned.”
“I’m glad she’s doing well. It must have been hard on her to lose your father. Hard on all of you.”
“It was. I believe that’s why I’m so fearful of you going back into battle. I couldn’t bear to lose you. That’s why…that’s why I made you promise to keep yourself safe.”
He pressed her arm against his side. “As I said, if it’s within my power to do so, I will return to you and we’ll spend our lives together.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
September 30, 1861
Em watched Levi tie his bedroll and haversack onto the back of the saddle. She’d succeeded in buying him a horse. Old though it was, it should get him to Rolla where he could take a train to St. Louis. Of course, that assumed his superior officers agreed he wasn’t well enough to return to service yet.
Was she wicked to pray they decided he couldn’t return at all?
Her family stood on the porch behind her to see him off. For Ma’s sake, Em tried to be strong and not cry. For Levi’s, too. She wanted him to be proud of her, to tell Tom how well she’d borne his departure.
Levi turned from his horse and met Em’s gaze. “Now I will ask a promise of you.”
She tilted her head to one side, waiting.
“Promise me you won’t cry for me while I’m away. Think of the fun we’ve shared, not of the dangers. Can you do this?”
His words made her eyes well, and she laughed at her weakness. “I will. I’ll try my best.”
“It could be a long time before I can return.”
“It will seem like forever.” She wouldn’t lie. Every day without him would be a lifetime.
“I’ll write when I can. Certainly when I reach Rolla, and from St. Louis if I’m allowed to go.”
“I look forward to reading your letters. I’ll write too.”
He grasped her arms, brushing his thumbs over her bare skin. “It will seem like forever.” He bent to kiss her.
Em treasured the warmth of his lips on hers, burning it to memory, knowing how long it would be before she could kiss him again.
He mounted his old hag and waved to her family. “Take care of each other. I’ll tell Tom you’re all well.”
They called their goodbyes. Em stood in place and watched him go. Billy, Harvey and Rufus trotted down the drive after him.
He was going. She’d tried to prepare herself for this moment, but had failed miserably. She turned away. “I’ll be in the springhouse,” she called to Ma. Hurrying off,
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