Stowaway in Time

by Cathy Peper

  They passed refugees, people displaced from their homes by the fighting, traveling to St. Louis hoping to find safety.

  The refugees eyed them with suspicion since they were heading south, into enemy territory. Jesse kept mostly to the truth, telling them he was delivering his new bride to his family before joining the army. He didn’t specify which army, unless asked.

  Most turned away in disgust, but one man, a preacher traveling with his wife and three children, suggested they repent of their sins, return to the North, and bring the preacher’s family along with them in the carriage.

  “You have your duty and I have mine,” Jesse replied.

  “It’s every man’s duty to see slavery abolished,” the preacher argued.

  “Our first duty is to our home and family.”

  Diamond fidgeted. “Let’s just go,” she said to Jesse. Since the preacher and his family were on foot, they couldn’t catch them.

  Jesse tipped his hat to the man and snapped the reins, signaling the horses to move forward. It wasn’t until they were out of sight of the man that Diamond’s posture eased.

  “I kept thinking he might shoot us in the back.”

  “He’s a man of God.”

  “Did you see his eyes? We are on the wrong side, the losing side, perhaps the morally inferior side, but he’s a fanatic and they’re always trouble.”

  “I don’t think he had a gun.”

  “Good thing.”

  They shared food with other refugees and Diamond knew that Jesse gave a few coins—from her dowry money—to a few of the neediest cases, but she didn’t object. Seeing how little some families had, she felt guilty about the fancy clothes packed in her new trunk.

  Finally, they crossed the state border into Arkansas and eventually made it to Little Rock where the exiled Missouri government had set up headquarters. Diamond’s stomach churned as Jesse asked directions to his father’s lodgings. Jesse’s advice rattled around in her head and somewhat to her surprise, she decided it would be easier to present the facade of a dutiful wife to her new father-in-law.

  They left the horse and buggy at a livery stable and arranged for delivery of their luggage to his father’s house. Then they walked there themselves. Few of the buildings were over two stories tall and they passed a saloon that looked like something out of an old western movie. A few older men sat out front, arguing over a checkerboard. They turned down a side street lined with residential houses. Jesse turned up the drive as they reached a house with blue shutters and a triangular pediment over the pale blue door.

  Jesse knocked and a black woman wearing a plain, but neatly pressed dress and apron, let them in. She recognized Jesse immediately.

  “Master Jesse, what a surprise. The master didn’t tell us you were coming for a visit.”

  “He didn’t know, Betty. Is he at home?”

  “Yes, sir, he’s in the parlor.” The house was small, and she led them to a room on the left of the entrance.

  Jesse entered with Diamond trailing behind, wishing she was invisible. A white-haired man in his late fifties sat on the couch, a cup of tea on the table before him. He was reading a newspaper but laid it down as they entered, skewering them with blue eyes the same color as Jesse’s but lacking their warmth.

  “Jesse! What are you doing here? You should be with your unit.”

  “I was at New Madrid, sir, and evacuated to Island #10, which also fell. I got hit by shrapnel during the shelling of the island and narrowly escaped capture by Union forces.”

  The older man’s face darkened as Jesse spoke. “Damn Confederates can’t seem to hold anything. Allowed the damn Yankees to push us, the legally elected government of Missouri, out of the state like rats. Island #10 was crucial for keeping the Union clear of the lower Mississippi.”

  “None of this must be news to you. Surely you already heard about our losses.”

  His father waved this aside. “Yes, but didn’t expect you to show up parroting them to my face. And you still haven’t explained why you’re here and not with the army.”

  The butterflies in Diamond’s stomach congealed into a sticky mess. Jesse had just told his father of his injury and near capture, but all the older man seemed to care about was why he wasn’t putting himself in danger once more. And he hadn’t asked about her. Perhaps she had become invisible.

  But no, Jesse drew her closer. “Father, I’d like to introduce you to my wife, Diamond. Sweetheart, this is my father, Ian Weber.”

  “Your wife?” His face grew red. “I’ve not given you permission to marry.”

  “I’m three and twenty, sir. I don’t need your permission.”

  “Maybe not, but I can cut you off without a cent.”

  For all that Jesse had said he tried not to engage with his father, his color had also risen. “While that may be your right, I have always followed your wishes, attending the school you recommended, studying law as you wished and joining the regiment you proposed. I’ve given you no cause to disinherit me.”

  “What is this woman’s surname? Who are her family?”

  “My maiden name is Merrell. I’m an orphan.” Technically, her parents were not yet born, but what’s the difference?

  “Never heard of them.”

  “Diamond is distantly connected to the Pooles in St. Louis. We married there.”

  “St. Louis? Why in tarnation would you marry there?”

  “Bryce and Arianne Poole hosted our wedding.”

  “Bryce Poole himself? Of Poole Enterprises? I didn’t know the old codger was still around.”

  “Hale and hearty,” Diamond said, feeling the odd urge to defend Bryce, of all people, to the irascible old man who, heaven forbid, was now her father-in-law.

  “Humph.” He leaned back and waved them to the other couch. “Sit, sit, but first tell Betty to bring you some tea.”

  Diamond sank gingerly onto the couch as Jesse relayed the order. As much as she hated the thought of following the drum, she wondered whether it would be better than staying here.

  “Did Janet get out of New Madrid before it fell? Is she here with you? It would be nice for Diamond to have female company.”

  “Seems none of you can follow simple orders. She showed up a week ago despite being told to stay and protect the estate.”

  “You could hardly expect her to remain there once the Confederate Army withdrew.”

  “I did. They’re not making war on women, not yet anyway. But the Union seized the house for their headquarters, so she took a few of the servants and came south. I don’t know if this house is big enough for me and two women.”

  “Perhaps I should go with you, Jesse,” Diamond said.

  “Good idea. Support for your husband.”

  “I don’t want my wife exposed to the dangers and horrors of battle,” Jesse replied. “She will stay here for the duration of the war.”

  “Which may be longer than I first thought. There’s talk of moving the government to Texas.”

  Texas? Diamond didn’t want to go further south.

  Cups clattered as the door opened.

  Diamond expected to see the maid returning with tea, but a dark-haired, blue-eyed woman erupted into the room, deposited the tea tray on the table with a thump, and flung herself at Jesse.

  “I couldn’t believe it when Betty told me you were here! What happened? How did you get leave?”

  Jesse returned the woman’s embrace. “Slow down, Janet. There’s someone I want you to meet.”

  “Janet, stop making a spectacle of yourself and pour the tea. Your brother is not here with permission. He’s practically a deserter.”

  Janet stepped back. “Jesse? Have you abandoned your post?”

  “Not at all. I narrowly escaped capture during the withdrawal from Island #10. Had I stayed with my unit, I’d be sitting in a Yankee prison now.”

  “But then, instead of reporting for duty, your brother married without my approval and plans to dump his wife on us.”

  F
or the first time Janet seemed to notice Diamond. “Wife? But what about Amy?”

  Amy?

  Jesse scowled. “Janet, where are your manners? I never intended to marry Amy. That was only a business deal concocted by our fathers.”

  “A deal you have over-set by your impulsive actions.”

  “I have never given Amy any reason to expect an offer from me. We’re no longer living in the Middle Ages. Couples now choose their own mates.” He shot a look at his sister.

  “Forgive me.” Janet plastered a smile on her face and stepped towards Diamond. “Welcome, sister.”

  Diamond stiffened as Janet gave her a perfunctory hug.

  “Janet, this is Diamond. Not only did she help me escape, she probably saved my life.”

  The fake smile slipped away. “Then we owe you more than we can ever repay, don’t we, Father?”

  “No need for drama. If the Yankees captured Jesse, I’m sure they would exchange him soon enough. Now pour the tea before it grows cold.”

  Chastened, Janet bent her head to her task. She prepared cups for her father and brother before turning to Diamond. “Cream or sugar?”

  “Sugar, no cream.”

  Janet poured two more cups and handed one to Diamond.

  “Tell Betty to make up the back room for the newlyweds,” Ian said.

  “I can give up my room,” Janet said.

  “Nonsense. Jesse won’t be here long enough to warrant you switching back and forth. As soon as we finish our tea, Jesse and I will pay a call on the governor and find out where he should report.”

  “I’m sure I can count on you to take care of Diamond,” Jesse said.

  Janet nodded.

  “She’ll be fine. And with my influence we can erase any stigma caused by your desertion.”

  Diamond had had enough. “Sir, Jesse did not desert. Even though he was injured and very ill, we avoided capture by crossing Reelfoot Lake. He wanted to return to duty as soon as possible, but I asked him to escort me to St. Louis. Being a gentleman, he could hardly refuse.”

  Ian barked a laugh. “You crossed Reelfoot Lake? I’ve got to hand it to you—that was ingenious… and unexpected.”

  Janet frowned. “You crossed the lake? How? You can’t swim.”

  “We built a raft, but the details aren’t important. I need to know you will treat Diamond with the respect she deserves as my wife.”

  Ian snorted. “We won’t toss her out on the street, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  “Must Jesse leave right away? Can’t he regain his strength and spend some time with his new wife?”

  “This is war, girl. Jesse is a soldier first and a gentleman second. He’d do well to remember that.”

  “I know my duty.”

  “Do you?” Ian narrowed his eyes at his son. “Seems to me, you’ve lost sight of it. Your ultimate allegiance is to family.”

  “And Diamond is now part of our family.”

  “Just so.” Ian pushed away his teacup. “Go freshen up and meet me back here in half an hour.”

  Janet showed them to the small room at the back of the house. Diamond took one look at it and guessed the builder had intended it to be the housekeeper’s room.

  “Sorry, the house is small and Father didn’t really expect anyone to be living here except himself.”

  “Don’t worry, Janet. This is far better accommodations than we’re used to,” Jesse said.

  “It will be fine,” Diamond echoed, although the room felt claustrophobic to her.

  Betty brought in fresh water and towels. Their trunks stood at the end of the bed. As soon as they were alone, Diamond sighed and sank onto the mattress. “Well, that went well.”

  Jesse’s brow furrowed as he looked at her reflection in the mirror. “I was hoping…”

  She glared at him.

  “You’re being facetious.”

  “No kidding. Your father doesn’t want me here and I find out you were engaged to someone named Amy.”

  “We were never engaged. Our fathers thought it would be a good match. I disagreed.” Jesse wandered over to the basin and washed his hands and face. “She’s an only child, so she will inherit her father’s estate. Anything that increases our family wealth is a win in his opinion.”

  “He threatened to disinherit you.”

  “He’ll come around, but if not, we still have your dowry.”

  Diamond didn’t see her new father-in-law budging from his position, but hoped her sister-in-law would be more welcoming. “At least Janet appears willing to accept me.”

  Jesse stripped to the waist and ran the washcloth over his torso. “Hand me a shirt, please.”

  Diamond didn’t enjoy following orders and might have refused, but the “please” and the glimpse of his slim physique, won her over. She dug into his trunk, choosing one of the new shirts he had received from the Pooles.

  Jesse pulled it over his head, ruining her view. “Janet raised me after our mother died. She. She won’t let Dad bully you too much.”

  “I won’t let him bully me at all.”

  Humor warmed in his eyes. “I don’t expect you will, but no need to make things harder than they have to be.” He pulled on his vest and coat, and gave her a peck on the cheek. “I’ll be back soon.”

  This time. After the door closed behind him, Diamond dipped a fresh cloth into the basin and wiped the dust from her face. Soon, however, he would leave for war and might never return. She had the dowry, but somehow it didn’t seem like enough to shield her from the harsh realities of this new world.

  Sixteen

  Chapter 16

  The house Jesse’s father had rented was within walking distance of the provisional government offices of Missouri. Jesse followed his father past the bustling shops, tipping his hat to the ladies they passed on the street. Most of the men they saw were older since so many young men had signed up to fight the Yankees.

  The governor wasn’t in, but his secretary made a note of Jesse’s situation and promised to pass the information on.

  Ian grumbled as they left the office. “If we don’t hear something soon, I’ll contact my friend in the War Department.”

  “Why are you so eager to get rid of me? I’d like to see Diamond settled before I leave.”

  “Just don’t want anyone to think my son is a deserter.”

  “You don’t seem to believe me, but I have done nothing to bring dishonor on the family.”

  “All I care is that your superiors buy your story. You’re not the first to get your head turned by a skirt, but did you have to marry her?”

  Jesse’s fist clenched. “Diamond is not a ‘skirt.’ She’s a brave and resourceful woman.”

  “She’s a looker. Hope she’s worth giving up Amy’s inheritance.”

  Though generous, Diamond’s dowry was small compared to Amy’s family’s net worth. Money, however, had never been Jesse’s primary motive for marriage. “If the North wins, Amy may not have much of an inheritance.”

  “True. That’s why we’ve got skin in the game on both sides.”

  Jesse had heard it all a hundred times before and although he understood his father’s position, it left a bad taste in his mouth. But they weren’t the only family to have members fighting on opposite sides. Far from it. The war had not only split the nation. Many families were as deeply divided. “Have you heard from Jack?”

  “No, but your brother is a worse correspondent than you are.”

  “Do you know where he’s stationed?” Jesse had a horror of facing his brother in the field.

  “Last I heard, he was due to ship east.” The two men stopped on the edge of the street and Jesse turned towards the rental house.

  “You go ahead,” Ian said. “I’ve got business to do.”

  Jesse nodded, although he wondered how much business a government in exile had. Most likely his father was off to grab a drink at the saloon and complain about the war with his fellow exiles.

  Glad for his slight
reprieve, he strode down the street, eager to return to Diamond. They could go out and explore the town together.

  His stride faltered when he turned up the walk to the house and saw Amy waiting in ambush. “Good to see you, Miss Amy.” He tipped his hat. “Have you come to call on my sister?”

  “I’ve already seen your sister. Come, walk with me in the garden.”

  Jesse had little choice but to offer his arm and lead her through the gate to the small backyard where clumps of tulips were pushing through the earth and unfurling their colorful petals.

  “Janet tells me you brought a bride home with you.”

  “Yes.” He didn’t want to deal with her hurt feelings.

  “Despite the agreement between us?”

  “There was no agreement between us, only an attempt by our fathers to broker a political dynasty.” Amy wasn’t as tall as Diamond and her head just brushed his shoulder. She took smaller steps, but even with their slow speed, they soon completed a circle of the garden.

  “I refused other suitors while waiting for your offer.”

  Jesse tugged at his shirt collar. “I gave you no reason to expect an offer, Amy. I didn’t think you paid our fathers any more heed than I did.” Not entirely true. He had seen how she looked at him, but had never encouraged her.

  “My father will be angry and may not support your father in future elections.”

  “The Union has evicted our fathers from their own state. There may not be any future elections. I’m a married man, now. My loss is a gain for your other suitors.”

  “They are all off fighting this war! It will leave me an old maid.”

  “Nonsense, you’re a beautiful young woman. You will have your choice of beaus once this war is over.” Of those who survive, anyway. “My brother, Jack, is still available.”

  “Jack? Are you out of your mind? He joined the Union Army. He’s a traitor to our cause.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. He’s the same as he always was. But if it matters to you, pick a Rebel boy.”

  “I should have picked Jack. If we had been engaged, my father would never have allowed him to go fight for the North.”