Stowaway in Time

by Cathy Peper

  The younger women’s talk centered on their beaus or husbands, letters they had received, and tales of their children. The older women reported on the status of sons or husbands, but then turned to more practical measures, such as rising prices and worries about the property they had left behind in Missouri. They peppered Janet with questions since she had stayed through the fall of New Madrid.

  “Union soldiers looted the town, but didn’t destroy it. Since they commandeered our house, I hope it will escape relatively unscathed.”

  “Were you scared?” one of the young women asked. “I don’t understand why you didn’t come to Arkansas with your father.”

  “We didn’t expect New Madrid to fall so early and with both my brothers away fighting, someone had to run the farm. It scared me when the army withdrew and left us to our fate, but I must admit that though the Yankees seized my home, they didn’t offer me any violence.”

  “They stole your slaves.”

  “Those who hadn’t already run off,” Janet agreed. “I don’t know how we will get a crop in this year even if we’re able to go home.”

  “Are you from St. Louis, Diamond? I know we have pockets of supporters for the cause there.”

  “No, but I have friends there.”

  A maid entered the room and handed out glasses of lemonade. Conversation trailed off until she left and closed the door behind her.

  “Rumor has it you arrived with no servants of your own, not even a maid. I took my maid with me when I got married,” one woman said.

  By “servant,” she meant slave. “My family has never owned slaves.”

  The women eyed her with suspicion. “Are you an abolitionist?” one of them asked.

  “Surely not,” said another, “or Jesse would never have married her.”

  Diamond rested her knitting on her lap. She wanted these women to accept her, but could not condone slavery. “I’ve always disliked the institution of slavery, but I stay out of politics. Until I met Jesse, I considered myself neutral.”

  “And now?” Mrs. Verdine asked, looking down her long nose.

  “I pray for my husband’s safety and a resolution to the conflict.”

  Her answer didn’t sit well with the older woman, who sniffed genteelly. “Anything short of victory for the South is unacceptable.”

  And just like that, Diamond suddenly knew exactly what she would write to Jesse. She’d show him what a narrow escape he’d had almost getting Mrs. Verdine for a mother-in-law.

  * * *

  When Jesse reported for duty he was pleased to find himself among familiar faces, especially his buddy Cole. He had served with many of the men at New Madrid. There were even a few, like him, who had escaped from Island #10. Casualties had been low during the retreat from the island, but the Union had captured thousands. The Confederate Army had listed Jesse as missing since there were no reports of his death or capture. His new commander, Major Campbell, shook his hand and welcomed him to the regiment.

  “Clever escape, crossing the lake,” he said. “I have a handful of other men who did the same.”

  “I had help.”

  “Yes, I read your report. Met a damsel in distress, she nursed you when you were sick and then you did the honorable thing and made her your bride. Quite a tale.”

  The account minimized Diamond’s contribution, but Jesse let it slide. Unlike Jesse’s father, Major Campbell had accepted his explanation for delaying his return to duty without criticism and seemed to feel he had acted responsibly. It didn’t hurt that the South could use every able-bodied man it could get. Campbell knew Jesse could have disappeared into the general population with few people the wiser.

  He soon found himself back on picket duty with Cole, who slapped him on the back and called him a dark horse.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I never took you for a ladies’ man even though the girls line up for your pretty face.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Sure you do. Are you ever without a dance partner at a party?”

  “Are any of us?” Jesse asked.

  Cole laughed. “Guess not, now that men are in short supply. But you were never without a partner even before the war.”

  Heat rose in Jesse’s cheeks. He supposed he had always been popular with the ladies but had never given much thought to settling down before joining the army. “Nearly getting killed changes your priorities.”

  “Your sister still hung up on that foreigner?”

  “Finn is as American as we are. He was born in Minnesota.”

  “He’s not a Southerner.”

  Jesse couldn’t argue with that. His sister’s beau had moved to Missouri and bought some land, intending to raise horses. He was a vocal opponent of slavery, which hadn’t earned him many friends, and now fought for the Union. “She still hopes it will work out, but he needs capital and we’re cash poor.”

  “So I still have a chance?”

  “Stay away from my sister,” Jesse said, only half-joking. He and Cole had been in enough scrapes together that he wanted someone more steadfast for Janet. But the war was taking its toll on Cole the same as everyone else. Neither of them were the carefree young men they had been when they had signed up. Janet could do worse.

  “Guess Amy is now free.”

  “I never had a claim on her. Our fathers cooked up that scheme.”

  “Not sure she would agree.”

  “I don’t want to talk about Amy. Bad enough I left my wife in her clutches.” The more Jesse thought about it, the more certain he was that Amy had seen Diamond entering the backyard and kissed him on purpose.

  Cole told Jesse about the skirmishes he’d fought in since they parted at New Madrid and Jesse filled Cole in on the loss of Island #10. Eventually, they ran out of things to talk about and the boredom of picket duty sank in. They had seen no signs of the enemy, but it grew difficult to stay alert when nothing ever happened. He quickly grew re-accustomed to the endless drilling, the poor food and the stink of the latrines. Still, Jesse couldn’t complain. Every day without a battle brought them one day closer to surviving the war. He was almost glad he couldn’t tell his friend there would be three more long years of fighting. The knowledge wore on him and stifled his morale. It was better if his companions continued to think the war would end soon. It gave them hope.

  A couple of weeks after he returned to active duty, Jesse received his first letter from Diamond. He carried it back to his tent and tore it open. The small canvas structure was about the only place to find anything resembling privacy and escape from the constant barrage of male voices. Diamond’s loopy, nearly illegible handwriting filled the fine paper.

  Jesse,

  I hope you are well. I worry about you, but Janet says you are lucky and will make it home. I had my first meeting with the sewing/knitting circle and am making you a pair of socks. I think they consider me half Yankee, so I’m not popular, but you will be glad to know I’m learning to hold my tongue.

  With your brother Jack and Janet’s beau both fighting for the North, your family is barely tolerated, anyway. If it wasn’t for you and your father, I’m sure I wouldn’t be welcome. Mrs. Verdine can’t comprehend why you would marry me instead of her daughter and looks at me like I’m an insect she would like to squash.

  Your father entertains at least once a week and Janet and I (mostly Janet) serve as hostesses. There is so much I don’t understand. In my time, they only teach about the big battles and major players in history class and much of that I’ve forgotten. Fortunately, your father doesn’t expect me to have a sensible idea in my head, so he isn’t suspicious.

  I think Janet senses something off about me. Many of the women at the sewing group know less about the politics than I do, especially the younger ones. However, my lack of knowledge of even simple things surprises her. Sometimes I’m tempted to tell her the truth, but because we agreed to keep my background a secret, so far I’ve refrained.

 
I’ll continue to send updates, but not a lot happens here, so I might run out of things to say. If I remember things from history class that may be of use to you, I will send them on.

  Yours,

  Diamond

  P.S. Don’t expect the socks soon. I’m a slow knitter.

  Jesse read the letter three times. He smiled at her description of Mrs. Verdine and realized how awkward she must have felt dealing with Amy and her mother. It seemed his father was behaving tolerably well, but the thought of her confiding in Janet made him uneasy. His sister was very down to earth and would be unlikely to believe in time travel. He wasn’t sure he would have believed without Ari, Bryce, and Victoria corroborating her story.

  He dug into his pack for a pencil and paper. Maybe he could find something humorous about camp life while reminding her to keep quiet.

  Nineteen

  Chapter 19

  Diamond was reading out in the backyard on a warm spring morning when she received her first letter from Jesse. Her stomach fluttered at the sight of his elegant penmanship and the awareness he had been safe and well only a few days ago.

  Dear Diamond,

  I received your letter and enjoyed your description of the Ladies Association. It surprised me to learn you can knit. Machine-made socks exist even now, although they are not of high quality, I would assume they have improved over the years, making learning to knit irrelevant.

  Our mother taught Janet how to sew and knit, but not all women of our class learn the skill. You should see the socks my companions have received from family. Too big, too small, some barely foot-shaped. Don’t worry, I don’t expect a masterpiece and will treasure any socks you send me.

  I haven’t been in any actual battles since returning to duty, but they sent my buddy Cole and I out with a squadron to capture the enemy’s supply train. The federals apparently didn’t know there were any Southern troops in the region, for the train was not well guarded. We completed our mission with minimal losses: only one killed and two injured. One of the Yankees surrendered, and we brought him back as a captive. The rest fought to the death.

  We celebrated our victory with fresh food and distributed clothing, weapons, ammunition and nonperishables to the men. There was also a small amount of gold in the shipment, which will further our cause.

  The officers provided rations of whiskey for the feast and a few fights broke out, but I count the entire operation a success, since not only did we gain the items, but the Yankees lost them. You have impressed upon me how the North’s access to manufacturing, resources and men give them an advantage.

  I encourage you to keep secret matters we have discussed and not involve my sister in our plans for the future. Like my father, she can lack imagination.

  Since it is possible for letters to fall into enemy hands, write nothing to me you would not want Union forces to know.

  When we are not marching, building fortifications or patrolling, we often play cards. Cole excels at cards and has taken much of my money. Before I left, I arranged for each of us to receive a quarterly allowance from the dowry money. I wouldn’t want to leave you dependent on my father.

  Yours truly,

  Jesse

  Although Diamond knew he was safe, or at least had been at the time of the letter, she shuddered to hear about the raid on the supply train. Confederate losses had been small, but one man had died, and Jesse and his men had killed the Union soldiers. People killed other people in war but the letter brought it home to her. Did it bother Jesse or did he just see it as his duty? She’d rather he kill others than die himself, but she suspected it took a toll. Even if Jesse survived the war would he be the same man she met on the banks of the Mississippi River? Or would he suffer from PTSD, or whatever they called it in this day and age?

  Diamond tucked the letter into her book. She would tell Ian and Janet about Jesse’s successful endeavor and would follow his wishes and not try to explain anything to her sister-in-law. She also supposed she had to be circumspect in her reply, not revealing anything she wouldn’t want either side to know. Maybe they could devise a code so she could safely pass on anything important she recalled. Not that she would be of much help. She knew something of the major battles to come, but couldn’t remember exact dates and most of those she remembered were in the East, not on the frontier.

  She returned her book to her room and went to join her in-laws in the parlor. “I got a letter from Jesse. He’s doing well. He took part in a successful raid.”

  “I wish I would have received a letter. It’s much more difficult for Finn to contact me from the north.”

  “He may not even be writing to you,” Ian said. “The man’s a fortune hunter and you’re better off without him.”

  “He writes to me, but letters can only come south through parties sympathetic to the Confederacy. I don’t understand why you are so critical of him. You don’t seem to think any less of Jesse for finding a girl with a dowry.”

  Ian snorted. “Jesse didn’t marry for my approval. I wanted to further our political dynasty, but Jesse has never had much of a taste for politics.”

  Janet set aside her embroidery hoop. “But you came around. Diamond’s dowry made the match acceptable.”

  “Far as I can see, Diamond has nothing else to recommend her as a bride except for a distant relationship to a prominent St. Louis family and a passively pretty face. Growing the family fortune is always a plus, diminishing it is not.”

  “I’m right here,” Diamond said. “Stop talking about me like I’m a piece of furniture.” She was getting used to Ian’s cutting comments, but had thought she and Janet were becoming friends.

  “I’m sorry,” Janet apologized. “I merely wanted to call Father out for criticizing Finn, when he praises Jesse for the same behavior.”

  Diamond could not recall Ian ever praising anyone, but since her father-in-law had made no more threats of disinheriting Jesse, supposedly he accepted her after a fashion. “It must be hard for you and Finn to be on opposite sides.”

  “It’s hard to only hear from him sporadically, but, as I’m sure Jesse already told you, Father believes it’s a good idea to have a foot in each camp. That’s why Jack is also fighting for the North.”

  “I have no intention of losing everything in this damn war. I pushed hard for compromise, but hotter heads than mine prevailed.”

  Janet sighed as if she’d heard it before. Diamond supposed her sister-in-law had heard Ian’s opinions many times, but Diamond had never realized the irascible old man had tried to keep the country out of war.

  “We had best be leaving for the Ladies Association meeting,” Janet said. “Since we haven’t any more material to donate and it’s a nice day, I thought we could walk.”

  Diamond agreed. Her first few weeks in the nineteenth century had resembled boot camp, but since coming to Arkansas and living the life of a lady, she could use the exercise.

  The women gathered up their knitting bags and set out.

  “Will you send your socks to Finn?” Diamond asked.

  “Can’t. You heard Mrs. Verdine. All work done at the Association must go for the cause. I’m working on a second pair at home, which I will get to him if I can. And then I suppose I will have to knit some for Jack.”

  Green leaves crowned the trees, crowding out the white blossoms on the dogwoods. Squirrels scampered up and down the trunks and birds chirped from the safety of their new nests. Diamond could almost have imagined it a normal spring day, but for the horses and buggies rumbling down the dirt road and the housemaid who followed a few steps behind them.

  “Is it necessary to bring a maid?” Diamond asked. “Since I’m a married woman, can’t I serve as your chaperon?” In her opinion, the whole practice was silly. She and Janet were both adults and Janet was the eldest.

  Janet glanced back at the maid as if she had forgotten she was there. “I suppose, but Sarah has been with me forever. I’m used to having her around.”

  Diamond supposed she
shouldn’t argue. Sarah would sit gossiping with the other maids in the kitchen and enjoying some refreshment, if not the same delicacies served to the ladies. It was better than cleaning and doing laundry back at the house.

  It took them about fifteen minutes to walk to Amy’s house. The butler took their jackets, directed them to the parlor and whisked Sarah away to the kitchen.

  Diamond was growing more comfortable with the group which she supposed was not so different from a newsroom, except that all the members were female. There were those who tried to steal the limelight, and those who gossiped behind others’ backs. Presiding over it all, Mrs. Verdine made sure no one stepped out of line, just like the producer. Substitute drinks at the bar with tea and pound cake and she almost felt at home. Or would have if Amy would quit glaring at her.

  At her first few meetings, she had assumed her knitting skills would rank near the bottom, being only a hobby knitter, but after reading Jesse’s letter, she paid more attention to what the other women were creating and realized many of them had less experience than she did. Apparently knitting was considered something of a lower class activity and most of the members of the group had only started knitting at the outbreak of the war.

  They were all more accomplished with a needle, but again, most of their time had been spent on embroidery and all but a few of the older women struggled to complete the cotton shirts, even though their stitches were exquisite. Diamond had not yet attempted to sew. She hadn’t touched a sewing machine since her required FACS class in high school and had not sewn by hand since Girl Scouts. The other women could sew rings around her and she preferred knitting and purling to stabbing herself with a needle.

  To her surprise, none of the women were working when she and Janet entered the room. No one had poured the tea and the plate of cake and cookies were untouched. The women gathered around Mrs. Verdine who read from a telegram. Diamond’s heart skipped a beat. Had there been a major battle?