They did have birthday cake. Uncle Silas’s cheeks were red, and he looked 100 percent better than he had when Leah had first come. “Best thing that ever happened to me,” he declared. “That’s some youngun’ you got there, Nelson—and that other one too.”
After the cake, Jeff and Leah walked out of the house and got their fishing poles. Jeff said, “Can’t think of any way to celebrate a birthday better than to go fishing. This time I’m going to show you how to catch fish.”
“We’ll see about that!” Leah retorted.
They made their way down to the James River again. They talked more than they fished. Even when Jeff lost a large bass when he had it almost to shore, he just laughed and said, “Go on, get bigger. I’ll catch you later.”
That made Leah think of Old Napoleon. “Napoleon’s a year older now than he was when you put him back. We’ll go back and catch him someday, won’t we, Jeff?”
They stopped fishing and stood on the high bank together, watching the water flow by. Then Jeff said, “You know, I’ve learned how to trust God more. You’ve helped me with that, Leah. Something kept telling me to keep on praying, keep on hoping, even when things looked hopeless.”
“I’m glad,” Leah said simply.
The wind was coming off the river, ruffling her fine, blonde hair. They stood for a long time, thinking and talking about other, happier days.
“More bad times are coming,” Leah said, “but we’ll always be best friends, won’t we, Jeff?”
Jeff nodded. “Yes.” He thought about that for a moment. “Even when I get married, we’ll be best friends.”
Leah gave him a sudden glance and was silent. Then she shook her head. “Your wife won’t like that.”
“She’ll have to do what I tell her,” Jeff said airily.
“Your wife will have a terrible time,” Leah said.
He gave her a condescending grin. “Women aren’t able to take care of themselves. They need a man. Let’s go.”
Turning, he stepped on a patch of slick, red mud. “Hey!” he yelled as his feet flew out from under him. He made a wild grab at Leah but missed and suddenly slid over the bank. He hit the water with a tremendous splash and came up sputtering.
Leah fell to laughing helplessly. “That was wonderful. I never saw such a graceful dive in all my life.”
Jeff spit out a mouthful of muddy water and glared up at her. He waded to the bank, but the red mud was hard and slick, and he fell back again almost as violently as the first time.
“Well, don’t just stand there. Get a stick!” he yelled.
“Oh, Jeff,” Leah said, bending over, “tell me again how helpless women are and how strong all of you men are!”
“Leah, you help me get out of here, you hear?” Jeff said. He stared at her as she continued to laugh. Finally he said, “Please, Leah, give me a hand, will you? I just can’t get out by myself.”
Leah stopped laughing. “Oh, all right, Jeff, I didn’t mean to make fun of you.” She reached down to take his hand—and suddenly he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her straight down. “Jeff! Jeff! Don’t—” She hit the water headfirst, and it closed around her head.
She came up sputtering and spitting. “My new dress—it’s ruined!” she wailed.
It was Jeff’s turn to laugh.
The two stood there in the river, Jeff laughing and Leah beating at him with her hands. At last she looked down at the dress, and the humor of the situation struck her. She began to laugh. “Happy birthday, Jeff.”
He went a little farther upstream and scrambled up the bank, then reached down and pulled her up. They were muddy from head to foot, and he suddenly gave her a big hug. “Happy birthday, Leah.”
“Always best friends?” she asked. Water ran down her hair, dripped off her face. Mud covered the front of her dress.
Jeff looked at her and grinned. “Yes,” he said, “best muddy friends in the whole world!”
The Bonnets and Bugles Series includes:
978-0-8024-0911-9 Drummer Boy at Bull Run—#1
978-0-8024-0912-6 Yankee Belles in Dixie—#2
978-0-8024-0913-3 The Secret of Richmond Manor—#3
978-0-8024-0914-0 The Soldier Boy’s Discovery—#4
978-0-8024-0915-7 Blockade Runner—#5
978-0-8024-0916-4 The Gallant Boys of Gettysburg—#6
978-0-8024-0917-1 The Battle of Lookout Mountain—#7
978-0-8024-0918-8 Encounter at Cold Harbor—#8
978-0-8024-0919-5 Fire over Atlanta—#9
978-0-8024-0920-1 Bring the Boys Home—#10
Yankee Belles in Dixie Page 13