Defiant Hearts

by Janelle Taylor

  She overheard the other men laugh, except for Jayce, and wondered if he was exhibiting that remarkable smile of his. She was disappointed when Carl didn’t ask about Jayce’s family and home so she could learn more about him; instead, the conversation returned to battles, slavery, and politics.

  At ten, Laura closed the piano lid and told her guests good night. Though she wanted to observe Jayce and the others longer, she needed rest to be ready for her early-morning chores, especially after going to bed late last night. Lily had just told her good night and gone to her room for the same reasons. As usual, Belle and Cleo would remain with the guests until midnight, when the place closed and doors were locked; for that reason, those two women slept later than Lily and Laura and came back to work at ten o’clock each morning.

  Jayce halted Laura at the passageway door and said, “I enjoyed your playing tonight, Miss Carlisle; I haven’t heard sweet music in a long time.”

  Laura cautioned herself not to stare into those entrancing blue eyes and to ignore the mellowing effect of his rich voice. “Thank you, Lieutenant Storm, but it didn’t seem to have a calming influence on my guests tonight.” She couldn’t stop herself from trying to garner personal clues. “If you want to write letters to your parents or wife, paper, pen, and ink are available on the registration desk. Letters can be mailed at the City Post Office in the basement of the Spotswood Hotel on Main Street.”

  “Thanks for the kind offer and your thoughtfulness, Miss Carlisle, but my parents are deceased and I have no wife or sweetheart waiting for me.” He cleared his throat before asking, “I was wondering if you’d mind showing me around town tomorrow, if you have the time and inclination, and I’m not being too forward.”

  Spend the day with you, the two of us alone? her mind questioned as surges of excitement charged through her body. Could she? Should she? It was risky getting close to such an irresistible Rebel…

  Chapter Three

  Laura pushed aside qualms of guilt as she justified her acceptance by telling herself she might learn something useful from him. “I can’t show you around tomorrow, Lieutenant Storm, but I’m available on Sunday after church. How long do you plan to remain in Richmond?”

  “About five days, and Sunday would be fine. It might sound selfish of me, but after three years on the battlefield, I’d like to see a little happiness and some pretty sights before I’m plunged into war again.”

  Laura was warmed by his easygoing smile. “I understand, and I don’t think you’re being selfish. In your position, I would feel the same way. War is a terrible thing and I hope it ends soon.” She saw his gaze and mood wax serious and he glanced at the floor for a moment, a slight grimace on his handsome face.

  “So do I, Miss Carlisle, but it isn’t looking that way. I’m afraid this bitter conflict and so many sacrifices will continue for a long time. If we’re lucky and God’s willing, both sides will be talking peace soon.”

  Laura was touched by the fact he seemed to be a man of deep and strong emotions. “Peace would be wonderful and it’s long overdue. If you like, you can attend church with me on Sunday before our outing.” She saw him smile and nod.

  “That’s an appealing suggestion to me. This weary soul can use some spiritual uplifting; we don’t get much of that on the battlefield.”

  Laura could imagine how difficult it was to face life-or-death situations every day; to be compelled to slay strangers and—worse—sometimes men one knew; to witness hardships, brutalities, and suffering. Surely such things eventually hardened men, but she hoped it wouldn’t change her father, brothers, and Jayce Storm. “We all can use spiritual comfort in such dark and perilous times,” she concurred, then bade him a good night.

  “I’ll see you at breakfast before I ramble around on my own. Thanks for giving me such a lovely evening and for accepting my invitation.”

  Laura smiled at him, but was unsettled by the way his eyes almost held hers prisoner. She would enjoy nothing better than to sit down and chat with him for hours, but that would be foolhardy. “You’re welcome. I’ll see you in the morning at breakfast.”

  “Good night, Miss Carlisle.”

  Laura closed and locked the passageway door, then did the same at the other end in her kitchen. She leaned against the door for a few minutes, thinking about Jayce and wondering if she’d made the right decision. Until his arrival, she had kept faces of possible victims of her covert actions from filling her mind’s eye; now, he had given her an indelible image of one. Yet, if she and others like her didn’t continue their secret work, the tragic and destructive war would continue too long. She had to be brave and strong, unwavering in her duty and deeds and loyalty to the Union.

  She started to go into the dining room and look up at Jayce’s back window to see if he’d gone to his room and if he was gazing down at her house, then stopped herself against yielding to that temptation. If she saw him checking for even a glimpse of her, she wouldn’t sleep a wink.

  At midmorning on Saturday, Laura almost held her breath and her heart pounded as she sneaked into Room 1 while Lily had Major Stevens occupied in her private room across the hall. The officer was leaving tomorrow and she needed to see what was inside the leather pouch he carried with him every time he went to meetings at the War Department. He kept it hidden atop an armoire while he was at the hotel. Laura had learned what she knew about the major from spying on him via a secret peephole in Room C next door and following him at a safe distance on two occasions. She knew Lily could keep Major Stevens blissfully distracted for at least an hour. Belle and Cleo were busy out back with the laundry; Mrs. Barton, in the kitchen with the cooking; and Alvus, in the stable and yard with his chores. The other guests, including Jayce, were away for various reasons. Still, she felt she must hurry in case a new guest or one of the local residents arrived downstairs and needed her.

  Laura used a chair to reach the pouch. She went to the bed, unfastened the buckle, and withdrew the pouch’s contents. She studied the papers and maps, making notes and sketches from them. She was relieved none of the information was in cipher so she could decide what was most important to pass along to General Grant, as she lacked the time to copy everything. She worked as rapidly as possible, frequently halting to listen for footsteps, her heart thumping in dread of being caught.

  When she heard a soft tap on the wall, Laura knew it was Lily’s signal they would be finished soon and Major Stevens would be leaving her. She glanced at the mantel clock, astonished by how much time had elapsed during her task, so engrossed was she by what she had found. In a rush, she replaced the pages and pouch exactly as she’d found them, then smoothed the wrinkles from the bed’s coverlet. She returned the chair to its location and finger-fluffed the rug to remove the impressions the chair’s legs had left near the armoire. She concealed the copies she’d made under her skirt and glanced around to be sure everything was in order. She left the major’s room without making any telltale noises, even taking care her pass key turned quietly as she locked his door.

  Just as she reached the top step, Laura heard Lily’s door open and the couple’s muffled voices. She gave a sigh of relief, knowing that a minute later she would have been exposed. She cautioned herself to be more alert and careful at her next daring task. She went downstairs, but no one was in sight, so she left to hide the pages in her home until she could code and deliver them next Thursday. She knew that Ben and General Grant would be surprised and pleased with her findings, but she didn’t congratulate herself since she realized her work could imperil Jayce Storm’s life.

  As Laura concealed the papers inside her bedroom chimney and replaced the decorative firescreen, she was tempted to omit the portions that revealed facts about the strengthening of Petersburg, Jayce’s destination. She warned herself she must not do such a dishonorable and deceitful thing, as more lives than his were at stake. If only, she fretted, Petersburg wasn’t such a hotbed of activity! Yet, she reminded herself, all vital areas were heating up as the Union pressed
for an imminent victory and the desperate Confederacy tried to prevent it. There was no way she could stop Jayce from riding into peril and she couldn’t warn him about what lay ahead. Her hands were bound and her lips were sealed by her patriotic duty to her country, by her love for her family, and by her promise to Clarissa and the Union.

  She couldn’t retreat or change sides for a stranger she’d known only two days, though it oddly seemed much longer. His image leapt into her mind: that strong jawline with a cleft chin, wide and full mouth with snow-white teeth, those magnificent blue eyes. He was over six feet tall with powerful shoulders, a flat stomach, and long legs. His voice was rich and deep, and he exuded the impression he could take care of himself and everyone with him in any situation. He was polite and genial, and appeared to be educated. She set his age in his late twenties or very early thirties.

  Yes, she was drawn to him, but she could not allow his seeming attraction to her to influence her actions, though he was playing havoc with her thoughts and emotions. If she wasn’t mistaken, Jayce Storm had more to offer a woman than an enormous supply of good looks, awesome virility, and numerous charms. She imagined his large hands caressing her cheeks or cupping her face or…

  Lily’s arrival halted her mental dilemma. “How did it go?” Laura asked, thrusting Jayce and romantic notions to the back of her mind.

  Lily’s fingers touseled her pale-blond hair as she grinned. “Perfectly. I told him I wanted him to use my room because it was more private and relaxing than the others. I told him he was special and I was giving him a gift for all he’s doing to help end this horrible war. He devoured every word.”

  Laura knew how convincing Lily could be, how easily the lovely female could persuade men to open up to her. Almost every man sated by Lily requested her upon a return visit, and most tipped her with an extra dollar or a small gift, news she didn’t share with the other two females to prevent jealousy. “Was he suspicious when you went into your closet and tapped on the wall to signal me?”

  “No, I pretended to be fetching a robe and made it look as if I bumped into the wall when I tried to catch something falling off the shelf. Besides, he was too charmed and dazed to be on alert. I must admit, he’s nice and handsome and knows how to treat a woman generously in bed.”

  “So it wasn’t all work? You like him?” Laura ventured as she noted an uncommon glow to her friend’s cheeks and a dreamy expression.

  Lily shrugged. “Perhaps, but he’s a Rebel, and I’ll never trust one of those again. When he asked about corresponding with me, I gave him my address, but I doubt I’ll ever see or hear from him again. What about you? Did you find out anything of interest?”

  Laura caught the woman’s change of subject, hinting Lily was taken by the officer and feared losing her heart to another man who might betray and discard her, especially if Major Stevens ever discovered how they had used him. “I barely escaped before he left your room. There was so much to read and copy that it took a long time. Thank goodness we arranged that warning signal and you stalled him afterward. I just hid the information in the chimney.”

  As they sat down on Laura’s bed, she continued, “The missive contained facts about Atlanta’s defenses. We already knew that Bragg is en route to Atlanta, but Hood will be replacing Johnston within a week just as we suspected. It mentioned some of Hood’s planned strategy against Sherman, so Hood is aware there will be a change in command soon, and he has no intention of retreating like Johnston has been doing. Major Stevens must have been making serious plans with somebody at the War Department because he had a detailed map marked with Georgia’s rail lines and depots. He even had a list of Georgia’s arsenals, arms-makers, and powderworks, some of them major suppliers for the Confederacy. He had a letter to Hood saying Wheeler and his cavalry corps are coming from Tennessee to strengthen Hood’s command and Wheeler is to harry Sherman while he’s en route or decoy him away from Atlanta because it’s such an important site. Two divisions with seven brigades, all armed with heavy and light artillery, are to leave Monroe Park on July nineteenth to head south. If Hood and Wheeler join forces against Sherman, things will get worse and there will be no end in sight to this bloody war! Somebody has to delay Wheeler, and those replacements from here.”

  With slight hesitation, Lily said, “At least you have enough time to get a warning to Ben and Grant without having to make a risky unscheduled trip to them. I hope that’s your plan, Laura, because trying to get through two lines of soldiers is perilous. Either side could capture or shoot you. Besides, Beast Butler is roaming that area and he’s a bad one, a Yankee like me or not.”

  “I know, and I agree. I remember reading in the Fredericksburg newspaper before I came here. How he—a high-ranking officer—could order his men to view and treat any female of New Orleans who disdained their unwanted attention like a woman ‘of the town plying her avocation’ on the streets is unforgivable. He actually made it a crime for a woman to use any ‘word, gesture, or movement’ to ‘insult or show contempt’ for his soldiers, when all the while that sorry excuse for a man and leader was confiscating their property and stealing their possessions, especially their silver. He should have been stripped of his command and President Lincoln should have publicly reprimanded him. For certain, Lily, I will never take a message to help that horrible beast in any manner, and I hope I never set eyes on him or I might be provoked to reckless action. That was one reason I was so relieved when Aunt Clarissa rescued me; I feared such a horrible incident might occur near my home. I didn’t want our workers harmed while trying to protect me, and they would have attempted to do so if I was in danger. I know my brothers would never be involved in such a miscarriage of justice and breach of decency.”

  Laura took a breath to calm herself and returned to their previous topic. “Since the nineteenth is ten days away and then their travel time will be added to that date, I’ll wait until next Thursday to see Ben as scheduled.”

  “Good, I’m glad, thank you,” the worried Lily told her in a rush. “Belle and Cleo finished the laundry just before I came over and they’re tidying up now. That yappy politician from Alabama came back for lunch; probably so he wouldn’t have to buy one elsewhere. Major Stevens was eating before he leaves for a while; maybe he has another important meeting, but we won’t have a chance to check his pouch again. The others are still gone, including our handsome newcomer. We should go over and down our soup before we have to go to Robertson’s Hospital to help out for a few hours.”

  Again, Laura noticed how Lily’s voice and expression softened and her cheeks glowed when Lily mentioned the departing Confederate officer.

  “Bertha already has a basket of dried fruit, biscuits, and preserves packed for us to carry. Belle and Cleo know they’re on duty while we’re gone. You best hope your Jayce doesn’t return while you’re away or one of them might…entertain him upstairs during your absence.”

  “Behave yourself, Lily Hart; he isn’t my Jayce.”

  “Would you like him to be?”

  Laura stopped herself from retorting falsely, Of course not. She responded, “How can I answer when I hardly know the man?”

  Lily laughed and said, “Then, I’ll ask you again Sunday night after you spend the day with him.”

  * * *

  Laura served the five men at her table corn on the cob, green beans, cured ham, steaming biscuits, sliced tomatoes, coffee, and rice pudding with raisins and spices for dessert. With Carl absent, it was quieter during dinner, and local residents were all seated at Lily’s table. She knew several friends were joining men nearby at eight o’clock for card games and chats in the parlor. She also knew the flame-haired Cleo and dark-haired Belle had three appointments upstairs later this evening: something Jayce was sure to notice. She found herself hoping he would not take advantage of that knowledge and opportunity or assume she “entertained” customers herself. Perhaps, she reasoned, since “visits” were carried out discreetly, he might not notice when those three gentlemen slipped u
pstairs or returned.

  She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes, to find him focused on his meal and the talk around him. Either he had brought a blue shirt with him or had purchased it in town today, one he was wearing with his uniform pants and black boots. Its vibrant shade enhanced the hue of his eyes and tanned color of his complexion. Having returned just in time to perform her tasks this evening, she hadn’t been given a chance to speak with him earlier. She wondered where he had gone today and what he had done and when he had returned. She hadn’t asked Belle or Cleo, since she didn’t want to hint of a personal interest in him. She liked and trusted the two women who had been employed by Clarissa for years, but she wasn’t close to them, as she was with Lily, though both southern females were only a few years older than her twenty-one years.

  She listened to her guests converse about who was leaving soon—Major Stevens and Lawrence tomorrow, and David and Orville on Monday—and about current news of the war and politics near and far. Her attention increased when the Alabama politician revealed facts he’d learned today.

  Frank asked the others, “Did you hear the news in town today about what Lincoln did yesterday? It’ll probably be on the front page tomorrow.”

  Lawrence asked, “What news, Frank? Tell us now.”

  “Old Abe announced he’s behind a constitutional amendment to abolish slavery, but he’s not sure the Union Congress has the power to eliminate the practice. I guess he thinks his little emancipation paper is worthless, and it is to us. I doubt he wants to provoke us when we’ll be independent soon, and he and those northern businessmen will have to deal with us fair and square if they want their cotton mills running again, sugar in their homes, and tobacco in their pipes and rolls. It sure looks as if Old Jube Early’s got them in a crunch; he even levied Frederick city officials two hundred thousand dollars today to punish them Yanks for what Sheridan’s been doing in our beautiful Valley. Word is that as far north as Baltimore, Yanks are trembling in fear and scurrying about to fortify their town and homes. Even Washington is calling men out of their sickbeds to help defend her against our boys. Maybe General Meade will be forced to call off his seige on Petersburg and rush to their aid. I bet that suits you just fine, doesn’t it, Lawrence?”