Jenny's Passion

by Diane Wylie

  “There, Napoleon,” he whispered, “let’s not wake Jennifer, boy.”

  She remembered now. David had come in the night. He wanted to marry her, but she had fallen asleep before she could answer. Lying in the straw, she let her eyes adjust to the darkness. After a few moments she could make out his figure moving gracefully around the larger form of the horse. The gentle shushing sound was the brush moving over the black stallion’s back. She could see his muscular forearms exposed and the white of his rolled up shirtsleeves. His blue uniform coat was draped over her. Cautiously she sniffed it. It smelled of smoke, dirt, perspiration, and of the man himself.

  Longing for him filled her in a rush, and she yearned to have him lie down next to her. There was a depression in the straw beside her that was warm to her outstretched hand. Perhaps he had lain there after all. Was he the husband of her dreams? Yes…he had been the one to kiss her so lovingly; she was sure of it. She sighed deeply and closed her eyes again. How could she bear it if he left again? He was preparing to go even now. A band of sorrow around her chest stole away her breath, and she stifled a sob. Clutching his jacket tightly to her, she buried her face in it and let the tears run down her cheeks.

  Moments later the sound of crackling hay reached her ears, and something soft and warm tickled her cheek. She opened her eyes in time to see him straightening up to a sitting position beside her.

  “I’m sorry, Jenny. I couldn’t help but kiss your cheek once more before I leave. I didn’t mean to wake you.” That sultry voice flowed over her like a caress.

  “You were going to leave without waking me to say goodbye?” She was incredulous. “You say you came back here to marry me, but you slink away like a thief in the night?”

  She could see his teeth gleam in the darkness and heard the smile in his voice. “Are you saying you want to marry me?”

  “No, that is not what I’m saying.” A strand of hair fell across her face as she sat up to face him in the straw, hugging his jacket to the front of her. She tossed her head to clear her vision and swiped away the wetness from her face, hoping he didn’t notice.

  “No, but would you leave without saying goodbye?”

  “You needed your sleep…you shouldn’t have to work so hard.” He stopped. Hesitantly he spoke again. “Jenny, I-I have to confess that I was going to leave without waking you so I wouldn’t have to explain.”

  She was fully awake now.

  “Explain what?”

  “I, uh, have to tell you that I must bear some responsibility for your current situation.”

  Suddenly she was suspicious. She could feel the warm, tender feelings of a moment ago vanish, and uneasiness begin to grow. “What are you talking about?”

  He angled around to face her. His face was grim in the dim light of the lantern. “Well, when I was staying here, Isaac asked me many hard questions, and I answered him truthfully, which may have precipitated his departure…”

  * * *

  The days and weeks after David left were difficult. Winter howled on. Jenny, Benjamin, Kizzie, and Jeb struggled to keep warm and keep food in their bellies. Thankfully, the root cellar and pantries had been well stocked before disaster fell on Pleasant Run. Many were the days when she turned over the issues in her mind. Angry as she was that David had planted the seed of escape in Isaac’s mind, it seemed a useless kind of anger after a time. They were all gone, and nothing was going to bring them back or make things the way they used to be. As the battle between North and South was doomed to rage again in the spring, emancipation of the slaves could become reality.

  But, it wasn’t the issue of slavery that occupied her mind the most; it was the cavalryman. The night he left she had not allowed him to touch her or to kiss her again after his confession, although she could see the desire to do both and more in his eyes. She was just too tired and too upset about what he had done.

  Her words had been sharp and bitter to him. Now that she had a chance to think about what had happened, she had to admit that he had been nothing but upstanding and honest with her and with the slaves. Telling Isaac the truth had been the honorable thing to do, she had finally realized. The confusion in her mind had taken almost a month to sort out, but now she regretted her cold farewell. The stark reality was that Captain David Reynolds may never return to her again…and she loved him.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The sounds of shouts and voices interrupted their lesson. A jolt of heart-pounding fear hit Jenny hard.

  “Are the Bluecoats here again?” Ben’s eyes were wide with terror, and his bottom lip trembled as he met her gaze over the history book that lay in front of them. They had been studying Ancient Rome when the ruckus began.

  Oh, Lord, the sudden noise had frightened them both!

  Standing, she put her arm around his shoulders. She wanted to stay calm for his sake and forced her body to stop trembling. “I don’t know, Ben. Here’s what I want you to do. Go out the back way and hide in Kizzie’s old cabin. One of us will come for you. If something happens, and nobody comes for you, run to the Ingallsons’ farm as fast as you can. Mr. and Mrs. Ingallson will take care of you. All right?”

  But the boy had other ideas. Suddenly he lurched forward, wrapped his arms around her legs and buried his freckled face in her skirts. “No! I want to come with you!”

  Her heart constricted. Poor little guy, with his father torn away from home and his mother dead, Jenny was all the family he had left. Gently she unwrapped his arms and knelt down in front of him, holding his little hands in hers. The shouting and commotion had stopped, but her heart was still pounding. What was going on out there?

  “Ben, you have to be strong—”

  A fist pounded on the door. Without waiting for an answer, Jeb burst into the room. His wrinkled face shone with excitement, and his gap-toothed grin was as broad as she had ever seen.

  “Miz Jenny, come quick. Your Pa be back!”

  * * *

  Despite the cool April day, the heavy oak door stood wide open. There on the veranda stood Phillip Winston. At Ben’s shout of joy, he turned to greet his children opening his arms wide to receive them both as they hurtled into him.

  “Papa, Papa!”

  “Welcome home, Father!”

  “Papa, we missed you!”

  Tears of joy streamed down Jenny’s face as she stepped back to look at him. Even with Ben still glued to Papa, she could see that he had grown thinner. The lines on his face were more pronounced, but his eyes shone with health and renewed hope; something that had been lacking when he left so unwillingly three months before.

  A horse snorted and blew; its bridal jingled and metal clanked against metal. It drew Jenny’s attention to the group of blue-coated cavalrymen sitting on their horses watching the reunion from the front lawn with smiles all around. Jennifer gave a start of surprise. Why were Union soldiers here? Did they bring Father back?

  The officer, though he did nothing different from the others, drew her particular notice as she gazed at the group of men over Papa’s shoulder. He sat tall and proud in the saddle, and his green eyes twinkled merrily at her under the brim of his white-plumed hat. It was David! He had returned again, this time with her father.

  “Jenny!” Benjamin cried. “The Bluecoats did come again, but this time they brought Papa home instead of taking him away!”

  Several of the men chuckled, and their horses shifted restlessly.

  By this time Kizzie and Jeb had joined the group on the front porch, offering their own happy greetings to the master of Pleasant Run. Both slaves also acknowledged David with smiles of welcome.

  “Cap’n Reynolds, good to see you again, sir!” Jeb called out.

  David tipped his hat and directed his brilliant smile toward the old man and woman. “How are you, Jeb? Good to see you looking well, Miss Kizzie.”

  Phillip Winston cleared his throat. “So it seems that everyone here knew about Captain Reynolds before I did. Is that right, Jennifer?”

  Ben tu
gged at his father’s coat sleeve. “I didn’t, Papa.”

  Phillips smiled down at his son, reached down, and lifted him into his arms. “Well, Ben…it seems that your father has learned something very important from our friend, Captain Reynolds.”

  “Is he our friend, Papa?” Ben looked David up and down critically. “He has a very nice horse, but he is a Bluecoat.”

  “I know he is a Union soldier, but under that blue coat he is still a man. Apparently a man who likes our Jenny enough to put aside his politics long enough to help her father out of the bad situation I got myself into.”

  Suddenly Romulus came bounding around the corner of the house, barking loudly as he ran. The dog laid eyes on the men, and his hackles rose. He advanced toward them slowly, growling all the while. Then a puzzled look seemed to cross his doggy face, the growling stopped, and his tail began to wag. Sniffing the air, he came up to Napoleon. Everyone watched as the big horse dropped his great head and rubbed muzzles with the dog.

  “Don’t that beat all!” Jeb laughed.

  “Gentlemen,” Phillip called out to the six men. “I know you can’t stay long, but would you care to warm yourselves inside with some refreshments?”

  “Papa,” Jenny whispered. “We don’t have anything fancy to give them. We have been eating the pantry stores. Something terrible happened…Isaac, Luther, Patsy, and all of the slaves are gone.”

  Phillip’s eyes narrowed, but he turned to Kizzie and Jeb. “Please do your best to find something for our guests. I owe them a kindness for what they did.”

  “Sure will, Massa Phillips,” Kizzie replied. “I’s can whip up sumthin.”

  He turned back to Jenny. “I know all about that, Daughter, and the Captain’s role in it. He explained it all. We’ll talk about this later.” Then he turned his attention back to his guests.

  “Sir,” David said, “If you don’t mind, I’d like to have my men put their horses in your barn during our visit. No sense in drawing attention to our presence behind enemy lines.”

  Phillip nodded. “Wise decision, Captain Reynolds. Jeb will show them the way.”

  Jenny watched David dismount and hand the reins to the lieutenant sitting beside him.

  “Tom, can you take care of Napoleon for me?”

  “Sure thing, Captain.”

  “When you fellas come back, Forrester will stand guard while the others come inside,” David ordered. Then he looked at an unkempt soldier sitting on a very jittery, light brown mare, whose mouth worked at the bit in agitation. “Forrester, someone will spell you later.”

  The man scowled but saluted his captain before turning his dancing horse to follow Jeb and the other men.

  Papa carried Ben into the house, following behind Kizzie, and leaving Jennifer standing on the front porch watching David mount the steps. He was magnificent. His dark blue uniform was new and clean, a yellow shoulder strap graced his broad shoulders, and a crimson sash accentuated his narrow waist.

  The close-cut beard suited him, she thought. It drew her eyes right toward his sensuous lips, which were now curved up into a beautiful, heart-stopping smile. She could appreciate the sight of him but was determined that she would not be swayed by his attractiveness and that brilliant smile.

  “David,” she said, “I don’t understand how you did this or what you hope to gain—”

  “Jenny,” he interrupted her with a hurt look, “why would you think I have any ulterior motive in bringing your father back to Pleasant Run?”

  She cocked her head and regarded him suspiciously. “You can call it my woman’s intuition, Captain.”

  He reached out a hand to her. Slowly she raised her hand in response. He took it and pulled her into his embrace in one fluid motion then bent his head to hers.

  “I want your undying gratitude, Miss Winston, for risking life and limb and military standing in order to restore my future father-in-law to my fiancée.” With that he kissed her. It was sweet and gentle and so full of feeling that Jenny could feel her throat close with emotion that she struggled hard to hide from him. It was no use in resisting. Her lips parted, and his tongue thrust deep and hot, probing every part of her mouth. Finally she broke the kiss, smoothing her gown in her agitation.

  “You have my gratitude, but I still will not marry you.” She raised her chin defiantly.

  He chuckled and touched her face gently. “I had to try.”

  “I suppose I can forgive you for that.” She couldn’t help but smile in return. Taking his arm, she urged him toward the door. “Come inside and tell me all about this amazing feat of yours.”

  Kizzie served the soldiers the last of the real coffee and some shortbread she had made earlier that day. Papa sat in his favorite wingback chair next to the fire with Benjamin on his lap. The boy had such a hold on their father that Jenny wondered if he would ever let go. The sight of them both like this made her gratitude toward David increase, although she wouldn’t tell him that.

  “Jennifer, this young officer is to receive all our thanks for what he did for me,” Papa said warmly. She wondered if he had read her mind. “I would be spending a long time in that prison if not for him.”

  “Sir, your daughter saved my life; it was the least I could do.”

  She shot a startled look at David.

  “Don’t worry,” David put in quickly, “he already knew that I was here after being injured at the battle of Mine Run. I told Mr. Winston how you found me in that field and took me to the slave cabin for aid.” He raised a dark eyebrow just a bit.

  She breathed a sigh of relief. He was telling her that he neglected to tell Phillip about her part in the deaths of two Confederate soldiers. She didn’t know how her father would react to that bit of news and, frankly, did not want to find out.

  Phillip put a hand out to his daughter. So she moved closer and took it in hers.

  “I’m sorry, Jenny, I should have done the Christian thing and helped Captain Reynolds while he was here.” He bowed his head.

  “I am ashamed. I knew that you and Kizzie were battling to save this young man’s life, and I took the coward’s way out…I pretended nothing was happening so I wouldn’t have to get involved with sheltering a Northern soldier. I really thought that I could keep the war away from my home if I denied its existence and took no stand either way. I see now that it was inhumane of me to let you and him suffer like that. I could have at least opened my home to you, Captain Reynolds, and saved my daughter a lot of anguish.” He looked from one to the other. “For that I am truly sorry.”

  The entire room had fallen silent as Phillip made his confession. Lieutenant Miller coughed nervously, and Private Peters shifted uneasily on his chair.

  “Oh, Papa!” Jenny cried and flung her arms around his neck.

  “Papa,” Benjamin’s stern little voice broke in. “You will have to be sent to your room without dessert tonight, but we will forgive you if you don’t do it again.”

  For a moment everyone froze. Then David started to laugh and laugh, deep and throaty sounds that rumbled up from deep inside. Jenny loved the sound of his laughter. She realized she had not heard him laugh very much in the time she had known him. It was good to hear him laugh now. His men cautiously followed his lead, letting loose with a few chuckles.

  “Benjamin,” David said, “I’ll just bet you have been waiting a long time to say that to your Papa.”

  Ben grinned at them all, loving the attention from so many people. “Yes, sir.”

  Phillip ruffled his child’s hair affectionately. “Son, I believe you are correct. I will need to be suitably disciplined for my actions.” He chuckled low in his throat and looked at his daughter. “What do you say? Will you forgive me?”

  She hugged him again, “I already have.” She straightened and turned around to the soldier. “But tell me, David… How did you manage it? Papa’s freedom, I mean.”

  All eyes turned to David, who was standing by the front window. He had been looking out the window with his back to
everyone just seconds before. He turned upon hearing his name.

  Oh, how those green eyes bewitched her. At this moment Jenny could not look away from his face if her life depended on it. His face held all the truths of his heart and hers—love, intelligence, kindness, compassion, strength, and honesty—but most of all—love. She knew before he spoke a word about how he did what he did, exactly why he had brought Papa home. For her. He really did love her. That knowledge nearly sent her to her knees.

  * * *

  David saw the very moment everything crystallized for Jenny. It was as if the room suddenly filled with sunshine, rainbows, and songbirds, making his heart feel as if it would burst with joy. Without a word he knew that she had finally opened her heart to him completely. He smiled at her, his throat suddenly thick with emotion. Taking a sip of his coffee, he cleared his throat before speaking.

  “Two weeks ago I was ordered to take this group of men to Washington.” He gestured around the room at Thomas, Caleb, Frank, and George. “While we were there I went to visit a friend of mine who happens to be stationed at the Old Capitol Prison.”

  “Was that where you were, Papa?” Ben asked, looking behind him to his father.

  Phillip put his finger to his lips. “Hush, Ben, you’re interrupting the Captain’s story…but yes, I was there. Go on, Captain Reynolds.”

  “Yes, Ben, I found out quite by accident that Mr. Winston was being held in the very prison where my friend, Joseph, was stationed as the captain of the guards.”

  “Joseph’s mother was good friends with my mother when I was young, and we stayed in touch over the years. This was the first opportunity I had had to visit him.”

  “Did your friend help you set Papa free, David?”

  “Ben! Please!” Jennifer scolded with a tolerant smile.

  David smiled at the little boy too. “Yes, he did, Ben. Your Papa was kind to the people he met in the Old Capitol, and they all liked him. Joseph knew that I was in the battle at Mine Run and asked me if I had ever heard of a place called Pleasant Run Manor, which, of course, I knew all about. Joseph told me he had a fine Southern gentleman from Pleasant Run who was arrested for murder. I made arrangements to meet the gentleman, who turned out to be Mr. Winston, your father. I was able to get him released after that.”