by Diane Wylie
“Talking to your horse again, Dave?” A laughing voice made him look up to see a fellow cavalryman, in full dress uniform like his, ride up beside him.
“Of course, Jack. He and I have been through a lot in the past two years, just like us.”
They reached for each other’s hands and held tightly for a long moment.
“Together through thick and thin,” David said.
“Together to the end…and this is the end of a very unusual chapter of our lives, my friend,” Jack replied with his usual grin.
David had to agree. There would be nothing in civilian life that would ever compare to the experiences he had shared with these soldiers, these comrades in arms. Abruptly his thoughts shifted to Jenny, his darling Jenny. Soon he would see his wife again. He would lie with her, and she would love him and heal him once more as she had before. His angel would not have to heal his body this time. No, this time she would heal his soul with her loving gentle ways. Then perhaps the terrible demons of this war would leave him in peace.
A bugle sounded in the distance.
“Time to close this chapter, Jack.” David twisted in the saddle and waved his saber one more time for the soldiers gathered around. “Line it up, boys! Time to go!”
* * *
Jeffrey, Phillip, Ben, Jenny, and Lila watched line after line of blue-uniformed men march and ride past them. Each spectator anxiously looked for that one special soldier and yelled to him when he was located. The army band marched past playing a rousing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. People cheered and clapped, finally giving in to the festive atmosphere generated by the music and the happy, proud soldiers.
These were the survivors, the heroes, the brave lads going home. They had lost friends, brothers, nephews, fathers, and uncles, but they were going home against all odds. They deserved to be happy.
In the distance, four soldiers on horseback led a large group of cavalrymen. Their white plumes bounced with the rocking motion of the beautiful horses the men rode. Closer and closer they came. Hooves thundered on the hard-packed dirt road. The sun glinted off hundreds of brass buttons and belt buckles and winked off shiny dress sabers.
One dark-haired soldier, in the lead group of four caught Jenny’s attention, though he did nothing differently from the others. He had broad shoulders that tapered down to a narrow waist accentuated by a bright red sash. As he came closer, she could see the twinkle in his green eyes under the brim of his hat. His entire face lit up into a brilliant smile when he saw her.
“David,” she whispered. Tears sprang unnoticed to her eyes and overflowed to her cheeks. How she had missed him!
The big black stallion drew up beside her. He leaned down and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. “My Jenny,” he breathed into her ear. “My wonderful Jenny, you are mine to hold at last!”
Beside them a similar reunion was taking place between Jack and Lila. Jenny heard Jack’s excited cry, “A baby!”
Whistles and cheers erupted all around them as the handsome Northern soldier lifted his pretty Southern bride onto the sleek black cavalry horse in front of him. His strong arms wrapped around her tightly as they continued down the parade route. They were together now, David and Jenny, in each other’s arms. They were home at last.
Dear Reader,
I hope you have enjoyed the love story between David and Jenny as much as I enjoyed writing it. The Civil War created heroes and heroines out of ordinary people whose stories are often left untold in the history books. While the characters are fictional, the heartache and passion of the time was real.
As you finished reading “Jenny’s Passion” did you wonder how Captain Jack Montgomery met his wife? Did you think about what Lila might have done for the year Jack was imprisoned at Andersonville? You might be surprised at the answers to these questions. Learn more about David’s best friend in “Lila’s Vow.” See my website, http://www.dianewylie.com for information.
Happy Reading,
Diane Wylie
Other Titles by Diane Wylie
SECRETS AND SACRIFICES
DAUGHTERS OF THE CIVIL WAR book bundle
and individual books in the series:
Book One — JENNY’S PASSION
Book Two — LILA’S VOW
Forever Young series:
PRELUDE TO MAGIC
Book One — A TIMELESS MOON
Book Two — A TIMELESS STAR
Book Three — A TIMELESS PLACE
THE SCOTTISH FALCONERS book bundle
and individual books in the series:
Book One — BESIEGED
Book Two — HUNTED
Book Three — REDEEMED
ADAM’S TREASURE
OUTLAW LOVER
SISTERS IN THE CIVIL WAR
About the Author
Author, Diane Wylie, loves books that will take her on an emotional roller coaster ride. What better genre than romance to do that? She has always particularly loved romances with dashing heroes and beautiful heroines.
Diane, a graduate of Rutgers University, had wanted to be either a veterinarian or a marine biologist, but became a technical writer and is now happily retired. The mother of two grown children and grandmother to two sweeties, Diane makes her home in Maryland with her husband, Ed, a former racecar driver and graphic designer, and their two crazy welsh corgis.
Visit Diane’s website: http://www.dianewylie.com to learn more about her and her upcoming novels.