you all right, Sir?”
“I’m wondering how many of these men that I am about to lead into battle will die. Some of them are just boys. I hate that part of the war. I’ve already seen so many of my men die, and now many more will perish.”
“I’m sorry, Sir. I know it must be difficult. They know what is expected of them and they are men of honor and will not hesitate to die for what they believe in. It’s the way of life in the South. My brother felt the same way and he did not live to see his seventeenth birthday.”
“Speaking of your family, why is it that you speak so refined, and act like a lady from the city, even though you were born on a small farm?”
“My mom felt education was important. She lived close to Richmond when she was young. Her parents owned a large plantation and she had the best of everything. She attended the best schools money could buy. She wore the most beautiful and stylish clothes. She was a spoiled, rich girl.” Kate patted Betsy’s neck. “She lived a life of pleasure.”
“ Everything was wonderful until she fell in love with her father’s overseer, Daniel Monroe. My mother adored him even though he was not of her class. Her father forbad her to see him. She ran away with him to Durham, North Carolina and that is where they settled and built a small farm. My mom gave up parties, pretty dresses, and her parents. She gave up so much, but she loved my father deeply, and was very happy with the life she had on the small farm. Never again did she speak to her father. For a while she corresponded with her mother until her father discovered they had been writing each other. My grandmother was forbidden to write another letter to my mother. It is terrible she died without their love.”
“What is your grandfather’s name?”
“Roy Talbert. I don’t even know if he and my grandmother are still alive.”
“I know him. He is still in Richmond. I’m sorry but your grandmother died a year ago. Maybe we should try to contact him.” David thought this could be how he could get rid of Miss Monroe before any of the other men found out about her gender.
Kate snorted indelicately. “Do you think I would speak to him after he treated my mother and father the way he did?” I have nothing to say to him. If my father was not good enough for him, neither am I.”
Annoyed with her s tubbornness, David stated, “Miss Monroe, you are going to have to do something. You cannot stay here. As soon as we get back to Camp Kanway we are going to have to decide what to do with you. If the men find out that I knew and let you stay, I will be court-martialed. You could be in a lot of trouble yourself. I don’t think the army would be too happy when they discover a woman had duped them into believing she was a man.”
Kate opened her mouth to argue, but David put up his h and to keep her from speaking. “The subject is closed. I don’t want to hear anymore arguing. You have to leave.” With that made clear, he kicked his horse into a gallop, and raced ahead. She watched until he disappeared from sight in a sea of gray uniforms.
Kate was mad as a bull. The man was going to be difficult to reason with. She was not going to contact her grandfather. She would have nothing to do with him. There must be another alternative.
Suddenly another ho rse came trotting up beside her. Looking into the intense, dark eyes of Lieutenant Emerson, Kate blushed. The ugly claw marks on his handsome cheek reminded her of what almost happened last night. At least she had inflicted some pain on him. His face was also bruised from the beating he had received from Captain Harris. He did not look too pleased.
“So now you’re whoring around with the Capta in.” It seemed he was still angry because his plans with her had been ruined because of David. Instead of lashing out at David, he chose to take his fury out on her.
“Go away and leave me alone, Lieutenant Emerson. I do not like or trust you, and never
“I’m wondering how many of these men that I am about to lead into battle will die. Some of them are just boys. I hate that part of the war. I’ve already seen so many of my men die, and now many more will perish.”
“I’m sorry, Sir. I know it must be difficult. They know what is expected of them and they are men of honor and will not hesitate to die for what they believe in. It’s the way of life in the South. My brother felt the same way and he did not live to see his seventeenth birthday.”
“Speaking of your family, why is it that you speak so refined, and act like a lady from the city, even though you were born on a small farm?”
“My mom felt education was important. She lived close to Richmond when she was young. Her parents owned a large plantation and she had the best of everything. She attended the best schools money could buy. She wore the most beautiful and stylish clothes. She was a spoiled, rich girl.” Kate patted Betsy’s neck. “She lived a life of pleasure.”
“ Everything was wonderful until she fell in love with her father’s overseer, Daniel Monroe. My mother adored him even though he was not of her class. Her father forbad her to see him. She ran away with him to Durham, North Carolina and that is where they settled and built a small farm. My mom gave up parties, pretty dresses, and her parents. She gave up so much, but she loved my father deeply, and was very happy with the life she had on the small farm. Never again did she speak to her father. For a while she corresponded with her mother until her father discovered they had been writing each other. My grandmother was forbidden to write another letter to my mother. It is terrible she died without their love.”
“What is your grandfather’s name?”
“Roy Talbert. I don’t even know if he and my grandmother are still alive.”
“I know him. He is still in Richmond. I’m sorry but your grandmother died a year ago. Maybe we should try to contact him.” David thought this could be how he could get rid of Miss Monroe before any of the other men found out about her gender.
Kate snorted indelicately. “Do you think I would speak to him after he treated my mother and father the way he did?” I have nothing to say to him. If my father was not good enough for him, neither am I.”
Annoyed with her s tubbornness, David stated, “Miss Monroe, you are going to have to do something. You cannot stay here. As soon as we get back to Camp Kanway we are going to have to decide what to do with you. If the men find out that I knew and let you stay, I will be court-martialed. You could be in a lot of trouble yourself. I don’t think the army would be too happy when they discover a woman had duped them into believing she was a man.”
Kate opened her mouth to argue, but David put up his h and to keep her from speaking. “The subject is closed. I don’t want to hear anymore arguing. You have to leave.” With that made clear, he kicked his horse into a gallop, and raced ahead. She watched until he disappeared from sight in a sea of gray uniforms.
Kate was mad as a bull. The man was going to be difficult to reason with. She was not going to contact her grandfather. She would have nothing to do with him. There must be another alternative.
Suddenly another ho rse came trotting up beside her. Looking into the intense, dark eyes of Lieutenant Emerson, Kate blushed. The ugly claw marks on his handsome cheek reminded her of what almost happened last night. At least she had inflicted some pain on him. His face was also bruised from the beating he had received from Captain Harris. He did not look too pleased.
“So now you’re whoring around with the Capta in.” It seemed he was still angry because his plans with her had been ruined because of David. Instead of lashing out at David, he chose to take his fury out on her.
“Go away and leave me alone, Lieutenant Emerson. I do not like or trust you, and never
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