Ecstasy's Promise (Historical Romance) by Constance O'Banyon Page B
Authors: Constance O'Banyon
Tags: Fiction, adventure, Romance, Historical, Adult, Action, Western, Texas, South, wealthy, ranch, 18th Century, Enemy, american revolution, destruction, American West, ECSTASY'S PROMISE, Sherman's Troops, Farraday Plantation, Yankees, Grandmother, Union, Burned Plantation
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do not even remember a time when I gave any thought to finances," Victoria told him.
"There is no reason you should have in the past," Bodine said, "but now, in view of all that has happened, you should know." She waited anxiously for him to tell her, fearing the worst. "The last time your father was home on leave from his unit, he decided it would be safer if we hid the gold bullion in the swamps. He and I sneaked out of the house and buried it one night while everyone else was asleep. He was afraid something would happen to him and he wanted to be certain your future would be assured."
"How like Father to think of me," Victoria said softly.
Bodine nodded in agreement. "He did not put all his gold into Confederate currency for just that reason. He was willing to give his own life for what he believed in, but he would not gamble on your future."
"Is it a great deal of money?"
"No," Bodine told her, "but it will enable you to rebuild Farraday Plantation one day."
"Oh, Bodine, that is good news." Her eyes sparkled with new life. Then she remembered that she could not return to Georgia and probably never would be able to.
Bodine knew what she was thinking and patted her hand. "Do not lose heart," he told her. "Someday you will be able to return home."
She looked into his eyes and knew he did not believe that any more than she did. "Anyway," Bodine continued, "I want to tell you where we hid the bullion in case anything happens to me." Victoria looked at him fearfully. He raised his hand to silence her. "Let me finish. Do you remember the big willow tree you climbed when you were about ten and you could not get down?"
"Yes," she said. "I remember it as though it were yesterday. I had run into the swamps after Bess had scolded me. I do not even remember now what she punished me for, but I was so upset, I thought it would make her feel bad if she were to think I was lost in the swamp. I climbed up high into the branches and found that I could not get down."
"Yes, and when you did not return Bess alerted the whole plantation to search for you," Bodine said.
"I remember crying as it started getting dark, and how frightened I was. Then I saw all the torches and everyone was calling my name."
Bodine smiled at her. "I had to climb up and bring you down."
"Every time in my life that I have been in trouble, you have been there, Bodine," Victoria said with feeling.
He rose to his feet and walked to the door. "The bullion is hidden at the base of the tree. Good night, Imp," he said and left her.
The next day Victoria was stricken with a fever so they had to spend two more weeks in Shreveport. It was while she was recuperating that Bodine told her the news of Gen. Lee's surrender to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at a small Virginia town called Appomattox.
The war was over. The South had been defeated. Victoria cried so hard that Bodine feared she would have a relapse, but she continued to improve and was soon dressed in her britches and boots so that they might continue their journey.
The first of May they crossed the border into Texas. The first sight she had of Texas was a disappointment to Victoria. It was so dry and barren compared to Georgia. Victoria wished she could see the beauty of it as Bodine did. She missed the lush valleys of Georgia, and wondered if this land, which seemed so foreign, would ever be home to her.
She stood beside Bodine and looked about her at the vast land with the never-ending sky. What was ahead for her? Victoria tried to picture what her grandmother would look like, and failed. The only face that came to her was Paul's, and if he was alive, he was a long way from her now. Victoria knew that if Paul was able, he would come to her in Texas, but if he did, she could not return to Georgia with him.
As always when she was troubled, she turned her face to Bodine. And as always, he read her thoughts. "It will be all right," he said simply.
4
After days of riding and only occasionally seeing
"There is no reason you should have in the past," Bodine said, "but now, in view of all that has happened, you should know." She waited anxiously for him to tell her, fearing the worst. "The last time your father was home on leave from his unit, he decided it would be safer if we hid the gold bullion in the swamps. He and I sneaked out of the house and buried it one night while everyone else was asleep. He was afraid something would happen to him and he wanted to be certain your future would be assured."
"How like Father to think of me," Victoria said softly.
Bodine nodded in agreement. "He did not put all his gold into Confederate currency for just that reason. He was willing to give his own life for what he believed in, but he would not gamble on your future."
"Is it a great deal of money?"
"No," Bodine told her, "but it will enable you to rebuild Farraday Plantation one day."
"Oh, Bodine, that is good news." Her eyes sparkled with new life. Then she remembered that she could not return to Georgia and probably never would be able to.
Bodine knew what she was thinking and patted her hand. "Do not lose heart," he told her. "Someday you will be able to return home."
She looked into his eyes and knew he did not believe that any more than she did. "Anyway," Bodine continued, "I want to tell you where we hid the bullion in case anything happens to me." Victoria looked at him fearfully. He raised his hand to silence her. "Let me finish. Do you remember the big willow tree you climbed when you were about ten and you could not get down?"
"Yes," she said. "I remember it as though it were yesterday. I had run into the swamps after Bess had scolded me. I do not even remember now what she punished me for, but I was so upset, I thought it would make her feel bad if she were to think I was lost in the swamp. I climbed up high into the branches and found that I could not get down."
"Yes, and when you did not return Bess alerted the whole plantation to search for you," Bodine said.
"I remember crying as it started getting dark, and how frightened I was. Then I saw all the torches and everyone was calling my name."
Bodine smiled at her. "I had to climb up and bring you down."
"Every time in my life that I have been in trouble, you have been there, Bodine," Victoria said with feeling.
He rose to his feet and walked to the door. "The bullion is hidden at the base of the tree. Good night, Imp," he said and left her.
The next day Victoria was stricken with a fever so they had to spend two more weeks in Shreveport. It was while she was recuperating that Bodine told her the news of Gen. Lee's surrender to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at a small Virginia town called Appomattox.
The war was over. The South had been defeated. Victoria cried so hard that Bodine feared she would have a relapse, but she continued to improve and was soon dressed in her britches and boots so that they might continue their journey.
The first of May they crossed the border into Texas. The first sight she had of Texas was a disappointment to Victoria. It was so dry and barren compared to Georgia. Victoria wished she could see the beauty of it as Bodine did. She missed the lush valleys of Georgia, and wondered if this land, which seemed so foreign, would ever be home to her.
She stood beside Bodine and looked about her at the vast land with the never-ending sky. What was ahead for her? Victoria tried to picture what her grandmother would look like, and failed. The only face that came to her was Paul's, and if he was alive, he was a long way from her now. Victoria knew that if Paul was able, he would come to her in Texas, but if he did, she could not return to Georgia with him.
As always when she was troubled, she turned her face to Bodine. And as always, he read her thoughts. "It will be all right," he said simply.
4
After days of riding and only occasionally seeing
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