spat in the dirt. “Folks ‘round here aren’t too happy with people sidin’ against the Governor Jackson.”
“With Tom in school, we obviously can’t fight for either side, so you might as well be on your way.”
Rustling sounds came from the woods behind the house. Lord, please don’t let Tom come home now! She refused to turn and look. Rufus’s silence made her fear the worst.
Walt’s expression didn’t change when he glanced that way.
“Hello there,” Levi’s voice came from behind her.
Em breathed a sigh of relief, her entire body sagging. “Levi, Walt is looking for Tom and he’s having trouble believing he’s gone to Chicago.”
“If Tom were here, I wouldn’t have come to help out, would I, cousin?”
She offered him a small smile for staying with her story. “That’s right.” Turning to Walt, she hoped she sounded dismissive. “You’ve wasted your time stopping by. I wouldn’t want to keep you any longer.”
Walt pushed his hat back on his head, studying Levi. “Why haven’t you joined up with Price’s men, ‘cousin’?”
“It’s not my argument to take sides in. I’m just here to make sure my family doesn’t lose their farm.” Levi’s fingers pressed into Em’s arm and he tugged gently. “We need to get back to work. Feel free to water your horse before you go,” he called to Walt as they walked away.
Em took two steps to his one in order to keep up while he led her to the barn. If she didn’t know better, she’d think Levi was angry with her. It wouldn’t be the first time.
Maggie sat in the cool space of a dark corner polishing the leather harnesses and reins. “I heard voices.”
“Walt wants Tom to join the rebels,” Em explained.
“What did you tell him? I hate to think what they’d do if they found out Tom’s in the Union army.”
“I told him the usual story. He didn’t believe it.”
Maggie spoke to Levi. “What do we do?”
“We keep Tom hidden. He stayed in the woods when we heard Walt. He’ll come out when he thinks it’s safe.”
“How long can we hide him?” Em asked. She began to realize how right Levi had been about the risks they took remaining on the farm. “How long before we can feel safe in our own home again?”
He met her gaze, holding it for a long moment. “I don’t have an answer for that.”
Em felt a deep connection with him in just that look. He didn’t offer her reassurance, but she trusted that he’d do everything he could to keep them safe. His eyes moved to indicate Maggie. Em looked for an excuse for them to leave. “Levi, can you help me in the springhouse? I need to make room for the jars of tomatoes we’ll can next week.”
When they were a good distance from the farm, Levi asked, “How well do you know the Dutton boys?”
“We grew up around them, but were never what I’d call friends.”
“Is Walt likely to make trouble after seeing me here?”
“There’s no telling what those men will do,” she said. “The fact they’re siding with the rebels says enough.”
“Good point.” He opened the door to the springhouse and let Em enter.
The interior wasn’t large, but the stone-front structure was built into a small rise, which kept the temperature cool in the summer. Sometimes she’d escape there in the heat of the day for relief from the unbearable sun. She upended an empty crate and sat, waiting for Levi to explain his need for privacy.
“I’m going to say it again. I think you and your family should move north until it’s safe.”
At first, she could only flap her jaw, words failing her. “I thought we were past this. You know my opinion on leaving the farm.”
“What if the Dutton boys come back when Tom and I aren’t here?”
“Then I can honestly say you aren’t here, and they’ll leave.”
“General Lyon has cut off supplies south of Springfield. Price might order his men to raid the local farms. They could take your wagon and mule, along with the crops, your
“With Tom in school, we obviously can’t fight for either side, so you might as well be on your way.”
Rustling sounds came from the woods behind the house. Lord, please don’t let Tom come home now! She refused to turn and look. Rufus’s silence made her fear the worst.
Walt’s expression didn’t change when he glanced that way.
“Hello there,” Levi’s voice came from behind her.
Em breathed a sigh of relief, her entire body sagging. “Levi, Walt is looking for Tom and he’s having trouble believing he’s gone to Chicago.”
“If Tom were here, I wouldn’t have come to help out, would I, cousin?”
She offered him a small smile for staying with her story. “That’s right.” Turning to Walt, she hoped she sounded dismissive. “You’ve wasted your time stopping by. I wouldn’t want to keep you any longer.”
Walt pushed his hat back on his head, studying Levi. “Why haven’t you joined up with Price’s men, ‘cousin’?”
“It’s not my argument to take sides in. I’m just here to make sure my family doesn’t lose their farm.” Levi’s fingers pressed into Em’s arm and he tugged gently. “We need to get back to work. Feel free to water your horse before you go,” he called to Walt as they walked away.
Em took two steps to his one in order to keep up while he led her to the barn. If she didn’t know better, she’d think Levi was angry with her. It wouldn’t be the first time.
Maggie sat in the cool space of a dark corner polishing the leather harnesses and reins. “I heard voices.”
“Walt wants Tom to join the rebels,” Em explained.
“What did you tell him? I hate to think what they’d do if they found out Tom’s in the Union army.”
“I told him the usual story. He didn’t believe it.”
Maggie spoke to Levi. “What do we do?”
“We keep Tom hidden. He stayed in the woods when we heard Walt. He’ll come out when he thinks it’s safe.”
“How long can we hide him?” Em asked. She began to realize how right Levi had been about the risks they took remaining on the farm. “How long before we can feel safe in our own home again?”
He met her gaze, holding it for a long moment. “I don’t have an answer for that.”
Em felt a deep connection with him in just that look. He didn’t offer her reassurance, but she trusted that he’d do everything he could to keep them safe. His eyes moved to indicate Maggie. Em looked for an excuse for them to leave. “Levi, can you help me in the springhouse? I need to make room for the jars of tomatoes we’ll can next week.”
When they were a good distance from the farm, Levi asked, “How well do you know the Dutton boys?”
“We grew up around them, but were never what I’d call friends.”
“Is Walt likely to make trouble after seeing me here?”
“There’s no telling what those men will do,” she said. “The fact they’re siding with the rebels says enough.”
“Good point.” He opened the door to the springhouse and let Em enter.
The interior wasn’t large, but the stone-front structure was built into a small rise, which kept the temperature cool in the summer. Sometimes she’d escape there in the heat of the day for relief from the unbearable sun. She upended an empty crate and sat, waiting for Levi to explain his need for privacy.
“I’m going to say it again. I think you and your family should move north until it’s safe.”
At first, she could only flap her jaw, words failing her. “I thought we were past this. You know my opinion on leaving the farm.”
“What if the Dutton boys come back when Tom and I aren’t here?”
“Then I can honestly say you aren’t here, and they’ll leave.”
“General Lyon has cut off supplies south of Springfield. Price might order his men to raid the local farms. They could take your wagon and mule, along with the crops, your
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