Westward the Dream by Tracie Peterson, Judith Pella

“This will work rather nicely. Caitlan will arrive and need a place to live until we can figure a way to get her to California to be reunited with her brother. We are to remain up here instead of returning home, and with the money allotted us we can easily find a place. Why don’t you talk to your landlady and see if she might not have additional rooms for us?”
    Brenton paused again and nodded. “That’s a capital idea! I think there is an empty room.”
    â€œThat way we will have a matronly figure looking over us, and Caitlan will have a place to stay when she first arrives. We will all be together, and there won’t be any need to upset your routine. Perhaps your employer will even allow you to stay on and work through the summer.”
    Brenton frowned. “He’s considering going south to photograph battlefields and warfare. Apparently he has a friend who intends to lecture on the vile repercussions of war and wants as many graphic pictures as he can get his hands on. Even now he’s trying to deduce where the next battles might take place.”
    â€œHow gruesome,” Jordana said, coming to where Brenton stood. She looped her arm through his and pulled him along with her down the path. “You mustn’t allow him to take you along. I won’t have you killed on some battlefield.”
    â€œJordana, there’s so much here that confuses me. I have an allegiance to this country and an obligation to support the president.”
    â€œYou are barely eighteen. And you have a responsibility to your family. I heard that men who are the sole support of their families don’t have to go to war.”
    â€œI’m hardly the sole support. And I can no longer hide behind my age. Did you know many younger than I are joining? They are lying about their ages,” Brenton replied. “In fact, I heard only yesterday that the more enthusiastic are putting the number eighteen in their shoe so that when asked if they are ‘over’ eighteen, they don’t have to lie.”
    Jordana laughed. “It’s ingenious, I’ll give you that. But I won’t allow you to go.”
    Brenton shook his head, and Jordana thought he suddenly looked far older than his years. “What is it?” she asked softly.
    Brenton pulled away from her and looked around to make certain they were alone. Seeing no one near enough to overhear him, he replied, “I don’t want to go. I want to continue my photography and go west. You know, I have always dreamed of this. I want to share the nation with the world through pictures, but I cannot ignore the feelings inside me. Feelings that suggest I am a coward to think the way I do.”
    â€œSo you will enlist to prove to yourself that you aren’t a coward? What sense is there in that? Either you know yourself to be a coward or not. This action won’t change matters either way.”
    Brenton looked down at the ground. “I knew you wouldn’t understand. You aren’t a man.”
    â€œWhat has that to do with it?”
    â€œPlenty,” Brenton replied, then added sulkily, “I’m sorry I brought it up. It’s just that if I should have to follow my conscience and return to Maryland to sign up with the militia, I’ll need to arrange for your safety. And now I’ll have Caitlan to worry about as well.”
    â€œYou aren’t going and that’s final,” Jordana countered angrily. “I won’t have you run off and desert me.”
    â€œIt wouldn’t be desertion. I’d see you safely to—”
    â€œTo where? Oakbridge, in the heart of southern support? Baltimore—which by your own admission is a city in conflict? Perhaps you would see me living with Aunt Virginia in Greigsville. Be reasonable, Brenton. All of our family is either in the thick of it or out of the country. There is no place to send me away to. You must stay and take care of me.”
    He