A swarm of soldiers followed the young officer to the front porch.
“State your business,” Pa said. The Enfield he held loosely at his side looked more like a toy than a weapon. They immediately trained their muskets upon him. Still mounted on his horse, the officer spoke. “Surrender your gun, and we’ll spare your life.”
A belligerent soldier stormed the few steps and knocked the rifle out of Pa’s hand and laughed into his face. “Come on, old man, got any fight left in you? ’Cause I’m itching for some action.”
A flush of heat washed over Katie as she set her sight on the pig-headed soldier. Her finger itched to pull the trigger.
“Take whatever you want. Just please don’t burn the house.”
The officer hesitated. “Sorry, old man, but an order is an order. You’d better get your family out of the cellar.”
“Hope you got a pretty one for me,” another said. He licked his lips slowly with his long snake-like tongue. Even from the distance, Katie saw the lust smoldering in his evil eyes. She knew only too well what that look meant. She clamped her lips tight to still the scream of rage clawing at her throat.
Pa shook his head in confusion. “What did you say?”
A group of them laughed. “This crazy old buzzard’s gone mad.”
“Can’t understand simple instructions,” another scoffed.
Katie wanted to blast them off the porch. How dare they make fun of her pa when one of their Yankee shells was what destroyed most of his hearing. Turmoil roiled in her stomach and she fought the nausea down.
“Leave him be,” the officer snapped. “When we start burning, he’ll understand.”
He barked out a few short orders, and the soldiers jumped into action, scurrying about like dungeon rats. He dismounted and went into the house with a few of his men.
Pa collapsed into the chair on the porch. His head fell into his hands.
They piled straw around the barn and drove Bessie, their milk cow, and old Sam, the mule, inside. The doors were shut, and their torches lit. Katie watched in surreal horror as the flames danced into action. She lowered her gun and shoved her fist into her mouth. She bit down hard to stifle a cry as the Sam’s bellow reached her ears. Next, the small hay field they had worked so hard to plant was set ablaze. Their last few chickens were thrown into a sack and the little bit of cured meat left in the smokehouse taken.
Katie looked toward the house as the screen door slammed, and the officer and his soldiers carried out provisions. “Come on, old man, off the porch.” The officer grabbed her pa’s arm and lifted him from the chair. He propelled Pa down the steps and into the yard. The house was lit. They stayed just long enough to ensure the damage would be complete. The whole episode took less than fifteen minutes before they turned and rode out of sight. They had been amazingly swift and thorough.
Pa sank to his knees in the dust.
Katie stood on shaky legs and watched the flames lick their way into a towering inferno. The fury inside her heart equaled the intense heat. Black smoke filled her lungs as she ran to her pa. She crumpled beside him and fell into his arms.
Giant tears coursed down his soot-covered face. “Gone. Katherine, everything’s gone. I couldn’t—”
“Shhh, Pa,” she said. “It’s not your fault. There’s nothing anyone could have done.”
Chapter One
Shenandoah Valley—Summer of 1865, Post-Civil War
Katherine glanced up from her work and squinted into the afternoon sun. Dust billowed behind a lone rider. Was that really who she thought it was?
Five years since she had last laid eyes upon the man she would never forget. A tremor took to her hands.
What did he want?
She rued her untimely escape from the stifling heat indoors to sit on her aunt’s front porch and stitch up a frayed hem on her day dress. The urge to dart back inside welled up.
No such luck, his eyes were pinned upon her. She forced herself to stay put but wove the needle into the fabric so she would not prick her finger. Thankfully, a slight breeze lifted the hair on the nape of her neck to cool the heated flush. She had to get over her embarrassment of what happened in the past at some time, and today was as good a day as any. With a show of confidence, she forced a jut to her chin. The only things moving were her hands that nervously threaded material through her fingers.
A tiny bead of sweat trickled down her spine as she reminded herself to smile and stay calm.
He swung from his horse and tethered the reins to the porch rail.
She took in a cleansing breath.
I’m a lady now—a civilized young woman, no longer traipsing unchaperoned about the countryside.
He climbed the steps confidently and made his way toward her. An irregular beat thumped inside her chest. He moved with strength and assurance despite a slight limp to one knee.
She willed the telltale blush of pink away, but with the burn in her cheeks, she knew she’d lost that battle.
He removed the hat from his head and nodded. A wavy, russet-brown curl fell across his brow. The flattened hair sprang to life as his fingers raked through the thickness. Peppered gray tinged his side burns.
“Good afternoon, Miss Williams.” His eyes crinkled with friendly warmth.
She mumbled an obligatory hello and dropped her eyes to her lap hoping to look demure and hide the tell-tale heat.
“I’m here to have a conversation with your father and hope that my request will meet with your approval.”
Her head snapped up.
He flashed an easy smile.
Katie’s mouth went dry. What did he mean, I hope my request will meet with your approval? She chose not to speak.
He slipped his hat back on his
