They left the horse and buggy at a livery stable and arranged for delivery of their luggage to his father’s house. Then they walked there themselves. Few of the buildings were over two stories tall and they passed a saloon that looked like something out of an old western movie. A few older men sat out front, arguing over a checkerboard. They turned down a side street lined with residential houses. Jesse turned up the drive as they reached a house with blue shutters and a triangular pediment over the pale blue door.
Jesse knocked and a black woman wearing a plain, but neatly pressed dress and apron, let them in. She recognized Jesse immediately.
“Master Jesse, what a surprise. The master didn’t tell us you were coming for a visit.”
“He didn’t know, Betty. Is he at home?”
“Yes, sir, he’s in the parlor.” The house was small, and she led them to a room on the left of the entrance.
Jesse entered with Diamond trailing behind, wishing she was invisible. A white-haired man in his late fifties sat on the couch, a cup of tea on the table before him. He was reading a newspaper but laid it down as they entered, skewering them with blue eyes the same color as Jesse’s but lacking their warmth.
“Jesse! What are you doing here? You should be with your unit.”
“I was at New Madrid, sir, and evacuated to Island #10, which also fell. I got hit by shrapnel during the shelling of the island and narrowly escaped capture by Union forces.”
The older man’s face darkened as Jesse spoke. “Damn Confederates can’t seem to hold anything. Allowed the damn Yankees to push us, the legally elected government of Missouri, out of the state like rats. Island #10 was crucial for keeping the Union clear of the lower Mississippi.”
“None of this must be news to you. Surely you already heard about our losses.”
His father waved this aside. “Yes, but didn’t expect you to show up parroting them to my face. And you still haven’t explained why you’re here and not with the army.”
The butterflies in Diamond’s stomach congealed into a sticky mess. Jesse had just told his father of his injury and near capture, but all the older man seemed to care about was why he wasn’t putting himself in danger once more. And he hadn’t asked about her. Perhaps she had become invisible.
But no, Jesse drew her closer. “Father, I’d like to introduce you to my wife, Diamond. Sweetheart, this is my father, Ian Weber.”
“Your wife?” His face grew red. “I’ve not given you permission to marry.”
“I’m three and twenty, sir. I don’t need your permission.”
“Maybe not, but I can cut you off without a cent.”
For all that Jesse had said he tried not to engage with his father, his color had also risen. “While that may be your right, I have always followed your wishes, attending the school you recommended, studying law as you wished and joining the regiment you proposed. I’ve given you no cause to disinherit me.”
“What is this woman’s surname? Who are her family?”
“My maiden name is Merrell. I’m an orphan.” Technically, her parents were not yet born, but what’s the difference?
“Never heard of them.”
“Diamond is distantly connected to the Pooles in St. Louis. We married there.”
“St. Louis? Why in tarnation would you marry there?”
“Bryce and Arianne Poole hosted our wedding.”
“Bryce Poole himself? Of Poole Enterprises? I didn’t know the old codger was still around.”
“Hale and hearty,” Diamond said, feeling the odd urge to defend Bryce, of all people, to the irascible old man who, heaven forbid, was now her father-in-law.
“Humph.” He leaned back and waved them to the other couch. “Sit, sit, but first tell Betty to bring you some tea.”
Diamond sank gingerly onto the couch as Jesse relayed the order. As much as she hated the thought of following the drum, she wondered whether it would be better than staying here.
“Did Janet get out of New Madrid before it fell? Is she here with you? It would be nice for Diamond to have female company.”
“Seems none of you can follow simple orders. She showed up a week ago despite being told to stay and protect the estate.”
“You could hardly expect her to remain there once the Confederate Army withdrew.”
“I did. They’re not making war on women, not yet anyway. But the Union seized the house for their headquarters, so she took a few of the servants and came south. I don’t know if this house is big enough for me and two women.”
“Perhaps I should go with you, Jesse,” Diamond said.
“Good idea. Support for your husband.”
“I don’t want my wife exposed to the dangers and horrors of battle,” Jesse replied. “She will stay here for the duration of the war.”
“Which may be longer than I first thought. There’s talk of moving the government to Texas.”
Texas? Diamond didn’t want to go further south.
Cups clattered as the door opened.
Diamond expected to see the maid returning with tea, but a dark-haired, blue-eyed woman erupted into the room, deposited the tea tray on the table with a thump, and flung herself at Jesse.
“I couldn’t believe it when Betty told me you were here! What happened? How did you get leave?”
Jesse returned the woman’s embrace. “Slow down, Janet. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
“Janet, stop making a spectacle of yourself and pour the tea. Your brother is not here with permission. He’s practically a deserter.”
Janet stepped back. “Jesse? Have you abandoned your post?”
“Not at all. I narrowly escaped capture during the withdrawal from Island #10. Had I stayed with my unit, I’d be sitting in a Yankee prison now.”
“But then, instead of reporting for duty, your brother married without my approval and plans to dump his wife on us.”
For the first time Janet seemed to notice Diamond. “Wife? But what about Amy?”
Amy?
Jesse scowled. “Janet, where are your manners? I never intended to marry Amy. That was only a business deal concocted by our fathers.”
“A deal you have over-set
