I think Janet senses something off about me. Many of the women at the sewing group know less about the politics than I do, especially the younger ones. However, my lack of knowledge of even simple things surprises her. Sometimes I’m tempted to tell her the truth, but because we agreed to keep my background a secret, so far I’ve refrained.
I’ll continue to send updates, but not a lot happens here, so I might run out of things to say. If I remember things from history class that may be of use to you, I will send them on.
Yours,
Diamond
P.S. Don’t expect the socks soon. I’m a slow knitter.
Jesse read the letter three times. He smiled at her description of Mrs. Verdine and realized how awkward she must have felt dealing with Amy and her mother. It seemed his father was behaving tolerably well, but the thought of her confiding in Janet made him uneasy. His sister was very down to earth and would be unlikely to believe in time travel. He wasn’t sure he would have believed without Ari, Bryce, and Victoria corroborating her story.
He dug into his pack for a pencil and paper. Maybe he could find something humorous about camp life while reminding her to keep quiet.
Nineteen
Chapter 19
Diamond was reading out in the backyard on a warm spring morning when she received her first letter from Jesse. Her stomach fluttered at the sight of his elegant penmanship and the awareness he had been safe and well only a few days ago.
Dear Diamond,
I received your letter and enjoyed your description of the Ladies Association. It surprised me to learn you can knit. Machine-made socks exist even now, although they are not of high quality, I would assume they have improved over the years, making learning to knit irrelevant.
Our mother taught Janet how to sew and knit, but not all women of our class learn the skill. You should see the socks my companions have received from family. Too big, too small, some barely foot-shaped. Don’t worry, I don’t expect a masterpiece and will treasure any socks you send me.
I haven’t been in any actual battles since returning to duty, but they sent my buddy Cole and I out with a squadron to capture the enemy’s supply train. The federals apparently didn’t know there were any Southern troops in the region, for the train was not well guarded. We completed our mission with minimal losses: only one killed and two injured. One of the Yankees surrendered, and we brought him back as a captive. The rest fought to the death.
We celebrated our victory with fresh food and distributed clothing, weapons, ammunition and nonperishables to the men. There was also a small amount of gold in the shipment, which will further our cause.
The officers provided rations of whiskey for the feast and a few fights broke out, but I count the entire operation a success, since not only did we gain the items, but the Yankees lost them. You have impressed upon me how the North’s access to manufacturing, resources and men give them an advantage.
I encourage you to keep secret matters we have discussed and not involve my sister in our plans for the future. Like my father, she can lack imagination.
Since it is possible for letters to fall into enemy hands, write nothing to me you would not want Union forces to know.
When we are not marching, building fortifications or patrolling, we often play cards. Cole excels at cards and has taken much of my money. Before I left, I arranged for each of us to receive a quarterly allowance from the dowry money. I wouldn’t want to leave you dependent on my father.
Yours truly,
Jesse
Although Diamond knew he was safe, or at least had been at the time of the letter, she shuddered to hear about the raid on the supply train. Confederate losses had been small, but one man had died, and Jesse and his men had killed the Union soldiers. People killed other people in war but the letter brought it home to her. Did it bother Jesse or did he just see it as his duty? She’d rather he kill others than die himself, but she suspected it took a toll. Even if Jesse survived the war would he be the same man she met on the banks of the Mississippi River? Or would he suffer from PTSD, or whatever they called it in this day and age?
Diamond tucked the letter into her book. She would tell Ian and Janet about Jesse’s successful endeavor and would follow his wishes and not try to explain anything to her sister-in-law. She also supposed she had to be circumspect in her reply, not revealing anything she wouldn’t want either side to know. Maybe they could devise a code so she could safely pass on anything important she recalled. Not that she would be of much help. She knew something of the major battles to come, but couldn’t remember exact dates and most of those she remembered were in the East, not on the frontier.
She returned her book to her room and went to join her in-laws in the parlor. “I got a letter from Jesse. He’s doing well. He took part in a successful raid.”
“I wish I would have received a letter. It’s much more difficult for Finn to contact me from the north.”
“He may not even be writing to you,” Ian said. “The man’s a fortune hunter and you’re better off without him.”
“He writes to me, but letters can only come south through parties sympathetic to the Confederacy. I don’t understand why you are so critical
