“I told you this would be fun.” Cole plunged back into the water, darting like an otter. Both sides made sure not to come too close or cross the center line of the river. Jesse grew more at ease as he realized he wasn’t the only non-swimmer present. Many of the men stayed near the bank, although none appeared to feel the dread that snaked down his spine.
Cole knew he couldn’t swim, but no one except his family realized the extent of his fear. His father had even tried the sink or swim approach, throwing him into the water and only coming to the rescue when it became clear Jesse would sink before he ever learned to swim. After that, his father had given up in disgust. Jack and Janet had made a few half-hearted attempts to coax him into coming along with them, but eventually had stopped inviting him.
He would never have thought himself capable of crossing Reelfoot Lake under any condition, but when the moment came, he’d gotten on the raft. He might have been too delirious with fever to realize what he was doing, but the fear of exposing Diamond to Union reprisals, if they captured them trying to escape, had spurred him to take actions he would not have thought possible mere days before.
Diamond had done all the work and taken most of the risk, but it had not been easy to climb aboard the tiny platform of sticks held together by bungee cords. He could even be grateful for the fever which left him with only fractured memories of the long haul.
Cole popped up beside him. “It surprised me to hear you escaped by crossing Reelfoot Lake since I know you can’t swim. Is it shallow enough to wade through?”
“In places. We built a small raft and Diamond helped me. I was also sick with fever and suffering from a head wound, so we were lucky to make it.”
“So is that why you married her? To repay a debt?”
“In part. She lost her parents and has no family except some distant relatives in St. Louis.” Maybe some day he could tell Cole the truth, but for now he stuck to the story they had concocted. “But she’s smart, pretty and the bravest woman I’ve ever met. You’ll see that yourself when you meet her.”
“The war can’t end too soon for me.” He cocked his head toward the Yankees. “Today we’re having a spot of fun, but tomorrow we might have to kill each other. Why couldn’t the Union let us go our separate ways?”
“Why didn’t the South compromise?”
“We tried. The Union wouldn’t give an inch. But keep your voice down or the men might question your loyalty.”
“I’m as loyal as you are, but the waste of human life makes me sick.”
“We’ve all lost enthusiasm since signing up, but it will all be worth it when we send the Yanks back home with their tails between their legs.” Cole lay back in the water, floating on his back with his hands behind his head.
Jesse managed a fake grin. No way could he tell his friend the truth. Thousands of lives would be lost on both sides and much of the South destroyed before the war ended. And for what?
He was happy to learn from Diamond that the government would outlaw slavery, but righting that wrong came at a huge cost. One for which he might still have to pay the ultimate penalty.
Twenty Three
Chapter 23
Diamond spent the rest of the day shopping for stationery supplies, walking the residential streets and savoring a bracing cup of coffee at a small coffee house and bakery. While at the coffeehouse, she jotted down notes about stories to submit to the Gazette. By the time she returned to the house, she no longer felt anxious, although she hoped for Jack’s sake his father didn’t cast him out.
Janet was already there, helping the servants carry serving bowls to the table. “We’re to serve ourselves tonight,” she told Diamond. “Father has given the servants the night off.”
Not out of the generosity of his heart. Ian didn’t want anyone overhearing their conversation. Diamond poured glasses of water and wine and Janet dismissed Betty and Sarah. They disappeared before Ian could change his mind.
Ian joined them, filled his plate and gestured for the women to do the same. Apparently they weren’t waiting for Jack.
“There are several members of Quantrill’s gang in town, either hiding out or nursing wounds. According to my sources, most of the town supports the bushwhackers.
“Guerrilla warfare is effective. They keep the Federals on their toes but also use their position to carry out vendettas against civilians. They’re unpredictable and dangerous, but that’s not the point. We will table this discussion until Jack deigns to join us.”
“If he does,” Janet mumbled.
Diamond was sure Ian heard the comment, but he pretended he didn’t. “This is the third time this week we’ve had pork. Why aren’t you serving any beef?”
“It’s difficult to get beef in the market and the price of meat of any type has risen steeply,” Janet said.
“It will only get worse,” Diamond added. “If the war continues, there will be food shortages.”
Ian frowned. “Start stockpiling nonperishables.”
“I will need more funds. I’ve barely been able to make do with what you’re giving me.”
Ian poked his fork at his potatoes. “I’ll go to the bank tomorrow. I wasn’t expecting to feed so many people.”
“Jesse left me some money. I can pay for room and board.”
“It may come to that, but I’m not tapped out yet.” Ian shoved the potatoes into his mouth.
Knowing the war would drag on for another three years, Diamond hoped they could return to New Madrid. Food shortages in the North were not nearly as bad as in the South.
They had only been eating a few minutes when Jack showed up. He scooped food onto his plate and slid into a seat, seemingly unconcerned
