“See if they left us any brandy,” Diamond instructed the maid. Once Sarah left, she took Janet’s hand. “It’s not a fatal wound, but we are in a heap of trouble.”
Janet opened her eyes, the Weber blue cold as a frozen lake. “Jack will carve out his liver with a dull knife.”
Diamond blinked. “Who’s liver?”
“The man who did this to me.”
Diamond thought the guerrilla had it coming, but Janet’s set face scared her.
“Webers protect what’s theirs.”
Twenty Five
Chapter 25
Jesse and his fellow soldiers received their orders after dinner. They were to march at dawn and engage the enemy. The commissary issued every man rations of food and ammunition.
As Jesse accepted his supplies, his stomach churned. He’d been in skirmishes, including the successful raid of the Union’s supply wagon, but had never fought in a full battle. The sieges of New Madrid and Island #10 were more a contest of artillery than hand to hand combat. In both instances, the Confederate Army had retreated when the situation grew dire.
To his surprise, they were banding with the guerrillas. Although most of the officers disliked the lax discipline and lack of order found among the bushwhackers, the truth was they needed all the help they could get. Bands of irregular soldiers, often led by a sworn officer, roamed the state of Missouri recruiting for the Rebel cause. Other groups were little more than outlaws and vigilantes, but they kept the Union soldiers on their toes, attacking their supply lines and picking off small groups when they left the safety of the garrisons.
Violence had escalated on both sides. No one on either side was safe. Women left to run small farms and men who hoped to remain neutral were fair game to bushwhackers and Jayhawkers. Homes were burned and crops destroyed. Civilians were even killed on suspicion of helping the opposing side. The Union responded by declaring they would shoot guerrillas on the spot, no taking of prisoners. To give some validation to the men who would accompany them, and to try to maintain a semblance of order, the army had given several of the leaders of the bushwhackers Confederate commands.
Jesse sought out Cole and offered him some tobacco. They two men rolled a cigarette and sat to smoke it as the sun dipped below the trees. Their camp was quieter than normal as men wrote letters to their loved ones or scrawled out makeshift wills disposing of their assets.
“You write a letter to your wife?” Cole asked.
“Not a new one. Still got the old one, leaving her everything I’ve got. Which is mostly hers anyway.” He made a face. “The old man won’t give up anything till the bitter end. He enjoys dangling the threat of disinheritance over us. If I don’t make it back, I hope he leaves something to Diamond, but there’s no guarantee.”
“She won’t really need it. She will have the dowry.”
“True enough.” But other than Ari, Bryce, Victoria, and Sebastien, who were already well past their expected life spans, he was the only one who knew the truth about her. The only one she could depend upon.
Cole took a deep drag and then blew the smoke out of his lungs. “Your sister really going to marry Finn?”
“Father finally agreed to a dowry.”
“Losing his hold over Janet.”
Jesse nodded. “He couldn’t hold her forever without making her an old maid, but she’ll still listen to him.”
“Seems to me your sister has a mind of her own.”
“No question about that, but they see eye to eye on a lot of things. I’m the rebel. And now Jack is, too.” Jesse still found it hard to believe his brother had deserted the Union Army and joined the guerrillas. “Janet may end up inheriting everything.”
Cole snorted. “Your father won’t let a Union sympathizer like Finn take over his farm.”
“Depends how the war goes.” Knowing the Union would prevail, Jesse thought it not at all unlikely that Finn and Janet would end up taking it all. His father had made a tactical error assigning Jack to the Union and Jesse to the Confederacy. He savored the last of his cigarette before stubbing it out. “Diamond claims smoking is bad for you.”
“Where did she get such a silly idea?”
Jesse shrugged. He couldn’t tell his friend that in the future scientists would link tobacco use to cancer and other diseases.
“Bet she doesn’t want you to drink either. Women ruin all the fun.”
“She says it’s not as bad as smoking, but admits she’s biased since she enjoys wine—and sometimes even stronger stuff.”
“She raided Father’s liquor stash,” a voice spoke from behind him.
Jesse turned his head, but he had already recognized his brother’s voice. “Jack, what are you doing here?”
“We’re riding with you boys tomorrow,” Jack said.
Jesse motioned for him to take a seat. “Want some tobacco? Diamond says it will kill you.”
Jack lowered himself to the ground. He wore the typical garb of the guerrilla, a handmade embroidered shirt with extra pockets for his pistols. He was thinner than the last time Jesse had seen him, but then they both were from living on army rations and covering many miles a day.
“Considering what we will face tomorrow, I think I can take the risk,” Jack said. Jesse passed it over and Jack lit up. “I never expected my little brother to beat me to the altar.”
Cole stood. “I’ll let the two of you catch up. Make an early night of it. Dawn comes quicker than you think.”
Jesse watched his friend amble off before replying. “Since you’ve met Diamond, I’m sure you understand how I couldn’t let her get away.”
Jack made a sound of agreement. “I understand she came with a sizable dowry.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Just teasing you, brother. Diamond appears to be a fine woman. And you left me the delectable Amy.”
“Why did
