“Yes, sir, I do.” She sniffed back her tears.“One street over, but I can’t find my sister. I need to find mysister.” Tillie’s voice rose as the roar of cannons grew louder,now accompanied by the rattling crackle of gunfire.
The soldier turned his horse, and holding apair of field glasses to his eyes, he took a long look in thatdirection. The smoke grew thicker and grayer by the minute.
She followed his gaze, but only saw densesmoke rising behind Seminary Ridge like a menacing fog. She put herhand on her forehead. Where did Maggie go? What happened to her?What should she do?
He faced her and lowered his field glasses.“Go home, miss.” His tone was polite, but firm. “I’m sure yoursister has already reached your house safely. Go home. Tell yourfamily to go to the basement and stay there until the firingstops.”
Tillie raised a hand to shade her eyes. Asingle star shone on his shoulder patch. “Thank you, general.” Shesmiled. “You’re probably correct. Good luck to you today.”
He grasped the bill of his cap and inclinedhis head. “Thank you and good luck to you too.” With that, he rodeaway, shouting encouragements to his men, herding them along.
Tillie ran home. A cannonball might landslap-dab on top of her head. Entering the house, Tillie foundMaggie with the rest of the family in the sitting room.
Mother took two steps toward her. “Tillie,thank goodness you’re home.”
Tillie ignored her. “Why didn’t you stay withme?” She glared at Maggie, her hands balled into fists. Heartpounding, she drew in short breaths.
“I thought you were with me.” Maggie glancedat Mother and Father as though seeking support. “You said youwanted to go home so I went with you. I got through the crowd andrealized you weren’t beside me.… I tried to look for you, but Icouldn’t find you. I’m sorry.” Maggie raised her hands as if tosay, what more might I have done. “I assumed you’d figure out I’dgone home.”
With a deep breath, Tillie unclenched herhands. She blinked, mollified. “It’s all right.” She drew inanother deep breath and let it out. Her shoulders slumped. “It wasmy fault, really. I stopped when the foot soldiers arrived. I wasfrightened when I turned around and you weren’t there.” She gaveMaggie a forgiving smile.
Tillie spun to Father. “I ran into ageneral—literally. Someone bumped me into the street, and Icollided with his horse. I didn’t get hurt.” She showed her arms todemonstrate no scratches or bruises. “He said we should go to thebasement and stay there until the firing stops.”
“Sound advice.” Father nodded. “We werediscussing what to do when you came in. Why don’t we collect someof our belongings and bring them downstairs with us?”
In the distance, another boom added anexclamation mark to Father’s statement. He looked out the frontwindow. “Quickly.” He herded his family toward the stairs.
Tillie entered her room. What to take? Shegrabbed some paper and ink off her desk. James and William would beinterested in what was happening. She started toward the door butturned back and gathered her schoolbooks and a novel as well. Notelling how long they’d have to stay in the basement. She joinedher family downstairs to wait out the coming storm.
As they settled on barrels and boxes storedin the basement, Mother surveyed the room. “Where’s Sam?” Shejumped from her barrel and started toward the stairs. Muffledcannon sounded in the distance. She stopped at the base, one footpoised to go up. Her eyes slid to Father, brows creased and lipspressed together. Her hand gripped the stair railing.
In the confusion, Tillie had forgotten him.Did Sam get hurt? Was he lying out in the battlefield dead? Had hejoined in the fighting? She shook her head to clear the frighteningthoughts. She needed to clamp down on her imagination today.
Father took Mother by the shoulders. “Perhapshe went to his mother’s house to check on them.” He led her back toher barrel. “Sam is a smart and resourceful young man. He’ll be allright.”
Mother said nothing. But she sat down, andher lips began to move in silent prayer.
Tillie lowered her head and closed her eyes.Dear Lord. The words ran over themselves in her head. Please keepSam safe…please keep Sam safe…
They’d sat in the basement for about fifteenminutes when the cannon firing ceased. They waited, silent, butheard nothing.
After a while, Tillie’s gaze lifted to theceiling. Was the fighting over? Could they go up?
“It’s been almost a half hour.” Maggieshifted on her box. “They stopped firing fifteen minutes ago. Doyou think it’s over?” No one answered her question. Maggie arched abrow at Tillie.
Tillie shrugged. “The general said to staydown until the firing stops. That’s all I know.”
Mother lifted her hands and dropped them intoher lap. “Well, I don’t know what they thought would happen.” Sherose from her perch on the wooden barrel. “But I have a dinner toget on the table.” She gathered her skirts and crossed to thestairs. She stopped and turned to Father. “Perhaps you should golook for Sam?”
“Of course. I’ll go.” Father followed her upthe stairs.
Tillie’s heart raced. Where had Sam gone? Hadhe been hurt? Had he stopped at his mother’s house? She opened hermouth to ask if she should go to the Wades’ to find out, but Mothercut her short.
“On second thought, no. Don’t go out there.It might not be safe yet. I’m going to trust him to the Lord. Ihave to. I’m certain he’s fine. It didn’t sound like much of afight anyway.” She went upstairs.
Father chuckled. “You’re right, of course. Imust admit, I feel a bit foolish myself.” He smiled at Tillie. “I’msure the general meant well, but I too, have things to do.”
Tillie and Maggie followed Mother to thekitchen and helped with the cooking. Sam arrived as they wereputting the food on the table.
Mother’s hands were on her hips before hernext breath drawn. “Sam Wade, where have you been?” She picked up abowl of sliced tomatoes from the counter. Then she carried them tothe table and slammed them down. Tomato juice splattered thered-checked tablecloth.
“I was at the encampment.” His eyes dartedaround the room, as if he’d fallen into some
