“Free will.” Tillie nodded and shrugged. “Iknow.”
“You know.” He raised two fingers and tappedthe side of his head. “But you don’t know.” He tapped his chest,over his heart, and smiled. “Let me explain. God gave Adam freewill. Adam used his free will to eat from the Tree of Knowledge.Therefore, God expelled them from the Garden of Eden.”
She flicked an impatient hand. “Yes.”
“As Adam used his free will to destroy theperfection and purity of the Garden, and impart to us his fallensin nature, so we use our free will and fallen sin nature todestroy each other. It’s the way of Man, but not the way of God,who knows this, as he knew Adam and Eve would destroy the Garden.He doesn’t allow evil, but He will use it for His purposes, turningour evil to His good somehow.”
She recalled the night she and Father talkedin the parlor. This conversation sounded close to that one.Something nibbled at the corners of her mind, something she feltshe should understand, but what eluded her. The more she tried todrag her thought to the foreground, the more elusive it became. Shelet go, knowing it might come back later.
“The Old Testament is full of war.” Thecaptain took another bite of bread.
She turned her attention back to him.
He nodded for emphasis. “David and Goliath.In First and Second Kings, First and Second Samuel, there were warsbetween countries, and in Judges, a civil war.”
Father’s words came back to her. Tilliesmiled. “My father said the same thing to me a few nights ago. Am Icorrect you’re saying God condones war?” She regarded him. “Still,how can any of this be used for good?”
“Are you familiar with the term ‘a righteouswar’?”
Tillie nodded. “My parents say this is arighteous war if it will condemn slavery for good.”
“I agree. If this country comes out moresecure and unified than before, I say that’s a good thing. Moreimportant, if the Lord uses this war to scourge this country of thesin of slavery, hallelujah and amen. My point is, if God doesn’tfear war, why should you or I? General Weed—and General Reynolds,for that matter—both devout, Christian men, were not afraid of warand not afraid to die.”
The captain dusted the breadcrumbs from hisfingers and pulled a small Bible from his breast pocket. He openedto a passage. “General Weed read this often. I believe the wordsgave him comfort. ‘Oh, death, where is thy victory? Oh, death,where is thy sting?’” He closed the book.
His stern expression made her think ofFather.
“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for,the belief in things not seen,” she murmured, laying a palm overGeneral Weed’s cold forehead.
“General Weed never doubted those words. Ifyou do, then you dishonor his memory.”
Tillie sniffed and wiped her face with herapron.
“My dear.” He put his hand on hers. “Do notdespair. For your brothers or for yourself. If these days oftribulation bring the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ into yourheart, then don’t you think He turned this circumstance togood?”
Tillie laughed through her tears. “I neverconsidered that.”
The captain placed the small book in herhand. He closed her fingers over it. “General Weed gave this to mebefore he passed. I’m giving it to you.”
“Oh, no.” She tried to push the Bible backinto his hands. “I couldn’t. He gave it to you as a keepsake.”
“He gave it to me as a gift. It’s mine to dowith as I please. I have my own well-loved Bible. Besides, whatgood is the Word of God if we don’t spread it around? Please, takethis. To remember us by.”
The words Holy Bible gleamed in beautifulgolden calligraphy on the cover. She held the book to her heart.“Thank you. I’ll treasure this always.”
The captain signaled to three men standing bythe kitchen table. “Don’t treasure it. Read it.” The men lifted thegeneral’s body off his lap and placed him on a litter. The captaineased his legs and bent his knees. He pushed off the floor with hishands. When he got to the kitchen door, he waved. “I’ll visit yourfamily today.” He followed the orderlies outside.
* * * *
An officer stood outside the kitchen doorwaiting for them to carry the general’s body out. He removed hishat, placed it over his heart, and bowed his head. When theentourage left, the man entered, tucking his hat under his arm.“Excuse me.” He caught Tillie’s eye. “Are you in charge of the welloutside?”
Mrs. Weikert addressed him. “My husband is incharge of the well. What may we do for you?”
“Ma’am, I am First Lieutenant Ziba Graham ofthe 16th Michigan. I came to the field hospital to get a toothremoved. As I prepared to leave, I couldn’t help notice the woundedmen lying in the hot sun. They’re thirsty, but there’s no pumphandle on the well. They asked me to inquire about it.”
“I can’t help you, lieutenant. That’s myhusband’s concern, not mine.” Mrs. Weikert turned her back on him.She tossed her next words over her shoulder. “I have enough tocontend with, just keeping you men fed.”
“Yes, ma’am.” His face reddened, but hepersisted. “Can you tell me where I might find your husband?”
“What can I do for you, lieutenant?” Mr.Weikert appeared like magic on the stairway to the upper floors,his arms crossed in front of him.
Tillie found herself standing between Mr.Weikert and the lieutenant. She retreated a step and cast about forsomething to occupy her. She couldn’t go anywhere without crossingbetween them so she held her ground.
In the distance, artillery shells whirredthrough the sky. The conversation paused as everyone listened tothe faint boom. A collective sigh of relief escaped them all.
“Sir, I am First Lieutenant Ziba Graham, 16thMichigan.” He offered a jerky bow from his waist then explained howhe came to be there. “The pump handle is missing from the well. Areyou aware of that, sir?”
Mr. Weikert came down the last steps andstood in front of the barrels under the stairs. “No, I’m not.” Heplanted his hands on his hips and shifted his feet,
