“Soon, Oliver. Glenn needs me right now.”
Glenn rides back to his house and stomps inside, to find his family at dinner.
“How could you be part of that?” He demands of Anika.
“What are you talking about?” Allen asks his son.
“I’m talking about what Savannah has been doing at the Homestead with Anika’s help,” he accuses. Anika slowly lowers her fork and stares at him.
“Where is Savannah?” Anika asks softly.
“She hasn’t come home yet,” Daisy replies.
“I see.”
“See what? I don't understand how you could be a part of such a travesty.” Glenn turns to leave, but before he can go, Anika snaps at him.
“You only understand something if it pertains to you. Not everything is about you, Mr. Ward. Your sister is hurting, and though, she hasn't yet shared with me why, I know enough to be there for her when she is ready.”
No one speaks for a moment as Allen stands up slowly. “If my daughter is hurting then she shouldn’t be doing it alone. Daisy?” He reaches for her hand.
He doesn’t ask twice, Daisy grabs his hand and jumps up. “You two coming?” Allen tosses over his shoulder as they leave.
Anika tosses her napkin on the table. “I need to see to the children.”
“That's it. You don't have anything else to say?” Glenn is beyond angry. The images are still burned in his mind. He scrubs a hand over his eyes in frustration. Anika stares at him and sighs before taking his hand and drawing it away from his face.
“Glenn, whatever it is that upset you, I had no part of. Savannah has become a good friend, and I’m sure she didn’t mean to upset you. Give her a chance to explain it to you. She’s your sister.”
Her touch floods him, and she is surprised to feel his hand trembling. “I wouldn't wish this for her or for you,” Glenn murmurs. “You should not have to see…”
“You can’t control everything Glenn. Even if you could, I’m not sure you should. I’ll get my coat and ask the housekeeper to stay with the kids. You can show me what has you so upset.”
The Homestead is lit softly with lanterns when the four of them arrive. “Mom maybe you and Anika should wait outside,” Glenn suggests one more time.
“Thank you for your concern, Son, but I will be with my daughter.”
Allen stomps up the front porch hoping the noise will inform her of their arrival, but she doesn’t come out. “I’m not knocking on my own door,” Allen grumbles and pushes the door open. They enter single file into the small room.
Anika allows her eyes to adjust, not sure what she is seeing. It is clean as she and Savannah had left it, but all the furniture has been removed except for one table. In the center of the room is a table with a lantern glowing. Daisy gasps when she looks at the table and Allen guides her away allowing Anika and Glenn to step forward. A large tintype sits in the center of the wooden surface surrounded by smaller images. On the left side of the large picture are Union soldiers, on the right Confederate. The center image is a bloody, battlefield. Anika gasps as the horror unfolds in her mind.
Allen and Daisy move slowly around the room looking closely at the images on the cabin walls. At first, the images are more of the same, soldiers dressed for battle but if you look closely, you see more. Nurses tending the wounded, Pastors reading last rights, Women weeping over the covered body of a loved one. Some of the images are of wounded soldiers in camps set up to care for them.
Savannah steps out of the back room, set up as a dark room and stares in stunned silence at her family. “What are you doing here?”
“Did you take these, Savannah Ward?” Allen asks hoarsely.
Daisy sniffs and wipes her tears while she waits for her daughter to answer.
Anika moves slowly through the images and her heart stutters. ‘Saul, experienced this?’ Glenn stays close to her in case she needs him and glares at his sister.
“I did,” she whispers.
“Why?” Daisy asks.
“Why?” Savannah laughs a harsh emotional laugh. “Because someone needed to.”
“No, Savannah, no one needs to see this,” Glenn gestures at the images as if disgusted.
“You look brother, and only think of yourself, but look closer.” Savannah marches towards the wall and points. “Tens of thousands of soldiers died, maybe more.”
“I know that Savannah, I lived it!” Glenn roars. “Live it still, every night in my dreams! Not a second goes by that I don't carry this.”
“You aren’t the only one to lose someone!” Savannah shouts back and doesn’t bother to hide her tears.
Anika nods slowly in understanding as Daisy rushes to her and puts an arm around her shoulder. Of course, Anika could kick herself for not seeing it sooner.
“What was his name?” Annika asks softly.
Allen and Daisy listen in shock as she sobs out her answer. “Oliver.” Great heaving sobs shake her body, and she finally mourns him. “Oliver,” she cries and thinks of all he could have been. Glenn marches to the back room and comes back with two chairs for them to sit on.
Daisy sits next to her daughter, Savannah burrows in her neck and cries until she has no tears left. “You never, …you didn’t, … I, I don’t understand.” Daisy stammers.
Savannah laughs and accepts the handkerchief from her father. “I know, Mom.”
Glenn walks slowly around the room, and he takes in the images. Soldiers, young and old, on both sides of the war. All
