“Evasive answer,” Savannah states and picks up the picture of the Senator with a sinking feeling in her stomach.
“No. It’s the truth. I saw a need and filled it,” Dayton explains quietly.
“So, you just provided a service and capitalized on the war,” Eli declares.
Dayton ignores Eli’s constant attempt to bait him and watches Savannah closely. Her opinion is the only one that matters right now.
“Is that any different than a farmer who provides food and cotton, or wool for the Soldiers?” Savannah snaps back.
“Maybe,” Eli grins, “but I’m not afraid to spell it out for you, Savannah. He’s hiding something.”
“Dayton tell him that he’s wrong about you,” Savannah demands.
“He’s not wrong.” Dayton sits taller, “I saw an opportunity to make a profit and provide for my family after the war. It also allowed me to move between the North and the South easily, including Washington, which is especially important when you are recruited as a Scout for the Union.”
“I don’t understand. What does a Scout do?” Savannah asks.
“Yeah, Kentucky, tell her what a Scout does.” Eli grins and sits back to watch how this plays out.
“It doesn’t matter. What matters now is that Senator Buren was a suspected traitor to the Union, and we didn’t have proof of this until now.” Dayton glares at Eli, “Until your brother did what no one else could do. Oliver put his life on the line to secure that proof, and he chose to send it to you.”
Savannah gasps as she finally understands what Dayton is saying. “Oliver was a spy?”
“Not just Oliver, Savannah,” Eli retorts and jumps up to pace.
“Dayton?” Savannah gasps and all the color drains from her face.
Felicia listens quietly and sighs when Savannah stands and runs from the room. Dayton drops his head and rubs his neck.
“What did you expect her to say?” Felicia asks.
“Oliver was a spy?” Eli sits heavily in a chair. All the fight has gone from his body.
“Does that really surprise you, Son? Your brother was always looking for the next adventure.”
“Unfortunately, he put Savannah’s life on the line with his last choice,” Dayton holds up a hand to stop Eli from exploding at him. “Not that he had a choice. Oliver saw something in Savannah, and because of that, we can finally make sure Buren is stopped before he becomes Secretary of State.”
“We, Mr. Patrick? Are you still working for the government?” Felicia asks.
“No, but I sent the copy of that photo to a U.S. Marshall named Deidrick Hunter.” Dayton jumps to his feet, uncomfortable with Savannah out of his sight.
“I came for one reason only… Savannah.”
Felicia nods, “Good answer. Is my family in danger, Mr. Patrick?”
“Your family was in danger the moment Oliver started taking images.” Dayton sighs, “I’m sorry to be blunt, but if I’m right, he wasn’t shot during a battle. His images are the last chance to set things right. We need to sort them and look for anything that seems suspect.”
Dayton glances back at her as he walks towards the door, “I have a plan, but first I need to see to Savannah.”
“You’ll find her in the garden,” Eli murmurs. “I’ll continue sorting.”
Savannah hears him coming and wipes her eyes with trembling hands. She glances around for some way to escape, but Dayton is determined to speak to her in private. His eyes meet hers, and his heart drops. Seeing the trail of tears down her reddened cheeks causes him to slow his stride.
“Savannah, we need to talk.”
“No, I’ve heard enough. I’m going home!” She turns to walk away, but Dayton stops her with a hand to her arm, causing her to flinch in pain. He immediately releases her with a hiss of frustration.
“Again, I’m sorry, but I can’t let you do that, yet,” Dayton insists.
“Am I under arrest, Mr. Patrick?” Savannah demands.
“Of course not, Savannah!”
She turns around and glares at him, “And why is that?”
Dayton runs a few options through his mind and decides to go with the truth. “I no longer work for the government, though I intend to follow this through. I promised Glenn that I’d take you to Kentucky. Your family is going to meet us.” He takes a step towards her.
“I see,” she sighs and wraps her arms around herself. “It shouldn’t upset me so that Oliver was a spy, but…” she sniffs and turns away to walk, and Dayton walks beside her, careful not to touch her.
“I thought we were kindred spirits, wanting adventure and seeing the world through our lens. Capturing those moments…” her voice fades, and she sighs, “It’s stupid.”
“Nothing about you could be called stupid, Savannah.” Dayton smiles when he looks at the surprise on her face. “Oliver saw in you a woman who’d face the storm coming at her and not be frightened by it.”
“No, he used me, Dayton.” She doesn’t bother to wipe the tear that streaks down her bruised cheek.
Dayton cups her face gently and wipes the tear with his thumb, “Yes, he did, but he chose well.”
“Dayton, I gave up years of my life. I carried this burden thinking I was doing something of value… I don’t know anything anymore.” She whirls away from him and stops when he steps over to her.
“I understand why you’d feel that way, but Savannah, we can make sure your sacrifice wasn’t in vain. Help me put this right. Together we can end this,” he pleads.
“I’m so tired, Dayton,” she whispers, “I don’t know how much fight I have left.”
“You’re not alone any longer, Savannah,” Dayton promises.
Savannah steps back from him, frightened by the intensity in his dark eyes. “You don’t know the weight of this promise. I need to be free of it,” she cries.
“Then let’s
