Ashes of Thornwood

Chapter 8

As November gave way to December, the landscape around Thornewood transformed, shedding its dry, brittle edges for a mantle of soft, white snow. The fields, once parched and brown, now lay buried beneath a thick blanket of frost, the air crisp with the bite of winter. Each day, the sun seemed to sink lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the barren land. The war dragged on, casting an ever-present shadow over life at the plantation, as news of battles and losses filtered in from the distant frontlines.

It was early December when Sebastian came to me, his expression troubled as he informed me of his upcoming departure. He was to travel to Charleston for a trading expedition, an essential journey that would take him away from Thornewood for several weeks. This time, Mr. Blackwood would accompany him, leaving me to manage the estate in their absence.

The morning of his departure was bitterly cold, the sky a dull gray that promised more snow. I stood at the front steps of Thornewood, bundled in a heavy cloak, as Sebastian and Mr. Blackwood prepared to leave. The carriage waited at the end of the drive, its horses stamping impatiently in the snow.

Sebastian pulled me into an embrace, his warmth a stark contrast to the frigid air. "I wish I didn't have to go," he murmured against my hair, his breath a soft cloud in the cold.

"I know," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "But you'll come back soon?"

He nodded, pulling back to look into my eyes. "Of course. I'll be back before you know it. But Evie, there's something you need to understand..."

I frowned, sensing the gravity in his tone. "What is it?"

He sighed, glancing briefly at Mr. Blackwood, who was overseeing the last of the preparations. "While I'm gone, you'll need to take some steps to secure the estate. We've been working to make Thornewood more self-sufficient—reducing our reliance on outside trade and increasing our defenses. It means tightening control over the land and the people."

I felt a cold knot form in my stomach. "Tightening control? What does that mean for the slaves and servants?"

Sebastian's expression darkened. "It means stricter oversight, fewer liberties. We can't afford any disruptions. If supplies run low, or if word gets out that we're vulnerable, the consequences could be severe. Confederate raiders are becoming bolder, and they're targeting estates like ours—those they perceive as unguarded or disloyal. We need to be prepared for anything."

The thought of imposing harsher measures on those already suffering filled me with dread. "But Sebastian, these people... they've already endured so much. Can't we find another way?"

He shook his head, the weight of the world in his eyes. "I wish we could. But the truth is, we're not just fighting a war on the frontlines—we're fighting it here, too. Every decision I make out there is to protect you, to protect Thornewood. I hate that it has to be this way, but if we don't take precautions, we could lose everything."

I searched his face, seeing the strain etched into his features, the lines of worry that had deepened since the war began. It was clear that the burden of these decisions was taking its toll on him, and yet he carried it because he felt he had no other choice.

"I'll do what I can," I said softly, though my heart ached with the knowledge of what that might entail.

Mr. Blackwood cleared his throat behind us, a pointed reminder that time was of the essence. Sebastian's expression hardened for a moment, but he quickly softened again as he leaned in to kiss me, a lingering farewell that I wished would never end.

"I love you, Evie," he said quietly, his eyes searching mine for reassurance.

"I love you too," I replied, my heart twisting with the familiar ache of parting. "Be safe."