Rebel Heart: (Swept Away) Of Life and Love during the American Civil War

Afraid, of what it could mean

At last, Sarah came into the store. The smile on her face told Jenny that all had went well with her and Rex. In fact, she was gushing.

"I like him, Jenny," she said as she came to the cloth department.

"That boy has a history, you know," Jenny answered.

"I know. Jilted girls always tell stories."

"Fair warning, Sarah. If you take up with him, you could be next."

Sarah, looked closely at her, and then looked away into space. Turning back to Jenny, she, said, "Jenny we are the best of friends. Really, I just don't think that is going to happen."

Jenny smiled, hoping for the best. "Take a look at this material, Sarah. I like the color. What do you think of the weave and texture for a nice dress."

Sarah took the material in her hand, looking at it. "Oh yes, that medium blue is fetching. And, I like the weave. Just think it may need something extra to set it off."

"Yes, I thought so too." Jenny left her, and turned the corner to the more expensive fabrics. In her mind's eye she kept the blue, looking for something for contrast. Her eye was attracted to one of pure white wool. She could already imagine how it would set off the dress. "What do you think of this, Sarah? She held it up for her to see.

From twenty feet away, Sarah looked at it. Then she rounded the corner holding the bolts of fabric. "Jenny," she said, "I like it. Love the weave, and it will definitely enhance the blue."

"Plus, for a short jacket, it would offer some warmth. Now, I just have to figure out if I can afford it."

"Are you going to have time to make both the dress and the jacket before the wedding?"

"I hope so," she answered, with a bit of a worried look.

The girls waited in the short line to pay and to have Jenny's goods wrapped. Though she also bought a colorful deep pink ribbon to accent the jacket, she was glad to have some extra money to buy hard candy for her brothers and father. For him, she also got one good-sized piece of chocolate.

After checking for mail, her next stop before heading back was to get a newspaper. They stepped outside, and immediately saw a crowd gathering at the newspaper printing store. In loud voice, the editor's son's strident voice shouted the news. "Rebels attack Fort Sumter. Read all about it. Get your paper while there's still some left."

Jenny took one look at Sarah, said, "hold these," and ran to where the man was collecting money and handing out papers. She pushed to the front, and handing him her money, was pleased to get one of the last papers left. She knew how disappointed her father would be if she returned home without one.

On the long ride home, there was much to talk about. The possibility of a civil war was only one of them. More interesting for Sarah was how she was getting on with Rex. As she talked, Jenny feared she was rapidly becoming infatuated with him. Knowing something of his checkered relationships with girls, Jenny held her tongue, but didn't want her best friend to be hurt. As Sarah finished, she only said, "Sarah, you know there have been a number of girls who have really liked him."

"Oh, I know that, Jenny. I mean a boy like him, what girl wouldn't think he's special. I'm not going to throw myself at him, even though he is both handsome and rich with his father's money. I'm just going to see what happens. But exciting? Yes, I am truly excited. He wants to go to the wedding!"

"Really? Anna Marie's wedding?"

"Yes. He's going to pick me up in his fancy carriage. Won't I be the talk of the event, walking in with him?"

"Oh, Sarah. I just hope you don't fall head over heels and then be disappointed."

"Look who's talking. I know how you like Daniel, and he's already taken. What could be more disappointing? You should find someone else."

Jenny had to admit she had a point. She was so happy to have met him in the store and the fact that he was willing to pick her up to go to the wedding meant something. Still, as much as she liked him, she knew his heart was set on someone else. It hurt, but there was nothing she could do about it. In a way, Sarah was right. She was the one who was being a fool. Yet, there was no one else she would rather have.

* * *

When Sarah dropped her off at home, it was already almost dark. She walked right in, and seeing her father sitting in the drawing room, she immediately handed him the paper and the chocolate candy. He took one look at the headline and said,

"No! No! I can't believe they attacked Fort Sumter! Jumping up from his chair, he held the paper up saying, "Jenny, do you know what this means?" Jenny was just setting her own purchases on the table and looked up at him. Before she could answer, he told her, "This means war! The federals are not going to give up their fortress without fighting back. This might even lead to a war between the states!"

Her father was talking loudly, and at the sound of his excited voice, both boys came into the sitting room.

"Dad! Dad! What's the matter?" spoke Jeb, Jenny's older brother.

He held the paper up, showing the huge headlines spread over the top of the first page. "See that? They are shelling Fort Sumter! This is going to be war, boys!"

"Surely what's happening on the coast of South Carolina isn't going to affect us, is it Dad?"

"I hope not, but we could all get pulled into it. There's a lot of our own representatives that have been thinking of siding with South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and the rest. You boys know what I think of Mr. Lincoln. This might be all he needs to send troops into the South. There's going to trouble, boys. Mark my words."

Jenny listened with alarm to everything her father was saying. Her thoughts went to her brothers, and she needed an answer to one question. "Dad," she broke in. "You surely don't think Jeb and David will have to fight." She looked at them as they turned to her. She loved them both.

"I sure hope not, Jenny. Don't think David would have to, with his bad leg."

Her one question answered, Jenny went to the kitchen where leftovers from the meal awaited her. She ate silently, half listening to her father and brothers who continued to talk about the subject. Finished, with the little that she wanted, she cleaned up a bit in the kitchen, gathered her dressmaking purchases, and went upstairs to her room. She sat down on her bed, thinking. If her brother had to go to war then Daniel would also have to fight. She shook her head, trying to drive the idea out of her mind. But distressingly, the thought wouldn't leave her that one or both of them could be injured or killed.   

 Next, Daniel comes to take her to the wedding.