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

He comes for her, and her

So much had happened on this day, she didn't know if she would be able to sleep. Besides, she still heard her father and brothers talking downstairs. She rued that they could talk for the longest time about something like that. She heard Marcus's name mentioned. Now, they were talking about their slave. Through her closed door, did she catch that one of her brothers was actually worried about him? If so, she could hardly believe it. She had known Marcus since she was nine. Learned to cook mostly from him.

They finally stopped talking, and Jenny was able to get to sleep. But not for long. The exciting activities of the day, seeing Daniel, getting her dress fabric, and finally the shelling of Fort Sumter conspired to cause her to awaken. She heard a quiet sound outside. Footsteps. She left her bed, moved the lace curtain and looked out. It was Marcus. Apparently he was just coming back. Jenny knew where he was coming from. But so late? It made her wonder.

She put on her warm, full length robe, went down the stairs and tiptoed outside. Marcus was just across the small yard. "Marcus," she said in a voice low enough to not be heard inside. "Are you just now coming in?'

"Yes, Miss Jenny," he whispered, using the Miss appellation her father had told him to use now that she was older.

Jenny felt she had no right to ask, but her curiosity was getting the best of her. "What are you doing out so late?"

"Visiting, Miss Jenny."

"That girl. Angela I believe is her name."

"Yes, Miss Jenny."

"Oh, Marcus, you don't always have to be so formal with me. I mean, at least when my father is not around."

"Yes, Miss Jenny."

Jenny felt she was getting nowhere. She was also beginning to feel that what Marcus was doing with his girlfriend was none of her business. "Hope you had a nice time."

"We did, Jenny. You know I really like her and she likes me back. I can tell you something else if you promise not to tell anyone."

Jenny wondered what it could be that he would tell her. "Yes, I think you know I can keep a secret."

In a soft voice, barely audible, he said. "She's teaching me to read." His hand was on the door of his little one room slave cottage.

"Really? I'm glad. Good night," she said, quietly opening the door to her own house. Walking up the stairs to her room, she thought about Marcus. Already, she had heard talk that if war came the North might try to free the slaves. If it happened, Marcus might be much better off if he knew how to read. Jenny had heard that some slaveholders didn't want their people to learn how to read or write. So much to think about, she realized, as she removed her robe and slipped under the blankets. Too much for one night.

She so liked Daniel. Was she wasting her feelings on a man who couldn't see that she was the one he should take as a life partner? She thought back to the chance meeting with him at the general store. She couldn't forget what he said: "The second prettiest girl in the county." Jenny cared little of whether she was pretty or not. She just wanted Daniel.

Of course, she was right. She had a hard time falling asleep.

Chapter Four

The reverberations of the attack on Fort Sumter continued. Both of her brothers and her father were talking about it nonstop. Did it mean war? Jenny didn't know. Fortunately, Anna Marie's wedding and the festivities afterward would go on. Jenny looked forward to it. She hoped fervently that there would be no altercation there. Already, she had seen how some were already committing to the North or the South.

At last, by working late several nights, by the light of two candles, she had successfully made herself a dress. She held it up to her body, seeing her reflection in the small mirror fastened to the wall. The soft blue was beautiful. Setting it down for a moment, she put the pure white wool jacket over her shoulders. She was pleased. The pink ribbons she had added around the neck and at the sleeves pulled everything together.

Tonight, Daniel would come for her. For a time, at least, she would have him to herself, until they arrived at Samantha's house.

Sarah, her best friend, was not coming with Daniel. She was actually going with Rex. A well off city boy, he wasn't really invited. But Jenny knew that he could be counted on to give Anna Marie a nice gift. As Sarah's friend, he would be welcome.

Already, she had finished making dinner. Her father, knowing how much the wedding and dance meant to her, had told Marcus to do the clean up after supper. So now, Jenny was free. She arranged her hair, added some color to her cheeks and lips, and even darkened her eyebrows. Now completely dressed, she looked at herself again in the small mirror. She was satisfied. She walked outside to wait for Daniel.

Somehow, Jenny was nervous, and she paced back and forth in her yard as she waited. She heard the wheels of a carriage coming around the bend in the road, and went to the gate. Someone she didn't know passing by. She went back to pacing in her yard. The sound of another came to her, and again she went to the gate. This time it was him.

He had been coming with some speed, but rapidly slowed his horse as he neared her house.

"Hi, Daniel," she said as he stopped by the fence. She noticed he had the extra board behind the front seat, and he had even added padding

"Wow! Don't you look beautiful!" He jumped down and offered her his hand to help her into the carriage.

He helped her up, and she immediately started to go to the bench behind him.

"No, Jenny. Sit in front with me."

"But isn't Samantha going to sit there with you?"

"Sure, but until then, I'd like to be with you."

"OK. Wow, look at you," she said, snuggling into the seat beside him. "I've never seen you look so dapper, Daniel." She eyed his stylish form fitting pants, his white shirt, tan vest and dark jacket.

"You like the outfit? I was in the store not long ago with Ma and she saw it. Ready made, she thought it would look good on me. Once tailored, it fit well. Seems a bit fancy to me."

"Oh, but I like it, Daniel. I bet Samantha will be impressed."

"Hope so. That's what Ma said too. Otherwise, I wouldn't wear it."

"Trust me. She's going to like it. Or I should say, she's going to like you wearing it."

In the short time that it took to get to Samantha's house, they talked about other things. To Jenny, it wasn't what they talked about at all. It was being next to Daniel, chatting about anything. He was so comfortable to talk to. Too soon, they arrived at her house.

Jenny took the back seat and watched as Daniel hugged Samantha and then helped her up. Samantha noticed not only Daniel's new outfit, but Jenny's new dress as well, complimenting them both. Then she settled in with Daniel. Jenny took in what Samantha was wearing. Her hair exquisitely done with loops bound by a glistening comb in back with a small bouquet of white flowers interwoven into the front. Her dress, a low cut lavender swirl, with puffed short sleeves. The couple talked back and forth, much as Jenny and he had done before. Jenny could only listen, feeling like a third unneeded wheel.

Of course, she is in love with him. What can she do? Anyone experience that problem? A one sided love that you wished could be mutual? What might you tell Jenny? Hope you liked this part.

Note: Jenny and her family lived in West Virginia. A beautiful land with hills, mountains, rivers and flat lands. At the time of the Civil War, West Virginia didn't exist. It was part of Virginia. Virginia voted to succeed from the Union on April 17th, 1861. In the western part of Virginia, there were far fewer slaves than in the eastern part of the state. In the west, many towns wanted to stay in the Union while others wanted to leave. Men joined both the Union and Confederate sides. Later, in 1963, the people of West Virginia voted to break off from Virginia and become a separate state.