Her Rebel Heart by Shannon Farrington Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shannon Farrington
George decided?"
"He wants to go," Trudy said, "but fears what it will mean for Mother."
Elizabeth leaned forward. She looked exactly like her sister but for a few freckles on her nose. "George has been the man of the house ever since Father passed away. He feels torn between two duties."
"Both honorable," Julia said.
Rebekah huffed.
Julia shot her a look. Sally stepped between them with a tray of cold tea. She smiled.
"It is warm this afternoon, isn't it?"
Sally Hastings had a peaceful presence that could stabilize almost any situation. Julia envied her friend's ability to do so. She wished she were more like her.
"Thank you," Julia said as she took a glass.
"There are tea cakes as well," Sally said. "Rebekah, will you serve them?"
Rebekah got up from her seat and did as Sally asked, though not as graciously as her host. Julia took an orange-glazed tea cake from her tray if only to be polite.
"How is your father feeling?" she asked, knowing he had been ill with stomach pains.
Rebekah's face softened but only a bit. "Much better, thank you."
When the refreshments had been served, the young ladies got down to business.
"Well," Sally said. "We have finished our other projects and given what has been happening these last few weeks, I thought that perhaps we might do something different today." She paused, eyes sweeping the room. "We all know at least one man who has gone to serve. Perhaps we could take on a project for the regiment."
Elizabeth looked delighted by the suggestion. "I have heard that there is a group of ladies in Carroll County who are at this very moment sewing a coat for General Lee."
Trudy nodded enthusiastically. "Yes. Yes. Let's do something of that sort."
"Why?" Rebekah grumbled. "Your men left in full uniform."
Emily Davis was an only child and had no relativesserving as of yet but she liked Sally's suggestion as well. "What about sashes?"
Sally nodded, though hesitantly. "Yes, but wouldn't that be only for officers?" She looked about the circle.
The women had no idea.
"What about a regimental flag?" Elizabeth suggested.
"That could get you arrested," Rebekah announced. "Haven't you read the paper? No displays of Confederate regalia, no Confederate music'¦ Why I even read a notice concerning red-and-white-striped stockings."
"For goodness' sake, what is wrong with striped stockings?" Sally asked.
"Red and white have been deemed pro-secessionist colors. Anyone found wearing such could be arrested."
Sally blew out her breath and Julia's face heated as she thought of her own red and white stockings which were tucked beneath her hoop and petticoats. Part of her feared catching the attention of some impudent Yankee rascal on the way home. The defiant streak in her wished to display the stockings proudly.
"Well," Elizabeth said. "If they insist on spying on our ankles then I suppose we will have to wear extra petticoats to hide them."
"Indeed," Emily said.
"Speaking of stockings," Trudy said. "What about socks for our men?"
"You mean ordinary, plain ones?" Sally asked.
"Yes. Of course. Surely no one, even Yankees, could object to sending our men socks. They will need them for winter."
The thought of Edward still on the battlefield come Christmas time was too much to bear. Julia looked at Sally. She must have been thinking the same about Stephen. Her chin quivered.
"Let's hope it doesn't last that long," she said.
"Why are we so concerned with the soldiers?" Rebekah asked. "Aren't we supposed to be making lace?"
The women stopped. They quickly looked at Julia.
"Oh, my dear, I am so sorry," said Sally. "Forgive me. I can't believe I
"He wants to go," Trudy said, "but fears what it will mean for Mother."
Elizabeth leaned forward. She looked exactly like her sister but for a few freckles on her nose. "George has been the man of the house ever since Father passed away. He feels torn between two duties."
"Both honorable," Julia said.
Rebekah huffed.
Julia shot her a look. Sally stepped between them with a tray of cold tea. She smiled.
"It is warm this afternoon, isn't it?"
Sally Hastings had a peaceful presence that could stabilize almost any situation. Julia envied her friend's ability to do so. She wished she were more like her.
"Thank you," Julia said as she took a glass.
"There are tea cakes as well," Sally said. "Rebekah, will you serve them?"
Rebekah got up from her seat and did as Sally asked, though not as graciously as her host. Julia took an orange-glazed tea cake from her tray if only to be polite.
"How is your father feeling?" she asked, knowing he had been ill with stomach pains.
Rebekah's face softened but only a bit. "Much better, thank you."
When the refreshments had been served, the young ladies got down to business.
"Well," Sally said. "We have finished our other projects and given what has been happening these last few weeks, I thought that perhaps we might do something different today." She paused, eyes sweeping the room. "We all know at least one man who has gone to serve. Perhaps we could take on a project for the regiment."
Elizabeth looked delighted by the suggestion. "I have heard that there is a group of ladies in Carroll County who are at this very moment sewing a coat for General Lee."
Trudy nodded enthusiastically. "Yes. Yes. Let's do something of that sort."
"Why?" Rebekah grumbled. "Your men left in full uniform."
Emily Davis was an only child and had no relativesserving as of yet but she liked Sally's suggestion as well. "What about sashes?"
Sally nodded, though hesitantly. "Yes, but wouldn't that be only for officers?" She looked about the circle.
The women had no idea.
"What about a regimental flag?" Elizabeth suggested.
"That could get you arrested," Rebekah announced. "Haven't you read the paper? No displays of Confederate regalia, no Confederate music'¦ Why I even read a notice concerning red-and-white-striped stockings."
"For goodness' sake, what is wrong with striped stockings?" Sally asked.
"Red and white have been deemed pro-secessionist colors. Anyone found wearing such could be arrested."
Sally blew out her breath and Julia's face heated as she thought of her own red and white stockings which were tucked beneath her hoop and petticoats. Part of her feared catching the attention of some impudent Yankee rascal on the way home. The defiant streak in her wished to display the stockings proudly.
"Well," Elizabeth said. "If they insist on spying on our ankles then I suppose we will have to wear extra petticoats to hide them."
"Indeed," Emily said.
"Speaking of stockings," Trudy said. "What about socks for our men?"
"You mean ordinary, plain ones?" Sally asked.
"Yes. Of course. Surely no one, even Yankees, could object to sending our men socks. They will need them for winter."
The thought of Edward still on the battlefield come Christmas time was too much to bear. Julia looked at Sally. She must have been thinking the same about Stephen. Her chin quivered.
"Let's hope it doesn't last that long," she said.
"Why are we so concerned with the soldiers?" Rebekah asked. "Aren't we supposed to be making lace?"
The women stopped. They quickly looked at Julia.
"Oh, my dear, I am so sorry," said Sally. "Forgive me. I can't believe I
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