Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War in Virginia by Jessica James Read Free Book Online Page B

followed her outside and watched her saddle and mount.
“Remember—”
    “I’ve got it, Colonel.” Andrea sounded more than
a little exasperated as she hauled on the reins to keep Justus under control.
“Centreville and hence to Hopewell Gap.”
    J.J. shook his head as she rode away, feeling
guilty he had to lie. He knew what the general wanted her for, and he knew he
would not be at Hopewell Gap when she returned. No one would be. His regiment
was heading down to Thoroughfare Gap—so was the general, and so were a lot of
Rebels.
    He wanted to keep her as far away from that
dangerous part of the country as he could.

Chapter
6
     
     “Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”
     – Goethe
     
    They moved through the darkness without making a
sound. So stealthy were their movements and so ominous their silent shadows,
Hunter knew a legion of specters rising from their graves could not look more
menacing. Even the horses appeared of another world tonight, seeming to float
upon the swirling mist among trees that stood like sentinels guarding a
numinous world.
    Dressed inconspicuously and mounted on his
favorite steed, Hunter rode in front of his band, seeking some game to flush.
His men, as was their habit, were hungry for battle. And as their leader, he
felt it his manifest duty to feed them.
    Halting the group about fifty feet from a
country farmhouse, Hunter listened to the strains of music coming from within
while silently studying the scene. The sight of four horses tied out front,
Union officers’ mounts most likely from the accoutrements they carried, brought
a smile to his face. Riding forward with one other man, Hunter dismounted and
banged on the door with the butt of his revolver. When a young lady answered, he
positioned himself in the shadows so she could not identify the color of his
uniform.
    “Pardon the interruption, miss,” he said in a
smooth, low voice, tipping his hat courteously. “Any officers in the house are
requested back at camp immediately.”
    Within a heartbeat of his last word, four men
dressed in Union splendor pushed their way past the lady. “What do you say?
What is the meaning of this?”
    By this time, Hunter had pressed himself against
the wall, out of sight of the four standing in the doorway. Their focus was
therefore intent on Lieutenant Carter, who leaned nonchalantly against the
porch post with a well-chewed cigar hanging from his mouth.
    “Who sent you?” asked a high-ranking officer,
stepping through the door with the others following close at his heels. “What
is the meaning of this? Is there trouble?”
    When they were all on the porch, Carter nodded
his head toward the doorway.  “Ask him .”
    Hunter appeared from the shadows behind them,
blocking any retreat back into the house. “Indeed there is trouble. Do you know
of Hunter?”
    “Yes,” one proclaimed. “Have we caught the
infernal plundering pirate?”
    “No,” Hunter replied, a satirical smile
spreading across his lips, “but he has caught you.”
    He raised his gun to eye level and cocked it to
reinforce his statement. The four men stood dumbstruck before raising their
hands in surrender.
    “You cannot be Hunter,” one of the men finally
spoke. “We heard he was in our front, being pursued by our advance guard.”
    “I believe that was this morning,” Hunter said,
relieving the man of his gun and saber. “While the hounds were sleeping—or
socializing—the fox was on the move.”
    “This is outrageous,” another shouted. “Why if I
had known I would have—”
    Hunter did not give him the opportunity to
finish. “Yes, I have discovered the world is full of Yanks with mighty
hindsight.”
    “But this is an insult,” he roared. “You Rebels
do not fight fair!”
    Carter cocked his gun and put it to the man’s
head. “If I were in your boots, I’d be more humiliated than insulted.” He
snarled the words with the cigar still clenched firmly between his teeth.
    Hunter ignored