The Girls of Gettysburg by Bobbi Miller Read Free Book Online Page B

his feet, Annie swung up, and with a wallop caught him under the chin, sending him sprawling backward. Jasper howled, jumping atop the man, pinning him down. Drake responded with a heave, losing his breakfast.
    â€œJiggers!” Jasper jumped. “Not on my new boots!”
    The man struggled to get up, but Annie was faster.
    â€œJust so you know, I don’t ever miss my mark.” She grabbed his pistol and aimed. “You hold still, or you’ll see firsthand the truth of my boast.”
    Another shot rang out from inside. Annie and Jasper swerved as Dylan and the lieutenant tumbled through the front door.
    â€œYou always did hide behind your pap, you low-bred coward,” Gabriel shouted as he swung his fist. Dylan caught it and returned the favor.
    By now, others had heard the shots and the shouting, and raced toward the house to see what the ruckus was all about. They joined the fray, swinging fists and insults as fast as bullets. Soon the melee spread into the road.
    Suddenly several shots rang out. Dylan and Gabriel stopped; Annie and Jasper ducked, covering their heads. Some fell to the ground in quick surrender, while others scattered like chickens on the run.
    â€œ
Atten
-SHUN!” It was Gideon and other sergeants who had fired their rifles. Next to them stood Major Owens and a captain from the Fiftieth Georgia.
    The soldiers in the yard snapped to their feet and saluted.
    â€œYou men here”—Major Owens pointed to Dylan, Jasper, and Annie, and then Gabriel and Drake—“you stay put. The rest of you report back to wherever you came from.” He turned to Dylan. “You think we have nothing better to do than fight among ourselves? Maybe we should confine you to solitary. What do you think, captain?”
    The captain smiled in reply, but he flashed a pointed glance toward Gideon. Annie had to fight to hold down her grin.
    â€œIt would seem our boys are itching for a fight,” Major Owens continued. “May I remind you, we are not ruffians. We do not beat up women and children. I’ll leave your men in your expert hands, captain, to do with as you see fit. I’ll tell the colonel when I see him.”
    The captain snapped a salute, calling out for Gabriel and Drake to fall in line. Gideon shot a pointed look at the captain, watching them quick-step back toward camp.
    â€œBoyos, let’s call it a day.” Gideon turned back to Dylan.
    â€œAll this because of a chicken.” Jasper scrubbed the scum from his boots. “Jiggers.”

PART SIX

GRACE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Friday, June 26
    Pappa was a mountain, but Mamma’s worry had chipped away at the mountain with the steady force of wind and rain. Lee’s army had crossed the Potomac, made its way through Chambersburg, and now moved across the pass. Raiders had been sighted as close as eight miles west of town.
    Mamma’s fears boiled over; Pappa
had
to do something. It was decided: he was putting Mamma and Grace on the train. But—and on this he stood solid as rock—he was not leaving. He had work to do. Grace wondered if Pappa’s work had to do with Friend Alice and the two runaways.
    Grace wanted to stay with Pappa. But both Mamma and Pappa would have none of it: she was leaving with Mamma.
    The last of the town also meant to leave, everyone desperate to get away.
    A woman pushed between them as she urged her children through the rail cars. “Be still! Be quiet!” And Mamma’s hold on her slipped.
    â€œI’m here, Mamma!” Grace shouted, but her shouts were lost as a boy dashed by her, followed quickly by three more in chase, spinning her around like a top. Another woman whirled hard about, holding tight to one child and balancing another on her hip. “Ruffians!” the woman shouted, pushing Grace back between two seats.
    â€œMamma!” Grace called. But Mamma was lost somewhere wellahead of her in the crowd. She struggled to stand up, but a man