Chapter Four

The winds of war blew harder as the days went by. Both sides had reached breaking point and something had to give. The day the Confederacy opened fire on Fort Sumter, Kid had taken Lou to see some of his old childhood haunts. She cherished the days they spent together, and tried to be alone with him as much as she possibly could without offending their hosts. Isobel understood her actions, and never made her feel ungrateful.

Kid shared with her secrets of his past he never had before — the difficult times he spent as a child supporting his mother and running their farm. He didn't like to speak of her death, but as they sat together by a small creek than ran through the plot of land that they had once owned, Kid revealed the painful truth behind her passing. Lou did not interrupt as he spoke, she simply held his hand and rested her head on his shoulder. Kid had done the same for her when she had shared her own shameful past with him, after the death of Charlotte and Wicks. Lou knew he just needed to say the words and have her listen.

The day passed too quickly for Lou's liking. Each day seemed to slip by faster as the outbreak of fighting approached. The sun was beginning to fall when Kid suggested they had better turn back.

"No, let's stay here," Lou urged suddenly. Kid's eyes twinkled in the dull light, staring lovingly at her. Louise smiled enticingly and stepped closer to him. "Please, just for tonight."

"What about Rob and Isobel?" Kid said, but there was no argument in his tone. "And Aunt Corinne?"

"Isobel will understand that we need to spend some time alone. And as for Aunt Corinne, she can go ahead and lecture me for a week. But it will be worth it."

Kid smiled at her and stroked her cheek. He could not reveal to Lou just how difficult it would be for him to leave her. Kid was sure of his convictions when it came to fighting for the South, but the thought of leaving her was unimaginable.

"I'll make a fire," he stated simply. "I hope you don't mind sleepin' rough."

Lou stepped away to retrieve a blanket from her saddle roll. She glanced over her shoulder at him, a mischievous smile tugging at her mouth. "Who said anythin' about sleepin'?"

Kid grinned at her. His heart swelled with love for his wife and he wondered again how he could possibly bring himself to be parted from her. It was probably only a matter of days before he would have to. Kid suppressed the chilling thought and began collecting a few pieces of wood. At least they had this moment.


They did not return to the farm until well into the next afternoon. Lou dawdled as much as she could, pretending to enjoy the beautiful scenery too much to rush back. But the landscape was the last thing on her mind as she and Kid rambled over familiar farmlands. They were lost in their own world, too concerned with each other to contemplate the surroundings.

Eventually though, they had to return. Lou insisted on walking the horses the last couple of miles to prolong their journey further. When they rounded the bend leading to the Owens property, they saw many horses grazing in the yard, their male owners in consultation on Robert and Isobel's porch. Lou wanted to turn back immediately to avoid them — she knew in her heart that their gathering was an ominous sign. But Kid was already frowning at the spectacle, trying to hear what was being said. As they approached the house, Rob poked his head out of the small crowd and called his name.

"About time you got back. Have you heard the news? Fort Sumter's been attacked — this is it!"

Lou felt her heart skip a beat. The men on the porch were braying with delight at the news… their moment of glory had finally arrived. Kid didn't say a word beside her, but as she reached for his arm for comfort he stepped forward and was drawn into the crowd. Lou clutched her horse's bridle instead as her chest heaved painfully. The men were planning when and where they would enlist to give the Yankees a licking they would never forget. She desperately hoped Kid would turn around and look at her, to see her distress. But he did not look back once. Rob slapped an arm around his shoulder and cheered triumphantly along with the others.


Less than a week later, Virginia seceded from the Union. Neighboring farmers gathered as the news was brought from Williamsburg, and the men made immediate plans to leave for Richmond. Isobel had refused to listen to the announcement, she merely sat inside and savaging thrust knitting needles together in an attempt to make Rob a warm pair of socks. Corinne had branded her a traitor due to Isobel's hatred of the war, but even the old woman's constant badgering could not convince her to take part in the secession euphoria. Lou understood, however, and now sat by Isobel's side, listening to the excited crowd outside.

"They're leavin' in the mornin'," Lou stated dully. She felt numb, as if none of it was really happening.

Isobel did not reply and continued to click the needles together furiously. She had made her position on the war perfectly clear to her husband, but her arguments failed to move him. Lou still wished she would say something more to try and prevent them from going. In the last week Isobel had refrained from mentioning the war at all, much to Lou's consternation. It was her belief that if anyone could persuade them not to go, it was Isobel. Rob did everything else she said, why couldn't she just refuse to let him go?

Lou rose and stood at the window, staring bitterly at her reflection in the pane. With the darkened room behind her, her face glowed luminously in the fading light of the afternoon. Her eyes were large and shining, her hair pulled back from her pale face. The dress she wore was green, but in the window it appeared to be much darker. With a start, Lou saw a vision of herself dressed entirely in mourning black, her face tight with desolation.

The premonition, if that's what it was, shook her to her very soul. She pulled away from the glass in fright and ran to her bedroom. She curled up on the bed, trying to keep the dreaded image from stealing into her mind.

She stood over a grave, dressed in a flowing black dress… in her hand a small bunch of mayflowers. She opened her fingers slowly and let them drop in to the open grave, tears streaming down her face.

Lou pulled a pillow over her head and cried bitterly as darkness fell.