Part Two, Chapter Three
The War's End
...
Geoff raced up to the house on his horse with excitement.
"Eliza Courtney!" Geoff called excitedly as he entered the house. "Eliza Courtney!"
Everyone went to the entrance and watched Geoff.
"It's over!" Geoff exclaimed. "It's over! It's all over! The war! Lee surrendered!"
"It's not possible," said Anne Maria.
"Oh, why did we ever fight?" Beth said.
Zoey, who was carrying Tyler, looked elated.
"Mike will be coming home," said Zoey.
"Yes, Mike will be coming home," said Courtney. "We'll plant more cotton. Cotton ought to go sky-high next year!
...
Home from their lost adventure came the tattered Cavaliers... Grimly they came hobbling back to the desolation that had once been a land of grace and plenty...
And with them came another invader... more cruel and vicious than any they had ever fought... the Carpetbagger.
...
"While we were marching through Georgia. Hurrah, hurrah! We bring the jubilee. Hurrah, hurrah! The flag that makes you free. So we sing the course from Atlanta to the sea. While we were marching through Georgia," a man named Beardo sang as he traveled with Brick Wilkerson in a buggy. There were many Confederate soldiers in their path.
Two Confederate soldiers, one leaning on another stopped in front of the buggy.
"Get out of the road, rebel!" Brick spat. "Get out of the way!"
"Have you room in your carriage for a dying man?" one man asked.
"I got no room for any Southern scum," said Brick, "alive or dead. Get out of the way!"
"I reckon he'd rather try and walk it at that," said the man indication to the man who was leaning on him."
"Giddap!" Brick yelled, whipping the horse. "Jump, you gray-backed beggars."
"Act like they one the war!" said Beardo.
...
"Now you come on and give me them pants, Mist' Kennedy," Leshawna said. "Come on."
Noah Kennedy, staying behind the towels, tossed his pants to Leshawna who caught them with a rake.
"You scrub yourself with that strong lye soap before I scrubs you myself," Leshawna threatened. "I'm gonna put these britches in the boilin' pot."
She put his pants into a pot full of boiling water before walking off.
"The whole Confederate Army's got the same trouble," Leshawna muttered, "crawlin' clothes and dysentery."
"I think it's humiliating you treat Mr. Kennedy," said Anne Maria.
"You'd be a sight more humiliated if Mist' Kennedy's lice gets on you," said Leshawna.
Anne Maria gasped.
...
Zoey, who was handing out food to soldiers, caught Tyler standing shakily next to a soldier named Ezekiel.
"Tyler," said Zoey gently, "we must leave this gentleman alone because he's tired and he's hungry."
She picked Tyler up and put him on her lap.
"I don't mind, ma'am," said Ezekiel. "Good to see a youngster again. Nice little fellow. Another two years of war and we could have used him in Cobb's Legion."
"Were you in Cobbs Legion?" Zoey asked.
"Yes, ma'am," said Ezekiel.
"Why, then, you must know my husband, Major Wilkes," said Zoey.
"Oh, yes, ma'am," said Ezekiel. "He was captured in Spottsylvania, I think."
"Captured?" Zoey gasped. "Oh, thank heavens, then he isn't... Oh, my poor Mike! In a Yankee prison."
"Zoey!" Courtney called.
"Yes, Courtney, I'm coming," said Zoey. "Come along, Tyler."
"I'll watch out for him, ma'am," said Ezekiel. "We're good friends."
"Oh, thank you," said Zoey sincerly as she walked up the steps.
"I slave day and night so we can have food to keep body and soul together," said Courtney. "And you give it all away to these starving scarecrows. I'd rather a plague od locusts around here."
"Don't scold me, Courtney, please," said Zoey. "I've just heard that Mike was taken prisoner."
"Mike, a prisoner!" Courtney gasped worriedly.
"Yes," said Zoey. "And maybe if he's alive and well he's on some Northern road right now. And maybe some Northern woman is giving him a share of her dinner and helping my beloved come back home to me."
"I hope so, Zoey," said Courtney, touching Zoey's arm.
"Miss Courtney," said Noah Kennedy walking up to her as she went in the house. He was wearing a towel over his upperhalf.
"Miss Courtney, I wanted to take something up with your pa but he doesn't seem to..."
"Perhaps I can help you," said Courtney. "I'm head of the house now."
"Well, I, I..." Noah stuttered. "Miss Courtney, I was aimin' to ask Anne Maria."
"Do you mean to tell me, Noah Kennedy, you haven't asked for her after all these years she's been counting on you?" Courtney asked.
"Well, I, the thruth is, I'm so much older than she is, and..." Noah trailed off. "Well, now I haven't a cent to my name."
"Who has nowadays?" Courtney pointed out.
"Miss Courtney, if true love carries any weight with you," Noah said, "you can be sure your sister will be rich. I'll go out somewhere and get myself a little business if we're engaged. As soon as I get on my feet again-"
"All right, Noah," said Courtney. "I'm sure I can speak for Pa. You go ask her now."
"Oh, thank you, Miss Courtney," said Noah gaciously.
He ran outside and bumped into Zoey and Leshawna.
"Excuse me, excuse me," said Noah.
He ran off just as Courtney exited the house.
"Courtney, what seems to be the trouble with Mr. Kennedy?" Zoey asked.
"More trouble than he guesses," said Courtney. "He has finally asked for Anne Maria's hand."
"Oh, I'm so glad," said Zoey.
"It's a pit he can't marrt her now," Courtney said. "At least, there'd be one less mouth to feed."