Spring Will Come (3 page)

             
An ominous rumble of thunder and a distant flash of lightning got them moving back down the hill.  There was quiet between them for several minutes.

             
“Are you scared, Carrie?”  There was no amusement in Janie’s voice now.  Her normally bright, blue eyes were dark with worry, her attractive face pinched with fear.  “Oh, I suppose I’m being silly,” she suddenly exclaimed without waiting for Carrie’s answer.  “I guess this storm is just getting to me. 

             
Carrie looked at her quickly.  The glib response on her tongue died at the expression on Janie’s face.  “Yes,” she said slowly, “I suppose I am scared.”  They had not talked much about the thousands of Union soldiers outside the gates of Richmond.  The Union cry of
“On to Richmond”
had become a frightening reality.  Carrie hated the war and wanted it to end, but the idea of being in a captured city was not appealing.   While the people in the outlying areas of Richmond had fled to the city for safety, many residents had fled to escape possible Union occupation. 

             
The whole city had been in a panic when she had reached the safety of Richmond after fleeing the plantation, but the panic had now settled into a calm defiance.  She had heard some people describe it as apathy, but as far as she could tell, there was no apathy on the part of Richmonders – they simply realized they could not stop what would happen.  They could only deal with it and fight as hard as they could.  Until then, all they could do was wait.  They would not give up their city without a mighty resistance. 

             
“What if our boys lose, Carrie?  Will the Union destroy Richmond?  I know how many Northerners are calling for it.”

             
Carrie listened to her in dismay.  Should she tell her what her father had told her just last night?  It would only frighten her more.  On the other hand, Carrie had decided it was better to know the truth.  “I talked to my father about that last night,” she finally admitted.

             
“What did he say?  Surely he knows what they plan to do since he works with the government.”

             
Carrie spoke slowly, remembering the pain on her father’s face as he talked.  “The military authorities have decided to make sure the Union doesn’t get its hands on the valuable supplies here in the city.”  She hesitated.  “All the tobacco and cotton are to be burned if the Union enters the city.”

             
“But the warehouses are right in the heart of the city!  What if it spreads?  It could destroy the whole city!” 

             
Carrie knew Janie was fighting to keep panic from overwhelming her.  “They know that.  And the very idea of it scares them to death.  But they feel it is the only thing to do.”  Then she made her voice positive.  “But all of that is only
if
the Union captures Richmond.  That is still a long way off.  Our army is strong and about to get stronger.”

             
“Jackson is coming back from the Shenandoah Valley?”

             
“My father says he is on his way back.  He did the job he was sent to do wonderfully.  President Lincoln was so certain Jackson was heading to attack Washington that he called off the reinforcements he was sending to McClellan.  General McDowell was called back to guard their own capital.  Father says it makes the odds a little more even.”

             
Janie shuddered.  “There is going to be so much suffering when the fighting finally starts.  We already have so many patients from the Battle of Williamsburg.  What’s it going to be like?”

             
Carrie said nothing.  She had a good idea what it would be like.  It was too horrible to contemplate.

             
After a long minute, Janie looked at her again.  “Do you want Richmond to fall?  Neither one of us believes this crazy war should be happening.”

             
Carrie almost smiled.  Janie was so much like Rose.  She always managed to cut through to the crux of the matter.  Suddenly she wanted to cry.  Where was Rose?   How was she?  Carrie knew her friend had reached the safety of Philadelphia after she had helped Rose and Moses, her husband, escape slavery, but were they still okay?  Fear clutched her heart.  Lately she found that her emotions could swing from one to another in seconds.  She supposed it was just this crazy war – but it was exhausting.  Suddenly she remembered Janie’s question.  A quick glance at her friend told her she was patiently waiting for a reply. 

             
“Do I want Richmond to fall?”  She shook her head helplessly.  “I want this crazy war to end, but I hate the idea it might take the destruction of the city to make it happen.  I’ve lost one home.  I don’t want to lose another.  And I know it would kill my father.  Working for the Virginia government saved him after my mother died.  He has thrown all he is into building a new country.  I can’t wish more pain for him!  And what about Robert?  The man I love will be out there fighting.  If the city falls, it will mean even more Southern deaths during this battle.  But maybe it would stop the escalation of the war – if it’s not too late for that…”  She shook her head again as the confusion swelled in her voice.  “Yet, I can’t wish for the South to win.  It would only mean the continuation of slavery.  I can’t abide the idea that more helpless people will have to suffer and be denied their freedom.”   Her words tumbled to a halt as her eyes filled with tears.  “I just know I hate this whole stupid war!” she cried. 

             
Janie reached out and held her hand for a long moment.  Nothing more was said on the way down the hill. 

Carrie had just changed into a fresh dress when she heard a knock at the front door.  She wasn’t expecting anyone, so she continued to smooth her hair back into place. There were so many people living in the house now it could be for anyone. For a moment she gazed into the mirror
and wished she was back on the plantation and could leave her hair in a long braid without having to confine it to a bun.  Wild and free, she would race across the rolling fields on Granite and let the wind whip it.  Closing her eyes, she could almost imagine the feeling. 

             
“Miss Cromwell.”

             
The sound of her name startled Carrie back to the present.  Quickly she finished her hair and moved to the door of the room she now shared with Janie.  “What is it, Micah?”  She smiled at her father’s butler. 

             
“Lieutenant Borden be here for you, Miss.”

             
“Robert is here?”  Carrie exclaimed.  Swiftly she ran down the stairs to the front foyer, a wide smile on her face.  “Robert!” she exclaimed.  “It’s wonderful to see you.  I wasn’t expecting you.”   She took his arm to lead him into the parlor.

             
Robert shook his head.  “I don’t want to be inside.  Can we go out on the porch?”
              Carrie frowned at the serious tone in his voice.  A closer look revealed tension on his handsome face.  “Of course,” she agreed quickly. 

             
Once outside, Robert moved slightly away from her to stand against a column on the porch.  Carrie gazed at him for a moment.  The promised wind had already begun to stir the city and was tossing Robert’s wavy dark hair.  Outlined against the threatening pallor of the sky, he looked like a mighty warrior in his Confederate gray uniform.  “You’re leaving,” she said simply. 

             
Robert continued to just look at her.  Carrie knew he was trying to burn a vision of her in his heart.  He had told her how much the memories of her had helped during the long winter campaign.   She fought the urge to run into his arms. 

             
Finally Robert nodded.  “General Lee is sure something is going to happen soon.  He has promised to send General Johnson every available man.”

             
“When do you leave?”

             
“In a few minutes.”

             
Carrie fought to control the fear on her face.  As hard as she tried, though, she couldn’t hide the tremor in her voice.  “I see.”  She didn’t know what else to say.  Thankfully, Robert saved her by opening his arms wide.   Without a word she walked into his embrace. 

             
Several long minutes passed as they stood in silence.  The streets around them bustled with activity as people rushed home to escape the encroaching storm.  Doors banged open as women dashed out to save their laundry hanging on the lines.  The trees, just a few minutes ago swaying in the breeze, were now bending low under the storm’s powerful gusts.  The roll of thunder grew louder as flashes of lightening lit up the sky with increasing intensity. 

             
Carrie longed for the moment to never end.  If only wishing hard enough could make all the horrid realities of the war melt away.   If only wishing could transport them back to her secret place by the river.  It had been only two weeks since Robert and she had moved beyond all the turmoil of their relationship.  The issue of slavery was still a bone of contention between them, but Carrie was no longer pretending her whole heart did not belong to him.  What if these two short weeks were all they were to have? 

             
Robert was the first to step back.  “I have to go, Carrie.”  All of his longing and pain were expressed in those simple words. 

             
Carrie gazed up at him, trying to etch his face into her memory.  She fought to stop the tears welling in her eyes and managed a tremulous smile.  “I love you, Robert.  Take care of yourself.”

             
Robert looked at her hungrily a moment more then moaning slightly, he bent his head and covered her mouth in a warm kiss.  Carrie let her response speak all the words hidden in her heart.  Both knew they might never see each other again.  A loud crack of thunder startled them both, and they drew apart.  Robert raised his hand to let it rest on her face then stepped back.

             
“God bless you,” Carrie said tenderly. 

             
Robert nodded, turned, strode down the stairs, and vaulted onto the tall Thoroughbred waiting for him. 

             
Carrie ran down the steps after him and laid her head against the horse’s face.  “Take good care of him, Granite.  You better come back to me, too,” she whispered. She had given Granite to Robert just days after arriving in Richmond.  He needed a good mount, and there was not enough food in Richmond to take care of any non-working horses.  She was glad for Robert to have him, but it ripped her heart to think something might happen to her beloved horse as well as to the man she loved. Stepping back, she smiled brightly at both of them.  “Go save my city, Lieutenant Borden!”

             
Robert smiled back, tipped his hat at her, and urged Granite into a fast canter down the road.  Carrie watched until they had rounded the curve and were out of sight.  Even when she could no longer see them, she stood there, oblivious to the whipping dirt stinging her face and arms.  It was the sharp crack of a limb that brought her back to the present.   Looking up, she watched as limbs and leaves did a frantic dance in rebellion against the gale battering them. 

             
“Carrie!  Get in this house.”

             
Carrie turned and managed a smile at Janie.  “I rather like it,” she shouted above the din.  “When I see a storm like this, it helps to remind me it takes a very powerful God to create such a thing.  It gives me hope that maybe He really is in control of all this.”

             
Janie strode down the stairs and took her arm.  “And it would give me hope that you still have some sense in your head if you wouldn’t keep standing out here waiting for a limb to knock you silly!” she retorted.

             
Carrie allowed her to pull her onto the porch and then turned to stare back out at the building fury. 

             
“Was that Robert I saw leaving?”

             
Carrie nodded.  “He has been called to the front.”

             
“I’m sorry,” Janie said simply.  She took Carrie’s hand and stood silently.