Beyond Enemy Lines by Kathryn Kelly

Author:Kathryn Kelly [Kelly, Kathryn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-06-29T05:00:00+00:00

Sophia heard hammering outside and, putting her sewing aside, went in search of the unexpected noise. Surely the Yankees weren’t trying to use the front porch for firewood again. That had happened while her mother still lived. Her mother, though, had shamed them into leaving it be. It had been the last time the Yankees had bothered any of their property, with the exception of camping out on it, of course. But for the most part, they had been left alone. She’d been so proud of her mother that day. She’d been a true southern lady, leaving no doubt that she was the lady of the manor.

Sophia went to the window. Joshua stood with one foot on the steps, hitting the banister with a hammer. At first she thought he, too, was knocking it down. A surge of anger shot through her, but just as quickly she realized that he was actually putting a nail in to steady it.

A range of emotions, too complex to sort out surged through her. Surprise was the strongest, then pleasure. She was a little overwhelmed by his kindness toward both her and the children. What was his purpose in helping them? She could only speculate. Taking a steadying breath, she knew she had to ask him. Speculation would only drive her crazy and she would probably be wrong anyway.

She retrieved her shawl and put it on. Then joined him on the front porch.

He stopped working and smiled at her. She automatically smiled in return and forgot what she was going to say.

“I hope you don’t mind,” he said, nodding toward the banister. “It needed a little repairing.”

“I don’t mind,” she said, her eyes staying on his.

“I wasn’t doing anything, so I wanted to keep busy.”

“It’s good,” she said. My mind has disappeared.

“If there’s other work, you can tell me and I can take care of it.”

“You have good hands,” she said.

He grinned. Winked at her. “I do have good hands.”

Her eyes widened and her face flushed. He took her words and completely changed the meaning. She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Well,” she said. “If I see something that needs work, I’ll let you know,” she said, in an attempt to get the conversation back on track.

“I look forward to that,” he said, hammering again. “What do you think?” he asked pushing against the now steady rail.

“Thank you,” she said.

He began to check the other posts.

“How are you able to be here and not at the camp?” she asked.

“Part of our orders are to keep order in the town. As an officer, I have some discretion to determine where I’m needed. General Gresham has the authority to over-rule me, of course.”

“Of course.” She looked toward the road. Soldiers traveled here and there. Perhaps they had orders or perhaps they just wandered aimlessly. It was difficult to know. “It’s much quieter here, I imagine,” she said.

He set the hammer on the floor and gestured for her to follow him to the bench on the front porch.

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