His Steadfast Love by Golden Keyes Parsons

Author:Golden Keyes Parsons
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2011-09-14T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

NOVEMBER 1863

But should he fall in this our glorious cause,

He still would be my joy,

For many a sweetheart mourns the loss

Of her Southern soldier boy.

CAPTAIN G.W. ALEXANDER,

“SOUTHERN SOLDIER BOY”

Amanda sat at the trestle table beside the fireplace in the kitchen. She wrapped a quilt around her shoulders and pulled Emmaline in beside her. Catherine and Mary sat on the opposite side.

Elsie fussed as she set the breakfast gruel down in front of Amanda. “Jes don’t seem fittin’ fo you to be eatin’ your meals out here with us. The dining room’s the proper place fo the ladies of the house to take their meals.”

“These are not proper times, Elsie. Besides, it’s too lonesome in the dining room without Father and Daniel. I’d rather be out here with y’all. And it’s chilly today. The kitchen feels cozy.”

“Humph! Yo daddy would not approve.”

“Father is not here to approve or disapprove.”

Elsie stopped stirring the breakfast concoction in the kettle on the stove and stared at Amanda.

“Oh, my soul. That came out harsher than I intended. What I mean is we have to do what is necessary in these unusual circumstances. I’m sure he would understand relaxing our decorum when it is just the family.”

Father is not here to approve or disapprove. That glaring fact had been foremost in her mind ever since he passed away. She had loved and respected him, but now that he was gone, what did this mean for her and Kent? Could she in good conscience allow the love between them to blossom and mature? Would Kent still feel bound to keep his word? She had written Kent concerning her father’s passing, but she had yet to receive a response.

She needed to go to the post office. As much as she used to dread reading the daily newspaper, she missed it since the shortage of paper had shut down the Indianola Bulletin. They had to travel to town to get the latest news.

She pushed back from the table. “Elsie, tell Wash that we are going into town.”

Emmaline looked up from her bowl of porridge. “May I go with you?”

“Me too!”

“Me too!”

All three girls turned their eyes eagerly in her direction, waiting for her answer.

“Mmm, yes, very well. We’ll all go. Elsie, after you fetch Wash, you and Kitty come help us dress, please.” She kissed Emmaline on the cheek and retied the ribbon in her hair. “We’ll make a day of it. Perhaps we could visit Rebecca and her new baby.”

“Oh, yes, could we?” Catherine and Mary clapped their hands and jumped up from the table. They ran toward the stairs, chattering as they went. Emmaline followed after them.

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