Managing Millie: Rescued Hearts of the Civil War ~ Book 3 by Pope Sloan Susan

Author:Pope Sloan, Susan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wild Heart Books
Published: 2023-12-04T00:00:00+00:00

February 10, 1865

Troy opened the bakery door and shut it quickly to keep out the cold. He’d promised to meet Lydia there and escort her to the prison for the weekly delivery of pies. She’d protested, but he wouldn’t be dissuaded, claiming he wanted to spend time with his favorite aunt. He’d do what he could to protect her.

Lydia slipped into her cloak and flashed a playful smile. “Right on time. I guess army life did you a heap of good.”

Troy grinned at her teasing. “Now, Aunt Lydia, I wasn’t that bad. Besides, I knew if I didn’t get here when I said, you’d go traipsing off by yourself, like the stubborn woman you are, and I couldn’t risk that.”

She raised her brows. “And who do you think escorted me to the prison before you showed up? Nobody, that’s who, and I’ve never come to any harm these past six months.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t have a hostile husband inside the prison then.” He took the bakery box from her while she pulled on her gloves. Lydia’s life hadn’t been easy. She’d lost both parents before she turned thirteen, and the relatives decided she should stay with Granny McNeil. That meant working in the cotton mill to support the two of them and later tending Granny as she aged. Lydia must have thought marrying Cal would save her from that drudgery—as it did until Cal left to join the fighting and she returned to the mill.

He shook off his musings as Lydia pulled down the window shade to show the store was closed. She called back to her employers. “Mr. Watford, Mrs. Watford my nephew’s here, so I’m leaving now.”

They stepped outside and leaned into the wind. The weather prevented decent conversation, so they traveled the city streets in silence. A few flakes of snow swirled in the aura of lights shining from the store windows. The scent of spiced apples drifted from the box and brought back memories of better times on his parents’ farm. Troy’s months of roaming the countryside made those even more precious.

“Hattie promised a hearty stew for supper.” Lydia leaned toward him and raised her voice. “I’ll be ready to eat my share as soon as we get to the house.”

Troy smiled and jostled the box. “Me too, especially after smelling these pies.” He sidled closer to Lydia as they passed the train depot and a group of men emerged from the growing darkness. The cold weather should keep any ruffians off the street, but he’d learned to be on guard. After what Millie had gone through, he viewed any stranger as a threat.

As they neared the prison, Troy recalled running into Becky Varner earlier in the week. She’d said her family was staying across from the prison.

“Do you know Henry’s neighbors, Thaddeus and Velma Varner?”

Lydia’s teeth chattered as she shook her head. “I never ventured as far as Henry’s place. What about them?”

“Millie and I saw their daughter, Becky, the other day. She said her pa’s at the prison and they’re staying in the refugee house until he can go home.

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