Unconditional Surrender by Gina Danna

Author:Gina Danna [Danna, Gina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: To The Bitter End Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

“There never were such men in an army before. They will go anywhere and do anything if properly led.”

~Gen. Robert E. Lee, May 21, 1863

It was unbelievable that he’d escort her to the washroom. Sarah’s mind raced, but she did her best to curb any show of annoyance—a skill she’d learned as a child and perfected over the last three years. Schooling her body to appear relaxed, she walked ahead, instead of storming as she wanted.

She turned the corner to head down the hallway to the room at the end. Bentley had pointed it out as he’d brought them to their room. This house had a washroom inside to protect ladies from having to walk outside in bad weather, or in front of the slaves. She wanted to laugh—who did they think cleaned up after them?—but considering the circumstances, it might yet be her savior, due to the knight behind her. How was she to write a message for the general with the enemy in clear sight?

“Give me but a minute, my gallant sir.” She took the candle from his hand and slipped into the room, satchel in hand.

Thankfully, the room had a small table. On it sat linens, a washbasin, a pitcher filled with water, and soap. She bit her lower lip. The tabletop was made of rough wood plus the washbasin took most of the space, so writing wouldn’t work. She stifled a groan and put her plan aside as she tipped the pitcher, spilling water into the basin, then undid the top two buttons of her bodice and unbuttoned her cuffs, rolling the sleeves back. Scooping water up in the cup of her hands, she splashed her face, neck, and arms, with droplets rippling down her chemise, into the valley between her breasts. After all the time on the trail, sitting in the heat on horseback, the wash definitely refreshed her. If she could only sleep, all would be…

Sleep. She was in a room with him. Her heart jumped a beat. Major Charles Silvers was truly a Southern gentleman, and her own attraction to him had been burrowing deeper into her soul, something she did not need.

Again, that night opened before her eyes. Flames shooting up the trees around the main house. Her father pushing her to Mammy, hollering for them to flee. Men, dressed in dirty clothes, riding circles around the property, guns firing in the air. She could still hear them and the screams of those they ran across, including her father… The roar in her ears made her cringe, and she quickly covered them with her hands, squeezing her eyes shut as if that could block the sights filtering through her mind. She forced herself to breath. It had happened years ago, and she’d seen several of them burn for that night.

In and out, in and out.

Slowly, her heartbeat returned to normal, and her nerves calmed. She opened her eyes. She’d been in here too long. Quickly, she rebuttoned her bodice and cuffs then gathered her goods into the bag and glanced at herself in the looking glass above the basin.

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