Yankee in Atlanta by Jocelyn Green

Author:Jocelyn Green [Green, Jocelyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-8024-8140-5
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Published: 2014-09-21T16:00:00+00:00

Atlanta, Georgia

Thursday, March 17, 1864

Jack smiled at her, then, but shook his head. What have you done? He flipped the ends of her freshly cropped hair, then turned her face with his thumb to her chin. The smile vanished when he saw the ragged cut on her jaw. Caitlin, what have you done?

Shhhhh! She cut her voice low. My name is Davis Walker now, and I’ve just enlisted, same as you. Mother will be glad for the income.

What do you mean you’ve enlisted?

Caitlin shrugged. You should know. The medical examination consisted of a few questions and a listen to my heartbeat. I’m strong and healthy, and Lincoln has asked for 75,000 volunteers.

Men. Jack shot back. He asked for 75,000 men. This is not a game of dress-up, you know.

But she did not back down. I am not the first woman to serve and I certainly won’t be the last. Deborah Sampson, Revolutionary War. Lucy Brewer, War of 1812. Eliza Allen, Mexican War.

Jack rolled his eyes. Save your history lesson for your students.

But Caitlin had no students. She only had regret for opportunity lost, and guilt for a murder she did not intend to commit. She also had Jack. She would not fail him the way she had failed her mother. I am my brother’s keeper.

I am a man.

You are seventeen.

I don’t need a keeper.

Then accept me as your friend.

They shook hands then, but an earthquake split the ground between them. Caitlin tightened her clutch on Jack’s hand, but it was slipping. The earth plunged beneath him, even as it surged up like a cliff under Caitlin.

Release me! Jack yelled, wiggling free of her grasp. I can take care of myself!

The world groaned apart, an abyss dividing them in mere seconds.

Jack! She splayed herself on the ground, reaching down into the void but could not see him. Where are you? Are you hurt?

Get back from the edge!

But she could not see him. I won’t leave you!

The decision is not yours to make! We are already parted. Have faith! God will not waste this great divide.

The cliff began to crumble beneath her, and she scrambled backwards to keep from falling in. She should never have let him go. Jack! She cried again, tears glazing her cheeks.

Caitlin. The name rumbled on someone else’s lips, calling her back from the brink. Where was the voice coming from? Wrapped in darkness and pressure, she was suddenly standing on the ocean floor, yet somehow able to breathe. All was madness.

Caitlin, it’s all right. Come back to me. Please. Please don’t go. Noah was with her. Why could she not see him? His hand was on her brow. Her cheek. Brushing her hair from her face. Gently pressing her hand.

She caught it, squeezed it, would not let go. It was an anchor, pulling her up through leagues of muddied coherence.

I’m here now. And I’ll help you find Jack.

With a gasp, Caitlin broke through the surface and splashed back into wakefulness. Shock jolted her weary heart. For there was Noah Becker, kneeling beside the bed, his bowed head atop her hand.

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