As Olivia put her bonnet on, she asked, “Alex, are you certain you want me to go with you to see this man, Lawrence Reingold? You haven’t met him, after all. Your only contact with him is this letter you received yesterday.”
“Yes, it’ll save my having to repeat the whole conversation when I get back.” He grinned and kissed her cheek.
“Oh, Alex! I don’t want to keep him from being candid.”
“Knowing you, I expect you’ll keep him answering questions before he can think of what he’s saying. Besides, since we know that he is a friend of Mrs. Armstrong, we should have little fear of baring our concerns before him. Come along, my dear.”
As they entered the office indicated in Mr. Reingold’s letter, Alex grinned at Olivia. He had seen the sparkle of approval in her eyes as she looked at the building, seeing the busy men hurrying in and out, and a line of important-looking stenographers.
As soon as they stepped through the door of the law office, a young man left his desk and came to them. “Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Duncan, I presume. Come this way; Mr. Reingold will see you immediately.”
In the office, a gray-haired man turned from the window and came toward them. Alex thought he relaxed slightly as he glanced from Olivia to the card he held. “Mrs. Armstrong has asked me to see you. Come sit down and tell me what I can do for you.”
Caught off guard, Alex hesitated, and Olivia said, “Then you must be in sympathy with Mrs. Armstrong. She’s such a delightful person. But I think she’s of the opinion we’re—” She hesitated and looked at Alex.
“You’re in an uncomfortable position in Richmond, especially if you intend to announce your loyalties. Mrs. Armstrong can get by with such indiscretions simply because her family has been part of Richmond since before the turn of the century. We tolerate a great deal from old family.”
The man moved around his desk and pulled a chair close to them. “If you need a pass for the trains, I can provide that. However, I must urge you to pick your destination with care, and be advised that from here north, it will be difficult to travel.”
He paused and settled back in his chair with a slight smile. “It appears the Union is putting nearly as many spies in the South as we are placing in Washington.”
“Spies?” Olivia gasped.
Alex leaned forward. “Is that so? I didn’t realize this was going on. But, sir, we aren’t spies.”
“Then what is your purpose?”
Alex hesitated before saying, “We’ve been hearing about the large number of people in the South who are in reality supporters of the Union. We understand they don’t want war or secession.” He shrugged. “I’ve been beating the bushes in South Carolina trying to raise some strong Union sympathy.”
“South Carolina!” Reingold looked surprised. “Of all places, that will be the most difficult. I can give you suggestions, but I’m wondering what you hope to accomplish by wasting yourselves this way. Secession is a reality; a few people won’t turn the tide now. Why aren’t you in the army? Surely that would be more effective.”
Alex took a deep breath. “Sir, I’m not certain that’s the way the Lord wants me to fight this whole situation. I believe the slaves must be freed, and I believe the Union must be held together for the sake of the people—all of them. But it appears to me that to go out and shoot a man won’t solve anything.”
The man settled back in his chair and tented his fingers. “I agree. Thank God I’m too old to fight. At least this is a decision I needn’t struggle over. Young man, I hope you find the answer within yourself, because it’s easy to see you’re miserable with it now. And your grand designs to pull the Unionists together and put backbone into them—I’m not so certain it will work.”
“There seems to be a trend to allow the loudest voice to make decisions for the people. It happens in the North, too,” Alex added hastily. “I think that’s wrong. I’ve a conviction that if enough people are encouraged to organize and stand up for their true feelings, perhaps it will make a difference in several states.”
“You’re probably right. And who knows, that opinion might make a difference, especially in the western slave states.” Reingold straightened and leaned forward. “Unfortunately, when some of us get past fifty, we find it hard to be idealistic to the point that we’ll take to the streets to push our cause.”
He paused. “You might be interested in this tidbit of news. I’ve been hearing reports coming out of Louisiana indicating that in the past several months there’s developed a dissatisfaction with the Confederacy. Some of the leading people of the state who voted for secession are now strongly for the Union.”
“I’ve been hearing that Missouri, Tennessee, and Kentucky have large segments of their population who are for the Union,” Alex interjected.
“That is so, but take Missouri, for instance. The state’s become fragmented by internal fighting and guerrilla warfare. Those Unionists may find their timidity is keeping them alive. I certainly can’t recommend going there. If you did raise a following, it could be fatal to the handful of Unionists there.”
“What about Kentucky and Tennessee?”
He sighed. “Tennessee seems to be pretty much in submission to the Confederacy. From the reports I’ve heard, I don’t believe they are all happy with the situation. Kentucky is divided between Union and Confederate. I believe things are under control right now, but there’s been enough fighting in the state to indicate the people are strong in their individual loyalties.”
For a moment the man was silent. Olivia watched his brooding eyes. Finally he sighed and sat up. Smiling gently, he said, “You are brave people; I know you’ve had to face opposition to do what you believe is right. I want you to know there are many who are suffering over this situation, and their hands are tied too. One of my acquaintances is a special friend of General Robert E. Lee. He told me of the agony the general faced.
“Lee has been against slavery for many years; in addition he’s been a firm Union man. Now, since the secession, he’s begun to realize his roots are embedded, even entwined in the state of Virginia. My friend tells me it was a matter of extreme agony for General Lee to realize he couldn’t do any less than support the South. Long after calling slavery a moral and political evil, he made a statement that is now branded on my mind. Lee said, ‘I foresee that the country will have to pass through a terrible ordeal—a necessary expiation, perhaps, for our national sins.’”
Reingold got to his feet and looked at Alex. “Young man, I understand your reluctance to fight in any way other than this, but don’t let it be an excuse. General Lee is truly a man of God. I wish you could meet him and hear from his mouth the reasons he has for fighting. I don’t fully understand it. Perhaps it’s a calling—a calling to die for the things we hold most dear.”
He turned toward the door and stopped. “I must warn you, the railroad beds are in terrible condition. No matter which direction you travel, it will be difficult. However, from the reports I’ve received from northern Virginia, it will be virtually impossible for you to get out of the state by traveling that direction. I suggest that you travel west. I have passes prepared for you. From Kentucky you’ll be able to go north.” He smiled briefly. “If nothing else, there will be time enough while you’re waiting on trains to do a great deal of talking with the people you meet.”
As he let them out, he said, “There’s a final thing you should remember: The Unionists in the South largely hold Lincoln responsible for the war.”
Olivia and Alex walked quickly back to their hotel. When Alex closed the door to their room, he said, “My dear, after listening to Lawrence Reingold, I don’t believe it will be necessary to contact the rest of the people on the list.”
Olivia whispered, “What do we do now?”
Alex paced to the window and back. “Reingold mentioned Kentucky. He also told us it’s impossible to travel north through Virginia because of the poor condition of the railroads. There’s enough military activity between here and Washington to make me doubt the wisdom of taking you that direction, anyway.”
“It’s starting to sound as if it’s best to travel west,” Olivia murmured. Flicking the newspaper with her finger, she added, “Nearly every day we hear of problems along the coastline or in the mountains in western Virginia.”
She smiled and put her arms around Alex’s neck. “It doesn’t matter; we’ll be together. Alex, do you think we’ll ever be able to settle down to living a sedate, normal life?”
“Might be when we have several little ones, we’ll be glad to settle down. I watched that woman in front of us as we came back to the hotel…”
Olivia laughed. “With the three children hanging on to her skirts and a baby in her arms? But she looked happy,” she admitted. “And she was delighted when you fussed over the baby.”
Alex bent to kiss Olivia and nuzzle her ear. “Don’t forget,” he murmured, “in the Lord’s good time—” She tightened her arms around his neck and hid her tears against his coat.
****
At the train station the conductor fingered their tickets. “Going for a ride through the mountains? Mighty pretty; might even see a touch of snow.” Returning the tickets, he said, “Good idea—you going this month instead of last. The Yankees were trying to take over the whole railroad line. Didn’t last long though—it’s mighty rough terrain to fight a battle on. No matter; travel in these times is hard. More’n once I’ve had to dump passengers so’s the army can travel. Have a good trip.”
Several hours out of Richmond, after they settled into their seats, Alex said, “This is the route I hoped Mother and Father would take, through Roanoke into the mountains. So we’ll get to see the area, even though winter isn’t the most desirable time of year for a visit.”
“I wonder, would it have been different for your mother if they’d come here last summer?” He shook his head and took her hand in his. She observed the strong line of his mouth, the gold circle embedded in his ear, and the dark beard that hid his clenched jaw.
He leaned close. “Do you approve of what you see?” he teased.
“I was thinking how gentle your lips can be. Yet you look so stern right now.”
His eyes twinkled. “My dear Mrs. Duncan, you surprise me! No matter, at least you know I’m putty in your hands. Now enjoy the scenery or I shall steal a kiss when no one is looking.”
“What were you thinking?”
“That perhaps we’ll run into a spot of trouble. There was a weary, ragged-looking detachment of Confederate soldiers marching—if it can be called such, through that cornfield.”
A new awareness lit Olivia’s face as she began to comprehend their situation. “We’re getting into the area where there has been fighting. What happens if—”
“There are villages all along here; that’s encouraging. The most that will happen is we’ll be detained.”
She nodded mutely, but somehow her heart was not reassured.