If it is a crime to love the South, its Cause and its president, then I am a criminal.
– Belle Boyd
Hunter read the look of private agony and suppressed emotion on Andrea’s face, and knew she was working hard to restrain herself. “I’m sorry.” He reached out and took her small hand in his. “You should return to wherever you came from.”
“The general knows I am here.” She took a deep breath and looked up at him, distress evident in her troubled eyes. “I cannot go back.”
He nodded while staring absently at the deceptive size of her hand in his. He knew well the slender figure it belonged to possessed more fire and energy per square inch than anyone he had ever met. Even now, dressed as a boy, she radiated a dignity and nobility that was visible even beneath the low brow of her hat.
“Very well. I’ll have one of my men take you someplace where you’ll be safe.”
“No.” She shook her head forcefully. “I don’t wish to leave. With the Colonel’s permission, I will share whatever fate awaits him.”
Hunter remained silent for a moment, his eyes probing hers as he tried to catch his breath. Then he pulled her to him, almost melted to tears by the poignant complexity of her affection. The struggle between her devotion to him and duty to country stirred his heart. “Dear Andrea, I cannot accept such a sacrifice.”
“I have come this far. I will share your peril.”
“You will stand with Virginia?” He held her at arm’s length and stared into her eyes.
“I promised you once I would not allow the war to come between us. I did not agree to do one thing to your face, and expect to do another behind your back.” Andrea placed her head against his chest, clutching his coat. “I will share in your danger and glory, Alex. I must. I fear you will not come back to me.”
“Of course, I will.” He rubbed her back. “I have survived worse.”
“And we can go home? To Hawthorne?”
Hunter looked down and searched her face, striving to understand the meaning in her words and the promise they contained. Eyes full of devotion stared back at him. “Home?”
“If the offer still stands.”
Hunter closed his eyes, smiled, and pulled her back to him. “Oh, Andrea, I told you how I care for you. I do so still.” His voice was only a whisper. “I promise. We’ll go home.”
A swift knock interrupted them and they parted, just as a man stuck his head in the door. “Sir, Gus just got back. Said it’s important.”
“Send him in.”
The scout soon entered, followed by Carter and three other officers, including Captain Pierce. Andrea tried to remain inconspicuous, walking to the back of the room, her hat pulled low.
“What do you have?” Hunter took a deep breath and prepared himself for the worst.
“It appears all routes are closed. They are massing in every direction.” Gus pointed on the map. “Looks to be at least a brigade here.”
Hunter stared at the crude drawing, a grave look upon his face.
“Pretty heavy odds,” Carter said, “considering we’re backed up to the river like this and down supplies.”
“If they wish to fight, they will be facing the best the Confederacy has to offer.” Hunter walked over to the fireplace, and leaned for a moment in silent meditation against the mantel as he stared at the crackling flames.
“Pierce, I want you to dismount your men as skirmishers at the front. Carter, take your men and place them here.” He walked briskly back to the table and pointed to the map. “Jake and Boz, you’ll be here and here to protect our flanks. Gus and Hank can hold some men in reserve.”
Hunter gazed up at the eager faces of his men and then focused once again on the map and the business at hand. “If only there was a way to bring in reinforcements and supplies, we could handle them easily.”
“I’ve been up and down that river,” Gus said. “I have found no ford.”
Andrea began to pace back and forth, her spurs clanking loudly on the floor. More than one of the men looked back at her, irritated at the distraction.
“I see no choice but to proceed as planned.” The men started for the door at Hunter’s words.
“Wait!” The room grew silent as each man turned toward Andrea. Walking to the map, she studied it for a moment, trying to get her bearings. “I know a ford.” Her voice was small and weak.
“You don’t have to—” Hunter began.
“I know a ford,” she said, louder this time. “It’s deceiving. Its banks are steep. But the water runs low.”
“Do you know this boy, sir?” Pierce stepped forward as if he did not trust what he was hearing.
“Yes. He can be implicitly trusted.”
“Capital! We can send for reinforcements. Take me there.” Pierce talked excitedly while starting again for the door.
“Wait!” Hunter’s voice froze everyone in the room. “Are you sure it is passable?”
Andrea bit her cheek. “It will not be easy, but I’ve crossed in similar weather.”
Again, everyone in the room fell breathlessly quiet. Hunter ran his hand through his hair. “How far?”
“Maybe a mile, probably a little less.”
Hunter nodded. “Very well. Take some men with you, Pierce. If it’s in enemy hands, engage with anything less than twice your number. If you can take it without firing a shot, all the better. I’d rather not alert the Yanks that we are aware of its presence.”
Pierce nodded with obvious annoyance, apparently more eager for the opportunity for a fray than to take the ford without a fight.
“Post enough men to keep it in our control. We must command that passage at any cost, whether we choose to stand…” He paused and looked at Andrea. “Or not.”
He sat down to write another hasty dispatch, never raising his eyes, even while giving additional orders. “Get this across as soon as you can get through,” he said, handing the message to Gus.
He rattled off more orders with practiced ease and walked to the door with his men as they filed out. He closed the door just as Andrea reached it.
“Are you adequately armed?” His voice was low and strained.
Andrea nodded, but wore a questioning look. “You cannot think I will use force against your enemy.”
“Confound it. Your enemy is all around you! And if you don’t know that then I am reluctant to let you go.”
Andrea nodded regretfully, seeming to accept that loyalty and treason had somehow fused. “Still, I will not use my weapon save in my own self-defense.”
Hunter put his hands to his temples, trying to decide whether to let her go. The battles fought during four long years of bloody struggle were not half so hard as the decision that confronted him now. “Do you understand the extreme peril you are undertaking?”
“I comprehend both the peril and the necessity. Don’t argue about it. I am going.”
Hunter looked into eyes that were both uncompromising and decisive. “Return to me here as soon as Pierce is led to the ford. Do you understand?”
He stomped over to the table and drove his pen across another piece of paper furiously. “That means you do not wait for him to engage, or even to see if the ford is guarded. Turn around after showing him the ford’s location no matter what you hear. Do you understand?”
“I understand, Colonel.” Andrea stood impatiently with her hand on the door latch.
Hunter strode across the room. “Here. Take this pass in case you get stopped by any of my men.” Then his voice turned softer. “You’ve taken enough risks on your own accord. You need not take any more on mine. I understand the sacrifice.”
“If you will use the ford to get back to Virginia, it is well worth the sacrifice.” Andrea shoved the piece of paper into her pocket.
“I’m not in the habit of choosing routes of retreat. I leave that for the enemy.”
“I would hope that you’re not in the habit of allowing your men to be needlessly slaughtered either. Your reputation as a brave and gallant soldier is not worth that.” She reached for the door latch, but he held it firm.
“It’s not for my reputation or glory that I fight. It’s for the honor of Virginia. You know that.”
Again she tried to remove his hand from the latch. “There is no honor in fighting a losing battle. I’m showing you the location of the ford so you can retreat with dignity—not get whipped with honor.”
He frowned when he read the impatience on Andrea’s face. “When the ford is in our hands, I will decide our course of action.” He paused and stared at her intently. “I hope you fully appreciate the risk of the venture. Your hand must be against them, as it has been for them.”
“Surely you do not believe I came all this way without appreciating that risk. As for whom I stand with now, I am willing.”
One more look in her rebellious eyes caused Hunter to concede. “Very well. Show Captain Pierce the way.”
Although he intended to give her a parting kiss, he did not have time. By the time he passed through the door, she had already leaped into the saddle and was holding a large, spirited, and impatient horse in her skillful hands.
The massive beast beneath her snorted and pinned its ears, providing more than a little indication that it intended to try to remove the obstacle from its back at the first opportunity. No need to worry about that, Hunter thought to himself. She would ride a hurricane if someone dared her to, or attempt to jump a mountain if someone told her it could not be done.
He watched in breathless silence as she whirled the horse around, and took off at a gallop with a dozen men following close behind.
Hunter closed his eyes and, for the second time in his life, said a prayer. He could not believe he was entrusting the one he loved with so dangerous an errand on behalf of his Command, nor that she was willing to accept it on behalf of him.