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probably saved my life.
Oh, my dear Scott, Cynthia said as she stood and put her arms
around Bren you have a life eminently worth saving. She leaned
back and looked into Bren s eyes, which were quickly filling with
tears. She seemed puzzled for a moment before realization dawned.
65
NANN DUNNE
You re Sarah! She held her daughter at arm s length and repeated
herself. You re Sarah.
Sarah forced words through her suddenly constricting throat.
Am I still eminently worth saving?
Always, Cynthia choked in return and clutched her daughter to
her. After several moments, they parted and Cynthia looked at
Prescott. You knew, she said with a short laugh, and he nodded.
But how? She looked back at Sarah. In those men s clothes, you
look just like a thinner Scott. Scott with a beard, that is.
Prescott stood, put his arm over Sarah s shoulders, and smiled at
her. I recognized that distinctive get-the-hell-out-of-my-way-or-I m
coming-through-you attitude. He gave his daughter s shoulders a
squeeze. Now let s all sit down, and you can start explaining why
you re dressed like a man and how you got here. Then you can give
us all the latest news from Scott and Lindsay.
After they returned to their seats, Sarah swept her arm in a wide
circle. First, you must tell me what this attack was all about. Why
were they trying to hang you?
It s been going on for a while now. Prescott s hand lifted
unconsciously to his neck. This pack of rats has been terrorizing
everyone around here. They ve already killed four other landowners.
When word gets out that you ve stopped them, the whole area will be
relieved.
Why didn t you have guards out?
Like whom? All the able-bodied men are in the war. I hoped
Matthias and I could protect our women and children. That bunch was
smarter than I reckoned, and they caught me alone.
What was their purpose? Was it related to the war?
I don t think so. They were just taking advantage of the
unsettled times and trying to fill their pockets. They d kill an owner
and steal everything movable worth taking. The killing must have
satisfied some bloodlust and greed they had. No real reason for it.
Cynthia interrupted. Sarah-Bren, I cannot stand it any longer.
Please take off that beard. You don t look like yourself at all.
Sarah turned to her mother, knowing that she would see the
sour stomach look on her face. Sure enough. She turned back to her
father and rolled her eyes. Prescott put his fingers to his lips to
suppress his smile.
Mother, I m not supposed to look like me. It s a disguise.
Cynthia frowned in confusion. Why on earth do you need a
disguise?
66
THE WAR BETWEEN THE HEARTS
Oh, Lord, Sarah thought, do I dare tell her I m spying for the
Union? I wanted to be a soldier. The only way I could do that was to
masquerade as a man. So I did.
You re a soldier? You fight in the war? Cynthia s eyes were
wide pools of astonishment. I wondered why your visits had
stopped. I thought it was because of the war, but I never . . . The
sentence died away.
Actually, I hardly ever fight. I m a scout. That s why I m not
wearing a uniform.
Shock seemed to still Cynthia s breath, but only for a moment.
Sarah-Bren Coulter, sometimes I just don t understand you. Why
can t you act like most other women?
Because, Mother, Sarah said in a sharp voice, I m not like
most other women. She was immediately sorry. She knew her
mother had never understood her. Why would today be any different?
In some ways, Sarah didn t understand her mother, either. But they
loved each other, and bickering only hurt them both. I apologize for
sounding so rude. Please, will you just accept me as I am, and let it go
at that?
Let it go? How can you think I could let it go? My only
daughter is dressing up like a man and pretending to be a soldier.
How can I ever hold my head up among my friends when they hear
about this?
Mother, I m not about to change. Her mother didn t seem to
realize that Southern society as she knew it would never be the same.
The Union, with its vast resources and unending supply of soldiers,
would win this war, and Southern gentility would lose most of what
they held dear. But Sarah couldn t tell her mother that. Instead, she
said, Let s not fight. I just saved your life, and you just saved mine.
Let s call a truce and be thankful we still have each other.
Cynthia looked and sounded defeated. I ll try. With an
obvious attempt to change the subject, she said, Tell us about Scott
and Lindsay and the baby. How are they?
Relieved, Sarah passed along whatever information she could,
including the attack on the munitions train and the injury to Phillip.
She downplayed her part in the incident, focusing instead on the
severity of Phillip s wounds.
The train carried ammunition for the Union. What were you
doing there? Cynthia surprised Sarah with the speed of her insight.
67
NANN DUNNE
I was trying to warn them. I work for the Union, Mother, not
the Confederacy. Sarah let this information drop into a pool of
silence.
Prescott broke the stillness. That makes sense to me. Your
mother and I both favor the strength of a united country, although we
don t say that too loudly around here.
Cynthia didn t remark on that. It s good you reached them in
time to save Phillip s life.
Scott would have done it if I hadn t been there.
Do you think so? Cynthia looked at her daughter rather
speculatively. I m not so sure about that. He could have saved
Phillip before you arrived, couldn t he?
I suppose so. But Phillip is his best friend, Mother. That had to
make him hesitate.
Phillip is your friend, too, yet you didn t hesitate for one
second. And today, Cynthia said as her voice lifted, I don t think
Scott could have done what you did. Like me, he s too cautious. You
have your father s daring streak and his courage. She nodded as if
agreeing with herself. I ve never really given you credit for that, and
I should have. I ll never be reconciled to your being a soldier, but
you re a very courageous young woman.
Sarah could feel herself glowing even as threatening tears stung
her eyes. She couldn t remember the last time her mother had paid
her a compliment. Usually, Cynthia was too busy doing mother-type
things like telling her to stand straight, sit and walk in a more ladylike
manner, or ride sidesaddle. Her mother had to know that most of her
admonitions to Sarah were a waste of breath, but still she kept trying,
perhaps hoping that some would bear fruit. And a few had, but not the
ones meant to turn Sarah into a Southern belle.
Today was notable because Sarah saved her father s life. But it
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