text:
# The Forgotten Debutante

# Becky Lower

Avon, Massachusetts
Copyright © 2016 by Becky Louise Lower.
All rights reserved.

This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

Published by

Crimson Romance

an imprint of F+W Media, Inc.

10151 Carver Road, Suite 200

Blue Ash, OH 45242. U.S.A.

www.crimsonromance.com

ISBN 10: 1-4405-7903-2

ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-7903-5

eISBN 10: 1-4405-7902-4

eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-7902-8

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, corporations, institutions, organizations, events, or locales in this novel are either the product of the author's imagination or, if real, used fictitiously. The resemblance of any character to actual persons (living or dead) is entirely coincidental.

Cover art © iStockphoto.com/Jason Doiy.
_This book is dedicated to Aunt Dot. We may not be related by blood, but we are related in spirit. Getting acquainted with you over the past few years has been an unexpected treat. Thank you for enjoying my books, and for being my number one fan. RIP._

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# Contents

  * Title Page
  * Copyright Page
  * Dedication
  * Family Tree
  * PROLOGUE
  * CHAPTER ONE
  * CHAPTER TWO
  * CHAPTER THREE
  * CHAPTER FOUR
  * CHAPTER FIVE
  * CHAPTER SIX
  * CHAPTER SEVEN
  * CHAPTER EIGHT
  * CHAPTER NINE
  * CHAPTER TEN
  * CHAPTER ELEVEN
  * CHAPTER TWELVE
  * CHAPTER THIRTEEN
  * CHAPTER FOURTEEN
  * CHAPTER FIFTEEN
  * CHAPTER SIXTEEN
  * CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
  * CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
  * CHAPTER NINETEEN
  * CHAPTER TWENTY
  * CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
  * EPILOGUE
  * More from This Author
  * Also Available

# PROLOGUE

_New York City_

_July 15, 1863_

Releasing a shallow breath, Saffron Fitzpatrick glided down the stairs on slippered feet, avoiding the creaky spots with unerring accuracy from years of practice. She surveyed the hallway and let out the rest of the air from her lungs. All the servants were still in the basement, preparing the noonday meal. If she hurried, she could escape the house undetected. She ran to the back door, her curls bouncing around her head, and let herself out into the yard.

Heart pounding, she stood, back up against the door, and listened. No frantic footsteps from inside the house meant her break to freedom had gone unnoticed so far.

After two days of being housebound due to the draft riots, Saffron had tired of heeding her father's warnings to stay indoors. Even though his motives were sound and he was only trying to protect her from the roaming mobs, she would surely perish from boredom if she spent one more moment inside. Although her intent to breathe some fresh air was dashed because the city was foul with smoke from the fires being set around town, she still cherished the freedom of being outdoors. Her skin erupted in goose bumps at her boldness. She cringed back against the door as the distant shouts came closer.

But she had a mission: She needed to see Biscuit. She could certainly get from the family brownstone to the carriage house in their backyard without running into any of the rioters, couldn't she? Talking to a horse beat staring at her bedroom ceiling. Or reading another boring book. Her intent clear, she pushed herself away from the door and ran to the small building.

She opened the door to the carriage house. Diffused lighting came through the windows near the roofline, and the cool air was filled with a familiar, comfortable combination of hay, horse dung, and leather. Saffron inhaled the scents as she waited for her eyes to become accustomed to the subdued light. Biscuit nickered a nervous greeting. She tiptoed across the brick floor toward the mare's stall.

And came to an abrupt halt.

The apples, which Saffron kept in a bucket to dole out to the horse, were all gone. As were the carrots. Someone had been in the carriage house, and possibly still was. Perhaps one of the marauders had scaled the stone wall surrounding their backyard, and come in here to set the carriage house on fire. But why would he have removed all the produce first? Her heart began to beat erratically, and her hand went to her throat.

She backed toward the door, hoping if she were quiet, whoever was or had been in the carriage house would not notice her. She'd go back to the house and sound an alarm. Then, armed with the servants, she could return and confront whomever was here. But Biscuit nickered again. If someone was intent on setting fire to the carriage house, Saffron needed to take her horse into the yard first, then call for the servants. She picked up a hayfork and made her way forward, her slippers not making a sound as they moved over the floor. She opened the door to the stall and found what was upsetting her horse, and the answer to why all the good treats were gone. A Union soldier was asleep in the hay next to Biscuit. Lord in merciful heaven! Of all things!

Even though he was wearing a Union uniform, it didn't mean he wasn't a danger to her. She raised the pitchfork high and jabbed his midsection, waking him from his slumber.

The man squawked and began to backpedal, as she pushed the pitchfork even further into his stomach. She hoped she had enough strength to pierce the heavy wool of the uniform and do some permanent damage to the man. She didn't want to kill him, only to make him squirm on the ends of the sharp tines while he provided her with some much-needed answers.

"Who are you?" There—the least important question on her mind was out in the open.

He threw his hands into the air, as if being taken prisoner. "Private First Class Ezekiel Boone, ma'am."

"And why are you hiding out here in my carriage house?"

He wrenched the pitchfork away from his midsection, stood, and brushed the hay off his uniform. Saffron was at a distinct height disadvantage, and her weapon was fairly useless, but she held on to it for dear life. She noticed other things about the man, as well. He was more boy than man, still filling out, yet already he had a set of broad shoulders that tapered down to a trim waist. Wheat-colored hair the sun had kissed with streaks of light rioted about his smooth-skinned face. And his eyes were green as an emerald.

"I'm trying to get home to my family."

"Is the war over, then? If that's the case, why are those men in the streets, not but a few blocks from here, rioting at the very idea of being forced into a uniform?"

He shrugged before answering. "No, ma'am, the war's not over. And even though it's not any of your business, my family needs me and asked for me to come home. I have permission to leave the army."

"A lot of families need their men back home. But yet they stay and fight, as you need to do. Are you a coward? Could that be the reason why you're quitting the war?" Saffron couldn't resist needling him.

He bristled, then, and tore the pitchfork from her hands, turning it on her. Her gaze slipped from his green eyes to the end of the pitchfork, which he was now holding as a weapon. Maybe she'd pushed him too far.

"I am no coward. A fool, maybe. But I've been elected by my brothers to head back home. And we got permission from the commanding officer before Chancellorsville for one of us to return."

Saffron's eyes followed the flight of the pitchfork. She might no longer have the advantage of the weapon, but she skewered him with her stare. "And where are these brothers, Private? I don't see anyone but yourself."

Ezekiel turned his head to the wall and muttered something under his breath.

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear your answer. What did you say? Where are these brothers?"

"Dead. Not that it's any of your business either."

Saffron's eyes filled with tears. "Dead? All of them?"

"Yes, all four fell at Chancellorsville. That's in Virginia, in case you don't study geography. I'm the only one left who can go home and help my daddy."

"Where is home?"

"Upstate New York. I can be there in three days if I can ever get out of the city. What is going on here anyway? All the rioting and the fires? There are armed guards everywhere."

Saffron studied him. "It's the draft riots. President Lincoln issued a federal lottery so we can get this blasted war over with. Every man must serve unless he has three hundred dollars to get out of it or pay for someone to substitute for him. So, of course, the wealthy are being targeted."

His gaze slid over her. "And, I take it, you are one of those in the cross hairs? Why are you not in your house, then, under lock and key?"

She rolled her eyes. And squared her shoulders. Even though she'd lost the advantage of the pitchfork, she would not be intimidated. Not by a gangly young man, anyway, who was hardly more than a boy.

"I'm here to talk to my horse, since everyone's left the house today. That's why. At least I have a reason for being here. Unlike yourself."

"I can be gone in a flash if you'll lend a hand. I need civilian clothes and a horse."

Saffron stared at him. Mighty uppity of him, asking for her help. He was nothing more than a common thief. Or he would have been, had she not appeared.

"So, had I not interrupted, your plan, after you took a nap and ate all of Biscuit's juicy treats, was that you'd steal her and make your way north?"

Ezekiel studied his worn-out boots. "Something along those lines, yes."

"Well, you can't have my horse. I've owned Biscuit since I was a child."

"You're not much more than a child now."

Saffron sputtered. "I'm fifteen, a grown woman. And you don't seem old enough to serve in the army, so I'm not buying your story yet. Even though you're in uniform, how can I know for certain you are who you say you are? That you're not a yellow-bellied deserter from the army? That you're not a common horse thief?"

"Maybe I'm not old enough to have served in the army, but that's where I've been for the last three years. I'm only sixteen."

They stared at each other for a long moment, the pitchfork still between them. Saffron could read the tension in the young man's eyes, along with the pain when he referred to his brothers. She sighed and broke the eye contact, swiping her hand over her hair.

"You're probably telling the truth. You don't seem smart enough to make up such an elaborate lie."

She noticed his lips twitch up into a smile for the first time. "Thanks, I guess."

"My name is Saffron Fitzpatrick. Nice to meet you." She held out her hand to him, and he finally propped the pitchfork up against the wall. He grasped her hand in a solemn shake.

"Nice to meet you, Saffron. A pretty name for a pretty girl."

She laughed, trying not to notice how her skin tingled from his touch. "Not only can you not manufacture an elaborate lie, but you can't sweet talk a woman very well, either."

He placed a hand over his midsection. "You pierced my stomach with the pitchfork, the marks of which I'll probably carry for the rest of my life, and even so, I tell you you're pretty. That's sweet talk aplenty, in my book."

"Well, sweet talk, or lack of it, aside, we have to get you out of here. My brother's an army recruiter and if he sees you in uniform, trying to get away, he'll either press you back into service or haul you up for a court-martial. And I'm supposed to be in my room, reading."

Ezekiel took hold of her hand. "Will you help me, then? All I need is some civilian clothing, and I'll be off. I won't bother you with anything else. And I won't take Biscuit."

Saffron removed her hand from his large, warm one. She needed to come up with a plan, and couldn't if this young man continued to hold on to her. Helping him get out of town would be a wild adventure, and she so needed an escapade to liven up her weary life. The Civil War had interrupted her plans for a debutante ball, among other things. The least it could do is give her something exciting to relive when her life got boring again. Which would be tomorrow.

She made a snap decision. "I can get you something to wear, but you won't be safe in town with the armed guards around. They're on the lookout for army deserters. We need to get you out of town, and fast. Can you hitch Biscuit to the wagon while I run upstairs and get you some clothes? Jimmy, our stable boy, lives there, but he's got our other horse at the blacksmith today, so he won't be in his quarters. I'll get some of his clothes for you to wear. Then, I'll take you to the outskirts of the city. But after that, you're on your own."

• • •

Zeke inhaled a full breath for the first time since he'd awakened in the carriage house to find a pitchfork in his middle. At least if he had to be discovered, it had been by a pretty girl rather than the head of the household with a shotgun aimed at him. He even smiled a bit as he recalled the spunky blonde who'd been so brave with such a flimsy weapon. The pitchfork tines had found their mark on his stomach and left puncture wounds. They weren't deep enough to do any internal damage, he didn't think, but he was bleeding.

Not only did he admire her spunk right away, but he was also drawn to her looks. Yellow blonde hair, and eyes a brilliant shade of blue. Almost the same color as the hyacinths his momma had planted by the front door and which heralded the arrival of spring. He'd never met anyone like the privileged Miss Saffron before. But despite her background and the fact he was no better than the dirt beneath her slippered feet, she'd believed his story enough to help him.

If he'd had the time, he wouldn't have minded getting more familiar with her. Maybe take her to a dance or at least a ride around the park. Things he supposed cultured members of society did every day. Instead, the ride they were going to share would be fraught with danger and in a beat-up wagon rather than a carriage. He hitched the horse, the one Saffron called Biscuit, to the crudely built wagon. He hadn't yet figured out how she was going to get him to the outskirts of town, but he'd take whatever assistance he could get. His need to get home was tantamount to everything else. Even a pretty girl. His daddy was sick, or had been, the last time he and his brothers had gotten a letter from home. Maybe he was even dead by now. His momma and younger siblings needed his help to run the farm.

When the door opened again, he hid in the shadows until he was assured it was Saffron alone. She was weighed down by a stack of clothes and some food, so he moved in front of her to lighten her burden. In the dim light of the carriage house, she couldn't see well and ran right into him. Her soft body bumped up against his hard muscles, and the clothes she'd been carrying scattered onto the floor. He reached out to steady her, grasping her elbows.

The moment his hands were on her, his body responded. Despite his dire circumstances, his manhood sprang to life, the first time such a reaction had been caused by a real flesh and blood woman.

She stared up at him with a quizzical expression on her face. Maybe she'd experienced the same jolt of energy he had when they touched?

"Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." He let go of her arms as if they were on fire, and bent over to rescue the clothes and hide the bulge in his pants.

Saffron giggled. "Not your fault. I wasn't looking where I was going. It happens all the time."

He sifted through the clothing options and found a pair of rough trousers, a lightweight shirt, and a jacket.

"These will do if they'll fit." He began to undo the buttons on his uniform.

"No, wait!" Saffron stilled his hands, clasping her own over his. "You will not undress in front of me. My mother may have almost given up on me ever being a refined woman, but there are some things even I'm uncomfortable with. Go into the stall and change where I can't see you."

Zeke smiled again as the bolt of energy sailed through the air between them. "Yes, ma'am."

"And don't ma'am me. I'm nowhere near old enough to be called ma'am. Call me Saffron."

"Didn't you say you were a grown woman?" he asked with his tongue in his cheek. "And you can call me Zeke."

He divested himself of his uniform, his body shaking as he changed into civilian clothes. There would be no going back now. He wiped the remaining blood from his pitchfork wounds on his jacket and then hid the bloody midsection by folding his uniform carefully. He carried the worn, dirty, and tattered uniform out of the stall.

"What shall I do with this? We'll need to hide it or bury it."

"Let me have it. I have a special hiding place in here that no one has ever found. I'll put it there for the time being. Now, we must get you out of here. The army has soldiers stationed at every exit from town, so we must be extra vigilant. The only way to be successful is if you ride in the hidey-hole of the wagon." Saffron lifted the seat to show a narrow empty box.

"I can't possibly fit in there."

She sent a diabolical grin in his direction, clearly enjoying this twist of events. "Oh, you're not as big as you think you are. Well, except for your head, which is very full of yourself. I used to love to hide out there when I was a young girl. It's quite cozy. Come on, climb in, and I'll take you to the edge of town."

He stretched between his shoulder blades and climbed into the small space. He would be doing no more stretching for some time.

Saffron slammed the lid down on him with a cackle of laughter, and he was plunged into darkness.

"Now, since I've spent many a ride in the hidey-hole, I'm well aware you can hear me, so I'm going to tell you what's going on as we head out. If we encounter any patrols, you're going to have to be quiet as a church mouse on Sunday."

Zeke sighed softly, since he was unable to take a huge breath of air. "All right, then. Let's get going."

• • •

Saffron scrambled up onto the seat after she led Biscuit and the wagon out of the carriage house and closed the door. So far, she'd been undetected by her father's servants, but the quicker she got away from the house, the better. All she needed was to have Robert, the one in charge of the carriages and horses, come after her. She'd be mortified, because he'd berate her as if she were five years old. And that was the last thing she needed in front of Zeke, the first man near to her own age she'd met in years. The man who had fallen into her lap. Into her life.

She pondered the man in the hiding place of the wagon, who she was shielding with her body by sitting on the seat on top of him, and smiled broadly. He was a handsome young man, for certain. And he was desperate. She couldn't begin to fathom what hell he'd lived through as he'd witnessed each of his brothers die on the battlefield far from their home. What had been their names?

"Zeke, are you still breathing?"

"Yes, but not well. And do you have to hit every bump in the road? My head hurts."

"Oh, quit complaining. I'm placing my life and reputation in jeopardy to help you. If my father ever finds out what I've done, or my brother, for that matter, I'll be confined to home for the remainder of the war. And by that time, I'll be an old, withered spinster. The least you could do is be appreciative."

She intentionally hit a rut in the road and was rewarded with a curse from the box. The expletive brought a smile to her lips. She'd gathered up nearly all the food Jimmy had squirreled away in his quarters and now removed a peach from the knapsack she'd brought for Zeke. She bit into its juicy goodness as she drove the wagon. Some of the juice dribbled onto her chin, and she stuck out her tongue to capture it.

"So, tell me about your family, Zeke. What were your brothers' names?"

"The oldest was Adam, then Ben, Caleb, David, and me. Why do you care about their names?"

She sniffed the air. They must be getting close to the outskirts of town, since the scent of smoke had dissipated. They'd need to be extra careful now. The best thing to do would be to keep him talking. It would keep her mind off the perilous situation they were in.

"Because I enjoy big families, and I appreciate parents with a sense of humor when naming their children. I'm assuming there are more alphabetized siblings after you?"

"Yes, there's a passel of us. Momma and Daddy decided to start at the beginning of the alphabet, just to keep the order of their children easy for them, and see how far they got. After me, there's Frederica, Gertrude, Hannah, and Isaiah. There may be another one or two by now, but Daddy took sick some time ago."

Saffron's smile grew wider as she listened to Zeke talk about his large family. She loved her own big family terribly and couldn't conceive of losing any one of her brothers or sisters—yet Zeke had lost four of his in the space of one week. Her heart ached for him. And her mission to help him get home became of paramount importance. She'd take him as far as the Bronx, near where her sister, Jasmine, lived. He could blend into the forest there and be out of sight in no time. Her course was set.

The wagon rumbled on down the road, and Biscuit was enjoying the exercise, so she stepped smartly. A few pleasant minutes of quiet went by until her meandering mind circled back to the loss of his four brothers. She assumed Zeke had been the one to bury their bodies. Gloom overtook her as she wondered again about the horror of being in a battle. Best to find something else for his mind to dwell on, such as this jaunt into the Bronx. Saffron enjoyed the breeze on her cheeks and the thrill of excitement her adventure was causing. Zeke should feel the same sense of excitement even if he couldn't feel the breeze. Or move his toes.

When she turned the corner in the road and spotted two uniformed soldiers up ahead, her heart stuttered. Thoughts of the breeze and what a lark this ride was evaporated in the afternoon sun. Their first test was upon them.

She leaned over and whispered in the direction of the hiding place. "Zeke, there are some men in uniform up ahead, and they're carrying rifles. I don't have any idea what they're looking for, but I have to stop and talk to them; otherwise, they'll be really suspicious. You have to stay absolutely quiet, all right?"

"Be careful, Saffron."

She pulled the wagon to a halt and waited for the soldiers to come alongside.

"Good day, young miss."

She nodded to the men. "And good day to you."

"Privates McDougall and Smith, at your service. Where are you headed?"

"I'm on my way to my sister's house in the Bronx. My father decided it would be best for me to get out of the city for a few days, until the draft riots wind down. Why are you patrolling the streets leading out of town?"

She didn't care for the way the soldiers were eyeing the wagon. Perhaps they were on to Zeke?

"We are on the lookout for a few soldiers who decided they'd had enough of war, especially after Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Thousands of men went missing after those battles. The draft riots are keeping men from enlisting, so we need to catch these yellow-bellies before they get away and send them back into battle. We have to keep the Union ranks up in order to end the war."

Saffron nodded. "My brother's job with the army is to recruit and train the new soldiers, and he has a constant struggle to find new men."

One of the soldiers butted the wagon with his rifle. "So your father's letting you drive yourself? That doesn't seem likely."

"He's far too busy with his work at the bank. And we've let most of the servants go so they could join the army."

"Still, you should not be alone on the road. A few men with rifles could overtake you in an instant."

The men shared a glance with one another, and one made a grab for the reins.

Saffron flicked the reins so they slapped the man in his face. He recoiled and cried out, one hand on his wounded cheek.

"My brother, Major Halwyn Fitzpatrick, will be most interested in hearing of your harassment of the womenfolk who are traversing the roads, Private McDougall. Or are you Private Smith? I can't be sure, so I may have to name both of you."

Her eyes snapped at the pair, who stared at her, open-mouthed.

"I suggest you stand down and let me pass."

She glared at the men, who stood still for a long moment before they backed off from the wagon and motioned with their rifles for her to pass.

The rush of adrenaline from when she first confronted the men faded, and a prickle of fear shot up her spine as she moved away from the loaded guns. She resisted the urge to shrug her shoulders, even though she could feel their eyes on her until she rounded another bend in the road. Only then did she take a deep breath.

"Zeke, we're safe for the time being."

"You did a good job there. For a moment, I had a feeling I'd have to jump out of the box and save your virtue."

She laughed, but her laughter was strained. "My virtue is still intact, thank you. But that was way too close. They're searching for deserters, Zeke. The sooner you can get away, the better."

"I'm not a deserter, since I never enlisted to begin with. I followed my brothers as their regiment marched off, and hid in the woods until they encountered some action. Then, I took a uniform and rifle from one of the fallen soldiers and joined them in the fighting."

Saffron shook her head at the story, which she found hard to believe. "So you were a camp follower?"

"Yes, I guess you could say so. Adam about skinned me alive when I walked onto the battlefield, but by then, we were in West Virginia, and there was no way I could have found my way home. He thought I'd be safer with him and the rest of my brothers."

"Those men on patrol wouldn't care one way or the other if you were enlisted or not. You are an able-bodied man, and they're searching for anyone who can fill out a uniform."

Zeke's laughter caused her seat to vibrate. "So you've noticed I can fill out a uniform, eh?"

She straightened in her seat. "Let's get you to safety, all right? God's teeth, you're wearing on my nerves."

Any lingering doubts about Zeke and his story were laid to rest by their close encounter. He would not have been able to leave the city without her help. The army wouldn't care if he'd been given permission to head home by his commanding officer or that he was still too young to fight. Her only concern now was for his welfare. She needed to get him to the forest in the Bronx as soon as she could. Then she'd breathe easier.

But also, she'd have to say goodbye to him, and the idea caused her breath to hitch. As quickly as he had dropped into her life, he'd be leaving it. Her heart rebelled, but her mind won out. With a sigh, she flicked the reins across Biscuit's back. This blasted war had interfered with her life yet again. Best not to prolong things.

• • •

The wagon had come to a stop, but Saffron hadn't issued any words of warning or danger. Or said anything at all. He hadn't any idea what she was doing as the seconds dragged by. Were they at their final destination? It certainly seemed he had been in the cramped hiding spot for hours. Was it safe to expose himself, or should he stay put until she opened the lid of the seat? He waited in the dark, confined space for some indication of where they were or why they'd stopped.

Saffron grunted as she opened the lid, and it bounced on its hinges. Zeke brought one hand to his eyes to shield them from the harsh sun after so long in the dark, and struggled to his feet. He wobbled on unsteady legs. Saffron reached out to provide some support. Again, her touch sent a bolt of energy through his body, and he gazed into her blue-purple eyes, searching for some reassurance she had the same feeling. His experience with women so far had been nil, other than in his fanciful mind, so he couldn't read her expression.

"What took you so long? My legs are cramping."

"I had to make certain we were safe before I lifted the lid, Zeke."

He shrugged out of her hands and climbed down from the wagon before he turned to assist her.

Saffron grinned down at him and fell into his waiting arms before he could even reach out and grasp her waist. Their bodies collided, and his still shaky legs became more so, not from his confinement, but from the contact with her. He set her on the ground as fast as possible, as if she were a hot ember. She backed off a pace and stood beside him, grinning. It was almost as if she could read his mind, and she could see the exploding pictures that had nothing to do with his escape and everything to do with the budding curves he'd had plastered up against his body seconds earlier.

She stared up at him for a long minute, and when she spoke, her voice had a breathy quality to it. "Well, we've gone as far as I can go. We're in the Bronx, far enough outside the city so you can escape."

Zeke stretched his body and brushed lingering hay from his clothing. He glanced around at the houses scattered on the horizon and the bank of trees on one side, and nodded his approval.

"Yes, if I head north from here, I can be home in a few days. Will you be safe getting back to your home?"

"I'll have to take a different route from the one I took coming out here, in order to avoid running into those same guards, but yes, I'll be fine."

"Are you certain? Maybe I should go back with you to make sure you're safe."

Saffron bristled at his words. "What good would that do? You'd be back in the same position you were before we met, and this whole mad dash out of the city would be for naught. I can handle myself. Just ask Privates McDougall and Smith."

Zeke ran a hand over his mouth to hide his smile. She certainly was one feisty girl. "What will you do now?"

Saffron drew a line in the dirt road with the toe of her slipper. "I expect I'll do the same things I've been doing. Practice my embroidery, roll some bandages for the wounded soldiers, volunteer at the hospital, and wait for the ghastly war to end so I can begin to live my life. I hate it and what it's done to our country. To my family. And to yours." Her eyes filled with tears.

He longed to brush away the tears escaping from her eyes and cascading down her cheeks. But she'd probably recoil at his hard, callused thumbs on her petal-soft skin. "If I get home intact, what's left of my family will be forever in your debt. I'll find a way to repay you at some point."

"Don't worry about paying me back. You've already done so. You've given me the most exhilarating experience I've had in years. Keep to the woods and get yourself safely home, where you never should have left in the first place."

"But if I hadn't left home, I never would have met you."

Her big, gorgeous eyes roamed his face before she rolled them at him again. "You do need to work on your sweet talking. You show potential, but you've got a ways to go to be a silver-tongued devil. Right now, your place is at your home. Maybe there's a girl there you can practice with."

"Thank you for helping me out, Saffron. I'll never forget it. And I'll never forget you."

They stood awkwardly by the wagon for a long minute, staring into each other's eyes.

He took a deep breath and leaned down toward her face, toward those magnificent eyes. If she rejected his advance, it didn't matter, because he would never see her again. But he had to take a chance. The first kiss of his lifetime should be monumental, and if this moment wasn't special, he didn't have any idea what would be. His arms wrapped around Saffron's waist as his lips brushed hers, tentatively at first. She tasted of peaches. When she put her arms around his neck and drew him in deeper, his kiss became more insistent, and he lingered far longer than he originally had intended. The sensation of his lips sliding along her full, velvety ones was a memory to last a lifetime. His breath came in short gasps as he continued the kiss, reluctant to break away long enough to fill his lungs. Her delicate floral scent with its hint of spice tickled his nose. He pressed her up against the wagon, delighting in how her body's soft contours melded with his hard angles.

Finally, he backed away from her, grabbed his bundle of food from the bed of the wagon, and made a dash for the woods. But not before glancing back at Saffron one last time, to embed the image into his memory. Judging from the way she was standing, with the fingers of one hand on her lips and the other hand on the wagon as she stared at him, he reckoned it had been her first kiss, too. He hoped he'd done an adequate enough job of it so her first kiss would be something she'd always cherish. He certainly would never forget this moment.

# CHAPTER ONE

_New York City_

_September, 1866_

Saffron helped herself to the breakfast food choices laid out on the sideboard before she took her seat at the family table, where her mother and father were already enjoying their morning's repast. She popped a slice of salty bacon into her mouth before she picked up her fork to dig into the eggs, reveling in the taste of the good food. She closed her eyes in order to savor the moment. Good food, good fortune, and good times ahead, now that the war was finally winding down. Her father snapped his newspaper shut with a practiced flick of his wrist, and Saffron's eyes flew open. When her father closed his paper, he had something to say. Something that usually involved the war, which had been a topic of conversation for years. She hoped for no more of war. It was past time to play.

"The declaration President Johnson signed last month ending the war seems to be holding. Finally, this God-awful war is finished. I had almost given up hope."

"Me, too," Saffron agreed. "I hesitate to get too excited just yet, until I can be sure the truce will hold. But now, maybe life can get back to normal. I long to wear a pretty dress dripping in lace and frills and dance at an ornate ball. I'm dying to have some fun."

Her mother, Charlotte, patted Saffron's hand. "Yes, of all of ours, except for Pepper's, your life has been the most disrupted by the war. All the experiences you should have been having during the past few years have gone by the wayside. We'll have to do something to make up for it now. You're eighteen, past time we find you a husband. And now that the boys are all returning home, the number of available men should be picking up."

Saffron mused. "But even in war, Pepper managed to find a new love, and her life now is as rosy as it was before the war. I won't be so lucky. The men who are fortunate enough to be returning home are either crippled or so emotionally scarred the last thing they're hoping for is to marry and have another obligation."

Her father rose from the table. "There's a big write-up in the paper about how best to bring our fallen soldiers home from the battlefields and establish national cemeteries where people can assemble to honor the sacrifice of those good men. There's a sense of urgency to retrieve the bodies from southern land."

Charlotte nodded. "Well, of course we need to bring our boys home and see them properly buried."

George donned his suit jacket and took his hat from the waiting servant before he addressed his wife. "This Reburial Progam would be a good effort to get behind. Maybe you and Saffron can expand on your Sanitary Commission volunteer efforts."

Saffron's interest in the conversation picked up. "I have become quite the expert in the battle at Chancellorsville. Will they go field by field? Battle by battle? Because I can definitely contribute to at least one."

Her father nodded. "I suppose so. Clara Barton has been gathering information for over a year now with her Missing Soldiers' Office in Washington, DC. Her wealth of information is where the government will begin its efforts, according to the newspaper."

Saffron ran her finger over her upper lip. She'd volunteered her services to the Sanitary Commission for the past three years and worked closely with Pepper and her husband, Elijah, to set up a hospital directory to catalog the wounded and dead for the benefit of the affected families. After the hospital directory was established, she'd begun to gather letters and scraps of paper from soldiers and loved ones about the burial locations of the fallen at Chancellorsville. There were other battles, bigger battles, that had happened, but Chancellorsville was the one she had been most intrigued by.

Her interest had been sparked by her chance meeting with a young man called Ezekiel Boone, when he shared how he was responsible for burying his four brothers. The image of Zeke popped into her head for the first time in quite a while. But he had filled her head for months following their impromptu meeting when she was fifteen and helped him escape. One never forgot one's first kiss. And only kiss, to date. It was past time to put away for good her memory of him. It was past time to add to her life experiences. Perhaps have some more kisses with different men. Then, she'd stop reliving Zeke's kiss and their stolen moment in time. Maybe the Reburial Program could provide the way.

Her father continued. "Andersonville was the first place to have a cemetery, with the help of Clara Barton. Seems only fitting, since so many of our men died in prison there. The papers say more men died from disease and illness than died on the battlefield. But there's so much more to do."

Saffron listened to her father with half an ear, but her mind was far away. She was reliving a wild wagon ride three years earlier, with a wild boy who never should have been in any battles and seen what he'd had to witness, done what he'd had to do. She wondered where he was now and if he would still be able to make her stomach churn in delight. She ran her finger over her upper lip again and sighed. They were two ships that had passed each other during the stormy seas of war. She'd best set her sights on a new beginning, now that the war was over, rather than be pondering over what could have been with a boy she never should have met.

Her mother was correct. It was past time for her to find a husband. She recalled the men who she'd seen on the streets coming home from the war, some of them still wearing their filthy, ragged uniforms. Haunted eyes stared at her when they chanced to notice her. Either that, or they were missing an arm or leg. How could a man wrap his arms around her when he had none? She sighed, heavily. She took pity on these men, admired their bravery, but wouldn't choose to spend her life with them. At least not until she had an adventure or two to make up for lost time.

Maybe she could work with Clara Barton in Washington, DC. A new city would give her a new attitude, a new appreciation for life. It could be the first of her many new adventures. She tamped down the excitement building within her. A plan was what she needed—a sound, bulletproof plan so no one could possibly object. She'd wait until the subject came up again, maybe prompt Halwyn to discuss it the next time he and his wife came for dinner. Then she'd propose her idea. She'd be contributing to the war effort, ensuring that the war dead were returned home. Such a noble effort would not go unrewarded. How could her parents possibly say no?

• • •

A few evenings later, Halwyn and his wife, Grace, joined the family for dinner. Halwyn was handsome as always in his dress uniform, and Grace, with her porcelain skin, was a fitting counterpart to him. Normally, Saffron enjoyed having a crowd at dinner, and having her older brother at the table was supposed to help her ease into a conversation with her parents about moving to DC. But Halwyn had stolen her moment by saying he had a major announcement to make. Saffron ground her teeth together. Things were already not going according to plan.

Unless she could reveal her idea to move away from New York and work alongside Clara Barton, she'd be stuck in the same rut forever. She had carefully crafted her speech and gone over it in her room many times this afternoon, and now Halwyn was upstaging her. It was so unfair. She suppressed the urge to sigh heavily and instead stomped her slippered foot under the table. No one noticed.

She was still relegated to the family brownstone, wearing clothes that were years old and out of date. Even with a seamstress in the family, not purchasing new clothing had been part of the family's sacrifice to the war. And since volunteering with the Sanitary Commission was her only way to have some kind of life outside the home, new clothing wasn't needed. There had not been a cause for celebration in years.

What she desperately longed to do was dance. What she needed was a new wardrobe filled with colorful gowns that would sway around her as she waltzed in the arms of a fine gentleman. What she hoped was for her interrupted life to finally begin again. She ran her hand down the front of her best blue dress, the color of which used to match her eyes but was now hopelessly faded.

The rolls, with their yeasty scent, were making their way around the table when George cleared his throat, signaling it was time they got down to business. Saffron noticed her father's dark hair now had highlights of silver in it. _The blasted war has aged all of us._

"Don't keep us in suspense any longer, Halwyn. What is your big announcement? Is Grace going to present us with another grandchild soon? Or are you planning to trade in your officer's uniform and rejoin me at the bank?"

Halwyn reached over and grasped Grace's hand. He had a smile on his face, and the two of them expressing their affection for each other here at the table made Saffron misty-eyed. And melancholy. When would it be her turn to be happy?

Halwyn addressed his father. "We can't even drag the big announcement out until dessert, Father? Build some suspense?"

Charlotte Fitzpatrick, sitting beside her husband, fluttered her small hands through the air. "Of course not, Halwyn. Not if you have any hopes of seeing dessert, anyway. And it's your favorite. Apple pie with drizzled caramel on top. So, am I to become a grandmother again?"

Halwyn picked up Grace's hand and kissed it before he turned back to his parents. He straightened, and the fabric of his uniform stretched over his toned body. Grace responded to his kiss by running her hand lightly down his arm. Grace's fluid movement brought a lump to Saffron's throat. She surveyed the endearment from across the table, surprised at the sudden tears that formed in her eyes. She blinked them away, hoping no one noticed. Of all her siblings who had met their soul mates, she'd been most glad when Halwyn had found his true love. Even though she adored all of her brothers and sisters, Halwyn had always been her favorite. He was the one who made certain to include her in every outing, to take care of her when they were outside the home, to share a laugh at her clumsiness. She straightened in her chair and listened to her brother's response.

"All right, then. If there will be no main course until I tell you my news, I'll get on with it. No, Father, I won't be donning my banker's clothes any time soon. And no, Mother, Grace will not be providing you with another grandchild at this time. I've been asked to help Edmund Whitman with the Reburial Program in Washington, DC. We'll work in conjunction with Clara Barton, who has already amassed a huge amount of information."

Saffron's breath left her body. Her plan might not be so far-fetched now. Her heart rate sped up as she waited for Halwyn to continue, and her mind whirled as he explained.

"Mr. Whitman just sent out a circular asking for any information from any witnesses to the various battles. It's going to be a monumental effort, and I'm really excited about the opportunity."

Charlotte, who had been hanging onto Halwyn's every word, gasped and her eyes filled with tears. "You'll be moving, then? That's your big news?"

"It's a temporary assignment, Mother."

"But cataloging and then digging up the bodies will take years, Halwyn."

He nodded in agreement. "It is a massive undertaking, for certain. But we must bring our boys home and assure them a proper burial. Mr. Whitman is gaining momentum from the government, and I'm excited to have been asked to be part of it."

Grace chimed in on the heels of Halwyn's announcement. "And you'll have a new city to visit, Charlotte. Won't it be fun?"

Charlotte's misty eyes now sparkled. "I've always had a longing to spend some time in Washington, DC. Our nation's capital. How exciting."

George requested the wine glasses to be filled, and then raised his in a toast. Saffron raised hers as well, saluting the couple and sighing deeply as she did so. Halwyn and Grace were moving on after the war to a new and exciting life in a new and exciting city. And if she framed her idea for her future correctly, her parents couldn't possibly deny her. She wanted a new and exciting existence for herself, too.

She gulped another sip of wine for fortitude. Her hand shook so hard she needed to set her wine glass on the table before she spilled it. She no longer was willing to wait for her life to begin. She needed to create an opportunity. And the time was upon her. "How exciting for you, Halwyn and Grace. I'm certain Washington is lovely, and lively, now that the war is at an end. When do you leave?"

"I'm leaving next week. Grace, of course, will have the unpleasant task of closing up the house here and transporting herself and our children to DC as soon as I find us adequate quarters."

Saffron tapped her glass with a fingernail in an attempt at nonchalance. "And this Reburial Program of Mr. Whitman's. Will they be hiring any civilian help?"

Halwyn rocked back in his seat. "I'm sure they will. After all, it's a huge project, and time is of the essence. We can't leave those Union soldiers on southern soil any longer than we have to. The South is still reeling from the war, but soon, their anger will once again refocus. And I suspect any Union body they come across will not be dealt with kindly. We must act swiftly."

Halwyn's eyes locked with Saffron's and he ran a hand down his chest. "Uh, oh. I can tell the signs. When you take this much interest in an idea, you're plotting something I'm not going to be fond of, and it won't work this time, Saffy."

Saffron couldn't blink back the tears any longer. She was so tired of being thought of as a silly child. "It _would_ work if you'd give it even a moment's consideration. I need a life, Halwyn, and so far, it's been put on hold because of the dreadful war. The least the war can do for me now is to give me a fresh start at my interrupted life, in a new city. I could move there with you and Grace, help take care of your children, work for the Reburial Program, and have some fun, for a change."

Halwyn fiddled with his glasses for a moment. "Why don't you commission Jasmine to make you some new gowns instead? You don't need to work, Saffron, especially at the Reburial Initiative. We'll be digging up bodies and bringing them home. You don't need to be involved in such grisly work. It's time for you to move on from the war, not get mired in it again."

Saffron's hands formed tight fists. This was a battle. Her own war. And she wasn't about to lose. "I've been gathering information on those men who died on the various battlefields for years now. I'm familiar with how to establish files, and I assume the same type of filing system will be put into play in DC. It's high time I get paid for my efforts after all these years. A new dress isn't going to appease me this time. I'm no longer a child."

Halwyn glanced down the table, to his parents. Saffron could read the plea in his eyes for help. This was her one chance, and she had to take it. Her gaze skittered to the end of the table as well, with her eyes filled with a plea of her own.

Charlotte glanced at her husband, who nodded. Then she gazed at her youngest daughter. "You're right, Saffron. Your tireless work with the Sanitary Commission should be rewarded, and you would be a great help to Grace with the children. The country has changed with the war, and no longer can we expect young ladies of virtue to wait for a debutante ball to make their entrance into society. And we Fitzpatrick women have always been ahead of the latest trend."

Charlotte turned to Halwyn. "There's nothing wrong with Saffron wishing to continue her work. She's been a huge help at the Commission, and her knowledge will come in handy at the Reburial Program. We were aware the day would come when our youngest would be leaving home." She turned back to her daughter. "We would not be opposed to your move, Saffron, if Halwyn and Grace agree to it."

Saffron's focus darted to Halwyn, whose face had turned as green as the pea soup. Grace placed her hand on his arm before she spoke.

"I'd love help with the little ones, Saffron. Halwyn will be off in DC long before I get there, so he'll avoid the problems associated with packing and moving a house and children. And once we're in DC, you can work for the program and live with us. It's a wonderful solution."

Saffron's smile wobbled on her face. There was hope, after all. Now all she and Grace had to do was to convince Halwyn. No easy task, to be sure. But if Grace approved, Halwyn would cave quickly, since he couldn't deny his wife anything. Saffron could wait a day or two for Grace to work her magic on her sometimes very stubborn brother. And she'd keep her fingers crossed. Her future happiness was in DC; she was certain of it.

• • •

_Upstate New York_

_September 1866_

"Come sit here, boy, and talk to me." Ezekiel's father, Jed, patted a hay bale in the barn where they'd been working. Zeke noticed his father was already taking a break from his chores and using the hay as a seat. It was only mid-morning. Since his pneumonia over three years ago, his father's stamina had suffered, and the once-powerful man Zeke had admired his entire life was no longer in evidence. Zeke wiped the sweat from his brow, slid in beside his father, and put his arm around his father's bony shoulders. They spent a few quiet minutes listening to the sounds of the farm—the cows mooing to each other in the field, the chickens clucking in the clearing between the house and the barn, the pigs squealing as they rolled in the mud.

Zeke finally broke the silence. "We still need to cut down the cornstalks and turn over the soil one more time, but the farm is in pretty good shape for winter."

"I agree. You've done a great job since you've come back home. But now, there's one more job I need you to do. And it means leaving home again. Something you were once so eager to do."

Zeke rolled his shoulders, which had filled out from his lanky youth and formed into hard muscle from his long days working on the farm. "I was young and stupid, and I witnessed things that still haunt me. I'm happy to be back at home. I never want to leave again."

"Glad as I am to hear that, there is one thing you must do." Jed reached into his pocket and pulled out the circular. "Have you seen this yet? The government wants to collect the bodies of the war dead and bring them home. They're going to establish cemeteries and bury our boys on northern soil with all the pomp and dignity they deserve. But it will be difficult to locate all the bodies, and they'll need your help. My boys need to be brought home and buried properly."

Zeke grabbed hold of the flyer, his stomach churning as he relived how his brothers died, one after the other, during the long, confusing days of the Battle of Chancellorsville. They'd been in some battles before, but never of that magnitude, and never so ill-managed. In a flash, he remembered how he had to bury his brothers, side by side, under the cover of darkness, when the fighting slowed down for the day. He had still dodged bullets as he dug the shallow graves for each one, placing them beside each other, so they could be together in death, as they had been in life.

He recalled how he decided to come back home, obeying his father's request for one of them to return, and how he'd been helped by a girl in New York City. A girl who had occupied his mind often in those early days back on the farm, when the amount of work had overwhelmed him and he'd crashed into bed each night. Those eyes the color of his mamma's hyacinths had been the last thing that raced through his mind before falling asleep. He read the circular and gazed at his father.

"You want me to go back to Chancellorsville and dig up the bodies of my brothers?"

"Not necessarily. What I need is for you to go to the headquarters of this Reburial Program and tell them where my sons are buried. They belong here, at the farm, or in a military cemetery. You can help them uncover the bodies and transport them north. You probably can tell them where the bodies of others who fell in the Chancellorsville battle are buried as well. You'd be a great help to them."

Zeke ran his hands through his thick hair, weaving his fingers in it as he pondered the sacrifice his father was again willing to make.

"Isaiah is only fourteen, Daddy. He can't shoulder the burden of the farm by himself."

"I'm better now than I've been in years, thanks to you lightening my load since you've been home. But it's time we bring the boys back here, and only you can do it."

"But seeing as how it's a government program, I'm sure it'll take years. I can't be away for that long."

His father ran a hand down Zeke's arm. "You don't need to be gone long. All you need to do is go to Washington, tell the good folks at the Reburial Program where the bodies are located, and help speed things up a bit. You can return here once your brothers are laid to rest. The very idea of my boys' bones lying in Confederate soil turns my stomach. Once those Johnny Rebs lick their wounds, I wouldn't put it past them to take out their anger on the bodies that have been left behind."

Zeke inhaled a deep breath. "All right, then, Daddy. I'll go report in to this Whitman fellow and tell him all I can about Chancellorsville, although it may be tricky, since I was never supposed to be there in the first place. If the army has any indication that I was in the battle and then left, they'll come after me with a court-martial."

"You don't need to tell them you were in the battle. Just that you've been given the information by others who served in their battalion. Maybe go with them back to the battlefield just so you can be certain the bodies they're saying are my sons actually are them. And then bring them home to the north for a proper burial. After you do that, you'll be back here for good. The farm is where you belong."

He helped his father up from the hay bale, and they began the last of their morning chores before heading into the comfortable farmhouse for a hearty meal. Zeke's heart was heavy. He had no wish to return to the battlefield, even if bullets and cannons weren't coming at him every moment. He'd spent too many nights tamping down the memories of the God-awful conflict. But he agreed with his father. The bodies of his brothers needed to be brought home and buried properly. Even though the family had clarity as to their fates, and was better off than so many who never were certain what happened to their boys, it was a wound that hadn't yet closed. Zeke needed to be the one to heal the wound. He was the only one who could.

Once they wrapped up their morning's chores, Zeke went to his room to wash away the morning's labors and don a fresh shirt. It was the one thing his mother insisted upon—no manure at the table.

He grinned as he washed the grime from his arms. His hand slid over his flat stomach, and his fingers rested momentarily on the marks left behind by a pitchfork several years earlier. He wondered again whatever had happened to the pretty girl who helped him get out of New York City during the height of the draft riots. The one he'd given a kiss to in payment for her help. His only kiss, to date. He wondered if her lips were still as soft, if she still tasted of peaches, if her hair was still so light and her eyes the color of his momma's hyacinths, if she'd even recognize him, should their paths cross again.

But they were two people who fate had brought together for one brief, shining, exciting moment, never to happen again. She lived in New York City, the daughter of a wealthy man. He lived in upstate New York, a poor farmer's son. His mother may have set down the law about no manure at the table, but he was certain the law set by the girl's parents would be even stricter if he were ever to come into contact with his savior again. It was not exactly a match made in heaven. Even if her lips were heavenly.

# CHAPTER TWO

_Washington, DC_

_November 1866_

Zeke stood on the sidewalk in front of the imposing, white stone building, one of many on the great mall in Washington, DC. The late November air was crisp but not unpleasant, so he lingered and inhaled deeply. There were no farm smells here, only the faint, musty scent of fallen leaves and a bit of horse dung in the cobblestoned streets. There was no turning back now.

He had made a promise to his father, which entailed putting himself back at the horror that had been Chancellorsville. He took a deep breath as he surveyed the structure housing the Reburial Program headquarters. He could do this. He'd simply tell them he had knowledge of Chancellorsville and could tell them where the bodies of many were buried, he'd make certain the bodies of his brothers found their way back to his father's farm, and then he'd return home, hopefully before the spring planting began. Before anyone even figured out he'd been gone. Before the niggling feeling he didn't belong on the farm anymore morphed into reality. The farm had, in Zeke's mind anyway, always been Adam's to take over, not his. He was comfortable with farm life, but it sometimes reminded him of a shirt he'd outgrown. He was meant for bigger things, but at this point, he didn't know exactly what those bigger things were.

Enough of dragging his feet. He squared his shoulders and took another deep breath. The sooner he got it over with and got back home, the better. He made his way inside, removed his hat, and opened the door to the offices. Many people were bustling about, and for a minute, no one paid him any attention. He twirled his hat while he waited. Finally, a man glanced up from the papers he had in his hand.

"May I help you, young man?"

Zeke cleared his throat. "Yes. At least I hope you can. I have some information on the Chancellorsville battle, and I'm hoping to share it with the appropriate person."

"We've only begun to compile all the information we've received on that particular battle. Would you care to complete a form?"

Zeke shifted on his feet. "No. I'd prefer to talk to someone. My brothers fell in the battle, along with many of our friends, and I can lead you to a great many bodies."

The gentleman stared at Zeke for a long minute before moving. It was as if he were assessing Zeke's validity. Finally, he spoke. "Give me a few minutes to track someone down. Thank you for coming in. Wait here."

Zeke rested his back up against a wall and crossed his arms. He would rather be anywhere else but here. He'd rather be at the farm, finishing up the last of the chores before winter locked upstate New York in its icy grip. His blood ran cold as images of the battle from years ago replayed in his mind as if it had only happened yesterday. Just snippets from those long days, when the reality of what was happening had sunk in, and he'd screamed in fear and agony. And loss.

He bit his lips to keep the tears at bay.

A door opened, thankfully interrupting his troubled musings. He glanced at the tall, strapping man in uniform emerged from behind the door, adjusting the glasses on his face.

"Hello, young man," he held out his hand to Zeke. "You have some information about Chancellorsville?"

"Yes, sir, I do. I have knowledge about a lot of the fallen. The battalion from home fought there, so many of our friends and neighbors, as well as my brothers, were lost there."

"Well, we can certainly use your expertise. We've only started to work on all the battles that took place in Virginia. Can you stay and help us for a few days?"

Zeke hesitated before he answered. "Yes, sir. I need to bring my brothers home to the farm."

"We'll pay you for your time, of course. We are only hiring full-time employees if they are former military with intimate knowledge of the battles, but we can gather your information over the next couple of days. Do you have lodging here in town?"

"Not yet. I only arrived this morning."

"Well, then, I'll make certain you have a few names of boarding houses before you leave here today. But, if you have some time now, come and meet the team assigned to the Chancellorsville battle."

Zeke nodded. "I have time. The sooner I get started, the sooner I can get back home."

The uniformed man held out his hand. "I'm Halwyn Fitzpatrick. Who might you be?"

Zeke's scalp began to prickle. He recalled the man's name. It had been mentioned during a meeting with two soldiers on the road out from New York. There couldn't be too many officers in the army with the name Halwyn. After a moment's pause, he stuck out his hand.

"Nice to meet you, Major. I'm Ezekiel Boone. Zeke."

Halwyn gripped his hand hard for a moment. "Come on back. I'll introduce you to the team."

Major Fitzpatrick turned and walked toward the doorway he'd emerged from. If Zeke followed, he'd have to go back to the field his brothers had been buried in and relive the tragedy once more. There was still time to escape, to run away. He tried to control the full-body tremor coursing through his frame. But, if he stayed, even for a few days or weeks, he could maybe find out whatever happened to the pretty girl who was probably the major's sister. He stood still, uncertain which path to take.

The major turned back to make certain Zeke was following, and lifted an eyebrow, since Zeke had yet to take a step.

"Come along, Zeke. I'll take you to meet my sister, Saffron. She's been working on the Chancellorsville battle for years. She's about your age, so you two should get along fine."

Zeke couldn't breathe. It was as if he'd been punched in the gut. He ran his hand over his stomach, where the puncture marks from the pitchfork remained. There could only be one Saffron as well. He couldn't decide whether to thank or curse the head of the Fitzpatrick family for giving his children such unique names. His heart began to gallop, and his palms got sweaty. He glanced at the major and wiped his hands on his pants.

"I'm eager to meet her." If the major only could glean the extent of his statement, Zeke probably would be shown the door instead of being escorted down the hall. Zeke wondered if Saffron's lips still tasted of peaches. If she still sighed when she was soundly kissed.

He pushed himself away from the wall and followed Halwyn Fitzpatrick through the door and down the long hallway. He had a feeling his life was about to change, to begin. But instead of a feeling of dread about the days to come, he now had a feeling of hope. Why Saffron was here in DC instead of in New York was a mystery but whatever the reason, fate had given them a second chance to become familiar with one another. And he was going to take full advantage of it.

• • •

Ever since the impulsive ride three years prior, with an impulsive boy, which resulted in an impulsive kiss, Saffron had dedicated herself to the battle at Chancellorsville, where so many died. The four brothers, with their alphabetized names, were always in the back of her mind. Now, all her hard work was paying off. She was no longer a volunteer at the Sanitary Commission in New York. She was a paid employee of the Reburial Program, still dealing with the fallen at Chancellorsville. Her brother may have paved the way for her to be hired, but she'd already proven her worth in the month she'd been here in the beautiful city of Washington, DC.

She had her own room in her brother's home and helped Grace take care of the three children: little George, who was now seven; Rebecca, a sweet five-year-old; and the baby, Emily, who had just turned two. Saffron was as eager as Grace and the children were to explore their new surroundings, so whenever she had a day off, she could usually be found in a museum or strolling near the gardens that surrounded the impressive buildings on the mall, as she had done today after finishing her lunch. Washington, DC, was everything she had hoped for in a new city. It bustled and crackled with importance. The grand Washington Monument had been halted halfway completed due to the war, but Saffron could envision the obelisk it would ultimately become, and she was impressed with the forethought of the city's designer. The huge mall rivaled New York's Central Park in scope—although the buildings surrounding the mall were more architecturally appealing, at least in her mind. She could envision a pool in the center of it all that reflected these beautiful structures.

Saffron shook her head to clear away the images from her lunchtime stroll, and picked up some new documents that had found their way to her desk while she was out. More responses to the circular, which asked for knowledge of where the dead were buried. She glanced at the top letter and found the name of the fallen and the name of the individual who reported it This particular letter contained a new name to her, so she needed to start another file to add to her quite impressive total for Chancellorsville. The first files she had started with years ago were labeled with the names of four brothers.

A frisson of excitement shot down her spine as she opened a new file folder. Maybe it was wrong to feel excitement over dead men's bodies, but in this job, she sometimes compared herself to a detective, working with clues and piecing each conflict together. Every new tidbit of information brought her one step closer to the goal of retrieval.

Her wayward musings were interrupted by the sound of a man's voice and footsteps coming down the hall. She recognized her brother's voice but there was more than one set of footsteps. Before they even cleared the door, Halwyn's voice boomed.

"Saffron, I've brought you a volunteer. He has information about the battle of Chancellorsville and can be of some help to you."

She turned and stared at the two men as they cleared the doorway. Eyes as green as emeralds stared back at her, surrounded by a headful of wheat-colored hair that had been kissed by the sun. The same eyes and hair that had invaded her dreams for a long time. The papers and the file folder she'd been holding slid to the floor from her numb fingers.

The man leaned over and picked up the fallen papers, then handed them to Saffron. When their fingers brushed one another, Saffron gasped at the contact as a bolt of white-hot current ran between them.

"Thank you." She whispered the words, then took a step back and found her voice. "I'm not usually so clumsy."

"Don't let her kid you, Zeke. Saffy is the queen of clumsiness. You'll find out soon enough when you two start working together."

Saffron made a face at Halwyn. "You can leave now."

"All right. I'm sure you two will find plenty to talk about." Halwyn left the room, but Saffron waited until his footsteps no longer echoed in the hallway before she made a move. She stared into those emerald eyes. And contrary to what Halwyn said, she could come up with nothing to say.

Saffron's mind refused to work. She sat at her desk to keep her wobbly legs from giving her away. Zeke, the boy she'd helped all those years ago, was now a man. How many times had she recollected their madcap journey in the past few years? Too many to count, especially in the days and weeks immediately afterwards when she was confined to her bedroom for two months. But when she reflected on him, he was always a rangy boy, all arms and legs but nicely built, even back then.

She risked another glance at him. He'd filled out, his shoulders broad and his torso tapering to a flat stomach that made her mouth water. She brought her fingers to her lips, reliving how they'd tingled when a lanky young man had stolen a kiss from her. Lord in merciful heaven, truth be told he hadn't stolen it, she'd given it away. And would have given him much more, had his need to escape not been so urgent. She waited for the boy who was now a man to speak.

He seemed nervous as well. Saffron released a little breath when she noticed his fingers toying with the buttons on his shirt. He cleared his throat and continued to stare at her.

"Hello, Saffron. You're as pretty as ever."

He recognized her? Had he spent as many evenings reliving their encounter as she had? She needed to find out, and her mind began to work again. Her tongue unglued itself from the roof of her mouth. "So, I take it you were able to find your way home to upstate New York."

He grinned. "Thanks to you, yes, I did. Daddy was very sick but survived. We've been working the farm together since. And I take it you were able to get home safely, as well, and avoided the soldiers who bothered you when we were driving out of the city."

Saffron shrugged her shoulders and flicked her hands through the air. "Yes, I got home safely, but by the time I arrived back at the house, everyone was in an uproar since I had been gone for hours. I was virtually held captive in my room for two, long months."

"Did you tell anyone what you'd been up to?"

Saffron shook her head. "No, of course not. I told them I'd been bored and decided to drive out to see Jasmine but got turned back by the guards."

Zeke smiled. "I'm pleased to see you did get out of your room eventually and now are here in DC."

"And I take it you've come to volunteer your expertise in where to find the bodies of the dead from Chancellorsville?"

He began to pace around the small room. "Daddy thinks my brothers belong at home, or at least on Union soil. That's my only reason for being here. To make certain the right bodies make their way back to the farm. After I accomplish the task Daddy's given me, I'll be done and will return home."

"Why didn't you just head back to Chancellorsville and get them yourself?"

Zeke shook his head. "If only it could be that simple. Because of this new program, of which you obviously are part, if I were to merely take the bodies without registering them here, they would show up on the records as being missing, not dead. They deserve to be buried with dignity, and being missing is not the same as dying in combat. At least not to the military."

Saffron finally placed the folder she'd been holding on the top of the desk. "Of course. And you're correct. They need to come home and be buried with all the military honors to which they are entitled."

Her language sounded stiff, even to herself. But the boy who had given her the very first kiss of her life, the boy she'd dreamed about during the months she was not allowed out of the house, the boy she'd worried over, was here, in front of her, and was a boy no more. As if she'd conjured him up. She would not allow him to see how deeply affected she was by his appearance. She placed her hand on her stomach, which jumped each time she glanced at Zeke, and moistened her dry lips.

Zeke shifted his weight from one large boot to the other. He tried to smile, but failed in the attempt. He cleared his throat before he asked, "Why are you here, in DC? I had an idea about maybe trying to find you again in New York City someday, but never did I conceive that you'd be here. Why are you on the staff, other than your brother is here and managed to get you the job?"

Saffron's back became as stiff as her conversation. "My brother had nothing to do with it. I'm here because I'm considered somewhat of an expert on Chancellorsville. I started volunteering at the Sanitary Commission in New York three years ago, helping to document the dead. And I was especially interested in Chancellorsville."

"Why?"

She ran a hand over her hair, even though it was perfectly coiffed. "Oh, because someone once told me a far-fetched story about how four brothers fell in combat on that one field. I couldn't get the story out of my head. I wondered how many other similar stories there were. How many other heart-wrenching tales were associated with that particular battle. So I started compiling information."

"So I'm responsible for your fascination with Chancellorsville? I'm touched." His big grin grated on Saffron's nerves.

She brushed a finger over her lips as she stared at the wall. The white-hot feeling she had experienced when they touched had faded a bit, leaving behind some sparks that shot from her body when Zeke stared at her or smiled. It was probably best to limit her involvement with him. It might be difficult to do, since they were working on the same battle, and since Halwyn had dropped him here, they probably would be working in the same room, at the same desk, at least for the couple of days he'd be here. She smoothed out her gown, hoping to smooth out the tension she was feeling at the same time.

Well, if she couldn't limit her involvement, she could at least limit her reaction to him. She recalled how he'd tasted as they'd kissed: of the stolen apples he'd taken from her horse. Her reaction to him now was merely because he had been the first boy to ever kiss her. Nothing more than that. She glanced his way again.

The impudent boy was now a man and not someone to toy with. Still, he had been responsible for her two-month-long incarceration, and he needed to suffer for it as much as she had. Since they were to work together, she'd have to be on guard against her feelings for him, maybe even torment him a bit. She could tell he was still attracted to her. Hadn't he called her pretty only a few minutes ago?

Yes, she'd toy with his affections for a while. The idea pleased her. It would be quite some time before he got a second kiss from her.

Even as she pondered how to torment him, she was aware she was counting on there being a second one.

# CHAPTER THREE

The long day finally was at an end, and Saffron was back in the safety of her brother's home and with his family at the dinner table. She had no idea how she'd made it through working beside Zeke for four, long hours. Hours in which she would have sworn she hadn't breathed. But she had, and she would tomorrow, too. She would endure working with him for as long as it took to locate and move his brothers' remains so he could return to the farm.

Then, the missing thread, the reason they'd collided in time three years ago, would be found and neatly tied up, and she could get on with her life. The reason she'd become a volunteer at the Sanitary Commission and opened a folder on each of the Boone brothers in the first place was to wrap up the story. And to wrap up the blasted war, which had affected her life for years. The war had stolen her childhood, just as it had Zeke's. She would ignore the sparks filling the room each time he brushed her arm or laughed. He didn't need to be privy to how her body responded to him. Best to keep such information to herself.

Now that the war had finished, she needed to catch up on her life. To dance, to have some fun, to live life as fully as her sisters had before the war interfered.

It didn't matter if she was as clumsy at a waltz as she was at anything else. She longed to dance. In the arms of a man who could lead her through the steps with strength and grace, so she wouldn't step on his toes. Someone with strong, broad shoulders leading to a narrow waist. She wondered if Zeke even could dance. After all, there aren't a lot of ballrooms in the country.

Or had he been to a lot of dances? Maybe not in fancy ballrooms, but surely there were country dances. She had no idea what his life on the farm had been. Maybe his younger sisters had female friends who dropped by, hoping to entice him. Good Lord, maybe he was married already! She hadn't even asked.

Well, she would tomorrow. As she delicately carved the roast beef on her plate, she strategized what she would say to him so the subject would come up in normal conversation. She certainly couldn't have him assume she was interested in his life. That their kiss on that fateful day had meant anything at all. That she had wondered frequently about him as she compiled what information she could on his brothers and their fate.

"Saffy, you're a million miles away," Grace spoke to her softly. "Whatever has your mind buzzing?"

Saffron shook her head to clear away the vision of green eyes and attacked her roast beef with a vengeance. She stabbed a piece with her fork and chewed the succulent meat for a moment, giving herself time to come up with an appropriate response.

"It's nothing, Grace. Today was a busy one, with a new recruit to train. I'm a little tired."

Halwyn glanced her way. "The new recruit is a good-looking young man, as well, Grace. Saffy neglected to say anything about his appearance."

Grace's head swiveled back to Saffron. "So tell me about him."

God's teeth. Grace could be as relentless as her own mother was.

"There's nothing much to tell. His name is Ezekiel Boone. Zeke for short. His brothers fought at Chancellorsville, so he'll be invaluable to the effort. It takes a lot, though, to explain the system we've set up and to get him trained."

"Well, then, you must head to bed right after dinner if this young man has worn you out so."

"He hasn't worn me out. I'm merely a bit tired." If Grace only could see into her mind, she'd be shocked at why Saffron was so exhausted. Having to act as if nothing about Zeke bothered her all day was the most demanding thing she'd done since she'd been in DC.

She followed Grace's advice and headed to her bedroom soon after dinner. However sound her intentions about falling into a dream-like state immediately upon closing her bedroom door, she could not control the memories that came flooding back when she was alone.

Her first encounter with a man, her first real kiss, wasn't supposed to have happened on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. They should have met at a dance, and he should have been so enchanted by her he'd have come round the next day and taken tea with her and Mother. Then, they'd have met up again at another ball and continued to get to know each other. A kiss signaled the start of a relationship, not the end. The blasted war had turned everything upside down.

But now, thanks again to the war, Zeke was back in her life for a few days, just as she'd hoped for all those years ago. Just breezed in as if he belonged. As if he'd never been absent all those years. He was a newer, larger version of the boy she'd helped out. His sun-streaked hair, his tanned skin, his broad shoulders, all attested to an outdoor life working the farm. And if his current looks were a result of his manual labor, then she was all for it. She'd cast furtive glances his way whenever he hadn't been aware of her, and she appreciated the man he had become. No doubt about it. Ezekiel Boone had turned into one handsome fellow.

She wondered if he'd noticed how she'd filled out in the intervening years as well. How her body now had curves that were missing three years ago. Her nipples sprang to life under her hand, and she closed her eyes, pretending it was Zeke's hand on her breast and not hers. Her fingers teased the sensitive tips for a few moments, until she cried out in frustration.

Saffron opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling.

"Damn, blasted war anyway." The ceiling had no response.

Handsome or not, Zeke was not the man for her. There was no way he could be, even if the war had changed everything. He had obligations to his family upstate, and she would eventually return home to her family's brownstone in New York City and take up her rightful place in society. Their paths should never have crossed, even once. Now they'd crossed twice. She'd cried buckets for him when she was fifteen. For what he'd been through, for their short, star-crossed time together.

She'd be damned if she'd do it again. Even as she admonished herself, a single teardrop escaped her eye and slid down the side of her face and into her ear. She didn't even try to brush it away.

• • •

Zeke stared at the ceiling in his small room in the boarding house, following the crack extending from one side to the other. He could not have slept even if he'd just plowed an entire field. His body hummed with frustration, his insides still knotted up, as they'd been all day. Saffron Fitzpatrick was back in his life, where she never should have been in the first place. The war had brought them together once again. Full circle. Sleep was not something he was interested in right now. What he needed to do was to roll back every moment of his day, to embed everything in his mind and store it away in his memory for him to take out and relive on blustery winter nights on the farm. She'd changed since their first meeting, become more of a woman. But she'd been pretty damn spectacular at their first acquaintance, as well.

Over the years, he'd reminisced about Saffron, more than he'd ever admit to. Daily, hourly, at first. Then, his memory of their encounter began to taper off to weekly, monthly, or whenever someone brought up the subject of his time on the battlefield. But to see her again, as a grown woman instead of a coltish young lady, and to have the good fortune to work alongside her, was a bit of kismet he hadn't been prepared for.

He'd stolen glances at her when she wasn't aware of it, and noticed how shapely she'd become. He'd found reasons to touch her, for a brief collision of their fingers, so he could feel his heart speeding up, especially when he'd noticed the blush on her cheeks caused by the contact.

Once he had returned home from the war, Naomi Witherspoon had come calling at the farmstead. She had been Ben's intended but latched onto Zeke, since he was the only one remaining of the band of brothers. Zeke could muster up no feelings for her and blamed it on the shock and horror he'd experienced in battle. Naomi had wandered off when she sensed his indifference, and quickly married someone else. In reality, his indifference toward Naomi was because she didn't have yellow-blonde hair and lips tasting of peaches. Or enticing curves and a lovely laugh.

Saffron was a different story. He didn't even need to try to muster up feelings for Saffron. Quite the opposite. They sprang from his core the moment he was introduced to her. Again. He now had the opportunity to work beside her, if only for a couple of days. To get acquainted with this impetuous person even more. His problem now had become not how to find feelings for a woman, but how to keep them under control.

Even as he assessed his feelings, he tried to talk himself out of investing more time with her. After all, it was a fool's journey, and he'd only end up heartbroken again. He was a farmer's son. She had been born to wealth and privilege. He had dirt under his fingernails and manure on his boots. She had lace handkerchiefs and satin slippers. If he allowed his feelings to deepen, he'd only be setting himself up for a fall. Her father would never agree to allow a poor farmer into the family, even if she approved of him. No, it was best to stay away. Avoid the situation altogether. Consider their reunion a strange coincidence that never should have happened even once, much less twice. How the Fates must be laughing at him.

How he would accomplish his mission while he was sitting beside her would be the challenge. His body tingled when her eyes slid down his frame, and his manhood had been hard as a boulder all day from being in her presence. How could he continue working with her for weeks? Maybe longer? He could not be in perpetual arousal for months without doing some lasting harm to his manhood; he was certain of it.

Instead of continuing to stare at the ceiling, Zeke rose and began to pace.

"Damn, blasted war, anyway. Things will never be the same." His utterances as he strode around the room bounced off the walls with no answers forthcoming. He gazed out at the gloomy darkness and opened the window. Rain was coming; he could smell it on the wind.

In true farmer fashion, he could predict the weather with a fair degree of accuracy. And predicting the weather beat guessing the outcome of his current set of circumstances. Yes, the Civil War had changed the lives of most Americans, and it was up to each one of the survivors to create a new order, a new normal. Where Saffron fit into his new order, he had no clue.

Could a wealthy Manhattanite and a poor, upstate dirt farmer ever have a future together? Before the war, Zeke would have said a definite no. He still doubted it, but now there was a smidgen of hope sprinkled in—hope he could change the natural order of things. But he'd keep his feelings for her to himself, at least until he could determine if she reciprocated them. If he were to announce to Halwyn that he had served in the military, fought in the battles they were working on, he'd be hired full time and could work alongside Saffron daily. Then, he could see where this collision of their two worlds would lead. It would be taking a huge chance if the military decided to press him on his service, but Saffron might be worth the gamble. If she were at all interested.

All he could do was be the farmer he was and plant some seeds with her. Seeds of a friendship. Seeds of hope for a future together.

He'd keep his own seeds of doubt at bay until he spent more time with her.

# CHAPTER FOUR

Saffron hurried through breakfast the next morning, barely tasting the flaky biscuit she had slathered with butter. She walked the couple blocks from their DC townhouse to the imposing building where the Reburial Program was housed. The war did produce one side effect that pleased Saffron: The stringent rules of society had been relaxed at least a bit, and she could be by herself as she walked instead of having a blasted escort with her at all times. She supposed she should be grateful for small favors.

Saffron hoped to get to the office before Zeke showed up. Despite her sense of urgency, she slowed her pace and enjoyed the scenery. The weather here was milder than New York City. She breathed in deeply as she stopped to take in the view and to listen to the birds as they swooped and dove over the reflecting pool, pausing on their way south for the winter.

She also hoped to take a few moments to alleviate her jitters. The mere idea of spending another day with Zeke made her head ache and her heart pound. She sat on a bench, and pressed her fingers to her temples. What would she do if he touched her again? Admittedly, their physical contact had been minimal the previous day, merely their fingers innocently brushing up against each other as they shuffled papers and filed reports. But had they been innocent touches? Had he noticed her intake of breath as his fingers grazed hers? Had he sensed the heat creeping into her, as if his touch had set her on fire? Had he seen the sparks flying through the air between them?

She had to get to the office first and become so engrossed in her work that, if and when he did show up, she'd acknowledge him with a mere nod of her head. She'd keep her eyes downcast and not stare in fascination as she had done yesterday. There had to be a way to work with him and not let her feelings get in the way. Feelings she was certain were one-sided. For months after he'd disappeared into the Bronx woods, she searched for him around every bend and in every dark corner, certain he'd come back for her. But eventually she had stopped expecting to see him.

Yet all it took was one day with him in such close proximity and her mind was mush, her knees were weak, and her soul cried out. She needed to get herself under control and treat him as she did the other men in the office. As someone of no consequence.

She raced into the small room to which she'd been assigned, and stopped in front of the desk. Zeke was already in place and searching through a file. He glanced up from the papers and greeted her with a lazy grin.

"Good morning. I see you slept in. I started working without you."

Her mouth went dry. If he was going to be nonchalant, by God, so was she, even if she had to grit her teeth to do so.

"I'm not late; you're early."

"I was eager to get back to work. To spend more time together. You helped me get home to take care of my family when I needed a hand. I'm going to be forever in your debt, Saffron. I'm hoping we can become the best of friends."

"Oh." She whispered her response and ran her hand over her gown once again as she fell into a seat next to the desk. Friends? All he wished for was for them to be friends? She tossed her hair over her shoulder. If friendship was all he wanted, it would be all she wanted, too. "Well, all right then, _friend_. I found out some information last night that should interest you."

He raised an eyebrow as he stared at her. "What?"

"The program is far ahead of where we assumed we'd be, thanks in part to the work we've all been doing on our own for the past few years. So they are ready to send workers into the field to retrieve and identify the first of the bodies."

Zeke jumped to his feet and began to pace around the small room. She ran for the seat behind the desk, which had been hers alone before he arrived. She had to reclaim her territory. And she had to sit. It made her dizzy to follow his movements, but she couldn't tear her eyes away.

"Where are they headed first? Can I go? And you? Are you going to make the trip, since you have all the records?"

She grinned at him. "Such an impudent man you've become. But I guess I should have expected it, considering what a brash boy you were. Yes, we're both going to Manassas next week if you want to stay a bit longer. If we can prove our record-keeping works in finding the bodies there, we'll launch into a full-scale retrieval next spring. But we have a ton of work to get done before we go, so we'd best get started."

Zeke finally sat across from her, all the energy drained from his body. "Manassas? Not Chancellorsville? Why?"

"It's the closest battlefield to DC, and will be a good test for our system. I guess if you want to be on hand to retrieve your brothers' bodies, you'll have to stick around until spring now."

He gazed at her from across the desk, his green eyes glittering. He ran a hand over his chin, but the movement did little to hide his wide smile. "Appears so, although your brother did say the only long-term hires for the program were to be former military, and a few women, for secretarial duties."

"That shouldn't be a problem for you. Simply tell Halwyn of your service, and he'll hire you."

"Perhaps I will. I'll send a letter home to Daddy telling him not to expect me back for a couple of months. Or maybe I could make a trip home over Christmas. I sure hope I can find something to occupy my time until winter breaks."

She presented him with her most haughty stare, which she had perfected by working on it for weeks in the mirror. "I'm certain you'll come up with something. Now, what were you working on when I came in?"

• • •

Zeke had no idea what he'd been working on when Saffron appeared in the room. He'd noticed remnants of her scent in the room when he'd first entered, and had taken the time to inhale her fragrance. He'd grabbed and opened the first available folder when her footsteps echoed in the hallway. But even if he'd spent some time with the folder's contents he wouldn't have been able to tell her what he'd been reading. She had the ability to turn his mind to pig slop with a mere glance.

Then he called to mind his vow the previous evening to start sowing seeds of friendship. Although he longed to capture those saucy lips and plant another kiss on her, he knew if he rushed things with her, she'd pull away, tucking herself safely behind the body of her brother, and he'd be unable to enjoy her company in any way, shape, or form. His whole purpose in revealing his stint in the military would be so he could be hired full time and share this office space with Saffron. It would not pay to run in like a charging bull and ruin things before they even had a chance to begin.

He sat in the chair in front of the desk, opened the file with his numb fingers, and pulled out the first sheet of paper, glancing at it. He let out a breath when he noticed the name. "This is the file on Daniel Spencer, who was shot down at the first battle of Manassas. That's the first real battle my brothers and I participated in, and I recollect this man. I wasn't aware he'd been killed there, though."

Saffron tapped her teeth with a finger. Zeke glanced up from the file and stared at her, noticing how her lips parted as she tapped. He was glad the desk hid his rising manhood. Good Lord, how could he be mere friends with such a tempting woman?

She quit tapping her pretty, white teeth and raised her eyes from the folder. "I suppose the battle created all kinds of chaos. I can't begin to comprehend what you lived through. And how you'd lose track of friends you'd made along the way. It's a miracle all your brothers hung together until the last."

He should not be having lustful thoughts when they were discussing the perils of war. What kind of fool was he, anyway? He willed his shaft to calm down and his heart to stop beating so fast.

He turned his attention back to the folder. "Daniel was a good man. I hope we can find his remains during this trip. He deserves a proper burial."

"Well, if we don't find him on our first outing, we will with the next one. I don't yet have all the details on how these bodies will be dug up, but it will be systematic since we've already assigned a grid system to the battlefield, and his folder is marked with the section of the grid in which we can possibly find him."

Saffron shook her head as she flipped through a file. "It's still going to be hard to find and identify the bodies, since they've been exposed to the elements for years now. That's why every scrap of information we have gathered on the men—what they were wearing when they were buried, if someone attached a nametag to the body, any identifying marks—will all help."

Zeke pawed through the rest of the folder's contents Several people had written to the program about Daniel. Zeke was not alone in his assessment that Daniel had been a good man. Praise for his service and his demeanor in battle, how he had saved many lives before his own was taken, littered his folder. And everyone agreed on the spot where he was buried. They'd have no trouble finding Daniel when they got to the part of the battlefield where he had taken his last breath.

But the battles happened in several different places spread out over acres of land and forest, so Zeke harbored no illusions about the scope of their work. This program to bring the boys home would take years. He hung his head as he read some of the comments. He didn't think he could handle reliving these battles for years.

Saffron reached across the desk and placed her hand over his, sharing her body's warmth. He raised his head and stared into her big blue eyes that still reminded him of his mother's hyacinths. She understood how he was feeling without him saying a word. His stomach slowly unclenched, and the feeling returned to his fingers. She was extending the hand of friendship to him once more.

"You didn't say much yesterday about your family. You only mentioned your father. What happened to the rest of the alphabet? Who were they again? Frederica, Gertrude, Hortense..."

"No, it's Hannah and then Isaiah. I'm surprised you can recall that much."

"So there is no Josiah, or Josephine?"

"No. Isaiah's the last."

Zeke smiled across the desk at her. She'd taken his mind off the grisly work they would be doing on the Manassas battlefield simply by redirecting his attention to his family.

"Frederica's now eighteen and has herself a beau. He's from one of the neighboring farms and is a nice man. Isaiah is fourteen and is growing into a man, although he's not there yet. Even though he'd be the first to tell you he is. He reminds me of myself when I decided I was a grown man and ran off to join the army."

"It sounds as though you miss them a lot. Even though I love being here in DC with Halwyn and his wife, I miss my parents and the rest of my brothers and sisters who have scattered all across the country."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, enough about the families for now. We should get to work. Explain your filing system to me. You mentioned a grid system?"

The seeds he'd sown were already beginning to blossom. He was one heck of a farmer.

• • •

A week later, in a carriage containing Saffron, several other workers, and boxes of files, Zeke was on his way back to a battlefield. It didn't matter that he hadn't lost his brothers in the battles at Manassas. It was still a battlefield where he had fought alongside men who had not been fortunate enough to walk away. Where he and his brothers had engaged in combat and survived. As the miles rumbled out under the carriage wheels, his anxiety level rose. Sweat broke out on his body, and he could feel the shirt sticking to his back despite the cool, November air. He wrung his hat between his hands and shifted his body, trying to get comfortable. All to no avail.

He closed his eyes, and the last day of the Chancellorsville battle rolled out in front of him again. His mind replayed events of that battle's last day,, when there was only David and he left to fight. One final roar of Confederate cannon put an end to David; Zeke witnessed his brother die in the most grisly way possible. As Zeke tried to retrieve what was left of his brother's handsome face, he laid down his gun.

For the last time.

He crouched in a crevice and shielded their bodies until nightfall, when he dug a shallow grave for David beside his other brothers. Then he walked away from the battlefield, hoping never to look back.

Yet here he was. Willingly putting himself back into the middle of the horror he had witnessed. He ran a hand over his quivering stomach and inhaled some deep breaths, hoping he wouldn't throw up, as he had with each brother lost. His task had to be done. He'd made a promise to his father. The first step was underway.

On the other side of the carriage, Saffron stood and moved across the aisle, losing her balance as she got to him, and falling into the seat beside him.

"Whoops." She laughed as she hit the upholstered seat. She straightened herself out beside him, took a moment to run her hands down her black flannel skirt, and then stared into his eyes.

"There was nothing you could have done to prevent the outcome of what happened here. Stop blaming yourself."

Her voice was low and modulated, yet the words she said hung like weights in the air. How had she guessed where his dark ideas were heading? He sent her a small smile before he turned his head and glanced out the tiny window. He couldn't bear to have her see the tears in his eyes.

And then she reached over and clasped his hand. He turned back around, and all the air he had in his lungs whooshed out from his body. He clung to her hand as if it were a life raft. Maybe it was.

"Zeke, it's going to be all right. And if you can get through this first battlefield, all the others we'll be going to will be easy."

"There won't be so many others for me. All I need is to bring my brothers home, which will happen next spring when we go to Chancellorsville. Then I'll wash my hands of the war and all the damage that's been done to everyone, everywhere, for the last time. I'll go back to the farm and spend the rest of my days there."

Saffron released her hold on him and placed her hands in her lap. "Well, it would be a shame to hurry back to the farm when we now have the world at our feet. Don't you see what a big adventure we're on? How we can help the Reburial Program and still have some fun? After so many years of oppression, we can once again dance and have a good time. Isn't that what you hoped for as well?"

"What I hope for," his words ground out around his teeth, "is to figure out why I'm the one left. Why I didn't perish with the others. There must be a reason for it, yet I fail to see it."

Saffron shook her head. "Well, I can see it. You are to take over your family's farm. To grow crops to feed the many Americans who are now setting up families as their loved ones return home. You're poised to take over from your father once you get the brothers home."

"But it's not my dream. Has never been my dream. It was always Adam who was supposed to take over. I had bigger plans."

With a sigh, Saffron replied, "Well, if being a farmer isn't to your liking, alter it. Dreams can change with time and circumstances. There was a time when I was so angry with the war and how it upset all my plans and dreams. I had longed to go to the debutante balls and dance the night away with handsome men. I'd dreamed of doing so every year since childhood, especially when it'd been one of my sisters' turns to come out at her ball. Now I realize what a foolish and shallow dream that was."

She glanced sidelong at him. "Don't get me wrong. I still long to dance. With a suitably handsome man, of course."

He lifted an eyebrow. "Are you certain you can, without stepping on the feet of your escort?"

She huffed out a breath. "There's to be a Christmas dance for members of the program in a few weeks. We'll see how well I dance then, won't we? All those military men who are involved will be in attendance, vying for my attention. It'll be almost as if I were at a debutante ball. Besides, I danced around the issue pretty well when the soldiers stopped me during our mad dash out of town three years ago, didn't I? I performed some pretty fancy footwork then, if I do say so myself." She turned away from him in a show of annoyance.

They hadn't brought up their earlier encounter since the first day they'd reconnected. Zeke had assumed their first meeting hadn't had as profound an impact on her as it had on him. Yet she remembered details and had finally given some reference to the ride that had changed his life.

Immediately, Zeke craved kissing her again. He wanted to once again taste her lips. Every time he'd eaten a peach in the past three years, he'd been reminded of her taste. And even though there was not a peach in sight right now, he longed to kiss her. His mind left the impending battlefield in favor of another memory of a mad dash out of the city, and his first-ever kiss.

He reached over and intertwined their fingers. "Thank you."

She whipped her head around to him. "For what?"

"For giving me something else to occupy my mind other than the battles we're about to reconstruct."

"Oh, that," she said as she played with her blonde locks. "What did I manage to give you to ponder?" She glanced up at him from under her lashes, a coy, proper, flirtatious young lady.

He couldn't help himself. His gaze went from being locked on her blue eyes to down her face to her full, plump lower lip. She followed his gaze and worried her lip with her teeth. He was making her nervous. But, at the moment, he didn't care. He had to ask the question that had been foremost in his mind since the day he'd walked into the program's offices.

"Do you relive it often?"

"What?" She whispered, even though she didn't really need an explanation, if he were any judge.

"Our first kiss." He ran a callused thumb over her knuckles.

She removed her hand. "You talk about it as if there will be another kiss."

He smiled. "That's not exactly what I meant. Unless I miss my guess, our little encounter three years ago was your first time being kissed. It was mine as well. That's not something you forget. Ever."

"Oh. That kind of first kiss."

"But there could be a second if you wish." He reached for her hand again.

She tore it away from his grasp. "Surely you jest. Why would I bestow on you a second kiss? I'm angling for a military man, not a farmer." She rose from her seat just as the carriage hit a rut. Saffron lost her balance and fell into his lap. As she struggled to right herself and move off, a laugh rumbled up from his stomach. He held her in place for a moment before he let her get back on her feet. Yes, Saffron had taken his mind off the final days of his war, along with giving him other ideas to replace his thoughts about the bleak work they were about to do.

For the moment, anyway. He was certain he'd be back by her side the next time he needed to find something else to fill his mind with. Especially if he could find a peach.

# CHAPTER FIVE

Zeke stepped from the carriage onto the field. Ground that had been the center of two separate battles. The First Battle of Bull Run, which was the start of the great Civil War's carnage, marked the first time lives were lost. Then, a second battle took place on the same soil a year later. Lots of blood had seeped into this very ground, both Union and Confederate. He glanced at the dirt, certain it would still be tinged with red. His knees weakened, and he held on to the carriage wheel. Then he raised his eyes, searching for the graves.

Saffron alighted from the carriage as well, worry marring her pretty face. Her eyebrows drew together, carving a line down the middle as she studied him. "Are you going to be able to do this?"

"It's just the initial shock of being back on a battlefield. I'll be fine in a minute."

"You'd better be, since we have a lot of work facing us. Here, take a box."

She handed him a file box, and he had no choice but to stand up straight and take it from her. A smile raced over his lips. Saffron might be young and a bit naive when it came to men, but she had an instinctive grasp of what he needed at any given moment. He didn't need to be coddled; he needed a distraction. And she was very good at distracting him.

He helped her unload the carriage, and he and a few other men worked together to erect a tent. The large tent would be the headquarters for the Reburial Program as the bodies began to be dug up and tagged in accordance with the correspondence and notes they had in their files. The tent was where Saffron would be stationed and where they'd take their meals, while Zeke worked outside, doing the hard physical labor of actually uncovering the bodies. He was glad she didn't have to see the atrocities they were about to unveil. The physical work would be hard, but the mental strain he was about to undergo would be even more difficult. He steeled himself in readiness, even though his stomach churned.

The digging began the very day they set up camp. No sense in delaying the inevitable. Especially with November's cold creeping over the state of Virginia with greater insistence every day. The ground would soon be too frozen to dig. But Manassas was a test to prove the Reburial Program would work. Those in charge were systematically combing the grounds, marking the points on the grid. They'd clean out only one section of the grid before they returned to DC for the remainder of the winter where they would strategize on the best way to accomplish their goal in the spring.

The crew Saffron was detailed to work with handled the files and gave the men instructions on where the bodies were likely located. The information was sometimes sketchy and sometimes incredibly detailed, noting under which tree the man had been buried or some other landmark denoting the body's location. Zeke and the other men began to pull remains from the ground. If a positive identification could be made from the information that had been gathered, the bones were tagged according to their records, placed in a blanket, and stacked on a wagon. They were bringing the boys home. Home to Union soil. Zeke's shoulders began to ache as he turned the soil over, inhaling the familiar scent of the earth, but it didn't come close to soothing the ache in his heart as he recalled how these men died. Screams of the dying soldiers filled his mind as he continued to dig them up, one at a time. He had to keep his focus, get through the initial shock of setting foot again on a battlefield. The sooner he could locate his brothers' remains and remove them, the better. He'd be back home again, working alongside his father, and would be able to get back to his job as a farmer. Then he'd stop mooning over a wealthy, young, city lady who could never be his.

Logically, they were so wrong for one another, but his heart said otherwise. His life would be complete if he could give her a second kiss. And then a third. He volunteered to get the information from the tent on where to dig next just so he could see her bustling around with her files, her face lit with excitement.

He longed to put another kind of excitement on her face as well. To be the one to coax a laugh from her, to make her fan herself in an effort to ease the heat he caused in her. To give her kisses two, three, and four. And more kisses than she could count, for the rest of their days.

"My, my, Zeke, you are one dirty man."

Had she read his mind? His out-of-control lustful scenarios screeched to a halt as he came to a stop in front of her. He stared at Saffron as if she were an apparition. She stared back, her gaze taking in the dirt on every part of his body. He let out a breath, thankful she was unable to read his racy mind. She had been talking about his physical appearance and the filth he had accumulated during the day's dig.

"It's, uh, a dirty business we've gotten ourselves into."

His hands reached for her, and she shrieked and ran out of range. "Don't touch me. You're filthy." Her laughter permeated the air, erasing the gloom of the work he'd been doing. If she had any idea the direction his mind was racing, she'd surely dash away from him for good. What he craved was to make her so hot with lust she'd fan herself. But it was November, and she was in a tent, so it didn't seem possible she could get overheated. He took a drink of water, some more files, and headed back to the field.

Pictures raced through his mind during the remainder of the day about Saffron and how he'd prefer their relationship to progress. Once again she was there, front and center in his mind, when he needed to take his mind off the horrific work they were undertaking.

He needed to make a trip home and tell his father the Chancellorsville bodies wouldn't be retrieved until the next spring. He supposed he could write a letter, but he needed to see his father. If he could be assured the man was fit enough to run the farm, then he'd return to DC and wait until all the Chancellorsville bodies were retrieved before he left the program and assumed the mantle of the farm for the remainder of his life. That way, he could spend a few more months with Saffron. This winter would be his last big adventure before he settled down.

Yes, his plan was sound. He'd make a quick trip home for Christmas and tell his father of the delay. It would be good to spend his favorite holiday in the midst of his family instead of in a cold boarding house room alone. But the logical side of his mind forced him to accept the fact spending more time with Saffron could only complicate his life. In the short term, it would be an exciting adventure, as she was quick to point out. But in the end, he'd walk away with a huge hole in his heart. It would only make him compare every other female he came into contact with to her, and they'd all come up short.

So, by prolonging his time with Saffron, he'd ruin any chance for his future happiness with someone else. He shook his head as he stowed the shovel, their work in the field done for the day. Her laughter came to him from within the tent, and his fate was sealed.

He'd take the gamble.

• • •

Saffron sat in the portion of the tent where tables were set up with chairs. She dug into her dinner of beef stew, corn bread, and pumpkin pie in front of her, her mouth salivating as she chewed some of the meat. It relieved her mind from the other thing on this field making her mouth water: Zeke.

She had hoped to wait for him to appear before she began eating, but she was too hungry. She set aside the two slices of pie she had grabbed from the buffet table, one for her and one for him, and dug in to her meal. If she hadn't grabbed up the pie when she had, Zeke would have none, since dessert was the most popular item in the tent.

As Saffron waited, she listened with half an ear to the conversations buzzing around her. When she overheard a mention of Zeke, she turned to the women who had uttered his name and listened carefully. It was the horrible Suzanne Miller with her best friend, Betsy Klinger.

"Did you see Zeke Boone in the field a bit ago with his shirt off? My, what a specimen!"

Betsy rolled her eyes at her friend. "Yes, even in this cool weather, he's managed to work up a sweat, poor thing. We should maybe offer to towel him off. Where's he from anyway?"

Their titters as they discussed what kind of highly inappropriate behavior they wanted to engage in with Zeke made Saffron grind her teeth. She sat rigid, her hands curling around the edge of the table. What she really wanted to do was rise up and scratch the eyes out of both Suzanne and Betsy.

Suzanne replied, "I found out he's from New York and is living in the boarding house a block from the office. Poor man, not having any family in town. No one to take care of him."

Betsy's muffled reply, spoken with her hand to her mouth, was loud enough for Saffron to hear, even if her ears hadn't been focused on their conversation. "Saffron Fitzpatrick already acts as if he belongs to her, since they're working on the same battle and share an office."

Suzanne slid a glance toward Saffron before she replied in a hushed tone, "We'll see about that. I'll invite him to my parents' home for Thanksgiving dinner. The poor man can't be alone for the holiday."

Saffron dug her fingernails into her palms to keep from performing the bodily harm she wanted to do. She skewered the woman with her eyes instead. Suzanne had thrown down a challenge, which Saffron greedily accepted. The prize would be having Zeke at the table for Thanksgiving.

Today was to be the final day on location at Manassas. Tomorrow, they'd fold up the tents and head back to DC for the winter. Saffron and Halwyn's family planned to stay in DC for Thanksgiving and then take the train home to New York for Christmas. The upcoming gaiety of the Christmas Ball with her fellow workers filled her head. She couldn't wait to dance with Zeke. So she could wrap her arms around him, as she had so many years ago. So he could make her knees go weak again. Plus, she'd make Suzanne jealous. Her smile widened as she plotted what she would do.

Zeke Boone was headed her way right now. Despite telling herself not to react to him, her heart rate sped up when she caught sight of his windblown hair and his ruddy cheeks, caused by the cold and wind. He dropped himself opposite her, his body obviously weary, and ran a hand through his hair in an attempt to straighten it out. She was immensely pleased he didn't even glance toward Suzanne and Betsy but came directly over to where she sat. She tossed a glance in their direction before turning her attention solely on Zeke.

"So, it's tough going out there in the field, is it?" Saffron smiled as he began to eat. His strength returned as he shoveled in the food. She placed the slice of pumpkin pie in front of him, and he inhaled it in a few bites. Feeding her man was a good feeling. She shook herself. He was not her man. Not yet, anyway. But Saffron would be damned if she'd let any other woman, and especially Suzanne Miller, steal Zeke from her. There were too few able-bodied men their age around as it was, and Saffron would not let the woman get in her way. Even though the Christmas dance was weeks away, she needed to extract a promise from Zeke that he would go with her. And spend the night dancing with only her. She batted her eyes at him as he slowed his eating long enough to talk.

"Yes, it's hard work. And I wish I could get it done faster and get on to the next battlefield."

"It's frustrating, isn't it, to have someone else tell you what to do. I've had to put up with it all my life, since I'm the youngest in my family."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "You seem to be able to do whatever you want, anyway. Otherwise, we would never have met. And you wouldn't be away from home now, working in such rough conditions."

She shrugged at his words, which didn't slow him down at all. "Even though the grid system is best, so we don't leave anyone behind, and it's best to do a thorough job the first time, I'm not happy with the delay. The idea of being stuck in DC until spring, to leave my father to run things all winter and probably do the spring planting on his own doesn't sit well with me."

Saffron fiddled with the sleeve of her white blouse, smoothing out the non-existent wrinkles, and straightened the shawl over her shoulders. "Maybe you can take a few weeks off around the holiday and go home for a visit if it would make you feel better. Check on things before you return to DC. Haven't you been able to come up with any reason to stay in town over the winter?"

His emerald eyes glittered as he searched her face. "Well, there is one."

She lowered her eyes from his intense stare, not eager to let him see how his words affected her. She bit her lip and waited for her heart rate to level out before she brought up the subject she needed to talk to him about. She had to get it right if she were ever to get the correct result. She toyed with the fringe on her shawl and brought her eyes back up to him. To gauge his reaction to her bold request.

"Thanksgiving's next week, and then the Christmas Ball is happening only a few weeks later."

"Yes, I'm aware of the upcoming holidays. I had hoped to be done and gone from DC for good by then, though."

"But it won't work out that way, will it, since they're not even going to start on Chancellorsville until next spring? Now it's time for a new plan for yourself. Since you have to stay longer, the least you can do is join me for Thanksgiving dinner at Halwyn and Grace's and then escort me to the ball. Or will back-to-back events with me be too much for you to handle?"

He glanced at her again and his hand grazed his stomach. The same stomach that had once been at the end of her pitchfork. She followed the movement of his hand, her mouth watering again. Her gaze went back to his face, and she squirmed in her seat. She tried not to begin babbling, to wait for him to say something. She could not let Suzanne win.

"Are you certain I'd be welcome at your brother's table? He doesn't seem too keen on me."

"He did mention he's got some questions about your age and your prior service. If you did fight at Manassas and Chancellorsville as you claim, you'd be in your mid-twenties now. Instead, he thinks you act and look like a teenager. Which you really are. It bothers him, but I'll work things out with Grace, and she can talk Halwyn into anything. We'll have a lot of food, so it won't be as if we're cooking extra for you. And what about the ball?"

"Won't showing up with an escort interfere with your plans to entice all those military men you constantly rattle on about?"

She blushed at his words. "As I've told you before, the dream of dancing with many men is one from my childhood, when I thought I'd be attending a debutante ball. Now, I realize I only need to dance with one man. One good man. Does that mean you will?"

"Of course, I'd be happy to escort you to the ball, Saffron. But even though you may think you only need to dance with one man, there are more men than women involved with the program, so I may be forced to share you."

Saffron threw back her shoulders in triumph. "It's only being courteous. I've been practicing my dancing every moment I can. I made Halwyn lead me around the living room, teaching me the waltz. I'm sure I won't be so awful on the dance floor." She snuck a glance at him. "At least no more awful than a country boy. I'm sure the only prancing around you've been doing has been in a barn, with maybe a shovel for a partner."

"All right, it's a date. Dinner with your family at Thanksgiving, then the dance a few weeks later. My first real date. Will it be yours, too?"

At her nod, he reached across the rough table and held her hand. "Another thing neither of us will forget, ever. Thank you, once again, for taking my mind off the work here."

They sat together for a moment, hands clasped, sparks shooting from their bodies. Finally, Saffron removed her hand from his and ran it over her hair, willing her stomach to settle. She glanced around the room to make certain Suzanne had witnessed the tender moment, but hoped no one else had seen the exchange of energy between her and Zeke. Her brother was across the room talking to someone, and he stared at her with a scowl on his face before he turned away.

Just her luck.

# CHAPTER SIX

Zeke left the tent, and Saffron, to wrap up the evening's work with a much lighter step than he'd come into it. Digging in the fields all day, reliving the battles fought on this land, had been hard, but the invitation from Saffron to Thanksgiving and the Christmas dance had improved his mood considerably.

He bowed his head and knelt on the ground before the hasty grave of a soldier. A strong hand grasped his shoulder, and he glanced up. Halwyn helped him to his feet.

"It's tough out here, isn't it?"

"Yes, sir, it is."

Halwyn glanced around. "It's where my brother-in-law was killed. First volley of the first battle, and he was gone. Before many Americans even were made aware there was a war. He had been my college roommate, and he became my twin sister's husband."

Zeke shook his head. "I'm sorry for your loss. So many lives were affected that day."

"And all the other days until the war finally came to an end."

Zeke straightened his back and stared at Saffron's protector. Halwyn may not have spent any time on the battlefields but it didn't mean he wasn't aware of what combat involved.] Maybe they could find some common ground. Other than Saffron. It was at least worth a try.

"My brothers all died at Chancellorsville. Four of them. In one week's time, they were gone."

Halwyn placed his hand on Zeke's shoulder again. "Saffy told me of your tremendous loss. Your family sacrificed greatly."

"And now we must do what we can to put the country back together."

Halwyn glanced around at the battlefield. "Our first order of business is to bring the boys home."

Zeke picked up his shovel. "So I need to get back to work. Is that what you're saying?"

Halwyn smiled. "You're doing a great job, Zeke. Just keep your hands off my sister."

"Is there some reason why you object to Saffron and me spending time together? We work in the same office, we're focused on the same battles, and we enjoy each other's company."

"Well, call me a protective older brother if you want. I know I'm the one who put the two of you into the same room, and I've been thinking I need to change that around. If you are as old as you say you are, it's highly improper for the two of you to share an office. And if you're lying about your age, it makes me wonder what else you're lying about. It would be best for everyone concerned if you'd just back off and stay away from her."

Zeke bit his lower lip to keep his smile at bay. Halwyn and Saffron were about to go toe to toe, and he was the target. He stared Halwyn down. "She just invited me to Thanksgiving dinner at your house and to the Christmas Ball, and I've accepted both invitations. So you'll have to discuss your disapproval with her. As far as I'm concerned, I've got a nice meal to look forward to and a holiday dance."

Zeke's smile widened when he caught Halwyn's jaw clenching. The next few weeks might even be fun.

• • •

Once the group returned to DC, things quickly fell back into their normal routine. Everyone had helped to empty the carriages of their file boxes and place them back in the appropriate rooms. Zeke had helped take the recovered bodies over to the army base near Arlington National Cemetery where they'd be placed into caskets draped with flags and buried with honors.

Those in charge needed to make the proper notations and send letters to the families before they could close the files on those fortunate few they had retrieved. Only a handful of men had been recovered. Many more to go.

The next day, Saffron and Zeke returned to the small room they shared in the program's headquarters.

"I hope you don't have the notion I was too forward yesterday, asking you to Thanksgiving dinner and then to escort me to the ball." Saffron brought up the topic that had been hanging in the air since their last dinner in the tent.

Zeke smiled. "Perhaps a little. But it's you, so I've come to expect it."

"I talked to Grace last night, and she says you're welcome at the table, even though Halwyn had already gotten to her and voiced his disapproval. As Grace says, 'we can't have the unfortunate man be all alone for the holiday.' Halwyn didn't stand a chance. If it were up to Grace, she'd take in every person in the city who had no one to share the holiday with."

Zeke folded the paper he'd been staring at and shifted his gaze to her. "I'm grateful to her, then, for the invitation. But your brother has warned me to keep my hands off you. Something got him stirred up in Manassas."

"Oh, dear. I was so hoping he hadn't seen us in the tent holding hands."

"I guess he did. It wasn't a half-hour after dinner he tracked me down and warned me. He thinks I can't possibly be in my mid-twenties, which is what I'd need to be to have served in the war and seen the battles I've participated in. And I can't explain the discrepancy without opening up a whole new can of worms. I'll just have to figure out a way around it. And if it means agreeing to separate quarters for us here at the office, I'll do so."

"I think it may be way past time for Halwyn and me to discuss the situation." Saffron picked up a few files and left the room, hoping to find Halwyn alone for a few minutes. She knocked on his door, and he raised his glance.

"Just the person I was thinking about. Come in, Saffy. We need to talk."

Saffron stood in front of him, shifting her feet. They did need to talk, but she wanted to be the one leading the discussion. Halwyn seemed to have decided on the course of their conversation before she set foot in the room. She took a seat and waited.

"I need to move Zeke to another office. I'm thinking of putting him in with Jake and moving Suzanne Miller in with you."

"Why would you want to do that, Halwyn? We're being so productive working alongside each other."

"It's not seemly to have you two working behind closed doors together. And there's just something about the boy I don't care for."

"He's not a boy, Halwyn. He's a man. He asked me to the Christmas dance. Finally, my first actual dance as an adult is about to happen. Admittedly, it's not my debutante ball, as I would have preferred, but nonetheless, it's a dance, and I have an escort." She positioned her arms as if she were engaged in a waltz and began to sway in her seat.

Halwyn reached across the desk and grabbed her arm, pulling her up short. "You're absolutely right, Saffy. He's not a boy. And there's something about him that doesn't ring true. I'm not sure what it is, but I'll figure it out."

"What do you mean?"

"He's too knowledgeable about how the battles played out."

Saffron struggled to move out of his grasp, to no avail. She turned a spiteful gaze on him instead. "Well, he did serve in the army, in combat, and I'm certain he was involved in some of the battles. If you'd seen his reaction when he first stepped on the fields at Manassas, you'd appreciate the fact he'd been there before. That would explain his knowledge of the battles, wouldn't it?"

Halwyn released her arm, and she rubbed it where he had latched on. "Maybe, but I'm still not sure of his whole story. Until I figure it out, I need your involvement with him kept to a minimum. I'll work on getting him into a new office. Now, unless you have something more to say, you need to get back to work."

She walked slowly down the hall and back to her shared office. So, the whole conversation with Halwyn hadn't gone to her plans, but for the moment, anyway, Zeke was still her officemate, and Saffron needed to press her advantage. She chewed on the end of her pen for a moment before she took a deep breath and raised her eyes to Zeke.

"You are aware, aren't you, Suzanne Miller has set her cap for you?"

He leaned back, propping the chair on its two back legs and rocking back and forth while he held on to the desk. "Really? Suzanne? What makes you say so?"

Saffron rubbed the back of her neck. She hoped Zeke wouldn't get the idea she was jealous. She was only angling for him to declare his feelings for her. Then she'd tell him how often she'd relived their first afternoon over the years.

"She told me so, in the food tent. Well, not me directly. She told Betsy Klinger. I happened to overhear her, is all."

Zeke rubbed his jaw. "Suzanne, eh? Maybe I could take over some files over her way this afternoon, see what's going on."

Saffron stood. "If there are any files to be taken to that hoyden, I'll take them. God's teeth, but you're obtuse."

Zeke grinned. "You're the only hoyden I wish to spend time with."

Saffron sputtered. "I am most definitely not in the same category as Suzanne!"

"Did you or did you not ask me to take you to the dance? Invite me to dinner with your family? Those are two very forward actions where I come from."

Saffron shook her head. "Well, yes, but the simple fact that I did the asking doesn't make me a loose woman. I am merely making certain you have food in your belly and I have a partner to dance with. And to protect you from a woman with no scruples. Did I not grab a slice of pie for you yesterday? If I hadn't, you would have done without. And I'm well aware of how much you like pie."

Zeke continued to rock back and forth on the chair legs. "Let me see if I have this straight. So Thanksgiving dinner at Halwyn's and our attending the dance together are only so I can keep my strength up, so you won't come across as a pathetic little wallflower, and so I can keep Suzanne's fangs from my hide?"

Saffron pushed away from the desk and began to pace in the small room. "Something to that effect, yes. We would be doing each other a favor. Try not to make more of it than is there."

"I've got filing to do, so we can discuss this later. But let me say something right now. You would never be a pathetic wallflower, regardless of the circumstances, and I can handle any woman who's a bit forward. I've had practice. Do you recall our first meeting?"

Saffron skewered him with her gaze. "Of course. But I wasn't being forward. At least not in the way Suzanne would be."

"Maybe not, but that kiss lasted a long time, with your arms tangled around my neck."

Saffron could feel the blush rising to her cheeks. Her neck became flushed, and she ran her hand down the front of it, in a soothing motion, attempting to cool off. It wasn't working. Every second of their kiss came back to her in a rush, and unexpected tears formed in her eyes. Her misty gaze found him staring at her. He rose and came to her side, wrapping his arms around her, not saying a word. Saffron's entire body succumbed to his embrace. It was almost as if she were coming into a safe port.

They had just taken their relationship to a whole new level, at least in her mind. So now the stakes were raised, and they would have to exercise caution. If Suzanne should walk in and find them cuddling together, or if Halwyn did so, God forbid, they would be pulled apart forever. Even with the rules of decorum being a bit more relaxed than they had been before the war began, a public display of affection between unmarried people was still frowned upon. Throw a protective brother or another female on the prowl into the mix, and things could get really messy. In order to keep working together, and in the same room, where they could steal glances or hold hands in private, they had to be very careful. And that meant stepping out of his embrace now. Reluctantly, she backed away and brushed the tears from her eyes.

But she would be back in his arms at the first opportunity.

# CHAPTER SEVEN

Thanksgiving traditions had changed a bit in the years since Charlotte and George's brood of children began to marry and move away. One of the new traditions Saffron truly appreciated was the inclusion of some Native American foods into the meal to honor Joseph, Ginger's husband, who was half-Ojibwa. It pleased her to discover Grace meant to carry on the Fitzpatrick family traditions even though they were away from home. Thanksgiving wouldn't have been the same without fry bread, corn casserole, and Saffron's favorite: butternut squash with apricots, raisins, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and oranges all blended together. Her mouth watered as she glanced over the menu items Grace had put together.

"You're making me hungry already, Grace. How did you have the foresight to steal these yummy recipes from Mother's cook?"

"Well, I figured sooner or later I'd be responsible for the feast and had better be prepared. How will Zeke handle such strange concoctions, do you suppose?"

Saffron's eyes grew misty at the mention of his name. "Zeke will love the idea of trying something new, especially if it's food related. In fact, one of the reasons I invited him here is because we have similar ideas about trying new things."

Grace reached over the table and grasped Saffron's hand. "But that's not the only reason, is it?"

Saffron pulled her hand away and brushed a tear from her eye. "No, it's not. I find myself falling in love with him, and Halwyn has this huge distrust of him. How do I handle it? The last thing I need is to have to choose between my brother and my potential husband."

Grace rose and picked up the recipes to take them to the kitchen. "I'm eager to meet this young man who has had such a polarizing effect on the two of you. Isn't it terribly early to talk about love, though? You only met the man a month ago."

Saffron lowered her eyes to the table. It wouldn't do to make Grace aware her friendship with Zeke didn't begin when he walked into the Reburial Program's offices.

"It has been fairly quick, Grace, but it feels right."

"And you don't need to decide anything right now. There's no need to jump into a relationship. Take your time, get familiar with him inside and out, go on some outings together. For land's sakes, your coming out ball never happened. Now's your time to catch up. And perhaps Zeke won't be your final choice. Is there anyone else at work you are interested in?"

Saffron giggled. "No, only Zeke. I swear, Grace, when he's in the room, I don't notice anyone else."

"Well, then. I'm dying to meet this man who has captured your fancy. Right now, though, there's silver to be polished and a tablecloth to get ironed."

"I'll help you. Maybe it will make the time go faster until Zeke comes here tomorrow. I can't wait to gauge your reaction."

Grace took hold of Saffron's hand and squeezed it. "If it will help, I'll have a talk with Halwyn and remind him to be nice to Zeke. You're a grown woman, despite what Halwyn thinks, and it's time he loosens some of the restraints he's always placed on you."

Saffron let out a long breath. "Thank you, Grace. I'd feel much better if I could count on Halwyn being on his best behavior."

• • •

Zeke's stomach rumbled as he stood at the door to Halwyn and Saffron's home, waiting for admittance. Saffron had promised a feast, so Zeke hadn't yet broken his fast from last night. He hoped Saffron was correct about the quantities of food, and he also hoped he wouldn't make a fool of himself by taking too much.

He was shown to the parlor, which he took as a good sign. After Halwyn had warned him to stay away from Saffron, Zeke half expected to be shown to the street instead of being admitted to the home.

Instead, Halwyn rose and clasped Zeke's outstretched hand.

"Nice of you to join us today, Zeke. May I present my wife, Grace?"

Grace rose to meet him, and he pulled the bouquet of flowers from behind his back. "Nice to meet you, ma'am. These are for you."

"How lovely," Grace cradled the flowers in her arm for a moment, taking a sniff. "I'll get these put in water and placed on the table." She left the room, and Zeke glanced around for Saffron. Finding the room empty, he raised a brow in Halwyn's direction.

Halwyn grimaced and placed a hand on Zeke's shoulder. "She'll be here, Zeke. In typical Saffy fashion, she couldn't decide what to wear and has changed her mind numerous times this morning. But she finally settled on something and will be down directly."

Zeke exhaled. But only partially. Halwyn's hand was still on his shoulder, signaling the man wasn't yet done with him.

"Keep in mind what I told you a few days ago, though, Zeke. The war may have loosened some things with regard to proper courting rituals, but Saffron is in my care, and I don't care for what I witnessed in the tent the other day. She's not a woman to toy with, and I won't stand by and allow you to take advantage of her."

Zeke straightened his stance and shrugged the hand off his shoulder. "I would never do such a thing, Major. I care about her the same as you do and would never compromise her reputation."

"Yet people will talk, and I'm not the only one who witnessed the two of you holding hands."

Zeke lowered his gaze. "Yes, sir."

Halwyn spread his arm to take in the room, the house. "You're here today because I was overrun by two very stubborn women who feel no one should be alone on Thanksgiving. Please don't make me regret it."

A rustle of fabric and the sound of soft slippers interrupted the conversation. Saffron swept into the room in a rush, and both men turned to her. Her gown was off-the-shoulder, revealing a bit more skin than she did at work, and was a lovely shade of lavender. The slight bustle in the rear emphasized her hips and her tiny waist. Zeke stared, unable to speak. Saffron grasped his hand and twirled under it.

"Well, Zeke? Is the gown too much, as Halwyn decreed?"

Zeke removed his hand from hers and swallowed. "You are beautiful, Saffron."

He noticed the triumphant glance Saffron sent Halwyn's way. Evidently, this hadn't been the first time Halwyn had seen the gown.

"You got dressed up as well, I see. What a fine pair we make." Her gaze swept over him, and he was aware his threadbare suit was of much lesser quality than her gown. He ran his hand over his chest and tried to calm his jittery nerves, made even more apparent with Halwyn's hawk-like gaze following his every movement.

Grace returned to the room, giving Zeke a bit of a reprieve from Halwyn's attentions. Saffron moved so close to him he could catch her fresh scent, and his mouth began to water. Her hair hung in soft ringlets over her shoulder, and he longed to wrap one of them around his finger. But he dare not touch her.

He wondered what else she and Halwyn had talked about before his arrival. He wondered what the succulent smells were, which were coming from the kitchen. And he wondered how in the name of all that was holy he could keep his hands off Saffron for the entire afternoon. It was going to be a long meal.

"So, shall we make our way into the dining room?" Grace was the perfect hostess, steering the conversation toward a neutral topic. "I think you'll find a Fitzpatrick Thanksgiving feast a bit different from what you're probably used to, Zeke."

"The air is filled with delicious scents, so I can't wait to find out what type of foods those smells are related to."

Zeke's flowers were in the middle of the table, which was laden with multiple plates and more silverware than Zeke had ever seen. He gulped, realizing filling up the plates in the proper order and using the correct utensil would be another test, another way for Halwyn to highlight the differences between Saffron and Zeke. Well, if Saffron was willing to go to battle with her brother, so was Zeke. He'd follow her lead and select the same fork and plate she did for each course. He would best Halwyn at his game.

Fortunately, the children joined them at the table and distracted Halwyn and Grace. Normally for formal dinners, he was told, the children ate behind the closed doors of the nursery, but Thanksgiving was a family meal, shared by everyone. Halwyn's watchful eye left Zeke and Saffron alone, for a few moments, anyway, as the children settled into their places.

Before the main courses were brought to the table, Halwyn stood for a toast. "We have a great deal for which to be thankful this year. The war has ended. America is picking up the pieces and continuing to forge a great nation. We are surrounded by our family, both near and far, and we are pleased to share our bounty with our guest for the meal. Welcome to our table, Zeke."

"Thank you, Major and Mrs. Fitzpatrick, for inviting me here today." Zeke was certain Halwyn would rather Zeke be anywhere else than at this table. Still, it had been a nice gesture to welcome him. Now, he hoped Saffron could lead him through the various courses so he wouldn't make a complete ass of himself.

Saffron picked up on Zeke's confusion and made eye contact as she picked up the proper fork as the meal began. He let out a breath and imitated her, picking up the same utensil as the salad course was set in front of them. It was almost as though she could read his mind.

An hour later, all that was left were a few crumbs on the spotless tablecloth. Zeke had made it through the five-course dinner without making a fool of himself. The turkey had been succulent and moist, the corn casserole, the fry bread, and butternut squash had been unusual dishes, yet tasty, and the mountain of mashed potatoes had been devoured. Saffron and Grace both had made him laugh, and Zeke hardly got any twinges of homesickness as the meal progressed and he began to feel more comfortable at the table.

"Can you tell us what your family does to celebrate the day, Zeke?" He flashed a glance at Grace. It was as if she had picked up on his thoughts of his family.

"Well, life on the farm is a bit different from life in a town such as this. We have to kill the turkey and pluck its feathers before we can begin to cook it. My daddy takes care of the gruesome part, and my momma does the plucking. But the rest of the meal is pretty much in line with yours, only without the squash and fry bread. Although, now that I've tasted both, I think they're wonderful additions to the menu."

Saffron bumped his shoulder with her own. "And now, we've come to the best part of the meal, as far as you're concerned, anyway. We have two kinds of pie for dessert. Apple and pumpkin. And you don't need to pick one over the other. I told Cook to make certain both were on your plate."

If he weren't already in love with Saffron, her thoughtfulness about the pie choice would have sealed it for him. Zeke finished the meal with a huge smile on his face.

Their cook bundled up leftovers for him to take back to the boarding house, and Halwyn even clamped him on the shoulder as they shook hands before he departed. Perhaps there was a chance with Saffron, after all.

# CHAPTER EIGHT

Saffron walked with Halwyn through the crisp, December air from the Reburial Program's offices to their townhouse in the heart of the city, pondering which dress would be best to wear to the Christmas dance. She even lifted her arms, as if placing them around a dance partner, and began to waltz down the sidewalk, promptly tripping over a crack. She righted herself and continued to hum and waltz as they walked.

"I noticed you sitting with that boy, Zeke, again today in the lunch room," Halwyn interrupted her dance. "Inviting him to our table for Thanksgiving was one thing. I still haven't given my approval to him as your partner for the Christmas dance. And the more I see the two of you together, the less inclined I am to agree to it."

Saffron sighed. She had so hoped his scowl in her direction that afternoon had been for some other reason than the fact she shared a meal with Zeke. After their pleasant Thanksgiving dinner together, Saffron had hoped Halwyn and Zeke would be getting along better. She should have guessed she wasn't out of the woods yet. Raising her eyes to his tall form, she replied.

"You will not deny me my first-ever dance, will you, Halwyn?" Saffron's tears overflowed, and she stumbled again, unable to see where she was going. "You can't be so cruel."

He took hold of her arm and laid it over his own. He leaned over and kissed the top of her head as they ambled on down the street.

"No, I won't deny you, Saffy. But you must be more careful with whom you associate. You may be eighteen, and in your eyes you're a grown woman, but you're still incredibly young at heart, and you are unschooled in the subject of men. I don't trust Zeke. I've seen the way he stares at you when you're not looking. The man is up to no good, unless I miss my guess."

"He stares at me when I'm not looking?" She wiped her eyes and glanced up at Halwyn, holding onto him.

"That's all you got from my lecture?" He shook his head. "Why wouldn't he stare? You've turned into a lovely young woman any man would be proud to be with. I'll let him accompany you to the dance, since Grace and I will be there to keep him in check. But don't go off into a dark corner with him. He might try to compromise you in some way, kiss you, maybe, under the mistletoe."

"And where's the harm in a kiss under the mistletoe? Will you not kiss Grace there?"

"Yes, but it's different with us. We're married."

Saffron moved a step away from Halwyn and stopped on the sidewalk. She glared at his back until he turned around. Then her anger bubbled over.

"Are you really trying to tell me you and Grace never kissed before you married? I was in the house when you two were courting, as you will recall, and even though you may not have seen me, I witnessed a whole lot more than kissing going on."

Halwyn's expression turned sheepish. "All right. You've made your point. But I'm well aware of how impetuous you are, and I'm only warning you to exercise some caution around him. Until I can put my finger on what he's up to."

"I will be careful, and I appreciate your concern. But I can handle myself around Zeke. We understand each other."

The remainder of the walk was accomplished in silence as Saffron pondered Halwyn's words. Zeke stared at her when she wasn't looking! A shot of excitement raced through her body. And she began to contemplate again which gown to wear to the dance. It had to be cut low in the bodice so she could give him something else to gaze upon. By the time they arrived home, her tears were gone, replaced by a genuine smile.

• • •

Zeke was playing with fire by spending more time with Saffron, yet he anticipated the Christmas dance as much as she did. He told himself every day to limit his time with her, and he tried to talk himself out of being by her side. Not only was she totally unreachable on a social level, but he'd seen the way her brother glared at him, and he was worried. If Halwyn reacted so strongly to him, what would her father do? Perhaps he should wander over to Suzanne's cubbyhole in their office, spend some time with her instead. Her father was a blacksmith, so the great social divide he was experiencing with Saffron would not be an issue with Suzanne. But he didn't want to spend time with another woman. Only Saffron. Sleep eluded him as he pondered what to do next.

He had to remain with the Reburial Program until he could honor his father's wish to retrieve his brothers' bodies. This one final act relating to the war should not be that difficult to accomplish. The only problem was it meant spending more time with Saffron, and the ramifications of that would not be good, either way it went. He'd either be made a laughingstock by her family, or his past life as a camp follower and deserter would finally be uncovered, and he'd have to pay for his sins. Or, perhaps worst of all, she'd destroy his desire for any other woman, ever. He grit his teeth as he pondered what to do. But he had no choice in the matter. His father had requested this one last thing—to bring his brothers' bodies home. He'd fulfill the request and then move on. And, even though it was folly on his part, he'd carve out as much time with Saffron as he could until he could accomplish his mission. She was correct. The war was over, the world was at their feet, and they both deserved to have some fun. He merely needed to guard his heart while doing so.

Yes, this approach was the most sensible. He could retrieve his brothers and stay out of harm's way himself. He hadn't been spared on the battlefield simply so he could do battle with an overprotective brother. The battle he'd have with his heart if he left Saffron was something else entirely.

After a restless night and a free day to ponder his future actions, his mind was made up. He'd tell Saffron of his plans after this dance.

He ran his hand down his worn dress jacket before he knocked on the door of the Fitzpatrick residence. In a few short minutes, Saffron would be in his arms, and probably trouncing on his toes. His grin widened as he waited for the door to open.

He was led into the house by the butler, who escorted him into the front room where Halwyn waited. His grin faded.

"Good evening." Zeke extended a hand to Halwyn and then dipped his head to Grace, a vision in her burgundy gown. Her dark hair shone in the room's gaslights. Halwyn removed and cleaned his glasses before he continued.

"Saffron will be right down. She hoped to surprise all of us with her choice of gown, which in itself makes me extremely nervous. Especially after her choice of gown at Thanksgiving."

A rustle of movement came from the direction of the staircase. "Here she comes now," Grace replied, and the trio turned toward the door.

Saffron stopped at the entrance, the doorframe surrounding her as if she were a picture. Zeke drew in a breath. She was indeed a picture. Light, pale blonde hair, large twinkling blue eyes, a huge smile on those lovely lips. His gaze slid over her face and moved down to take in the emerald gown she was wearing. The bodice was cut low but was still presentable. Yet it stole Zeke's breath when he glimpsed the swell of her breasts above the gown's bodice.

She glided into the room and twirled for her audience.

"Where did you get that dress?" Halwyn choked out.

"Jasmine made it for me before I left New York," Saffron replied. "I've been waiting for the right moment to wear it." She turned to Zeke. "Our sister owns a dressmaking shop back home. Hello, Zeke." She held out her gloved hand to him.

He swallowed, hard. His mouth was bone dry. All he could do was to stand in the room and stare at her. Not a word, a sentence, formed in his mind.

Halwyn grabbed her elbow and began to usher her from the room. "That does it. You need to go change, Saffy. Your gown is much too elaborate for a simple Christmas dance. And it seems to have removed Zeke's ability to speak."

Grace reached out and stopped them.

"Saffron's gown is lovely, Halwyn. Stop being such a big brother. Zeke's reaction to Saffron is totally appropriate." She grasped Saffron's extended hand and walked her over to stand beside Zeke. "See how well they look together, Hal? And, I declare, the color of your gown almost exactly matches Zeke's eyes. How is it possible?"

"It's a very pretty color, and it caught my eye in the shop. That's how it happened." Then, she continued, softly, so only he could hear. "Maybe I was recalling someone's coloring when I picked out this fabric at the shop..."

Zeke's clouded mind suddenly became clear. Saffron had been recalling him when she shopped for the gown? She'd had no idea they were to ever see each other again, to work together, to attend a Christmas ball together. Yet she'd matched his eye color based on her memory of an event that took place three years prior? He was a most fortunate man. And if Saffron refused to be cowed by Halwyn, by God, so did he.

He held out an arm to Saffron, and she moved next to him, wrapping her arm around his. He inhaled her signature spicy, floral scent, which so matched her personality. "You are indeed lovely this evening, Saffron. I can't wait to make all the other men jealous when we walk in together."

"So I'm only lovely this evening, am I? What about all the other times we've been together?" Saffron's whisper came to his ears, which immediately turned red with embarrassment.

"That's not what I meant, exactly."

Saffron smiled at him, and he finally figured out he was being teased. He relaxed his shoulders as they left the home for the waiting carriage. He was indeed a most fortunate man. Now if he could just get Halwyn to stop giving him the evil eye.

• • •

Zeke's chest puffed with pride as they entered the large room where the ball was taking place. Washington, DC, was no stranger to fancy balls, and although this was a fairly modest affair, it was extremely elaborate in Zeke's eyes. A large crowd had gathered; some he recognized from his days with the program, but others were government dignitaries to whom occasions such as a ball were an everyday occurrence.

Well, everyday or not, no one else had entered the room with Saffron on his arm. The most beautiful woman of all. Zeke caught the appreciative glances from some of the other men in the room, and figured he'd have his work cut out if he were to dance the night away with her without having other men cut in and take her on a turn around the floor. He desperately needed this one wonderful memory to carry with him for the rest of his lifetime.

Halwyn and Grace stopped to talk to some of the other officers, for which Zeke was grateful. He was finally able to draw a deep breath. The trickle of dread that slithered down his spine when he first caught Halwyn glaring at him at the start of the evening began to dissipate a bit. Yet it seemed every time Zeke glanced over to where Halwyn and Grace were standing, Halwyn had his eyes on Saffron and him.

Zeke led Saffron to the middle of the dance floor, where they began a waltz. Maybe if they got caught up in the dancers on the floor, Halwyn would relax his vigil. Quit being the fierce protector and maybe even enjoy himself. Zeke certainly had every intention of doing so.

He turned his attention to his partner, who managed to accomplish the entire waltz without once stepping on his toes.

"It seems your dancing lessons with Halwyn have paid off." He grinned at her as they moved off the floor.

"Well, Halwyn did help. But if I hadn't had such a strong partner leading me around, our dance could have been a disaster."

Zeke inhaled sharply. His chest puffed up again. Saffron referred to him as a strong partner! He glanced around the room. Halwyn and Grace were nowhere to be found, but he noticed a single man making his way toward them. There was no way he was relinquishing his hold on Saffron for even one dance. He began to pull her with him toward the balcony.

"Where are we going?" Saffron's voice rose in excitement as she followed his lead.

"A bit of a breather on the balcony might be a good idea. Clear the air."

"Oooh, yes." She giggled as she placed her hand on his arm.

The December air was crisp but not very cold. Even for DC, this was a mild winter night. But still, Saffron shivered as they stood in the open. Her silk gown left a considerable amount of skin exposed. Zeke unbuttoned his jacket and draped it around her. His fingers grazed the sides of her neck as he positioned the jacket on her shoulders, and he jumped a bit. Her skin was so soft, it reminded him of fresh-churned butter. Or cream, fresh from the top of the milk.

His analogies only further made him aware of the monumental class divide between them. She was a girl from an expensive city house, with lotions to keep her skin soft and servants to perform the hard labor to keep her hands from getting callused, and he was a boy from the farm, very familiar with both butter and cream and how it was attained. Yet he couldn't keep himself from turning her around so she faced him. He placed his hands on the arms of his jacket, which was still warm from his body, and drew her to him, once again inhaling her fragrance.

"Is your first ball all you envisioned it would be, Saffron?"

"Well, very nearly." She lowered her eyes.

"What would it take to make it totally special?"

She sighed. "Do I have to come up with every idea? Why don't you surprise me?"

He grasped her chin and raised her eyes to meet his. "Perhaps it's time for our second kiss?" He lowered his head to meet her lips.

She pulled out of his grasp and twirled away. "You'll have to catch me first!"

She ran three quick steps forward, laughing as she glanced behind her to check on Zeke's progress. She didn't see the tall, uniformed soldier until after she ran into him.

"Oof!" Arms came around her to steady her, and she backed away a few paces and stared up at the man. "Halwyn? What are you doing here?"

He positioned his crooked glasses back on his face before he replied. "I could ask the same of you. Why are you out here in the chilly night air without an escort?"

Zeke appeared out of the gloom from the back of the balcony. At the same time, Grace appeared alongside Halwyn, coming from the other direction. Zeke's muscles bunched as he waited for the physical blow Halwyn was about to give him.

Grace placed her hand on her husband's arm, which was already raised into his wrestling pose, ready to strike. "Oh, I guess our plans for the balcony got upended tonight, Halwyn, dear." She stood in front of him and turned to the young couple. "We were just saying this reminded us of the balcony at the ball where we first ran into one another, and were about to reenact the scene before Saffron crashed into him."

Saffron laughed. "Zeke and I were only getting some fresh air. I was never without an escort, Halwyn, so you can relax. And lower your arm. You haven't hit anyone since your college days."

"I will not relax." Halwyn turned his fury to Zeke. "Against my better judgment, I have allowed you to escort my sister this evening. And before an hour has gone by, you have already dragged her to the balcony so you can have your way with her. I'm putting a stop to this right now. Our evening is at an end."

Zeke swallowed hard as he faced Halwyn, who had guessed with uncanny accuracy exactly what Zeke's motives were. But he was not about to let the evening come to such an abrupt finish.

"I apologize, Halwyn. It was not my intent to take advantage of Saffron. We truly only were hoping for a bit of fresh air. We were about to head back inside when she ran into you. And Grace."

Saffron's eyes teared up as she gazed at her brother. "Halwyn, please don't destroy my night. It's my first ball ever, and I'm not ready to be done yet. I've only danced one time so far."

Halwyn's gaze ricocheted between Zeke, Saffron, and Grace. Zeke noted the silent exchange between husband and wife before Halwyn relaxed his stance. Just a bit, but noticeable.

"All right, Saffy. I'll let you have your dance. But there will be no more running off to the balcony. You'll stay by our side the remainder of the evening, you and Zeke."

Saffron tossed her head, her curls bouncing as she gazed up at her brother. "And what shall we do if you and Grace decide you wish to return to the balcony?"

Halwyn's eyes flashed. "Don't be cheeky. Now, let's all get inside before we freeze to death."

Halwyn led the way back into the stuffy ballroom. Zeke held Saffron's hand briefly as they followed. He tried to relinquish his hold on her when they got into the brightly lit room, but she held firmly on to him with a huge smile on her face as she faced off against her brother. Having come from a large family as well, Zeke understood the meaning behind her show of bravado. Saffron might be the youngest in the family, and although she and Halwyn seemed to have a close connection to each other, she would not be ruled by him. By taking Zeke's hand, she was telling her brother she was taking her life into her own hands. Zeke mentally applauded her while her hand warmed his.

How could he turn his back on her and their blossoming relationship? Yet he must. He had to try, for both of their sakes. A trip back to the farm might go a long way to putting things into the proper perspective. He'd shoulder the full responsibility of the farm and become the man of the family in every way possible. His father deserved to rest a little now that he was older, and Zeke needed to put away his foolish notions from his youth. And allowing Saffron to be nothing more than a pleasant memory would be a good start.

# CHAPTER NINE

Saffron should have felt giddy this morning, since it was the day after her first-ever ball, and she'd been escorted by Zeke, much to the dismay of her nemesis, Suzanne Miller. Instead of being deliriously happy, she suffered a bout of motion sickness from the train, and the whimpering of Halwyn's children only added to her dismay. The only thing that would have made the ride better would have been having Zeke along as they made their way to New York City.

But Saffron decided not to even mention it as a possibility to Halwyn. Not after the embarrassment he had caused her at the ball. Zeke was left to find his own way home to upstate New York and the farm. So, here she was with Halwyn, Grace, and their three small, dark-haired children. Most of the servants in the DC household had been given time off for the holiday since the Fitzpatricks would be spending their time in New York City. So there was only a nanny along for the trip, and the train's motion had lulled her to sleep.

Saffron ran her fingers over the seed pearls that formed a floral pattern on her reticule, unable to keep her hands still. She relived the previous evening with Zeke and how she so stupidly waltzed away from him when he offered to kiss her. And waltzed straight into the arms of Halwyn, who was blind without his glasses. But once he put the glasses back on, his focus aimed straight at Zeke, who he assumed was being totally forward and inappropriate. But that was only because Halwyn wasn't aware she and Zeke had a past together. He thought they had only just met a short time ago.

And Saffron wasn't about to correct Halwyn's misconceptions. It would only inflame him further to know Zeke had been the reason she put herself in danger when she was only fifteen, and for causing the family so much anguish when they couldn't find her right away.

The train slowly made its way toward the New York station, and her ruminations chugged along with it. She played with the fringe on her shawl as her mind tried to focus. Could Zeke be her one true love? Even though he'd been a raw and lanky boy when they'd first met, he'd been the one she'd used as her benchmark for other men she'd met, and so far, no other had measured up to him. And now, meeting him again when he was full-grown, with his well developed shoulders tapering to a trim waistline, and his strong legs, how could she possibly resist? She was infatuated and had been ever since their first kiss. And was hungry for a second one. Which could have happened last night if she hadn't been playing hard to get. She enjoyed teasing him and making things a challenge for him, but she had hurt herself in the process. What she really longed for was to taste his lips again. She had wanted to kiss him again ever since their first fateful meeting.

She sighed just as the youngest, Emily, let out a wail. Saffron glanced up, wishing she could wail along with the toddler. The nanny didn't stir from her nap.

"I'll take her, Grace." Saffron scooped up the fussy child and stood in the aisle. She paced up and down, Emily on her hip. The action settled the baby, and her own stomach settled in the process. Once Emily fell asleep on Saffron's shoulder, Saffron returned to their seat, handed off the sleeping child, and opened her book. Halwyn wandered up the railcar to talk to the engineers. Grace settled her children in beside her on the facing seat and turned to Saffron, smoothing out her taffeta skirt before she spoke. Her alabaster skin glowed in an ageless appearance. Saffron was amazed Grace had lost none of her youthful appearance despite surviving a vengeful stepfather and already birthing three children.

"Do you see Zeke returning to the program after the holiday, or have we seen the last of him?"

Saffron's gaze darted up from her book, as Grace's statement startled her. The book fell from her fingers and landed on the floor. "Why would you assume Zeke would leave?"

"He has a farm to run upstate, does he not?"

"Yes, but his father can run it for a while longer. He hasn't yet brought home his brothers."

"Things might be different once he gets back home. We may have seen the last of him. I'm only mentioning it as a possibility. Running a farm is a huge undertaking for one man, and Zeke's help may be needed."

Saffron's stomach, which she had settled a few minutes ago, now tied itself up in knots. She had not even considered he would not return.

"Do you agree with Halwyn, then? Do you assume Zeke is not a good match for me?"

Grace leaned between the two seats and clasped Saffron's hands in hers. "He's a fine boy, Saffron, and I've enjoyed getting to know him. However, he is completely unsuitable for you. He's used to manual labor, and you are not. Consider what life on a farm would involve for a moment. Take away the fact he's a good looking man and try to concern yourself with what your daily life would involve if you were to marry him and move upstate."

Tears filled Saffron's eyes as she stared at Grace. She'd not given much attention to her life if she were to marry Zeke. She had been far too busy trying to ensure his attention, keeping him away from Suzanne, and enjoying being in the moment with no idea of the future. Their future.

"It wouldn't be so bad, would it?" Saffron blinked her tears away.

"Sweetheart, you'd have a very hard life ahead of you if you choose to marry Zeke. Halwyn and I will endeavor to find you someone more suitable in the next few months. Perhaps we can invite some of the single officers to our dinner table, let you get to know them."

"I have no interest in any men other than Zeke. I think he's more than suitable, don't you see?"

Grace shook her head. "Zeke is a handsome man, I'll agree, but he's not for you. There's more to finding a compatible partner than physical appearance."

"He's got a good heart. Doesn't that count?"

Grace squeezed Saffron's hands. "Of course it does. But it's not enough to negate the negative aspects of what a life with him would hold. This is different from Ginger and Joseph. They live on a ranch and deal with horses. They have a lot of hands to help them, and I've never once in all my visits seen Ginger mucking out a stall."

Grace released Saffron's hands and leaned back in her seat. Saffron glanced at her, hoping she was finished. From the gleam in Grace's eyes, though, Saffron realized she was only getting started. Saffron bounced the back of her head against the seat of the train, closed her eyes and waited for Grace to continue.

"From my limited knowledge of farming, it's no picnic. You'll be up at dawn, cooking his breakfast, milking the cows, churning the butter. When he leaves for the fields, you'll have to get the house clean or do the laundry before you carry lunch to him in whatever part of the farm he'll be."

Saffron glanced up. "Surely we can hire someone to help out, can't we? That's what Mother does. And Ginger. There's no reason we can't."

"There will be no servants or field hands to help you out. Unless I miss my guess, his farm is totally run by his family. The household, the cooking, the cleaning, laundry, and other chores will be on your shoulders."

Saffron fisted her hands against her quivering stomach.

"But I can't cook or milk a cow. Or any of the rest of what you said."

"Which proves my point, dear. Halwyn is only looking out for you when he says Zeke is not a good fit."

"But surely, if you love someone, you can make it work, can't you?"

Grace nodded in agreement. "I'll tell you what. If you can spend this holiday in the kitchen, helping your mother's staff put together the big Christmas dinner, I'll talk to Halwyn about letting you continue to spend time with Zeke."

"I'll have to cook?" Saffron had been relishing her upcoming days off from her work with the program. She longed to sleep in a few mornings.

"If Zeke is worth it to you, yes. Learning how to cook will be the first step."

So it would be a test. And if it would prove to Halwyn and Grace she could handle life as a farmwife, so be it. They'd have the grandest Christmas dinner ever. She clenched her jaw, lifted her chin, and stared straight ahead. She'd enjoy proving them wrong. If only she'd paid better attention when she'd snuck into the kitchen during her childhood, stealing cookies before they were cooled off.

• • •

Tears filled Saffron's eyes as the carriage ride from the train station came to an end and she stared up at the family brownstone.

"I've missed being at home, Mother," she admitted as she laid her head on her mother's shoulder. "And I've missed you."

"The house has been very lonely without you in it, dear. I'm glad you're home, even if it's only for a few days. But let's not stand here in the cold air. Come, let's head inside."

Charlotte Fitzpatrick put her hands on her daughter's shoulders, as if afraid to relinquish her hold on her youngest child. "Halwyn and Grace will take the carriage and head to their own home, but we'll see them soon. Right now, it's just your Papa and us. I need to hear everything that's been going on with you."

George Fitzpatrick issued some directions to the carriage driver after the servants retrieved Saffron's bags. He turned to the ladies.

"May I escort the two most beautiful women in New York into the house?"

Saffron giggled as she wrapped her hand around her father's arm. "We'd love to be escorted by the most handsome man in New York, Papa."

Within minutes, they were settled into the parlor with cups of hot tea in front of them. Saffron sank into her favorite chair. Nothing had changed in the room–the walls still had the deep burgundy-on-cream flocked wallpaper, the chairs matched the rich red color, the hardwood floors were polished to a shine, capable of reflecting the glow of an evening's oil lamp.

Her parents were the same as always. Her father's dark hair might have some more flecks of gray, but he was still a man in command of his environment, and her mother's blonde curls were askew, as usual. All was familiar, and comforting. If she were to marry Zeke and move to his farm, would she ever see her home or her parents again? The idea of not ever being able to do so brought the tears back into her eyes, and she blinked them away.

Of course she would be able to return! All her other siblings had married and moved away from the family brownstone, yet they all returned when they could. And she'd be able to stay in the same state, at least. The idea cheered her up, and she turned to face her parents.

"It's so good to be home again, although Washington, DC, has proved to be an exciting place."

Her mother blinked back her own tears. "I had so hoped you'd be disillusioned by now and tell us you were giving up your job and returning home for good."

"Now, Charlotte, you can't hang onto Saffron forever." George turned his gaze toward Saffron. "Why don't you tell us about the work you've been doing?"

"We got to spend a couple days at one of the battlefields, in Manassas, and were able to test our theories on how best to retrieve the bodies. It was fun to be out in the field, even though our reason for being there was pretty grim."

Saffron caught her mother's shudder at the mention of the work, and decided to change the subject.

"I've met a boy, Mother."

Charlotte's gaze quickly moved from misty to focused. "Really? I had hoped you'd find someone. Tell me about him. Does he live in DC? How old is he?"

Saffron laughed. This was the mother she was used to, not some weepy woman. She was glad she had Zeke to talk about, rather than merely her somewhat gruesome work.

"He lives in upstate New York on his family's farm. But he lost four brothers in the war, and he needs to bring their bodies home to bury them on family land."

"What a horrible chore for the young man."

"No more horrible than when he had to bury them for the first time."

"Oh, so he's a military man? Is he very much older than you? Has Halwyn not been doing his duty in keeping you safe?"

Saffron flipped a hand in the air. "Halwyn's been doing too good a job of keeping me safe. Zeke is only a year older than me, and he escorted me to my very first dance, right before we left. What should have been a pleasant memory got spoiled by Halwyn's show of bravado. He threatened to send Zeke home after we'd only been there for one dance."

Charlotte rose to fill her empty teacup. When she turned back to them, Saffron caught the darted gaze between her mother and father, and her mood sunk. Their conversation would not be as lighthearted as she had anticipated. It was running off into a ditch before her eyes. When her father cleared his throat and glanced at her, she cringed a bit.

"Halwyn wrote to us about your young man and expressed his concerns for you. I somehow got the impression Zeke is older than you are saying he is. But regardless of his age, Halwyn has determined he's an inappropriate suitor for you. He had hoped we'd be able to talk you out of spending any more time with this young man."

Saffron rose and began to pace around the room. "Halwyn has no right to interfere with my relationship with Zeke. Nor does Grace. She actually set up some boundaries and hoops for me to jump through to test my seriousness about him. They're both being most unfair. It should be my decision, and mine alone, as to with whom I choose to spend my time."

Saffron's pacing grew more agitated as she stomped around the room. "Grace is even talking about inviting some single military men acquainted with Halwyn over to dinner in the new year, so they can examine me and determine if I'm worthy of spending their precious time on. And all I want to do is spend time with Zeke."

Charlotte followed her pacing daughter's movements. "What kind of test measures would Grace impose, for mercy's sake?"

Saffron turned to her mother. "She told me the life of a farmer's wife would be a harsh one, and I can't do any cooking, much less the rest of it. She thinks I should help in the kitchen during the Christmas meal to prove to her I'm serious about Zeke."

"Well, I won't have it. You're family, we've missed you, and you're certainly not spending the meal in the hot kitchen while we eat upstairs."

"But if I don't, Grace won't be in my corner anymore against Halwyn. I'll need to sit through one dreadful, boring meal after another with what they deem an 'appropriate' suitor when we return to DC. I must do as she asks, Mother."

Charlotte shook her head and clicked her fingernails against her teeth. "And I say no. But maybe there's a compromise solution. All the desserts and some of the dishes are prepared a day ahead of the actual dinner. You can help out the day before, maybe learn to make a pie. Cook claims your father would be happy with pie at every meal. Would such a plan satisfy Grace's request?"

Saffron's stomach unclenched for the first time since her father cleared his throat. She leaned down and hugged her mother. "Working in the kitchen the day before is a brilliant move. Thank you for thinking of it. Zeke loves pie, too. Maybe if I'm successful, Grace and Halwyn will back off and leave me to enjoy my relationship with Zeke."

"So he works on the family farm upstate. What else can you tell us about him?"

"He's tall, with broad shoulders, and his hair is darker than mine but still a light color. His eyes are the deepest green I've ever seen. And he is fond of me."

George's glance moved over his daughter's face. "How could he not be fond of you? You've turned into a lovely young lady, Saffy. But Halwyn gave us the impression Zeke is in his mid-twenties, not just one year older than you. After all, he served in the army during the war, so he must be the age Halwyn says. It bothers me that you think otherwise. I'll need to ponder it some more."

Saffron stood and made a grand show of stretching. Then she yawned. "You'd assume a ride on a train wouldn't wear me out, but I'm exhausted. May we finish our conversation later? I need to take a nap."

Her mother stood and patted Saffron's hair in a familiar gesture. "Of course, dear. I should have figured you'd be tired. Your room's been freshened up for you. We'll talk more later."

Saffron kissed both parents before she escaped the room and made her way upstairs. For now, she had sidestepped answering the question about the disparity in Zeke's age. She'd have to come up with a better answer than avoidance, though. She had a feeling the question wouldn't go away anytime soon.

And the last thing she wanted was for her family to put together the fact Zeke had been the reason she dashed off on her wild ride, against their directives to stay indoors, on one wonderful, exciting afternoon when she was only fifteen. If they ever pieced together the whole story and realized the peril Zeke had placed her in, he would never be part of her future, only her past.

• • •

Immediately after breakfast the following morning, Saffron donned her oldest day dress and took the stairs to the basement kitchen. She paused at the landing to inhale the scent of bacon, cinnamon, and yeast still hanging in the air.

With a sense of urgency, she moved through the kitchen doors and into the bustling room. The Fitzpatricks' long-time cook was the first to spy Saffron.

"Oh, it's so good to have you home, little one." She wrapped her arms around Saffron's lithe form.

"It's good to be home, for even a little while, and to enjoy your food again. You're well, I take it?" She patted Cook's broad back.

"Still as plump as a Christmas goose and as sassy as molasses," Cook replied. "Did you get enough breakfast? Or have you come down here to steal another of your favorite cinnamon rolls?"

Saffron laughed. "I had two of them for breakfast, so no, I don't need another." She inhaled a deep breath and continued. "What I do need is some cooking lessons. I hope to work with you today and help you prepare some of the dishes for tomorrow's feast."

Cook stared at her for a long moment. "It's about a boy, isn't it?"

Saffron could feel the heat rising to her cheeks. She'd blame her rise in color on the kitchen's warmth but the real reason was because Cook had seen through her so quickly. She grabbed a slice of bacon, which was cooling on the counter, and stuffed it into her mouth so she could take a minute before answering.

She glanced at the short, rotund woman beside her, who had been with the household since before Saffron's birth. Why try to hide the facts from her? She giggled.

"Yes, you've cut right to the core of my problem. There is a boy involved, and where he's from, they don't employ cooks to get the meals together. So, if I'm to stand a chance with him, I need to learn at least the basics. Can you help me?"

Cook wrapped an ample arm around Saffron's shoulders. "Yes, of course I can. Anything to help. But while we work, you must tell me about this boy who's captured your heart."

"I'll have no problem talking about Zeke. But can we make a pie?"

"Does your young man have a favorite?"

Saffron pondered the question. "Well, he devoured a slice of pumpkin pie in three bites a few weeks ago. And I've seen him gobble up apple pie without seeming to taste it."

"It so happens we're making both kinds for tomorrow's big feast. I'll teach you how to make pie crust first. I have a secret way of making it so it melts in your mouth. I've never shared my recipe with anyone outside the staff here, though, so you must guard it with your life."

Saffron bounced from one foot to the other. She did so love secrets. "Yes, ma'am. I can't wait. Tell me the secret!"

"Most folks make their crusts using either lard or butter, but never both. Lard keeps the crust flaky, but butter makes it taste divine. I've come up with a way to combine butter and lard into one recipe and keep them as cold as they can be while I'm blending the ingredients. Then, when I pop the crust into the oven, the butter and lard melt to create a flaky, tasty crust."

Saffron's first tries at rolling a crust were a failure. The dough fell apart in her hands or came out lumpy instead of smooth, and was tossed to the trash bucket. But, on her third attempt, and with Cook checking each step of the process, she succeeded in making the crust for the pumpkin pie. As Cook showed her how to flute the edges of the crust, Saffron laughed. If she could make a pie, she could keep Zeke happy. But, to be on the safe side, she also helped trim the edges from the green beans and snapped them into bite sizes, and cut up and seasoned the day-old bread to use for stuffing the bird.

By the time the day was ended, Saffron had a bit of flour on her cheeks and happy tears in her eyes. She had succeeded and passed the first hurdle Grace had set up for her in her quest to prove Zeke was a good match for her. She'd be certain to point out, after Grace ate the beans, stuffing, and pie, her role in bringing those dishes to the table.

• • •

Zeke couldn't fathom how quickly his life had changed. The night before Zeke arrived home for the Christmas holiday, his father had been killed in an accident. He'd been struck in the head by a horse's hoof and died instantly. So, instead of a festive holiday, Zeke and his brother had spent Christmas Eve building a casket for their father. Frederica's new husband, Levi, helped them dig a grave in the hard, frozen ground. The burial happened the next morning, in a flurry of activity. Zeke hadn't had time to catch his breath yet.

A few days after the funeral, his mother held a family meeting with Frederica and her husband, along with Gertrude, Hannah, and Isaiah, Zeke's younger siblings. Zeke reflected a moment on how much the young ones had changed in the few short months he'd been gone. Frederica was now a woman instead of a coltish young thing. And judging from the way she and Levi couldn't keep their hands off each other, Zeke figured she'd have a child before their one-year anniversary.

Gertrude was right behind her at seventeen. Her dark brunette hair and large, striking blue eyes set her apart from other women. But it was the intelligence behind those blue eyes that made her most appealing, if a man bothered to look beneath her surface beauty. Zeke had no doubt some young man would find her irresistible soon. Hannah was still a child at fifteen, but she might end up being the prettiest of the sisters when all was said and done. And Isaiah, who had turned fourteen a few months prior, was already adding on muscle to his childish frame. In no time at all, he'd be a strapping young man. Momma had aged overnight, though, with Daddy's death. How was it possible her hair turned gray so quickly? And the lines of her face, which had been laugh lines when Zeke was growing up, were now furrows of worry.

"Your daddy loved this scrap of land, but it wore him down over the years and now has killed him. The rest of you don't need to suffer in the same way."

Zeke stared at his mother. "What are you saying, Momma? You're going to sell the farm? Leave everything, leave the only home, the only life we've ever had, behind?"

"Yes, son, it's what I'm going to do. Your daddy held on to it because Adam loved it so, but Adam's gone now, as is your father. If your brothers were still with us, I might think differently. But you're not cut out to be a farmer, and Isaiah is too young to take over such a heavy burden. Besides, I'm sick and tired of the constant odor of cow dung."

Zeke fisted his hands and placed them on top of the table as his sisters chattered excitedly at the sudden change in their circumstances. Leaving the farm was something they had never considered. He rolled his broad shoulders to release some of the sudden tension buildup. "But Daddy told me to bring the remains of my brothers here to be buried. I can't do that now if the farm is going to belong to someone else."

His mother nodded her agreement. "A foolish notion if ever there was one, in my opinion. You're relieved of your responsibility there as well, Zeke."

Zeke stood from the table and began to pace around the kitchen. "So all of Daddy's hard work to maintain the farm has been for nothing?"

His mother pierced him with a hot stare. "No, not for nothing. I've already been approached by our neighbor, Warren. He wishes to buy the place and is willing to pay top dollar for it. I'll have more than enough money to get all of us to Oregon now."

"Oregon?" Zeke's voice rose by a couple of octaves, but he couldn't control it. "Why in God's name would we move to Oregon?"

Levi rose from the table and joined Zeke, putting an arm around his new brother-in-law. Zeke flexed his muscles underneath Levi's arm and waited for him to speak.

"Your mother wishes to move to Oregon to continue to be close to Frederica. Your sister and I have been planning to move there since we first started dating, but we never had enough money before to outfit a wagon. Now, your mother can provide for all of us, and I'm willing to take on the responsibility for her, and your younger siblings, too. Especially now since you'll be joining us."

Zeke stared at Levi as the room began to swim. He found it hard to catch his breath. So many changes coming all at once. He sank into a seat before he collapsed onto the floor, and wiped his hand over his eyes.

He no longer had to be a farmer.

He could offer Saffron more than a humble existence.

He had no idea what to do next.

"So you've been planning your move for some time?"

Frederica replied. "We've hoped to, as Levi said, but until now, we couldn't see any way to get there."

"So Daddy's death is giving you what you longed for?"

Zeke's mother sat beside him and wrapped her arms around him.

"Your daddy's death is giving us all a chance at a future, not just Frederica. All of us. Please say you'll come with us."

"When will you leave?"

Levi assumed an air of importance as he picked up the pacing Zeke had been doing. "We need to get to St. Joseph by March in order to be one of the first wagon trains to depart. Frederica and I figured we should head out fairly soon, since the weather will be a factor on the first leg of the journey. It may take us a couple of months to get from here to Missouri, and I'd rather be early than late."

Zeke studied the man. Levi had grown up on a neighboring farm and he and Zeke and been friends for years. Levi was a strong man, but he'd only ever been a farmer and was a wide-eyed innocent in the ways of the world. Yet Zeke's mother was going to entrust Levi to bring her family safely to the other side of the country. He shook his head at the foolhardy mission.

"I'm sorry, Levi, if it's going to change your plans, but I can't join you on the journey. At least not right away. I've got to take care of getting my brothers into a Union cemetery now that bringing them here is out of the question. Maybe after I fulfill my obligation to them and to Daddy, I can join you. But I'll stay long enough to see you off on your journey."

As December gave way to January, Zeke helped his mother load the few remaining items into the wagon and waved goodbye until his family disappeared over the horizon. If he could, by some huge miracle, convince Saffron to take a westward journey with him, they could catch up with the wagon in St. Joseph. He moved from his spot in front of the only home he'd ever known, loath to leave but anxious to see Saffron again.

He had to convince her to join him in America's exciting westward expansion. To convince her that simply because she'd grown up with wealth and comfort, she didn't need to continue such a lifestyle, which didn't suit her any better than it did him. Or if all else failed, to say goodbye one final time. He ran his hand over his eyes again. In actual fact, he was returning to DC on a fool's mission if he expected any outcome other than a final end to their relationship.

It was worth a try, though. Saffron was worth a try.

# CHAPTER TEN

Saffron kept telling herself she wasn't worried when Zeke didn't return to DC right away from his trip home, even if she did find herself tapping her feet while she waited as each long hour dragged by. Anything could have happened to delay him by a few days or even a week. She had jumped back into her workday, logging in the letters coming to the Reburial Program from all parts of the country and then filing them into the appropriate folders. When the time came to retrieve the bodies, Saffron and the others in her department would have everyone organized, and the work would proceed smoothly.

She tossed and turned each night, losing sleep as she came up with one wild scenario after the other as to what had caused his delay when Zeke didn't return the second week of the new year. She didn't believe he'd stay on the farm and not come back, despite Grace's notions. At least not without telling her what he was doing. He was as smitten with her as she was with him—of that much she was certain—and she hadn't slaved over pie dough during her holiday for nothing. She had plans to marry him. So where was he? She bit her lip as she pondered the question.

Finally, at the end of the second week of January, he walked into the office. Saffron's heart nearly jumped out of her chest when his familiar voice rang out down the hall as he greeted the others. Although she longed to rush down the hall and propel herself into his arms, she had to remind herself she was angry with him for his tardiness. And she had to remind herself to play hard to get. He'd need to work hard for the second kiss he had been asking for. His first kiss had been the stuff of her dreams for three years now. The second one had to be every bit as monumental.

Even though her body strained toward him, especially when he called out a greeting to Suzanne, she held back. A kiss in front of a crowd of coworkers would not be nearly monumental enough, even if it would put Suzanne in her place. He finally entered the small office they shared, and she glanced up from the folder she'd been holding onto.

"Welcome back, Zeke. I wondered if you were gone for good." Saffron was pleased her voice came out in a well-modulated tone. If there was a slight quaver, she hoped she was the only one who noticed.

He set his hat on the desk—their desk. Then he stared at her, his bottle-green eyes all-consuming. It was almost as if he were dying of thirst and only she could provide him the life-giving water he needed. Well, after all the worry he'd caused her over the past two weeks, he could be parched a bit longer. She'd remain unaffected in his presence and not go soft and gooey. Even as she scolded herself, she could not break eye contact with him.

"How was your holiday?" Zeke spoke, finally, and propped one hip on the desk as he continued to stare at her.

She brushed a hand over her chignon. So, no explanation for his tardiness? If he wished to be nonchalant, so could she. "Oh, it was great fun. Nice to be home again. And yours?"

"It was interesting."

"Must have been, since you're two weeks late getting back here."

He grinned. "It's so nice that you've been breathlessly counting the minutes until my return."

She rose and walked around the desk until she stood in front of him. Although she did have to stand on her tiptoes to even come close to his eye level. Her chin rose as she glared at him. "I did not 'breathlessly' count the minutes. I had to cover for you. I didn't appreciate the extra work. That's all."

He reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Are you certain that's all?" His voice was low, and her ear tickled at the sound. Her heart rate sped up, and his touch, as innocent as it might have been, made her knees weak.

She needed to back away.

She needed to lean in and let him kiss her.

Making her decision, Saffron leaned forward. His hand cupped her cheek and brought her face to meet his. The kiss began quietly, softly. They were merely two friends welcoming each other. Then his tongue slid across her lips. The intimate contact made her gasp, and she opened her mouth. His errant tongue found its way in, and Saffron could no longer control her emotions, which she'd tried so valiantly to keep in check. She responded to the jolt of electricity that coursed through her body, wrapped her arms around his familiar form, pressed her body up against his hard muscular frame, and kissed him back every bit as fiercely. She breathed in his scent, a mix of the outdoors and shaving cream. She could not stop herself from reacting.

The whimper at the back of her throat brought both of them crashing to the present. They broke contact, and Zeke dropped his hands. She reluctantly let go of him as well.

What had she been doing? They were in a public place. If Halwyn had chosen to walk into the room the moment she let her longing for Zeke be shown, he would have kicked Zeke out of the building. And out of her life. She ran a hand over her now-swollen lips before she turned back toward her desk and began to shuffle papers around, hoping to hide her flushed skin and her pulsing heartbeat.

"Well, welcome back, even if you are two weeks late."

By the way her lips were tingling, her body told her their second kiss might have been even more spectacular than the first.

• • •

"I have a good reason for being weeks late," Zeke attempted to control his emotions. Right now, he was somewhere between the ecstasy of her kiss and the agony of her words. His body was shooting off all kinds of sparks, and he had to control them. If Saffron wished to be nonchalant about their kiss instead of professing her love for him, so could he, although the kiss had been wonderful. Anger seemed a good alternative.

"And what might your excuse be?" Saffron returned to the desk and sat, acting as if their kiss meant nothing. Yet she was the one who had moaned, not him. He glanced at her. She appeared to be as cool as the outside temperature. If he hadn't seen a slight tremor in her hand as she patted her blonde hair before she picked up the papers on the desk, he would have sworn he'd been dreaming. Lord knew, he'd spent enough time doing just that with this woman. Well, if she could act unaffected, so, by God, could he.

"My father was killed by an errant horse hoof the night before I arrived home." He hadn't meant to be so blunt about it, but Saffron had him riled up. He immediately regretted his words as he witnessed her tears.

"Oh, Zeke, I'm so sorry." She wiped away the wet from her cheeks. Zeke longed to touch her, to be the one wiping her tears. Kissing them from her cheeks. Instead, he sat, imitating a hen guarding her eggs, and waited.

"So what happens now? Do you need to return home and run the farm?" He caught the slight hitch in her speech. Maybe he had affected her the same way she did him.

"No. There's no longer any farm to run. My sister, Frederica, got married a few months ago, and she and her husband have been planning to head west on a wagon train. So Momma and the rest of my sisters and my brother are going with them."

Saffron stared at him for a long minute and then mumbled something under her breath.

"Sorry, I didn't catch what you said."

"I said, damn pie crust anyway. Not that it has any meaning for you."

Her nostrils flared as she rose and flounced out of the room.

Zeke's head spun. He'd experienced the second finest kiss in his life, with her, had been highly aroused, was certain the feeling had been reciprocated, and now she left in a huff at his pronouncement there was no longer a farm for him to take her to. He shook his head as he adjusted his pants to make room for the sizable erection she had caused with their kiss. He couldn't wait until he could get her alone and kiss her again. This time, it would be good and proper. And last a whole lot longer. But there would be no third kiss if he couldn't figure out what had made her so angry.

He figured she'd welcome the news he no longer needed to be a farmer. Instead, she turned on him with a mention of pie crust. He could make no sense out of Saffron at all. The only thing he was certain of was he had it for her in a bad way.

Maybe they could have lunch together, and he could present his options for his future and see which one appealed to her most. He could marry her right away, and they could meet up with the wagon train in St. Joe before it departed in the spring. Or, he could marry her right away and enlist in the military, continuing to do the work they were both involved in.

He didn't care either way, as long as the first part of his ideas happened soon. All he hoped for was to marry her right away so she couldn't walk out on him again. Either from the room or from his life.

But even though Saffron might be a bit impetuous and inclined to go along with his plans, her brother was not. Zeke would need to present to Halwyn the merits for whichever idea Saffron favored. So Zeke had better spend his lunch hour alone, going over in his mind the ramifications of each choice before he presented them to Saffron and then to Halwyn.

He'd spent the day before he left the farm preparing a chart with the various pros and cons, because each option would present challenges and would mean a total change in Saffron's way of life. He needed to convince her first that marriage to him would continue to be an adventure. Only then could he present whichever option Saffron favored in the best possible light for Halwyn's perusal.

He didn't even want to contemplate the third alternative to his future—Saffron not agreeing to either of his options and selecting another man to spend her life with.

With a heavy sigh, Zeke turned his attention to the pile of paperwork that had accumulated during his absence.

He was being paid to work, not to dream about holding Saffron in his arms. He caught a whiff of her spicy, floral scent that lingered in the air. At least not yet.

# CHAPTER ELEVEN

It was finally too cold in Washington, DC, to eat outdoors. Even as late as early December, there had been a handful of days where the air was crisp but not cold, and made for good lunchtime weather. But late January was a whole different story, as an arctic blast blew people around. Saffron had managed to stay away from the desk most of the morning and avoid Zeke. She got caught up on her filing, which was done in a small, enclosed room, but her stomach's rumblings told her it was time to eat.

And the lunch their cook had prepared before she and Halwyn left home in the morning was in the desk drawer. Merely pondering the salty ham sandwich made her mouth water and her stomach roar. But eating would mean she'd see Zeke. And she had a righteous anger against him. All her work in the kitchen over Christmas was for naught. There was no farm to go to. She blinked away the tears brimming her eyes. She had so wanted to see the farm.

She inhaled sharply, removed the apron she'd donned while doing the filing, straightened out her purple-and-white striped skirt and walked back into the small chamber she and Zeke shared. His green eyes sparkled when she walked into the room. When she banged into the side of their shared desk and yelped, his grin nearly made her loosen her resolve to not be friendly. Without a word, she opened a drawer and pulled out her lunch before she sat in the chair on the opposite side of the desk.

Zeke's grin faded, but his eyes wouldn't leave her alone. They ran down her face, making her warm and shivery at the same time. She could feel the blush climbing to her cheeks as she took a large bite of her sandwich.

"As cute as your cold shoulder treatment is, we need to talk."

Saffron nearly choked. She took her time chewing, dragging out their inevitable conversation. What did they have to talk about, anyway? His farm was gone, and with it went her dream of becoming a farmer's wife. She took a sip of her beverage and then lifted her gaze to meet his.

"You have something to say?" Could he feel the frost in her tone? She hoped so.

"Quite a bit, actually. But I'd appreciate your input on how best to proceed."

Despite warning herself to not get involved with him, Saffron's curiosity was piqued.

"What can I possibly help you with?"

"You can help me make sense of my future. Without a farm, there's no need to bring my brothers' bodies home. They can be buried in one of the national cemeteries being set up."

"So you no longer have a reason to stay here. Is that what you're telling me?"

He shook his head, and a lock of hair hung over one eye. He brushed it back and faced her again.

"I have every reason to stay, Saffron, and it doesn't involve my brothers at all. It involves you. I had hoped for a more romantic setting for my declaration, but circumstances being as they are, this will have to do."

He rose from his desk and moved to where she was sitting, with her ham sandwich still in her hands. He knelt in front of her and gazed up.

"I've been in love with you for years, Saffron. Ever since you rescued me. Despite which avenue my future life goes down, I need a strong woman by my side. And I hope that woman will be you. Will you marry me and rescue me again, this time from a life of dullness? Because every day without you beside me will be excruciatingly boring."

Saffron set her sandwich on the desk, wiped her fingers together, and stared at the man kneeling in front of her. She could barely breathe, and her heart raced. Zeke had proposed to her! She leaned over and kissed him. Then, she rose and grasped his hands, encouraging him to his feet.

"Of course I'll marry you. I've been counting on it for three years now."

He captured her chin with his hand and brought her lips to his. His tongue sought entry, and her mouth opened greedily to him. Their tongues sparred for a minute, and Saffron wrapped her arms around Zeke's neck, pulling him closer. All she wanted was for the rest of her life to begin. The war had delayed things long enough. But the war was also the reason she'd met Zeke. And now, she would go to battle to have him in her life, with Halwyn, her father, and whoever else might stand in her way. She had learned to make a good pie crust. She certainly could master whatever else life thrust at her. As long as Zeke could be by her side.

• • •

Zeke hoped the moment would never end. It didn't matter that they were in a tiny office space and anyone could wander in at any time. He could kiss Saffron for days on end and it wouldn't be enough. Her lips were plump, and eager, and even without the taste of peaches, he still craved more. Would always crave more from this woman. His heart rate sped up as their kiss became deeper. But they had important things to discuss. He stepped back a pace, and his hand moved down her soft cheek.

"Well, if we're to marry, we'd better have a plan in place for me to take to Halwyn. He'll demand to approve of the union before we do anything."

"You mean, now since you no longer are a farmer?"

"Yes. Sit, and let me tell you what our options are. Since we're in this together, we should both be comfortable with our decision. I don't ever plan to dictate what we should do. We need to be equal partners in our lives."

She ran a hand around the back of his neck and kissed him once more, long and slow. Then, with a grin on her face, she sat.

"All right. I'm ready to talk, partner. What do you have in mind?"

He hauled his chair over so he could sit beside her, unwilling to relinquish the hold on her hand. He was still trying to corral his out-of-control heart rate and get his breath back. Saffron had accepted his proposal! He interlaced their fingers and then picked up their joined hands and kissed hers.

"There's still time to catch up with my family before they head west in the spring. I told them if we chose to go west, we'd meet them in St. Joseph before the wagon trains started pulling out in March. Does life on the west coast have any appeal to you?"

Saffron's face was pensive as she stared at the carpet on the floor. "It sounds exciting and such an adventure, going to a new life in a part of the country just now being settled, but I'm such a city girl. I don't think I'd be able to adjust to having my life's goods contained in the back of a covered wagon."

"The covered wagon would only be until we arrived. We could end up in a city every bit as fancy as New York or DC. Maybe San Francisco?"

Saffron's head came up. "My father has been meaning to start a branch of the bank in San Francisco, so possibly. Although since you have no banking background, he'd probably want you to spend time learning the business from him first, which would mean we'd miss the wagon train your family's on. What is another option?"

"I could rejoin the military, continue my work here, and then be assigned to a post somewhere in the eastern part of the country once the program comes to an end."

Saffron's large blue eyes met his, and he caught the glint of excitement in them. It seemed they had an answer. But he had to be certain.

"So, a military life appeals to you?"

"If it will keep us close to my family, yes, it does. We could continue to work together here, since it will take years to retrieve all the bodies. We could set up our own living quarters, and I could get out from under Halwyn's thumb. Then we can spend both our days and our nights together. I adore the idea."

He ran his free hand through his hair, which was way too long for a military man. He guessed it would be the first thing to go. But if being in the military would make Saffron happy, he'd willingly cut his hair. And spend the rest of his life finding other ways to make her happy.

Zeke locked eyes with his intended. "Should we tell Halwyn about our engagement first, or tell him I plan to reenlist before we break the news?"

Saffron leaned in and kissed him again before she replied. His hand slid down her arm and skirted dangerously close to her breast. Now that they were engaged, maybe he could have more freedom with his explorations. But not yet. Not until they made it official.

"Perhaps if you were to declare your intent to reenlist, Halwyn would see you in a better light. He's only being a protective older brother, but he mentioned not long ago he doesn't appreciate the way you stare at me when I'm not paying attention."

Zeke smiled at her. "How can I not stare, when you're the prettiest girl in the room?"

Saffron batted her eyelashes at him and smoothed her gown. "Well, goodness, thank you. In your eyes, your fiancée should be the prettiest girl in the room. And may I return the favor and say you're the most handsome man in the room? Which is why we make such a good pair. Now we merely have to convince Halwyn. But let's keep our engagement a secret for now, until you reenlist. I do love secrets."

# CHAPTER TWELVE

Halwyn's office was much larger than the cubbyhole Zeke shared with Saffron. The desk he sat behind was massive and covered with piles of correspondence. Zeke hoped the man was so busy he'd be in and out within minutes. They hadn't really talked to each other since the Christmas dance, when Halwyn had almost strung him up by the ears.

"How can I help you, Zeke?" Halwyn's voice was frosty, his gaze uninviting. He didn't rise from behind his desk, either, but Zeke was well aware of the raw power Halwyn exuded, both physically and mentally, as he was responsible for Saffron and her life choices. Zeke inhaled a deep breath and swallowed hard. This man was the key to his future.

"I hoped to discuss reenlisting in the army with you, sir."

At least the unexpected topic changed Halwyn's appearance. He motioned to the seat in front of the desk and leaned over the piles of paper, pushing his spectacles up on his nose as he did so.

"I was under the impression you needed to get back to the farm as soon as possible."

Zeke quickly explained what had taken place over the holiday.

"So my choice now is to follow my family on the wagon train next spring and head to Oregon, or to again become a soldier. And I've decided I prefer to stay on the East Coast."

"You've made a wise choice. What battalion were you with during the war?"

"The Twenty-Second New York Infantry, sir. I was at the second battle at Bull Run as well as at Chancellorsville."

Halwyn nodded his approval. "Your battalion was in the middle of a lot of action. All right. I'll get the paperwork started for your reenlistment. I assume you've told Saffron?"

"Yes, sir. I told her this morning. Why do you ask?"

Halwyn thrust his tongue into his cheek, trying unsuccessfully to keep the grin from his face. "She spent some time in Mother's kitchen over the holiday learning her way around, that's all. She even learned how to make pie crust."

Ah, so that was it. Saffron had spent part of her time off over the holiday in the kitchen learning how to make him a pie. And now she thought it was all in vain, since they no longer had a farm to go to. Despite Halwyn sitting across from him, staring him down, Zeke couldn't help but smile.

Halwyn blinked and lowered his eyes, finally, to the papers on his desk, signaling an end to their conversation. "All right then. I'll get back to you as soon as possible, and we'll get your reenlistment going. Since you were at both battlefields, you'll be invaluable to the program, and as an enlisted man, you'll have even more duties. We may even give you an office of your own."

Zeke's world crashed at the idea of moving out of the small office he shared with his love.

"That won't be necessary, sir. I'm comfortable where I am."

Halwyn stared at him. "You may be comfortable with the current arrangements, but I'm not. We only put you with Saffron in the first place because we had nowhere else to put you and we thought you'd only be here for a few weeks at most. If there's any way of giving you private quarters, I'll do so."

Damn. Zeke rose to leave the office, with the feeling that in many ways the interview had gone better than expected. But moving from his current office was something he'd never considered. Halwyn viewed this as an opportunity to split up Saffron and him. Zeke had not even considered the possibility.

He'd better be on his toes in the coming weeks. Because Halwyn was a part of his future, and he wouldn't hand over Saffron merely because it was what both Zeke and Saffron wished for. If Halwyn deemed Zeke unsuitable again, which he'd already done once, there would be no hope for them. The dreams he'd had of spending his nights with the woman he loved, and had loved for years, was in jeopardy. So instead of taking a step forward, he'd unwittingly taken a step back. Damn. Halwyn was a formidable opponent, and Zeke had underestimated him.

He made his way back to the shared office space. Saffron jumped up from her desk and ran into his embrace before he could even close the door. He inhaled her scent of woman, spice, and flowers as she kissed him, and all his doubts faded away. He plundered her mouth, searching its depths with his tongue. God, he loved kissing this woman. He'd fight for the right to do so, jump through any hoops, for as long as was necessary to get into Halwyn's good graces.

"So, did Halwyn approve of your idea to rejoin the army?"

He kissed her again before he answered. "Yes, he seemed to be in favor of the idea. But I still get uneasy around him. And he threatened to find me another office, so we may not be able to work so closely together."

Saffron laughed and twirled away from him. She returned to her seat, and replied, "He's only looking out for me. He'd react in the same way to any man I showed an interest in. Please don't take it personally."

Saffron might be certain of Halwyn's motives, but Zeke wasn't so sure. He'd maintain his vigil whenever her brother was around.

• • •

Saffron hummed a merry tune and skipped along beside Halwyn on the walk home that evening.

"You're certainly in a good mood, Saffy."

"And why shouldn't I be? Zeke's back at work. I had feared he would never return."

"And I was hoping for that very outcome. Regardless of how you feel about him, he's not right for you."

Saffron stopped walking and waited for Halwyn to notice she'd left his side. When he finally turned to her, she glared at him, and her voice whipped out, much like a rein over a horse's flank.

"You keep saying he's not right, but it's not true. Did he not talk to you today about reenlisting?"

He flinched, much to her pleasure. "You obviously are aware he did."

"So, he's no longer a farmer, if that's what you objected to."

"I have nothing against farmers, Saffy. Don't twist my words around."

"Then what is it?"

Halwyn shook his head. "I'm only trying to protect you, Saffy, and turning you over to some young, brash man isn't going to happen."

"But if he reenlists and you still find him unsuitable, isn't that setting a double standard? You're military; he'll be military. So what's the difference?"

His hat came off, and Halwyn ran a gloved hand through his hair, tousling what had been a neat comb. "The difference is maturity. I have it; he doesn't. Why, up until a week ago, he was going to be a farmer, taking over his father's place. Now, all of a sudden, those plans have been scuttled. He's a loose cannon, in my book."

Saffron tossed her hair over her shoulder and laid a hand on her stomach, which was jumping so badly surely Halwyn would notice, even through her layers of clothing and a coat.

"Zeke is no loose cannon, Halwyn. His plans to take over the farm and to move his brothers from their hasty graves at Chancellorsville were scuttled by his mother, not by him. Immediately after his father died, his mother sold the farm to a neighbor. His mother, not him."

Halwyn latched onto the hand she'd placed on her stomach and tugged. "Come on, let's get home. It's too cold to be standing outside having this discussion, heated though it is."

Saffron was pulled along by Halwyn's strength, even though she was furious with him. He had made up his mind that Zeke was unsuitable long before Zeke had come back with a change in his plans. And nothing was going to dissuade him. He was under the notion that she and Zeke had only met a few months ago. Halwyn wasn't aware Zeke was the first boy she'd kissed all those years ago. And had mooned over for months, years, afterward. And she couldn't disclose any of the facts of their prior meeting. She'd gotten into enough trouble when she'd disobeyed her father's orders to begin with, and her lie about where she'd been, about deciding to take a ride through town to breathe some fresh air, was enough to have had her sent to her room for two months.

She couldn't tell Halwyn what her real mission had been that day—that she'd transported a runaway soldier to the outskirts of town, and how she'd lived in terror for months wondering when his uniform would be discovered in the carriage house. How she'd run to the building as soon as she had been allowed out again and spent a long morning in Biscuit's stall, digging a hole in the ground and burying the evidence, hiding the freshly turned soil under a mountain of straw. No, if she told him all of the details, she'd probably now be sent back home, to that same room, to another enforced confinement.

Saffron huffed out her frustration. She'd have to find a different way of showing Halwyn that Zeke was a good man, a marriageable man. And she'd have to do so quickly, if she ever hoped for kiss number eight. Maybe she could get Grace to align with her, and then she could convince Halwyn. Women banding together had worked for her older sisters. It was worth a try, anyway.

The three of them settled in around the dinner table, the children having been bathed and put to bed soon after Saffron and Halwyn arrived home. So, instead of childish chatter, a very adult quiet pervaded the room. Grace was the first to break the silence, picking up on the tension between Halwyn and Saffron.

"So, how is work going?"

Halwyn hesitated for half a second, buttering his dinner roll, before he said, "The boy has returned, Grace."

Saffron's hopes for an alliance with Grace slipped away with those few words. Obviously, Halwyn had been talking to her already about Zeke. And despite Saffron's show of culinary abilities over Christmas, Grace had not changed her mind about Zeke's suitability. Blast it all, anyway.

Grace's gaze slid over to Saffron, and she could feel her cheeks warming and her jaw clenching as she attempted to control her ire. But she had never been any good at controlling her emotions. Grace was siding with Halwyn. As the youngest in the family, Saffron had learned long ago to forge her own path. She could, and would, handle this by herself. She lifted her gaze to meet Grace head-on.

"The _boy_ , as Halwyn refers to him, is a full-grown man. And he's decided to enlist in the military, which puts him on equal footing with Hal. And I'm in love with him."

Saffron caught the quick exchange of glances between the couple, and her stomach pitched. "Oh, dear," Grace replied. "Please don't be so impetuous. Isn't it a bit early for love? You barely know one another."

"Well, unlike you and Halwyn, I don't need seven or eight years to make up my mind." _Only three_ , she fumed, wishing she could elaborate but instead bit her tongue.

Halwyn flung his napkin onto the table. "Since you won't listen to our cautionary advice on the subject, I have no choice except to separate the two of you. You can no longer share an office. I mentioned it to Zeke today when he said he wanted to stay on."

Saffron's life was coming undone as the meal progressed. She had to do something, and fast. "But we're both working on Chancellorsville!"

"So are a lot of other people. I'll simply switch out places with someone else. Put another woman in the room with you. Possibly Suzanne Miller."

Saffron rolled her eyes. "Please, Halwyn, anyone but Suzanne. But Zeke and I won't let your enforced separation split us up. If anything, it will strengthen our position that we need to be together."

Halwyn tugged on his hair and puffed in exasperation before he picked up his napkin again. "I will agree to let him court you, if that's what you both want, but you will need to be properly chaperoned. And having the two of you in a private office together is not going to work."

"But we work together so well!" Saffron couldn't quite keep the hitch from her voice.

"Those are my conditions, Saffy. If you desire to keep seeing this boy, you'll behave in a manner befitting your social station. And that means being chaperoned at all times. Being behind closed doors all day with him in a small room does not work for me."

Saffron bit her lip. And wondered if her lips and Zeke's would ever meet again. It was obvious they wouldn't if Halwyn had anything to say about it. She ran her finger over her lips, which were still tender from Zeke's many kisses during the day.

"I do want to continue seeing this _man_ , Halwyn. So, if splitting us up at work will make you better able to handle the situation, go right ahead. We will prove you wrong."

# CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The next few weeks flew by as February turned into March. Even though Halwyn had made good on his promise to move Zeke out of Saffron's office, they still managed to see each other. In fact, the stealthy behavior they had to undertake in order to casually meet in the filing room, or as they had today, find themselves on the same park bench at lunch, only added to the excitement of spending time with Zeke.

Halwyn did allow them to go out together in the evenings, properly escorted, of course. So it was the best of both worlds. And they'd soon be working in a field tent instead of an office, once the ground got soft enough to dig. They'd be in Chancellorsville starting next month. The battle they both cared most about. And Zeke could finally lay his brothers to rest.

"I wonder what's taking Halwyn so long to process your paperwork to rejoin the army," Saffron brushed her hand down Zeke's sleeve, supposedly to rid him of crumbs from their shared lunch of chicken salad sandwiches brought from her home and his addition of molasses cookies he had purchased at the boarding house. But in reality, she used it as an excuse to touch him. Every time she did, it sent a little shiver through her body. She longed for that giddy, tingly sensation for the rest of her life. She had hoped by now to be able to tell everyone in her family, and in the program, that she and Zeke were engaged. The expression on Suzanne Miller's face when she heard the news was something Saffron was eager to see. Instead, they had to maintain a casual relationship until Zeke's reenlistment happened.

"I'm sure he has his hands full with other things and my reenlistment is at the bottom on his list of priorities."

"I guess it really doesn't matter, since declaring your intent was enough for Halwyn to approve of us seeing each other. Even if it did mean moving you out of my office and replacing you with Suzanne Miller. I swear, if you so much as say hello to her, she's got to discuss it for hours."

"I try to be friendly, but you are well aware I don't really notice anyone other than you. I'd certainly never make plans to have lunch with Suzanne." Zeke brushed a stray lock of hair from her cheek as his gaze made her smolder. She longed for another kiss from him, but out in the open, as they were now, it would be totally inappropriate. And even if she didn't give a fig about propriety, she couldn't bring herself to relinquish all manner of decorum. She'd have to be content to hold his hand, to hide the small embrace under her billowing skirt.

Zeke threw a bit of the crust from his sandwich to the pigeons that squawked and bit each other in their quest for the best pieces. "I'm glad the birds don't care if the bread is slightly burnt."

He stole a glance at Saffron as he squeezed her hand.

"I guess we should be getting back. We both have a lot of work to get done."

"Yes, but I'll be stuck in the filing room all afternoon, getting the first of the Chancellorsville files packed up."

"And I'll be there to help label the boxes and to lift them once you've got them packed. Maybe the afternoon's work won't seem such a drudge, since we'll be together. Despite Halwyn's best efforts."

Saffron's heartbeat sped up. Perhaps they could manage to be alone for a few minutes as they worked. Her lips began to tingle at the idea of being able to give in to her urge to kiss him.

They returned to the office at the precise moment Halwyn emerged from the building. He glared at the pair.

"What are you two up to?"

Saffron squared her shoulders. "Nothing at all, so you can relax. We had lunch together and sat by the reflecting pool. That's all."

"You are not supposed to be unchaperoned. You're in violation of our arrangement, Saffron."

She shook her head, her curls bouncing. "For pity's sake, it's the middle of the day. We were in a public place. And we're two co-workers who were enjoying a bit of sun and fresh air. Where's the harm in that?"

"Harmful or not. You blatantly disregarded what we agreed to."

Tears threatened and Saffron blinked them away. "I'm not a child, Halwyn."

"Well, then, quit acting like one."

Her cheeks flamed in embarrassment, despite the cool temperature.

Halwyn glared at Zeke. "I figured you at least would abide by our arrangement."

"I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again."

"Not if I have anything to say about it." Halwyn pulled his hat onto his head and strode off, his jerky movement an outward display of his anger. Saffron and Zeke followed him with their eyes.

"That went well." Saffron smiled, but the smile wobbled.

"He'll probably not let me within one hundred feet of you now."

"Well, then. It'll give us something to discuss while we work in the filing room this afternoon. Perhaps we'll both need something from the closet at the same time..."

Zeke ran a hand through his shock of wheat-colored hair, which was blowing in the breeze. "Your brother hates me enough already, Saffron. If he were to catch us in the closet together, I'd be fired."

Saffron touched his arm and giggled. "We'll just have to make certain he doesn't see us, then."

"You do enjoy living dangerously, don't you?"

"It's part of my charm. Part of what attracted you in the first place. If I hadn't invited danger into my life, I would never have transported you out of town."

Zeke bumped against her shoulder. "Well said. I suppose there might be a reason for us to be in the closet at the same time, then."

"Count on it."

• • •

Zeke didn't express his uneasiness to Saffron, but Halwyn worried him. He needed to face up to the man, but each time they came into contact, Zeke fidgeted in his seat like an errant schoolboy in front of a teacher with a ruler in hand, and his mouth went dry, making it hard to speak in any kind of forceful tone. Especially since every time, it seemed, he was caught spending illicit, unchaperoned time with Saffron. He could almost see the angry smoke rising off Halwyn as he strode away that afternoon.

Zeke had asked once about the delay in his reenlistment, which was the key to formally announcing his engagement with Saffron, and Halwyn said he'd been working on it, but he had a lot of other things to worry about. And evidently Zeke had been positioned at the bottom of the barrel in Halwyn's list of worries. It didn't help move him up the list when he was caught with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar. But Zeke would not have relinquished any stolen moments with Saffron, Halwyn or no.

Zeke anticipated the fieldwork coming up. Not only would they be out from under Halwyn's watchful eye, since he would stay behind in the program's headquarters while Saffron and Zeke did the grunt work of uncovering the bodies, but Zeke would finally be able to fulfill the promise he'd made to his father and bring his brother's bodies home to rest. Not to the farm anymore, but to a proper military cemetery on Yankee soil. Yes, stolen kisses with Saffron and completing his obligation to his father would make for pleasant memories of Chancellorsville, replacing the ones he had been carrying around for years.

The last of the wooden file boxes had been loaded onto the wagon, and Zeke climbed aboard with his duffel of clothing. They'd be in the field for weeks, so each person was able to bring one suitcase or duffel bag. Food provisions had also been assembled and sent out on another wagon. Several more wagons of boxes and people created a caravan as they headed out of DC and away from civilization. As the miles clicked by and they got closer to the field where the battle had reigned for a bloody week, Zeke's resolve waned. Could he do this? Or would he once more run from the battle and the horrors he'd witnessed? Were stolen kisses worth it? Zeke inhaled deeply as they rounded the final turn toward their destination into what was called the Wilderness.

His stomach jumped, much as it had during the week where he'd lost one brother after another. He lurched from the wagon as soon as it came to a stop, leaned over, and vomited his breakfast. Everywhere his gaze landed, a flashback of the weary days of fighting came back to him. He could smell the smoke in the air from the cannons and rifles, and his eyesight fogged with it. The metallic odor of blood once again assailed his brain. He had a sense of vertigo, and had to hold onto the carriage wheel for support.

A hand slapped him on his back, and he glanced up from the ground into the kind eyes of Jacob, an older man who was a part of the program.

"It hits me in the same way every time I go to one of these battlefields, son."

"This one holds a ton of memories for me, Jake."

"They all hold memories for those who survived. I hope all these battlefields can be made into parks one day, so people can enjoy them in the future while they honor the past."

Zeke straightened up. "Making something enjoyable would be nice. It might help erase all the bad memories." He glanced around the area. It would make for a beautiful park if he could ever shut down the scenes of destruction running through his head.

He threw back a swig of water to wash out his mouth before helping to take the canvas and spikes from the wagon. No sense unloading the file boxes until they had the tent erected. Saffron arrived with the second wagon and came over to him, her blonde ringlets reflecting the strong sunlight.

"You are way too pale. Are you sure you can handle being back here?"

He bristled. It was one thing to spill his guts in front of Jake, but quite another to show any weakness in front of his girl.

"I'm fine. And as soon as I get my brothers out of here, I'll be a whole lot better."

She brushed one more speculative glance over him before turning away.

"Well, if you're so _fine_ , you can haul all these boxes to the tent. I was going to offer to help, but I've changed my mind."

She strode off in a huff, leaving Zeke standing in the middle of the field with the March sun shining down on him. He shook his head. Maybe he wouldn't be getting any stolen kisses anytime soon. So all he'd be left with would be the bad memories. His stomach pitched again, but he had nothing left.

Leaving the full wagon behind, he strode to the section of the field where he'd buried his brothers. Grass had grown back over the turned dirt, but it didn't matter. Their gravesites had been forever etched into his mind. He knelt before them, pulling up a few weeds as he did so.

"I'm going to see to it you all get a proper burial, with full military honors. It's the least I can do. Daddy was so proud of all of you. Until the day he died, he'd tell anyone who would listen how he had four sons fall at Chancellorsville. He was almost proud of it. But he didn't have the first-hand knowledge of the horror of battle, which we were all far too familiar with. What happened here wasn't anything to be proud of."

A few tears fell onto the grass as he knelt in the field. His mind roared with the sounds of battle. The boom of the cannons, the rat-a-tat of the guns, the screams of men who fell around him, the smell of the rotting corpses of both men and horses. He could barely breathe as he recollected how the air had been so thick with smoke from the gunfire he couldn't see if he was aiming at friend or foe. How he and the other men had needed to fight their way to the battlefield through the thick second-growth of saplings, the clingy vines that reached out and wrapped around their legs, and short, sharp shrubs that pricked their flesh. He had been worn out before ever opening fire.

His eyes smarted as he relived his last day on the battleground. The Union had been trounced, and his choices were to stay with the others who were still alive and be taken prisoner, where he'd surely die a slow death, or run away. So he ran, away from the sound of cannons, away from the smoke that made his eyes water, away from the horror he'd witnessed. If that made him a coward, so be it. He should never have been on the battlefield, this one or any other, anyway.

# CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Zeke couldn't bring himself to leave the area where his brothers were buried, even though he should have been working, unloading the wagons and erecting tents. His mind replayed each day he'd spent on these fields three years earlier, and he couldn't stop the images rolling through his mind. How his youthful body had struggled to keep up with his brothers as they'd fought through the underbrush and rushed into the fray of battle. He was stronger today, and unencumbered by a rifle and a heavy uniform, but he still had trouble carving a path through the thick shrubs and vines. He kept leaving the graves to immerse himself in the area where the heaviest fighting had taken place, and then coming back.

Saffron tracked him down after a few hours.

"Here, I've brought you something to eat." She handed him a sandwich, which he barely glanced at. His stomach was still pitching, and the only reason he wasn't vomiting again was he had nothing left. He sat on the ground, the food in his lap, Saffron next to him.

"Is it much the same as it has been in your mind these last years?"

Zeke tore his eyes away from the horizon and gazed at her. The sunlight bounced off her hair, creating an almost halo effect around her head. An angel on the battlefield. He appreciated how her presence gave him peace and that she didn't press him.

"I'm certain someday the battle will be taken apart and discussed at length to find out what went wrong and how the North could have been trounced so badly. But all I can recall is the mass confusion. We were all so tired from marching and from fighting our way through what the troops called the Wilderness. If the vines didn't trip us up, the saplings would snap back from the man in front and hit us in our faces."

Saffron nodded and shivered as she studied the wild undergrowth. Zeke's gaze went from her face to the short trees she was studying.

"They've grown a bit in the past couple of years. When I was here last, they were barely up to my shoulders. Not much cover there."

"And the battle went on for days. I can't begin to understand how devastating it was for you."

Zeke nodded toward the graves of his brothers. "When Adam was killed, in the first day's action, the starch seemed to go out of the rest of us. Not only my brothers, but our whole regiment, too. Adam was a leader, and if he couldn't keep from getting mortally wounded, how could any of us possibly survive?"

"Especially since you were exhausted."

Zeke rose, finally, and offered his hand to Saffron. Together, they walked toward a small stream that cut across the battlefield. It created an almost bucolic setting, gurgling as it rolled over pebbles, the water clear as crystal.

"This stream ran red with blood for days. I'll never forget the horrible smell of sulfur or all that blood. I still can see the smoke from all the cannons and gunfire hanging in the air. We got the news of Stonewall Jackson being shot by his own men and laughed about it. But the smoke, along with the inky blackness of the night, made it possible for mistaken identity to happen to any of us."

Saffron wrapped her arm around him as they continued to walk. Her gaze darted from the stream to the forest and back again.

"It is lovely now, though, don't you agree? I'm not saying we should ever forget what happened here, but maybe someday, this could become a peaceful place where people could reflect on the past while enjoying the present." She turned her gaze from the fields to him. "And plan for the future."

Zeke stared at her for a moment, then glanced at the fields. In his mind, the chaos of battle still played out. He would never be able to bring a child here for a picnic. But he understood what Saffron meant. It would be nice to replace his bad memories with good ones. And to plan for their future together. Maybe this trip would be the beginning. The beginning of healing the gaping wound of not having his brothers anymore. Of creating a new life with Saffron by his side. Of living again. It's what his brothers would have hoped for, and now, he began to hope for it as well. The afternoon they spent together on the battlefield helped a bit, but Zeke would always carry the horrific images in his head of what happened the last time he was here. And, even as compelling as Saffron was, he kept returning to the part of the battlefield where his brothers were buried. He knelt at their graves and spread his hands over the four mounds of dirt, crying for his loss.

"Stand up, son."

Zeke raised his eyes from the ground and stared into the faces of two provost guards who stood on either side of him.

"What is it?" He rose and brushed off his trousers.

"We have orders to arrest you and bring you back to DC for a court-martial. You're a deserter from the army, according to your records."

"No, I'm not." Zeke glanced around the battlefield, searching for help. But he and the provost guards were alone. He was alone. Just as he had been since his brothers died on the battlefield. He'd been taking a risk since the day he walked into the Reburial Program offices, and was aware this might be the outcome if anyone started to dig into his background. But he'd also thought Saffron was worth it. He'd had six glorious months to get acquainted with the woman she'd become. He guessed that was all he could have hoped for. He didn't fight the guards as they tied his hands behind his back and hauled him back to DC.

• • •

Something had happened to Zeke the moment he set foot on Chancellorsville soil. Saffron could tell from his slumped shoulders the battle had come roaring back to life in his mind. His skin had lost its color, the rosy glow leaving his cheeks. And his mouth, his gorgeous mouth, was pulled downward into a grimace. She had been aware returning to the site of his particular memories would be hard on him, but hadn't expected such a violent and visceral reaction. And not so early on. She fought the urge to take him into her arms and kiss away his hurt, because placating him was not the answer. He wasn't some child who had scraped his knee and could be healed with a kiss. He had to sort things out on his own.

She had followed his movements as he lurched across the field and walked, with the instinct of a homing pigeon, to the foot of an apple tree. He had fallen to his knees, wiped tears from his eyes, and sat among his brothers again. She had turned away from the private moment, only too aware of the atrocities he was reliving, and forced a smile onto her face. She had carried the boxes Zeke should have been shouldering, and made small talk with the others who were setting up camp.

She was happy to be out from under Halwyn's prying eyes, although there were others here with her who would be quick to report any rebellious activity back to him, so she still needed to be careful in her dealings with Zeke, happy to inhale the fresh, country air, and happy to get started on their monumental task. It would probably take years to collect all the bodies left behind on the various battlefields but this was the beginning. So much of her last three years had been invested in researching the Chancellorsville battle, in documenting where people said the bodies were buried, in imagining how those days must have seemed endless, and in grasping why a boy of sixteen would need to escape the carnage he was witnessing and run back to the safety of his home.

Zeke's humor would improve as the days progressed. How could it not? He had chafed under Halwyn's watchful eye as well, and from their conversations, and their kisses, she knew he longed for more time alone with her. This was their golden opportunity to become more familiar with each other as a man and a woman. Saffron's hands fluttered in excitement as she pondered the days, and the nights, to come. Of course, they were surrounded by soldiers and other program workers, so they weren't exactly alone. But the situation did give them a bit more flexibility, and they could take their courtship to a different level. Take long walks at dusk. Maybe do more than kiss. Perhaps she could replace Zeke's bad memories of what had happened here with some new ones. Better ones.

Their talk earlier in the day when they'd walked around the fields seemed to be the first step. Now, he needed to join her for dinner, after which they could escape into the darkness and steal a few kisses from each other.

She lingered over the meal. The rest of the field team had arrived over the course of the day, and the meal tent was raucous, but Saffron didn't join in the merriment. She kept glancing at the vacant chair beside her as she waited for Zeke, but he never showed. Finally, she made her way over to the tent where the men were housed and nodded to Jacob, the man sitting outside.

"I'm searching for Zeke Boone. Any idea where he's at?"

"I suppose by now he's back in DC."

Saffron shook her head. "No, he was to come here, as part of the field group. And he was here earlier."

"The last of the wagons had orders for him to return to DC as soon as possible. So, he boarded the wagon headed for home."

"But he didn't even say goodbye..."

"He probably hoped to spare you from seeing him in handcuffs, Saffron."

Her head came up. "Handcuffs? Why was he in them?"

"He's been charged with desertion from the army."

"But he didn't desert. He's reenlisting. There has to be some mistake. What will happen now?"

"He'll be put on trial. And if found guilty, he'll hang."

Saffron put her hand to her head to keep it from spinning. She fell into a seat beside Jacob as her legs gave out and her stomach threatened to expel the contents of her dinner.

"How long does the process usually take?"

"A couple weeks. Maybe more."

"I have to get back to DC then, as quickly as I can. I have a feeling Halwyn thinks he discovered something in Zeke's records, and I need to straighten him out."

"The next supply wagon will be here by the end of the week. I'm sure they'll let you ride back with them."

Saffron closed her eyes, forcing the tears to retreat. If only she'd opted for the choice of moving west with his family instead of having the life of a military wife, his prior military career would not have come under scrutiny. He would not have been charged with desertion. It was all her fault. Now she had to be strong, for both her sake and for Zeke's.

But she'd never stood up to her brother before. He'd always been the one who did things correctly, and she'd always been the one who went along with whatever he came up with. Now, by her relationship with Zeke, she was in direct defiance of him. A place she'd never believed she'd be.

But her future happiness was at stake. Zeke's _life_ was at stake. She'd go toe to toe with Halwyn if she must.

"I can't wait until the end of the week. I'll figure out a way to get back there in the morning."

• • •

The next afternoon, Saffron dashed into Halwyn's office without knocking. Halwyn lifted his head from his hands, and his startled gaze settled on her disheveled appearance. She had encouraged the wagon driver to go as fast as possible on the return trip from Chancellorsville, and as a consequence, she'd lost most of her hairpins in the wind. But none of her resolve.

"What have you done?" she asked.

The entire way back from Chancellorsville, she'd had one idea after another about how best to approach Halwyn. She had tried out several different conversations in her head and had decided to try to cajole him, much as she had done when she was younger and had tried to get her way with him. However, once she entered the room, anger overrode her previous decision to sweet-talk her brother.

Halwyn ran a hand through his hair. "You're back. I figured you'd come, even though you may lose your job in the process. You're assigned to Chancellorsville."

"I don't give a fig about my job right now. What have you done with Zeke?"

"Saffron, sit. I tried everything I could, but it wasn't enough."

Saffron paced instead. "What do you mean, you did everything you could?"

"He's been charged with desertion from the army three years ago and will hang for it if he's found guilty. I delayed putting through his request to rejoin the army, because I couldn't find any discharge papers on him. I feared this would be the outcome."

"Well, then, why did you put through his request in the first place? Is this to be his punishment for loving me? Do you hate him so much?"

Halwyn rubbed a hand over his face. "I don't hate him, Saffy. I may not appreciate his brash attitude, but no man deserves to be hanged. I started his reenlistment process immediately after he told me of his wishes, and notified the commanding officer a new recruit was forthcoming. When I noted the discrepancy, I stalled on filing the paperwork as long as I could. However the army is eager for new recruits, and I had to turn over my findings."

Saffron wrung her hands together. "Did Zeke give you any explanation when he was brought back?"

"No. He accepted his fate almost as if it were expected. That's what I don't get. "

"Where is he? I need to talk to him."

"He's in the jail at Fort Myer. Perhaps you can you convince him to at least fight the decision? Otherwise, the army will do its job."

She straightened her spine, searching for strength. "Well, in this case, the army didn't do as good a job as it should have. You didn't do as good a job as you should have. My question is why Zeke didn't say anything. I need to talk some sense into him."

"You'll be pitting yourself against the army now, though. It's the military's business, not yours."

Saffron inhaled a deep breath and grasped the back of a chair. Halwyn was trying to protect her again, as he had her entire life. But now, in the biggest problem of her life, even Halwyn couldn't smooth the way. Her future with Zeke was being threatened, and she had to figure out why he hadn't stood up for himself. She squared her shoulders and faced her brother.

"Anything to do with Zeke involves me. We became engaged several months ago and were waiting until his enlistment was approved to say anything to you. So I need to talk to my fiancé right now."

Halwyn finally rose from his desk and came to her side, where he wrapped his arms around her. "I had no idea the two of you had become so serious. I thought you were merely having a good time. Regardless of your feelings, though, this is not going to play out well. I'm sorry, Saffron. Truly I am. But unless he has a really ironclad, plausible reason for deserting, I'm afraid his hands are tied. I had hoped now, since the war is over, to have seen the last of death, but Zeke put himself in the army's crosshairs."

She brushed his hands away. Tears stung her eyes as she stepped out of his grasp.

"I have to talk to him, and if you won't take me, I'll find another way to get to Fort Myer."

Halwyn's cheeks puffed out as he exhaled. "All right. I'll take you. See if you can talk some sense into him."

"But I'll talk to Zeke in private."

"Agreed. You'll get five minutes alone."

She swung her gaze over to him. "It may take longer. He's more stubborn than even you."

"Five minutes. The army won't allow you any more time than that."

"Let's go, then. I'll take five minutes when the alternative is nothing."

Halwyn grabbed his hat, and they walked in silence the few blocks to the townhouse. They didn't even go inside, but instead skirted around back to the carriage house where Halwyn hitched up a horse to a small open carriage. They were on their way to Fort Myer in Arlington, VA, before long.

He flicked the reins over the horse's back and settled back onto the seat. Saffron stared ahead, quietly willing the horse to quicken his pace.

Halwyn tossed a glance in her direction. "What did you mean when you said the army didn't get it right this time?"

Saffron turned in her seat and gazed at his profile. "You feel the army can do no wrong?"

"That's not what I'm saying. But in this case, I'm the one who did the research. And something doesn't add up. Hasn't been adding up since I opened a file on him. Zeke was silent from the time he was handcuffed and brought here. I asked for an explanation, but he didn't say anything. It was eerie. Almost as if he'd been expecting it. Waiting for it."

Saffron squirmed in her seat. "But that's crazy! If he had any idea that by enlisting he'd be setting himself up for a court-martial, he never would have given me the option to pick from. At least I don't think he'd be that impetuous. We would have instead joined his family in St. Joseph, where they're poised to head west on a wagon train in a matter of days."

"So who decided on his rejoining the military?"

"I guess he left the final decision up to me. Oh, Halwyn, this is all my fault!"

She pulled her shawl tighter around her and wove her fingers into the fringe at its hem. Her stomach ached, and she bent over to ease the pain. She had a feeling she was the cause of Zeke's behavior, and she needed to talk some sense into him. Only then could she talk some sense into her brother. And into the blasted army.

# CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Zeke didn't bother to rise from the cot he sat on in the stark jail cell, even when the sound of Saffron's silk slippers made its way to his ears. Saffron had been a dream of his for years, and he finally acknowledged, in the depths of his soul, life with her would never be a reality. This interlude of theirs was similar to the one they'd shared three years before. Brief. Fleeting. Delicious.

His body quaked at the idea of what was about to happen to him, but he accepted it without question. He figured for whatever reason, he had been spared on the battlefield when his brothers all died, so he could help his family get back on solid financial footing. But now, since the family was on its way to Oregon, the obligation was fulfilled, and he needed to join his brothers. They had pledged all for one and one for all. He had one last thing to do. Protect Saffron, at all cost. If hanging was the only way, so be it.

He also figured Saffron needed an explanation, or she wouldn't go quietly into a future without him. And she needed to do just that. He had been a brash young man when they'd first met, they had both been in a heightened state of excitement, and kissing her had seemed appropriate at the time. But she was no farmer's wife, and he was a disgrace to the military, so it would be for the best if she'd turn her back on him. Her dainty footsteps flew down the hallway, so Zeke finally stood and went to the bars that separated them. The irony was not lost on him.

She rushed up to the iron bars and put her hands through them, grabbing on to his shirt. "Why haven't you told the army what really happened? You are no more deserving of a court-martial than I am."

Zeke placed one hand over hers and kept his voice low. "But it's true I left the battlefield, which is technically desertion, even though I'd never enlisted in the first place. But your involvement in my getaway could also spell trouble for you. If I tell them what we did, and I tell them what you did to help me, you could be in as deeply as I am for aiding and abetting me."

"But you never enlisted in the first place! And, if you never enlisted, you couldn't possibly be a deserter. The army is being ridiculous."

"Yet, it's the way things are. You shouldn't be embroiled in my mess any more than you are. If the army decided to take action against you, I'd never forgive myself. I need to join my brothers. It's time. I could sense it as soon as I knelt by their graves."

Saffron's eyes filled with tears. His belly knotted, and he had a heavy heart. He had hoped to give her tears of joy, but instead he'd saddled her with tears of sadness. He intertwined their fingers and kissed her hand.

"Saffy, you deserve someone so much better than me. I love you with all my heart, but sometimes love isn't enough. We come from totally different backgrounds, and there's no way we could ever be a good match for each other. Halwyn sensed that we're not a good match, too, and has tried his best to keep us from getting too close. That's why he's put so many roadblocks in front of us. I will always love you, but it's time for both of us to accept our fates. And for you to go your way, as I go mine."

She pulled her hand away." But if your way means death, I can't let it happen. If you need to end our engagement, fine, I'll let you off the hook there. But I can't let you go to the gallows to protect me. I'll talk to Halwyn, tell him of what we did those years ago, and see what he has to say."

"I'm not worth you getting in trouble with the army simply because of your act of kindness. You could be in as much trouble as I am, and they might issue you the same verdict."

Saffron's head snapped up. She reached through the bars again, this time placing her hands on either side of his face and pulling him forward. Her lips met his in a fervent kiss, and he conjured up the taste of peaches on her breath.

"Yes, you are worth it, Zeke. And I'll prove it to you. I'm going to get you out of here, and then we'll turn our backs on the military altogether. I've always hoped to explore the west. We'll head to Oregon."

"The Promised Land?"

"Exactly. It will be our Promised Land. I promise you that."

He'd let Saffron hold onto that promise if it would make things easier for her. Yet the chill pervading his body made him aware it was a foolish notion. No one could fight the army once it had made up its mind. He only hoped Saffron would be able to stand clear of the ensuing chaos.

• • •

Saffron dried her tears and made her way back to her brother's side when the prison guard indicated her time with Zeke was up. She remained silent as Halwyn assisted her onto the carriage and they began the return trip home. She kept replaying in her mind how hopeless Zeke had appeared when she'd first arrived. It seemed almost as if he had resigned himself to his fate. She had to help. Once again, it was time for her to save him.

She inhaled a deep breath and turned toward Halwyn. "If I tell you something, will you swear it will be only between us?"

"Of course. You can tell me anything."

"But what I'm about to tell you may be something you'll feel compelled to reveal to your commanding officer."

Saffron wove her fingers together to keep from wringing her hands. Instead, she held her hands in her lap. She clasped them so tightly together her knuckles were white, but she hoped the billowing skirt of her gown would cover her anxiety.

"I won't tell anyone else what you're about to say, Saffy. I promise."

She trusted Halwyn implicitly, so once she extracted his promise, she forged ahead.

"Do you recall the time a few years ago, when I left the house unannounced during the draft riots and got punished for it?"

"Yes, Mother and Father were frantic when you went missing."

Saffron smiled slightly. "I did give them a fright. But I had a good reason for disappearing. I had discovered Zeke in the carriage house and needed to get him out of town."

Halwyn stopped the carriage and turned toward her. His eyebrows lifted and his eyes, behind his glasses, grew large. "You did what?"

"He was hiding in the carriage house and had taken all of Biscuit's treats—her apples and carrots—and eaten them. That's how I figured out someone had been in the building. I found him asleep in Biscuit's stall."

"So you were acquainted with him before he came to work for the program?"

Saffron's head bobbed. "Yes, obviously. I'm not as impulsive as you think. I wouldn't have allowed him to take me to a dance if I'd only met him a few weeks prior. Our relationship goes back years."

"What happened in the carriage house?"

Saffron rolled her eyes. "Nothing inappropriate, I can assure you. He was a perfect gentleman. After his four brothers fell at Chancellorsville, he was the only one left, and his family needed him. The brothers received a letter from home before the battle and decided one of them should return to aid their ailing father. They elected Adam, the eldest, to be the one to head home, but after the battle ended, Zeke was the only one left."

She smoothed her skirt and waited.

"So that's when he deserted? And you helped him escape?"

"Well, no and yes, I guess. He left the battlefield behind since his only other option was surrender to the Confederates and be confined to a prison for the remainder of the war, but he didn't desert, since he had been only thirteen when his brothers joined. He never enlisted. He merely followed his brothers into battle. When he told me what had happened, I decided to do what I could to get him to his home."

Halwyn shook his head. "He could have been lying. Did it even occur to you to question his story?"

"You can't fake raw emotion. I was witness to his anguish over having to bury his brothers. And his determination to get back home where he was needed. His family had paid a hefty price in the war already. He didn't need to remain and become cannon fodder, too."

They rode in silence for a few minutes as Halwyn absorbed this information. He brought the horse to a stop again.

"Why did you not come to the house and ask for help? Why did you figure you needed to take such a chance on your own?"

Saffron shifted in her seat. "He would have run if I'd left him."

"But Mother and Father had helped runaways before. Did you forget the time when they rescued the slave from behind Downing's Restaurant?"

"Yes, I remembered how we helped with Sally and her baby. I did give some consideration to going for help. But he would have left the safety of the carriage house had I turned and run for assistance. I had no choice."

Halwyn flicked the reins and the horse resumed walking. He stared straight ahead for a few minutes in silence. Saffron bit her lip to keep from interrupting him as he puzzled through the problem in his mind.

"How did you do it?"

"What, get him out of town?"

"Yes. There were guards at every exit out of the city."

"I made him get into the hidey-hole of the wagon. You recall how I used to love playing in there."

Halwyn's mouth twitched at the memory, but his demeanor remained focused.

"So you blindly accepted what some stranger said, you undertook a great risk by riding through town alone, you suffered two months' worth of house arrest, all for this boy?"

"That about sums it up. Yes. Although I wasn't as completely reckless as you make it sound. I didn't mention I held him at bay with a pitchfork before I decided there was nothing to fear. He was as afraid of me as I was of him, to start with."

Saffron smoothed her hair before she spoke again. "Getting him out of town wasn't all I did. I brought him some of Jimmy's civilian clothes to change into and hid his uniform in the carriage house. After my confinement was done, I rushed to Biscuit's stall and buried the uniform. So, I aided and abetted his escape. The reason Zeke's not saying anything about his supposed desertion is because he fears I'll get into trouble. I can't let him die because he's protecting me, Hal."

"I see your dilemma. Maybe there's a way around the situation without revealing your part in his desertion. But it may get sticky. Let me do some digging. Don't mention a word to anyone else, though."

Saffron placed a hand on Halwyn's arm, then changed her mind and hugged him. "I won't. And thank you for trying to sort this out. I love Zeke with my whole being; I have for years. We can't let him die for something he didn't do."

"I'll do what I can, but it's going to take some powerful evidence to overturn the army's decision. Once the army makes up its mind, it's hard for it to reverse course."

"If anyone can do it, you can. I put my trust in you."

Saffron caught the slight slumping of Halwyn's shoulders in response to her statement. She had placed a heavy burden on him, and it made him uncomfortable. But he was their only hope, and she prayed he could find a solution.

# CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Saffron visited the military jail the next day. Today, though, Zeke came running over to the bars separating them when she walked in. He was wearing the same clothes from the day before, and they were matted and wrinkled from being slept in. There was a definite odor coming from the chamber pot in the crude cell. But his eyes were brighter than they had been the previous day, and the forlorn, defeated man of yesterday had once again turned into her dashing fiancé. Her stomach jumped as she stared at him.

"What are you doing here? It's too dangerous for you to be seen with me." He whispered to her even as he plundered her mouth with kisses.

"It will be all right, Zeke. I told Halwyn everything, and he's right now working on a solution to get you out of here." Saffron kept her voice low, as well.

"Everything?" Zeke choked on his words.

"I had to tell him about how I helped you three years ago. How else would I have the knowledge you never enlisted and you were only thirteen when you decided to join your brothers?"

"So he's aware of your part in this?"

"Not only about my part. He now is aware we're engaged and that you're more than a passing fancy to me."

Zeke stepped back and ran his hands through his matted hair.

"Jesus, Saffy. What have you done? If I do manage to get out of here alive, your brother will kill me."

Saffron laughed, and gave in to her urge to run her fingers through Zeke's now tousled head of hair. She drew him close again and kissed him.

"Halwyn doesn't hate you. He's trying whatever he can to correct the situation."

"Yet it's because of him I find myself behind bars." Zeke's voice broke.

Saffron rubbed his back, soothing him as if he were a frightened puppy. They stood together, foreheads touching through the bars, as she continued to comfort him. She could feel the tremors racking Zeke's body. He was afraid his only way out of jail was by death.

"It's hard for you to deal with being the only brother left behind. But there was a reason for it. Not only did you help your father when he needed it, but you also found me when I'd been forgotten by everyone else. We were meant to be together, Zeke. I figured out our fate the moment I laid eyes on you. Why else do you think I would have put myself in so much danger?"

Zeke's green eyes found hers, and the worry in them seemed to lessen as he and Saffron lingered together. Saffron finally took a step back.

"Does my new dress meet with your approval?" She fluffed the voluminous skirt of her blue-striped gown, hoping the action would settle her. She was as worried about the eventual outcome of his plight as he was, but his spirits needed to be lifted, not doused. She had to put up a positive attitude, but it was difficult since the metal bars separating them were a constant reminder of the dilemma they still faced.

"Twirl for me," Zeke requested, showing a bit of his old spirit.

Saffron complied, spinning around so her skirt billowed.

"It's lovely, Saffy. The blue matches your eyes."

"Which is the exact reason I bought it. Thank you for noticing."

Zeke reached between the bars and grasped her hands. "I hope your faith in your brother isn't misplaced. I still feel swinging at the end of a rope is to be my fate. I have since seeing my brothers' graves again. I miss them so."

"Yes, you do. Which is why we should name our children for your fallen brothers. But we can't even begin our future together if you don't make it out of here alive. So you need to keep a positive attitude."

Zeke's mouth raised on one corner. "You've been assigning names to our potential children?"

Saffron pulled him close and kissed him with all the passion she'd been keeping under control for months. Her tongue invaded his mouth, and he moaned his approval. Her hands hooked onto his belt, holding him in place as she explored his mouth. After a few minutes, she finally came up for air and moved back a few inches.

"Do you have an answer to your question now? Do you have something to live for? Do you love me?"

Zeke's smile split his face. "If I can make love to you every night and wake beside you every morning, I will feel as if I've died and gone to heaven."

"And that's the only kind of dying you'll be doing, Ezekiel Boone. I plan to make you my husband and give you a yard full of children. So we need to get you out of here and get started on our future."

"Yes, ma'am." He reached for her again and kissed her now-swollen lips. She finally stepped back and ran her finger over her mouth.

Her action brought a smile to Zeke's lips. "You did the same thing when we first kissed. Do you recall?"

"When you left the wagon and melted into the woods?"

"Yes. My last image of you was you standing by the wagon with one finger touching your lips. I longed to go back and kiss you again, to taste the peaches on your breath, but I needed to hide myself from the guards."

"I recall it well."

She shook her head at the memory and gathered up her reticule. She brushed the skirt of her gown again before she stared at Zeke once last time.

"I'll be back tomorrow. Hopefully, I can bring you good news."

• • •

Zeke paced in his cell as he waited for Saffron's visit the following day. His shoulders were knotted, partly from sleeping on a hard cot and partly from constant worry. He had actually entertained the notion death would be preferable to continuing to live in his brothers' shadow. But that was before Saffron had declared her true feelings for him and given him everything to live for.

He gritted his teeth as he paced. Now the stakes were raised even higher. Admittedly, Saffron had agreed to marry him before yesterday, but Zeke now had proof positive she shared his feelings—that he was not merely another conquest of hers.

He now realized what he needed to do was to live to the fullest, to honor his brothers' memory by making the most of his life. And the rest of his life included the lovely woman he now waited for. The woman who had blossomed from the girl he'd met years ago. The woman who had invaded his dreams as he'd fallen into an exhausted sleep each night at the farm.

Finally, footsteps came down the hall. Except there were two sets of footsteps, not one dainty pair. He shrugged his shoulders, hoping to eliminate the tension, hoping his fears would not be in evidence. Seeing Saffron again would lessen his worries. And he was curious to see with whom she came.

Saffron ran to him, touched his hands, and kissed him on the cheek. Zeke only had time to register her loveliness and her deep burgundy gown before Halwyn appeared in full military dress close behind her. Zeke's fingers twitched, and he removed them from Saffron's grasp. There would be no stolen kisses today. He faced Halwyn with his arms across his chest.

"So, have you come to do me in before the army can get its turn?" Zeke's attempt at humor fell flat.

"Hopefully, I've come to help. Saffron's told me everything. But your trial is tomorrow, so we have little time to get a defense organized. Can you produce a birth certificate?"

Zeke shook his head. "We were all born on the farm with no doctor in attendance. None of us have birth certificates. I only have my mother's word I was born in 1847."

"And where is your mother now? Can she get here to testify?"

"No. She's on a wagon headed to Oregon. She can't possibly be in DC by morning."

Halwyn removed his hat and tugged on his hair. "We have to come up with something. Let's all put our heads together."

Saffron's eyes drifted from Zeke, to his bare cell, to the small barred window, and then back to him. Her somber face broke into a grin.

"I have an idea. Here's what might work..."

The three of them huddled even closer together as Saffron whispered her idea. Zeke's hopes for a speedy end to his incarceration, any outcome other than him dancing at the end of a rope, rose again. Maybe something could be done, because the only dancing he hoped to do was at a fine ball with Saffron as his partner.

Strategy in place, Halwyn and Saffron prepared to leave. Halwyn respectfully allowed Saffron a few minutes alone with Zeke. Holding hands through the bars of the jail cell bars they spoke in quiet whispers to each other.

"Will our plan work, Saffron? I have my doubts."

"Of course it will work. I saved you once already, and I'm not about to let you die now and cut short our future together. After all, we have the children to consider."

Zeke shook his head. "We don't have any children, my sweet. All we've done is kiss, and you can't get with child by only kissing. I grew up on a farm, and I've seen how the animals do it."

Saffron gave him a saucy smile. "We may not have any children yet, Zeke, but we will have a family together. I can guarantee it."

Zeke kissed her fingers and then found her mouth. "From your beautiful lips to God's ears."

Her whimper of approval was all Zeke needed to take the kiss deeper. His tongue sought entry into her mouth, and she accepted him greedily. Zeke lost all track of time as his body responded to Saffron's touch. He allowed himself to get lost in the moment.

Their moment was rudely interrupted by the prison guard.

"Time's up, miss."

Saffron kissed him one final time before stepping back.

"You'll be a free man tomorrow. Then we can kiss all night."

She smiled at the guard on her way out.

"You poor bugger. To have a pretty woman waiting for you on the outside and to never be able to hold her again must be an awful feeling."

Zeke straightened behind the bars. "But I will hold her again. Our future children depend on it. I'll be let go tomorrow."

"Not according to what I hear. The hammers that have been ringing out all afternoon are from men who are constructing the gallows you'll hang from tomorrow. Maybe your pretty lady will come to see you take your last breath and will need a shoulder to cry on. I should make plans to be there."

Zeke roared and lunged toward the man, who backed away with a laugh, out of the range of Zeke's grasp.

"Just giving you a hard time, boy. Don't mean any harm. But you are one poor, sorry bugger."

The guard left the room, and Zeke slumped on the cot. In front of Saffron, he'd put on a good face, but deep within himself, he agreed with the guard. He was one poor, sorry bugger. Tomorrow would be his last day on earth. Would hanging be a quick death, as his brothers' had been, or would it be drawn out for a few minutes, with him gasping for breath? Would he really be reunited with his brothers in heaven? Was there a heaven at all? Why hadn't he insisted Saffron come with him and his family to Oregon?

He wrapped his arms around his quaking body and struggled for peace. His heart raced as he rocked back and forth. His fate was no longer in his own hands. He would have only one chance to prove his innocence, and it came from Halwyn, the brother who had disliked him from the start. The deck could not be stacked higher against him.

He fell asleep, finally, to the sound of the hammers outside his window.

# CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

In handcuffs and striped prison garb, Zeke followed his guards into the room where twelve officers would determine if he were to live or die. The fact the jury had been appointed by the officer who had originally filed the charges did not give him much cause for hope. The fact he had handcuffs on didn't help, either, since it gave him a guilty countenance. He hung his head, convinced his fate had been sealed before he ever entered the room, despite whatever defense he could mount, and barely paid attention to the proceedings.

"The defense calls as its primary witness Major Halwyn Fitzpatrick," the defense attorney who had been assigned to the case boomed out. Zeke's head jerked up, and for the first time he caught sight of Halwyn in full dress uniform. They locked stares for a brief moment before Halwyn made his way to the front of the room and got sworn in. Zeke's stomach roiled. He assumed the proceedings would be lengthy, but they were moving ahead at a pace that made his body jerk, made his hands ball into fists. The metallic taste of blood in his mouth reminded him he was biting his lips. He struggled to stay composed.

"Major, tell us about your involvement in this case," the attorney prompted.

"Mr. Boone approached me about reenlisting in the army soon after he began working for the Reburial Program, so I was responsible for filling out his paperwork and getting things set in motion."

The attorney paced in front of Halwyn. Zeke sat at the front of the courtroom, his mouth dry.

"And were you able to set things into motion?"

"Soon after I filed the initial paperwork for him, I found the roster for the Twenty-Second New York Infantry when they finally mustered out from the war. Mr. Boone's name was not among them."

The attorney turned on his heel and faced Halwyn. "So, is it your belief the defendant is guilty of desertion?" The attorney turned again and pointed toward Zeke with an elaborate flourish.

"No. It isn't. But something about his story didn't add up, so I held back on my findings in order to do some more digging."

"And what did you uncover?"

Zeke noticed Halwyn hesitated a moment, adjusting his glasses on his nose, clearly uncomfortable in these surroundings. Halwyn inhaled a sharp breath before he answered.

"I had already notified my commanding officer of a new recruit, so I could hold back on the request for only so long before being asked for it. I hadn't yet found the missing link. So I concluded, as did my superiors, he never mustered out. At least it appeared so."

The attorney leaned over and stared at Halwyn. "Appeared?"

"Yes, I finally received the paperwork I'd been waiting on from New York. The roster from the Twenty-Second New York Infantry when they enlisted."

"Do you have these papers with you?"

Halwyn opened the folder he'd been carrying, and handed the papers to the attorney.

"Explain to me what your findings are before I enter these into evidence."

"Mr. Boone had four brothers who all volunteered to serve. They are listed here. Adam Boone, age twenty-five, Benjamin Boone, age twenty-two, Caleb Boone, age nineteen, and David Boone, age seventeen."

The attorney pointed his hand toward Zeke. "But no Ezekiel Boone?"

"No, sir. He's not listed."

"Do you have an assumption as to why he's not listed?"

Halwyn nodded. "I have Mr. Boone's testimony. And my own assumptions. Obviously, the children in this family are named in alphabetical order, so Ezekiel would be fifth in chronological order. And there seems to be a year or two between each child. So following that logic, Ezekiel would have been no more than fourteen or fifteen when the war began and his brothers enlisted."

The attorney resumed his pacing. "So you're telling me Mr. Boone was too young to enlist?"

"Yes, he would have been turned away, despite the fact we needed every soldier we could find. Fourteen is too young."

"And how are you familiar with the protocol of the recruiting staff of the New York army?"

"I was one of the recruiting officers during the war, stationed at Fort MacDougall."

The attorney stopped in front of Halwyn again. "So what do you make of these findings?"

"Mr. Boone has revealed his mother had a child not carried to term between David and himself, and he was, in fact, only thirteen when his brothers enlisted. He ran off with them and followed the troops until their first battle. Then, he stripped the uniform off a fallen soldier and took up a rifle. He fought alongside his brothers for three years, until his brothers all fell at Chancellorsville."

The attorney then turned to face Zeke. "Which would be when he deserted?"

Halwyn also turned his gaze toward Zeke. "That's when he left. Not deserted. You can't desert the army if you never enlisted in the first place. It only appeared that he had deserted. The records from the Twenty-Second New York Infantry close the loop on the discrepancy. In fact, before the battle ensued, the Boone brothers' commanding officer approved one of them to return home after Chancellorsville to help their ailing father. After the battle, Zeke was the only one left. This boy, now a man, should be awarded a medal instead of being subjected to a court-martial."

The courtroom erupted as the twelve men on the jury began to talk among themselves. Zeke's head jerked up, and he stared at Halwyn with his mouth agape. Halwyn suggested he be awarded a medal? The judge pounded his gavel, and finally quiet reigned.

The attorney turned toward Halwyn once more. "So, sum it up for me. Other than giving this man a medal, what do you suggest we do?"

"Mr. Boone was only thirteen when he joined the army to fight alongside his brothers. He then buried all of them at Chancellorsville when he was only sixteen. The horrors he bore witness to for those three years, not to mention seeing each of his brothers die in battle, are something no child should ever have to deal with. I believe he's suffered enough from this war. Mr. Boone has proven himself a good soldier, and under any other circumstances, I'd be grateful to have him represent the army. But, if some punishment must be meted out, I'd suggest we deny his request to enlist."

Zeke's breath whooshed out, and he fought the urge to grin. His trial wasn't over yet, but he at least had Halwyn's approval, for the first time.

• • •

Zeke was placed under guard in a small room next to the judge's chambers. Not that he would have gotten far with handcuffs around his wrists and shackles on his ankles. Halwyn joined him as they waited for a judgment.

"Thank you, Halwyn, for sticking your neck out on my behalf."

Halwyn ran his finger under the collar of his uniform, soothing the skin of the aforementioned neck. "Let's hope it worked and that you can leave here with your own neck intact."

"Well, you've done what you can, and I appreciate it, even if it doesn't work."

"Why don't you tell me about Chancellorsville, when you lost all your brothers?"

Zeke turned his head away. "I have no wish to relive those awful days, but it plays over and over in my head anyway. The battle lasted nearly a week, one brother falling each day. At the end of the conflict, the Confederates were rounding up all the soldiers they hadn't slaughtered to take to their prison camps, so I ran into the woods after I buried David alongside the others."

Zeke pressed his handcuffed hands against his stomach, which was still unsettled. He understood Halwyn was trying to take his mind off what was being discussed in the other room, but it made no difference. His ears were tingling as his body craned toward the adjoining wall, hoping to hear something from the jurors. Anything. But he could hear nothing.

Halwyn insisted on filling the space with words, though. "All right, then. If you can't talk about the battle, let's talk about Saffron."

Zeke's head turned from the wall to stare at Halwyn. "What about Saffron?"

"She told me you asked for her hand in marriage and she accepted."

Zeke gulped. "Yes, sir."

"And you two were going to wait until you were accepted into the military to come to me. You figured a job with the army would make you seem more appealing as a husband."

Zeke nodded his head. "Yes, sir."

"She also told me you presented her with a choice between the military and heading west on a wagon train, and she's the one who chose the military."

"Yes, sir. All I've ever hoped for since I was sixteen and kissed her for the first time, was to make Saffron happy."

Halwyn removed his glasses and rubbed a hand over his eyes. "She told me of your first meeting, but left out the part about you kissing her. If I hadn't just tried to save your life, I'd wring your neck. She was only fifteen! Now, she's blaming herself for the spot in which you find yourself. If she had chosen the wagon train, none of us would be here."

"I'm aware of the blame she's placed on herself."

"So what I did today on the stand was for Saffron as much as it was for you. I only hope for her happiness, same as you. She could have chosen a man more suitable, more fitting to her social status, but Saffron has never done things the easy way."

Zeke's mouth twitched into a smile. "Does that mean you approve of our union?"

Halwyn hesitated before he answered. He replaced his glasses and glanced at Zeke. "Now that I have the whole story of how you met, yes, I approve. I thought your actions toward her since you came to the program were very forward, but knowing that you had a past together, even though you should never have met, now they make sense. I wish you'd come to me right away; this whole court-martial could have been avoided. Now I can only hope you and Saffron have a future together."

Halwyn shook his head before he continued. "But what you did during the war—fighting when you were no more than a child, burying all of your kin, going home to work alongside your ailing father and save the lives of your remaining siblings, and then coming back to retrieve your brothers' bones and make certain they are properly laid to rest—are proof you're a man of honor."

Tears filled Zeke's eyes as he listened to Halwyn. A man of honor. A lump formed in Zeke's throat.

"I was only doing my duty. To my country and to my family."

"Well, if you can get through the trial, we will welcome you into our family. We'll take a trip to New York or maybe bring my folks here so you can meet them. My mother will enjoy having another wedding to plan."

"I still have a ways to go before I can even contemplate planning a wedding. Let me ask you a question. If the worst happens, and the jury decides to put me to death, will Saffron be all right?"

Halwyn hesitated before answering. "It will take a while, but yes, she'll make it through. She's been in love with you for years, evidently, ever since your first encounter, so it would be hard for her to accept. But she will, if that's to be your fate. We'll take care of her."

"She blames herself for this whole mess. She should never feel anguish. Or heartache. That's what a relationship with me has brought her."

Halwyn put a hand on Zeke's shoulder as he stood. "What's done is done, Zeke. I hope my testimony was enough to convince the jury, but the outcome is now out of our hands. I'll be in the courtroom when they announce the verdict."

"But keep Saffy out, will you? She doesn't need to be here."

"Of course. But she'll ask to be in attendance."

Zeke rose as well and faced Halwyn. "You promised to take care of her. Keeping her away from the courtroom is the first thing you can do for me."

"It will be done."

Halwyn squeezed Zeke's shoulder before he left the room. Adam had squeezed Zeke's shoulder before each battle, and he'd missed the brotherly contact. Now Halwyn's reassuring squeeze was possibly the last physical contact he'd have with anyone—except his executioners.

# CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Saffron paced from one side of the small antechamber to the other and back again. Her mind raced while she waited for a verdict. This was the closest the army would allow her to be to the courtroom where the continuation of Zeke's life, and their future together, was being decided. And she could hear nothing through the wall, even with the water glass she'd found in the room pressed up against it.

Halwyn stopped in before heading back to the courtroom for the verdict, which made her cease her frantic movements for the moment. Even though he tried to be upbeat, Saffron's mouth grew dry even as her eyes grew moist. She swallowed the lump of fear at her throat. Their last shot had been fired over the galley of the ship. Now all they could do was wait to see if their ship sank or stayed afloat.

"Keep your chin up, Saffy. This will be over soon."

"I am trying to, but just when I get a good grip on things, the idea of Zeke being put to death invades my mind, and I start to panic again."

Halwyn placed her cold hands in his, lending her some of his warmth, and kissed her fingers. "My recommendation to the jury for punishment, if they feel compelled to mete out any, was to deny his request to join the military. If they listened to me, that means you and Zeke will be heading west on a wagon train soon. I've been told it was your second choice for a life together. How will you handle it?"

She gazed into Halwyn's eyes. "If I can be with Zeke, I'll go anywhere. I'm sure I can manage."

"You'll face a lot of hardship and rough conditions. Are you sure you wouldn't rather stay here or in New York City? I'm certain Father would offer Zeke a job at the bank."

Tears slid down her cheeks as she stared at her brother. "I can't talk about options until I can be certain Zeke will be with me. And I can't be assured of that until his blasted trial is over."

Footsteps in the hallway signaled the jury was about to reconvene. Halwyn pulled Saffron close, wiped her tears away with the pads of his thumbs, and kissed the top of her head. "It seems we'll all find out very soon. Try to maintain a positive outlook."

He left the antechamber, and Saffron resumed her pacing. Even though the army had provided a good job for Halwyn, and she had to admit the uniform he wore made him rather dashing, she now, at this very moment, hated the army. Hated all military. She'd had the same reaction when her brother-in-law, Michael, had died at Bull Run. But now, the army and the war weren't one step removed from her. They were launching a direct blow on her life, and in the typical manner of the military, women were not allowed in the courtroom, so she couldn't even witness the possible destruction.

God forbid the military would acknowledge the weaker sex had brains, too. And would not break down at the verdict. She paced again, her anger growing. Her heart raced as the hall quieted. Poor Zeke. He must be terrified, because she certainly was. Her limbs shook, but she couldn't stop pacing. Wouldn't stop moving.

She could not be cooped up in the tiny room any longer. If she couldn't go into the courtroom, maybe she could stroll down the hallway in front of it and overhear some of the proceedings from there. Saffron yanked open the door and spilled out into the darkened hallway. Her teary eyes made her vision weak, and she stumbled into a guard outside the doors to the courtroom. He grabbed her arms to keep her upright.

"Oh, sorry." She stepped back and brushed his hands away from her.

"Ma'am, our orders are to make certain you stay in the antechamber."

She bristled. "And who gave you such orders?"

"The major, ma'am. Your brother."

"I merely hoped to take a peek inside and see what's going on." She flashed the young officer what she hoped was her most pleasant smile. Maybe she could charm her way inside.

"And I can't let you take even a peek. I have my orders. The major told us you might try. Please return to the antechamber. You'll find out the verdict soon enough."

She stomped her foot on the marble floor, but her slipper barely made a sound. Halwyn still protected her. God's teeth. She was so tired of being treated as a child.

She had no choice but to return to the cloistered room and resume pacing. Her fingers laced together, and she brought her hands to her stomach, which was now churning. She bent over, hoping for some measure of relief. She longed to crawl into a corner of the room and cry for days. She longed to allow her quivering insides to manifest themselves into an entire body shake. She longed to let herself go.

But what she longed for most of all was for Zeke to walk out of the courtroom and into her arms.

And if he found her sniveling in some corner, she would be mortified. What kind of strength would that show him? He'd be afraid to take her on a wagon train if she shriveled up into a simpering ball at the first sign of trouble. She stood, wiped the tears from her face, inhaled a few deep breaths, and smoothed the skirt of her red dress. Red was the color of victory, and she had chosen her gown with care this morning. She would be ready when he finally was freed. Because she couldn't allow herself to ponder any other outcome.

• • •

Zeke's head buzzed as he stood before the jury who had taken very little time in deciding his fate. His life or death seemed to matter little to them. He shook his head to clear it, and stared at the twelve men in uniform. His chin came up. He would not allow them to intimidate him.

"Have you reached a verdict then?" the judge asked.

"We have, your honor."

"Will the defendant please rise?"

Zeke rose on unsteady feet and stared straight ahead.

The judge directed the jury. "Well, then, what say you in the matter of Boone versus the United States Army?"

"We find the defendant..." Zeke tried not to fidget as the leader of the jury paused for dramatic effect.

"Not guilty."

Zeke blinked, and his body slumped. Surely he had misheard.

"Is this a unanimous verdict?"

"It is, your honor. We could find no conclusive evidence Mr. Boone was ever in the army. Therefore, he could not have deserted. We do request though, a fitting punishment for causing these proceedings would be to ban him from any future military service."

The judge turned to gaze directly at Zeke, who straightened his spine into a proper military stance and stared back.

"You have been found not guilty, Mr. Boone. Therefore, all charges have been dropped against you. I hope you will adhere to the jury's decision and give up your quest to join the army."

"Yes, sir." Zeke's legs began to shake. The guard came forward and removed his handcuffs and ankle shackles. He was a free man. He needed to sit; he needed a hot bath. But what he really needed was to find Saffron.

Halwyn appeared at his side and placed a hand on his arm. "Come along, Zeke. I'll take you to her."

Zeke nodded, unable to form words around the huge lump in his throat. His eyes smarted with tears that he blinked away. He walked out of the courtroom and into the rest of his life. He had no idea what the future held, but he now had Halwyn's assurance Saffron would be a part of it. Halwyn, the protective older brother, was leading him to her. Zeke rubbed his face and took a huge gulp of air as they walked down the hall and stopped at a door.

Halwyn clamped a hand on Zeke's shoulder. "She's inside, wearing out the carpet with her pacing. You two are a good pair, and you have my blessing. But you'd better marry her soon. Three years is a long time to make her wait."

"Yes, sir." Zeke grinned, finally.

"I'll leave you alone. But I expect you both to join us for dinner tonight, when we can discuss your future plans."

Zeke reached for Halwyn's extended hand and shook it. Then he faced the door, swallowed hard, wiped his sweaty palms on his shirt, and turned the doorknob. His life had righted itself again. Saffron had been responsible for getting him out of New York City and heading back home three years ago, and she now had helped save him again. A lifetime would not be long enough to pay her back, but he intended to try.

She cried out when the door opened and she caught sight of him. She raced to him, her gown swishing against the floor. If he hadn't been hanging on to the door handle still, she would have knocked him flat.

"Oh, thank God." She peppered his face with kisses and wrapped her arms around him.

"You didn't really entertain any other outcome, did you?" He laughed as he caressed her cheek and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, which he then kissed.

"I prayed for your release, harder than I've ever prayed before. But you must make me a promise."

"I'll grant you any wish, my love."

"Promise me right now whatever trouble life throws at us, we'll go through it together. You can't ever again put your own life in danger to save mine. We go through life together or not at all."

"Are you saying if, for instance, we get attacked by a grizzly bear, I should not shield you from him?"

She placed her hand on his chest at the spot where she'd speared him three years earlier. "As you will recall, I'm pretty handy with a pitchfork. We'll take on all grizzlies together."

They stood quietly, wrapped in each other's arms, for a few minutes. Time lost all meaning as Zeke reveled in her sweet, young, floral scent with just a hint of spice to tickle his nose. He touched her bold red dress, luxuriating in its silky feel. Finally, he lifted his chin from the top of her head and leaned down to caress her lips, which were every bit as silky as her gown.

"Halwyn told me we were to appear for dinner tonight to talk about where we go from here. And he said we needed to marry soon."

Saffron laughed. "I'm glad he finally sees in you what I did all those years ago. But I'm sure Mother will have something to say about the wedding."

"If I was able to get through a court-martial, I can face your mother."

"Ah, but you haven't met my mother."

Saffron laughed again, and the sound was better than any orchestra. He had assumed for a brief, black moment that he would never be able to hear her laughter again, since all he'd seemed capable of doing was making her cry. He'd spend the rest of his life making her happy each day and full of laughter every evening.

# CHAPTER NINETEEN

Dinner at Halwyn and Grace's home in the evening was a noisy affair, reminding Saffron of days past when her siblings were all still at home. Halwyn and Grace's children joined the group for the celebratory meal of savory chicken, mashed potatoes, dinner rolls, and green beans. The dinner smelled divine, but Saffron's stomach hadn't yet completely unknotted from the day's events so she doubted she would do the meal justice.

Saffron gazed at the children across the table. George already showed signs of being his siblings' protector. But the bridge of freckles across his pert nose negated some of his position's seriousness. Rose and Emily were miniature versions of Grace, with their dark hair and porcelain complexions. Saffron's mind went to her promise to Zeke that they'd try to have four boys, each named in honor of his brothers. She couldn't wait until she could sit at her own dinner table with her own little ones. She reached over and latched onto Zeke's hand, her eyes brimming over with tears.

"I'm so glad we can all be here tonight." She choked on her words as the tears slid down her cheeks. Zeke gently brushed the wetness away. Then he leaned over and kissed her damp cheek. George made a smacking sound imitating a kiss, which made the young girls laugh.

Grace stopped cutting up the meat for Emily. "Hush, children. Behave yourselves, or I'll have the nanny take you to the nursery for your meal."

Halwyn cleared his throat, and the children finally stopped their noise. They had no wish to spend the rest of the evening in the nursery, so they were poised to listen to what their father was about to say. So was Saffron, since she had a feeling Halwyn was going to say something profound with regards to her and Zeke. She turned her gaze from Zeke to her brother.

"We need to talk about your immediate future plans." His eyes slid from his children to Zeke. "Now that you can make future plans."

"Yes, sir. Saffron and I discussed things earlier, and now, since I can't join the military, we had a notion we'd head out west next spring and meet up with my family in Oregon."

"Oregon is a good choice, although I still can't see Saffron chopping firewood and cooking meals over a wood stove." He shifted his gaze from Zeke to Saffron. "Forgive me, Saffy, but one pie does not a pioneer woman make. You do have other alternatives you should also explore."

Saffron stared at Halwyn. "What do you mean?"

Halwyn smiled. "You need to first of all announce to Mother and Father your marriage plans. I'm sure Father will have some ideas about your future. They'll come here to inspect the potential groom and Mother will begin planning the wedding."

Saffron placed her hand on Zeke's arm. "So you'll meet Mother and Papa soon."

She noticed Zeke's Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he gulped. Poor man. He was more frightened at the prospect of meeting her parents than he was at the idea of being hung. She touched his arm, soothing him as if he were a stray kitten who'd wandered into her yard. And in a way, he was.

Halwyn nodded in their direction before he continued. "I'm certain Father will try to convince you to join him at the bank, Zeke, since I plan to stay with the military. But before he can woo you away from DC, you have a job to finish here."

Zeke turned to Halwyn in surprise. "What are you saying?"

"What I'm saying is you are still a valuable asset to the Initiative team, since you were at Chancellorsville during the fighting. You can tell us where the standoffs happened, where the most fierce fighting took place, and you can provide valuable information on where the majority of the bodies are."

Saffron glanced at Halwyn. "But Zeke's not allowed into the military anymore. And the only reason he was hired in the first place by you was because of his military background."

"You're not military, and you're working for us, aren't you?"

Saffron nodded, finally grasping what Halwyn was saying.

"You can be a civilian employed by the military, the same as Saffron. Once Chancellorsville is cleared and your brothers are reinterred in Arlington National Cemetery, you can decide which option to consider next."

Saffron's tears began again. "You can still honor your father's request and see your brothers properly buried." She wrapped her arms around Zeke and placed her head on his shoulder. It was now Zeke's turn to comfort her.

The children began to titter again. Halwyn grinned as he spoke, negating the reprimand. "All right, you two. My children aren't used to such displays of affection at the dinner table. I'll send a telegram to Mother and Father tomorrow morning. And judging from the way you can't keep your hands off each other, we need to get you married as soon as possible."

• • •

A few days later, Zeke followed a step behind his intended as they hurried to the train, which had come to a stop and belched black smoke. If he weren't so worried about meeting her parents, he would have enjoyed the view of Saffron's shapely backside in her bright yellow day dress as she hurried down the platform. His mouth might be dry, but his hands were clammy. He wiped them on his shirt and tried to swallow as he and Saffron waited for her parents to disembark.

Saffron bounced up and down in excitement as she held on to Zeke's arm.

"It's been so long since I've seen Mother and Papa. Not since Christmas. A lot has happened since then." She tore her eyes from train's occupants, who were streaming off, and turned toward Zeke. "You're the biggest surprise of all. I can't wait for you to meet them."

Zeke tried for a big smile but could only muster a corner of his mouth turning up. "Halwyn makes me nervous, but he was only the warm-up for meeting your folks."

She turned back to the passengers and patted him absent-mindedly on the arm. "There's nothing to be nervous about. I love you, and so will they. Ooh, there they are."

Saffron waved frantically to get their attention, and ran forward. Zeke had no choice but to follow. An image of the gallows from which he'd narrowly escaped rose in his mind. When Saffron's parents were enlightened by the whole story of how they had met each other and the danger he'd put Saffron into, not only on the night she helped him escape but then also at the trial, surely they'd send him packing.

Saffron seemed oblivious to any potential outcome other than the one she wanted. She assumed since she loved him it would be enough to sway her parents. He shook his head as he trailed behind her, but held himself in a perfect military stance, hoping to make a good impression.

Saffron was swooped up and sandwiched between her parents in a huge, welcoming hug. Zeke stood to the side, observing. Mrs. Fitzpatrick was an older version of Saffron, with blonde hair and laughing blue eyes. George Fitzpatrick had dark hair sprinkled with gray but the same humorous expression in his eyes. Maybe the meeting wouldn't be so bad after all.

Saffron stepped back from the hug so she could look at her parents. "It's so good to see you both."

Charlotte ran her hand over her daughter's hair and then down her arm. "My baby. Oh, it's wonderful to see you again. Home hasn't been the same since you left."

Her father kissed her cheek before he asked. "Now, where is this young man who's stolen your heart?"

She turned from them to Zeke, who had surveyed the reunion without making a sound. She pulled him forward.

"He's right here. This is Zeke. Ezekiel Boone. The man I'm going to marry. Zeke, meet my parents."

Charlotte grabbed him in a fierce hug, stealing his breath. Mr. Fitzpatrick waited for his wife to let go of Zeke before sticking out his hand. "Good to meet you, son."

Zeke got a lump in his throat at the greeting. He hadn't been called "son" in a long time.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both. Saffron's told me so much about you."

To cover his rioting emotions, Zeke grabbed their luggage and made his way to the waiting carriage, giving Saffron time to be alone with her parents.

Before Zeke formed any ideas as to which direction their talks should take, they were in front of Halwyn and Grace's home. Zeke jumped down and grabbed the luggage, taking it inside himself rather than waiting on the staff. Saffron hadn't stopped talking since the ride began, and she kept up her steady stream of words while they all climbed down from the carriage and moved inside to the parlor, where Grace, tea, and sweet breads awaited the travelers.

"I need to see my grandchildren before I can even sit down to a cup of tea. Where are you hiding them, Grace?" Charlotte stepped back from her embrace of her daughter-in-law.

Grace laughed, put her arm around Charlotte, and escorted her to the nursery, where the children waited. Zeke was alone with Mr. Fitzpatrick and Saffron, who quieted in front of her father. Zeke noticed her hands were shaking a bit. His heart sunk when he picked up on how nervous she was. Maybe things weren't going as well as they seemed if Saffron was afraid of this audience with her father. A sense of foreboding skittered up his spine. Things were not going to go well.

George made a big production of filling his pipe and then lighting it. Zeke inhaled the scent of burning tobacco, which usually had a calming effect. But not today. Nothing could quiet his riotous emotions. Saffron and Zeke sat absolutely still as if they were recalcitrant children waiting for their punishment. George cleared his throat, obviously now ready to talk. Zeke wished it had taken longer to get George's pipe in order.

"Zeke, you seem to be a very admirable young man, but your engagement to my daughter is very sudden. Saffron, I'm aware of your tendency to dive headfirst into things, but this is quick even for you."

George's gaze flickered from Zeke to Saffron. Sweat began to bead on Zeke's brow. He inhaled a long, slow breath. It was time to reveal their past.

"On the contrary, Papa. It's time for us to tell everyone the whole story. Halwyn's already been made aware of it, so now we must reveal it to you. We met each other three years ago."

George's eyebrow rose speculatively. "How is that possible?"

"Surely you recall how I disappeared one afternoon during the draft riots?"

"Of course. Two months' worth of confinement for you wasn't nearly enough, given the fright you caused your mother and me."

"Well, there was a very good reason why I hitched up Biscuit and made a madcap ride around town. I was helping Zeke escape the city so he could get back to his farm."

George stared at his daughter, then at Zeke. "This makes no sense. Where did you come into contact with him?"

"He was hiding out in our carriage house. He'd followed his brothers into the Civil War, even though he had only been thirteen at the time. Before the battle at Chancellorsville, they received a letter from home saying their father was ill and needed one of them to return to the farm."

She reached over and clung to Zeke's hand. "He was the only one left at the end of the battle. All four of his brothers perished during the week, and Zeke had to bury them before he left the battlefield. The Confederates were rounding up everyone who was still standing to take to their prison, so it was either escape or be placed in jail for the remainder of the war. He chose to honor his father's request and return home."

George's gaze bounced back and forth between Saffron and Zeke, stopping at their joined hands, where his gaze morphed into a glare. Zeke dropped Saffron's hand and straightened in his chair. "I made it as far as New York City on my own, but got stuck when the riots broke out and soldiers were stationed at every exit. I was still in uniform, and would have been sent back to the front lines if I had been caught."

"So you deserted the army? And placed my daughter in peril?"

Saffron propelled herself to her feet at her father's question and began to pace the room. "No, he did neither. He never enlisted; therefore, he never deserted. The court-martial nightmare we just went through cleared him of any wrongdoing. And it was my decision to help him get out of town, not his. He didn't threaten or force me at all. He's a good man, Papa, and I love him."

Zeke's heart raced, both from Saffron's declaration and from her father's relentless gaze. He waited for Mr. Fitzpatrick's final judgment.

"Has Halwyn approved of your union?"

Saffron turned to her father. "Not only does he approve, but he also provided the testimony that cleared Zeke's name during the trial. He even went so far as to say Zeke should be given a medal for his service." She walked back to Zeke, her head held high and her beautiful, blue eyes filled with tears. She again reached for his hand, holding it so tightly he couldn't have disengaged if he'd been forced to. But he hoped he never had to.

"If Halwyn has given you his blessing, then I suppose I should as well. Although I'll have to ponder a bit further how in the name of God you two initially met. You took some very big chances, both of you."

Saffron raised her tear-filled eyes to her father. "Yes, we did, Papa. But just as with Joseph and Ginger, this was _inendaagozi_. It was our destiny to meet each other and then fall in love years later."

George shook his head. "I can see that, and I suppose you're right." He faced Zeke. Welcome to the family, son."

There it was again. Son. Zeke finally smiled and inhaled a deep breath. His future once more seemed bright.

• • •

George may have steered the conversation over tea, but at dinner, Charlotte reigned. And the conversation was not about Zeke's suitability as a husband but all about the impending wedding and what type of gown Saffron would wear. Charlotte seemed to accept him unconditionally, for which Zeke was grateful. He had already been impressed by her, since her blonde hair and blue eyes reminded him of Saffron, but her complete acceptance of him made him appreciate her even more.

He ran a finger around the neck of his dress shirt. He helped himself to generous quantities of the tender roast beef, tangy asparagus spears, and velvety mashed potatoes with brown gravy, since his stomach no longer had a knot in it. He had passed inspection, and he and Saffron were to wed within weeks. He could spend the remainder of his life with her by his side.

Charlotte's excited voice broke into his musings, and Zeke turned his gaze to her.

"I sent a telegram to Jasmine this afternoon, Saffron, and told her to start working on your gown. She has your measurements on file, so she can make it without you actually being there."

"Well, if it will speed things along, I'm all for it. I don't really care about the gown. I'm certain if Jasmine makes it, it will be lovely. Zeke and I hope to marry as soon as possible and get started on our lives together."

George cleared his throat, and everyone at the table glanced his way.

"And speaking of your future together, have you any ideas as to what you will do to make a living, or where you hope to live?"

"We have to stay with the program until Chancellorsville is cleared. Both Zeke and I have too much knowledge of the battlefield to entrust digging it up to someone else."

Saffron's hands moved as she talked, and the lace on the sleeve of her sapphire gown dragged through the gravy. Zeke noticed her small mishap and reached for her hand, wiping the gravy from her cuff with his napkin. She may still resemble a young colt at times, but she was all his.

Zeke continued to hold on to her hand. They locked gazes and grinned at one another before Saffron glanced at her soiled sleeve.

"I may never get over being clumsy, but if you're there to mop up after me, I'll be fine." Saffron leaned over and kissed his cheek. George harrumphed again.

"Let's get back to the question, shall we, you two? After Chancellorsville, what do you plan to do?"

Zeke tore his gaze from Saffron and addressed her father. "We haven't come to any conclusions yet. We could go to Oregon by wagon train next spring and meet up with my family, but I'm afraid the harsh life of the wagon train will not be to Saffron's liking."

Zeke nodded in Halwyn's direction and glanced at his immaculate uniform before he continued. "Halwyn suggested coming to New York and working with you at the bank, since he plans to stay with the military, but without a proper education, I fear banking would not be to my liking."

"So you are at an impasse, then." George summed things up neatly.

"Yes, sir."

"With either scenario you've outlined, one of you will be uncomfortable. Might I suggest a compromise?"

Saffron's grasp on Zeke's hand tightened.

"What exactly do you have in mind, Papa?"

"Something in the middle. And not only in the middle of your options, but in the middle of the country. If you, Saffy, won't deal well with getting to Oregon, and you, Zeke, won't blend into New York society, maybe you need to be in St. Louis."

"St. Louis, sir?" Zeke's voice cracked. "What could we do there?"

George spread his hands. "Basil wrote recently to tell me one of our St. Louis branch's best clients, who owns the general store, has decided to retire. Even though the wagon trains aren't nearly as plentiful as they were ten years ago, there's still a handsome profit to be made from a store that caters to both those traveling through and those who live in town."

Zeke and Saffron shared a glance. Zeke could tell by the sparkle in Saffron's eye she was intrigued by her father's suggestion. It intrigued him as well. A shopkeeper. He could see himself in the role. Saffron, with her advanced education, could keep the books, and Zeke had firsthand experience in what was needed to keep a homestead running. His heart rate mimicked a runaway stallion as he contemplated such an enticing future. He waited for Saffron to say something to her father.

"What a wonderful solution, Papa! There's just one thing. We'll need a loan to buy the business from this gentleman. Can you recommend a bank where we might apply?"

The entire crowd around the table broke into a simultaneous grin.

"I might be able to pull a few strings for my youngest daughter. I'll wire Basil in the morning, and we can get things in order."

Zeke slumped in his chair, relief washing over him. His heart rate leveled off, finally. A shopkeeper. And a husband. Perhaps, in a year or so, a father. Life couldn't possibly get any better.

# CHAPTER TWENTY

The next few weeks flew by, as Saffron sandwiched her work around her mother's demands for the upcoming nuptials. Saffron wanted to stay in DC rather than return to New York to plan the wedding. She needed to catch up on the last-minute correspondence pouring into the program from all over the northern states. Zeke returned to Chancellorsville, where some of the tragic events had unfolded. It was the Reburial Program's hope they could clear the fields of bodies within two months and move on to the next battlefield. Saffron and Zeke would then depart for St. Louis, after the reinterment ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery for Zeke's brothers.

But first, there was to be a wedding. Charlotte returned to DC again following the weekend visit from herself and George, in her glory as she made wedding arrangements and played with her grandchildren.

"We have so many details to decide on, Saffy, dear. Quit reading your letter from Zeke and pay attention."

Saffron lifted her head. "Mother, I have no patience for wedding plans. This whole, elaborate ordeal is your idea. If it were up to me, we'd run off and be married by a justice of the peace somewhere."

Charlotte shook her head. "I fail to understand how I managed to raise daughters who don't care for pomp, since it's what I live for. Of all of you girls, only Pepper and Jasmine had truly ornate weddings. The rest were in such a hurry to wed, they didn't care about anything other than the wedding night. I care for that part of marriage, too, but I do love big weddings. We have some time with you, so let's plan it right."

Saffron sighed and folded her letter. She had memorized the contents anyway, but enjoyed running her fingers over Zeke's words as she read them, aware that his fingers had touched the same paper.

"All right, Mother. What do we need to decide upon?"

"Well, the guest list, what type of flowers you prefer to carry and to decorate the church with, where to hold the reception, and that's just for starters."

Saffron sighed again, this time so heavily her mother couldn't help but hear it.

"Stop it, Saffron. Enough of your lip."

"It wasn't only my lips, Mother. It was a whole-body retort. I don't care who attends, what we serve the guests at the reception, or anything else. My only wish is to get married, get moved, and get started on my life with Zeke. I had a feeling since we first met we were meant to be together. I've had to wait three long years for it, and now, I just need to get married."

Charlotte glanced up from a local restaurant's menu and stared at her youngest. "And, if you can help with the decisions, you'll be married all that much faster. Now pay attention. Do you prefer we serve our guests the Crab Imperial Harvey's stakes its reputation on, or would you rather we go terribly formal and order the wild duck with currant jelly sauce from Ebbitt House?"

Saffron rolled her eyes, making certain her mother witnessed her reaction. "All right, you've worn me down. Crab is my favorite. Having grown up on the fare at Downing's Oyster House, seafood is an obvious choice. But we should also offer another option for those who don't prefer their meals to come from the ocean. What about roast beef? Zeke has a fondness for red meat."

Charlotte clapped her hands together. "A haunch of roast beef with a carver! How perfect! Yes, Saffron, a good choice. We're finally making some progress. Now, what kind of flowers?"

Saffron smiled again. She couldn't care less about the food served, but flowers were a different story. She could almost smell the delicate scent of flowers, her favorite fragrance. "I've always had a fondness for roses."

"Pink or red? No, not red, that will never do at a wedding. The conclusion people would draw if you carried red roses is not a pretty one. Maybe white? Yes, white or cream-colored roses would be lovely. Jasmine is using a creamy satin for your gown. What if we try to match the roses to the gown? I'll have Jasmine send us a bit of the fabric, and then we'll go to every florist in town until we find what we need. Yes, it's a good plan."

Saffron banged her head against the chair's upholstered back. They hadn't even begun to discuss whom to invite to the elaborate affair her wedding seemed to have become. God's teeth! It was going to be a very long afternoon.

• • •

A few weeks later, Zeke glanced around St. Paul's Church. He noticed the cream-colored roses adorning each highly polished wooden pew and the green runner down the center aisle. The scent of furniture polish mixed with candle wax, incense, and flowers. Even though he speculated he wouldn't see her until she walked down the aisle to meet him, his eyes darted around the stately church, searching for Saffron. Only Halwyn and George were here, keeping him company.

"The ladies did a wonderful job decorating the church, even though it's already grand, right, Zeke?" Halwyn nodded toward the flowers and grinned. He could tell the church's appearance was the last thing on Zeke's mind.

George laid a hand on Zeke's shoulder. "Don't worry, my boy. You'll see Saffron soon enough. It's bad luck to see her before the ceremony, anyway."

"I'd say we've had enough bad luck already. It's time for some good to come our way."

"And it will. You're about to embark on the big adventure that is your future together. But not for another hour. The guests are beginning to arrive, so we'd best take you to the antechamber to wait until it's time for the ceremony."

His feet dragged as Zeke reluctantly allowed himself to be herded into the small room off the main chamber.

"How did Saffron and Mrs. Fitzpatrick manage to create such a production in such a short amount of time? It's all too much," Zeke croaked, his throat constricting.

George and Halwyn grinned at each other before they faced Zeke. "Obviously, you're still becoming acquainted with my wife," George replied. "Once she sets her mind to something, there's no stopping her. DC has some lovely churches, and she decided, for her final child, Saffron was going to get the elaborate wedding Charlotte's always dreamed of. It's her way of paying Saffron back for missing out on her debutante season. And speaking of my daughter, I'd best be tracking her down now."

George slipped out to find Saffron and prepare for his official part in the ceremony. Halwyn remained quiet and let Zeke pace. Zeke let out his breath and faced Halwyn.

"I never did properly thank you for your part in my court-martial not-guilty verdict. If not for your testimony, I'd be hanging at the end of a rope right now."

Halwyn smiled. "Some men refer to marriage in the same way. I'm glad it all worked out, but you and Saffron should have come to me months before. Then it could have all been avoided."

"In hindsight, I agree. But Saffron had kept our first encounter a secret for years, even after being severely disciplined for disobeying George's orders. So I presumed it was best to keep it that way."

Halwyn rose and moved to the door, where he peeked out. "Crowd's forming. Almost every seat is taken." He turned back to Zeke. "Are you about ready?"

Zeke stretched his back, relaxing his shoulders. "I've been ready for years. Saffron has a special place in your heart. I can see that every time you two are together. But she has a special place in mine as well. I promise you I'll take good care of her."

Halwyn smiled. "You certainly will never be bored with her. Being the youngest person in a large family is a challenging spot to be in. People tended to try to coddle her or overlook her most of her life. But her personality was apparent from the time she began to walk, and you certainly couldn't overlook her for long."

Zeke nodded his head in agreement. "And from the way she took charge of getting me out of town during the draft riots and dealt with the officers who challenged her during our wild ride, she proved there is no need to coddle her, either."

A soft knock interrupted their talk. Halwyn adjusted his glasses and tugged on his uniform, making certain it was in order. He then straightened Zeke's cravat and placed a hand on Zeke's arm. "Let's go get you married, what do you say?"

"I say amen and Godspeed." Zeke's voice cracked only the slightest bit. Halwyn opened the door, and they moved into their places at the altar. Saffron was all Zeke had ever hoped for, beyond what he had hoped for, yet his mouth went dry, and his palms grew damp. He'd had a lot of momentous events in his short life, but this was definitely the biggest. He was about to marry the only girl he'd ever touched. The girl to whom he gave his first kiss. Her first kiss, as well. The impetuous girl who had grown into a beautiful, shapely woman. And they'd forge a wonderful life together.

He turned to face the crowd of people who had gathered to witness their union, but his eyes weren't on them. He focused on the flurry of activity at the rear of the church. And then on his lovely bride in her creamy satin gown festooned with silk roses, taking her father's arm. She was a vision, and his eyes grew moist as he stared at her.

# CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

In the chamber relegated to the bride, Saffron admired the gown Jasmine had created for her. Even though she wanted nothing more than to get the ceremony over with quickly so she could be alone with Zeke, her breath had caught in her throat as she stared in the mirror at her reflection.

"Gorgeous work, Jas, as always." Saffron inhaled as Jasmine finished buttoning up the row of pearl buttons at the back of the gown.

"Just don't go traipsing through the streets in it," Jasmine replied as she took a step back. "This might be the nation's capital, but it's still a rugged little town. Not at all like civilized New York."

The gown was pulled tightly across her stomach and hips in the front, anchored on each side by a creamy satin rose, but the back fell in a long train, adorned with similar roses down the length of the fabric. The bodice was cut modestly but clung to her bosom, showing off her décolletage, and the sleeves dripped creamy Chantilly lace from the elbow. Saffron turned to observe her profile in the mirror, nodding in satisfaction at the draping of the train.

Saffron's father entered the dressing room.

"It is time, daughter. Your big moment has arrived. I may not be escorting you down a grand staircase at your debutante ball, but I've a feeling this is even better."

Jasmine inspected the gown one last time, then kissed Saffron's cheek as her eyes filled with tears.

"You're the loveliest bride I've outfitted all year. Zeke is one lucky man."

Saffron returned the kiss. "No, I'm the lucky one."

George offered his arm to Saffron, handed her the large bouquet of cream-colored cascading roses, and led her to the rear of the church. Saffron moved along with him as if in a dream.

The guests in the large church barely registered with Saffron. She glanced at their eager faces as they turned to witness her walk down the aisle on her father's arm. But her focus was at the altar, where her first and only love awaited to make their lives one. When she finally spied Zeke next to Halwyn, standing at the end of the aisle waiting for her, dressed in his finest suit and cravat, her muscles bunched, and she began to break into a run. Her father had years of experience with her, though, and his hold on her tightened.

"No running in church, Saffy. How many times have we told you that over the years?" His voice was low, and he chuckled.

"Oh, Papa. I only want to get on with it."

"And you will, soon enough. Although it breaks my heart that my baby is about to become a bride. Ah, here we are." They came to a halt in front of the altar, and George kissed her cheek before he handed his youngest off to the man she'd fallen in love with so many years ago.

"I'm entrusting you, Zeke, with my daughter. Take good care of her."

"Yes, sir, I will." Zeke shook George's hand but his eyes were on Saffron. She had moved to her rightful place by his side. Now and forever.

The remainder of the ceremony went by as a blur to her. She responded, when prompted, with her vows to love and honor Zeke. When he slipped a ring onto her finger, the tears, which had been hovering, cascaded down her cheeks. His callused thumbs dried her tears before he kissed her in front of God, her parents, and the other guests. Saffron's tears were replaced with an ear-to-ear smile as she and Zeke left the imposing cathedral.

Following a reception she barely took notice of either, she and Zeke piled into a waiting carriage. A wreath of cream-colored roses adorned the horse's neck, carrying out the color scheme to the very last moment, as the driver pulled the carriage away from the crowd. Her parents had given them a gift of a two-night stay at the stately, six-story Willard Hotel at Fourteenth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue—all the honeymoon they could have, since they were both due back at the Chancellorsville battlefield the following week.

While Saffron appreciated the fine design of the hotel, she would have been equally as content on a blanket in the middle of a battlefield, as long as she and Zeke could finally be alone together. She tapped her slippered foot against the marble floor while Zeke checked them into the hotel, and again on the lush carpet of their room as she waited for the help to bring up their luggage.

At last, the door to the outside world closed, and it was just the two of them. Saffron's eagerness turned into anxiousness and excitement, as her stomach flipped at the idea of what was yet to come tonight. She could finally find out what came after scorching kisses. She swallowed, hoping to find some moisture in her very parched mouth.

Zeke crossed the room and wrapped his arms around her. She laid her head on his shoulder and welcomed his warmth.

"I despaired that we'd ever be alone today," he whispered.

"Mother did manage to orchestrate the grand wedding she'd always dreamed of." Saffron raised her head and captured his lips. His tongue sought entrance, and she parted her lips slightly to allow him access. Such a delicious sensation, to feel their tongues sliding against one another. He deepened the kiss, and her lips grew plump from the pressure of their contact with his. Her body melted into him, and she could feel his hardness beneath his trousers as she had the few other times they'd been so close their bodies had collided. Saffron inhaled his scent of sandalwood and fresh air and was aware that tonight, her wait would be over and she'd find out what could be done to take care of his erect manhood. She could tell it was somehow connected to the dampness she was feeling between her legs and the delightful tug she was experiencing in her core.

He lifted his head and stared into her eyes. His eyes shone with passion, more than they had ever done. They were through teasing each other. Tonight they'd culminate their lovemaking.

"I'm afraid I'm as new to lovemaking as you are, so I hope I don't do things wrong." Zeke ran his hand up and down her spine, causing jolts of energy to shoot off on both sides. Her knees threatened to buckle.

"Well, we've both seen animals in the act, and I've witnessed my sisters and brothers getting cozy with their loves, so I'm familiar with the basics. But won't it be fun to find out how to do it ourselves? What should we do first?"

In answer to her own question, Saffron placed her hand over his hard shaft. His body trembled at her touch, and he pulled her to the bed with him. Satisfied she was on to something good, she loosened his trousers and put her hand inside. Zeke leaned back and moaned his approval.

Her manipulations might have been enough for Zeke, but Saffron needed more. She had to see the appendage she'd made erect. She moved from Zeke's prone side to her knees in front of him, her wedding gown a puddle of cream around her, and began to tug on his trousers. His head came up and he stared at her.

"What are you doing?" His hands found their way into her hair, and pins flew as he combed his fingers through the elaborate hairdo.

"I need to see you in all your glory." She finally got his trousers below his knees and pulled down his drawers until she reached her goal. His penis stood proudly in front of her, and she explored its length, luxuriating in the soft skin over his firmness. The texture of his skin reminded her of her wedding gown's satin.

He reached for her hand, which was playing with his manhood. "You have to stop this torture, or our night will end before it begins. I'm so close to release it's not funny."

Saffron stared at him for a long moment, then let go of his shaft. She rose and began to undress herself. Her wedding gown fell from her shoulders, and she stood in front of him with her breasts exposed.

"Perhaps you should try to pleasure me for a while, then. My breasts are aching for your touch."

She noticed his Adam's apple bob up and down as his gaze locked on her firm breasts. He reached out a hand to encircle her waist and drew her close.

"It's my pleasure to pleasure you, Saffy." He placed his mouth over her breast and began a gentle tugging action. Her knees finally gave way, and she fell onto his lap, his erection caressing her bottom. A soft whimper escaped her lips as she held Zeke's head to her bosom. His hands were busy unfastening the remainder of the pearl buttons on the back of her gown. He lifted her away from the voluminous satin gown and laid her gently on the bed before he removed the remainder of his clothing.

Her excitement grew as her eyes skimmed over Zeke's muscular torso and his strong arms. There was something to be said for hard, physical farm work if it molded men into specimens such as the one before her. Her gaze stopped, however, at his stomach, where she noticed several small scars. She reached up and touched each one.

"What are these from?"

"I had a run-in with a pitchfork a couple years ago." His reply was couched in laughter.

Her eyebrows rose as she sought his gaze. "You mean, I did this to you?"

He joined her in the bed and kissed her lips. "You could say you placed your mark on me during our first encounter."

Her lips curled into a smile. "Because I recognized quality from the outset. I had to brand you, since I couldn't let anyone else have you. There are too many Suzanne Millers in the world." She leaned down and kissed each little scar gently. "Although I regret having marred your magnificent body."

He rolled on top of her and captured her mouth again. His tongue tasted of her floral cologne she'd placed between her breasts earlier in the day, and it made her hot with need.

"This magnificent body, scarred or not, is still capable of doing what it ought to bring you joy. Although I'm told, for women, the first time is not always pleasant."

She wove her fingers through his hair again. "Well, then, let's get on with it and move along to the second time."

"Your wish is my command, Saffron. We have all weekend here, and I don't plan to travel far from this bed."

He kissed her again, and Saffron lost all sense of the outside world. It was finally only her and Zeke, wrapped in a cocoon of sensual delight. If this is what marriage was all about, she should have never let him out of her wagon three years ago. But now she had the weekend and the rest of their lives to make up for lost time. She rose to meet him as he positioned himself between her legs. She was slick and ready, and he entered her easily, yet cautiously, stopping frequently so her body could get used to him. When he was completely embedded in her, he withdrew slightly and raised his head from her breast.

"Shall I continue?" His voice teased her, tormented her.

"If you don't, I'll flay you with a horsewhip. Just as I did to that soldier on our first night together."

"As I recall, you were quite handy with the whip. Thank you, again, for taking such a risk."

"I sensed you were worth it. Now you can show me I did the right thing when I saved you."

He pushed back into her and then set up a rhythm, which she eagerly matched. When his pace picked up, her breathing became shallower, and she moaned her pleasure. She sensed he was about to spill his seed inside her, and she let herself go over the edge as well, cresting in a giddy delightful shower of sparks. She had never experienced such a sense of completeness.

Life didn't get any better.

• • •

With the wedding and honeymoon over, Zeke and Saffron returned to the field and spent the remainder of the summer on site at the Chancellorsville battlefield. The temperature in the middle of Virginia rose dramatically during the day, causing buckets of sweat to roll off Zeke's body. He shed his shirt and turned over shovelfuls of dirt each day, uncovering the majority of the thousands of bodies buried hastily in the fields. No one could say with absolute certainty how many had died here, since the missing were included in the totals, Zeke being one of the missing. So he was now performing his penance in digging up those who had fallen, helping to identify them when at all possible for the benefit of their families, and preparing them for transport back to Union soil.

Saffron worked mostly in the tent with the files, so she was shielded from the harsh afternoon sun, but the air in the tent grew to stifling proportions during the day. There truly was no place to escape the heat. She wore what she called her field uniform—a simple white blouse paired with a cotton skirt and covered with an apron. No frills, no petticoats, no satin slippers. It didn't matter, though. She still melted in the hot, afternoon sun, her sweat apparent between her shoulders and under her arms.

The only good thing about being on site was when the sun went down in the evening and the temperature fell to a reasonable level, he and Saffron could be alone. They had erected a private tent and spent their nights getting each other hot and sweaty. But instead of the heat being an annoyance as it was during the day, they enjoyed getting to explore each other as husband and wife.

Today was the day Zeke had been both anticipating and dreading. They were at the portion of the battlefield where his brothers lay, and he was about to retrieve their bodies. His father's last request would be fulfilled. Saffron strode down the hill from the main tent to join him. His eyes followed her as she walked with purpose toward him, her skirt clinging to her hips, and her blouse hugging her breasts. Her tiny feet, instead of being encased in slippers, were in a pair of work boots. And even though the outfit might not have been fancy, Zeke noticed how it showcased her trim figure, and he thanked the Lord once again she had agreed to marry him. He grinned at her boots, which she'd taken to wearing since recent rains had turned the fields into mud pits. She almost resembled a farmer's wife.

She had folders for each fallen brother in her hands, and even though Zeke was damp with sweat, she leaned into him anyway and kissed him.

"Today's the day," she whispered. "How are you feeling?"

He propped one foot on his shovel and wrapped an arm around her. "A bit jumpy but better now that you're here."

"As soon as this part of the field is dug up and the bodies labeled, there will be enough to send a wagon back to Arlington National Cemetery. We'll go back with your brothers and see them properly buried with all military honors."

He leaned in and kissed her again. "I'm so glad you understand the significance of all this. After the reinterment, we can leave for St. Louis and truly get started on our lives."

He turned to the field and stared at the ground for a few minutes. A chill went through his body as he relived the last time he had dug up the same field. He was about to undo his work and finally lay his brothers to rest in a proper cemetery. Tears filled his eyes, and he hid his face in Saffron's shoulder. She shifted the folders to one hand and caressed his bare back, comforting him as if he were a child. His body shuddered as he took a deep breath and brought his head up.

"It's time. I asked that no one help me with the digging, so I'd better get busy."

Saffron opened a folder and stared at the sheet of paper it held. "This one is Adam, correct?"

"Yes, the first to fall." Zeke began to dig.

When his shovel struck the body, he turned to Saffron. "You don't need to stay out here and bear witness. It can get pretty gruesome."

"I've seen enough this summer to be aware of what comes next, and you're right, it can get grisly. But these are your brothers. I'm not about to let you handle it on your own. We're a team."

He faced the graves again. "Then let's get to it. I wrapped each body in his blanket and pinned his name on his chest, so they should come up fairly easily."

He began moving the earth with his hands and made short work of uncovering Adam's remains, encased in a blanket. Saffron documented the retrieval in her folder, and they moved on to the next. By late afternoon, all four bodies were uncovered and loaded on the wagon.

Zeke and Saffron spent one final night together in their tent.

"I'm sorry you had to witness me throwing up, Saffy." Zeke wrapped her in his arms and laid his chin on the top of her head.

"I didn't mind. Your reaction showed me what a sensitive, caring man you are." She reached up and brushed the hair from his eyes. "Not that I needed such a violent reaction from you to learn about your character. But I'm glad it's over and we are going to be able to see them properly buried."

"I'll be glad to leave this battlefield and all the bad memories it holds for me. But our little tent has been a haven for these last few months, and we've been on a sort of extended honeymoon here. So there are good memories too, as you had hoped there might be on our first day here together."

"Then, it's only appropriate we should end our honeymoon as we began it." Saffron's lips curved up, and she pulled his head down to meet hers. Zeke's emotions had been close to the surface all day, and now his love for his wife overflowed. He deepened their kiss, and they dropped together from a sitting position to the ground. Tongues intertwined as they each tried to undress the other without breaking from their embrace. Finally, they lay naked beside each other. Zeke blazed a trail of kisses from Saffron's mouth down her neck to her breastbone. He stopped at her bosom and gently latched on to a nipple. She held his head, and her breath quickened as he tugged and kissed her lovely, firm, high breasts. He divided his time between them, stopping in the middle to inhale her unique scent.

He then moved further down her body, dipping his tongue into her navel and dropping kisses on her quivering stomach. When he reached her soft, curly blonde wedge of hair, his mouth sought her sex. He had learned several months ago what drove Saffron wild, and he aimed to please her tonight to repay her for standing by him today.

Her body bucked, and she moaned long and slow, her breath coming in gasps.

"You are so wet, Saffy," he mumbled as he worked on her sensitive spot. Her body rose to meet his mouth, and she climaxed as he held her buttocks in his hands.

She pulled him up and kissed him as he entered her ready body. He encased himself fully and then backed off, taking his time to let her catch her breath. She wrapped her hands around his backside and drew him deeper. His mouth left hers and fell to her breasts again, where he laved a nipple as he pumped into her. Soon, her breathing came as quick as his was becoming, and they cried out in unison as they climaxed.

Zeke rolled onto his back, and attempted to get his breathing under control. He stared at the tent ceiling, stars dancing in front of his eyes from their lovemaking. He slid his hand over Saffron's arm and then cupped the hand around her breast, teasing the tip of it to a hard peak in a matter of seconds.

"You keep that up, sir, and you'll have to make love to me again," she whispered in his ear before she playfully bit into it.

In response, he leaned over her body and placed his mouth over her breast.

It was going to be a long night, but what better way to close out this chapter in his life?

• • •

A few days later, Saffron's hand found Zeke's as they stood in the soft daylight at the cemetery. A fog had covered the ground in the morning and was just now lifting, blurring the harsh lines of the white headstones. Dew glistened on the lush, green grass.

Saffron was becoming very adept at reading Zeke's moods and instinctively could tell he needed her support at this moment. He squeezed her hand as he stole a glance at her, dressed head to toe in black satin. A small group of people, including Halwyn, in full military dress, and Grace, looking lovely as always in a dark gown, along with some of the family members of the other soldiers about to be reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery, were clustered together at the base of a rolling hill. The crowd was small, since not every family could afford the trip to the burial services.

Neat, rectangular holes had been dug for each of the twenty-four bodies that had finally made the return trip from the battlefield, and the scent of freshly turned earth remained in the air. Wagons with six white horses each brought the flag-draped caskets to the gravesite, their hooves gently plodding in the morning air. As each man was laid to rest, an officer recited his name. The ceremony's significance brought out the tears from the audience for each man, regardless of whether the one being reinterred was a family member. They were all brothers who had fallen in combat.

Zeke's four brothers were laid side by side, as they had been in the field. Adam, Caleb, Benjamin, and David, in the order in which they'd fallen. Saffron's hold on Zeke's hand tightened as each name was spoken. He adjusted the cravat of his finest suit, the neck suddenly too small and his windpipe constricted, making it hard to catch his breath.

Kind words were spoken about all the men who gave their lives in what many assumed at the time was a lost cause. In actual fact, the battle of Chancellorsville was the last Confederate victory. Then, the tide had turned in favor of the Union forces. But the war had still ground on for several years.

Zeke brushed a hand over his eyes and lifted his hand to his brow as a three-gun salute exploded over the graves. Birds flew up from the surrounding trees, squawking at the noise. Then, "Taps" was played by a lone trumpeter, the familiar, eerie strains punctuating the air.

The crowd began to disperse as the last notes faded. Zeke glanced around the cemetery, and his windpipe opened again. His vision cleared as he stared at the orderly rows of headstones.

"This is a good place for the boys to be. We'll have to come back every now and then and pay our respects."

Saffron's gaze left his face and studied the area with its white stone markers dotting the landscape in rows as far as the eye could see. "I feel the peace of the place, don't you, Zeke? Your brothers can rest easy now."

Shiny tears clouded her eyes as she turned to him and kissed him gently. Halwyn and Grace stood beside them, Halwyn with his hand on Zeke's shoulder. Zeke may have buried a majority of his family today, but the solidarity of the people surrounding him made him appreciate the fact he had a new family—one with many branches—and he would be welcomed by them all. A lump formed in his throat for both the brothers left behind and the family before him.

Halwyn removed his hand from Zeke's shoulder and tapped him on the back. "We should be getting home so you two can pack the last of your things."

Saffron laughed, the tinkling sound replacing any remaining gloom in the air. "We're ready for the future to begin. If I happen to leave a hairbrush behind, so be it. We'll be on the St. Louis-bound train tomorrow morning."

Zeke's mood lightened as he envisioned what lay ahead of them. A new town, a new job, a new way of making a living. With Saffron by his side, he'd never get tired of any aspect of his life.

He allowed himself one final, long glance at the graves of the brave men who'd died around him in Chancellorsville. He would never forget that part of his life, but he was more than ready to leave the past behind and move into his future. He turned toward Saffron.

"I'm ready. Let's go."

# EPILOGUE

_Three Months Later_

Saffron straightened her hair, which had been pulled back into a serviceable bun that morning. But with the flurry of activity in the store that day, her bun was no longer in one piece. She brushed the hair behind her ears as she began to bring order from the chaos that was the yard goods' measuring table. It was getting close to Christmas, and it seemed every bolt of red and green fabric had been pulled out and touched by someone multiple times during the day. Saffron could only keep up with the measuring and totaling up the sales. But now the "closed" sign was on the door, and she could catch her breath.

The back door opened, and Zeke came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her, cradling the small bump at her stomach. Their first baby would be born in late spring. The first of many, she hoped. And she hoped for a boy, who would be named in honor of Adam, the oldest brother. She leaned back into Zeke's hard chest, reveling in his manly scent.

"The horses are put up for the night, and the supplies are all off the wagon and in the store room, so my work is done for the day."

"Not quite, sir." She laughed as she turned to face him. "I may be with child already, but that doesn't mean we can't still make love to each other. I have some more work in mind for you tonight."

He lowered his head and captured her lips. Their tongues dueled with each other for a few minutes, and Saffron's knees went weak. Zeke wrapped his arm around her to hold her to him. Even after all these months of making love, he could still reduce her to a puddle of froth with a mere touch.

"But unlike my chores during the day, I'm looking forward to the kind of work you have in mind for later. I love you, Saffy."

Finally, they broke apart, and he began to help her with the fabric. He kept stealing sidelong glances at her. When she sighed, he again embraced her.

"You're missing your family, aren't you?"

"A little. It's wonderful to have Ginger, Basil, Valerian, and their spouses and children nearby. And I've been able to see Heather and David again. But I'm missing Mother and Papa, and Jasmine and Parr. And Pepper, Elijah, and their children. I'd love to get Rosemary and Henry out here to give her new ideas for her dime novels. And of course, I miss Halwyn and Grace."

"Why don't we invite everyone here for Christmas?"

Saffron's eyes widened, and she raised her brows at him. "If we did invite them, along with the extended family, Ginger's in-laws, Temperance's family, and everyone else, we'd have..." She began to add up the individuals involved, quickly running out of fingers. She threw her hands into the air. "Well, it would be a lot of people, and we don't have anywhere near the kind of room needed in our flat upstairs."

"Yes, true enough. But there's a nice town hall available on Christmas Day, and I just got back from reserving it for us. Between us, Basil, Ginger, and Valerian, we can find enough beds for everyone. What better way to announce to the family we're expecting?"

Saffron wrapped her arms around Zeke and pulled him toward her for a kiss.

"How is it possible I'm more in love with you today than ever?"

"Because my love for you grows more each day as well. And soon, we'll be able to share our love with our own little ones."

She settled herself into the cocoon of Zeke's arms. "From almost the first moment we met, I figured someday I'd have your children, Zeke. I'm so happy that day is going to happen soon. I can't wait for our first son to be born."

She could feel his body shaking as he attempted to control his laughter. "Did you come to your realization before or after you speared me with the pitchfork? Good thing your aim was off and you only attacked my stomach. If you'd been a bit lower, there would be no children for us."

She stepped back and slapped his arm lightly. "You are lucky I didn't really 'spear' you with the fork. All I did was graze you lightly. Because I'd already decided to make you my husband, and I had no wish to kill you."

He laughed again and wrapped her in his arms once more. He kissed her temple as they stood together. Then he took a step back.

"Shall we go over to the post office and compose our telegrams to everyone?"

"Oh, yes, let's. What a wonderful way to end the year, having the entire family in one place again. It's been years since we've all been together for the holiday."

Saffron donned her wrap and, with Zeke's strong arm around her waist, crossed the street to post the telegrams. She may not have had a formal debutante season as some of her sisters had, but if it hadn't been for the war, she never would have met Zeke. Under normal circumstances, she would have met, danced with, been courted by, and married a man who could have taken care of her in every way except the one she most craved. To be an equal partner with her husband and not be a possession was what she strived for, and she had achieved it with Zeke. She may have been the forgotten debutante, but she'd be forever grateful. The war had given her the most exciting life she could have ever conceived.

# More from This Author

#  _A Widow's Salvation_

## Becky Lower

_New York City, July 1862_

Pepper Brown yanked open her bedroom armoire and stared at the sea of black. Her widow's weeds, as people called them. They were showing up in increasing numbers on the streets of New York, on women of all ages. The Civil War's first bloody conflict, Bull Run, marked its one-year anniversary today. Which meant today was also Pepper's one-year anniversary as a widow. She drummed her foot on the floor while she perused the black dresses. Was she ready to move on? Michael had thought she would be. In fact, he extracted a promise from her before he left for the war. One year and not one day more, he had said. Her mother thought so, too, or she wouldn't have planned their outing for today. All Pepper now needed was the courage to convince herself they were right. The churning in her stomach told her she had a ways to go yet.

She straightened and turned her back on the black.

"Molly, please come help me dress," Pepper called down the hall to her lady's maid. "I'm going out today."

"Aye, ma'am." Molly, a young Irish girl with light brown hair and matching freckles across her pert nose, came quickly into the room. "Which gown would you be liking?" She began fondling the various dresses in the armoire.

"None of these. I'm done with these dresses. Besides, most of them are maternity gowns. I want to wear something fresh, something different."

Molly nodded vigorously, and the little white cap on her head bounced askew. She righted it before she spoke. "Perfectly understood, ma'am, and you should be stepping down to half mourning. Perhaps I can find a nice gray or deep purple gown among your other things."

Pepper shook her head. "No, no half mourning for me. What kind of silly term is that, anyway? I'm going out with Mother, and I want our day to be special. I want to wear something bright. I think the periwinkle dress Jasmine created for me right before Michael's death will do. Yes, the periwinkle."

Pepper smiled at Molly's horrified intake of breath. She obviously disapproved, which meant it was the right decision.

"Periwinkle? Forgive me saying so, ma'am, but isn't it a wee bit too much of a difference?"

"Why yes, it is, Molly." Pepper's smile grew. "It's time to be different, don't you think? Michael would have approved. Go on, now, and find me the dress. It may need a bit of altering, since I've still to lose some of the baby weight I've put on. It'll need to be fixed before Mother gets here."

"Aye, ma'am, right away."

Molly took off at a trot down the hall to the large storage room for clothing, and Pepper closed the doors on the widow's weeds. She had never expected to be a widow at only thirty-one years of age. She had never expected to have three boys under the age of eight to raise by herself. She had never expected Michael's last gift to her would be another son, one who was his exact image. The babe had been born hale and healthy, even though she had thought the child would suffer because of her melancholy.

And, even though she had never expected the life now facing her, she would throw off her widow's weeds and pick up the rest of her journey on this earth, despite her fears that she'd never be able to pull it off. Today she would dress up in gay-colored clothing, maybe even splash on some toilet water, go to the Army hospital in the Bronx with her mother, and provide a bit of comfort to the many who were wounded. She had no medical experience to draw from, but she could hold a hand, fetch a glass of water, write a letter home. Little things, she reasoned. But a lot of little things could make a difference. She hoped someone had been there on the battlefield to hold Michael's hand as he took his last breath.

She brought a fist to her mouth as the tightness in her chest threatened to reduce her again to the sniveling mess she'd been in those first days. Days when she'd gathered information from the papers on how her beloved died alone on some field in Virginia in front of the shameful folks who had driven out from Washington, D.C., with their picnic baskets to witness the battle, only to turn and run when the battle dragged on and became so bloody. They had expected a fun-filled afternoon as the men strutted about in their fancy uniforms but instead were witness to the first carnage of the ghastly war.

When Molly brought the dress into the room, the periwinkle gown, with its moiré fabric, sparkled. Yes, this gown was exactly what Pepper needed to become whole again. She ran her hands over the fabric and cleared the threatening tears from her eyes. It was a perfect choice for summer, with short, puffy sleeves trimmed in a creamy lace. The neckline had a modest scoop to it, also adorned with lace. The skirt belled slightly but needed only a few petticoats, for which Pepper would be grateful, since the heat of the day already hung in the air. Molly helped her slip the dress over her head, and Pepper suppressed the urge to laugh out loud. It was so refreshing to wear some other color than black, but laughing hysterically would make Molly further wonder about the state of Pepper's mental health. They fiddled with the lace at the sleeves and pondered whether to add an adornment of some kind around the waist. Molly pinned the seams on the bodice where a bit of tailoring needed to be done, and Pepper stood in her shift and corset while she waited for Molly's swift fingers to let out a few seams. The few minutes she waited were all she needed to have her self-doubt creep back in. She had lived her entire adult life conforming to the rules of society. She'd married young, quickly had a family, and thought her life was perfect. Leave the rabble-rousing about women's rights to her sisters and her mother. Pepper was content with her conventional lot in life. Until now. Now, for the sake of her boys, she needed to move ahead. To find a life after losing her husband. Again she wondered if she was up to the task. They put the dress back on, and Molly fixed Pepper's hair, pulling some of the dark locks up off her neck but leaving a few curls out of the bun at the back of her head.

"Well done, Molly," Pepper said while she toyed with one of the curls draping over her shoulder. "Now, what necklace? It should not be anything too elaborate."

Together they made a choice, and then Pepper moved to the drawing room to wait for her mother.

Her hands were slick with dampness, and she couldn't quite get her breath. She gazed at her colorful reflection in the mirror above the fireplace, and a stranger stared back at her. How would others react to her bold move past mourning? Her heart clamored momentarily, when the knock came at the door. The butler opened it, and Pepper's mother, Charlotte, came bounding through. There was no turning back.

"Oh, my darling, you are lovely." Charlotte grasped Pepper's hands and nodded at the gown. "Such a good choice. It matches your eyes."

"Thank you, Mother. Molly worried it might be too radical of a change from my black dresses."

Charlotte wrapped her arms around her daughter. "It's time to be radical, though, don't you think?"

Pepper brushed her mother's cheek with a kiss. "Thank you, Mother, for backing me up, for not questioning my choice. I can always count on you."

Charlotte played with the lace at the sleeves of Pepper's dress. "Are you certain you want to start with the hospital, though? It can be a brutal and gruesome place. Maybe for your first foray out, you should join Mabel Wentworth and roll bandages. It's a necessary task, too. You don't need to be hands-on in the hospital to make a difference, and it would be a good way to ease back into things. There's nothing wrong with taking baby steps."

Pepper shrugged off her mother's embrace. "I don't want to ease back into things, Mother. I want to tackle life head-on, like I did when Michael was alive. And spending an afternoon with the likes of Mabel Wentworth is not what I had in mind."

Charlotte tapped her cheek with her finger and tilted her head to one side. "But your life up until now has been a most conventional one. I worry that you'll try to do too much too soon."

Pepper's inhale of breath broke, as the giant lump in her throat threatened to choke her. "But my traditional life is now over. It's time to start living again, and if I can, in some small way, make the lives of the soldiers easier, I'm willing to do it. Luke is able to eat some porridge now, so he'll be fine without me for a couple of hours. It's time for me to do more than throw off my widow's weeds. I need to become a productive member of society. The North needs my help, in whatever small way I can give it, to end this war."

Charlotte grinned and grabbed Pepper's hand. "You are absolutely right. Black is not a good color on you, dear. I'm glad the year is over and we can do things together. This is the first day of your new life, and the men at the hospital will be enchanted by your presence. Now, let me say hello to my grandsons, and we'll be off."

Pepper took a deep breath as her mother hustled off to the nursery. She followed to say goodbye to her children, who were in the capable care of the nanny and governess. If her mother approved of her early dismissal of her mourning state, all would be right with the world.

• • •

Another cart of battered bodies pulled up in front of MacDougall Hospital in the Bronx. Even though the closest battles were several states away, in Virginia, the wounded had overrun the nearest hospitals, and the men were being shuttled farther north by train and then by wagons from the city out to the Bronx. MacDougall Hospital was one of the largest Army hospitals in New York, and the wagons never stopped coming for long. The Union soldiers who were lucky enough to still walk climbed down from the cart and made their way inside to have their wounds tended to by the nurses. The remainder were hastily carried in on stretchers out of the hot July sun and laid on the floor in the hallway, lined up like cords of wood. Even when the head surgeon, Colonel Elijah Williams, was fortunate enough to leave the hospital, or take a much-needed nap for a short time, the moans and screams of the wounded soldiers were ever present in his ears. There were too many bodies, and he was only one man.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen the sun, although he was very familiar with its heat. Already, at this early hour, he was sweating as the temperature in the hospital escalated. Open windows allowed for some movement of the air but also let in the flies, which landed and feasted on the dying men. Sweat, mixed with antiseptic and the pervasive stench of rotting flesh, had been a constant in his nostrils for over a year.

Elijah marched to the front hallway where the bodies of the dying were dumped, and found two he might be able to save. He directed his assistants to move the two fortunate men to the operating room. The rest he could do nothing for. He ran his hand over his weary eyes, backed up against a wall, and slumped there as he clenched his jaw tightly. War was such a horrible waste of mankind.

"Oh, Colonel, I'm so glad we found you right away." A voice came to him through his layers of exhaustion. He opened his eyes to the pleasing countenance of Charlotte Fitzpatrick, who placed a hand on his sleeve and peered up at him. Beside her was a new lady volunteer, a vision in bright blue.

"I'm afraid you caught me taking a breather, Mrs. Fitzpatrick." Even in his weary state, Mrs. Fitzpatrick never ceased to put a smile on his face.

"Well, if anyone deserves to take a break, it's you. This is my daughter, Pepper Brown, who is finally done with her year of mourning. We're here to lighten your burden a bit. What can we do to help?"

Elijah's gaze took in the lovely dark-haired young woman. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Brown. I'm sorry for the loss of your husband, but I must say, you brighten up the place." Much as his deceased wife, Elisabeth, would have done.

"Thank you, Colonel."

He noticed, as she gazed around the room, her lips were drawn into a taut line and her pale skin had lost the little bit of color she had come in with.

He scanned the men in the room and lowered his voice. "All the men in the hallway are about to die. Don't worry about lightening my burden. Do what you can to ease their final minutes. I must get back to the operating room." His gaze returned to Mrs. Brown. "If you're not comfortable dealing with these men, perhaps you could go into the ward and care for those on the mend?"

"No." She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, before she opened them and stared about her. "It's the least I can do, to hold a hand or share quiet words of comfort in their final minutes. I only hope someone did the same for my husband before he died."

Elijah nodded at her whispered words. "All right, then. Mrs. Fitzpatrick knows her way around, so I'll leave you in her capable hands. I must go take care of those men who still have a chance."

He walked to the stark operating room, where he had to amputate limbs and close gaping wounds on the designated soldiers who might then survive. Even though his focus was on the uninviting work ahead of him, his mind remained with the lovely Mrs. Brown.

He wondered what battle her husband had been in, since he had no doubt it was this God-awful war that had killed him. He must have died early on in the conflict, since the war was only a year old. Perhaps Manassas. Or at Andersonville prison.

With a weary sigh, he washed his hands and entered the operating room. A man lay on a table, ready for him. His cursory examination out in the hallway had been accurate. If he removed the man's shredded leg below the knee, he may avoid becoming a casualty of war and instead just become a cripple. At least he could return to his home and family, and possibly live a full life. If he made it through the surgery and avoided infection afterwards, he still stood a chance.

Elijah lowered his head, clamped one hand around the man's leg, and began sawing, all thoughts of Mrs. Fitzpatrick and her lovely daughter gone, for the time being, anyway.

He completed the amputation, and covered the bloody stump. The man got carted away to an open bed, and Elijah began work on the second fellow. A few hours after he had left the hallway, he returned, searching for someone else who might be able to survive, with his help.

But he was really searching for a patch of blue. He thought she'd be gone from the hospital by now, but he found her kneeling beside a man, holding his hand, listening to his final words. The man took his last breath while Elijah gazed at them. Mrs. Brown placed the dead man's hand on his chest, closed his eyes, and with tears in her own, stood. She wavered on her feet, and Elijah rushed to steady her.

"You've had enough for your first day, Mrs. Brown." He released her arms once she found her footing. "I don't want to have to operate on you as well."

"How do you do it every day, Colonel? I'm heartbroken, after only a few hours."

"Did you help ease someone's misery in those couple of hours?"

She glanced around at the men and placed her hand on her heart. "I hope so. At least they didn't leave the world alone. I got their names and the addresses of their families. I'll write each a letter later tonight, telling them of their son's or husband's misfortune. That latest young man was the fourth to die while I held his hand."

Elijah's lips turned up slightly, some of the tension between his shoulders lifting. "You've just explained why we do it. To help ease the plight of these men, who gave of their bodies so bravely. But you've done enough for one day. And your fine dress is soiled with blood." He noticed the ever-present red from the floor had leached around her hemline and onto her skirt. "Please go on home now. I hope to see you back here again soon."

She glanced at the bloody material and twitched her skirt. "The loss of a dress is little enough sacrifice on my behalf. And what of you, Colonel? When do you get to rest? To go home?"

"When the war is over, there will be plenty of time for me to relax and catch up on my sleep. Thank you for your efforts today. I hope to see you again soon. Good day, Mrs. Brown."

He followed her movements while she gathered her things, tracked down her mother, and left. He told himself it was in order to make certain she followed his advice and took her departure. But she was the finest-looking woman he'd seen in months, and he wanted to capture the picture of her and implant it into his memory, for those infrequent times when he could lay down and sleep.

To purchase this ebook and learn more about the author, click here.

Praise for _A Widow's Salvation_ :

"This is a very well written historical romance that takes place in New York during the Civil War." —5 stars, Romancing The Book

"UUHHH ... my heartstrings... I don't know if it's because we are now reading of battles and carnage, but the stolen moments of love and whispers of words really struck me in this book."—5 stars, The Reading Cafe

"It's high time Pepper had her turn at romance. The romance gets pretty steamy after a while." — _Akron Beacon Journal_

"Stuffed full of history, but never to the point of being a research paper, daily life, morals and the pain of war are blended brilliantly into the story of two people instantly attracted to each other, but becoming friends first. Not to be missed."—4 stars, _Ind'Tale Magazine_

For the complete Cotillion Ball series by Becky Lower, check out:

_An Unconventional Courtship_

"A sassy, ahead-of-her-time heroine compels those around her to think differently, possibly even change their ideology. What could be better?"— 4 stars, _InD'Tale Magazine_ _

_

"This charming little story was a breath of fresh air, a prequel to the _Cotillion Ball Saga_ which, I understand, follows the lives of the children Charlotte and George will eventually have, and which series I have the pleasure of adding to my TBR list. This is one of those reads that left me smiling."—4 stars, Romantic Historical Reviews

_The Reluctant Debutante_

"This series is a breath of fresh air for a historical romance lover! I loved that the [mid-1800s America] setting for each books takes place in a different city and you can see how the approaching [Civil] war is causing havoc in so many ways. Ginger is very likable, and is a strong woman who knows what she wants." —Rachel, The Reading Café

_The Abolitionist's Secret_

"This book was my fav of the [Cotillion Ball] books... We really start to dig into what ignites the Civil War. At the beginning [Heather] is portrayed as somewhat of a timid creature, but when she is facing conflict, she rises up and kicks some serious booty. [David] is just lovable. --Rachel, The Reading Café

"The cotillion ball is the impetus for the series, but these novels are not pieces of fluff; on the contrary, Ms. Lower tackles serious and fascinating subjects through the eyes of her heroes and heroines.... I highly recommend this novel to everyone who loves historical fiction and romance." —Deborah Cordes, author

_Banking on Temperance_

"I really liked Temperance right from the beginning and can understand what Basil was drawn to [in her]. Basil also really grew up [compared] to the Basil we met in the first book! . . . Their journey was worth the wait."—Rachel, The Reading Café

_The Tempestuous Debutante_

"If you are a historical romance fan, love multi-layered characters, and enjoy a great story, please read this series." —The Reading Cafe

_Blinded by Grace_

"What I liked most about this book was that the happy ending wasn't straight up and in your face about it. The characters had to work and develop into a rhythm. It was a nice change from that traditional cookie cutter plot." — 3.5 stars, Memories in a Box

"These two made a wonderful couple who were a perfect match for each other. They had to work very hard for their well deserved happy ever after. I very much enjoyed this well written book, with its very clever title." —Long and Short Reviews

"I cannot tell you enough how much I love Becky Lower's books. She is by far my favorite historical romance author, and I would recommend anything she writes to everyone I meet. She just has a way with words and has a brilliantly warm and classic, romantic heart. _Blinded by Grace_ was just another perfect example of how a love story should be written. Please do yourself a favor and add this book (and the rest of her repertoire) to your to-be-read list. You'll be so glad that you did." —HEAs Are Us

_The Duplicitous Debutante_

"Becky Lower did a fabulous job of incorporating fencing terminology and painting a picture of the type of man and character Henry was. I also enjoyed the French he would slip in from his time in New Orleans." — 5 stars, A Cup of Tea

"If a clever, witty, and entertaining read is what you're looking for, _The Duplicitous Debutante_ definitely fits the bill! ... it's a refreshing take at historical romance, and it makes me eager to try out the rest of the series." —-5 stars, Cryptic Reads

"Lower has mastered a fascinating style that transports the reader to that time and immerses us in the clothing, the traditions, the expectations. But at the same time, she does it in a way that doesn't so much make you fell like you've just crash landed in another time, but rather that you belong there with her characters."—4 stars, Fic Central

"Lower has an exceptional voice for historical romance, layering in colorful historical details that truly allowed me to be transported to 19th century America."—4 stars, Night Owl Reviews

_Expressly Yours, Samantha_

"Check out this entire series. If you are a true historical romance lover and especially if you like something a little different, then Becky Lower is the author for you!" -—5 stars, The Reading Cafe

"What you get out this book.... a love story and a wonderful history lesson. I loved the setting and smoothness of the story flow. The characters come to life on the pages." **—** 5 stars, Loves All Things Books

"This well-written tale is a wonderful read, and now that I've had a taste, I will be reading more from this talented author."—4 stars, Book Obsessed Chicks

"...a delightful short tale full of the adventure that the Wild West is known for. Although I do not generally like old Western romances, I will make an exception for Expressly Yours, Samantha, as it is thoroughly enjoyable."— Fresh Fiction

"This historical romance is a great divergence from the norm, with its unique time setting and interesting characters." -4 stars, _Ind'Tale Magazine_

In the mood for more Crimson Romance?

Check out _Knight Protector_ _by Rue Allyn_ at CrimsonRomance.com.

# Contents

  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. Dedication
  4. Family Tree
  5. PROLOGUE
  6. CHAPTER ONE
  7. CHAPTER TWO
  8. CHAPTER THREE
  9. CHAPTER FOUR
  10. CHAPTER FIVE
  11. CHAPTER SIX
  12. CHAPTER SEVEN
  13. CHAPTER EIGHT
  14. CHAPTER NINE
  15. CHAPTER TEN
  16. CHAPTER ELEVEN
  17. CHAPTER TWELVE
  18. CHAPTER THIRTEEN
  19. CHAPTER FOURTEEN
  20. CHAPTER FIFTEEN
  21. CHAPTER SIXTEEN
  22. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
  23. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
  24. CHAPTER NINETEEN
  25. CHAPTER TWENTY
  26. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
  27. EPILOGUE
  28. More from This Author
  29. Also Available

# Guide

  1. Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Start of content

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaBook