Temperance Lucinda Victoria Hampton sat in stunned silence as the hunting yells rang around her. Guns were being shot into the air and some of the young men were jumping their horses right over Mother Kendred's roses. Seccession? War? Benton and Parker had said it was inevitable, the war, not the jumping over Mother Kendred's roses, but she has not believed a word of it. War killed men and made women widows. She didn't want to be a widow before she was a wife and a mother. She would just think of something else. Hmmm, Benton and Parker, her older brothers, she would think of them.<br/><br/>Benton and Parker, her older brothers and William, their best friend had teased her mercilessly over the years.<br/>"You keep on readin' those books, Sister, and you will be a blue stocking, just like those Yankee women." She had been studying herbal cures and doctoring. Her mother often was the only doctor for the few remaining slaves and was the local midwife for the women, black and white,, in the area. Jocasta loved helping others. She would make sure they were comfortable, their bandages clean and fresh water by their beds while Mother would fix up salves and teas to cure their ills. She hoped someday to be as good of a mistress and Mother and Mother Kendred.<br/>She kept on studying, ignoring the boys' laughter that rang in her ears. But her brothers went off to Harvard in the North and William had gone to a famous military school right here in Virginia. While they had been away, he had become more to her than her brothers' friend and she had become more to him than a pesky little sister. She smiled a little. They were getting married. They were going to have a fall weddin'.<br/><br/>But now,  the words of impending war froze the blood in her veins.<br/><br/>She was not beautiful as many count beauty. Her jaw was a bit too square, belying a steely quality, and her dark brown eyes flashed with unwomanly intelligence. Temperance was a little vain about her fiery red hair and her lily white skin. Mammy had said that most red heads she had seen were as freckled as a bullfrog.<br/><br/>Running her slender fingers over the spring green watered silk gown, Temperance might have laughed at the frog image except for the infernal shouting about War. God's eyes! she thought and then blushed deeply. Mother would be horrified to know that her daughter even thought such unbecoming words in the confines of her pretty little head. Not able to stand it for one more instant, she lifted her hoop skirts clear of the floor and fled to the beach.<br/><br/>She stood, face into the wind, watching the waves crash in. Armies will rise and fall. Kingdoms will rise and fall, but the wind and the sea will remain, she thought defiantly<br/><br/>"Hello, my dear." a beloved voice said softly as William walked up beside her. "Why aren't you in the house celebrating? We got what we've been hoping for." he said softly a smile clearly was in his eyes even if his lips weren't showing it.<br/><br/>"Oh, William, war is coming and.." tears were in her eyes. Clutching her lace hanky, she turned to him.<br/><br/>He began to share his plans to join the army, so proud of the promised  position of Colonel in the 1st regiment of Virginia infantry. His voice shook with outrage as he old of the his blood boiled every time he thought of the damn Yankees invading his beloved Dixie.<br/><br/>"No, William. You will die. Let's take a ship to England. Go abroad. There is no need to die young. We don't have to plunge ourselves in to death and dying." she cried.<br/><br/>He just laughed and told her that one Confederate was worth a dozen Yankees. "Just give us a month, Tempe , and we will send those Yankee dogs running back North with their tails tucked 'tween their legs."<br/><br/>As he gathered her in his arms, Benton and Parker stepped up on either side of him.<br/><br/>"Mother sent us to chaperone." Parker said with mischief.<br/><br/>"So that means," Benton continued, "that we are going to turn our backs while standing between you and the big house so you can console her in peace."<br/><br/>"That means you can kiss her," Parker finished with a wink.