Juliet's Moon Read Online Free Page A

her. I think she needs it."
    "And what do you need?"
    My eyes swam with tears. "For you to tell me I'm a wonderful little sister and you love me."
    He touched the side of my face. "Course I do. Would I put up with you all these years if I didn't?"
    I reached up and put my arms around him and kissed him. He had a stubble of beard on his face. "You didn't shave."
    "Didn't have time. Look, Sue Mundy isn't coming along on this trip. She's here to protect you girls in case the Yankees come."
    "As a girl or as a man?"
    "Does it matter? She's a good shot as either one."
    "I like her better as a woman," I told him.
    "I've spoken to Martha. You're not to be a pest to Sue. You're not to spend too much time with her. You're to help out around here and do as Martha says. And do your schoolwork. Now I've given Martha money for your keep and to buy fabric for new dresses for you in town. Fall's coming. Think of warm clothes."
    "Oh, thank you, Seth. You're the best brother."
    He kissed me and, listening to my advice, when they all went outside, he did take Martha aside on the porch to talk. And when they were alone, he kissed her. I know I shouldn't have been watching, but I did. Oh, he was a fine kisser. I wondered where he'd learned all that.
    "You oughta be spanked, watchin' your brother like that." It was Judah. She'd come to clear the table. "Bad girl. You want me to tell him?"
    "No, please, I ... just ... have a special interest. I told him to kiss her good-bye, and I just want to make sure he did it, is all."
    "You doan have to make sure that brother of yours knows how to kiss, missy. He sure do from what I seen. Now come on. You might as well sit down an' have breakfast. We goin' to town today."

    I T WAS that very day that I found out the shocking truth about Sue Mundy.
    I'll never forget the way she told me. It was the first time I felt really betrayed in my life. And the feeling made me sick inside.
    I'd been standing aside in the grape arbor after we got back from town, a safe distance from Sue Mundy who was practicing her shooting. She was dressed in her Confederate uniform, right down to the double row of brass buttons in front, with her sash around her waist and shined boots, her hair tucked under her hat, looking very dashing.
    She hit the target nearly every time.
    She had stopped to reload her pistol when I said to myself: "All these years I've worshipped her, and here she is within feet of me. I ought to do something, say something, and stop acting like a jackass in the rain." True, I'd been in her company all week, but never alone. Always there had been someone else along. And always I'd wanted to say something to her.
    Always I'd sensed that she knew it.
    I could almost see what there was about her that attracted my brother. She had an aura of confidence, a swagger, a sauciness that Martha did not have.
    She stopped shooting just then, holstered her pistol, and waved me over. I went.
    "Well," she said, "I'm beginning to think I have a shadow. What did you think of my shooting?"
    "You're good," I said.
    "But not as good as your brother, hey?"
    I didn't answer. Seth never missed his target.
    "You know what they tell me about you?" she asked.
    My heart thumped inside. "What?"
    "That you have a scrapbook about me. Is that true?"
    I blushed and looked at the ground. "I had one. For a long time. But it burned when the Yankees fired our house."
    "I'll bet it was a beauty," she said.
    I nodded yes.
    "Hey," and she touched my shoulder briefly, "you goin' shy on me? Don't be shy. It's all a waste of time. I also hear that you can be quite a lively little piece when you want to. Give that brother of yours a run for his money. Good. Keep him on his toes. Wish I could be around when you get older and see how this thing plays out."
    "What thing?"
    "Never mind. I've something I want you to do for me. Will you listen?"
    I nodded yes.
    "Come over here, by this tree, and let's sit down."
    She took out a cheroot and lighted it, blew out