The Sun Rises (Southern Legacy Book 4) Read Online Free Page B

but it was foolish.” His attention turned to his sister. “You have misdirected your anger. It is not just because it is not fitting for you to travel, but it is because we have to be frugal with our money.”
    “Are we paupers?” Jenna brushed away tears.
    “No, of course not, but the war has caused us a hardship. We are in better shape than most plantations in the area, but Confederate money has dropped its worth and prices have risen dramatically. We have not been able to get our crops to market.”
    The news was not shocking to Jo. Already, changes had occurred on the plantation. White flour had become scarce and cornbread had replaced biscuits and rolls at meals, but Magnolia Bluff had been fortunate that food was on the table for every meal, most of it being harvested from their own fields. It was not only the family who had to be fed and clothed, but the slaves as well, stretching their limited resources.
    Once what had been a profitable crop, cotton had dropped to five cents a pound. Rice had suffered a similar fate, commanding no price outside of South Carolina. The blockade kept the money crops to rot in the fields or cotton to be stored to be sold after the war.
    “Surely, it is not as bad as all that, Andrew.” Mother Montgomery fanned herself profusely. “You are scaring us.”
    “I do not mean to scare you, Mother,” Andrew continued. “But you must face certain truths. Wade committed a great deal of money to two of Hampton’s regiments besides what we committed to the government. It would be foolish to expect the government bonds to be paid back in the immediate future. We need only to be prudent.”
    Jenna regained a small bit of composure. Silent tears fell from her eyes. “Dear brother, my heart can’t accept I can do nothing. I fear for Derek.”
    His head shook in a slow manner. Andrew said in a subdued voice, “I wish there was more that I could do.”
    Clutching her hand to her heart, Jenna visibly flinched and seemed to lose her balance. Andrew gripped her arm and helped her sit.
    “I have to go to him.” Jenna sobbed.
    “Quite impossible,” Andrew said firmly.
    As she looked into Jenna’s face, Jo saw herself. If it had been Wade, nothing…nothing would have kept her from him…if only Wade had been injured. What if Derek didn’t survive his injuries? What would she have done to see Wade one more time!
    From the corner of her eye, she saw Percival run up the steps to see what all the commotion was about, followed by a worried Anna. Poor Mother Montgomery could do little to comfort Jenna.
    “I think she should go.” Jo spoke in a soft voice, but all eyes turned on her, shocked and in disbelief. Jo reaffirmed her statement. “I think Jenna should go to Richmond.”
    ****
    The trunk was packed and locked; the tickets bought. Jenna was prepared to go north, accompanied by Rosa. The journey would be arduous; the railroads were in bad shape. Jo watched the carriage loaded up with Percival at her side. His pout proved the little one wasn’t happy at being left behind.
    Already seated, Andrew waited to take his sister to the train. The arrangements had been made. Telegrams sent. Mrs. Reese was to meet Jenna at the train station and Jenna was to stay at the same boarding house.
    Good-byes said, Jenna gripped the carriage door and then hesitated. She ran back to Jo and hugged her tightly. “Thank you…thank you.”
    “Go and bring him home,” Jo encouraged.
    Standing with Mother Montgomery, Jo watched until the carriage was out of sight. A moment later, she felt her mother-in-law’s hand grip hers.
    “She will be fine. Have faith.”
    “I know she needed to go. It is hard, though…” Mother Montgomery’s voice faltered.
    A moment of silence ensued. Jo prayed that Jenna’s journey would be safe. She would not be able to live with herself if something happened to Jenna now that she was the reason Jenna was allowed to journey to Richmond.
    Jenna’s bitter attack had stunned