Faith Read Online Free Page A

stubble on his cheek with the back of her hand. Foolish thought.
    He wore his fatigues, the everyday uniform of a cavalry soldier, with a short blue jacket and gold braid. She knew that a cavalry company spent much of its time scouting for enemy movement and reporting back, a dangerous duty sinceit positioned them on the ever-changing front lines. “Will thee have to go back out on reconnaissance tomorrow?”
    “Yes, we’re pressing on to Vicksburg.”
    No reply was needed. She’d heard enough in the course of her duties to know General Grant needed to take Vicksburg   —the last remaining Rebel-held Mississippi River city   —to control that great river and cut the Confederacy in two, west from east. Union forces already occupied New Orleans to the south and St. Louis to the north.
    “I understand why thee helped this Southerner, but I still do not trust him,” Faith felt forced to point out. Nearly spent, she found herself leaning more heavily against him for support, feeling the buttons on his sleeve through the cotton of hers. “Thy cousin did not even seem grateful for thy help.” This had been blatant.
    The man laughed without amusement.
    “Be watchful of him.” Then she sighed as she saw Honoree waiting in front of their tent, holding a cup toward her. Reading this as a peace offering, Faith hurried forward and accepted the hot coffee.
    “I got eggs to fry and half a loaf of bread,” Honoree said gruffly, urging Faith onto a canvas camp stool.
    “Colonel, has thee eaten?” Faith asked.
    Honoree stood stiffly, staring the colonel down.
    He bowed very correctly. “I will go back to my tent. I’m sure my man has something for me too.”
    “Honoree is not my maid.” Faith narrowed a glance at him. “She is a qualified nurse and she is my friend.” And much more.
    He bowed again and hurried away.
    Without speaking, Honoree set some of the bread on prongs to toast and fried the eggs over the small fire. Then she made up a plate for Faith and sat down across from her.
    Faith devoured the food, ravenous.
    Honoree poured her another cup of coffee from the pot on a trivet near the fire. “You’re a better Christian than me.”
    Faith shook her head. “No. Thy hurt is too deep and caused by men like the one I just nursed.”
    Honoree wiped away a single tear with the hem of her apron.
    “Shiloh is my friend, but she’s thy sister.” And Faith knew how losing a sister tore up one’s peace, never ceased to ache. Her own dear sister was beyond hurt now, but Shiloh was in all probability caught in a life Faith didn’t want to contemplate. God, please help us find her.
    “But I know you love Shiloh like a sister,” Honoree said.
    Faith reached out and rested a hand on Honoree’s sleeve. “We’ll find her. I’ll never give up trying.”
    Honoree pulled back, suddenly stern. “Why were you clinging to that colonel’s arm like that?”
    “Fatigue.” It was only part of the truth. This brought to mind Josh, her betrothed until the war took his life, his face vague in her memory. The recollection didn’t pain her as much as it once had. Was she merely lonely for another man to lean on? That was a dangerous frailty.
    “Finish that coffee,” Honoree said, breaking into Faith’s thoughts, “and then we best get to sleep. Who knows what will come tomorrow.”
    Faith nodded, feeling how weak she was with exhaustion. No wonder she’d slipped into this foolish mood. She wouldsleep tonight   —if the dreams, the nightmares over Shiloh didn’t wake her.

    In his shirtsleeves back inside his tent, Dev sat on a canvas camp stool and ate the simple meal Armstrong had prepared for him. He gazed at his unconscious cousin, letting memories roll over him. Their boyhood in Maryland. The Mexican War. Jack’s brother, Bellamy . . . He felt splintered and broken into jagged pieces that could cut and gouge him.
    As Armstrong brushed Dev’s navy-blue linen jacket before hanging it up for the night, he sang