The Gift, I always wanted to write a War Between The States novel. This is perhaps my favorite time in the history of the United States. There were so many stories written that back it sort of became taboo to write one. Only those authors who were well established were selling these. So I waited, and bided my time, then the invitation to write the Valentines Day novella came about. I jumped on the chance.
Most of the stories were written with the basically the same conflict. Someone from the north would fall in love with someone from the south. I decided to make the hero and heroine both from the south. The hero believed in keeping the union together. Micha believed the problems could be solved without war but if came to war, he was first and foremost an United States citizen.
The heroine, Elice, believed he was disloyal to the south. She understood the issues but knew the north was far too different from the south. Their issues were not the same. So of course when he marched off to war for the wrong side, their relationship was over... or was it?
Excerpt:
"Here it is," Micha strode to the bed then kissed
Elice quickly before he turned around to leave.
"Thank you," she said.
When he'd left the room, she read the back of the envelope.
Elice Tickner it said. Only a handful of people knew of her marriage to
Charlie. All but a couple had died. She ran her finger over the letters, her
hands shaking. A strange fear spiraled up her spine. She closed her eyes for a
moment, dreading the unveiling of the letter.
She listened to the sounds of the night. Somewhere below
her, Micha moved through the house. The rain had stopped and outside a full
moon poked its head out between clouds. A frog croaked. Nothing soothed her
rattled nerves. She inhaled a rough, ragged breath before she slowly opened the
letter. She felt a shadow pass over her and thought of the death of Charles.
The parchment was worn and the writing faded, but she
recognized the bold scrawl. "Charles," she whispered into the night.
Dearest Elice,
Our commander says
there will be a battle tomorrow. The men are cheering and saying we'll send the
Yanks packing with their tails between their legs. They're ready to fight. It's
strange but I don't feel any jubilation. I've been thinking about you and our
hasty wedding. I love you, Elice. I know you don't return my sentiments, but I
promise you when I return, I'll be the best most loving husband and father.
"The bugler
is sounding taps. I have to turn the light out. My stomach is turning I'm so
nervous about the fighting. The men who have fought out west tell me once
you've seen the elephant, a soldier will be all right. I don't think that is
going to be true for me. I wish Micha was here with me, I know he'd protect my
back. Sometimes I think I'm a coward for feeling this way. The other men tell
me it's just my nerves.
"Well, good
night Elice. I hope this letter finds you well and happy. Take care of your
precious baby. I will try to write again very soon.
Love,
Your adoring,
Charles
Tears streamed down Elice's face. She couldn't stop crying.
Rolling over, she buried her face in her pillow. Guilt and remorse swept
through her. A life had been lost for no reason she could see or understand.
No, thousands of lives had been lost. And with his death she was happy for the
first time in years. She was happy at Charles' expense. He had died. And she
had lived. Dear God that there had been some other way.
He
was my husband and I never slept with him.
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