Ella woke the next day amid a hubbub of activity. Jackson had started his project. She looked briefly at the bell pull that hung in the corner near her bed. It had been years since she had pulled it. No, she insisted on making her servants—her friends—feel they were part of her family. Before that, her mother had done the same. She was always working alongside her help.

A cup of hot chocolate would suit her right now. She always associated hot chocolate with her mother. These thoughts brought melancholy, a feeling she was experiencing more of late. She needed to shake off the errant thoughts. She didn’t want to feel sad. Resolute, she moved her feet over the side of her bed and pushed them into her slippers.

The sun broke through the curtains. Daylight. The day promised plenty of stress. Maybe there will be some happiness, too. She smiled.

Sara was coming today to see Nolan. She would also bring Aiden a cake.

Ella realized she still needed to tell Aiden that it would be his birthday. Today or next month, Aiden wouldn’t know the difference, and she’d fill Lizzy and Carter in on the plan. Her little brother liked surprises and would most likely enjoy a little celebration, something she hadn’t thought she could do this year. Nolan could share in the party somehow. She couldn’t think too much about that; she needed to get things ready.

Jackson was smothering her with his concerns, and this Yankee stuff going on was taking over her entire life. She didn’t want to give up her life to a man, especially to a man that could harm her brother.

It was time to get up. She needed to let Nolan know Sara would be here soon.

“Lizzy! Could you help me with a few things?” She leaned over the balustrade, hoping Lizzy was nearby. 

She finished her toilet and once again checked the hall for her friend.

Lizzy came up the stairs, arms full of linens. “Miss Ella, I heard you call. I hope you didn’t mind the extra minute. I grabbed the clean linen.”

“Goodness no! I would have helped with that.” She reached over and took the top of the stack. “Let's put these up together. I want to fill you in on my plans—but we must hurry.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Sara is coming today.”

“But, Miss Ella…”

“Shhh. We must be quiet, or he will hear us.” Smiling, and then placing her finger over her lips, she whispered, “Nolan plans to leave soon—maybe tomorrow. I wanted to give Sara a chance to see him. I need to work this out without the colonel or his sidekick seeing or suspecting.”

“You are so right. They always be showing up exactly when you don’t want them.” Lizzy grinned. Fishing around in her pocket, she absently jingled her house keys and then smiled. “My! I thought I had misplaced these. I was hoping they’d turn up.” Lizzy started down the stairs but lowered her voice into a collaborative tone. “Come, I have clean linen for Master Nolan. I started to take them to him, but the colonel showed up. He’s in the library.” She shook her head, “I think this might have to be a two-person job. Do you want to distract the colonel, or would you rather I do it? And when do you want to share the birthday news?” She turned and grinned at Ella.

“Lizzy, what would I do without you?” A smile lit up her face. She felt good about her plan. “Well, there’s not a moment to lose. We should do this.”

* * *

Jackson waited in the library. He needed to speak with Ella about yesterday. His impetuousness could have injured her reputation, but he couldn’t bring himself to regret those moments. The thoughts of their intimacy—even though she had gotten angry—stirred him.

She was on his mind constantly. The night before, he had looked over at his pillow and wanted to see her next to him. He wanted to caress her, taste her lips, and know her in his bed. The thought made his pants tighten.

That was just what he needed.

He heard light footfalls coming down the hallway. They were coming towards the library. Yes, timing was everything. He quickly sat down behind his desk. Marshall was observing some of the field training and would be away for a while.

Three quick knocks on the open library door drew his attention. “Come in.” He looked up expecting to see her.

It was Lizzy who entered. Almost instantly, his mood changed. “Is Ella not well this morning?” he ventured. He could feel his body cooling.

“No, she is well.” Lizzy arched an eyebrow at him.

Noticing her expression, Jackson realized he was still sitting, an unusual greeting from him. Lizzy had noted it.

He slid out from behind the desk. He never sat when a guest entered the library unless he could not move. His mother had drummed manners into him from the time he was in leading strings.

“Suh, we could use your help. We want to get a small party together for Massa Aiden. It's his sixth birthday this week. Could we bother you to help move furniture? Carter pulled out his back, and I was hoping not to let him hurt it again.”

That was odd. He had just seen Carter carrying a large pack of woodchips to the barn. He hadn’t appeared to be injured.

Well, he didn’t want to pry in their relationship, but it seemed Carter was putting something over on Lizzy.

Or was someone putting something over on him?

Nah. It would be obvious. With my military preparation, I would be hard to fool.

Still, something didn’t feel just right. Jackson followed Lizzy to the ballroom to see what was needed.

“Miss Ella thought a small party in this room would be fine. With Bo in the mix, we need to have plenty of room. The young Massa mentions often how much he admires you.” She looked up at Jackson. “We want to give him a pirate party. It would be just the thing for a six-year-old. If you feel like it, maybe we could borrow one of your tents, or make one? With the storm and now all of the men, Aiden isn't allowed to play outside unsupervised. Since he seen your tent, suh, it’s been all he talks about.”

“Well, I’d be honored to help.” Flattered that they would think to include him in the planning, he decided a cleaner tent would be the thing. “Have you any spare linens?”

“Yassuh. What would they be used for, if I can ask? Would tablecloths work?”

“No, no, I think we should design Aiden a tent. Ours are all in use, but they are dirty anyway. I will work with Marshall to make him a fine tent. He will be able to use it anywhere in the house.” Jackson headed towards the door.

“Suh, where are you going?” Lizzy’s voice stopped him.

“Sorry, I got carried away. I’m going out back to get the wood cut for the frame. This will be fun.” Jackson’s smile ignited his face. He felt like family, being able to do something for young Aiden. He still wanted to talk to Ella, but that would have to wait. This was important, too.

* * *

Ella heard Lizzy and Jackson talking in the back of the house. She felt bad about the deception, but things being what they were, she had no choice. She grabbed up the stack of clean linens and scooted into the entry closet, heading to her brother.

Nolan was sitting in the chair, sipping a hot cup of, well she wasn’t sure what he was drinking. He had a terrible look on his face. It must have been one of Ol’ Indie’s potions. “Hello, brother dear!”

Making a weird face, he gulped down the rest and put his cup on the table, almost with a slam. Good thing the noise down here was covered up with the ground and the walls between. No one heard anything that happened in this safe room.

“Well, how are you feeling?” She placed her hand on his forehead. It felt cool, normal.

“Ol’ Indie says I’m betta. I need to get back to my regiment. I hate to leave you, but I’ve already been gone too long.”

She gulped, agonizing over the thought of him leaving again, and placing himself in harm’s way, but if he didn’t leave, he would be a deserter, and her brother would never allow that. She hadn’t told him, but Ella was proud of him. The least she could do was get him and Sara together for a visit. They needed to see each other.

“Let’s not talk about you leaving. I know it’s coming.” She gazed around the room at the starkness. Her brother had stayed here, undetected, stealing out in the night for fresh air. He had a lot of determination. This war had dealt him circumstances she would have found objectionable.

Maybe it was as Mamma had told her—men were built differently from women. They could do things women could not tolerate. Exactly all of what that meant, Ella wasn’t sure, but she thought this could be part, even while a small measure of her had questioned the veracity of this adage.

“I’m so sorry that you have been stuck down here.” She noticed that he was staring off. “What are you worried about?”

“You.” He grimaced. “Had I known Father would abandon you and Aiden, I would have found a way to stay. I feel negligent. I’ve left you to fend in a desperate situation. We all thought the war would end quickly, but I fear that will not be the case.”

“Don’t fret so, Nolan. You have not been negligent. Anyway, I have plenty of help right now.” She rolled her eyes and looked behind her up the steps. “I have too much, I think.”

“Yes, him. I sense you want to tell me something about him, but I’m afraid to ask.”

“No, there is nothing there.” Ella blushed and she could feel the warmth travel up her neck.

“Ahh. Yes, I can see that.” His brows drew together. “I am familiar with the reputation of the colonel. Even though his men revered him, it was because of his fairness towards his men, not because of fear. He was a good leader. I admit, the man is being good to my family. I cannot hate him. He pays you, you say? That’s incredible.”

She nodded. “I do declare I was surprised. He insisted on payment.”

“They may pay, but it rarely happens. Tell me, sister, what else is keeping you busy. It pains me I cannot be more involved.”

“Oh! I have a surprise. I need to get upstairs soon, so I must tell you.” She watched his face. “I visited Sara yesterday. I told her you are here.”

“What? Why? Do you realize that you are placing both of you in danger, sharing information like that? It’s bad enough you have had to risk your life putting me up while I healed. But—”

“Shush! Sara and I have this worked out. Now, please don’t be mad, just listen.” She took a deep, calming breath before continuing. “Sara is coming here to see you. We are calling this Aiden’s birthday. Before you object, it won’t make that much difference to Aiden. And, it’ll really be only a little early. Aiden won’t know the difference. She plans to bring a cake.”

“Still, you two are putting your lives at risk. Do you know what they do to spies? It would be hard to explain my presence if we were found out.” He studied her.

“I know. I hate…well, I hate these people being here. They have taken our home over, and I feel like I have become a boarder.”

Seeing how upset he made her, Nolan backed off, changing his tone. “Well, I am still upset you have done this; however, I confess I cannot wait to see Sara.” He grinned. “When will she be here?”

“There! That is the brother I recognize—smiling, handsome and confident. And healthy-looking again, instead of looking like a backwoodsman in rags.” She crossed her arms and regarded him. “Hmmm, you’ve gained weight. It looks good.”

“You are stalling. When? When will Sara get here?” He walked around the table. “I need to clean up.” He grabbed up a straightedge and looked into a small mirror, allowing it to move around his chin as if looking for a whisker.

“Where is Ol’ Indie?” Ella noticed her absence.

“She left an hour ago. That old woman is great at getting in and out. She leaves through there.” He pointed behind him towards the kitchen entrance. “She and Carter are getting supplies ready and they are trying to be seen around so she seems familiar to the army folks. They don’t know everyone who lives here, or that she isn’t one of our slaves.”

“Workers,” Ella corrected.

“I know that you don’t like to call them slaves, but they are slaves, sister.”

“Nolan, we will always disagree about this. Outside of you and Aiden, they are all the family I have here, and Lizzy is helping get Aiden’s party ready, so Sara can slip down here.” She folded her arms across her chest and tapped her foot.

“Okay, okay. You win this round. I just want you to be safe. Now, when will she be here?”

“Anxious?” Ella smiled at her brother. "I’m not sure. Sara plans to visit some shut-ins, first. Jack…err, Colonel Ross made her wait and ride with one of the men from his headquarters.” Her face flamed. “He worries that there are renegades out there. Doesn’t want us out alone. He has gotten so darn bossy.” She huffed.

“He has gotten protective. You may not need me to come home.” He quirked a brow at her and smiled.

“Nonsense. Anyway, we plan to have a small party in the dining room. I’m gonna try and fool them into thinking that Sara is helping with some clothing that I have been trying to sew. So that he won’t question her absence while she visits you, she will be in my room, until the coast is clear. Now, I have to go.”

Ella leaned over and kissed her brother on his forehead and hugged him. She left the way she had arrived, listening to make sure there was no one near. The colonel was pretty noisy, and so was the lieutenant colonel.

Hearing no one, she stepped out. The coast was clear. Fighting the impulse to run up the stairs to her room, she walked quick. Sara would be here soon. She needed to have the rest of the props. She also needed to see what Lizzy had accomplished.