“I will,” she nodded.
Jim bent and kissed her forehead. Then he slipped around the rear of the barn.
When he reappeared, he walked almost casually. Ellen marveled at how he could be so calm. She lifted the rifle to cover the doorway, and he knocked on it.
A voice answered. Ellen couldn’t make out the words, and Jim stiffened.
He retreated a step, and a thinly built man with a wide-brimmed hat came out into the dark. Jim grabbed him in a hug and hefted him off the ground. Both began laughing.
What was this? Who was this man?
A woman in a long, elegant dress came from the cabin next. Jim bowed to her and Ellen felt a dagger of jealousy. Who was this woman her husband bowed to?
Ellen stepped from behind the barn.
“Ellen,” Jim said and looked at her. “Come on. It’s alright.”
The stranger held up both hands when he saw her. “Whoa, now, little lady, don’t shoot.”
The voice. Ellen knew that voice, and suddenly she knew him. “Captain Neill!”
“Yes ma’am,” he said. “Back to check on you all and see a little snow. Not much of the white stuff in Atlanta.”
“And this is Delphi Marshall, a friend of Neill’s,” Jim said.
“Delphi, nice to meet you.” Ellen extended a hand, then realized she was still holding the rifle on them. “My apologies for your welcome.”
“Think nothing of it,” Delphi said. “James has explained to me how things are out here in the wilderness. And Abigail and David have both been so kind.”
Ellen’s parents came to the doorway.
“I’m afraid we’ve had a spot of trouble,” Jim said.
“Trouble?” Neill asked. He looked from Ellen to her parents and then to Jim. “What sort of trouble have you all gotten yourself in?”
“Let’s go in and I’ll tell you all about it,” Jim said. “I’ll see to the horses first.”
Ellen went inside after Neill and Delphi. Walt and Alma came to hug her when they saw her.
“We were worried, Mama,” Walt said.
“We were,” Alma nodded.
“You were gone for too long,” Walt said.
“Two whole sleeps,” Alma chimed in.
“I know.” Ellen bent to kiss Alma and then Walt on top of their heads. Her son was getting taller. She hadn’t noticed until now, but she didn’t have to stoop nearly so far to reach him anymore. “I missed you all terribly.”
Jim told them of the last few days. He told them of getting caught in the storm, of the cave, of their return.
“Jim, I know Donovan taught you better than that. You should have been keeping an eye on the storm. What were you doing out there, anyway?”
Delphi squeezed Neill’s arm. “James, I’m sure they were just out for a ride. You know how it is.”
“James?” Jim said. He gave a little laugh and smiled. “I thought your first name was Captain.”
“It is,” Neill said. He grinned in return. “Captain James Neill to you.”
“How did you both get here? It’s too early for a crossing over the plains,” Ellen asked.
“We took a ship from New Orleans. James and I sailed around the very bottom of the world,” Delphi said.
“Was it exciting?” Walt said.
“Terribly so, but I’m afraid I was sick most of the time. James will have to tell you about most of it.”
Neill cleared his throat. “I was twice as sick as she was. Never sailed in seas so rough.”
“You got to see your family, then?” Ellen said.
“I did,” Neill said. “My parents were relieved to see me. My brother as well. I ran into Delphi at home. She and I grew up together. Her family’s plantation is a couple of miles from mine.”
“It was,” Delphi said. “Not much of home left these days.”
“Your family is doing well, though?” Jim said.
“Well enough,” Neill said. “They’re holding on to most of the land, but times are tough. The taxes…”
