Dark Chaos (# 4 in the Bregdan Chronicles Historical Fiction Romance Series) (72 page)

             
Crutchfield leaned closer and lowered his voice.  “I have chosen not to make this public knowledge, but I have managed to obtain a rather large shipment of cotton.”  He paused and answered the question on Robert’s face.  “It is stored in a warehouse a few miles from here.”

             
“How?” Robert sputtered, amazed.

             
Crutchfield merely smiled.  “I find it more beneficial if I don’t reveal my methods.”

             
Robert grinned. “I understand.  I simply hope it goes well.”

             
“I can feed them,” Crutchfield shrugged, “but it is General Lee who will lead them.”  He paused and glanced at the room, then back at Robert.  “You have talked to Lee recently.  What hope does he feel for the spring?”

             
Robert frowned, choosing his words carefully.  “Lee believes we are not in a condition to invade the North with any prospect of permanent benefit.  We simply don’t have the resources.”

             
Crutchfield nodded.  “Never have,” he said brusquely.

             
Robert gazed at him then decided to speak his mind.  Here, obviously, was a man not blinded by romantic fantasy of Southern splendor.  “He hopes that by taking the initiative this spring to fall on Meade unexpectedly and force him to retreat to Washington.”

             
“Can it be done?”

             
“Lee has done miraculous things before,” Robert said.  “He hopes to use the element of surprise in his favor even though he knows he is far outnumbered.”  He paused.  “His goals for this summer are rather moderate, by his own appraisal.  He hopes that by throwing the Federals off balance he can embarrass them and damage their plans enough to keep them flailing all summer.  He hopes, in that way, to keep Meade from pursuing anything of great magnitude.”

             
Crutchfield swung around to the window and stared out into the cold, his breath forming a layer of fog on the glass that eventually made seeing impossible.  Still, he stood there, his thin shoulders hunched in deep thought. 

             
Robert waited.  In the little time they had had together, he had gained a deep respect for the other man’s ability to see things clearly.

             
Finally Crutchfield turned back around.  “I’m afraid the Confederacy is up against it,” he said.  “In the military sense, it is quite impossible to win an unlimited victory.  Yet in the political sense, it is impossible to consider anything else.”

             
“It will be rather hard to fit the two impossibilities together.”  Robert was relieved to know other Southerners were beginning to understand the true picture.  Not that understanding offered any answers. It merely painted the picture more clearly.  But sometimes that was the first step to finding answers.

             
“Yes…” Crutchfield murmured.  “I’m afraid that at the moment perhaps neither our soldiers nor our statesmen fully grasp the implications of the terrible divergence in their appraisals of the situation.  Each one seems to only grasp an understanding of his own viewpoint.”

             
“Which is what got us here in the first place,” Robert said.  “It is quite normal for two differing sides to only be able to see their own positions clearly.”  Crutchfield looked at him but didn’t respond right away.  Robert was glad.  He still was trying to digest his conflicting emotions.  He wasn’t ready to discuss them yet.

             
“There may still be hope,” Crutchfield said suddenly.  “In November the people of the North will have their next presidential election.”

             
“So?”  Robert was confused at the sudden switch in conversation.

             
“So, if the Northern people have been made to feel the war is simply too painful and discouraging to carry on any longer, they may simply vote Lincoln out of office.”  Crutchfield smiled.

             
Robert began to understand.  “If Lincoln is out of office and the next president has gotten the message that war will no longer be tolerated, they may yet decide to leave us alone.”

             
“Exactly,” Crutchfield agreed.  “It is obvious we don’t have the capacity to achieve stunning victories, but we may indeed have the capacity to just hang on.  If we can hang on long enough, the North will get tired of it.  Then the voters at the polls will determine what happens.  Surely they are tired of losing their men in this uncalled for act of Northern aggression.  I believe many of them are willing to let us go if it means their men quit dying.”

             
“Not to mention our own,” Robert stated then nodded. “I hadn’t thought of it that way, but it might just work.  A military program based simply on the necessity of staying alive; the fall could gain what more ambitious programs have missed.”

             
“I’m afraid it is our only chance.”

             
Carrie opened the back door quietly, made sure the kitchen was empty, and then beckoned Matthew and his friend inside.  Matthew sprang forward eagerly.  The kitchen wasn’t exactly warm, but it was much better than outside.  Wrapping his arms around himself, he tried to control his shivering body and chattering teeth.  Peter was doing the same thing. 

             
“Sit here,” Carrie commanded; then she sprang into action.  Within minutes she had a fire blazing and a pot of hot water on the stove.  She opened the closet and pulled out a loaf of bread, a bowl of beans, and several sweet potatoes left over from supper.  Moving swiftly, she soon had hot food and hot coffee set in front of the two men.  “Eat,” she said.  “We’ll talk when you’re warm again.”

             
Matthew smiled at her and complied.  The hot food eased down his throat, while pouring welcome warmth into his emaciated body.  He glanced at the kitchen door and prayed silently that no one would come in to check on the noise they were making.  He had taken a great risk to come here.  He was confident he could count on Carrie to keep their secret, but he wasn’t so sure about Thomas.  He was a friend, but he was also a government official.  If Thomas was discovered aiding and abetting escaped fugitives from Libby Prison, he would lose his job – and could be branded a traitor.

             
Ten minutes later, Matthew shoved his plate back.  At least his shivering had stopped.  “Thank you,” he said fervently.

             
Carrie pushed back her chair and rushed over to hug him.  Now that his immediate needs were taken care of, she looked full of questions.  “It’s wonderful to see you,” she cried, “but what in the world has happened to you?”

             
Matthew took a deep breath then nodded toward his friend.  “This is Peter Jansen.  He’s a fellow journalist from New York.”  He stopped then looked at Carrie squarely, wanting desperately for her to understand.  “We’ve just escaped from Libby Prison.”

             
Carrie sucked in her breath.  “You’ve been there again?  I didn’t know.”

             
“There was no way to notify you.”  Matthew leaned forward and took Carrie’s hand.  “We need your help.”

             
“But how?” Carrie asked.  “How did you end up back there?  You’re a civilian.”

             
“Being a civilian and a journalist seemed to make us extremely valuable to them,” Peter said.  “We’ve been there almost seven months.”

             
“Seven months!” Carrie gasped and shook her head.  She took a deep breath.  “I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”

             
Matthew gazed at her face, his heart warmed by the compassion and friendship he saw there.  Suddenly a wild hope sprang into his soul.  She seemed to genuinely care for him.  Could it mean something more?

             
Carrie reached out to take his hand.  “What can we do to help?  Robert and I…?”

             
“Robert?”  Matthew gazed around, trying to ignore the burning sensation her hand produced.  “He’s here?  You came home in the carriage alone.”

             
“Robert was talking to someone at a party we attended.”

             
“How is my old friend?”

             
“He’s wonderful,” Carrie told him.  “The two of you would have much to talk about if there was time.  I know there isn’t.”  She paused.  “Robert and I are married,” she said happily.

             
Matthew blanched, thankful his already pale skin wouldn’t betray him.  “I see,” he murmured.  Then he leaned forward.  “Congratulations.  You two were meant for each other.”  Over Carrie’s shoulder he could see the look of surprised knowing in Peter’s eyes.  Matthew didn’t care.  He cursed the wild hope that had once again betrayed him.

             
Carrie didn’t seem to notice his lack of enthusiasm.  “He should be home fairly soon.  I can’t imagine our hosts will want the house occupied all night.”

             
Matthew stood.  “I think it best we not be here when he comes.”

             
“Why ever not?”

             
Matthew struggled to choose the right words.  “I’m already putting you at great risk.  It will not go easy for you if you are discovered helping us.”

             
“I don’t care about that,” Carrie cried.

             
“No, but I do,” Matthew said.  “Robert is a whole different matter.  I take it he is still serving in the military.  What is his commission now?”

             
“Captain,” Carrie admitted.

             
Matthew smiled grimly.  “I won’t risk having Robert branded a traitor.  The army looks down on that.”  His voice made clear what he really meant.  “If he would be willing to help me, it would simply be too much of a risk.”

             
Carrie leapt to her feet.  “
If
he would be willing to help you?  How can you possibly say that?  Robert is your friend.”

             
“Who also happens to be the enemy.”  Matthew hated the hurt look in Carrie’s eyes.  He plowed ahead, knowing he had to speak the truth.  “This war has torn apart many friendships.  Robert and I haven’t seen each other in a long time.”

             
Carrie edged forward, her eyes blazing.  “I will not hear one more word,” she sputtered. “Robert and I talk of you often.  I know exactly how he feels about you, and I know how much he misses you.”  She stopped, her eyes misting with tears.  “We can help you, Matthew.  Please let us.  What are you going to do?  Go back out in the cold and freeze to death until you and Peter are captured?  You came here because you need help.  Don’t let your fears run you away now.”

             
Matthew gazed into her eyes, his heart almost breaking at the love he saw there.  Robert Borden was a lucky man, he thought bitterly; then he glanced over at Peter. 

             
“I say we take the chance,” Peter said.  “You said yourself we can’t just walk out of this town tonight.  Tomorrow morning we may be a little less noticeable, but there will also be guards and policemen looking all over for us.”

             
Carrie gripped his arm.  “Please listen to him.  I have a plan.  It’s just that I need Robert to make it work.”

             
Matthew hesitated then nodded. “I guess we have no choice.”  He put a hand on Carrie’s arm.  “I’m sorry I’ve put you in danger.  I wouldn’t have come here if I’d had any other choice.”

             
“Oh, pooh,” Carrie said merrily.  “I wouldn’t have had you do anything else.”

             
Matthew suddenly grinned.  “You haven’t changed, have you?  You always did know how to get your way.”

             
“It’s not so hard to get your way when you know you’re right,” Carrie quipped.  Then she looked around.  There’s a lot we need to do before Robert gets home.  I’ll need your help.”