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"Tomorrow you will pick it up.."
Wade stared, "All right, sir."
"A small garrison will accompany it also. That will distract from the loading of it."
"Yes sir. May I ask if you intend to use my boat on a regular basis?"
"You may, and we will!"
Wade nodded. "And will I have advance notice from now on?"
"No sir, you won't! You aren't privileged. You are not a Confederate soldier sir. So I take exception." The Colonel walked off. "We'll talk again. Just remember you've got a pretty little wife, and we certainly wouldn't want anything to happen to her, would we?"
"Is that a threat!" Wade turned to stare at the man his anger festering.
He'd counted on the north threatening him, but when the south did, it cut deep. It made him question where his loyalty did lie.
"You can count on it, sir, these are trying times and we never know who the enemy might be. The very fact that you haven't joined us makes us quite suspicious of your loyalty."
"Even when I transport your men and cargo?" He bellowed.
"Even then, this is war sir, and you cannot sit on the sidelines and survive." The Colonel smirked.
That evening Wade was restless, unable to sit still but a few minutes at a time. He could not believe the audacity of the Colonel. And the worst part was he questioned himself now.
The war had barely started and already his own countrymen suspicioned him. The north had not threatened and General Martin had met his lovely wife.
Wade fretted the rest of the day.
"Something wrong, Wade?" His mother asked as she joined him downstairs in the gambling hall.
"No, everything is fine." But Wade's frown didn't go away.
Mrs. Cahill nodded to Beth and Beth stared at her husband. "Maybe we should retire early, you need some rest, darling." Beth said looping her arm in his.
"No, actually, I want to do a little gambling." He winked at her and took at seat at a table. Perhaps a good game would sooth him.
She stood over him for a while, but uninterested in the game itself, she retired to Mother Cahill's side.
"Something is bothering him. I just don't know what it is."
"I guess he won't tell us until he's ready. But I saw it too dear. There is something bothering him."
Later that evening he came to his suite.
In the room, Beth pulled his jacket off and his hat. "Now, want to tell me what is wrong?"
"No…."
"Wade, I'm your wife. I am here to help you through all of this. You can trust me, no matter what it is. I'm not on the south or the north, I'm on your side."
He glanced at her and took her into his arms. His kiss was strong, bold, and spoke of frustrations she could only imagine.
When he came up for air, he stared into her startled face. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so rough."
"I welcome your kisses Wade, any time or way, and I'd welcome more if you'd let me…" She opened her arms up to him.
He crushed her to him. "God I love you!"
