The closer the higher-ranking officer headed toward her, the more memories of her burned home came to mind.

With stiff dignity, she forced back her tears. She didn’t want to have to think about it all…not again. On any other day, perhaps, when thoughts of the critical war were not on her mind, she might have been more apt to notice the color of the handsome officer’s deep-set hazel-hued eyes. Once they caught and held hers, they never left.

It was something she normally enjoyed, looking at the eyes of men from a distance...and knowing they looked at her. But the way he seemed to be boring through her filled Aimée with a sudden icy contempt.  Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

On this morning especially, the look in the captain’s eyes only frightened her. Would she forever have these fears growing inside her that were difficult to explain even to herself?

Strikingly handsome or not, the officer was an enemy from the North—a Yankee—a soldier. It was the Union Army who had destroyed her home, most of her family. Thanks to him and the soldiers he commanded, she no longer had anything to live for. Too many experiences from her past remained etched in her mind, as if they had happened only yesterday. And yet her father had always said she should be nice to them.

Well, Papa  was now dead.

Seeing nothing but a great mass of blue surrounding her, she shut her eyes and sent up a silent plea to whoever might listen. Perhaps if she prayed, the men in arms standing around would disperse…somehow. She and her companions could then board the tired riverboat before it pushed off the docks. Aimée might finally get out of Mississippi.

She simply had to get to her sister’s in New Orleans. What other choice did she have? There was always Tante Fran’s. But she would have to go to her sister’s to find out how to even get there. Her anxious mind fluttered at what was to come. Even going to Florette's frightened her now, particularly knowing about her sister's questionable reputation.  

Besides, Florette doesn’t even know me anymore. If Papa were alive he would tell me what to do. He always made things so much  easier for me.

When her eyes blinked open, she was disappointed to see the long-legged, flat-stomached officer still standing there. To her surprise, however, with great zest, he suddenly commanded the private back to his post with the promise of a reprimand if he left it again.

Her mouth dropped open as she watched the young private respond with a muttered, “Yes, sir, Captain Jordan, sir.”

In the next moment, he slumped off into the crowd, his shoulders bent like that of a spoiled child. His commanding officer further rebuked him for being disrespectful to a woman.

 She glanced back at the captain, amazed.

“How can I be of assistance to you, ma’am?” he then asked in a deep but gentle voice.

“You can’t…and you won’t, not if I have anything to say about it,” she said.

“Ma’am?”

She pointed across the harbor towards the battle-scarred sidewinder. “We intend to board that riverboat over there if we can get past your vulgar-minded and foul-mouthed men!”

Nodding in its direction, she continued. “That’s all that matters to me. I don’t need assistance from the likes of any of you Billy Yanks.”    

 He peered beyond her and back. “You’ve signed your oath to the Union, I presume,” the ramrod-straight soldier stated, lifting a brow. “It’s necessary, you know; otherwise I cannot allow you to leave the area.”

“I signed your absurd oath!  If it truly meant something, maybe I could believe in it…sir!"

He nodded slowly. A momentary look of discomfort crossed his face as he asked the next question. “Excuse me…ma’am. I am assuming you know St. Honorine is primarily used for Federal shipping, mind you, and elsewise as a hospital ship. Only a small number of civilians from here in Vicksburg will be taken. And even if you have a destination in mind, it would cost you some heavy coin.” 

Aimée stood stiffly as he searched her over from head to toe. “Are you able to pay for the ticket?" 

"I beg your pardon?"

As the captain surveyed her, his mouth curved in a lopsided grin. "There’s also the chance you could run into some danger on the trip…what with the war and all…ma’am.”

Aimée frowned. “In what worse danger can I be now?  Take a peek around you, Yankee. You’ve already destroyed my town and all whom I dearly love, one by one. Is there anything worse I can experience?”  

She went on. “I doubt you are truly worried about me in the least. Isn’t that right…Yankee?”

 Thumbing behind her, she drew attention to her last link to home. “As I told your underling before, the stallion and my papa’s carriage should cover ample fare for the ride. It may appear rough now, but it can be cleaned up with a little lye and water.”

He leaned around her for a closer observation. “You’re absolutely right, ma’am.”

Aimée chewed on her lower lip. “I promise you, officer, the horse is of good breeding. He won’t let you down…if you can bring yourself to learn to treat him kindly.”

“Well, I—”