* * * *

The war could be over?

Juliet fell to stunned silence, momentarily forgetting her anger. The promise of an end to hostilities was more than she could hope for. The last year had been Hell in Virginia. She stared at Cole standing before her… so handsome and broad… he was larger than life. The embodiment of every promise for the future she’d harbored.

“I’ll go now,” he said gruffly, disrupting her thoughts. “I don’t wish to put you at risk any more than I already have.”

She blinked away a sudden mist of tears as anger and betrayal crashed back around her. How many other’s dreams had he dashed—snuffed out completely—by feigning loyalty to the south and smuggling information to the Yankees? Her brother for one. “That’s probably wise.”

“Juliet,” he said softly, taking a hesitant step forward.  “Thank you for your help, and your silence.”

He extended a hand breezing a calloused thumb across her cheek. She snatched away as though burned. “Don’t touch me.” She put the distance of the room between them. “Get out. As far as I’m concerned you were never here.” The tears rushed back to her eyes. “You are dead to me.”

Raw devastation darkened Cole’s eyes. For a moment he looked as though he’d say more, but in the end he simply nodded and turned away from her. Moving slowly, gingerly, he donned the clean shirt she’d brought down the night before. Instinctively she wanted to help him with it, save him from the discomfort his injured shoulder must be causing, but… reality slammed through her once more. He was a traitor and had already gleaned more help from her than he deserved. Fists clenched she remained rooted to the spot. He buttoned his shirt and without so much as a final glance in her direction he collected his things, and quit the room. Seconds later the back door slammed and Juliet knew he was gone forever.

Grief stricken Juliet stood in the middle of the sitting room staring at her discarded engagement ring. The blue gemstone glowed almost eerily in the firelight. She knew an intense impulse to scream and hurl the blasted thing through the window—or maybe drop it down the privy. Yes… the privy did seem a more apt place for it. Part of her wanted to crumble to the floor and cry for her lost engagement, and then there was another secret part of her that she’d scarcely admit existed wanted to chase after Cole and beg him to stay. As of this moment she’d lost everything. Rather than scream or cry, however, she remained still and silent, transfixed by the strange blue fire emulating from the ring.

I can end the war… Cole’s words whisked through her mind once more.

The rumble of hoof beats from the main yard drew her attention. Dragging a rattling breath into her lungs she dragged her gaze from the ring to the window where the first strains of dawn light slanted through the wavy glass. Her mother must finally be home. She hurried to the window, more than ready for a little company and to tell her mother all that had transpired.

Juliet reached the window and ground to an immediate halt, shocked to see the rag-tag team of soldiers from the night before marching back into her yard.

Captain Reynolds traversed the yard on his—correction… her—massive black horse. “Surround the house, and find that lying Yankee whore,” he barked angrily. “If she’s hiding that bastard here we’ll find him.”

Panicked, Juliet ran toward the rifle stashed beside the door. Before she could reach the weapon the front door exploded inward, admitting a rather burly gray clad soldier.

The man’s menacing gaze instantly honed in on her. “I’ve got her, Captain.” Without further warning he strode forward and snared her arm in a vicious grasp.

“Unhand me!” She wrenched against his unrelenting grip. “What is going on here? Get off of my property.”

Ignoring her demands, the soldier dragged her bodily from the house and down the porch stairs to where Captain Reynolds held court in the middle of the yard.

She glared up at the arrogant officer. “What is the meaning of this? You have no right to treat me this way.”

Reynolds sneered down at her. “You see, Miss Jackson, we marched on down the road, and learned some very interesting information from some of your neighbors. It turns out that you’re engaged to be married to the sniveling Yankee traitor we’re looking for.”

She yanked against the soldier holding her captive, and firmly held the captain’s gaze. “I am not engaged to any traitor.”

The captain dismounted and advanced on her with measured steps. Chilling menace churned in his eyes as he slowly removed the leather riding gloves from his hands.

Shivers of cold fear raced the length of her spine, but she refused to show the cruel officer any weakness. Lifting her chin she glared back at him.

“Did your sweetheart stop by for a visit?” Acid dripped from his tone.

“I’m not engaged to a traitor,” she repeated. It wasn’t a lie.

“Well, Miss Jackson, that doesn’t quite answer my question now does it?” He stopped a few inches from her, cocking his head to the side. “I’m going to give you one last chance to tell me where Turner is before I order my men to tear your farm apart board by board until we find him.”

“What? No! Please don’t do this. I’m a Virginian. My family is loyal to the south. You can’t destroy my home!”

Captain Reynolds turned toward his men. “She’s not going to cooperate, boys. Search the house and the grounds. Use any means necessary to find that traitor.”

Instantly the soldiers scattered. Jennings, the kind sergeant from the night before, hesitated, casting her an apologetic glance before disappearing into the house after a couple other soldiers. A few moments later a tremendous crash broke the morning stillness as a wooden chair sailed through the front window of the house. A cloud of glass shards flew out over the wooden porch.

“No!” she cried, desperately fighting the soldier holding her. “Don’t do this! He isn’t here. I swear to you there is no one here.”

“Shut up,” Reynolds ordered. “I will hear the truth from your mouth before we’re through here.” He lifted his right arm and struck her harshly across the cheek with his leather gloves.

Juliet cried out as sharp pain sliced across her face. The oversized soldier continued to hold her even as the captain beat her. How had this happened? These soldiers were supposed to be on her side!

“I know how to make you cooperate.” Reynolds shouted, raising his arm again. “We lost that bastard’s trail right before we came across your farm. I doubt that’s a coincidence. Where is he?”

Defiant Juliet glared up at the captain, ignoring the stinging in her cheek. “He’s not here.”

Reynolds brow furrowed over dark, angry eyes. “But I’d wager he was.” He swung his arm once more, striking her chin with a crippling blow.

Juliet’s head spun nauseatingly from the punishing force, and her knees buckled. The cruel soldier holding her for the captain dropped her to the cold ground.

“This will only get worse, Miss Jackson,” Captain Reynolds growled. “Do yourself a favor and tell me where your boyfriend is hiding.”

Still dizzy from his last blow, Juliet didn’t respond.

Pow! The crack of a gunshot pierced the morning air.

Juliet flinched as ice flushed through her veins.

“Move away from the girl!” A familiar voice commanded. “Lay another hand on her and my next shot won’t miss.”

Cole!

A slow, arrogant grin stretched across Captain Reynolds face. “Ah, Sergeant Turner, so glad you decided to join us.”