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FINN WAS QUIET, PENSIVE, as they rode
"Many people think that the seance craze-that theto prey upon the bereaved for the money," Tara said
He looked over at her and s ht"
"But you believe in the future being foretold?"
"I&039;m not sure I know that there are those around us-like Pete-who have an instinct and knohen someone isdifferent I can usually tell when someone is different, even when they were those who had been helped, like my father I can&039;t understand it, because I&039;m so afraid that it is someone who is with us-or as at least on that island"
"You found nothing unusual about the men when you sailed, or e calance, his brow arched and a rueful s a blockade runner, not an unworldly being And on the island, I was hoping that ere discovered and rescued by a Union ship rather than a Southern And as to Elsi, yes, I believe that she has a power to recognize the world around her Can she really see into the future? Nothing but the future will tell"
He reined in for aup at the sky
"Home?" she asked him
"Your home," he told her
"You&039;ll need to be careful, you know"
"And why is that?"
"I&039;ve been a mine"
"I think the fortune-teller likes
"But you must admit, you should be careful, perhaps even extre ht, they&039;re all one," he said, chuckling at her light tone "And I do believe that I&039;ve been extremely courteous, except perhaps e first htfully rude"
"You wanted to arrest ive the president a scarf"
"And if you were charged with protecting hier to get so close?"
"I like to think I&039;d be a better judge of character"
"It&039;s a pity we can&039;t all judge character so swiftly as you Which way?"
"Toward Whitehead," she told hiether Roosters and other livestock ambled about, but there were no children out on the road, and the few businessriht hours
They reached Pete&039;s tavern, and their hoe ashed structure, built some forty years earlier Front steps led to an entry hall To the left was a staircase that led to the rooh an arched dooras the tavern As they entered, Pete ca over his shoulder
"Provisions," he said "We need to leave quite soon Agent Dunne, if you&039;d see to getting these tied on to one of the satchels?"
"Yes Is there more?"
"One more Coffee and kerosene heaters, and some fresh-baked biscuits for those who stay awake to keep watch I&039;ll get the rest," Pete said
"I&039;s from my room," Tara said, and hurried upstairs
She decided that she could afford the time to swiftly wash up She poured water from the ewer at the washstand and scrubbed her face, and then hastily changed her clothing There was a knock at her door and she opened it Finn was standing there
He smiled "You look-"
"Yes?" she asked, surprised that the question was a little breathless
"Clean," he said enviously
"Oh, yes, well Clean Thank you"
He laughed, reached out and touched her cheek, and suddenly drew her to hientle, alreat strength She didn&039;t breathe; being with hi him, could stir so ined, and then this, so she had felt so seldoine that you&039;ve gone through life without a slew of compliments, my dear Miss Fox You look clean And lovely Glorious, actually The sun setting against the color of your hair creates a dazzling halo greater than that cast by any heavenly body alone Your eyes are those of the th of the history of the world And your face! Ah, like that of Helen of Troy, you could sink a thousand ships Ah, my love, excuse the last-we&039;ve both seen a few tooher eyes
"You&039;rehair from her face "There were tiine that there was no war, that we faced no unholy enee paradise with the sway of the tree branches and the scent of the ocean in the air I&039;ve seen the seafarers and fishermen, seen all the colors of the people, heard their accents and their languages, and I knohy you find this to be such a unique and special home I would never mock you It&039;s that my oords trip me up and I&039;m thrown back into reality, where all we can do is pray for an end to this war, and for safety fro that sole-minded and austere could have such dreams of a different world-and touch her as he did
"Tara! Finn!"
Pete&039;s voice broke into her thoughts, reht her hand
"We o," Pete said
"It&039;s dusk," Finn said huskily "The sun is going down I should have sent Pete up to get you before"
"Why didn&039;t you?" she asked
He grinned "I wanted to see your home, your wonderful abode And it&039;s a beautiful old house, a fine tavern, and your room That&039;s a picture of yourto the dresser
She nodded, feeling a tightening in her throat Lorna Douglas Fox had been stunning in life, entle sht in the one poor photograph that had been taken of her just before the war had begun
"She was lovely, too," Finn said "Let&039;s go-before Pete thinks I&039;ood"
"He&039;s hed "He may not be your father, but I believe he&039;d kill any man for you And Richard may not be your blood brother, but I believe that he&039;d do the sa woman in those who love you-father, brother, friend or other They do so with a passion"
Taking her hand, they walked quickly down the stairs Pete aiting for the features were stoic and impassive She knew that Pete had decided that whoever-whatever-Finn lad He wasn&039;t her father, but he e satchel was now attached to the saddle of the mare, but they were just blocks from the church, so none of them mounted the horses Pete looked at the sky as they walked along the streets
The air was crisp and cool; the breeze was co in fro so clean, it couldn&039;t possibly allow for a whisper of evil upon the night
A block fronaled for the two of theainst Pete&039;s back, as if even the horse knew they needed to reach their destination
But Pete set a hand on the gelding&039;s nose "I nearly forgot There is a drink for you both in the satchel the ht You need to keep up your strength"
Finn thanked him and found the two canteens that Pete had prepared He watched them steadily as they each sed down the contents
"Now," he said, "you&039;re ready for the night"
The church bells were ringing, and the streets were filled with the stragglers who had not est soleri and they were all heading into the Anglican one silent Even the wildlife and the trees listened, and waited Father Tirave, and strong, and ready to greet his flock The church had only a couple pews re, so roups Many had brought their suppers with the to share
Father Tiht He thanked God for bringing theht before, and asked that He guard over all in His house, the church, that night That He watch over the island of Key West-all of His children, noapart the country Everyone answered with a solemn, "Amen"
Finn sat with his back to the wall His eyes were half-closed as he listened
"Finn?" Tara asked
He opened his eyes and looked at her He sht her hand and squeezed it
"What were you thinking?" she asked him
"That there&039;s hope"
He didn&039;t ht, Tara realized
The hours passed Mrs Hawkins cahtly shy, but determined to offer theht She was eager to please, to do so for the people who had saved her life, and she, Pete and Finn gratefully accepted Pete set up his portable kerosene stove and brewed coffee, and the uard first came to drink it
Children lay on pallets of blankets and clothing set up by their parents and the church Some played with dice and jacks, soht, no simple pleasures were considered to be sins
Finn was restless; every few hours, he spoke to theat the s, and when there was a disturbance outside-the raucous cry of a dozen roosters and the squeal of a pig-he took his sword and went out to investigate Gone for several long minutes, which seemed like eons, when he returned, he noted that a horse had broken free, frightened the rooster and the rooster had attacked the pig
So the line, Tara drifted to sleep
When she did so, she was far away fro room, seated across the table from President Lincoln Mary was there, at his other side, and she could see that twoinward, their eyes never leaving the crowd or the other diners There were soldiersa drink and the le violinist who played softly froe
But they were all aware of her
"It&039;s a ar does for so off a piece of meat "This fine capitol was nearly as s the summer months when the heat is liquid and the mosquitoes infest But come the war it&039;s beco business, as you see The Willard does exceptionally well It is one of my favorite places to dine One day, I&039; to her Mary Lincoln didn&039;t see on a ard pea that was escaping her fork
"It&039;s a beautiful restaurant," Tara said "But-"