Powder Springs, Georgia

May 15, 1860

Summer was only beginning, but the Georgia sun had already splashed the earth with a generous amount of rays that had warmed the muggy air to near unbearable proportions. The slight breeze that passed through every now and again failed to cool the air, even in the slightest bit. Adella Lefebvre reached up and brushed an errant strand of gold from her brow and leaned back, her body resting against the large tree that provided some shade from the sun’s onslaught. Beside her, Garrett Macht finished his sip from the bottle pilfered from behind The Pigeon’s Nest’s bar when the portly barkeep wasn‘t looking, wiping his lips with the back of his hand before passing it back.

“Your aunt’s gonna kill me she finds you’ve been out here again with me today, Addie.” Adella shrugged as she sipped the harsh liquid, grimacing slightly as it left a trail of fire down her throat clear to her belly.

“Who’s going to tell her?” Adella smiled sweetly up at Garrett before taking another sip.

“She’s gonna smell it on you if you keep drinking like that.” Garrett teased, taking the bottle from her grasp as corking it tightly after taking a few more drinks himself.

“She hasn’t before.” Adella shot back softly, reaching down to smooth the fabric of her skirt. The fabric was heavy, much too heavy for summer wear. The amount of clothing she was required to wear bothered her greatly. Too much clothing. Too much clothing for any woman to wear.

As the sweat trickled down her spine and pooled at the small of her back, she gazed longingly at the stream in front of her. To feel the coolness against her skin, to wash the sweat from her body. The thought intrigued her.

“When do you need to be back?” Garrett asked, pulling her from her thoughts.

“Before supper. I finished all my chores early this morning.” Adella turned back to the rushing water, high from the recent bout of rain Georgia had been receiving as of late, and a wicked grin spread across her face. She jumped to her feet and began to fumble with the buttons centered in the middle of her jean cloth top, nearly completing the job before Garrett noticed what she was about to do.

“Addie, what in God’s name…” Garrett’s words stumbled over one another, rushing from his mouth at lightening speed. Adella giggled and finished unbuttoning her top, pulling it roughly from her body, revealing a white chemise underneath. She pulled the bobby pins securing the dark cap to her head, allowing the honey colored strands to tumble to her shoulder. She ran her hand thorough the curls a few times to loosen the locks, smiling at Garrett when his dark eyes locked with hers.

“We’re out in public, Adella Mae, you can’t be…”

“Public?” Adella scoffed as she untied her skirt, letting it fall to the earth with a soft thud, revealing the rest of the chemise and matching drawers. She untied the laces of her boots and kicked them from her feet, giggling when she missed grazing Garrett’s head by mere inches. “What public do you see around here, Garrett ? Are you afraid the deer might see what God gave you?” Garrett rolled his eyes, obviously a bit miffed at the slight teasing. “Oh, don’t be a lily liver, Garrett . It’s hot. The river’s bound to be cool. So, we should go for a swim.”

“I’m not going for a swim.” Garrett muttered, crossing his arms tightly over his chest when Adella attempted to unbutton his cotton shirt.

“Well, I’m going for one.” Adella announced as she shed the rest of her clothing, grinning slyly when she noticed Garrett’s eyes were slowly trailing over her body. “I thought you were more adventurous than that, Garrett Wesley Macht.” she called over her shoulder as she tentatively stuck a foot into the clear water. The chill surprised her as Goosebumps rolled across her skin. The water was much cooler than she had imagined.

“You go home sopping wet your aunt’s gonna know you weren’t over at Josie Wiles’.”

“Have you felt how hot the sun is today, Garrett ? I’ll be dry halfway home.” Adella tossed another sly smile over her shoulder as she completely submerged her body beneath the chilled water. “Now, are you telling me you’d rather stand up there pouting instead of being in here, with me?” Adella stuck her bottom lip out slightly in a faux pout. “I’m a little hurt.” Garrett shook his head and chuckled as he slid the grey, wool jacket from his body, his fingers already unbuttoning his shirt before the jacket hit the ground. He quickly shed his clothing and climbed into the stream, jumping a bit when the cold water hit his skin.

“Adella Mae, you’re going to get me in a lot of trouble.”

--

True to her words, Adella bounded up the dusty path leading to her aunt’s farmhouse right on time, and fully dried by the intense sun from her dip in the stream. She breezed in through the front door, greeted by the smell of supper cooking in the oven. Her cousin, Lucy, glanced up at her when she entered the sitting room, grinning mischievously from behind her math textbook.

“What?” Adella hissed when she noticed the look in her cousin’s eye.

“Mama’s been looking for you.” Lucy answered, her singsong voice loud enough to be heard beyond the confines of the sitting room.

“Adella Mae?” Adella sent a withering look the redhead’s way before turning toward the kitchen, where the owner of the voice had appeared in the doorway, slender arms crossed tightly across her chest, her deep set eyes emerald slits. “In the kitchen, please, Adella Mae.”

Adella stifled a sigh and followed her aunt into the kitchen, her blue eyes wide and unassuming when he aunt turned her head to catch her gaze. “How was your afternoon at Josie’s?” the older woman’s arms were still crossed tightly over her chest, her expression unchanged.

“Fine.” Adella answered softly, forcing a small grin on her lips.

“You were at Josie Wiles’, weren’t you, Adella Mae.” Adella winced slightly at the way her aunt stressed her name. She silently began to form a list in her mind of all who could have possibly notified her aunt she had, in fact, not spent the day with her best friend. Lucy, who was certain to be pressed against the wall in the sitting room, next to the doorway, was the first addition to her list.

“Mmm, hmm.” An eyebrow raised in skepticism.

“Mmm, hmm?” her aunt repeated. “Is that a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’?”

“Yes, of course.” Adella said quickly, the speed of the sentence reminding her of how quickly Garrett’s words had been earlier.

“Adella Mae Lefebvre, I know for a fact you weren’t with Josie Wiles today. In fact, I saw Josie Wiles and her mother when I went into town today.” Adella heaved a deep sigh and let her arms hang limp at her sides as her shoulders sagged forward, her face twisted in disappointment. “Stand up straight, what have I explained to you about poor posture.” Adella rolled her eyes, but obeyed, pulling herself to her entire five feet. “And what have I told you about spending time with that Garrett Macht boy?”

“Aunt Vivian,” Adella began pleadingly, only to be silenced by a wave of the hand.

“That Macht boy is nothing but trouble. He’s at least four years older than you, and he’s already considered one of those ‘outlaw’ types.”

“Three.” she muttered, nearly under her breath.

“Pardon me?”

“Uh, three, Aunt Vivian. He’s three years older than me. Only three.” Her last words were nearly unintelligible as they lost strength.

“That’s not the point. I don’t want to ever hear of you in the presence of Garrett Macht. He is not the type a lady should cavort with. What would your father say if he was here, right now?” Adella chose to remain silent instead of arguing. “Well, go on.” Vivian began, waving an arm toward the doorway. “Get ready for supper. The sooner we get out this kitchen, the sooner Delilah can set the table.”

--

She pulled the sheets tighter around her body, turning over to her side. Something had pulled her from her sleep. Adella listened, hearing only the sound of Lucy’s rhythmic breathing, barely noticeable over the sound of the steady rainstorm outside. The thin curtains fluttered with a sudden gust of wind that was answered by a low rumble of thunder. A flicker of lightening illuminated the room briefly. Adella pushed the blankets from her body and sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and a little annoyed she was awake. She turned her body so her feet dangled over the side of the bed and reached out for the pitcher of water Delilah always made sure was filled to the brim before Adella and Lucy settled down for the night.

A sudden movement out of the corner of her eye made her pause and her body stiffened involuntarily as a figure reached out from the darkness and grabbed her, pushing her sharply against the headboard with one hand as the other pressed against her mouth, ensuring she wouldn’t be able to make a sound. Adella quickly grabbed hold of her senses and began to struggle, only to here a familiar voice whisper into her ear.

“Addie, it’s me.” Adella’s eyes widened. Her vision finally cleared and the form pinning her to her bed began to take a familiar shape. When he saw she recognized him, and was no longer in fear, the figure let his hand fall from her mouth and fall to her side.

“Garrett, what on earth?”

“Addie, I have to leave.”

“What?”

“I’ve got to get out of here. I’m heading west,…I think.” Adella’s eyes widened and she struggled to pull herself into a more comfortable position. She could make out Garrett’s face now. She could see the strange glint in his eye when another flash of lightening lit the room. She noticed his clothes were completely drenched and she could feel the cold metal of the pistol strapped to his thigh through her thin nightshirt. The weapon surprised her. He had never gone heeled in her presence before.

“Garrett, what’s going on?” she asked, keeping her voice low, afraid of waking her cousin who was still in a deep sleep, oblivious to the conversation a few feet from her.

“It’s…thing’s are kinda bad right now. I’m gonna head west. I’ve got a cousin who can get me work in Texas. And I want you to come with me.”

“What?” her voice was louder than she had wanted, causing her to turn briefly to Lucy, ensuring she was still asleep before turning back to Garrett.

“Come with me. Please, come with me.” Another flash of lightening, and she noticed the steaks of deep crimson that stained the dark grey cotton.

“Are you hurt?”

“No. Look, Adella, I don’t have a lot of time. I need to leave now, and I want you to come with me to Texas. Adella.” Garrett pressed when she remained silent.

“Ok. Just…wait for me outside. I don’t want to try and explain you to Lucy if she awakens.” A wide smile spread across Garrett’s lips and he leaned forward to plant a quick kiss before pushing himself off her bed. Adella waited until Garrett had exited through the open window before creeping toward the dress she shared with Lucy and pulled a pair of pants and off-white shirt she wore when she helped shod and bathe the horses. Her aunt Vivian always turned her nose at the fact Adella chose to help the slaves in the barn with the horses, but Adella always enjoyed it. She never understood why Vivian chose to have slaves, anyway, when work could be completed just fine between the five people that resided under Vivian’s roof.

Adella quickly dress and, after tucking her hair underneath a wide brimmed hat, she rushed toward the window, choosing to slip out an open window then to creep throughout the house, and possible rouse an of the occupants of the house. She sat down on the windowsill and twisted her body, so half of it was hanging outside, pausing briefly to look back into the tiny room. Her stomach twisted, afraid of the unknown, afraid she was making a mistake, remembering all the terrible things her aunt had said about Garrett in the past. Adella bit her lip and took a deep breath as she pushed herself off the windowsill, out into the drenching downpour.