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pretending that they can pick up right where they left off, but they can't. War causes more
scars than just the ones you can see. The war left not only physical, but mental scars that
will be felt well into the next century," Alex said.
"Well," she continued, wondering how far she overstepped her boundaries. "I'll go and
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check on dinner. Beau, will you be staying?"
"Of course," he replied.
As Alex headed back to the kitchen, she heard Beau remark. "That woman is wise
beyond her years."
"That's what she'd have you to believe," replied Trey.
ALEX TOOK a deep breath of the magnolia's that scented the night air. Trey had
planted a dozen bushes near the house when he built it, several directly under her windows.
She loved them. They reminded her of her grandmother's house. Grams' had the small
bushes around her house too.
The light from the moon lit up her bed, making it easy for her to start the journal she
decided to write.
May 17, 1878
Dear Grams,
From the moment you made me go to the Dalton Plantation and touch the painting, my
life has been turned upside down. Somehow I was transported back in time. The reason I
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am writing this journal is because you knew this would happen to me. I am assuming that
you have this journal that I am now writing.
Alex proceeded to explain everything that happened to her so far. Including the
destruction of the wagon Trey bought.
Grams, I don't know what to do. How will I get back home? I don't fit in this society.
Every time I open my mouth I seem to put my foot in it. For example, Trey saw his first
bicycle today. You know the funny one with the really big front wheel. His amazement
made me laugh. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I own two, a mountain bike and a
beach cruiser. Besides, he'd never believe me. There is some reason I want to prove that
I'm not some raving lunatic to him, don't ask me why.
After writing for several hours Alex felt better. Pulling her mosquito net tight around
her bed, she slipped off to sleep.
She woke to Fluerette's humming in her room. Alex sat up, stretching and yawning.
Glancing out the window, she could see the sun just beginning to peak over the horizon.
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 "Well, you're in a good mood today," she remarked as she slid off the bed. The wooden
floor already felt warm to her feet, and the day hadn't even started yet.
Fluerette smiled. She pulled out a dress out of Alex's wardrobe. "Mr. Dalton asked that
everyone be ready by seven this morning. We have to hurry if'n you want to eat before we
leave."
"Leave? Where are we going?" Alex slipped into her undergarments and presented her
back to Fluerette to help with the ribbons of her corset.
"It is Sunday again."
Wow. The days ran together. She had been here over a month and still hadn't adjusted
yet. Alex gasped as Fluerette tightened her corset. "Can't you loosen it a little?" she
wheezed.
"No," Fluerette replied, as she helped Alex into her dress and hooked the buttons on the
back of Alex's dress. "Today we go church and then into town," She patted Alex's back.
"There, all done."
Alex turned toward her bed. She slid her feet into the shoes that sat at the foot of the bed.
"Oh." Into town was new. The last time she saw it was when Trey dragged her to Beau's
apartment. When she remembered how she rode home a flush filled her cheeks.
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 Fluerette hustled her downstairs and gave her breakfast. Bread and cheese with a cup of
coffee.
Coffee was the one thing Alex had to have in the morning. Without it, she couldn't
function. She barely choked down the cheese before Trey barged into the kitchen.
"Everything ready?"
Fluerette nodded.
"Let's go."
"Can I finish my coffee?" Alex asked, holding up her cup.
Trey reached out, grabbed her cup and dashed the remaining amount into the fireplace.
"You're done."
She grumbled under her breath as she followed everyone outside. Her mouth opened at
the frenzy of activity she found when she stepped through the door. All the commotion
caught her off guard. She stood near the doorway, just staring. Fluerette darted in and out
of the doorway, handing Trey and two other men a wide variety of things, including a
picnic basket. Their outings to church were never like this before. Once everything was
packed, they started inventorying.
Trey finally noticed her standing there, awed. "Come here."
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 She came to the top of the stairs.
"Can you read and write?"
Alex nodded.
"Good." Trey thrust his ledger at her. "We'll get this down a lot faster if I help the men."
Alex wrote as quickly as she could, but she still had to stop Trey several times. He
seemed to have everything memorized, but still insisted that she write everything he said [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]