Candle in the Darkness (Refiner's Fire #1)

by Lynn Austin

insulting . . .

you with him, your feet don’t hardly touch the

hand and my waist was firm, possessive. I’d danced with dozens of men

is not about slavery. It’s about states’ rights.”

His grip on my hand tightened. I could sense that he was waging

to

who

you.” “Will you forgive me for allowing the

would

quite strongly that they should not be educated. Even though we often disagreed, Charles and I were

the

saw Charles waiting for me, I knew

hand, then

please.” I sounded like a small child

. . yes. I know what a good friend Eli is to you,

that Eli’s blessing meant as much to me as

everyone gathered in small, worried

the concern in his eyes.

One by

So far, Virginia still hadn’t joined them.

now

and Charles. Throughout that warm, spring evening of April 19, a magnificent torchlight procession illuminated the city of Richmond. Bands

I prayed it would be so. Charles

sat down to rest for a few minutes, away from

and speeches. “You don’t seem to be rejoicing

wonderfully detached from it all, as if Charles and I floated

to.” “Why? Why can’t we go abroad for

scheduled reading from the book of Joel was prophesying a Southern victory. But weren’t people in the North gathering in their churches this morning,

filling

Hundreds of unfamiliar faces filled the

and to

doors

didn’t

final

wrong?” “Nothing’s wrong. But I’ve reached

several more yards of material than a plain

the

Persons

prisoners. But I wanted to run from

“Traitors are always Negro-lovers,”

up

Taylor said. “You must have an opinion.”

question,

living

Confederate

one

had a

as

dead

and the dust. Someplace where they can