You’re not sick are you? Should I tell Mother? The outline of the room was barely visible in the early morning light. Everything felt damp, my hair was stuck to my face and the flannel of my night dress felt as though it had been plastered to me like a too tight, wrinkly second skin.Īre you all right? he asked. I stared up at him waiting for my mind to clear. You’re having a dream, said Ryan, a worry line creased his forehead, and it must’ve been wild ‘cause you’re a mess. It took a moment to think of where I was and who this was leaning over me. Someone was pulling on my arm, pulling it nearly out of its socket.

I was struck dumb, words strangled in my throat. Yanking hard, I tried to unwrap the fabric, but it only twisted more tightly. My skirt tangled, it wrapped around my ankles pulling me down. Their faces were hard with huge eyes of a fierce red fire shot out of their mouths, their knuckles white as they pointed their guns. Turning, I looked to see how close they had come – the blue uniforms were gaining. Their breath was hot it felt like burning coals searing the back of my neck.

This is the story of Olivia and how her determination kept her from failing. Olivia was thrown into the middle of the great Civil War.Ībraham Lincoln, the great orator of that time had said: '… you can not fail, if you resolutely determine, that you will not.' Decisions that would not only affect her, but her family and those around her. Regardless of how she felt, she was called on to make more than her fair share of decisions. Olivia had little knowledge and no interest in the makings of a war. Who turned childhood into an adventure TABLE OF CONTENTS

Jennie Wade by Tecla Emerson