His Civil War Bride Read online

  His Civil War Bride

  North & South Book #1

  1861

  Christine Sterling

  Table of Contents

  License Note

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  Read all of the books in the North & South series:

  His Civil War Bride North and South Book #1

  Author's note

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

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  About Christine

  License Note

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  -- Christine Sterling

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  Read all of the books in the North & South series

  The Year 1861

  His Civil War Bride - Christine Sterling

  Minnesota Bride - Lisa M. Prysock

  New York Bride - Christine Sterling

  Connecticut Bride - Marie Higgins

  Rhode Island Bride - Lynn Donovan

  Missouri Bride - Cyndi Raye

  Massachusetts Bride - Marisa Masterson

  Kentucky Bride - Caryl McAdoo

  The Year 1862

  Virginia Bride - P. Creeden

  California Bride - Parker J. Cole

  Ohio Bride - Lynn Donovan

  Louisiana Bride - Caroline Clemmons

  South Carolina Bride - Heather Blanton

  New Hampshire Bride - Marie Higgins

  Oregon Bride - Marlene Bierworth

  Texas Bride - Patricia PACJAC Carroll

  Tennessee Bride - Cyndi Raye

  The Year 1863

  Maryland Bride - Christine Sterling

  Arkansas Bride - Laura Ashwood

  New Jersey Bride - Marie Higgins

  West Virginia Bride - Christine Sterling

  Maine Bride - Marisa Masterson

  Pennsylvania Bride - Christine Sterling

  Indiana Bride - Cat Cahill

  Delaware Bride - Cyndi Raye

  Wisconsin Bride - Marianne Spitzer

  The Year 1864

  Georgia Bride - Danielle Thorne

  Nevada Bride - Caryl McAdoo

  Mississippi Bride - Cat Cahill

  Alabama Bride - Patricia PACJAC Carroll

  Kansas Bride - Lynn Donovan

  Vermont Bride - Marlene Bierworth

  Michigan Bride - P. Creeden

  The Year 1865

  Florida Bride - Cyndi Raye

  Illinois Bride - Cat Cahill

  North Carolina Bride - Heather Blanton

  Iowa Bride - Parker J. Cole

  His Civil War Bride

  North and South Book #1

  Debutante Peyton Fuller's life consists of friends, parties, and waiting for her beau to propose to her. With little knowledge of politics and fighting, her cossetted world changes overnight as soldiers stream into Harrisburg to prepare for a war between the states. As they march past her door, she catches the eye of one soldier who makes her question everything.

  Union Colonel Mason Stout gets a second chance to maintain his military career as the training officer for what may be the worst war imaginable. Still recovering from a crippling injury, he meets a local female volunteer who draws him like no other woman has. Unfortunately, he has seen the horrors of war and vows to make no woman his widow.

  Will Peyton be able to resist her inconvenient attraction to the handsome colonel for the beau she thought was her true love? As the nation poses on the brink of war, another battle brews between their hearts. Will Peyton and Mason find victory in each other? Can he claim His Civil War Bride?

  Author's note

  The Civil War started on April 12, 1861 and ended on April 9, 1865. It started when the Confederates attacked the Union soldiers at Fort Sumpter, South Carolina. Tensions had been rising for years, however in the course of one day, history was to be forever altered.

  The war pitted brother against brother, family against family. It crossed all social, economic, race and gender lines. Very few were untouched during these years. Major cities became equipment suppliers. Women assumed jobs previously held by their husband, fathers or brothers. It was a terrible time in American history. It was the bloodiest battle fought on American soil and over 60,000 men perished.

  Although these stories are romance stories, there was nothing romantic about the Civil War. The authors, however, have chosen to focus on the romance and tension between two individuals with the war in the background.

  I hope you enjoy this series.

  Chapter 1

  April 1861 – Pennsylvania

  “I swear,” Peyton Fuller said as she shuffled the dresses around in her wardrobe, “I need more room. Why, this armoire barely holds seven dresses and I have nearly a dozen.” She tugged on the skirt of a brown silk dress with green trim, finally releasing it from the confines of the wooden closet.

  She held the dress against her as she moved to the large looking glass in the corner of her bedroom. The brown stood out against her blonde ringlets that brushed her shoulders. She twisted several times, allowing the fabric to gather around her legs as if in a hug.

  As she looked at her reflection, she saw her dearest friend, Catherine Green, approach from behind her. Catherine and Peyton were a month apart. Each having celebrated their nineteenth birthday just before Thanksgiving.

  Catherine was laughing as she stopped behind Peyton, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Honestly, Peyton, you have more dresses than anyone I know.”

  Peyton wrinkled her nose. “Apart from you,” she countered.

  Catherine gave another laugh, which turned into a bit of a cough. She brought a handkerchief to her lips and coughed softly. Peyton raised her eyebrow in a silent questioning.

  “It’s nothing,” Catherine responded quietly. Peyton had to strain to hear her words. “Just a bit of a cold.”

  “Perhaps you should sit down.”

  Catherine put her hand on Peyton’s shoulder. “And miss all this? Where would the fun be in that?”

  Peyton gave her friend a smile through the looking glass. They were as close as sisters, but completely different in every other way.

  Peyton’s hair was a light blonde, its pale locks a direct contrast against Catherine’s rich black curls. Peyton’s hair had no wave or curl. Instead she spent each morning sitting still so Kisse could fashion curls on top of her head. She even tried sleeping with rags in her hair. Instead of the beautiful curls that other women wore, Peyton woke with a headache and hair that refused to behave.

  She looked at Catherine’s short hair that curled around her ears and neck. Peyton thought her friend was so brave. Not many ladies cut their hair.

  Catherine had even boasted that she could simply wash it and be done. No more
hours sitting by the fireplace waiting for her hair to dry before venturing outside.

  Peyton thought that Catherine was the bravest person she knew. Even though they were the same age, Peyton had always been smaller than the other children. Petite her mother called it. Catherine became her defender. If Peyton ever got in trouble, Catherine was there to pull her out.

  “That dress is lovely,” Catherine said, as she reached out to touch the dark silk. “Are you going to wear that to the picnic on Sunday?”

  “Either this one, or the one with the strawberries embroidered on it.” Peyton went back to the closet and pulled out another dress before shoving the brown one back in its spot. She held out a deep green skirt with embroidered strawberries on the skirt, a white bodice and a matching skirted jacket. “What do you think about this one?”

  “It definitely suits you. Strawberries speak of warmer weather!” Catherine clapped her hands slightly. “Justin will hardly be able to take his eyes from you.”

  Peyton felt giddy at the mention of her beau. Justin Miller had been courting her for nearly a year. She had hoped he would have asked her father for Peyton’s hand in marriage by now. Unfortunately, she thought he might never propose.

  Catherine was engaged to Justin’s brother Christian. They planned an autumn wedding later that year. If Justin proposed to Peyton, then they truly could be sisters.

  “I need to sit down,” Catherine said softly. She walked from the dressing room into Peyton’s sitting area and took a seat by the fireplace. Peyton watched as Catherine moved backwards towards the chair, grasping the back of her skirt to lift the wire hoop slightly so she could sit down. She adjusted her skirt in the oversized chair, moving forward so she was perched on the edge. She looked at Peyton through the door as she held her hands out towards the fire.

  “I long for Spring,” Catherine said, rubbing her hands together.

  Peyton walked into her bedchamber and draped the green dress over her mattress. She would have Kisse press it before Sunday services.

  “Are you alright, dearest?” Peyton asked, kneeling in front of her friend.

  “Just a chill I’ve not been able to get rid of.”

  Peyton picked up one of Catherine’s hands. “Your hands are so cold.” Peyton started rubbing Catherine’s hands between her own. “Shall I call for Doctor Evans?”

  Catherine shook her head. “No,” she replied, pulling her hand back. “This winter was especially hard.”

  Peyton nodded her head in understanding.

  The weather in Harrisburg could be unpredictable. Temperatures were generally cooler due to winds whipping off the Susquehanna River, and the moisture crept into houses during the colder months.

  Peyton was glad her family had a townhome on either side of them. Those interior houses were provided an extra measure of insulation, that the houses on the end of the row didn’t have.

  Catherine lived with her father in one of the end townhomes, with the windows facing the Susquehanna River. Her mother had died, and since her father worked tirelessly, Catherine spent much of her years growing up with Peyton.

  In fact, the Fullers considered Catherine their other daughter. Peyton thought the Green’s townhome was cold and drafty most of the year. She avoided visiting the house as much as possible, but particularly between the months of November to April.

  Peyton wasn’t surprised Catherine had a bit of a cold, with the winds blowing from the river filling the house with cold air.

  Both families made their fortunes from the railroad. Her grandfather brought steel from the family’s factory in Pittsburg to lay the tracks. Catherine’s grandfather brought nearly ten thousand workers to create the tracks from Baltimore, Maryland to New York City.

  When the railway was finally complete, both families were very well off. Since each was an only child, Peyton and Catherine grew up together and were as close as sisters.

  “Let me get some tea,” Peyton said, patting her friend on the knee. She rolled back on her heels, grateful she didn’t catch the heel of her boot on her skirt and tear it. Walking to the wall, she pulled a string connected to a bell that would ring in the kitchen.

  While they waited, Peyton walked to her bed chamber and took the blanket that was folded at the foot of the bed. As she returned to drape the blanket over her friend’s lap, she heard the door open and a small voice call.

  “Miz Peyton?”

  “Come in, Kisse,” Peyton called.

  A dark face with bright eyes leaned around the corner. Kisse was born a free woman. Even with their wealth, her father refused to have slaves in his house. He insisted on hiring and paying the men and women that worked for him.

  Kisse eyed Catherine sitting next to the fire. “Is Miz Catherine feeling poorly-like?”

  “Can you bring some tea and sandwiches? She just has a bit of a chill.”

  Kisse nodded. “Yes’um,” she said. “It has’um been a mite cold lately. Should I call for the doctor?”

  “No, Kisse,” Catherine interjected. “I’m quite well. Tea sounds lovely.”

  “Anything else’um?”

  Peyton shook her head. “That is all, Kisse, thank you.”

  Kisse nodded and backed out of the room. Peyton pulled a chair from the corner and placed it next to her friend. Sliding backwards, she sat, perching herself on the edge of the seat.

  “Have you planned your wedding dress?” Peyton asked, picking a speck of invisible lint from her dress.

  Catherine shook her head. “No. I thought to wear Grandmother’s dress, but it would need to be altered. I love the lace of her veil,” she sighed dreamily. “But the dress, you know, is rather plain. I’d love to maybe add a sash, or some embroidery to it.”

  “Have you talked to Mrs. Godey?”

  “The seamstress?” Catherine asked. Peyton nodded. “No. But perhaps we can do that tomorrow.”

  “That would be a fine idea. I’m sure —.” Peyton was interrupted by a loud noise rising from the street below. “What the heavens is that?” The sounds of drums filled the air.

  Peyton bolted from the chair and ran to the window overlooking the street below. “Oh, my goodness. Catherine, you must come see this,” she beckoned to her friend.

  Peyton couldn’t keep her eyes off the street below. She felt Catherine move to the large window. “What’s all the ruckus? What is going on?” she asked, putting her fingers to her lips.

  There must have been hundreds of men in the street below. Many were wearing farming clothes; some were wearing more tailored garments and some even appeared to be wearing rags.

  Why weren’t they wearing coats? she thought.

  The men were pushing through the street looking up towards the windows. Peyton looked across the street at the houses directly across from her.

  She could see women and children looking from their windows on the same scene playing out before them. Looks of confusion, and possibly even fear, appeared on many of the faces she saw.

  Peyton watched as the men continued to walk beneath her window. She pressed her cheek against the window and looked to see if she could find where the men were coming from.

  The cool of the glass bit her skin, reminding her that even though it was April, spring still hadn’t arrived. Closing one eye, she could see a large ferry right along the water’s edge.

  “They appear to be coming from across the water,” she told Catherine.

  Catherine put her cheek against the window, blocking Peyton’s view. Peyton lifted her head and glanced down once more to the street below.

  There were several bearded men riding horses alongside the men who were walking. These men on horsebacks wore dark blue coats with grey pants and shapeless hats. Several had red sashes around their waists with long swords hanging from their belts. There were gold coverings on their shoulders with fringe sewn on the edges.

  They stood tall in the saddle, with black boots that were polished and reflected the sun.

  Peyton could hear their shouts as th
ey called to the men walking up the road. The crowd moved to Peyton’s side of the road and one of the men trotted on ahead. It didn’t take long before he was out of Peyton’s view.

  “There are so many of them,” Catherine exclaimed. “Why do you think they are here?”

  Peyton looked up the road as the men continued to march up State Street towards the huge park at the top of the hill. “They look like they are headed up towards the agriculture center,” she said.

  “Why do you suppose that is?”

  Peyton looked at her friend. “I honestly don’t know. The fair isn’t until autumn. Father told me never to approach that section of town. Said there were undesirables up there.”

  “Well he doesn’t look undesirable,” Catherine cooed.

  “Cath!” Peyton chastised, her eyes glaring at her friend. “You are engaged to be married!” Peyton shot her friend a glance, before letting her eyes look at who caught Catherine’s attention. “Oh my.”

  Oh my, indeed. Another rider came up on a horse the color of chestnuts that grew on the trees in the cemetery. He wore a deep blue overcoat that almost looked like a cape.

  Escaping from beneath a slouched hat with gold rope and tassels, Peyton could see his hair was dark brown. It reached his shoulders and curled just at the ends. He was much taller than the other riders. From this distance she could see that he was clean shaven.

  Catherine suddenly knocked on the window and waved.

  “What are you doing?” Peyton hissed.

  “I see Justin and Christian,” she responded, pointing into the crowd, and giving another wave.

  Peyton craned her neck looking for the Miller brothers in the sea of faces. “I can’t find them.”

  “They are talking to the man on the horse.”

  Peyton looked back at the officer she was admiring. His horse stepped to the side, revealing her beau and his brother. The man said something to Justin, before turning his eyes towards the window where the two women were peering out.

  Peyton took a step backwards. She had never seen eyes that color before. They were the brightest blue; so bright that she could see them from her perch above the street.