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bitterly. “We may have lost the war, but we have not lost our dignity or our self-respect. The Yankees have taken or destroyed our lands, but they have not taken our spirits.”
    “I certainly hope not,” Aunt Abby said fervently.
    Even Clifford quieted and turned to stare at her. “What?” he muttered.
    “Four years of war have left bitter feelings on every side,” Aunt Abby said calmly. “There are people in the North who feel just as strongly as you do. It is going to take a very long time to reconstruct this great country. It’s only going to be done by people who hold on to their dignity and their self-respect.” She paused for a long moment. “It’s also going to be done by people who can appreciate the dignity and self-respect of the other side. Hatred and misunderstanding is what got us here in the first place. I hardly think continuing down that road will create different results than what have already been created.”
    Clifford stiffened but remained silent.
    Aunt Abby fixed her eyes on him and continued. “You are a very intelligent man, Clifford. You have a law practice you plan to revive. You can be a leader for positive change, or you can continue to promote hatred and prejudice. The choice will be yours.”
    Silence filled the room, but Aunt Abby wasn’t done. “Your anger and hatred will only poison you, my boy,” she said softly. “It will poison your heart. It will poison your relationships. It will poison your business. And in the end, if you choose to let it, it will destroy all you hoped to be or become.”
    Carrie could hardly breathe. She saw Clifford’s eyes flash with anger, but he remained silent.
    Aunt Abby took a breath and turned to smile at the rest of the table. “Now, I do believe May prepared a special dessert for tonight.” She looked over at the housekeeper staring at her with wide eyes. “Would you be so kind as to deliver it to the parlor? I believe all of us need a change of scenery.” She rose quietly and moved into the other room.
    “Yessum,” May squeaked, before she disappeared back into the kitchen.
    Everyone pushed back from the table and followed Aunt Abby — all but Clifford and Janie.
    Carrie looked back, her heart torn by the misery in Janie’s eyes and alarmed by the hatred and anger in Clifford’s. She’d seen that look before in Ike Adams’s eyes. Memories of the old overseer at Cromwell Plantation made her shudder. She couldn’t leave Janie alone with Clifford right now.
    Carrie turned and moved back into the dining room, taking her place across from Janie. Janie’s eyes were pleading with her to leave, but she just couldn’t do it. “I’m sorry, Clifford,” she said quietly. “There are a lot of intense feelings right now.”
    Clifford snorted but looked at her with something akin to respect. “You came back in to talk to me?”
    Carrie smiled slightly. “Aunt Abby said there has been enough hatred and prejudice. She’s right. I don’t pretend to understand or agree with all you feel, but I certainly accept your right to feel that way.” She took an easier breath when she saw some of the rage fade from his eyes. She had endured many difficult conversations with her father and with Robert over their feelings regarding slavery.
    The difference was that neither of those men had spoken to her with the complete scorn and disregard Clifford had directed at Janie. Neither of them had caused her to be frightened by their anger — especially not frightened they would direct it toward her. She sensed Clifford was a dangerous man. She had to calm him before Janie was alone with him again. Only then could she think about a more permanent solution.
    Carrie managed to keep her voice calm and even. “You are my friend’s husband. You are someone I’ve come to care a great deal about. Those are the things that are most important to me.”
    She reached out and took Janie’s hand, tears springing to her eyes when she felt how cold and trembling