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understood it either. She didn’t understand much at all about the war. She’d read about slavery issues and such, but among her own people, no one owned slaves. At least not anymore, and when her mother talked of the servants her family had owned when she was young, they always sounded like extended family rather than slaves.
    There were a bevy of other issues, like state’s rights and taxation problems, but Dianne’s father had never spoken much about such things with his womenfolk, and Dianne had never had the mind for such matters. And now with the move west, she supposed she wouldn’t have to worry about it. Her uncle’s letters assured her there was very little focus on war issues in the Idaho Territory.
    “Promise me you’ll never forget me,” Dianne said, turning to her friends once again.
    “Of course we promise,” Ramona said, looking to each of her companions. “Don’t we, girls?”
    “Of course,” they replied in unison.
    Dianne nodded. “I know I shall never forget you for as long as I live. I don’t know if we’ll ever meet again, but if I can have one wish, that is it. I wish for us to be together again—friends forever.”
    The girls all clasped their hands together. “Friends forever,” they pledged.

CHAPTER 3
    A BRILLIANT LEMON SUN PUSHED STEADILY ACROSS THE SKY, BRINGING spring warmth to the city of St. Louis. Susannah Chadwick hated St. Louis almost as much as she’d grown to despise New Madrid. The Yankees were in control here, and only yesterday she’d watched as they’d executed a Confederate soldier. There seemed to be no real trial or understanding of his punishment—just a systematic eradication of “vermin,” as the nearby Yankee commander had told her.
    Seeing the townspeople around her, Susannah wondered if they’d grown callous to such happenings. No one seemed eager to protest or raise a single claim in the man’s defense. She was later told by the hotel owner that Confederates were executed almost daily—often led out of town on worn-out old horses and taunted to try and run for their freedom. The game was more cruel and heartless than Susannah could have ever imagined.
    These images served their purpose, however. They solidified her resolve to leave the war and all its problems. She cared little for the plight of the black man. She cared nothing at all about the tariffs and political intrigues between the North and South. She wanted only for a chance to see her boys raised into men—to have them marry and produce families of their own. Dead men could do neither.
    With all of these thoughts and images weighing heavy on her heart, Susannah cautiously slipped away from the hotel and made her way through the streets of St. Louis in order to finish her shopping. There were an amazing number of last-minute purchases to be made, especially in light of the news the doctor had given her yesterday. She was pregnant. The very thought startled, frustrated, and delighted her all at the same time. It was completely unexpected and almost more than she could comprehend. Betsy was six and Susannah had been confident there would be no more children for her and Ephraim. In fact, even in seeing the doctor she had been confident he would tell her it was merely her change of life. Which, although early, would have been appropriate, given all the other changes she was making.
    This baby added an entirely new aspect to life. It gave her new strength and resolve. Ephraim was gone, she couldn’t change that, but a piece of him was growing anew within her. She would prove herself worthy of such responsibility. Susannah started her shopping knowing she would have to lay in a supply of white flannel and knitting materials for baby things. She’d have to see if she could buy a pattern or else find a ready-made gown that they could tear apart and trace. Susannah wasn’t all that clever with a needle, but she’d do what was needed.
    She browsed the aisles of one store, still contemplating