The Sun Rises (Southern Legacy Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Jo, but the harsh words had woken Jo from the slumbered daze that Wade’s death had caused. For so long, she had had Wade…before him, her papa…to protect her from the rapacious world about her. She had no one now…only herself.
    She had wanted to cry out. Have you forgotten that it was my inheritance that saved Magnolia Bluff? Instead, she finally accepted the truth she had long denied—Wade was gone forever. It was now her responsibility to keep the family together.
    Despite knowing that Jenna lashed out her hurt upon Jo, it was humiliating nonetheless to hear the words spoken about one’s self. Pushing back her wounded pride, she did the only thing she knew to do to draw the family back together.
    The gold coins Wade had left her in case she had need of them were hidden in her room. She reprimanded herself that she had not done so before. She took them all and gave them to Andrew for the family’s use, alleviating the financial burden of Jenna’s venture.
    The final epiphany dawned upon Jo. The war was not only on the battlefield, but on the home front. Jo prepared herself for battle to maintain Magnolia Bluff and the family.
    * * * *
    Surprisingly, the summer at Magnolia Bluff passed peacefully. The war seemed a distant rumble. Somehow…someway life found a way to continue and sometimes joy filtered into the void within Josephine.
    Jenna returned with Derek and the family rejoiced. For two and a half months, Jenna nursed the gravely ill man. Shortly after she arrived in Richmond, the two married at his bedside, not knowing whether he would survive or not. He had.
    Derek had been shot twice: once in the back left shoulder—shattering his left arm—and once in the leg. He lost his arm. Moreover, he developed a life-threatening fever. Jenna never left his side during his long recovery and was thankful he improved enough to return back to Charleston.
    The family celebrated, but Jo found Derek a different man than the one who had left so enthusiastic for the war. His appearance had changed. He had lost weight and his face was gaunt from his illness. Like so many other soldiers, he had grown a long, thick beard, but it was more than his physical features. Derek’s once outgoing personality had become reclusive, dark and brooding.
    Derek tried to be cordial and smiled to the point his face was fixed with a hardened expression of embarrassment and exasperation. A proud man, he had no desire to be coddled by the women on the plantation.
    Only recently had Derek begun to leave his room and interact with the family. He had not added much to the conversation at dinner, but everyone was pleased with his company. His efforts gave Jenna hope he was healing.
    As she neared the end of her confinement, Jo relaxed most evenings in the cool, languid breeze on the piazza. The sound of tree frogs and chirping crickets was laden with peaceful serenity. From her view, she watched her young son toddle behind his grandmother.
    By the massive live Virginia oak, Mother Montgomery glanced over her shoulder and then nodded to her maid, Louise. Louise sat down a bundle package and to the delight of Percival, began digging a hole with a shovel.
    “What is Mother Montgomery doing?”
    Breaking her gaze, Jo turned to find a solitary figure in the open parlor doors, watching the scene. The next moment, Derek eased into a chair across from her.
    “Our neighbor, Cora, told Mother Montgomery that she had buried her silver in case the dreaded Yankees invade.”
    A strange expression crossed his face. “But she is doing it in full view of everyone on the plantation.”
    A small laugh escaped Jo. “We haven’t the heart to tell her that if the Yankees ever made it to the plantation, there would be little doubt that one of the slaves…or Percival…would show them exactly where she had hidden them.” She looked back at the sight. “We have Amos dig it back up after Mother Montgomery comes in the house. We have used one excuse after another why