Freed by Hope Read online

  Freed by Hope

  The Civil War Brides Series

  Jenna Brandt

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Locale and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, actual events, or actual locations is purely coincidental. All rights reserved.

  This book was previously published under the title, Love’s Unending Grace while it was a part of Melissa Storm’s First Street Church Kindle World as well as Courted by a Soldier in The Rockwood Springs Series. Both versions were set in WWI but the book has been edited to remove references to that world and era and has been updated with new content, characters and historical information to reflect the civil war era. Names and places have been changed for historical accuracy.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, email [email protected].

  Text copyright © Jenna Brandt 2019.

  The Civil War Brides Series © Jenna Brandt 2019.

  Photo copyright by Depositphotos.com and periodimages.com

  Freed by Hope

  Hope Hammond is best friends with Faith Abernathy and has grown up around her brother Davis. Recently, an attraction has surfaced between the friends. As the new relationship starts to form, problems caused by the American Civil War have reached a boiling point for the Hammond family, leaving little room for Hope to focus on love.

  Davis Abernathy wants to be a soldier and fight for the Confederacy, but his family is against him joining the war effort. The only thing he wants more that serving with honor is to marry Hope, but their relationship can’t progress with her father refusing to let them be together. Frustrated, Davis makes a hasty decision that will change all their lives forever.

  Can Hope’s family find a way to mend? Will Davis’s decision ruin his chance to be with Hope? And will the Civil War destroy any future the couple plans to have together?

  *Author’s Note: This book was previously published under the title, Love’s Unending Grace while it was a part of Melissa Storm’s First Street Church Kindle World as well as Courted by a Soldier in The Rockwood Springs Series. Both versions were set in WWI but the book has been edited to remove references to that world and era and has been updated with new content, characters and historical information to reflect the civil war era. Names and places have been changed for historical accuracy.

  Praise for Jenna Brandt

  I am always excited when I see a new book by Jenna Brandt.

  Lori Dykes, Amazon Customer

  Jenna Brandt is, in my estimation, the most gifted author of Christian fiction in this generation!

  Paula Rose Michelson, Fellow Author

  Ms. Brandt writes from the heart and you can feel it in every page turned.

  Sandra Sewell White, Longtime Reader

  For more information about Jenna Brandt visit her on any of her websites.

  Signup for Jenna Brandt’s Newsletter

  Visit her on Social Media:

  www.JennaBrandt.com

  www.facebook.com/JennaBrandtAuthor

  Jenna Brandt’s Reader Group

  hwww.twitter.com/JennaDBrandt

  http://www.instagram.com/Jennnathewriter

  Contents

  Recap

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Authentic Civil War Recipe

  A Note from the Author

  Also by Jenna Brandt

  Join My Mailing List and Reader’s Group

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Recap

  In book one, Saved by Faith, in the Civil War Brides series, small town life is disrupted while the United States of America is torn apart by civil war.

  Faith Abernathy is engaged to be married to Nathan Maddox, one of her father’s workers from the family plantation, Oak Haven, located on the outskirts of the small town of Myrtle Grove, South Carolina. Their plans for marriage, including building their home on land near the Abernathy plantation, are put on hold when Nathan is conscripted to join the military. While doing his duty, Nathan is taken prisoner and must rely on God to help him survive. By miraculous intervention, he is rescued and returns home, but the aftermath of his captivity puts everyone’s faith to the test. Faith, along with her family and friends, help Nathan to overcome the trauma of being a prisoner of war.

  Hope Hammond, Faith’s best friend, along with her family, also live in Myrtle Grove on their own plantation. Her father was an officer in the military but was discharged after being injured during the war, resulting in the loss of his leg. Additionally, Hope’s only sibling, Gregory, was killed in the war shortly after her father returned home. Her father turns to alcohol to console himself, causing Hope and her mother to have to take care of the family and the plantation. Mrs. Hammond works long hours on the plantation while Hope is employed part-time at the local library by the demanding Mrs. Richardson when she isn’t taking care of the household chores. The difficult circumstances cause a fracturing in the Hammond home.

  Meanwhile, romantic feelings form between Hope and Davis, Faith’s younger brother, who is about to turn eighteen. An altercation between Davis and Mr. Hammond threatens to keep the friends from becoming more.

  -To Dustin-

  You’re my personal soldier.

  Thank you for fighting for us.

  Chapter 1

  October 1864

  Myrtle Grove, South Carolina

  The large two-story plantation house was dark and silent as Hope Hammond quietly entered. Not wanting to draw attention to her presence, she tiptoed through the house, hoping to make it up the stairs and into her room where she could hide safely.

  Her father emerged from the shadows before that could happen though, slurring in an accusing tone, “What are you doing home so late?”

  Hope stiffened, recognizing the rebuke disguised as a question. Reflexively, she defended her tardiness explaining, “Mrs. Richardson asked me to stay late at the library to help her with a project.”

  Even though she was seventeen and had been taking care of herself the past couple of years, her father insisted on monitoring her every move. Sometimes, Hope felt like his need to control her life was going to suffocate her.

  Retired Major Luke Hammond had always been demanding. As a former officer in the Confederate Army, he was used to being in charge. He ran his home with an iron fist, leaving no room for anyone to object to his way of doing things.

  It wasn’t that Hope didn’t love her father—because she did—it was the fact that ever since he lost his leg in the war he had become bitter. The bitterness turned to constant drinking after Hope’s brother, Gregory, was conscripted into the Confederate Army and subsequently killed during a bombardment at Fort Sumter. To make matters worse, this occurred only two months after her father’s return home as a cripple. The Hammonds have yet to, and may never recover.

  Disrupting Hope’s memories about the past, her father hobbled up closer to her on his crutch as he asked with suspi
cion, “And what project might that be?”

  He looked awful; his brown hair disheveled, and his stained brown shirt wrinkled and untucked. His brown eyes were bloodshot and watering as they bore a hole straight through Hope.

  She knew he wouldn't want to hear the answer, but as a Christian, she refused to lie to spare herself his wrath. “I was helping pack up the donations from the book drive.”

  “Are you referring to the book drive for the war effort?”

  Slowly Hope nodded her head. “Yes, Father.”

  “I thought I told you I didn’t want you involved anymore in helping support that miserable, no-good war our country was stupid enough to make us be a part of. We had no business declaring ourselves—”

  Hope stopped her father by saying, “I know how you feel about the war, Father, but I had to do it, or I would lose my job. You know we need the money.”

  With several bad harvests, no workers, and little oversight, their multi-generational family-run plantation was close to ruin. Her mother was doing what she could to help the plantation recover, but it was difficult without the support of Hope’s father. His refusal to work, opting instead to spend his time drinking, defaming the Confederacy, and cursing God, had forced Hope’s mother to take care of the plantation on her own and Hope to work part-time at the library. Hope helped her mother when she wasn’t working, but it still wasn’t sufficient. Even with selling nearly every piece of silver, crystal, and fine clothing they owned, it still wasn’t enough to keep the debt collectors from their door.

  Hope could see her response chagrined him. He retaliated by accusing, “You were with that Abernathy boy, weren’t you? The library story is to cover up the truth.”

  Though they had grown up together, Hope hadn’t started to see Davis Abernathy in a romantic way until he started coming into the library to check out farming books to read. This was a fact Faith Maddox—Davis’s sister and Hope’s best friend—was quick to point out as uncharacteristic of Davis, who had despised school growing up.

  When Hope realized he was coming in to see her—coupled with his charm he started to direct her way—Hope let down her guard. She began to allow feelings to develop for the handsome, brown-haired, chocolate-eyed farmer. Today, however, was not a day that Davis had visited the library.

  Hope adamantly shook her head. “No, Father, that isn’t so. You can check with Mrs. Richardson if you don’t believe me.”

  Mrs. Richardson, the head librarian, was a formidable woman, and the only person Hope feared almost as much as her father.

  The hesitant look on her father’s face proved the point as he shrugged with narrowed eyes. “Good. You know my feelings about that Abernathy boy.”

  Hope was quite aware of her father’s feelings. He didn’t want her spending time with Davis after their altercation at the war rationing recipe swap two weeks ago.

  Hope had gone to the swap with Faith wanting a night of fellowship with friends. Half way through the evening, her father had burst into Myrtle Grove Church demanding Hope return home with him. When he got rough with Hope, Faith ran for help and found Davis outside.

  As they entered the church, Mr. Hammond had Hope by her wrist, and was yelling at her about her behavior. Hope wished she could melt away on the spot, but didn’t know how to get away from her father.

  Davis walked up to them, a concerned look on his face. "Mr. Hammond, this event is for the women in town. Why don't I take you home?"

  Mr. Hammond let go of Hope and turned his attention to Davis. "I'm not sure how any of this is your business."

  "I never said it was, but your shouting is disrupting the event. It's best if you leave."

  With an angry shrug, her father snapped, "I’ll be glad to as soon as my obstinate daughter agrees to leave with me. She shouldn't have come to this ridiculous gathering in the first place. She’s going home with me, now!" Mr. Hammond grabbed Hope’s wrist a second time and attempted to pull her towards the door.

  Hope’s stomach knotted with apprehension as her eyes grew round with fear causing Davis to interject. "Can't you see you're upsetting your daughter?"

  "I don't care if she's upset. It's her own fault for coming here."

  Davis reached out and removed Mr. Hammond's hand from his daughter. "She shouldn't go with you in your current condition. I can bring her home after the swap concludes."

  "How dare you, boy! I can tell you’re trying to impress my girl. It's obvious you're sweet on her, but let me remind you, you’ll need my blessing to pursue her. You lost any chance of that tonight."

  "You have no inkling as to my motives, Mr. Hammond. I simply want to keep Hope safe."

  "Are you implying she isn't safe with me? I'm her father for goodness' sake!" Mr. Hammond bellowed.

  "Then act like it," Davis asserted with audible irritation.

  Mr. Hammond dropped Hope's wrist and looked at her. "Do I make you feel unsafe?"

  Hope thought about denying it, but her father needed to hear the truth. “I wish it wasn't true, but yes, Father, you make me feel unsafe when you're like this."

  A momentary expression of hurt flashed across Mr. Hammond's face before he shrugged and shambled towards the exit, mumbling under his breath about ungratefulness.

  Hope didn’t have a lot of time for a social life. With what free time she did have, she helped with the war effort, went to church, or spent time with the Abernathy family. She couldn’t tell her father that the Abernathys were able to fill the void left by her own family; it would only make the situation worse.

  “You’ve made your feelings about the matter perfectly clear,” Hope stated, before asking, “May I go to my room to rest a bit before I start dinner?”

  With a flick of his wrist, he dismissed her. Hope rushed from the entryway and made her way up the stairs into the sanctuary of her room at the end of the long hall. She entered her massive room. It was now stripped of all furniture and decorations except for a small bed and dresser that used to belong to one of the servants before they all ran off. She closed the door behind her, letting her body slump against it. The anniversary of her brother’s death was fast approaching, bringing to the surface painful memories and emotions. She wondered if that was why her father’s drinking and temper had gotten worse over the past few weeks.

  Hope ambled over to her lumpy bed and crumbled on top, letting the tears fall freely. She hated her mother’s limited availability, wishing she could talk to her mother about what was going on in their home. Her father’s drinking was getting out of control. Hope was worried about what would happen if he didn’t stop.

  Trying to concentrate on something else, she let her mind drift to thoughts of Davis Abernathy. Even though Hope’s father had forbidden the relationship, Hope couldn’t keep her heart from wanting to be with him. He was so kind and understanding, she felt safe when she was with him. He listened to her in a way that validated her. The problem was, her father would never let them be together, which meant Hope cared for a man who might never be able to openly pursue her. What was she going to do?

  Chapter 2

  As the sun cast its final rays against the autumn sky, Davis Abernathy heaved the last crate of sweet potatoes onto the back of the pull cart. Lifting his hand to his brow, Davis looked over at the other end of the field where his father was placing the last of the harvest into containers.

  Davis gently prodded the ox forward and guided it down the rows to where his father was working.

  “Here, let me help you load those onto the cart, Father,” Davis offered, lifting one of the crates and placing it on the cart.

  The prior week, his father had injured his foot with the plow when one of the blades grazed its side. It was not severe enough that he couldn’t work, but the wound did make it difficult for him to stand on it for long durations.

  “Thank you, Davis.”

  Over the next few minutes, Davis loaded the last of the harvest before saying, “Why don’t you hop up onto the cart as well?”

 
Davis’s father shook his head. “I don’t want to do that to Abe.”

  Knowing his father was only objecting because he didn’t want to appear weak, Davis countered, “Abe can handle it. He’s a tough boy.”

  Davis rubbed the top of the ox’s head as the older man reluctantly climbed onto the edge of the cart. Josiah Abernathy placed his hand on the wooden side rail while letting his legs dangle off the end.

  Davis made his way around to stand next to Abe, and led the ox towards the barn. The two men placed the harvest in the storage bins before putting away the ox and cart.

  Father and son made their way to the back of the house. They opened the door, which led directly into the kitchen where Davis’s mother, grandmother, and sisters, Faith and Ida, along with Hope, were finishing up the last parts of the evening meal. Immediately, his spirits raised at the sight of the beautiful woman who had stolen his heart. He hadn’t told Hope how much he cared for her, but she was quickly becoming the most important person in his life. The only problem, her father hated him, which made it impossible for him to openly court her.

  The Abernathy men washed their hands and faces in the sink, making sure to stay out of the women’s way. Davis glanced out of the corner of his eye at Hope, who looked beautiful in her light blue cotton dress. Her strawberry-blonde curls were mostly pinned up, with a few tendrils escaping and falling down and around her neck. He resisted the urge to walk over and touch a strand, though he knew her glistening hair would feel like silk between his fingertips, he knew it would be inappropriate. Hope was laughing at something Faith said, which brought a twinkle to her gorgeous brown eyes. Davis wanted to walk over to her, wrap his arms around her, and get lost in her intoxicating lavender scent. Again he resisted the urge.