Evangeline made her way through the house with a smile on her face. Percival's plantation was even larger than her father's. It consisted of a little over a thousand acres and the house was large and finely decorated.

Her life had changed greatly since getting married, but her mother had raised her for this so she took to it well. She was proud to say that she made a perfect and accommodating wife.

She paused in the middle of the hallway and stared at a portrait on the wall. The woman in it had long dark hair and fair skin. Her eyes were large and a deep green color.

Eva gulped and kept walking. She felt tears burning behind her eyes. Everything in the house was a reminder of Percival's first wife. He didn't speak of her much and all she knew was that the woman had died of an illness.

She knew it was improper to be jealous of a dead woman but she couldn't help it. She could sense that her husband still missed his first wife. It didn't help that she hadn't been able to provide him any children yet.

He never said a word about it, but she knew he wanted a son. They had been trying and trying, but were unsuccessful. She had spent many a night crying herself to sleep, wondering what was wrong with her.

As she made her way down the stairs, a set of familiar voices reached her ears.

"A war will come in the next few years, I promise you," Elliot said.

"I believe our country can come to a peaceful agreement on the issues," Percival replied.

Evangeline walked into the parlor and both men silenced themselves. "Elliot," she said. "I didn't know you would be visiting today."

Elliot rose from his chair at the sight of his sister. "I was only escorting Alberda here. Father instructed me to give her to you and your husband as a house slave."

"Tell father I am grateful," she replied. "Alberda will be of great use around the house."

Her brother was sixteen now and growing into a mature young man. It wouldn't surprise her if he was married within the next two years. She knew quite a few girls who would be happy to take him as a husband.

"I will," he replied. "I should be going back now." He started towards the exit.

"What's this about a war? I overheard the two of you talking."

Elliot stopped and turned back around, but didn't answer.

"I'm sure it will turn out to be nothing," Percival answered. He stood up and crossed the room to meet her. He placed a gentle hand on her back. "It's just a few states disagreeing on how things should be done."

"It's more than that," Elliot interrupted before the other man could say anything more. "People in northern states are angry at the way we do things and southern states are angry at them for trying to change us. It's more than a little disagreement."

Eva's eyes widened and her body tensed. "So what does that mean for us?"

Percival tried to speak, but was interrupted again by Elliot. "It means our country is going to be at war with itself within a few years. Just you watch. People are angry and they want a resolution."

She wasn't much of one for politics, but even she had noticed the tension in recent years. She just never imagined it would turn into a full scale war. She zoned out as her husband and brother bantered about the subject for a few more minutes.

She tried to imagine how a war would affect her life. A majority of the men would surely be sent away to fight. How would she make any money? What if Percival went away and was killed? Her heart began to pound rapidly.

"I really must be going now," Elliot spoke, snapping Eva back into reality. "Thank you, Mr. Johnson for the drink." Without another word, he turned and left. She stood at the floor where he had been standing.

"Do not let him worry you, my dear," Percival told her. "I am sure a peaceful solution will be made."

Evangeline turned her head to meet her husband's gaze. His brown eyes were soft and she knew he meant only kindness, but she was still filled with fright. He was an optimist and would often ignore harsh truths to maintain his false sense of reality. After a moment, she managed a nod and a weak smile.

He gave her another kind smile. "I am afraid I must be going as well. I have a business meeting in an hour." He gave her a light kiss on the cheek before leaving her alone in the parlor.

She stood there until she could hear the sound of the carriage traveling down the cobblestone path that led away from the house. She stood there until she couldn't hear the sound any longer.

Lifted her skirt slightly, she dashed through the house and out the backdoor. The spring air was warm and welcoming. The plantation looked the most beautiful in the spring when crops were beginning to sprout and the flowers were in full bloom. It was warm enough to be comfortable but the scorching heat had not yet set in.

She ran across the grassy field and down the hill as quickly as she could, only slowing once the stable was in sight. She stopped and watched from the gate. The only movement was the occasional swish of a horse's tail in the pasture that surrounded the large building.

A figure appeared at the stable's entrance. One of the stable hands leaving for the day. They had two on duty most of the time, but one left earlier in the day to get back home to his children. He made his way to the gate where Eva was standing.

"Good day, Mrs. Johnson." He tipped his hat to her and opened the gate, walked through, and closed it behind him.

"Good day," she replied. She offered a slight smile and watched as he left without another word. He was a kind, older man with a wife and five or six kids back home. Percival was nice enough to allow the man to go home earlier to see his kids before they went to bed.

She waited until he was out of sight before opening the gate and running the last bit of distance to the stable. A few horses shifted and pawed at the ground in their stalls, startled by her sudden presence. They flicked their ears and huffed before resuming their eating.

The other stable hand stepped out of the storage room and his eyes met hers. "What's wrong?" He asked, his expression full of surprise at her appearance.

Evangeline rushed to him, practically crashing into him. She sank into his body and felt his arms wrapping around her waist, enveloping her. "It's awful, Sam," she said. As she spoke, tears began to fill her eyes and her voice grew hoarse. 'Elliot says a war is coming and there's nothing we can do."

Sam pulled away ever so slightly in order to look her in the eyes. "Don't worry, Eva." He reached up with a gentle hand and brushed her tears away with his thumb.

Evangeline sniffled and looked at him. Her blue eyes were glimmering with more tears. "But if Elliot is right and a war does come that means you will have to go away," she replied. "What if something happens to you? Oh Sam, my darling, I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you."

Her body began to tremble in fear.

When she married Percival, she had thought that was love. He made her happy and could provide for her. She had been raised to believe that was all that mattered in a marriage. But after coming to live there, she realized how wrong she was.

It had started out as a harmless friendship, but she had soon found herself in the stables more often than appropriate. If anyone asked questions she simply stated she enjoyed being around the horses.

"Nothing is going to happen," he told her. He gently cupped her face in his hands. "Everything will settle down in a year or two, you'll see."

She sniffled again and nodded. He had to be right. America couldn't possibly go to war with itself. The entire idea was silly and she had been ridiculous to believe Elliot. He had always been one for the dramatics, even as children.

Sam gave her a smile and pressed his lips to her forehead. She instantly felt all the tension leave her body. She truly did care for Percival, but what she felt for Sam was entirely different. It was sparks and butterflies and heartfelt conversations. It was passionate kisses and long hugs whenever they got a moment alone.

Evangeline looked up at him, managing a small smile. Her eyes glanced down at his full lips. He must have noticed because in an instant his lips were pressed against hers.

Her body melted into his and her hands came up to run through his soft brown hair. She let out a soft sound of surprise when she felt his tongue trailing along her lower lip, but it quickly turned into a sound of pleasure when she parted her lips for him.

His hands slid down to her waist and he backed her up against the wall. His tongue brushed against her own and she could hear a pleased hum coming from him.

She pulled her lips away from his. "I have to go before someone realizes I'm in here," she said breathlessly. It was dangerous to be doing this in broad daylight. One of the workers or slaves could walk in at any moment.

Sam let out a sigh of disappointment and his hands fell back to his sides. "Can you come back tonight?" he asked, biting his lip.

A smile passed across Eva's lips. "I'll do my best," she said. Percival was often in meetings late and when he was, she took the opportunity to sneak into the stable. She pressed one more rough kiss to his lips before leaving the stable with a wide smile on her face.

As soon as she stepped outside she was met with a very shocked Alberda. The young woman wore a look of horror on her face. In her hands was a basket of apples that Eva assumed was for the horses.

"Alberda..." Eva said. She struggled to find words and wondered how much the other woman had heard or seen. "Elliot told me you were here. I'm glad to have your help. And your cooking." It was best to assume that the woman knew nothing of the situation.

The woman did not speak for several moments. She simply just stared, wide-eyed. "Miss Evangeline you had best be careful," she said in a warning tone. "Mr. Johnson won't be too happy when he finds out."

Evangeline's eyes narrowed. "He won't find out," she replied sternly. "Mind your place, Alberda."

"I'm only saying because I care about you." Alberda shifted the basket to her other hand. "You have a good thing with your husband. Don't go ruining that."

Eva sent her a harsh glare. "Mind your place," she said again. "Mr. Johnson has no idea and it will stay that way." She took a small step closer to Alberda, staring her down. "And if you dare say a word to him about it I will make your life a living hell."

Evangeline turned and walked back up to the house. She wasn't going to let anyone come between her and Sam. No one was going to take away the one thing she had all to herself.

Still, she felt guilty for being so harsh. She knew Alberda only meant the best and she didn't think that the slave woman would tell Percival.

But it was too late to apologize now, so she walked through the gate and didn't turn back.

~~~~
Word Count: 2020

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