Amanda hesitated. Did she dare tell him the truth when she wasn't even certain what the truth was anymore? "I really am a Brandon," she said vaguely, "but distantly related to Jamie. It's a long, boring story, and it's hard to untangle all the bloodlines."
"All right," Jesse said after a moment, "I guess I believe that. What about your late husband? Was he a Yankee? Is that why you prefer going by your maiden name?''
"No, he was from Memphis. I suppose I've just always considered myself a Brandon. And I've always loved Oakleigh, so I want to see it stay in the family. It's my belief that Grandfather James did leave a portion of the land to Michael as well as to his own son. Is that true?"
"Yes. Of course, once the war started, Michael had to put off his plans to build his own house on his portion. He and Jamie got along well enough until-"
He broke off, and Amanda said softly, "Until Michael wed Deborah. Now there's tension between them. Is that what you didn't say?"
"Yes, damn you. But don't go blaming my sister. It was something planned by our parents, not her. Jamie never did say anything one way or the other. Who knew he'd take it so hard?"
"There have been words between Jamie and Michael?"
"Once or twice." Jesse sat up and ran a hand through his hair. "They'll work it out. There's more to think about now with the war. The Yankees hold Memphis, and if they have their way, they're going to keep Forrest busy protecting the Mississippi grainnelds and supply lines when we really need him to strike Sherman's flanks."
"So Jamie and Michael are both riding with Forrest?"
"Yes," he answered slowly. His eyes narrowed in sudden suspicion. "I thought you knew that."
"I just wondered why neither of them were there when I-I arrived, that's all. I'd certainly like to meet Jamie. Again. Meet him again, of course. It's been a long time since we've seen each other."
After a moment of taut silence, Jesse shrugged and said, "So many Yankees have been coming through Holly Springs lately that it's too risky to spend much time at Oakleigh."
"Deborah said several patrols have stopped at Oakleigh, but at least they left it standing."
"After they'd cleaned out the larder and livestock. Good thing I ran across one of the supply wagons they abandoned when they were running from Forrest."
"You did?" Amanda laughed. "That's sweet revenge."
Jesse grinned. "Very sweet. None of the Yankees were able to get close enough to catch me, and they chased me almost all the way back to the Coldwater Bottoms."
Coldwater Bottoms. Why did that sound important to her? Amanda fell silent, trying to remember. Wait-that was it. The news article in the attic had said Michael Scott was killed in the Coldwater Bottoms. But had it specified when Michael died? Her head jerked up suddenly. ' 'What is today's date?"
"It's June the fourteenth. Why?"
Her heart leaped into her throat. The news article she'd found in the attic flashed in her memory with wrenching clarity: June 16, 1864. Now it was June 14-two days before Michael Scott died exactly one hundred and thirty years ago. She could stop it. She could keep Michael from being killed and prevent the feud between the Scotts and the Brandons. Oakleigh would remain in the family.
Surging to her feet, Amanda said urgently, "We have to find them. We have to find Michael and Jamie before it's too late!"
“What the devil are you talking about?" Jesse snapped, rising to his feet and grabbing Amanda by her shoulders. She shrugged free and took a step back. A loose strand of pale hair fell over her forehead and into her eyes, and she shoved it back. Her eyes in the dim light were wide and dark as jade. He recognized the anxiety in her expression. Her words tumbled over one another, and she put out a hand as if to keep him there.
"Jesse, I know you don't understand, and I don't really, either, but I know something terrible is going to happen. We have to find them before it does…"
"For the love of-I was right. You're deranged." Jesse shook his head, wondering what he was going to do with her now. This went beyond simple shock from fear. Now she'd crossed the boundaries into uncharted territory that was far beyond his first suspicions. How could he help a woman who claimed to predict the future, yet knew little about her own past?
"Please believe me," Amanda was begging. "I know it sounds too fantastic to be true, but it is. They're in danger. Michael Scott will be killed if we don't intervene, and James Brandon will be blamed for it."
"Would it be too much to ask just how you know this?" Jesse asked skeptically. "Unless maybe you know a lot more about the Yankees' plans than you've said, I don't know how you'd know Jamie and Michael are in danger when we aren't even certain where they are."
Amanda drew in a deep breath, and the hand she had on his arm tightened. "Look, I told you I could predict certain events. What if I told you that I know Forrest plans to ride directly into Memphis in an attempt to take it back from the Federals?"
Jesse stared at her. Though Forrest had indeed mentioned that aim several times, it was only a distant hope, not an actual plan. He managed a careless shrug.
"Then I'd say you know what just about everyone else in northern Mississippi and western Tennessee can guess," Jesse said grimly. "It would be more of a surprise if he didn't plan to take back Memphis."
"But he will attempt it in August, and his brother will ride his horse straight into the lobby of the Gayoso House," Amanda said with convincing fervor. "A Yankee general will run away in his nightshirt, abandoning his pants and his wife. The legend will live a lot longer than Forrest, I promise you that."
"How do you know all this? You sound very sure of your facts."
"I am sure." Amanda drew in a deep breath, fastening her gaze on him, and he felt a twinge of uncertainty. "I told you I can predict certain future events. You'll just have to trust me, Jesse."
He smiled faintly. "That's asking a lot. Would you trust me under the same circumstances?"
"Probably not," she answered more honestly than he'd thought she would. "But this is very important. I know you have been given a mission, but so have I. If we find Michael and Jamie, we can prevent a family disaster. Think of Deborah's happiness. She's your sister. Will you risk her being made a widow?"
"Amanda-" Jesse paused helplessly. She sounded so damn certain. It was possible that she could actually predict future events, he supposed, but much more probable that she had somehow come across vital information concerning the two Forrest scouts. Could he take a chance that she was giving him the opportunity to save them for whatever reasons?
"Are we near the Coldwater Bottoms yet?" she asked.
Jesse's eyes narrowed. "We're on Hurricane Creek. Why?"
"Because there are Yankee soldiers hiding there, and that is where you'll find Michael and Jamie. We have to get there in time, Jesse. Please."
Her urgency penetrated his resistance, and Jesse heard himself saying, "I guess another detour won't hurt. If you're wrong, we still won't be too far out of our way."
Amanda smiled, and in the fading light of dusk, he recognized a lot more in her eyes than just concern for her family. He took a deep breath and reached for her, and she came into his arms willingly.
For several minutes, he held her to him. He could feel the rapid thud of her heart, and the gentle rhythm of her breathing. Her hair smelled of flowers, tickling his nose as he rested his chin on the top of her head. For the life of him, he couldn't understand how he'd been drawn to this woman so quickly. It was as if the first meeting of their eyes had been the thousandth, and he'd felt a jolt that even her sharp words had done nothing to erase. He'd heard of falling in love at first sight, but until now had never believed it was possible.