With this Pledge Read online

  ACCLAIM FOR TAMERA ALEXANDER

  “Tamera Alexander takes us to the Civil War battlefield with a vivid yet sensitive portrayal of war and its aftermath. With warmth and grace, she shows us hope and faith at work in the midst of suffering. The beautifully-drawn characters and rich history in With This Pledge work seamlessly to demonstrate that Christ’s love and romantic love can triumph even in our darkest moments.”

  —LYNN AUSTIN, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF LEGACY OF MERCY

  “Tamera Alexander has once again given readers a beautifully written story full of strong characters and tender romance—all while staying true to the actual history of the people and events she describes. From the horrors of war to the hope of blossoming love, Lizzie and Roland’s story will live in my heart for a very long time.”

  —ANNE MATEER, AUTHOR OF PLAYING BY HEART, ON WITH THIS PLEDGE

  “Based on actual events surrounding the Battle of Franklin in 1864, Tamera Alexander vividly captures the resilience, strength, and ultimate hope of those men and women who endured this dark chapter in American history.”

  —JOANNA STEPHENS, CURATOR, THE BATTLE OF FRANKLIN TRUST (CARNTON), ON WITH THIS PLEDGE

  “I thoroughly enjoyed Christmas at Carnton! This tender love story between two wounded people whom God brings together for healing is a book readers will enjoy anytime—but especially at Christmas!”

  —FRANCINE RIVERS, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF REDEEMING LOVE AND A VOICE IN THE WIND

  “With heartwarming humor, romance (and recipes) to savor, Tamera Alexander delivers a sweet, second-chance love story between a widow and a wounded soldier. A wonderful Christmas gift for readers everywhere!”

  —JULIE KLASSEN, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE LADIES OF IVY COTTAGE ON CHRISTMAS AT CARNTON

  “History, hardships, and a heroine, Christmas at Carnton offers a new perspective of the home front during the Civil War in Tennessee. Thank you, Tamera, for honoring our site.”

  —ELIZABETH R. TRESCOTT, COLLECTIONS MANAGER, THE BATTLE OF FRANKLIN TRUST: CARNTON AND CARTER HOUSE

  “To Wager Her Heart is a wonderful historical romance . . . Alexander has certainly done her research in this lovely Belle Meade Plantation inspirational romance!”

  —RT BOOK REVIEWS, 4 STARS

  “A vivid glimpse into Nashville’s history, To Win Her Favor is excellent historical romance with a gentle faith thread that adds depth to the tale, proving once again that you just can’t go wrong picking up a Tamera Alexander romance!”

  —USA TODAY

  “Strong characters, a sense of the times, and the themes of love, friendship, and the importance of loyalty and determination make this a triumph. It will be popular not only with Alexander’s many fans but also with readers of Judith Miller and Tracie Peterson.”

  —LIBRARY JOURNAL, STARRED REVIEW ON TO WIN HER FAVOR

  “Alexander continues her ode to the magnificent Belle Meade Plantation, using it to illustrate questions of race, faith, and loyalty that continue to haunt today. Richly drawn secondary characters add depth, humor, and a sobering perspective on how Reconstruction affected racial relations, social status, and economic fortunes. Fans will appreciate and applaud the smooth merging of social commentary and a sweet love story.”

  —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ON TO WIN HER FAVOR

  “Already a USA Today bestseller, this novel draws a fresh thread in this author’s historical fiction tapestry. Tamera Alexander’s painstaking research into the people, places, and times of which she writes is evident on every page, and she depicts the famous residents of postbellum Nashville with great detail and even greater affection.”

  —USA TODAY ON TO WHISPER HER NAME

  BOOKS BY TAMERA ALEXANDER

  THE CARNTON NOVELS

  Christmas at Carnton (novella)

  With This Pledge

  BELLE MEADE PLANTATION NOVELS

  To Whisper Her Name

  To Win Her Favor

  To Wager Her Heart

  To Mend a Dream (novella)

  BELMONT MANSION NOVELS

  A Lasting Impression

  A Beauty So Rare

  A Note Yet Unsung

  TIMBER RIDGE REFLECTIONS

  From a Distance

  Beyond This Moment

  Within My Heart

  FOUNTAIN CREEK CHRONICLES

  Rekindled

  Revealed

  Remembered

  STAND-ALONE NOVELS

  Among the Fair Magnolias (novella collection)

  The Inheritance

  With This Pledge

  © 2019 by Tamera Alexander

  All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.

  Scripture quotations marked NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

  Scripture quotations marked NASB are from the New American Standard Bible®, © The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

  All other Scripture quotations are from the King James Version.

  Excerpts from A Christmas Carol appear in chapters 13, 29, and 35. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens was first published in England in 1843 and is in the public domain.

  Thomas Nelson titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail [email protected].

  Publisher’s Note: This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. All characters are fictional, and any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental.

  Epub Edition November 2018 9780718081843

  ISBN: 978-0-7180-8185-0 (HC Library Edition)

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Alexander, Tamera, author.

  Title: With this pledge / Tamera Alexander.

  Description: Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, [2019] | Series: The Carnton novels; book 1

  Identifiers: LCCN 2018037968 | ISBN 9780718081836 (trade paper)

  Subjects: | GSAFD: Love stories. | Christian fiction.

  Classification: LCC PS3601.L3563 A44 2019 | DDC 813/.6--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018037968

  Printed in the United States of America

  19 20 21 22 23 LSC 5 4 3 2 1

  In memory of all those who fell at the Battle of

  Franklin, and for the ones who either tended

  their wounds or helped usher them Home.

  I lie awake thinking of you,

  meditating on you through the night.

  Because you are my helper,

  I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.

  I cling to you;

  your strong right hand holds me securely.

  Psalm 63:6—8 NLT

  Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God,

  the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness

  to a thousandth generation with those who love Him

  and keep His commandments.

  Deuteronomy 7:9 NASB

  Dear Reader,

  The journey you’re about to embark upon is drawn heavily from the pages of history and from the lives of
people who lived through the events portrayed in this novel. I am deeply honored to have been given the privilege to write about both. But along with that honor comes a weighty responsibility to accurately convey the events that took place. This is the story of what happened on the evening of November 30, 1864, at Carnton Plantation in Franklin, Tennessee, following the tragic five-hour Battle of Franklin, in which nearly ten thousand soldiers were either killed, wounded, or captured, and how the people who lived at Carnton dealt with the aftermath.

  To that end, I’ve written this novel with a careful consideration of history—including oftentimes disturbing descriptions of combat—coupled with a deep desire to weave a compelling story of hope. Because hope is what I experienced time and again as I pored over the history of these events. I read literally thousands of pages of historical and personal accounts through which we can witness, with awe-filled admiration, the courage and strength that characterized these men and women.

  My thanks go to the staff at Carnton for allowing me access to their extensive historical resources, with special appreciation to Joanna Stephens and Elizabeth Trescott for answering countless questions with never-failing patience. I also extend my gratitude to David Doty, the great-great-great-great-grandson of Captain Roland Ward Jones, the last wounded Confederate soldier to leave Carnton following his convalescence—and one of the main characters in this novel—for sharing his family’s personal history, including the love letters between Roland and Lizzie. This novel is all the richer for our phone conversations and email exchanges, David, and for the many pictures you’ve shared. Thank you.

  Finally, to you, dear reader, thank you for entrusting your time to me. It’s a gift I treasure and never take for granted. Perhaps we’ll cross paths at Carnton one day soon. I hope so. And as you walk the hallowed grounds of the battlefield, as you tour the rooms and hallways of Carnton and view floorboards that still—over a century and a half later—bear the bloodstains from that fateful November night, I trust you’ll gain, as I have, a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices made by the men and women who were there—most of whom will remain unknown to us.

  But some we do know. And this is their story.

  With fresh eternal perspective,

  CONTENTS

  Acclaim for Tamera Alexander

  Books by Tamera Alexander

  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

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Epilogue

  Afterword

  Acknowledgments

  Discussion Questions

  About the Author

  CHAPTER 1

  NOVEMBER 30, 1864

  CARNTON PLANTATION

  FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE

  21 MILES SOUTH OF NASHVILLE

  “And this, children, is a drawing of the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Which is a very long way from Franklin, Tennessee.” Lizzie read fascination in young Hattie’s eyes, and in those of Sallie, the cousin visiting from Nashville. Yet seven-year-old Winder only stared glumly out the window.

  Lizzie lowered her voice. “This pyramid here is where a mighty Egyptian pharaoh, or king, and his queen are buried. And it’s full of secret rooms.”

  Winder’s head whipped back around. “Secret rooms?”

  She nodded. “Archaeologists recently discovered some new rooms in the upper portion of the pyramid. They’d been hidden for centuries. See this drawing . . .”

  As she continued teaching, she glanced at the clock on the side table, expecting Tempy to bring the children’s midmorning refreshment anytime now. A summerlike breeze fluttered the curtains on the open jib window leading to a second-story balcony, and the sunshine and warmth beckoned them outside. Perhaps she would take advantage of the beautiful weather and conduct the afternoon classes under the Osage orange tree out front. After so many weeks of rain and cold, the mild weather was a welcome change. Especially for the end of November.

  A few moments later she heard Tempy’s footsteps on the staircase. “Thank you for listening so intently, children. And for your excellent questions, girls. And now it’s refreshment time!”

  Tempy knocked twice on the door, then entered. “Mornin’, little ones!”

  Winder hopped down from his chair. “What are we havin’ today, Tempy?”

  Lizzie cleared her throat and gave him a pointed look.

  “I mean . . . Thank you, Tempy, for whatever it is you made,” he corrected, still trying to peer up and over the side of the tray.

  Tossing him a wink, Tempy set the tray on the table. “I made y’all some cinnamon rolls this mornin’, Master Winder. You go on now and help yourself. And get a glass of that milk too.” She included the girls in her nod, and the children took their snacks and hurried outside to the balcony overlooking the front yard. “Miss Clouston, I brought you one too, ma’am.”

  Lizzie accepted the roll and took a bite, then sighed and briefly closed her eyes. The bread, still warm from the oven, all but melted in her mouth, the buttery icing slathered on top a concoction of sugary goodness. “Oh, Tempy, these are even better than usual. Thank you.”

  “My pleasure, ma’am.” Tempy eyed the globe on the table and shook her head. “Look at all them places. Hard to believe all that’s out there somewhere.”

  Lizzie heard something akin to yearning in the woman’s tone. She’d noticed Tempy gazing at the globe before, but without comment. Mindful of any icing on her fingers, Lizzie turned the globe to show North America, then pointed to Tennessee. “That’s where we are right now. And this”—she turned the globe again and pointed to the northeast corner of Africa—“is where these pyramids are located.” Lizzie held up the image and gave a condensed version of what she’d taught the children. “It’s in a place called Egypt.”

  Tempy eyed her. “You tellin’ me a fancy king’s buried in that thing?”

  Lizzie nodded. “Along with his queen.”

  “Mmmph . . . It don’t look so far away on this ball, but I’m guessin’ it’d take us a while to get there.”

  “Yes, quite a while. And we’d have to traverse an ocean in the process.” Lizzie drew an invisible line from Tennessee across the Atlantic Ocean to the general region of Giza.

  Tempy shook her head. “So much world the good Lord made. Wonder how he ever thought it all up.”

  Lizzie moved her finger a little to the right, knowing Tempy would appreciate this. “Do you see this tiny portion of land here?”

  Tempy squinted. “Yes, ma’am. But only just.”

  “That’s Palestine. The part of the world where the Lord was born and where he dwelt during his life here on earth.”

  “Pal-es-tine,” Tempy repeated slowly and said it twice more as though wanting to feel the word on her lips. “I was told he was from a place called Bethlehem.”

  Lizzie nodded. “You’re right, he was. Bethlehem is located in this area.”

  For the longest time Tempy studied the spot on the globe, then tra
ced an arthritic forefinger over it, her expression holding wonderment. And not for the first time, Lizzie felt a firm tug on her conscience.

  By Tempy’s own admission, the older woman had been at Carnton for nigh onto forever, serving as the McGavocks’ cook. Lizzie had often wanted to ask Tempy about her life here. About this war. And about being the only slave left behind when Colonel McGavock sent the other forty-three south three years ago, far from the reach of the Federal Army that would have freed them.

  She felt certain that Tempy would have leapt at the chance to learn her letters, but teaching a slave to read and write was against the law. Here in the South, at least. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Lincoln nearly two years ago, hadn’t made much difference in that regard. So Lizzie had never offered. And in the eight years she had lived and worked here at Carnton, she’d never confided in Tempy her opinions on slavery. She’d never had the courage. After all, slavery wasn’t a topic a “properly bred” woman deigned to broach. And certainly not with a slave.

  And what would stating her differing views have changed? Nothing. Lizzie held back a sigh. She was a governess, not a landowner. She couldn’t vote. She wasn’t even mistress of her own home—yet, at least. She had no voice. And sharing her opinions would have only driven a wedge between her and the McGavock family, which was a relationship she cherished. Being so forthcoming might well cost her the position here, and that was something she could ill afford, especially now with the war on. Still, even when considering her reasons, she felt a sense of shame.

  She wondered sometimes if she shouldn’t have gone north all those years ago when she’d first considered it. She could have found a place with a family in Boston or Philadelphia, surely. Yet that would have meant leaving behind her family, her friends, all that was familiar. So she’d stayed, and tried not to dwell on what she couldn’t change.

  “You teachin’ them children ’bout all them places, ma’am?” Tempy glanced at the globe.

  “I’m doing my best. Although with so pretty a day, it’s difficult to maintain their attention.”

  “Days like this don’t come round too often, ’specially this time of year.”