It was one of the few nights that MacDonald and Anna did not exercise their marriage rights. He had not returned from taking Tom into Schmidt"s Corner until nearly midnight. Anna had mended after they left. Material for making new clothes had not been shipped in for over two years and it was either mend or go unclothed. Anna then set the food in one of the warming ovens for her husband before retiring.
MacDonald carried the rifle into the bedroom, set it against the wall on his side of the bed, and shook Anna awake and hugged her.
“Anna, my love, I will need to ride into Arles again. Captain Richards is commanding the Union troops there and they need beef. Nay twill sell to them so they have been confiscating cattle and causing more ill feelings. Tom says they twill be happy to buy beef
