The Jackal's Mistress

Libby, Joseph, Sally, and Jubilee contend with Weybridge’s presence in their home. Libby plans to hide him in her bedroom, where nosy Confederate soldiers are unlikely to pry. Joseph decides to wash the man and tend to his beard and hair before he is put in Libby’s bed. Sally wishes she had “bark juice” (alcohol) or more remedies for him; she offers him chicken broth and lavender oil. Jubilee tells Libby she thinks of the Northerner as a jackal: not to be trusted.

In the morning, Joseph sees that Weybridge is still alive. Jubilee makes the bed up for him in Libby’s room. Libby sees that Jubilee is right to think that moving all her clothes from the room would look suspicious; in the end, she has Jubilee move only her jewelry into Jubilee’s room, where she will sleep.

Weybridge feels both guilt and gratitude when he wakes and realizes he must stay in the young woman’s bedroom to keep them all safe. Joseph washes his hair and shaves his ragged beard, a process that feels “heavenly.” Once upstairs, he hears soldiers arrive and talk with Libby, which fills him with fear of discovery; then he hears sacks of flour being dropped.