A very adept blend of history and story, in this tale of two girls of Lexington, Missouri, during the Civil War, and of split loyalties when Victoria Royall stands by the Union, and her closest friend, Bettie-Belle, is a very defiant and overt Southern sympathizer. When fighting centers in and around Lexington, Victoria takes an active part in nursing the wounded, and remains firm in her political convictions even though it costs her Bettie-Belle's friendship. Sterling, Bettie's twin, enlists with the South, Victoria hides him out for the sake of friendship, Bettie-Belle is sentenced for rebellious conduct, and Victoria and a Union friend help to secure her pardon -- finally close of the war with friendship renewed, and Victoria to cement it by marriage to Sterling. Good history, good period details, good story.