Like her brother Joe, Maureen longed to serve her adopted country. An Irish immigrant, she had found a home in the Maryland farming community of Sharpsburg. Instead of famine, she had found abundance. Instead of English troops marching by, she had found peace. She and her family had a new life filled with such promise.

Until war came, brother fighting brother. Why couldn’t she find a way to serve?

Divided Loyalties will be published this Thursday, July 27, by Black Rose Writing.