In His Eyes: A Civil War Romance Read online

  Ella tilted her head. How very strange. Every mile of Mississippi she had traveled shared a common theme. Homes were burned, abandoned, or otherwise left in disrepair. Yet here, not only did the mansion itself remain unharmed and fully intact, but apparently the former slave quarters fared far better than any community Ella had seen on her way from home to here near Greenville.

  She peered closer at what might have been a pleasant scene, if not for the large man standing at the end of the row of homes holding a rifle. Ella narrowed her eyes and tried to make out the distinct features of his face, but he kept turning his head to scan the horizon. He waited on something, the tension in his shoulders evident even from this distance. Whatever he watched for, it had him worried.

  Ella worked her lip between her teeth. A thriving community hidden back here with an armed guard? Obviously, this was what Basil and Sibby wanted to keep from her. But why? If the freed people residing at Belmont were working the land and appeared to be living well, then the soldiers wanting to enforce the Freedmen’s Bureau’s laws should be quite satisfied.

  She must be missing something. But what?

  She watched the people milling about a few moments longer, finally deciding to ask Sibby the reason behind the secrecy. The major had said she could stay, and if she lived here, then she deserved to know what transpired on these lands. Didn’t she?

  Of course she did. She would continue to portray the lady of the house, and, as such, it would not do for her to be unaware of what happened on the lands supposedly left to her tending.

  Why, she should just march right on down there and make it known that she knew they lived a prosperous life and that she was glad of it. They need not fear her trying to take anything away from them.

  Ella straightened her dress and took one step forward when a shrill whistle stilled her progress. The man on guard lifted his weapon and spread his feet. The women halted their work, and the children gathered close to the adults. Ella froze as restless energy swarmed about the people, so tangible she could nearly see it slithering among them in the form of crossed arms, ducked heads, and perked ears.

  Ella pressed closer against the tree, trying for a better look while still attempting to remain hidden. Good thing she hadn’t stepped out from the trees. From the way these colored folks acted, coming up upon them unannounced could prove dangerous.

  The settlement’s inhabitants moved toward the man standing guard, gathering behind him with their eyes trained on the horizon. She followed their stares and saw a team of mules appear where the land met the sky. She frowned. They were bringing a wagon through the field?

  Mesmerized, Ella watched as the wagon, followed by two more, pulled closer to the cottages, the beasts straining against their load. The progress was slow, what with the wagon wheels lurching and dipping in the rutted ground as they moved across the fallow lands.

  As the caravan neared, Ella could distinguish several young black men leading a string of livestock that appeared to be tied behind the farthest wagon. There were two cows, not exactly healthy-looking, but certainly not starved, and was that…?

  Ella gasped. A goat!

  Could it be a female that might provide her with the milk she needed for Lee? She clutched the fabric at the front of her dress. Even if the major said she could stay, it would be prudent to make other arrangements. Train Lee to take the goat’s milk so that if for any reason she needed to leave, they would not be dependent on anyone.

  The three wagons rolled to the settlement and came to a stop, their heavy loads covered with great canvases that concealed whatever lay underneath.

  Now what could they possibly have….

  “Miss Ella!”

  Ella yelped and stumbled backward, tripping on a root and landing on her backside. She looked up to find Basil wringing her hands.

  “What is you doin’ here?” Basil whispered, her eyes darting back to the quarters behind Ella.

  “I was looking for you.” Ella climbed to her feet and brushed leaves from her skirt.

  Basil grabbed her wrist and started to tug. “You gots to go, Miss Ella.”

  Ella planted her feet. “I will not.”

  “Miss Ella,” Basil’s eyes grew round, “did any of ’em see you?”

  “Why, no, I was just watching…”

  Basil tugged harder. “Then you gots to come wit me. Now!”

  Ella relented, but only because the fear in the girl’s voice made her wonder if the child would face some kind of punishment if Ella were discovered. She allowed Basil to tug her through the trees and back across the dead cotton field to the creek.

  “Basil, are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

  Basil allowed Ella to pull free from her grasp. She studied the mud on the toe of her shoe.

  “Basil?”

  The girl sucked air. “Miss Ella, you don’t know nothin’ about how dangerous it be.”

  Ella lifted her eyebrows. “I happen to be quite aware of how society has crumbled and men now run amuck as lawless bandits.”

  Basil watched Ella, her dark eyes seeming far too old to be set in such a young face. “Don’t mean them deserters.”

  Ella crossed her arms. “I’ll have you know that Major Remington has invited me to stay at Belmont.” Though they had not openly discussed it, Ella knew what had transpired in her room the night of the storm had been real. “Now, I want to know what is going on.”

  Basil fidgeted. “Ain’t for me to say.”

  “Very well.” She hoisted her skirts and leapt across the creek much more gracefully than her first attempt. She turned just in time to see Basil’s surprise before jutting her chin at the girl and stalking toward the house. As she suspected, Basil was soon on her heels.

  “Now don’t go gettin’ sore at me, Miss Ella. Ain’t my fault.”

  “Of course not. You’re only a child.”

  Basil’s face clouded.

  Ella knew she’d prodded the girl unfairly, but kept her features passive. “But since Sibby has sent for you, then you can explain to her what’s going on.”

  “That don’t make no sense,” Basil groused. “She already know.”

  Ella’s lips turned up. “Precisely as I thought. And as soon as I take you back into the house, then both of you can tell me what’s happening.”

  Basil quickened her steps and came in front of Ella. “No ma’am. That ain’t—”

  Ella stepped around her, undeterred. “Then perhaps we shall wait for the major to return.”

  Basil gulped.

  “I’m certain he will wish to know if anything out of sorts is happening on his lands, don’t you think?”

  Basil made some funny noises and Ella kept going until she reached the back door and wrenched it open.

  “Miss Ella!”

  She paused and looked back at Basil. “Yes?”

  Her shoulders drooped. “All right.”

  “All right what?”

  Basil glared at her, and for a moment Ella wanted to forget the entire thing. But she couldn’t do that. If something were going on that could put Lee in danger, she needed to know.

  “I’s goin’ to tell Sibby you was sneekin’ around.”

  Ella shrugged. “She’s the one who sent me to find you. That’s all I was doing…looking for you.”

  Basil put her hands on her hips. “Well, go on then. Best we done get this over with.”

  Ella smiled, though she felt no satisfaction in it, and headed up the stairs with Basil on her heels.

  Colonel Larson sat back in his seat and took his time looking over the papers Westley handed him: the tax forms, his commission papers, and the signed medical furlough from General Sheridan.

  He squinted closely-set eyes at the tax forms, and Westley instructed himself to remain at ease. He’d remained awake most of the night contemplating the taxes that put Belmont at risk while simultaneously forcing himself not to trespass into Ella’s room.

  The temptation nearly proved too much when, during the
night, he’d heard her singing a hymn while the child’s coughing fits grew worse. How he’d wanted to console her….

  What about the woman tempted his thoughts to stray to such things? Why did she stoke something in him to want to shield her from all manner of pain? Perhaps it was that underneath her dragon’s fire he’d glimpsed a tender soul—a playful nymph with sparkling eyes full of life and beauty. In her he saw someone unique, intelligent, and captivating. He was attracted to her—undeniably so. But mere attraction had never caused such stirrings in him before. He’d wanted to pummel that soldier when he’d seen him standing over his Ella.

  His Ella?

  He clenched his jaw. What would possess him to think such things? It must be the soldier in him, wanting to protect the weak and the innocent. Anything more did not bear consideration, as it would only cause more difficulties when his furlough ended.

  Westley forcefully snapped his attention back to the matter at hand. Late morning sunlight drifted through lazy dust motes dancing on the warm spring air. They swirled around what had once been a banker’s office and made little circles around the colonel’s bowed head.

  The place smelled of damp ash and rotting wood, and he could guess that the man across from him was less than pleased with the conditions he found himself in. The sentiment to leave the South and return home permeated the disposition of every man in federal blues whom Westley had spoken to upon his arrival at this post. Occupation was hardly a palatable affair.

  The colonel folded the papers and snapped his amber gaze up to Westley. “Well, Major Remington, it seems you have quite the tale. Word is you were supposed to be dead.” He gestured toward a chair near the oak desk.

  Relieved to be off his leg, Westley took a seat. “I don’t know about supposed to be, sir, but I assuredly am not.” He rubbed his leg. “Though I’ve been told I came rather close.”

  The man leaned forward and laced long fingers together on top of his desk. “A relief, I’m sure, for your family.”

  “What remains of it,” Westley replied carefully.

  “My corporal says your wife is a Southern sympathizer, as were your parents.”

  He gave a nod.

  The man arched an eyebrow. “A rather difficult complication for a man in your position, I dare say.”

  Westley pressed his knuckles into his thigh. “My family and I remained in good standing, even though we differed over the war. I would not go against the vows I’d made upon graduation from West Point, and my father could not go against the state that he so loved. We spoke little, but affection remained.”

  Colonel Lawson stroked an auburn beard. “Are you aware, then, that your father ignored all Federal taxes during the course of the Rebellion?”

  “Since all Southern states did the same, no sir, it doesn’t come as a surprise.”

  Larson’s chair squeaked as he leaned back again. “It seems there is some discord among those in Washington concerning what is to be done with seized lands and accumulated taxes.”

  “I have heard the same.”

  The colonel held Westley’s gaze for a moment, as though contemplating something. “Tell me, Major. Do you intend to return the plantation back to cotton production?”

  He tilted his head. “I am a career military man, sir. I intend to return to duty after my medical furlough.” Something flickered on the man’s face that gave Westley pause. “But why do you ask?”

  “Well, as you know, cotton is in high demand, and there are certain…allowances, I believe, for loyal citizens able to return some stability to the market.” He shrugged. “This is not my area of expertise, mind you, but as I am sympathetic to your circumstances, I thought it might be worth mentioning.”

  Westley kept his features passive, though uneasiness began to squirm in his gut. Something shifted in the colonel’s words, as though he hid some kind of agenda. Westley chose his words carefully. “Unfortunately, sir, with as much as my father owes, I am doubtful I can even cover the debt, let alone afford the planting.”

  “A pity, that.”

  Indeed. What would he do if he had to sell Belmont? Then where would Ella and Lee go when he returned to duty? And what about Sibby? Were his mother alive, she would be sorely displeased if Westley did not at least secure new employment for her favorite maid.

  “I hear some are offering the work to the former slaves,” Larson continued, interrupting his wandering thoughts. “Promising them a portion of the crops and payments after the harvest.”

  Westley scratched his head. It didn’t seem all that different from what they had always done. “If any remain who have not fled North, that could be a possibility, I suppose.”

  The other officer snorted. “There are more than enough loitering about. I’m sure you can find plenty of backs willing to bend to the work if you promise them it’s worth their sweat.”

  Perhaps the man had a point. “But first, the taxes.”

  Colonel Larson came to his feet. “Well, now, let me make a few inquiries, and we will see what can be done for a loyal soldier who served his country well, shall we?”

  Westley stood, the ambition in the officer’s eyes troubling. “I would be most grateful, sir, for anything you could do.”

  The colonel smiled broadly. “Certainly, Major. I would consider it my pleasure.” He motioned toward the door. “I will send word as soon as I find out if anything can be done.”

  “Again, sir, you have my gratitude.”

  “If there is anything else you need, let me know.”

  Westley grabbed his cap and hesitated in the doorway. “Actually, sir, there is one other thing….”

  “Yes?”

  “Do you know where I can locate a doctor?”

  Ella swept into the nursery in a flurry of dirty skirts. Basil darted around her, hurrying to where Sibby lay on the bed.

  “Sibby!” Basil spouted. “She done saw them bringin’ in the wagons, and—”

  Sibby darted upright, her eyes so large in her face they looked like white marbles. “Shush girl! Watch what you is sayin’!”

  Ella crossed her arms and stood in the doorway, watching the exchange.

  “Didn’t you hear what I done said? She saw, Sibby!”

  Sibby’s eyes darted to Ella, and a mask of indifference lowered over Sibby’s face. “Saw what?”

  Ella lifted her brows. “Come now, Sibby. We aren’t going to play this game, are we?”

  “Don’t know what you is talkin’ about. I don’t know what you done think you saw.”

  Ella stared at her.

  Sibby sputtered. “They was…they was a new family supposed to be acomin’. You probably saw them movin’ they stuff.”

  Basil studied her shoes and shifted her weight from foot to foot. Silence settled on the room, thick and heavy like a sodden cloak.

  Ella waited a moment to see just how uncomfortable the two might become, then cocked her head. “That so?” She tsked. “Well, my, my, they sure had a lot of possessions….” She tapped her chin. “And quite a few livestock.”

  Sibby shrugged too-stiff shoulders. “I reckon. Don’t know nothin’ much about them.”

  “Yet they are coming to live at Belmont.” She flicked her gaze to Basil, but the girl remained as still as stone. Ella looked back at Sibby, who stared at her with her chin lifted. “Hmm. Odd, really, seeing as how you seem to know everything about everything that goes on around here.”

  Sibby pressed her lips into a line.

  Ella shrugged. “Very well. Since no one seems inclined to talk to me about it, I will simply bring up the matter when the major returns.”

  Sibby’s mouth fell open. “No, ma’am. That ain’t a good idea.”

  “Oh?” Ella crossed her arms. “And why not?”

  Sibby rubbed the muscles at the nape of her neck. “He don’t need to be worryin’ with none of that. It be the concern of our people.”

  “People who live on his land.”

  Sibby’s gaze narrowed, but for some reason
Ella simply could not control the words that slipped from her mouth. “Well, I suppose I will tell him what I saw, and let him decide if he wishes to concern himself with it.”

  Basil groaned. “Miss Ella, what done got into you?”

  Lee began a coughing fit and interrupted her reply. Ella hurried to the crib and scooped him up, bouncing him and trying to ease the spasms. Behind her, the other two shared harsh whispers.

  Lee began to choke, and Ella turned him to the side so he could cough up a thick wad of phlegm. “Oh, heavens, wee one.” Ella groaned and stroked his back. Why were the medicines not making the sickness go away, leaving her desperate prayers unanswered? Had she not suffered enough already?

  The whispers stopped and Basil came closer, peering at the baby as he finally caught his breath and began to cry. “Is he gonna be all right, Miss Ella?”

  Tears sprang to her eyes. “I hope so, Basil.” Ella rocked him until he settled some and his cries turned to pitiful whimpers.

  “You wanna give him some more of that elixir?” Sibby asked, her animosity seemingly forgotten.

  Lee sniffled, his dark eyes blinking up at Ella. She shook her head. “I don’t think he should have more so soon.” She laid him in the crib and lifted his gown. “But I can rub on the amber oil and see if that gives him some relief.”

  Lee shivered as she rubbed his tiny chest and prayed that the treatments would work and that Westley would return soon. If only he could find a doctor, then Lee would be safe. Surely the doctor could give him something to ease these spasms.

  Please, let him return quickly….

  No sooner had Ella flung the prayer heavenward than she heard noises from downstairs. Basil and Sibby shared a concerned look, but Ella ignored them as she gathered Lee to her chest and scrambled toward the stairs.

  She made the turn on the landing and came to a halt halfway down to the lower floor. Major Remington placed his hat on a hook and turned to look at her with a weary expression.

  He was alone.

  Ella craned her neck to look at the door behind him and took two more steps down. “Where is the army doctor you went to fetch?”