"Yes, I loved the trip. My first time out of Virginia, but this is my home." She took his hand. "Our home, and I am glad to be back."
As they rounded the curve of the carriageway to the house, Charlie spotted a forlorn little figure sitting slumped on the portico steps. As the sounds of the team reached the house, the little black-haired head came up and a small body propelled itself like a rocket at the moving carriage. "Papa!"
All Charlie could see was Em running toward the horses. He jumped from the carriage and with long strides, caught the little imp up before she and the horses intersected. "Emily. You know better than to run at horses like that." Charlie, like most parents, reacted in fear first and then anger that his little one had done something so dangerous.
All Em knew was that her Papa was home and he was definitely not happy with her. The tears started like a spring that had been plugged and was suddenly cleared. "Papa. Em sorry. Papa!"
Jocko drew the wagon to a halt, and Rebecca joined the wailing child and shaky father.
Rebecca rubbed Charlie's back to soothe him and she carefully looked Em over before stating. "Charlie, she is fine. I think you scared her more than the horses did."
Charlie settled the little girl more securely on his hip. "I am sorry, Em. You scared Papa. The horses are big, and they could have hurt you if you had surprised them."
She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Sorry. Miss Papa."
"Papa and Mamma Becca missed you, too, imp."
She pulled back and grabbed his cheeks as was becoming her habit. "Papa not leave ‘‘gain."
"Little one, Papa has to work, and has to leave sometimes, but Papa is home for a while."
At the thought of her Papa leaving again Em decided to go into a full blown pout and reached for Rebecca. "Mamma ‘‘Becca."
Rebecca took the child in her arms and grinned at Charlie. "Let us go inside. It is far too cold out here for her."
They walked in to a scene of minor mayhem. Jocko and Reg were trying to unload the carriage, simultaneously directing several troopers in various directions, usually contradictory. The three escaped to the back parlor, where a nice fire was already lit and a small kettle was simmering on the hob, with the teapot waiting to be filled.
"So, imp, were you good for Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Richard while we were gone?"
"Yes, Papa, Em good. Get penny fwom Unc Wichad."
"Oh. Just one?"
"No. Penny." She held up her hand stretching her fingers as far apart as they would go. "Many."
"How many pennies did you get?"
Rebecca chuckled as she poured them both a cup of tea. "Charlie, Charlie, Charlie, she is trying to tell you how many pennies Richard gave her."
"Oh." He grinned at her. Learning to be a commander was much easier than learning how to be a Papa. "So Uncle Richard gave you this many pennies." He held his own hand up with all five fingers spread."
"Yes. Em not cry, Unc Wichad give penny."
Charlie looked at Rebecca. "Seems that Richard learned the advantages of bribery, too."
Then he turned back to his daughter. "So, Em, how many pennies?"
She looked to her hand and then to her Papa. She gave a soft sigh. "Fibe."
"Very good, Em. I am proud that you are learning to count."
Rebecca settled down on the couch and took Em from Charlie, cuddling her into the crook of her arm and kissed her on the top of the head. "I missed you, my little darling."
"Em miss Mamma ‘‘Becca."
Charlie stood and looked at his beautiful wife and their very lively daughter, cuddling, laughing, with Em plastering soggy baby kisses on Rebecca’s face. At that moment, he felt a peace he had never known before. The idyllic moment was broken as Elizabeth stormed into the room.
"Thank God. You are back. I swear this child has driven me insane with moping and wailing and sulking and wanting her Mamma ‘‘Becca and Papa. I gave up today. She was plastered to the window in the hall at dawn. She nearly ran down the first person that opened the front door so she could go sit on the porch and wait." Elizabeth’s description and the angelic little girl in Rebecca’s arms somehow did not match.
It was probably not the wisest move Charles Redmond ever made. He burst out laughing at his flustered friend.
"Ignore him, Elizabeth." Rebecca turned mischievous eyes on Charlie. "He has just not been himself since last evening."
Charlie had the grace to blush a charming shade of red, starting with his ears as usual and working its way across his face. He rather gracelessly changed the subject. "So, Elizabeth, how are you and Richard?"
"Engaged."
"Ah, good, good…… Engaged? He really meant it?"
"He did indeed. We managed to get the confusion cleared up while you were off lollygagging in Washington."
Charlie stood there with his jaw gaping. He looked back and forth from Elizabeth to Rebecca. The very thought of being in this household while another wedding was being planned put the fear of God in him. Eventually, he managed to stammer out, "Ah…… congratulations. You will, of course, be married here?"
"I am not sure where we will be married Charlie. We have both agreed it would be best to wait until after the spring campaign."
"Well, we must celebrate. Is Richard joining us for dinner?"
Elizabeth laughed, "Actually, my clumsy fiancéé is in his tent resting. He wrenched his ankle this morning. It is nothing serious but he will be off of it for a day or two."
Rebecca stood and gave Elizabeth as much of a hug as she could, with Em in her arms. "Congratulations, Elizabeth. If you and Richard would like to come back here for your wedding, please know you are welcome."
"You know, Rebecca, now that we have the guest population under control, do you think we could find a room here in the house for Richard?"
The blonde grinned. "Oh, I do not know, Charlie. Do you think it would be safe to let them be under the same roof? I am not sure we can chaperone them all the time."
Charlie grinned back. "Well, perhaps they would like as much chaperonage as you and I had."
"Hmm. This is true." She turned green eyes on Elizabeth. "What do you think? Can we trust you and Richard not to corrupt the moral fiber of Culpeper if we let him stay in the house?"
Elizabeth raised her eyebrow. "Considering what you two have done to the normal standards of propriety, I have no doubt that we will be able to conduct ourselves appropriately."
"Well, make sure that you at least live up to our standard," she teased, then rang the bell for Reg.
When the butler appeared, she gave him the instructions that a room should be prepared for Colonel Polk.
"So, do we need to organize a team to transport himself up to the house?"
"I think he could use a hand or two. Perhaps Jocko and Duncan could help him."
Charlie caught Reg in the hall, and instructed that Jocko, who was just finishing with unloading the wagon, be asked to step in for a moment.
After a few minutes, Jocko came into the room and bowed very deeply at the waist. "Oh yes, Your Majesty, what can your lowly serf be doing for ya now."
"Thank you, Sergeant Jackson. Your impression of a Russian is outstanding. How is Mrs. White? And so you know, I invited you in to help us congratulate Doctor Walker and to ask if you will perform a mission of mercy."
"Mrs. White is fine." He turned to Elizabeth. "I am not sure what I am congratulating you for, but well done, whatever is it. And who needs rescuing now?"
Charlie broke out in gales of laughter. "I am glad, and look forward to seeing her. Do you think she would join us for dinner? Doctor Walker is engaged to Colonel Polk. And Colonel Polk, with his twisted ankle, needs a hand in moving over to his new room here in the main house. Oh, and Jocko, will you join us for dinner as well?"
Jocko smiled when he realized he was being a complete ass. "Yes, sir, thank you, sir." He nodded to Rebecca. "Thank you, ma'am. I will take care of everything, General."