A roar of comments greeted his announcement. Charlie just smiled and sorted through all of the questions. One more thing had been accomplished –– a safe garrison for Culpeper.
--*--
Wednesday, February 22, 1865
Rebecca watched from the back porch as the men continued their task of dismantling the camp. She pulled her cloak tighter over her shoulders to ward off the evening chill.
Charlie had been dreadfully busy since the orders had come down to get ready to move. He was up and out even earlier than usual and in much later than normal. Rebecca hated every moment of it. She held her tongue however, knowing this was just as hard on Charlie. Not only was he leaving home, but he was about to lead his men into what they believed would be the worst of the battles.
She tried to remain cheerful but with every moment she felt slipping through her fingers, her mood turned darker. She continued to watch as more tents were struck down and the men worked to roll and secure them.
In the distance she could see Charlie on Jack, riding through the camp giving orders and ensuring that everything was done properly. She resisted the urge to call to him and ask him to come in. She finally had a bit of an idea of what it was like to be the wife of a military officer. In a way she did envy the others, because they tended to travel with their husbands and she would not be able to do so. But, even they did not travel into battle with their spouses.
She turned and went back into the house to find Em and Tess there to greet her. "And how is my little darling tonight?" She knelt down and hugged the child, holding her close and envisioning her future with Charlie, raising his little ‘‘imp’.
"Hungwy."
"I was going to give her a little bread and honey before bed, Miss Rebecca."
Rebecca smiled at the nanny who adored Em and catered to her every whim. "Thank you, Tess, but I will take care of her. You can take the rest of the evening off."
"Thank you, Miss Rebecca," Tess gave a quick nod and left the room.
Rebecca and Em continued to the kitchen where Em was placed in her own chair, while Rebecca busied herself with fixing the child an early evening snack. She settled down at the table with Em to drink a cup of tea while Em tried her best to devour a piece of bread covered in honey.
"I hope your Papa does not come in while you are a gooey mess, he will never forgive me." She sipped her tea. "Of course with the smell of horses and sweat clinging to him he may not notice."
Rebecca sighed while she watched Em cram her mouth full of the sweet concoction. Elizabeth entered quietly to join them.
"You make a wonderful mother, Rebecca. She has flowered under your care, you know."
"Well, considering the situation, she does seem to be very happy. I am glad to be a part of that, but I am concerned about what will happen when ‘‘you know who’ has to l-e-a-v-e." They had taken to spelling the word around Em because saying it out loud sent her into crying fits.
"To be perfectly honest, I am almost more concerned over how she will handle it when Constance..." Elizabeth looked at Rebecca with a helpless shrug, unable to keep the sadness from her eyes.
Rebecca rose and poured her friend a cup of tea, placing it on the table as a silent request for her to sit. Then she retook her seat. "You know, she seems to understand. She knows it will happen and she seems to have accepted it."
"I do not envy your position here when we move on, dear. It will not be easy. I have spoken with Mrs. White and she understands what needs to be done, but it will still be very hard."
Rebecca nodded, trying to keep tears from her eyes. "I am doing my best to……" she shook her head and reached out for Elizabeth’s hand. "Thank you. Thank you for everything. I feel I have gained more than a friend. I feel as though I have gained a sister."
Elizabeth looked out of the window to the rolling meadowlands, the little pond, and the shadows of the mountains to the west and sighed. For once, she spoke her heart, a rare thing for this stoic woman. "I know I have found a sister in you, my dear - and somehow, perhaps even a home, something I have not had for a long time. I will miss you deeply."
"Then know you have a place here anytime you desire it. I would be delighted if you chose to come back here after the war." Rebecca tried to lighten the mood with an evil little grin. "We can work together to make Mrs. Williams as uncomfortable as possible. I will teach you the fine art of malicious taunting unsuspecting bigots."
Elizabeth broke out into raucous laughter. "Just for that, I might have to find a colored assistant and make her really uncomfortable." She hesitated for a moment. "Did you really mean it when you said I could be married from your house?"
"Of course I did, my dear. However, I think Charlie will run to the hills. Being around women planning a wedding is too much for him, I think. I would be delighted if you and Richard were married here."
"Then, this is not a permanent farewell, dear. I promise I will be back, and I will bring both of those two recalcitrant fellows with me."
"You know, I am worried for all of you, but with your promise, some of my concern is lessened. Thank you."
--*--
Rebecca was tucking Em in, and making sure the pup was also nested in the pile of blankets by the fire. Em rolled over in her bed and watched as Rebecca checked the fire. "Mama?"
The call surprised Rebecca, simply by the fact it did not have ‘‘Becca’ attached to it. She turned, moving next to Em’s bed and sitting on the floor so she could be eye to eye with the girl. "Yes, my little darling?"
"Papa?"
"Oh, Papa is working." She brushed her fingers through Em’s dark hair once again marveling at the fact that it was the same color and texture as Charlie’s.
"Papa leaving?"
"Yes, Papa must go away for a while but he will come home. He has promised us."
A little chin quivered, "Not Em."
"Oh, sweetheart. Would you like Papa to promise you too?"
"Pwease."
"All right, you wait here and I will go get Papa. We will be right back."
Rebecca decided it was time to have Charlie come in. His men were grown and quite independent of him, but his daughter needed him.
Just as she stepped out on the back porch to try and find him she saw him coming up the steps. "Just the Papa I need to see."
Charlie bent and softly kissed Rebecca's cheek, "Yes, darling? So what does Mamma require of Papa?"
"It is not so much what Mama requires, as what Emily needs."
Charlie put his arm around Rebecca's shoulder as the two walked into the house and up the stairs. "What does the little one need, love? You know I will do whatever I can."
"She wants you to promise her you will come home."
"I will promise to do everything in my power to come home as quickly as I can."
"Then let us go so you can do that or she will not sleep tonight."
They went upstairs to Em’s room. When they opened the door they caught a glimpse of a tiny body running across the room to jump into bed. There was one very confused puppy by the fireplace.
Charlie looked from the puppy to the little girl. "Hmmm. Seems somebody was out of bed when she was not supposed to be. Were you cuddling your puppy, little one?"
Em looked to the puppy, then cast her eyes down, "Yes, Papa."
Charlie walked over and sat on the side of the bed, taking the child in his arms. "Well, little one, if you need cuddles, you only have to ask me or Mama."
Em settled immediately into his arms, "Papa leave?"
"Yes, honey, Papa has to work, and my work makes me leave sometimes. But I will come back, I promise."