"I understand that. But would you like to explain why in the world she was out riding yesterday with the Yankee Colonel."
"She was not?" Now Mrs. Cooper was properly scandalized.
Mrs. Williams nodded as both women took a seat at the table to drink their coffee and have a proper gossip session. "She was out riding with him yesterday. Walking arm and arm with him, strolling like they were betrothed."
"Are you sure it was Rebecca Gaines?"
"Positive. Reverend Williams’ errand boy was out fishing yesterday and he saw them. Said she was dressed in a green velvet hiding habit. Think of it, the widow of a southern war hero gallivanting with a Yankee Colonel. It is shameless. And to top it all off, it was Sunday. She did not even attend services, but she was out with this man, doing God only knows what."
"Surely you do not think¼¼" The rest of the question went unasked but it is meaning was very clear.
"I think anything is possible. She has obviously forgotten her dear husband who fought and died for the glory of the Confederacy. Who knows what kind of things she is doing with that Yankee."
"Do you think we should go see for ourselves? I mean it is one thing to take the word of a boy, but it is entirely another thing to see with your own eyes."
"Yes, oh absolutely I do believe a visit out to Gaines Cove is certainly called for."
"Perhaps if Mrs. Gaines is under some sort of duress we can find a way to help her."
"It is our duty as good Christians."
"Of course. I find it difficult to believe that a good woman like Rebecca Gaines would willingly take up with Yankee rabble. I am sure there must be some sort of force being used against her."
"Do you think that the Colonel has¼¼"
"Oh I hope not. I would hate to think of such a thing."
"Well, then I shall gather a few more of the ladies from the church and we shall just go out there and see for ourselves."
--*--
Thursday, November 10, 1864
"Sergeant Jackson?" Rebecca called from the back porch.
"Yes Ma’am?"
"Could I borrow Corporal Duncan, for a few minutes? I have two chests I need to bring out of storage."
"I can get those for you, Ma’am." Jocko climbed the steps, and then held the screen door for her. "After you, Ma’am."
"Thank you, Sergeant." Rebecca led the man to a storage space under the stairs. "They are in there. Two cedar chests."
He opened the door, looking it to find the items she was asking for. He pulled the first chest out and placed it against the wall. Then he pulled out the other and hoisted it into his arms. "Where would you like it, Ma’am?"
"In the parlor I think."
Without another word, he took the first chest in then retrieved the second. She followed him into the parlor when he took it into the room. "There you go, Ma’am. Is there anything else?"
"No Sergeant, but thank you very much."
"Welcome Ma’am. If you need anything else, just let me know."
"I will."
Once he was gone from the room, she opened the chests to check the condition of the clothes inside. Her year of mourning her husband had ended on the 15th –– the anniversary of the 2nd battle of Auburn –– and she was relieved. It would be nice to wear a little color again.
I will bet Charlie would love that blue dinner dress.
She stopped suddenly and considered her last thought.
Colonel Redmond. Charles Redmond. Charlie. Kind, sweet Charlie.
She considered the Colonel, tall, elegant, charming, as handsome a man as she had ever seen. She lifted the blue dress from the first chest. Looking at it she smiled, yes Charlie would like this dress.
The more she considered it the more she felt confused. There was no denying all those things about Charlie were true. However, there was something about the good Colonel that should not even allow her to consider such things. It was hard. She readily admitted to herself that it was difficult not to think that way. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. She had simply been alone for too long. Any companionship was a welcome diversion from the loneliness of her life.
She realized why it was so easy to think of Charlie like that. The Colonel, for all intents and purposes, was a man. He lived every moment of his life as a soldier, riding and fighting along with the men he commanded. He had never had the opportunity to be a woman.
She sighed and looked into the chest again, her eyes falling upon her wedding gown. The gown she had worn when she married her husband. A true man in every sense of the word, but most definitely not a gentleman like Charlie. He had been indifferent to her most of the time, caring little for her or her feelings.
It was only when she could serve his needs that he showed her any attention at all. If he was entertaining perspective business partners or important members of the community she was paraded out to be the perfect wife. When he had been drinking and wanted his more carnal desires satiated, she was expected to lie in his bed and perform her martial duties. His touch actually made her skin crawl, but as her mother had told her on her wedding day, it was to be expected and if nothing else tolerated.
He was never gentle; always taking what he wanted until he either collapsed on top of her or passed out. When it was over she would always leave his bed, go take as good a wash as she could and then retire to her own room. Where, most of the time, she would curl up in a ball, hidden under the covers and cry herself to sleep, hoping that she would not be subjected to that again anytime soon.
She was actually relieved when she found out that her husband had been seen in the company of less than respectable ladies and it had even been whispered that he had taken a number of the young slaves as well, although given his attitude toward the servants they did have, she suspected that was just rumor. He treated his horses better than his slaves and, in her opinion, would not stoop to relieve himself with either. While she was saddened for the ladies of ill repute who had been forced to such a sad option that they would have to surrender to him, for she could only imagine how he might treat them; she was relieved for herself. With him finding his relief elsewhere she did not have to worry about him coming to her.
What made it worse, was her brother knew how she was treated, but he was powerless to stop it. He did not dare stand up to the head of the household. Once when she had been treated to a rough course from her husband that had left her bruised and hurting for days, her brother had threatened to do something about it, but Rebecca had called him off, reminding him that it would only make it worse for her. Her husband would most certainly take his revenge on her.
With tears in his eyes, he had agreed. And from that day forward, he had done everything possible to make his sister’s life more bearable. They would share walks and go riding together, talking of their hopes and dreams. She smiled and sniffed, holding back the tears when she thought of her brother’s dreams of travel and adventure. He wanted to travel and see new places and meet new people. Rebecca had been sure her brother would have left long before the war had it not been for her marriage. He stayed to protect her as best he could and in the end, he had died for his selflessness.
Reaching further into the chest, she removed a small jewelry box. All her jewelry was gone now, but this box held treasures far more important. Cracking the lid, she removed a piece of paper and unfolded it.
September 13, 1862
Sharpsburg, Maryland
Dearest Sister,
I take the time now, while we have a break to write and let you know I am well. They put me in the cavalry, telling me that my years of experience will serve the Confederacy well. I hope they are right.
I think of you everyday, dear sister, wishing there was more I could do for you. I know you are unhappy and while I am proud to serve, I wish I were still there with you.