"Yes. Yes you would." He clucked his tongue, gave the reins another snap, sending Shannon into a gentle, but quick trot.
She looped her arm through Charlie’s, she had discovered she did so enjoy being with him and being able to touch him. "What would make you think such wicked things about the woman you want to marry?"
"Why, dear, it is simple. It is your spirit and spunk, your sense of humor, and the rebel in your soul that I do so love."
"I am glad we have found each other, Charlie. It seems that something good has come out of all of this."
Charlie transferred the reins to one hand so he could cover Rebecca's hand with his own. "You have given me so much, my dear. You have given me a future, when I had none. I love you."
I am giving him a future? Cannot he see it is me he is rescuing from an unknown fate? We will be together when this is over and we will both have something we never could have expected. "Oh Charlie, I love you too. You have no idea how much." She cuddled as close as she could to him, resting against his side.
Charlie settled in, just enjoying the contrast of the crisp fall air and the warm loving woman beside him. It was a moment to capture and hold, like a gem in his heart.
"Charlie, I want you to know something very important."
"What, my dear?" The tone of her voice had captured his total attention.
"I loved my brother as a sister should, and I loved my parents as a daughter should. ButI have never loved another the way I love you, the way a wife should love a husband. I want you to know that. I want you to take that with you and let it keep you safe, so you can come home to me."
The honesty of her words took his breath away. He pulled Shannon to a stop, and then turned to the small woman beside him. Reverently he took her hands in his larger ones. "I promise you, I will do everything in my power to come back to you, dear. I must go; I have given my oath. But no man ever had as much reason to come back alive as I do to come back to you. You know if you ever need me, for anything, all you have to do is call and if I am at all able, I will be here for you."
She raised his hand to her lips and brushed his knuckles over her cheek. "I know you will have to leave, and believe me it will be the hardest day of my life, letting you go. But I know you are going to come home and I will be here waiting." She gave a sad little smile, trying to hold back tears that wanted to fall as she thought of Charlie leaving. "I will be making wedding plans. You will wonder what you have gotten yourself into, my dear Charlie."
Charlie softly wiped her tears away, brushing his thumbs over her eyelids. "That reminds me. I need to make a trip to Washington. And I need to know your ring size, love."
"Oh Charlie, do not spend your hard earned money on something like that. I only need you. I could wear a band of copper and to me it would be the most precious thing because you gave it to me."
Charlie smiled. "I am not a rich man, but I have had few expenses in the last twenty years, and have accumulated enough to be more than comfortable. Anyway, I want you to be able to announce to the world that a man of substance has claimed you. If for no other reason, it will set the biddies on their ears. Will you want gold and diamonds? Perhaps an emerald for your eyes?"
Rebecca laughed, cuddling closer to him. "Whatever you desire, my love. And if you want to set the hens clucking with your choice I will be more than happy to flaunt my good fortune." She looked up at him, her brows drawn together. "Well, now that was not very charitable of me, was it?"
Charlie threw his head back and laughed. "My dear, look at what you are doing - taking in a broken down old colonel, a whole regiment of boys, and some stray refugees - and you think you are not charitable. Mrs. Williams needs to take lessons from you."
"Oh, Charlie, you are many things." She gave him a little leer. "Broken down and old are not among them."
They continued into town, and as they approached the church, Rebecca straightened and patted Charlie on the leg. "Let me off here, dear Charlie. I would imagine this is where I will find everyone I am looking for."
"I will go on to the courthouse first, then visit with Mr. Cooper, and meet you here. I want a word with Reverend Williams, myself."
"I will be here, and with any luck, I will not blow up and take the roof off the church." She gave him a wink.
"Darling, be gentle. The refugees are our concern, not the biddies. And remember Mrs. Williams will have all her allies around her here. It is not a good idea to walk into an enemy camp single handed if you are not carrying a white flag."
"Hmm, good advice from an expert. I will remember that, Colonel Redmond. Now have a good chat with the gentleman. I promise to be as kind as possible."
"And I promise to come riding up with the cavalry just in case you forget the rules of truce talks." Charlie pulled Shannon up in front of the Episcopalian Church and stepped down from the trap to hand Rebecca down. As he did, he whispered in her ear, "And be good."
"Why, Colonel Redmond, I thought you would have learned by now," She paused and ran her hand over his arm. "I am always good." She laughed then turned on her heel and walked toward the church.
Feeling a little dazed, and a lot teased, Charlie climbed back into the trap and headed up the street to the little red brick courthouse, where he knew he would find Mayor Frazier. Time to be the gentle conqueror again.
--*--
Rebecca entered the church to find the sight before her nearly horrifying. There were women and children huddled together under thin blankets around the fireplace and a small stove. No one was talking and the only noise heard was the occasional whimper of a frightened child.
"Oh dear." She sighed. "Well, Daniel, this is quite a battle we are going into." She looked around and saw Mrs. Cooper coming from the back. She raised her hand in hello as she made her way over.
"Rebecca, I am so glad to see you."
"Grace, I did not know things were this bad. When did they start arriving?"
"A few days ago. Rebecca, I just do not know what were going to do with all of them."
She scratched her chin, looking around the room. "Colonel Redmond and I are preparing Gaines Cove to take as many as we can handle. That will be twelve or so. We hope by doing this, others who have room will also take some in."
"You are a gift from God, Rebecca. I was at a loss as what to do with them. Reverend Williams, of course, offered the church for as long as it was needed, but Mrs. Williams had a right fit and said we did not need the burden of cleaning up after them so we could have services on Sunday. I swear to you, Rebecca, I do not know what that woman is going to do when she is at the Pearly Gates and St. Peter asks her to name one good deed."
Rebecca tried not to laugh and quickly placed her hand over her mouth. "Grace! As a very wise man just told me, be nice."
"Would that very wise man be the good Colonel Redmond?"
"It would." Rebecca took her friend by the arm and turned her around for a bit of privacy. "Tell me, Grace, what is the general consensus about the Colonel and his men? Can we expect any real problems, because the Lord in Heaven above knows we have enough problems already?"
"No, I do not think so. Most folks know that their being here is actually a good sign. We hope that this will all be over soon."
"Colonel Redmond believes it will be, but at what cost I am not sure and I am afraid to consider it too seriously."
"What more could it possibly cost us? They have taken everything we had."
"Grace, in all this destruction and this horrible time, I have found something very important and I cannot bear the thought of losing it."
"What have you found dear?"
"Love. I have found love."
"You and the Colonel?"
"Yes. He is truly a wonderful man who, if I am learning to understand him correctly, hates this conflict just as much as we do. He simply wants it to end so he can come home and have a life."