"I believe he is, but you will have to speak with the Colonel about that. You may speak with him this evening after dinner."
"Yes, Ma’am."
Reg entered the kitchen and gestured to Rebecca. "Ma’am, Mrs. Cooper and Mrs. Williams are here."
Rebecca looked to the ceiling and prayed to God to give her strength. "All right, let us go greet them. Where is Daniel when I need him most."
"Ma’am?"
"Nothing Reg. Let us go see what is to be said today."
They walked to the front of the house where the ladies were getting out of their carriage, which had been followed by a wagon carrying the refugees from town.
"Good day, ladies." Rebecca greeted them as she watched everyone get out of the wagon with Reg’s help. "Gaines Cove is ready and we welcome you all. Sarah is preparing hot soup and tea for you, and Reg will show you to your room. There is a warm fire and a warm, dry bed for each of you."
She moved to a boy of about ten years old. The look on his young face made Rebecca’s heart ache. "What is your name son?"
"Jeremiah."
"Well, Jeremiah, I am glad to see a young man here."
"I have been taking care of my Mama since Papa was called away."
"I am sure you have. And I am sure you will be a great help. There are a lot of things for a young man to do around here."
Jeremiah looked back to his mother. "Will that be all right Mama?"
"Of course, son. You may help where Mrs. Gaines needs you. It is the least we can do to repay her for her kindness."
"You owe me nothing. But I think it will be good to keep young Jeremiah busy."
"Yes, Ma’am, you know how boys can be."
"Indeed I do. My brother Andrew was one that father had to keep busy lest he found himself into something that was best not gotten into." She ruffled the boy’s hair. "Then start by helping everyone get settled."
"Yes, Ma’am."
The blonde turned to the boy’s mother. "Please call me Rebecca. And you are?"
"Samantha Carter."
"I am glad to meet you, Samantha. Iwish it were under better circumstances. Welcome to my home. Now go ahead with Reg and get yourself settled. I will be in directly."
She watched as the group went to the house. She would have to take the time to get to know all of them. She turned back to Mrs. Cooper. "Well, Grace, this is a start."
"Yes, it is, Rebecca, we are grateful."
Mrs. Williams sniffed. "My husband tells me we can expect to see you and the Colonel at services this Sunday."
Oh Lord Charlie what have you gotten us into now? Are we to show up at church as a couple? Rebecca smiled. "If that is what the Colonel said, Mrs. Williams, then yes we will be at services on Sunday. I look forward to it, as circumstances have kept me from attendance for some time."
Chapter 14
Sunday December 4, 1864, Culpeper
Charlie roused the entire household early on Sunday morning. He had promised, and he meant to keep his word. They would all be in church, wearing their best, and presenting themselves as proper members of the community. Polk, half of his company commanders, and all but one of Samuelson’s medics were coming as well.
Rebecca wore a discreet dove gray dress, while Charlie was in his Daniel costume, as was Polk when he came to join them. Elizabeth was in stark black and white, as was appropriate to her professional standing. Between them, Rebecca and Lizbet had found appropriate Sunday clothing for all of the ladies. Even the servants were gussied up for the day. As the wagons and carriage filled with representatives from Gaines Cove, four more officers rode up, all in their best, to serve as both escort and representatives of the regiment.
The churchgoing citizens of Culpeper did not know what hit them when this entourage rode into the churchyard.
In marched Rebecca and Charlie, along with Elizabeth, Polk, Constance and Emily. They sat down in the Gaines pew at the front of the church, one of the few real benefits the late and unlamented Mr. Gaines had provided Rebecca. Emily sat between Constance and Rebecca, with the two gentlemen taking the end positions.
Behind them came the twelve refugees, the women and children staying at the farm. Four officers and four of the regiment’s medics escorted them. They took their places in the unassigned pews at the rear of the building. The servants made their way upstairs to the Negroes’ balcony. At breakfast, Charlie had told Sarah and Beulah to recruit three more servants to help take care of the influx of refugees and sick people. A wave of hushed whispers rippled through the balcony as those two very efficient women looked for the right staff among their friends and relations.
Mrs. Williams, sitting at the organ to the side of the apse, drew a hissing breath between her teeth. How dare they come into this church as if they were a family; these interlopers, these traitors to the glorious intent of the founding fathers?
A sweet little voice rose above the hushed whispers that were circling around the church. "Papa. Papa." Em was trying to crawl across Rebecca’s lap to get to Charlie.
"Hush, Em. We are in God’s house. You must be respectful and quiet in God’s house."
"Yes, Mama." The little girl settled into the crook of her mother’s arm.
Mrs. Cooper and the rest of the choir filed into their position behind the organ. She smiled to herself as she saw Rebecca sitting with her Colonel. The little black haired imp beside Rebecca could, indeed, be Colonel Redmond’s child. But then, Mrs. Carter was also dark haired.
"That child called that monster Papa. And Mrs. Carter allowed it. What has happened to all of the good Southern women in this town? Corrupted by those damned Yankees. Look at that little slut sitting there in dear Mr. Gaines’ pew, that noble hero of the cause, as if she were proud to be there with that Yankee. It is disgraceful, I tell you, absolutely disgraceful."
"Margaret Williams, you watch your mouth. I do declare, one of these days you will be struck down for your blaspheming. I happen to know that Mrs. Gaines has every right to sit there, and that Colonel Redmond has only the most honorable of intentions. He may have chosen for the Union in this war, but he is still a good Southern gentleman."
At that point, Reverend Williams entered and took his position before the altar. Mrs. Williams started into the processional. Further conversation was postponed until after the service was complete. The laggards filed into their seats and with the appropriate amount of rustling and coughing, the congregation came to order. The exhortation, read by one of the elders of the church, and first hymn were ordinary.
Then the Reverend Williams stepped into the pulpit. From the mild, slightly bumbling man who Charlie had seen before there emerged someone very different. Williams was something very rare –– a minister who truly believed in the power of the God whose word he preached and who allowed that power to flow through him when preaching.
"Our text for the day comes from Ecclesiastes, Chapter nine, verses ten through eighteen."
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:
There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: