His Civil War Bride

by Christine Sterling

  The man raised a leather gloved hand in greeting. Peyton’s hand shot up before quickly pulling it down.

  What was she doing?

  She was saved from her thoughts by the sound of the door being pushed open. She turned to see Kisse enter the room carrying a tray containing some finger sandwiches, a few small jam tarts and a porcelain tea pot.

  Placing a hand on Catherine’s arm, she turned her friend’s attention away from the window. “Tea is ready. Let’s eat before Justin and Christian arrive.”

  Catherine nodded and returned to her seat by the fireplace. Peyton gave one last glance out the window. The officer and his horse were gone.

  Chapter 2

  “Seventy-five thousand?” Peyton stared at Justin in disbelief. Peyton couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

  It was later that same day, after the men swarmed into Harrisburg. She was seated in the drawing room with her parents, Catherine and the Miller brothers.

  They had just finished a dinner of soup, roasted quail and boiled potatoes. Then they retired to the sitting room to have coffee and discuss the day’s events.

  Father had a strict rule. No politics were to be discussed at dinner if women were present.

  It didn’t just apply to dinner. Father thought ladies shouldn’t be involved in such matters at all. And he refused to discuss any matters in front of the servants. Of the six servants in the house, three of them were former slaves.

  Peyton didn’t know their stories, and she didn’t ask. The southern fight seemed so far away.

  But now it had come to her very door.

  Peyton glanced at Justin. He was sipping his coffee from the saucer. He was very handsome, his dusty brown hair trimmed close to his head; and he sported a neat beard. Peyton appreciated that he didn’t have bushy facial hair.

  He gave a loud slurp before placing the cup on the saucer. “That is what Colonel Stout said. President Lincoln made the call for volunteers,” he explained.

  “Colonel Stout?” Catherine asked between sips of tea. She was sitting on the settee, her shawl draped over her knees to ward off the chill.

  Christian Miller walked over and placed his hand on Catherine’s shoulder. “He’s been commissioned to establish Harrisburg as a muster point. The Commanding Officer.”

  What does that mean?” Peyton asked.

  “It means troops will be coming through here to prepare before they head to battle,” her father explained. He finished his coffee and placed the cup on the sideboard. “I don’t think you and Catherine should be wandering around unattended. It won’t be safe. We don’t know what kind of men these are.”

  “They are fighting for the Union,” Justin said. “That should be enough to know what kind of men they are.”

  “Yes, yes,” Mr. Fuller concurred, “but where do they come from? Are they gentlemen or riffraff?”

  Peyton heard her mother snort. “I don’t think it matters. Especially if Lincoln wants that many soldiers.”

  “Colonel Stout seems to be a fine man. Comes from the Pittsburgh area,” Justin chimed in. “Did you know he is only twenty-five and already has a Colonel rank?” Without waiting for a response, Justin continued. “He invited us to go down to meet with him tomorrow.”

  “Whatever for?” Mrs. Fuller asked.

  Justin shrugged. “The Army is going to need supplies. Thirteen thousand men is a large number to feed. Christian and I are going to see how we might be able to broker those services for them. Not only will they need food, but clothing and weapons, ammunition.”

  “That is a fine idea, young man. You might make your fortune in this war.”

  Justin gave a glance to Peyton. “That’s my intention, sir. To make my fortune so I can take a wife and settle down.”

  Peyton felt herself blush. She looked at Justin, who was staring intently at her. His deep brown eyes gave nothing away.

  “Why are there that many soldiers required?” Peyton wondered.

  “Strength in numbers, daughter,” her father said, taking a seat next to his wife. “I had an opportunity to talk to Jenkins and he said the troops are requisitioning supplies. Almost everything has been sold at the mercantile. The shelves are down to minimum. Milhaus sold his entire herd of sheep to feed the lot arriving. Got a right fine sum for them too.”

  “Everything?” Peyton asked. “It is almost as if folks knew that they were coming.”

  “There was some rumbling in the community. Remember I told you to stay away from Curtin’s field? That is where they are setting up camp.”

  “How come we didn’t know this?” Peyton cried.

  “Daughter, the affairs of men are not any of your business.” Mr. Fuller pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and blotted his head, before shoving it back in his pocket.

  “I am so happy that no one here will be enlisting,” Catherine said placing her cup aside. She lifted her handkerchief to her lips and gave a little cough.

  Christian cleared his throat. “Why don’t I escort you home? The sun will be setting soon, and you shouldn’t be out in the cold.”

  Catherine nodded and accepted his hand to lift her from the seat. “Are you leaving too, Justin?” Catherine asked.

  “No. I wanted to talk to Mr. Fuller for a few moments,” Justin responded.

  Peyton felt her heart leap. He must need to ask her father’s blessing so they could marry! Catherine and Christian leaving provided a perfect excuse to leave Justin alone with her parents.

  “I’ll walk you out,” Peyton said, following the couple out to the foyer.

  “I should retire to my room,” her mother said, coming up behind them. “I have some correspondence to finish.”

  Peyton watched as Christian helped his fiancée with her wrap. Peyton handed Catherine her bonnet and shawl. Once she was ready, she gave Peyton a quick hug.

  “Let’s go visit Mrs. Godey tomorrow morning,” she said. Peyton watched Catherine slip her hand into Christian’s arm and walk through the door.

  Peyton closed the door behind her guests and returned to the drawing room. Her father was shaking Justin’s hand.

  “You have my full support, young man,” her father said. “When the time is right you will know what to do.”

  “I appreciate that, sir.” Justin released Mr. Fuller’s hand and picked his hat up from the piano bench. “I should probably take my leave as well.”

  “So soon?” Peyton asked. She was hoping that Justin would propose immediately after he talked to her father.

  “I’m sorry, but I need to stop by and see Mr. Jenkins before my meeting tomorrow. Walk me to the door?” He held out his arm, and Peyton placed her hand at his elbow. She felt a little giggle rising in her throat.

  Perhaps he wanted to mention marriage before he left? He didn’t say anything at the door. Justin released her and took his coat from the peg by the door, shrugging his arms into it. He pulled gloves out from the pockets and tugged them on, before reaching over to take Peyton’s hand.

  How she wished he’d left the gloves off so she could feel the warmth of his skin!

  He looked at her for a moment. His brown eyes probing her as if looking for something in her thoughts. Peyton shuffled from foot to foot. He leaned down towards her. Peyton caught her breath. Was he going to kiss her?

  She had never been kissed before! As Justin was a full foot taller than she was, she lifted on her toes to reach his lips. She closed her eyes slightly and instead of the kiss she imagined, she felt Justin release her hand and move backwards.

  Peyton opened her eyes, nearly losing balance as she took a slight step. Justin put on his hat and opened the door.

  “May I call on you next week?”

  “Next week?” Peyton blinked several times, unsure that she heard him correctly. Normally a quick call from Justin was a daily occurrence.

  “Yes. I’ll be otherwise occupied this week with procuring contracts for supplies. Next week should suffice.”

  “O-of course.”

&
nbsp; Justin gave a little bow and left Peyton alone standing on the doorstep wondering what just happened.

  “And then he just left!” Peyton told Catherine the following morning, as they made their way towards the shopping district.

  “Perhaps he had something on his mind.”

  “I thought he was going to kiss me,” she confessed.

  Catherine paused and grabbed Peyton’s arm. “No!” She gave a little giggle, “Well did he?”

  “No.” She put out her lip in a pout. “He said he would see me next week and that would be it.”

  “Well he should see you at the picnic on Sunday. Did you decide which dress you were going to wear?”

  Peyton shook her head. “I’m still thinking about the green one with strawberries. Oh,” she said with excitement. “We received an invitation from Mr. and Mrs. Adams to an evening of cards and company. I guess it is to welcome the officers to Harrisburg.”

  “Father mentioned it on his way out this morning. I was concerned that all festivities would end with the number of strangers in town. But it doesn’t appear so.”

  Peyton looked ahead and she could see the agriculture fields in the distance. She could see men building a structure and there was a large painted sign leaning against a tree. Camp Curtin.

  That’s odd, Peyton thought. She didn’t realize the field had a name. She always thought of it just as the Agriculture Center.

  When they arrived at the corner of the shops, Peyton paused to look at the sight in the field before her. There were at least one hundred large round tents covering the field. Surrounding the larger tents were many smaller ones that simply looked like a sheet draped over a string.

  She couldn’t even see the brick buildings where the farmers would come to have their crops judged in the fall. There were men as far as the eye could see.

  Some of the men were pounding stakes into the ground. A few worked on building projects. There were a few men sitting around the campfire talking, and even a few asleep on the ground next to the fire.

  But that wasn’t what caught her eye. In the distance there were men lined up in four long rows, marching towards them. When they reached the first row of pup tents, they turned and marched across the field.

  Bringing up the rear was the man Peyton spied yesterday. She recognized him from the way he stood in the saddle. Instead of the hat with the tassels he wore yesterday, he sported a short blue cap with gold braiding.

  Peyton watched as he raised his sword in the air and yelled at the men in front of him.

  “Isn’t that the Colonel Stout that Justin mentioned yesterday?” Catherine asked. Peyton shielded her eyes from the sun to get a better view.

  “I think it is.”

  “He has a nice ride.”

  Peyton turned and looked at her friend so quickly her cap nearly fell off. “Catherine! You are engaged.”

  Catherine’s lips curved up at the corners as she grabbed Peyton’s arm. “Yes. But you aren’t.”

  “Not yet. But I am sure that Justin spoke to Father about it yesterday.”

  Catherine looked at Peyton with sad eyes. “Oh honey. I hate seeing you waste your time waiting for him.”

  “What do you mean?” Peyton asked. “Is there something I should be aware of?”

  Catherine tugged on Peyton’s arm. She allowed Catherine to pull her towards Mrs. Godey’s shop.

  “There is nothing to worry about. I’m just saying if Justin hasn’t made his intentions known by now, then why shouldn’t you be allowed to enjoy the company of these fine officers?”

  “Catherine! Hush!” Peyton admonished. “Someone might hear you.”

  Catherine laughed. “No one is paying attention to me.” She opened the door to Mrs. Godey’s shop and pushed Peyton through the door.

  Normally the shop was busy, but not too busy. Today it was packed with women from the lower sections of town. Three machines, unlike anything Peyton had ever seen stood up against the far wall.

  “What do you suppose those are?” Peyton asked.

  “I’ve never seen anything so peculiar.”

  A woman stood in front of each machine and operated it by rocking a metal frame back and forth with her foot. At the same time the woman pushed fabric into the machine and pulled it out at the other side.

  Peyton scanned the shop, her eyes finally resting on Mrs. Godey. She was talking to a young woman who was holding several bolts of cloth. A widow, Mrs. Godey started the shop with a bit of the money her husband left her. She was one of the finest seamstresses around, for those who could afford her.

  The gray-haired woman spied Peyton and Catherine and held her hand up in greeting. Peyton watched as she dismissed the girl who disappeared behind a gingham curtain separating the front of the shop from the back.

  “Miss Green. Miss Fuller. How are you today?” Mrs. Godey said pushing through the crowded store to greet them. “I apologize, but you’ve come at a very bad time.”

  “We wanted to see if you could help Catherine modify her wedding gown.”

  “How splendid. I heard you were marrying that Miller boy. What a lovely bride you will be.”

  “I would also like a new gown for a party next month.”

  Mrs. Godey tsked her tongue and shook her head. “I wish I could help you, but I’m afraid I’ll be busy for the next four weeks.”

  “That long?”

  Mrs. Godey smiled and peered over her glasses to the two girls. “You see, I’ve been asked to help sew uniforms for our fine men across the field.”

  “But you are a ladies’ shop.”

  “I’m a businesswoman first, Miss Fuller. I can’t turn down the money the Army is paying me. They even gave me three sewing machines to help get the job done.”

  “What about Catherine’s wedding gown? And my ball gown?”

  “I heard Mr. Jenkins received a selection of dress patterns from a brand-new company. A husband and wife, I think. I was discussing it with him yesterday. You should be able to find something that you can make.”

  “I don’t want to make anything,” Peyton argued. “I wanted to hire you to make it for me.”

  Mrs. Godey simply shrugged. “I’m sorry, ladies. There isn’t much I can do right now. If you can wait until next month?”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Godey,” Catherine said, leading Peyton from the store. “We will check over at the mercantile.”

  “If you know anyone who needs work, please send them my way. I’m paying fifteen cents a completed shirt.”

  “We will,” Catherine said, waving her hand.

  “What are we going to do?” Peyton asked her friend.

  “We will go see Mr. Jenkins, figure out what we need and then see if Martha can help fix the dress.” Catherine linked arms with Peyton as they walked down the street.

  Several men wearing union uniforms walked in the road towards the land now known as Camp Curtin.

  “Ma’am,” one of the men said, lifting his hat as they walked by. The rest of the men murmured greetings. Peyton simply nodded and held tighter to Catherine’s arm, lest she decide to lift her hand and wave again.

  “Isn’t that Justin?” Catherine asked, pointing across the street towards the camp.

  Peyton looked. It was Justin. She was about to raise her arm and wave when she realized he wasn’t alone. There was a woman she didn’t recognize holding onto his arm.

  They appeared very familiar. Too familiar. The woman was taller than Peyton with red hair that fell in ringlets from underneath her bonnet. Peyton could tell she was wealthy from the cut of her jacket and the embroidery at the bottom of her dress.

  The woman said something, and Justin laughed. He never laughed at her jokes. He told her she was simply being silly and to grow up. How could he laugh at whatever this woman was saying?

  The woman leaned closer and Justin stopped under one of the streetlamps and cupped her face in his hands and kissed her.

  Fury sprang forth and Peyton wanted to rush over and demand that the
woman remove her hands from Peyton’s fiancé.

  The problem was – Justin hadn’t proposed. Peyton watched as Justin broke the kiss and resumed walking away from them, holding the woman’s hand in his.

  The couple hadn’t noticed her. Peyton yanked her arm free from Catherine’s grasp and stepped into the road to cross the street.

  Before she could get but a few feet, she felt Catherine grab her arm and lead her back to the street heading towards the mercantile.

  “What’s he doing with that woman?” Peyton asked. “Do you recognize her?”

  Catherine shook her head. “There is probably an explanation.”

  “Well I aim to find out.”

  “Ask him when he comes to the house. Not on the street. And certainly not in front of all these strangers.”

  Peyton took a quick look around. She and Catherine had caught the attention of some men in rags hanging around on the outside of the tent area. A quick apprehension rose as she realized that they were the only women on the street.

  She stepped back towards Catherine. “You are correct. We should probably get our shopping done and head home as quickly as possible.”

  They continued down the road towards the mercantile, passing the area where the soldiers were practicing. The area was vacant; the only evidence that men were there was the flattened grass that had been pressed down from the marching.

  For a moment, Peyton felt a disappointment that Colonel Stout was nowhere to be found. Why she was hoping to see the Colonel again, she didn’t understand. Perhaps it was just the shock of seeing Justin in such intimacy with someone.

  She shook the thoughts away and vowed to press Justin on his intentions the next time they spoke.

  Chapter 3

  Colonel Mason Stout stretched out his leg as far as the stirrup would allow, and rubbed his upper thigh trying to stop the muscle from seizing. It was four years prior when he was shot twice on an exhibition in Utah.

  Once in the leg. Once in the shoulder. The doctor said he was lucky that he didn’t bleed out. If the bullet had gone anywhere else, he would be dead.