by Sara Orwig
“Thank you. We enjoy it.”
His gaze swept over her in an impersonal manner. “You’re wearing black for your father, I see. It seems as if all the ladies in town are dressed in black.”
“So many have lost family in the war.”
He smiled disarmingly and glanced at the door as if he expected someone to come walking through. “Do you have any errands to take you on a buggy ride today? I’d be delighted to escort you and give you my protection. You or any of your family.”
“Thank you, Major, but we feel quite safe. Memphis is my home. And I carry my father’s pistol.”
He laughed and then he leaned forward, lowering his voice. “Miss Merrick, I intend before my stay in Memphis is finished to find some way to make you smile.”
“You seem to keep forgetting the war, Major, yet it’s something I can’t forget for a moment.”
“Someday it’ll be over, and differences will fade. Miss Merrick, I’m captivated by the beautiful women in Memphis, particularly one on Washington Street. When I look into your blue eyes, I forget I’m a soldier and I forget there’s a war. I haven’t been in a battle and I haven’t killed anyone. I may not survive the war. Surely you can tolerate my presence for a few minutes.”
She wanted him out of the house. But she realized the cooler she was to him, the more he persisted, so she smiled. “I’m not so aloof; we’re just on separate sides.”
“Ahh, there,” he said, placing his hand against his heart in a mock gesture. “Already the snows of winter thaw a fraction.”
She shook her head. “Major, such nonsense! Now what’s the purpose of this visit?”
“We’re talking to townspeople about the newspapers they print, and your father’s name was on the list. When I saw Merrick on Washington, I asked to take this street.”
Feeling cold, she thought about the room at the head of the stairs and the press and her equipment. And one copy of The Loyal Memphian on her desk.
“The more I see of Memphis, the more I like the town. Have you lived here all your life?”
“Yes, it’s the only home I know. My grandfather printed a paper, and then Papa took it over.”
“Now The River Weekly is closed. Is that correct?”
“Yes, Major. I closed the office the day before the battle. I won’t open it again until the war’s over.”
“So this decision is yours, Miss Merrick?” he asked, studying her. He glanced around. “I thought perhaps your mother was the one who decided the paper’s future.”
“My mother is no longer living.” His gaze shifted to her and his eyes narrowed, his pale brows arching.
“I’m sorry to hear that. You’ve lost both parents, so who lives here with you? An aunt?”
“I have two servants,” she said, feeling as if a cold wind had blown across her nape as she watched a change in his expression. His eyes narrowed again, and he tilted his head to study her.
“You live alone?”
“Sir, that isn’t why you came calling? The paper is closed, so is there anything further you need to know?”
He settled back on the settee and studied her. “I find it distinctly difficult to believe that you reside here alone, Miss Merrick. You’re a very beautiful woman.”
“I have two servants with me and until the Union army arrived, there has been no problem,” she said, growing nervous. The polite tone was gone from his voice.
“There won’t be a problem now, I promise you,” he said. “I’ll personally see to your protection. If any soldier gives you trouble, you let me know at once. Send one of your servants and I’ll come immediately.”
“And if you’re the problem, Major?”
He laughed and leaned forward, reaching the short distance to take her hand. “Miss Merrick, I promise you, I won’t be a problem.”
She tired to withdraw her hand, but his fingers held her firmly.
“Sir—”
“Do you hate all Federals so much?” he asked softly, releasing her hand.
“Yes. My loyalties to the South run deep. I had a brother killed in a battle in Shenandoah.”
He shook his head. “My regrets on your losses. A brother and a father. Tell me about Memphis. I know nothing about the town.”
“We’re the major city between St. Louis and Vicksburg. This is a large cotton market, even with the war. The Appeal was our largest paper, but it’s gone now.”
“There are wild rumors circulating of a woman who was from a Memphis paper and donned a Union uniform and was in our camp at Pittsburg Landing.” He tilted his head to study her. “They said she had blue eyes.”
She gazed back at him. “And was she caught?”
“No, so it makes no difference now, except she must be exceedingly daring.”
“I haven’t heard any such rumors. Perhaps it was one of those stories that circulates without basis in fact. Sir, if you’ve finished your questions, I must ask you to go. I wouldn’t want to harm my reputation by having neighbors talk about a Union officer staying unduly long.”
He looked amused and made no effort to move and she felt a flutter. “Miss Merrick—what’s your full name again?”
“It shall always be Miss Merrick to you, sir,” she snapped and then realized she might goad him into causing her more trouble. “Sophia.”
“Ah, that’s better. Sophia. A beautiful name, as lovely as its owner.”
“And a name you wouldn’t use if father or brother had been home,” she said, angry with him.
He shrugged. “No, perhaps not. Someone in Memphis is printing a paper, and we can’t locate the office. The Loyal Memphian. Do you know anything about it?”
“I’ve never heard of it,” she said, hoping she sounded convincing, thinking again of the copy on the desk upstairs.
“Have you seen the area around Pittsburg Landing, Sophia?”
Suddenly she laughed, relaxing a fraction. “No, I haven’t, Major, but even if I were your elusive woman who visited the battlefield, what would you expect me to answer?”
His brow arched. “Finally. I feel as if my morning is a success. I coaxed a laugh from you.”
“Major, Memphis is filled with pretty ladies who might be happy for your attention.”
He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “Perhaps we always want what we can’t have,” he said softly.
“I’m not a challenge to you, Major. I must ask you to go,” she said, standing, praying that he would get up.
He stared at her, an amused look on his face, and then to her relief, he stood and picked up his hat. As she started for the door, he moved beside her. Without warning his arm went around her waist and he swung her around against his chest.
Her hands came up against him and she pushed. “Stop it, Major. I’m not alone and I can call my servant.”
“Sophia, I don’t want to hurt you. I can’t resist a challenge like you.”
“I imagine, Major, that my biggest charm is the fact that I live alone. Otherwise you wouldn’t dare this.” She was furious, struggling in vain, aware of the lust in his gaze.
He bent his head and in the fraction of time before his mouth touched hers, she thought of Caleb, the only man she had ever kissed. She twisted, and Major Trevitt’s arm tightened. He stopped only inches away. “Sophia, I don’t want to use force.”
“Then release me,” she said, pushing against his chest.
“There’s no beau who’s away to war?”
“No.”
The dim sound of voices startled her, and relief washed over her. His hands fell away. “I want you, Sophia.”
“You don’t know me, Major, and you never will,” she said emphatically.
His smile broadened as someone knocked at the front door.
Chapter 10
Sophia smoothed her dress and opened the door to face Hannah Lou and Mrs. Stanton.
“Come in,” she said, stepping back and holding the door, thankful to see them. Both entered and looked at the major.
&nbs
p; “Mrs. Stanton, Hannah Lou, may I present Major Trevitt. Major, this is Mrs. Stanton and her daughter, Miss Stanton.”
“I’m charmed to meet such lovely ladies,” he said politely, giving Hannah Lou a broad smile. “I was leaving, so I won’t intrude on your visit.”
“You won’t intrude,” Hannah Lou said, gazing up at him and returning the smile. Sophia stared at her. Had she forgotten Will’s injuries from the Yankees? How could she be so polite?
“No, Major, you’re not intruding on us,” Mrs. Stanton said in a cool voice. “Actually, Sophia, we need Henry to go get our other carriage. Something happened to the wheel and our buggy is at the corner in front of Eliza Kressen’s house.”
“Ma’am, let me look,” Major Trevitt offered politely.
“I wouldn’t want to trouble you, Major,” Mrs. Stanton said. “We’ll have it fixed in no time.”
“It’s my pleasure, ma’am. Which corner?”
“Right there, Major. I’ll show him, Mama,” Hannah Lou said, taking his arm and stepping onto the porch with him while Mrs. Stanton frowned.
“Come sit down, Mrs. Stanton. I’ll have Mazie bring us glasses of water.”
“Thank you, Sophia.” Frowning, she stared at Hannah Lou.
“I’m so glad you came when you did,” Sophia said.
“That Yankee wasn’t giving you any difficulty, was he, Sophia?”
“No, ma’am,” she said, having no intention of alarming Mrs. Stanton about Major Trevitt. “I’ll get the drinks if you’ll excuse me.”
When she returned, Mrs. Stanton was the only one in the parlor. Her bonnet was beside her on the settee. “Is Hannah Lou still outside?”
“Yes. The major asked her to accompany him to the buggy so your neighbors wouldn’t think he was doing something to property that didn’t belong to him. I can’t believe we have Yankees in Memphis.”
Sophia sat down, picking up a fan. “How is Will?”
“Will left last night with Major O’Brien.”
“I didn’t know they went together,” she said, feeling surprise.
“Yes. I hate to see him go back to fighting. I feel we’ve had one lucky escape and I wish I could just keep Will home now.”
If Caleb had gone with Will, they probably were on their way to rejoin General Bragg and his officers. Sophia drew a deep breath and felt another pang of loss. When would she see Caleb again? she wondered.
“Sophia, we can never forget or repay what you did. I do wish you would move in with us.”
“Thank you, but this is home. If something threatens me, I’ll come stay.”
“You do that at once. Just send Henry over to tell me, and we’ll come and get you.”
“I plan to put up some watermelon pickles. If you’d like, I can share a few jars. It’s so easy.”
Sophia tried to look attentive, but her mind was on Caleb. Where was he? Was he on his way back to New Orleans or back to battle? She never really thought he would stay in Tennessee once he left her house.
It was another thirty minutes before Hannah Lou and Major Trevitt came through the door. He was laughing; he dropped his hand from holding Hannah Lou’s arm. “Your buggy is fixed, Mrs. Stanton.”
“Why, thank you, Major.”
“Would you like a glass of tea or water?” Sophia asked. He had shed his coat and hat and had his shirtsleeves rolled up. His forehead was damp with perspiration and in spite of his disheveled appearance, she had to admit he was handsome. His blond hair was thick, slightly awry from the wind.
“I’d be grateful for a glass of cold water and to join such lovely ladies for a moment before I return to headquarters,” the major said. “This is a beautiful city, you have, ma’am,” he said to Clairice Stanton.
“We love Memphis very much and hope the war won’t destroy it.”
“Unless the Confederacy attacks us, you should be safe now from any major destruction.”
“You mean your officers won’t cause any harm?” Hannah Lou asked, batting her eyes at him.
Could Hannah Lou look at any handsome man without flirting? Sophia felt mildly annoyed with both of them. He was back in her parlor. She had no intention of letting the Stantons leave him alone with her. If he didn’t leave first, she would go home with them. He flirted with Hannah Lou, laughing at something she said, his gaze going to Sophia.
“Why don’t we all go for a short ride to see if your buggy is fixed?” the major suggested. “You can show me part of Memphis and tell me about your town, and I’ll make certain that wheel is in place. Mrs. Stanton? Can you forget for a few minutes that I’m wearing blue?”
“I’m afraid—”
“Please, Mrs. Stanton,” he said quietly, looking her in the eye. “I’d rather be home. This isn’t what I want either, but I have little choice. For a short time, can we forget the war?”
She sighed. “Very well, Major Trevitt. But only briefly. We are of different persuasions.”
“I’m glad you stopped to see me,” Sophia said to Mrs. Stanton, standing when they did.
“You have to join us, Miss Merrick,” Major Trevitt said. “Mrs. Stanton, can’t you persuade her to come for a ride?”
“Of course. Sophia, come join us.”
Hannah Lou linked her arm in Sophia’s. “You have to come with us.”
“Good,” Major Trevitt said, taking Mrs. Stanton’s arm and holding the door. As Sophia passed him she glanced up to see him watching her, a faint smile on his face. Sophia sat beside Mrs. Stanton while Hannah Lou rode next to Major Trevitt. He drove and Sophia wondered what gossip they would stir by riding through town with a Union officer.
Mrs. Stanton directed them east and in minutes they were riding away from the residential area, and Sophia realized that Mrs. Stanton had no more desire to be seen with the Union major than she did.
An hour later they returned home. Major Trevitt jumped down and offered his hand to Sophia. “If you ladies will wait while I walk Miss Merrick to her door, I’ll accompany you home. The town if filled with soldiers, and I’d feel better if you let me see you home.”
“Thank you, Major,” Hannah Lou said quickly.
He took Sophia’s arm and helped her down, cupping her elbow as they went up the walk.
“I seldom have found myself in the position of being unwanted and rejected,” he said lightly.
“Sir, Miss Stanton is quite happy to talk to you and she is a lovely person,” she said as they climbed the porch steps.
“I find a challenge exhilarating,” he said, rubbing her arm with his fingers until she pulled away.
“Goodbye, Major.”
“Until next time—”
He went down the porch steps and she closed the door. She rubbed her forehead and prayed she wouldn’t see him again. Hannah Lou flirted constantly with him, but Hannah Lou had a father and mother at home and servants. Sophia remembered the afternoon and when she told him her mother wasn’t living. From that moment he had grown more bold. She went to the parlor and picked up her papa’s revolver to see that it was loaded. His silver letter opener lay on the desk, and Sophia touched its sharp point. She didn’t want to move to the Stantons’, but now soldiers would know she was a woman living alone.
Two days later she was in the general store. “Mister Haskins, thank you for sending word that you’d open the store this morning,” she said, leaning close and whispering to him, because Union soldiers were in the front of the store.
“Yes, Miss Merrick. When you get what you need, you better go home.”
“What’s happening?” she asked, thinking of the streets filled with soldiers on horseback, men rushing past in buggies.
He glanced toward the front. “There was a raid on Memphis last night.”
“What kind of raid?”
“Our men. They hit the Federal arsenal in the fort and stole rifles and ammunition.”
“Was it Nathan Forrest?”
“No, ma’am, not this time.” His eyes sparkled as he looked at her through
rimless spectacles. He pushed them higher on his thin nose. “Word has it that the raid was led by one of your soldiers.”
She felt a cold touch of fear. “My soldiers?”
“That Major O’Brien. They say the Stanton boy was with him. They had over twenty men. Bluebel—Sorry, the Federals are fired up this morning. There are a few ladies out, but later when the stores close, you need to be home.”
“Thank you, Mister Haskins,” she said, barely aware she answered him. Caleb in a raid. She felt torn between terror for his safety and joy that he was still in the area. He hasn’t gone home. He must be near Germantown at Will’s uncle’s farm just as he said he would be. She gathered her packages and left.
Within minutes after she arrived home, she heard a knock at the front door. When she saw the blue uniform, she squared her shoulders. The pistol was in the drawer in the front parlor. She opened the door expecting to see Major Trevitt. Instead Captain O’Brien stood before her with a large basket in his hands. He removed his cap.
“Good morning, Miss Merrick. I was in the neighborhood and wanted to say hello.”
“Come in, Captain,” she said, closing the door behind him, still unable to see much family resemblance between him and his older brother. Caleb’s face was broader, his eyes green, his hair brown, and his skin darker. The moment the door closed behind him, Captain O’Brien turned and his smile vanished.
“Have you seen Caleb?”
“Not since he left the evening after you talked to him here. Come into the parlor, Captain.”
She sat down on the settee. He followed and held out the basket. “I brought these to you.”
She took the basket and removed the cover, looking at an assortment of boxes and bottles. “Oh, my goodness, coffee! Real coffee.” She picked up a bottle. “Vinegar. And flour!” She looked up at him as he moved to the hearth. “Thank you, Captain. This is wonderful! Oh, and buttons! What a treasure.”
“I know there are shortages. Have you heard the talk around town?”
“Yes,” she answered, turning a large bottle of ink in her hand, thankful for the gifts. “I was told it was possibly your brother.”