Under the Tulip Poplar

by Diane Ashley

  The broad window that took up one wall of the parlor outlined her beloved’s straight shoulders. He turned and smiled as she entered the room, and Rebekah’s heart fluttered. He was so handsome. She sent God a quick prayer of thanks that Asher loved her. And a request that He would smooth the pathway for their marriage. She couldn’t wait until they were husband and wife—then they could talk every day.

  Dolly greeted Asher before taking a seat in one corner of the room and turning her attention to the magazine she’d brought from their suite.

  Asher took Rebekah’s hand and enveloped it gently. “How have you been, sweetheart?”

  Rebekah smiled at his endearment. “Fine.”

  Dolly cleared her throat, causing Rebekah to pull her hand out of Asher’s warm grasp. “I have something for you.” She held out the gift.

  Asher took it from her and unwrapped the cloth with a quick motion. “Look! What a fine handkerchief. And you stitched my initials on it, too. What a talented seamstress you are.”

  “I hope you like it.”

  “How could I not, when you made it especially for me.” He smiled, and her heart did a little jump. “Thank you so much, Rebekah.”

  “You are most welcome.” She sat gingerly on the edge of the striped sofa that was stationed at the far end of the room from Dolly. The sun outside was brighter, and she felt like laughing out loud. Her whole world seemed to have changed in a matter of moments as she had gone from worrying about Asher’s preoccupation to basking in his admiration. Asher’s love and approval were the only things that mattered.

  “I missed seeing you at the Dupree breakfast.” Asher settled himself beside her on the sofa, but he left a respectable distance between them.

  “Dolly and I decided to stay here and begin our packing.” Rebekah realized she was twisting her hands together and consciously relaxed them in her lap. A lady was not supposed to broadcast her feelings. Another of those silly society rules.

  Asher cleared his throat, and she turned her gaze up to his face. “I’m certain you ladies are exhausted with all the social occasions. And you will need all of your strength for the journey home. In fact, that’s one of the reasons I was looking for you this morning. I have news to share.”

  Her heart became an icicle. “From home?”

  Asher shook his head. “No, but I’m sure everyone is fine back home. This has more to do with our upcoming trip. It seems you will have a traveling companion. Someone of your own age.”

  Rebekah tried to hide the disappointment that rose in her as she realized this might hinder her time with Asher.

  “The Lewises and their daughter.” Asher paused and glanced down at her. “Do you remember Alexandra Lewis?”

  Surely he couldn’t mean. . .

  “She’s a sweet thing. I’m sure you will be the best of friends.”

  His words brought a gasp of dismay that she covered with a cough. She knew he was watching her, so she pinned what she hoped was a convincing smile on her lips. No need to tell him how she felt about Alexandra. He might even try to defend her rival, and Rebekah could not abide that. What could she say? “How. . .nice. I’m sure we will. . .find something. . .in common.”

  Asher patted her hand. “You are the sweetest girl in the world.”

  She didn’t feel very sweet. She felt as deceitful as Delilah. A burning sensation made her blink her eyes rapidly. She would not deceive the man she loved. In that instant, Rebekah decided to do everything she could to deserve Asher’s praise. She would find something to like about Alexandra Lewis—no matter what it cost her.

  Seven

  The next morning, Rebekah’s vow was immediately put to the test when she found out they would be sharing their wagon with Alexandra and her mother. Was God trying to test her? She had never dreamed that the Lewis family would not have their own wagon. Instead of having to put up with Alexandra during meals, she would be subjected to her every day, all day long, for the entire trip.

  She looked at the wagon, trying to decide whether there was any chance for privacy. It was nearly twenty feet long from the tip of the tongue to the gated back, but the area where the four women would travel facing each other for the next month was the bed of the wagon—a space of some five by eight feet. It was topped with bent poles that would be covered with heavy, oiled canvas for most of the trip. The inside was fitted with two long benches that had been covered with padding for their comfort. Underneath the benches was room to store a few bags containing basic necessities, but most of their clothing would follow in the provisions wagon.

  Rebekah glanced longingly toward the men on horseback. Why did she have to be relegated to the wagon like a sack of meal? She could ride as well as Asher and would have been glad to show her ability if not for the ridiculous strictures placed on women by society’s conventions.

  Alexandra and her mother had already made themselves comfortable on one side of the wagon. Rebekah forced the corners of her mouth up and waited as Aunt Dolly was helped into the wagon.

  “Bonju,” Mrs. Lewis greeted them with the accent so prevalent in New Orleans. She was an older version of her daughter—a slight woman with dark hair and eyes and an air of sophistication that Rebekah wished she could emulate. “I am so happy to see you both again. I think we met at one of the victory celebrations. We are honored to travel north with you to your home.”

  Aunt Dolly stowed her leather satchel and held her hand out to Mrs. Lewis. “It is a pleasure to see you again, also. We look forward to becoming the best of friends before we arrive in Nashville.”

  Best of friends? Rebekah had serious doubts whether she would be able to maintain the appearance of civility.

  But Aunt Dolly did not seem to share her misgivings. As the wagon headed north, she chatted with Mrs. Lewis about everything from the defeat of the British to the latest reports of bandit gangs on the northern route to Nashville.

  Rebekah turned slightly to watch as the riverfront gave way to forest, wishing they were at the end of their journey rather than the beginning.

  “Miss Taylor. . .” Alexandra’s whisper drew her attention away from the scenery.

  “Yes, Miss Lewis?”

  “I hope you don’t mind our company on your trip to Nashville. Surely you are not envious because Asher has been visiting my home so much.”

  What could she say? She did not want to be rude, but she could not lie either. It was obvious to her that Alexandra was interested in having more than a casual friendship with Asher. A shrug was all she could manage.

  “That Asher. . .” Mrs. Lewis’s comment was a welcome interruption. “The colonel believes he will make an excellent officer.”

  “Yes, he has been very loyal to his country, staying past his original obligation.” Aunt Dolly leaned forward and smiled toward her. “Our Rebekah has proved herself to be the perfect mate for Asher by the way she has patiently awaited his return and traveled into the wilderness to see him when he couldn’t come home.”

  The topic of their conversation must have heard his name. He pulled his horse even with the wagon. “Are you ladies comfortable?”

  Aunt Dolly answered for them. “We are quite content. Thank you for arranging this large wagon we can share.”

  Asher’s shoulders straightened. “We have a cover to protect you from the weather, too.”

  Alexandra opened her fan. “You’ve thought of everything, Captain Landon.”

  “Thank you, Miss Lewis, but your father deserves part of the credit, too.”

  “Yes.” Mrs. Lewis nodded. “The colonel is a good husband. He is always thinking of our comfort.”

  Asher saluted the ladies before riding to the front of their cavalcade to scout the pathway ahead.

  As Mrs. Lewis continued to sing the praises of the colonel, Rebekah played with the fringe of her bonnet. Until they put the cover up, it would protect her skin from the sunshine. She peered upward through the thick canopy of pine trees. Of course, if the forest remained this dense, she would have
little need for either. But what would shield her from watching Alexandra Lewis flirt with Asher?

  ❧

  “I would really like to reach the Natchez Road before day’s end. Our journey from New Orleans has been uneventful so far, but I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to take a detour. How many days would it cost us?” Asher watched Colonel Lewis sharpen his razor on a strip of leather.

  The colonel frowned as he began to shave in the reflection of a mirror he had propped on the low branch of a dogwood tree. “We could be there by midday, and we’d resume our journey in a day or two, as soon as everyone is rested. Our ladies need a respite from these primitive conditions.”

  Asher looked around at their campsite, ringed by leafless, moss-hung oak trees. Alexandra and the older ladies, all of whom were accustomed to the modern conveniences of city life, could not be comfortable sleeping out in the open with only the underside of a wagon for shelter. His Rebekah, of course, thrived in any conditions, but she would probably enjoy a little extra pampering as well.

  He brushed the sleeve of his uniform with a fond smile. Rebekah had done a good job mending the tear in it. “If you think the ladies would like it, I suppose we could take a side trip.”

  “Excellent.” Colonel Lewis trimmed his mustache. “I know you’re anxious to be home, but I think we will all enjoy staying with the Tanner family. My wife has received several letters from her widowed mother, but she’ll be elated to see her again.”

  Asher realized he actually looked forward to the respite as well. Just as he’d enjoyed many times in New Orleans, he delighted in seeing his Rebekah ensconced in the society in which he dreamed they would one day belong.

  Eight

  “You’re a handsome young man, and as mannerly as you are good looking. I imagine half the girls in the territory are trying to turn your head.” Mrs. Althea Tanner’s voice was strident and forceful, her words drawing a snicker from the assorted relatives who were seating themselves at the formal dining table.

  Asher could feel his ears heating up from her comments as he helped Alexandra’s grandmother to the table. She leaned her hickory cane against the arm of her chair and grabbed his sleeve. Asher was anxious to get to Rebekah, but he had no choice except to lean over the older lady. Her skin was so thin it was almost translucent, but he did not make the mistake of thinking her senile. Although her brown eyes had faded to the color of buckskins, they were as sharp as a hunter’s.

  “Don’t be embarrassed. When you get as old as I am, you learn to speak your mind and accept whatever compliments come your way.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Mrs. Tanner pointed to the seat on her right. “Sit here next to me.” She waved away the son who most likely considered the seat his and looked at her granddaughter, who was hovering in the background. “You may sit on his other side, Alexandra.”

  Asher threw an apologetic glance toward Rebekah. Dismay was plain on her face, but what could he do? They should be sitting together farther down the table. The seats next to Grandma Tanner should be occupied by Alexandra and her parents, followed by the host of Alexandra’s relatives who lived on the extensive plantation. But in the hours since their arrival at Tanner Plantation, he had quickly learned that Mrs. Tanner ruled her family with all the authority of a royal queen. Etiquette did not matter—only the wishes of the matriarch. He pulled out a chair for Alexandra on his right and took the seat between her and her grandmother.

  Colonel Lewis offered a gruff blessing, and the unobtrusive slaves began to serve the food.

  The first course was a thick, white soup. Asher picked up his spoon and tried it, his smile deepening at the wonderful flavor of fresh corn. “Delicious.”

  “Thank you.” Mrs. Tanner inclined her head, reminding him again of royalty. “We grow all the ingredients right here on our land, from the spices to the corn in that chowder. In fact, I am proud to say that we either grow, raise, or catch nearly everything we eat. There’s little we need to barter for. Not like those who live in the big cities and rely on others to supply their needs. But then, we are not quite so hard-pressed for our survival as those of you living on the frontier.”

  Asher nodded his agreement and looked down the table toward Rebekah. He was relieved to see she had been seated next to her aunt. He would have liked the opportunity to converse with her, tell her how proud he was of her efforts during their journey. Even though they had both been very busy on the trip—he with securing their safety, she with making the travelers as comfortable as possible—he felt like they had been working in tandem. It was like practice for being married.

  Once they were man and wife, they would have different responsibilities, but it would take both of them to become successful. He had such hopes that he could make a contribution to the development of the United States. These were confusing days, and he knew it would take men with boldness and clear vision to make the important decisions that would secure America’s future. He wanted to be one of those men. And with a woman like Rebekah by his side, he could succeed.

  Alexandra’s voice brought him out of his reverie. “That’s a terrible frown you have on your face, Captain Landon.”

  “I’m sorry. I was thinking of home.”

  Alexandra put her spoon down beside her bowl. “Tell me about Nashville.”

  “It is certainly not an important metropolitan center like New Orleans, but the land there is breathtakingly beautiful. I’d venture to say it is the most beautiful part of the world with its majestic trees and sparkling streams. The Cumberland River that flows around Nashville is narrower than the Mississippi, with clear, swift water and fish that are longer than my arm.”

  “You make it sound wonderful.”

  Nostalgia tugged at Asher’s heart. The past year and a half had been eventful—and he would never trade the experience those months had brought him—but he was glad to finally be going home. “My favorite time of the day is early evening when the sun drops down on the far side of the hills. The stars begin to appear one by one until the whole sky looks as bright as that chandelier. Even the trees seem to whisper that God is greater than man can conceive as the wind blows across their branches in the evening. When I look at the forests and realize that God put them there years before I was born and that they will be there long after I am gone, it puts my problems into perspective.”

  “You are quite poetic, Captain.”

  Asher laughed, a little embarrassed that he had allowed them to see his love for home. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been there, Miss Lewis.”

  ❧

  Rebekah lost count of the courses that were served at the Tanner dinner table. It seemed there was more food than would be needed to supply General Jackson’s whole army for a week—including the Baratarian pirates. She picked at the meat on her plate and wondered if the interminable dinner would ever end.

  Things could not be worse. Asher was sitting at the head of the table, laughing with their hostess and that woman. How dare he enjoy himself when she was trapped next to some portentous old man who did nothing more than burp and belch his way through dinner.

  With a sigh, she turned her attention to Aunt Dolly. “How are you feeling?”

  “Much better.” Dolly yawned behind the cover of her hand. “But I am still quite ready for a return to that comfortable bed.”

  Rebekah was relieved that her aunt was looking much less wilted. At least she could be thankful for that. The last thing she wanted was for her aunt to suffer a relapse. “I wonder if we should stay here a day or two before we resume our journey.”

  Dolly rolled her eyes. “I’m ready to get home. It’s taken so much longer than I’d thought. And I’m not an invalid, you know. Sometimes you are too solicitous of my health. I’ll be ready to go as soon as your Asher says it is time.”

  Rebekah would have challenged her aunt’s characterization of Captain Asher Landon, but the scraping of chairs against the dining room’s pine floor alerted them that dinner was officially
over. She could not resist a glance toward the head of the table to see if Asher would come to escort them to the parlor, but he seemed to have all of his attention taken by a certain dark-haired temptress.

  Rebekah pasted a smile on her face and laughed as if Aunt Dolly had said something terribly funny. Aunt Dolly and the old codger were both looking at her oddly, but she shook her head and proceeded to the parlor.

  There was a fireplace in the room, and Rebekah was thankful there was no fire lit. Sometimes people as old as Mrs. Tanner liked to keep fires burning no matter how warm the weather. In front of the fireplace stood a tall-backed chair that resembled a throne. Instinctively, she looked toward Asher, catching his eye. It was as if they could communicate without words.

  He tipped his head slightly toward the chair, and she nodded. They both smiled. It felt wonderful. Maybe he had not changed so much after all. Maybe there was hope for her dreams.

  More relatives kept coming into the room. The Tanner household was certainly extensive, which explained why they lived in such an enormous house. She was sure she would get lost and never be found again if she wandered away from the parlor on her own. The house was even larger than the hotel in New Orleans and must be three or four times the size of Aunt Dolly’s home.

  She thought back to the day when her pa had first taken her to Nashville to care for her aunt. She’d never imagined she would spend the night in a home that made that house seem small in comparison. It was odd how things changed one’s perspective.

  Mrs. Tanner took her seat and waved a hand toward her granddaughter. “Alexandra, why don’t you play for us?”

  “I would be happy to, Grand-mère. But I will need some help with the pages.”

  Rebekah watched as Alexandra turned toward Asher. Surely he would not. . . . But he did. He walked over and helped Alexandra at the piano as she fussed with everything—her skirts, the music, the stool. Finally, it seemed she was ready to perform.

  Rebekah clenched her teeth. Things had certainly gone from bad to worse. She tapped one foot and wished the evening would end so she could go to bed. Then it would be morning and they could leave.