Words Heard In Silence / Xena Uber

by T. Novan

  While Rebecca was glad to help where she could, she had to admit, at least to herself, that the thought of having strangers come into her home was a little daunting. She had no idea what to expect. She was also concerned for Charlie; his off handed comment about spies concerned her as well.

  They might only be women and children but nothing was beyond the realm of impossibility at the moment. From listening to Charlie and Colonel Polk talk in the evening, she knew the Confederacy was desperate to mount a final strike in the hopes of winning a war long since lost.

  She made a mental note to herself to watch and listen to everything very carefully. She would not let any harm come to Charlie or his men.

  She was walking toward the front of the house when she heard the little voice. She followed the giggles to the front parlor where Constance was busy with Emily, who was perched on a chair looking out the window.

  "Papa!" The child yelled and banged on the glass pane.

  "Oh, does someone see Colonel Redmond?"

  "Yes ma'am. The Colonel is standing out front with a few of his officers smoking a cigar." Charlie and Jocko had just returned from their daily trip, dusty and tired, but in good humor. They had stopped to talk to several of the company commanders, who had been walking down the drive from the rail yards.

  Rebecca smiled, moving to the window to see Charlie with Polk and a few others. He was laughing and looked very relaxed. She let an evil thought germinate for just a moment. "Em, would you like to go see Papa?"

  The baby’s eyes grew wide when she looked to Rebecca. "Papa!" She yelled before banging on the window again.

  "Well, come on then before you break the window." She scooped the baby up in her arms and headed for the front door. She pulled it open and stepped out on the front porch.

  "Papa!" Emily squealed and clapped her hands.

  Charlie just dropped his head and shook it slowly from side to side. He turned around and waved to them, his smile was a cross between affectionate and total embarrassment.

  "You have someone who is desperate to see you, Colonel." Rebecca chuckled as she lifted her skirt and descended the steps. "I was afraid she was going to break the glass in the parlor window."

  The moment he was in reach, Emily lunged for Charlie. "Papa. Kiss Papa."

  Charlie's men stifled laughs as their commander was graced with a sloppy baby kiss and a fierce hug.

  The Colonel cleared his throat. "Gentlemen, may I introduce Miss Emily. She and her mother are going to stay with Mrs. Gaines for a while."

  Each man in turn said hello to the baby, all the while barely allowing his smile to break through.

  "Papa." Emily patted Charlie's chest. "'Orsy?"

  "I promise to bring Shannon by for you to see later today, little one." He looked to the men. "She only loves me for my horse."

  --*--

  Saturday, D ecember 3, 1864

  Rebecca and Constance enjoyed a light lunch together and then mother and daughter retired to their room for a nap. Rebecca made the rounds of the house looking for last minute things to be done, but finding nothing. That helped her peace of mind considerably.

  Going into the kitchen she found Sarah and Beulah preparing large pots of soup. "Hmm, something smells good." She peeked in one of the pots, then found a spoon in her hand. She smiled at Sarah before tasting the soup. "Ooo that is very good. What is that?"

  "Tis only ham and bean soup, Miss Rebecca. Corporal Duncan brought the beans and Mr. Cooper supplied a little ham for flavoring."

  "Sarah, you have done wonders." Rebecca could not resist and she took another taste of the soup. "And what are you making, Beulah?"

  "Sarah convinced me to make cornbread. We are going to have a lot of extra mouths to feed this evening."

  "And every evening for sometime to come I think." Rebecca agreed.

  "Miss Rebecca?"

  "Yes, Sarah."

  "Colonel Redmond mentioned the possibility of hiring a few more people, especially since he is talking of opening the north wing and rebuilding the stables. I was wondering if he still wants to do that. I have several family members who are eager for work and good food."

  "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 D ecember 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:

  Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

  Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

  The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

  Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

  "Through fate and chance, we have faced a time of war. Now, that time of war is coming to an end for us and we must find a different way." The good minister spoke passionately and compassionately on the ravages of war and the prices that all had paid for it.

  "But then, are we not all at war against evil thought, against lack of compassion, against letting the matters of the body politic overwhelm the matters of the soul?" He looked to the future and spoke of a conflict that would come to end all conflicts; that each man, woman and child would have to face for themselves.

  And then he spoke of what would happened if a wise man who came among them and offered them peace and a chance for a new future; how the voices of fools who could not let the time of war pass into the time of peace might drown the words of wisdom. For wisdom is spoken softly, and wise words heard only in the silence of a peaceful heart.

  Reverend Williams talked on, reaching many of the people in his audience with the compassion in his plea. Emily was far too young to listen. She looked around the church, enjoyed the light through the window, sucked on her fingers for a while and started squirming. Constance’s pregnancy was beginning to show; holding a squirming toddler was uncomfortable, so Rebecca took the little girl in her arms. She promptly cuddled up in Rebecca’s lap and fell asleep.

  With the sermon over, the congregation stood for the second hymn. Reverend Williams’ prayer asked for the silence of the heart to hear words of wisdom in this time of change. The hymn roused the little girl, who was usually cranky and fussy when she first woke. Charlie quietly lifted the child from Rebecca’s lap and held her through the hymn. She went back to Rebecca while the collection plate was passed. Charlie dropped a silver dollar into the plate, and Rebecca reached into her reticule for a smaller silver coin. Charlie noticed that many of the people in the congregation had nothing to offer, and of those who did have an offering, it was usually just a penny.

  The final hymn and the benediction was over and it was time to file out of the little church. Constance was looking tired, and Elizabeth and Polk were both being solicitous of her. Charlie simply took Emily back into his arms and walked out to politely greet anyone who would deign to speak with the Yankee invader. The first to greet him was the good minister. Mr. Cooper was there as well. Surprisingly, Mayor Frazier was also there to acknowledge the Colonel and his entourage.

  The ladies, led by Mrs. Cooper, clustered around Elizabeth and Rebecca, who by now had taken Emily from Charlie’s arms. The little girl was the center of a great deal of oohing and aahing. She was ecstatic at the attention and was being very charming.

  As the ladies were admiring the little girl, Miss Reynolds noticed the ring on Rebecca’s left hand and pointed to it. As the other women in the group realized what that ring implied, there was a moment of stunned silence so profound that the gentlemen looked up to see what was wrong. Then all of the women broke out at once, some envious, others unsure of the propriety of marrying the enemy.

  Mrs. Williams, having divested herself of the robe she wore as the organist, came charging into the group, obviously prepared to condemn the conqueror and his harlot, when her husband stepped in front of her. In a firm, carrying voice, he turned to Charlie and announced, "I see congratulations are in order, Colonel. When do you plan to have the happy event? You know, I expect to officiate."

  Charlie grinned, Rebecca blushed and Mrs. Williams looked like she was going to explode. All in all, it was a very successful Sunday.

  --*--

  Wednesday, D ecember 7, 1864

  Rebecca entered the room quietly, closing the door behind her. She moved to Montgomery’s bedside and looked up
on his sleeping form. "Good evening, Major. I will be sitting with you for a time. Dr. Walker has asked that we talk to you in the hopes you will respond. But since I do not know what to say to a gentleman such as yourself, I thought perhaps I would just read to you."

  She pulled a rocker close to the bed and raised the wick on the lamp for more light. Taking the bible from the table, she opened it. "Let us start at the beginning, shall we, Major?" She cleared her throat as she adjusted the lap rug over her legs. "Genesis, chapter one. In the beginning……."

  Rebecca rubbed her eyes. She was not sure how long she had been reading. She would pause occasionally to give the Major a sip of water as Elizabeth had instructed. She placed her ribbon marker in the Bible and stood up to stretch tired muscles. Moving to the window she could see it was very late.

  The moon was high in the sky, thin gray clouds passed over it, causing shadows on the land. Rebecca realized that was how she felt right now, since Charlie seemed to be so distant the last few days, like a shadow had been cast over her heart.

  She looked at the ring on her finger, playing with it. "Oh, Charlie, if you have changed your mind, you need only say so," she sighed, her thoughts plunging into darker despair with every moment. She was about to retake her seat when the door opened and Samuelson came in.

  "Good evening, Miss Rebecca. I am here to spend the rest of the night."

  "Thank you, Samuelson."

  "Has there been any change?"

  "No, I am afraid not, but he is taking water regularly. Just small sips but he does swallow it."

  "That is good." The man regarded the woman before him. "Miss Rebecca, I think you need to rest. You look exhausted."

  "Perhaps. It has been a very difficult few days." She patted his shoulder. "Good night, sir, I will see you tomorrow."

  She left the room and headed for her bedroom. Stepping inside she saw that the bed was still empty, that Charlie had not yet come to bed. She left the bedroom and went downstairs.