by T. Novan
Charlie and Jocko joined one of these groups for the first few miles of their Christmas journey. Charlie wanted one thing more for the Christmas decorations –– a sprig of mistletoe to enliven the festivities. As the men rode, they searched the treetops, barren with winter, for that bright flash of green that signified the parasitic plant’s presence. Finally, in an old oak, gnarled by time and wind, they saw the ball of green, speckled with white berries.
The ball of greenery was far too high in the old tree for even the lightest and most nimble of the men to climb to it. Charlie pulled his pistol, took careful aim and fired. The foliage exploded, with sprigs of green falling like rain. Jocko scrambled off his horse, gathered the mistletoe and carefully wrapped the best sprigs in his handkerchief. Charlie was thrilled. His men were amused.
"Yup, General, sir. Just look at what happens to a fella when a pretty lady falls into their lives."
"Yeah. He goes out and starts shooting at trees."
"Well, boys, it certainly gives me a good excuse to kiss the lady."
The men rode on their way, laughing and joking at the General’s expense. Charlie and Jocko headed back to the house, grinning and planning where they would plant their little green bits of Christmas cheer.
--*--
Corporal Nailer and Reg were covered in a fine powder of snow. Duncan’s face was red and a fine mist of sweat had turned to frost in his blond eyebrows. Reg was just as flushed, his dark skin almost plum colored with the combination of cold and exertion. Jeremiah danced around both men as they struggled to bring the huge, long leafed pine tree they had cut and hauled across half the paddocks in Gaines Cove farm. Unfortunately, Duncan had promised Jeremiah he could pick the Christmas tree. The boy wanted it to be perfect, so the two men had trudged several miles, hauling a sledge and trying to keep warm.
The two men struggled to set the tree in the stand that Duncan had built and set it up in the great hall. Jeremiah’s excited voice brought the entire household to the hall.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it would seem these fine men have found a beautiful tree for our first Christmas celebration," Rebecca paused briefly, giving Em a kiss on the temple as the baby clung to her. "The first of many happy celebrations at Redmond Stables." She waited, hiding the grin and wondering when people would make the connection. It had been quite a week for Charlie.
Elizabeth, standing with Polk and admiring the beautiful tree, looked at Rebecca with a gentle smile. Charlie had his hands full; several of his troopers had followed Duncan and Reg into the hall, bearing great boughs of holly and greenery. One small, agile fellow quietly handed Charlie a sprig of gray green leaves with fine white berries, tied with a small red ribbon. The two men grinned at one another. The Christmas mistletoe had been retrieved and Charlie had plans for this sprig.
Sheridan and McCauley did hear Rebecca’s comment. "Yes, indeed, Miss Rebecca. I look forward to spending many happy days here at Redmond Stables when the war is over. That is, of course, if I am still welcome here, Charlie."
Charlie and Jocko were preoccupied with stringing a rope of long leaf pine over the entrance of the front parlor. Absentmindedly, Charlie agreed. "Of course, General. You and McCauley and the rest of the men will always be welcome, will they not, Miss Rebecca?"
Rebecca decided Charlie was truly hopeless and smiled at her love. "Absolutely, General." She hugged Em close to her and smiled at Elizabeth, who was nearly on the verge of full-fledged laughter at her friend’s predicament.
Charlie very carefully tied his little sprig of mistletoe into the rope of evergreen. "Indeed. I have always hoped to have a home that was open and welcoming to my friends. I am very grateful Miss Rebecca shares my sentiments." He moved to one side. "Say, Polk, would you and Elizabeth step over here and tell me if you think the tree is straight? I think it may be leaning somewhat."
Polk joined his commander. He looked at the tree with his fists resting on his hips. "Looks fine to me Charlie. Are you blind as well as deaf?"
Charlie looked at Polk with a bit of confusion? "Deaf? No, I am not deaf. What makes you say that?"
Polk was laughing so hard now he had to take a step back and lean against the wall to keep from falling down. Elizabeth stepped up and looped her arm through Charlie's. "My dear friend, where do you intend to live after the war?"
Charlie flushed a bit. "Well, I was planning to make this my home. You know that."
"Difficult to do from the frontier, would you not think, General?" Sheridan was quick to bring a glass to his lips to hide his grin. Charlie Redmond was a good man, even if he was a little slow on the uptake sometimes.
Charlie flushed a deep red. "Um. Well, you know, General, I will have spent twenty years in the army by next summer. I was thinking when the conflict is over, I might serve better helping this community recover from the effects of the war. After Buena Vista, the west just does not hold much appeal to me."
"Well, if you are determined to retire, Redmond Stables seems like the perfect place to do it."
"Redmond Stables?" Charlie’s initial confusion turned slowly to recognition as he looked to Rebecca.
"Yes, Charlie. Redmond Stables. The home of General and Mrs. Redmond. The finest horse farm in all of Virginia." She moved to his side and placed a kiss on his cheek. "My wedding gift to you, darling."
Charlie stood there under the mistletoe he had carefully hung for Polk and Elizabeth, with the impression of Rebecca’s lips on his cheek, looking rather like a pole axed ox. Everyone in the room was silent as they watched realization dawn on Charlie’s face.
Jocko swirled a measure of good whiskey in his glass as he watched his friend. Taking a deep breath he leaned over to have a word with McCauley. "General Sheridan made a good choice with that one. Charlie Redmond is a fine man. Irish you know. Member of a very famous clan."
McCauley looked to the batman and raised a brow. "Really?"
"‘Tis true. Largest clan in Ireland. The clan O’Blivious."
The batman’s words dropped into the silence like a rock shattering the calm of a pond. It did not take long for Sheridan's assistant to get the joke and soon he was laughing with Jocko as the two men poured another drink. Slowly, the meaning dawned on the rest of the guests and a slow ripple of realization ran through the room. When all eyes turned to them and the laughter had died down again, Jocko looked over the crowd. "Pay no attention to us. Go back to your party. General Redmond has plans for that sprig he just hung." The batman gestured to the doorway.
Richard Polk, who had inevitably gravitated to Elizabeth’s side during the conversation, stepped up. "Move aside, my friend, and let the rest of us take advantage of the tradition." Charlie and Rebecca stepped away from the doorway, moving to the side to speak quietly together for a moment. Richard, still laughing, drew Elizabeth with him to stand beneath the white berries. "Merry Christmas, Doctor Walker." With that, he kissed the normally formal and proper lady heartily on either cheek and then fleetingly on the lips.
"Merry Christmas, Colonel." She smiled and leaned up a bit to return the kiss, but not the ones bestowed on her cheeks. "Very Merry Christmas, Richard." She whispered against his lips. Then she pulled back before the occupants of the room accused her of taking advantage of the Colonel.
Before anyone commented on the obvious relationship, Phil Sheridan, who was usually a rather taciturn gentleman, stepped up beside his old friend and offered a gentle kiss to her cheek. "Merry Christmas, Elizabeth."
"Merry Christmas, Philip." She took his arm and allowed him to escort her into the crowd.
Charlie stood in the shadow of the Christmas tree, facing Rebecca and gently holding her hands between them. "Redmond Stables?"
All around them, people began the bustle of trimming the tree, with ribbons, tiny white candles, delicate glass ornaments that Duncan had found in the attic, and strings of berries and popcorn that the ladies and Jeremiah had been making for several days.
"Yes, Charlie. I think it is only fitting. I filed the
papers this week. Half of the land is now yours. It is the only thing I have to offer you, other than my love." She blushed, running her hand over his tunic.
"My love, you have given me something I never thought I would have. A future, filled with love and hope. I love you, Rebecca Gaines." As the plain pine tree was transformed into the living symbol of Christmas, slowly Charlie’s face began to reflect his growing faith in his dreams becoming reality.
--*--
The tree was trimmed, the house was decorated, and all was ready for the evening as darkness closed in. The adults of the house retired to their various quarters to rest and dress for the dinner, while the children were herded off to the old school room to share dinner, Christmas pudding, and games before bedtime. Charlie had driven both Sarah and Mess Chief Jamison to distraction with preparing a Christmas Eve dinner that would both honor his commanding officer and impress the local citizens he had invited. As the clock chimed seven, the civilian guests arrived at the house. Reverend Williams and his wife had joined the Coopers in their buggy. Mayor Frazier had accompanied them, riding on his old nag.
Reg was dressed as befitted the butler of a fine house. He met the guests at the door, and with Lizbet’s assistance, relieved them of their winter wraps. Charlie and Rebecca were waiting for them in the formal front parlor, with a warm fire dancing on the hearth and a selection of hot beverages, milk punch, and brandy to dispel the chill of the evening drive.
"Good evening, Mrs. Williams, Reverend." Charlie was in full Southern gentleman mode, dressed in his formal evening uniform with his new stars shining on his shoulders and wearing his South Carolinian heritage like a medal on his chest.
"Good evening Col..."
Before Mrs. Williams could finish, Rebecca cleared her throat and Reverend Williams gave his wife a not so polite nudge.
"General Redmond," she acknowledged with a slight tilt of her head.
"Old bat," Rebecca grumbled under her breath.
"Mrs. Cooper, you look lovely tonight. Cooper, good to see you again."
"Thank you, General." Mrs. Cooper winked at Rebecca. "You look radiant this evening, my dear. I do believe being in love agrees with you."
"It does. It truly does." Rebecca tightened her hand on Charlie's arm.
Wordlessly, Cooper reached out and shook Charlie’s hand, grinning his congratulations.
Charlie turned to Frazier, who was rubbing his hands. "Damned cold out there, General. Hope the dinner is worth it."
Charlie laughed. "I assure you, Mayor, the dinner is as good as both our cook Sarah and our mess sergeant could make it."
"Sarah is your cook? Ah, well, then, it should be worth the chilblains."
At that point, Sheridan, McCauley, and Polk entered the room.
"May I introduce my commanding officer, Philip Sheridan and his adjutant, Colonel McCauley? I believe you all know Colonel Polk."
Introductions were flowing like wine when Dr. Walker and Whitman escorted Constance Adams into the room. Rebecca noticed immediately the young woman did not look well and immediately made her a place to sit near the fire.
"Are you all right?"
"Thank you, I am feeling somewhat better. And the company will do me good. It is very hard to lie abed all day while so much is going on around me. And I must confess, I have always loved Christmas."
Quietly, Whitman slipped over to stand beside the frail woman. A quiet look passed between the big, shaggy haired man and the small, perfectly coiffed woman. Rebecca turned to the rest of her guests.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy each others’ company tonight and let us rejoice in the love and friendship we have all found in this time of hardship. Let us pray for a quick end to the conflict that keeps us from our loved ones. May this be the first of many happy Christmas celebrations in our home." She turned and smiled at Charlie. "And I would like to take this moment to say how happy and proud I am of my fiancéé, the newly commissioned Brigadier General Charles Redmond."
Phil Sheridan took the floor. "Charles Redmond has served this country with distinction for many years." Sheridan walked over to stand beside Charlie. He indicated one of the medals on his officer’s chest. "Indeed. He won this for his heroic action at the Battle of Buena Vista during the Mexican conflict." Sheridan faced Charlie. "You were only sixteen at the time, I believe, and a new recruit when you stepped up after your sergeant and lieutenant were both killed and led your men to safety." He turned back to the rest of the guests. "You may not be aware of this, but Charlie served under Captain Lee at Buena Vista. As a matter of fact, he attended West Point on Lee’s recommendation." Glancing back to Charlie, he asked, "I believe you also served with Lee at Fort Pulaski, in Georgia, did you not?"
"Yes. He was Colonel Lee at the time, and I must say, I learned a great deal from him. I believe he has long been one of my greatest role models. When I had to choose between nation and state, I went to him for advice. He told me to follow my conscience and my faith, as he himself would do."
"Well, Charlie, I wish that Robert had chosen the same way you did, but I honor him for his choice." He turned back to the assembled guests. "I believe General Redmond has long since earned his stars. So tonight, let us celebrate our host and his generosity and courage, as is appropriate in this season of remembering God’s most precious gifts."
Charlie was appropriately humble, blushing at Sheridan’s praise. Reg peeked in through the parlor door, offering Charlie respite from being the center of attention. "Thank you, General. Now, ladies and gentlemen, I believe supper is ready. Mrs. Williams, may I escort you in?"
The woman nodded politely and took Charlie's proffered arm. Rebecca smiled and took the arm offered her by General Sheridan. The General said quietly, "Charlie is a very lucky man. I hope you both will be very happy."
"Thank you, General. I think we will."
Polk claimed Elizabeth’s hand, and Whitman very gently escorted Constance in to dinner.
The room was lit with a multitude of small white tapers and decorated with fresh evergreens, holly, and ivy. Charlie seated Mrs. Williams to his right, taking the head of the table, while Rebecca took her position at the foot of the table with General Sheridan to her right. The others found their places at the table, each marked with a beautifully lettered card in a small porcelain holder. Beulah and Reg served the opening course of potted trout, followed by a delicate soup of clarified chicken broth with winter greens. The main course followed, a fine rack of venison. At first, conversation was traditionally formal, with the weather, the crops grown in the area and other comfortably neutral subjects being discussed. But as the guests grew more comfortable with one another, conversation turned to the condition of the economy and land around Culpeper.
As Reg cleared away the plates from the main course, Mayor Frazier leaned forward. "General Sheridan, as I said the other day, when the war started, Culpeper was thriving. The county was rich with productive farms and several of the best stud stables in Virginia. Since then, the armies of both sides have rolled through this county over and over, churning the crops to mud, tearing down the fences, stealing the horses so we have no breeding stock left, no seed, no nothing. There are less than one hundred fifty people left in Culpeper who were here when the war started. The rest have died in battle, been killed by marauders, died of disease brought on by lack of good food, warm clothes or medical care, or left because there is no way to make a living here."
Sheridan responded thoughtfully. "This part of Virginia has paid a terrible price for this conflict. As you know, General Redmond is under direct orders to do everything he can to help you rebuild."
Mrs. Williams could not hold back her anger. She interrupted abruptly. "All of this pain and suffering is your fault, General Sheridan –– yours and all the Yankees like you who have torn our rights from us and tried to take our glorious heritage and way of life from us."
The guests held their breaths. Such vitriol was an unheard of breach of etiquette. And while all of the guests
present might not agree with the politics the Union officers represented, they had accepted the invitation from Rebecca Gaines knowing full well that General Sheridan was the guest of honor.
Mr. Williams finally stepped in. "Mrs. Williams, remember yourself. I am now, and always have been, a man of peace. I expect you to respect my position and to respect our hostess and her guests." He turned to Rebecca. "Mrs. Gaines, please accept my sincere apologies for this outburst." He then scanned the rest of the assembled guests. "I, for one, welcome intelligent discussion of how to return my community to the health and prosperity it once knew. For that, I am grateful to you for your honest concern. Now, I fear I must excuse my wife and myself. She clearly is not herself this evening."
Charlie stood. "Certainly, we all understand, Reverend Williams. I will see to it that Mr. and Mrs. Cooper return home safely. I am sure we all hope that Mrs. Williams is feeling more herself tomorrow."
The rest of the evening was subdued, with dessert, a lovely presentation of poached apples, served quickly. Shortly after, Polk volunteered to see the Coopers home.
Elizabeth and Whitman helped Constance upstairs. The stress of the confrontation had drained the young woman. Finally, Charlie and Rebecca stood together beside the Christmas tree, the guests all retired to their respective quarters or homes.
"Well, my dear, that went reasonably well, do you not think so?" Charlie stood behind Rebecca and wrapped his arms around her waist.
Rebecca reached back and caressed Charlie's cheek. "I think so, General. You were a charming host. However, I am afraid that Reverend Williams is going straight to Hell for telling such lies."
Charlie threw his head back and laughed. "Are you suggesting, my dear, that Mrs. Williams was very much herself this evening?"
"Very much. Good Lord, Charlie," Rebecca turned to face him. "I am surprised she lasted as long as she did. I noticed she managed to hold her tongue until after dinner."
"Well, dear, she may be a shrew, but she is not a fool. And she does enjoy a good meal. So consider it a compliment to Sarah’s skills."