by T. Novan
"That will do it." She chuckled as she moved to the good Reverend. He smiled and escorted Rebecca back to the dance floor.
Mrs. Williams hesitated when Charlie offered her his hand. A quick glance told her everyone was watching and it would not do to snub him in front of nearly the entire town. "Thank you, General Redmond."
Charlie led her to the head of a group of younger dancers, primarily local girls dancing with Charlie's junior officers. "Gentleman, may we complete the square?" Shy nods and one 'yes, sir, please, sir' came back promptly. They squared up and the dance began with the obligatory bow and curtsey. "Thank you for joining me, Mrs. Williams."
"One must be polite, General."
"Indeed, ma'am. I have always found if one takes the time to come to know one's neighbors, frictions can often be reduced."
"General, right now I have no desire to know you. But if Rebecca intends to live this immoral life after the war, then I will probably get used to you."
The steps of the dance took them apart for a few moments. When they returned, Charlie dropped his bomb. "Madame, as you know, I intend to make an honest woman of Mrs. Gaines, and very soon. I would be deeply appreciative if you would assist in preparing for our wedding on the 28th."
The minister’s wife nearly stumbled when the words sank in. "The wedding? You have set a date?" She had not expected the Yankee to follow through on his promises to Rebecca. She had expected him to ride away to war in the spring and be gone for good. But with a firm date set, it seemed clear that the General would return to Culpeper. She was going to have to put up with this sorry excuse for a man for a long time. The thought repelled her.
"Of course, Mrs. Williams. Mrs. Gaines is a wonderful woman. Although a number of people already know of our plans, we will formally announce it tonight. I am, I do believe, the luckiest man on the face of the planet tonight." Charlie fairly beamed with pride and anticipation - the perfect image of the eager bridegroom.
She could only shake her head. For the first time in her opinionated, small-minded life, Mrs. Williams was speechless.
Gently, Charlie looked at the thunderstruck woman. "Mrs. Williams? Are you all right? Has the heat and exertion tired you?"
"I rather think I would like to sit down," she nodded.
Solicitously, Charlie escorted Mrs. Williams to one of the chairs at the side of the room, and signaled to one of the troopers who were serving the guests to bring some punch. "Ma'am, shall I call Dr. Walker?"
"No, General. I only need rest."
"Then, ma'am, at least let me keep you company until you are feeling more yourself."
Rebecca and Reverend Williams noticed the small disruption Mrs. Williams’ departure from the floor created. They quietly left the dance floor so the minister could attend his wife. Rebecca smiled as she watched the haughty woman squirm at Charlie’s proximity.
"Ah, Reverend Williams. I fear your wife has been overcome by the excitement of the afternoon. Mrs. Williams, I look forward to meeting with you to coordinate what I hope will be a small, but elegant affair."
Rebecca tugged on Charlie’s sleeve. "General, I believe this dance is mine."
The band had started up a sprightly reel. Charlie smiled at her and led her to the floor, after bowing politely to Mrs. Williams.
"You are going to rot in the pits of Hell for that, Charlie." She admonished playfully.
"No, dear, I am going to back our most vocal opponent in the community into a corner she simply will not be able to get out of."
"Oooh, what have you done?"
"I have asked her to assist in planning the wedding. As the minister's wife, she cannot back out of it, and as one of the sponsors of the wedding, she cannot continue to condemn me and retain her credibility."
"You expect me to work with that hateful woman to plan our wedding? Oh Charlie, I will go fight the war and you can stay here for that."
"Darling, I assure you, you will never have to face her without me being present."
"One word out of her, Charlie, and I will not guarantee what will happen."
"Beloved, trust me. I have just backed her so far into a corner that by the end of the evening, she will be too busy saying 'I knew it all the time' to be any trouble to us."
Rebecca laughed. "I am marrying a very wicked man."
"You are, indeed. I would say, my dear, you and I are well matched."
And so the afternoon wore on, with dancing interspersed with singing. It was close to suppertime when the band struck up the waltz again.
"My love, dance with me."
"Of course. Now and forever."
The two danced as if there were no others on the dance floor, lost in one another’s eyes, in the flow of the music and the sensual joy of the dance. Charlie maneuvered them so at the end of the dance, they were standing at the head of the room, before one of the great fireplaces.
After the music ended, the guests honored the band with a robust round of applause for their contribution to the day's festivities. Then Charlie's voice rang out over the assembled guests. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is suppertime, and we have prepared a buffet for you in the dining room. But before we adjourn, I have an announcement."
Rebecca smiled and looped her arms through Charlie’s.
The room stilled. Curiosity was a powerful motivation for focusing attention. Charlie signaled to the staff who were rapidly circulating glasses of white wine to all of the guests. Charlie waited patiently until each guest had a glass. The troopers also took glasses of wine for themselves, as Charlie had ordered.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I offer you a toast this evening." He turned to face Rebecca, his heart in his eyes, his voice ringing with the sureness of total conviction and devotion. "To our gracious hostess and, as some of you know, after the 28th of next month, my most beautiful and beloved wife, Rebecca."
There was an instant of hesitation, and then the room resounded with one word. "Rebecca."
She turned, a bright smile on her face, as she once again clung to Charlie’s arm and said, "Yes, General Redmond and I are going to be married."
Charlie took her hand and bowed deeply, drawing her fingers to his lips. He looked into her eyes and smiled, silently mouthing one word. "Mine."
Her quiet response was simply, "Yours."
Charlie turned back to the assembly of guests, most of whom were applauding politely, some of whom were grinning broadly and a few of whom were looking rather pole axed. "Ladies and gentlemen, let us adjourn to supper. And for this one night, forgive me my manners, but I would like to escort my bride-to-be."
Rebecca walked slowly next to Charlie as they made their way through the crowd toward the dining room. As they approached the door, Jocko’s eyes met Rebecca’s. He gave her a little wink.
--*--
Monday, January 2, 1865
Rebecca sat in her parlor, making one list from the several that had been made by the ladies who were helping her with the wedding. She was pleased to see they were willing and even excited about helping her. Most of them had gotten over their initial shock of seeing her with Charlie and were beginning to see them for what they truly were; a couple in love. The differences between North and South were becoming very blurred for these ladies.
She looked out of the window from her place at her desk; she could see Charlie with a couple of his troopers. They were working with one of the horses that had received a nasty bruise during the competition. She watched as Charlie took the lead and put the beast through various paces to determine if and when it would limp on the injured leg.
A light knock at the door brought her attention away from the window. "Come in." She turned in her chair and was surprised to find Jocko standing in the doorway. "Sergeant Jackson, come in. What can I do for you?"
"Well, ma'am, I think it is more a matter of what can I do for you. I understand you are making plans for the wedding. I thought you might like my assistance."
"That would be wonderful." She rose from her seat and poured him
a cup of tea. "Please come sit with me so we can talk."
Jocko looked a little uncomfortable as he sidled over to the chair and tucked his cap in his belt. "Thank you, ma'am. I know you want to do this wedding right and all, and I thought maybe my knowing the military side of things would be helpful."
"Very helpful, Sergeant. It is important to me that Charlie has a wedding proper for his standing in the Army and his future standing here in Culpeper. I want everything to be perfect." She placed his cup on the table in front of him then retook her seat. "I would be grateful for your support."
Jocko took a sip of tea. "Good tea, ma'am. Dark like the stuff I had as a child." He cleared his throat. "Well, ma'am, I am not sure what you want. Military weddings can be anything from very, very quiet and private to very formal. I think General C would prefer to go to the more private end."
"Then that is what we will give him. Perhaps you would be willing to work with Mrs. Cooper, as she is handling the details for the ceremony? I know I am having a devil of a time getting any information from Charlie about what he wants. I ask him a question and he says, ‘‘Whatever pleases you, dear.’ I swear to you, Sergeant, there are some days I want to choke him." Her chuckle with the statement made it very clear to Jocko it was a threat made with love and a goodly amount of frustration.
"Ah, as you may know, ma'am, getting married was not something General C thought about very much, as he was not one who, ah, was on the list of available gentlemen, if you know what I mean? So I think he may be a little stymied here. As a single gentleman, he has not had much experience with planning parties and such."
"I am sure." She looked seriously at Charlie’s friend and companion. "You do know that I love Charlie dearly?"
"I know he thinks you do. I know he is head over heels with you and I know if you hurt him, I swear I do not know what I will have to do to keep him together."
She reached out and laid her hand over his. "Jocko, I promise you, I do love Charlie. I would never hurt him. I will spend the rest of my life caring for him and protecting him."
Jocko stood up and walked over to the window. Looking out, he could see Charlie and several other troopers working with a couple more injured horses. Charlie, the officer, the soldier and the man he knew, was in his element. But Jocko knew what lay underneath. He turned back to Rebecca. "And what about her –– the woman? How do you feel about that, Mrs. Gaines?"
"I love her."
Jocko thought for a few minutes. "Well, so you say." He walked back over to the chair. "So, ma'am, here is a list of the officers I think should attend, and a copy of the standard protocols for a small, second marriage to a man of Charlie's rank. I checked the protocol manual before I came."
She took the list and tucked it away. "Thank you." Then she looked at him with a look that only a frustrated Southern woman could muster. "You do not believe me, do you?"
Jocko looked the woman in the eye. "Ma'am, this has all been really quick. General C's been alone for a long time - in fact he thought he would always be alone and always be in the Army. Then you came along and all of a sudden, he is ready to settle down, marry you and be a da to these bairns from who knows where. So I am wondering, when he comes back from the last battle, with his heart on his sleeve, will you be here? What if he is injured or maimed? Will you still want your beautiful boy?"
"Yes, I know it has been quick. But sometimes, when two people come together, there is just something that compels them to be with each other. My parents were that way. My father fell head over heels for my mother the first time he saw her and courted her diligently for two years before she finally agreed to marry him. But my father always said, he knew from the moment he set his eyes upon her face there was no other in this world for him."
Rebecca stood and looked out of the window at Charlie, who was gently petting and soothing the injured horse he was treating. "That is how I felt the very first time I saw Charlie. I did not understand it at the time, but thinking back on my father’s words, now I do. There is no other for me. And it is not just the image, Sergeant Jackson. It is very much the woman I love."
She turned to face him. "I do not care how Charlie looks when he returns home. All that matters to me is that he does." She approached the Sergeant, standing over him to make perfectly sure he was clear on the next thing she was about to say. "I will not care if Charlie is wounded. I will not care if he is maimed. I only care that he returns home alive."
Rebecca retook her seat. "I know you are one of Charlie’s dearest friends and I know you are only concerned for him. I value that, for Charlie needs his friends at his side. I had thought you and I were on our way to becoming friends, Sergeant Jackson, but if you do not believe in my sincerity of feelings for Charlie, then I cannot believe that is the case. I do appreciate your help with the wedding and I will have Mrs. Cooper consult you about further plans." She sipped her tea. "Good day, sir."
"Ah, ma'am, I think I may have managed to join a clan I usually do not associate with. The Clan O'Blivious. You have my most profound apologies. I allowed my natural skepticism to overwhelm the evidence before me. And Charlie is going to have his hands full, I can see." With a sweeping bow, Jocko continued. "I do hope, madam, that you and I can be more than friends - that we can be allies."
"I would very much like that Sergeant. I do so want Charlie’s friends to be my friends and find comfort in our home. Your apology is gratefully accepted sir. Thank you." She gestured back to his seat. "Now, please finish your tea while we figure out what kind of wedding to give our Charlie."
Jocko smiled as he took his seat. His General had found his match - a stubborn Southern woman with a high sense of honor and devotion. Well, perhaps he would take Charlie up on his offer of a position after the war.
--*--
Tuesday, January 3, 1865
A fine layer of frost lay over the ground, so the world glittered in the thin, clear early morning sunlight. Both men were squinting into the rising sun as Jocko drove Charlie to the train station.
Charlie rode with the engineer, fascinated with the intricacy of the great steam engine. Into the crisp morning, the black smoke, filled with ashes and cinders from the burning wood of the engine left a trail of urgency that almost matched Charlie’s need to finish his errands in the Capitol and return to Rebecca. He was hoarding every moment with her; this trip was a necessity he was determined to complete as quickly as possible.
The lamplighters were out doing their work as the cab Charlie had hired at Union Station moved down Massachusetts Avenue in the direction of downtown Washington. Charlie rode toward the White House, which was just a block away from the hotel he always stayed at, the venerable Willard. He paid the cabbie then walked in.
"Ah, Colonel Redmond." The clerk at the counter registered the change in insignia. "Excuse me, General. Welcome. It has been many months. Congratulations on your promotion."
"Hello, Simpkins. Thank you. Do you have a room available?"
"Yes, sir. Would you like some dinner while I have it prepared?"
"Something simple, I think. Perhaps just a plate in the tap room?"
"As you wish. I will have a bath drawn for you as well."
"Thank you, Simpkins."
"Would you like me to send around and inform Miss Lizzie you are in town?"
"Not tonight, Simpkins. I have another appointment this evening. I will see her myself tomorrow."
Charlie ate a simple dinner of roast mutton and greens, then took a quick bath to remove the dust and grit of the train from his hair and body.
--*--
As he finished dressing for the evening, a doorman knocked politely and handed him a message. The materials he had brought up to show General Montgomery C. Meigs, the Quartermaster General of the Army, had been delivered. The General asked Charlie to present himself at his home that evening at eight. Charlie smiled, although the smile did not travel all the way to his eyes. Perhaps he would finally get to the bottom of this problem.
Char
lie checked his appearance. He needed to be Sheridan’s perfect Regimental Commander tonight. With the letter from Sheridan tucked carefully into his breast pocket, he set out. It was unusual for Charlie to not have met a career officer like Meigs before, but then, Meigs had been a desk officer or an engineer for his entire career, while Charlie had been a field officer. While most of the men Charlie knew, including himself had at some point drawn administrative duty, the idea of doing it all the time made Charlie uncomfortable. He liked to be out and about too much to be stuck at a desk all day.
He arrived at Meig’s door exactly at 8:00. A well-mannered young captain met him at the door and escorted him into Meig’s study. It was nothing like Charlie had expected. The furnishings were good, but worn. There were ledgers and files carefully stacked all over the place. The man himself was not what Charlie expected either. He expected someone with money, power and a number of lackeys. He found a lean man with ink stained fingers, mediocre brandy, and an obvious desire to do a good job.
The two men talked at length. The problems were clear, but there was little either of them could do. With all of the money flowing to purchase the basics needed to run an army, it was easy for the purchasers in the field to make a little here, and a little there by substituting the goods ordered with lesser quality. And all those "littles" added up to an irresistible temptation for many of the men in Meigs’ command. In addition, there were too few people in the Quartermaster’s office, too many people in the field, and too many supplies needed to be able to control anything. Meigs was fully aware of the problems; he simply had not found a way to fix them.
Meigs had some suggestions for Charlie and prepared a number of notes for him to deliver the next day to the clerks and purchasing agents who provisioned his forces.
"I am sorry, Redmond, but that is the best I can do right now. There just is not enough time in the day to do better, given we have been draining the resources of this country for four years already. I wish you the best of luck."