Words Heard in Silence (16 page)

"If you do not mind my asking, Mrs. Gaines," Mrs. Cooper came up beside her. "What is it like having all those soldiers on your land."

"It was most certainly unnerving when they arrived, but even in these two weeks, I have grown quite accustomed to them being there. As a matter of fact, Colonel Redmond and his men will be wintering on my land. They will be here for several months."

"And I suppose," Mrs. Williams piped up even though Rebecca wished she had swallowed her tongue. "We will have to put up with them coming into town and taking what they want."

"Not at all, Mrs. Williams, Colonel Redmond is a very careful of his men. He will make sure they do not bother you."

"Rebecca," Mrs. Cooper whispered, looking around to make sure no one could hear her. "You are all right, are not you? You are not being forced……"

"Oh, no! Colonel Redmond and his men have been perfect gentlemen. They have even been helping me get Gaines Cove back into order."

"You are taking assistance from Yankee rabble?"

"Mrs. Williams, I figure it was the Yankees that did this to us. Why should they not fix it?"

"Cannot argue with that." Mr. Cooper snorted as he began writing Rebecca’s bill.

"I suppose they have been in your house."

"Several of them, several times. And if you must know, the Colonel and I dine together every night. Is there anything else you would like to know or do you have enough to put through the rumor mill?"

"Why I never……!" The older woman turned on her heal and stormed from the store.

"That is not what my overseer used to say." Rebecca mumbled.

Mr. And Mrs. Cooper burst out laughing. Rebecca just shook her head.

"Now, Rebecca," Mrs. Cooper laid her hand in the blonde’s arm in a motherly fashion. "It is all right to tell us. Are you really safe?"

"I am very safe, Mrs. Cooper. I promise you." She placed her hand on the other woman’s, giving it a tiny squeeze. "If I were not fine I would tell you and ask for help. Colonel Redmond and his men really have been perfect gentlemen. But thank you for being honestly concerned for my well being and not just looking for things to gossip about like that old hen." She jerked her chin in the direction Mrs. Williams had just departed.

"Oh, I cannot guarantee I will not gossip, but at least I can gossip about the truth."

"That is all I ask. You know if she has the chance to tell her version of it, I will be at the mercy of every soldier on my land."

"She does seem to remember things in her own unique way."

W
hile Rebecca was meeting the social challenges of her little community, Charlie drove on to the area that Jamison had described as the colored town. He was greeted with a vision of a small clutch of shacks, patched together from whatever scrap was available, with raw sewage running in open gutters and gaunt figures already huddling over small fires because they did not have enough clothing for even this mild November day. The wind had picked up a bit since he had set out with Rebecca and gray clouds were starting to scud in from the northeast. He made a mental note to himself that this situation would have to be cleaned up or there was a chance of serious illness, as well as unrest and petty crime.

He stopped in the middle of the little town within a town and announced in his best field commander’s voice, "I am looking for some folk. I need a cook, a ladies maid, a housekeeper, and a general handyman." Immediately, virtually every able-bodied adult was lined up in front of him, looking hopeful.

"All right. Cooks first." Four women stepped forward and he quickly interviewed each of them. One young woman was a standout. Sarah had been an assistant cook for the Gaines household before Rebecca’s marriage. She had then been sent to the Washington household of a distant cousin of the late and unlamented Mr. Gaines to finish her training, and combined the skills of a traditional southern cook with some of the latest French styles. Her older sister, Beulah, had obviously been a big woman until the shortages of the war forced her to trim down. But she still had the muscle and solid build that Charlie associated with a good housekeeper, mostly because the mammy in his own childhood home had been built like her. Reg stood up and claimed the position of handyman, claiming skills with both basic carpentry, cleaning and a bit of experience with horses. Since both women seemed to feel he was a good Christian man and a hard worker, Charlie nodded his agreement.

That left the selection of a ladies maid for Rebecca. None of the people before him had any skills in this very elite calling for the servant class. But one girl caught Charlie’s eye. She was young, perhaps fifteen or sixteen, skinny as a rail, and clearly shy. What got his attention was the way she tried to take care of herself. In this pigsty of a shantytown, her dress was clean and unwrinkled, her hair was carefully braided and combed and she had tied it back with a bit of grosgrain ribbon that was shiny with age but still carefully tended. Lizbet was what the others in the group called her. And Lizbet became the fourth servant that Charlie picked.

He gave them instructions to go to the mercantile and get a new suit of clothing each, including shoes and a winter coat, get their belongings together and report to the main house on the following day. The terms were simple. First, they had to satisfy Miss Rebecca. They had to be clean, neat and orderly, and do the work given to them. Assuming the work was satisfactory, he would pay them each a dime a day, payable monthly plus food, shelter and a new suit of clothes, including shoes, twice a year. They would get Sunday mornings and one afternoon during the weekday off to attend church and take care of their own affairs.

Those who were not hired looked so dejected that Charlie could not just leave. "I have just hired four of you. I have every expectation that we will find ways to create gainful employment for as many of you as I can. Until then, you may see my mess chief, Sergeant Jamison or one of his men every day at dinnertime for a bowl of rice and beans. None will be turned away. There may also be day work available from time to time while we are here in winter camp. I will set up a tent at the edge of the camp that you can report to every day to find out what day work is available. Any day worker will be paid according to his or her skills. I wish I could do better for you." With that, he left, eager to be gone from this depressing place.

H
e set a brisk pace back to the mercantile where he was to collect Rebecca. The condition of the negroes in that miserable collection of shacks offended him. They may have been slaves at one time, but they were still part of the community.
Surely, the good people of Culpeper could have done something for them. Ah, but charity begins at home, and these ex-slaves are not worth the bone thrown to a starving dog, according to some. Well, lets see just how much we can shake these good folks up.
Charlie was as loaded for bear as Rebecca.

Pulling up before the store, he looped the reins around the brake handle on the little trap. Shannon was so well trained that she was just as good when driving as she was when riding. She would stand, waiting for his return, and more than willing to resist any attempt to get her to move by any other individual. He brushed the dust off his coat and hat, and prepared to make a grand entrance into the store that served as a social center as well as a primary resource to the community. As he dismounted from the cart, he was entirely aware that every person there on the little main street was watching him.
Give ‘‘em a good show, Charlie.
He slowly looked up and down the street, seeking to make eye contact with every single person there. A small, wry smile twisted his mouth slightly, but did not make it to his eyes. Not one of the folks watching him had the nerve to face him head on.

Charlie stepped into the store. While he did not actually have to duck to enter, he did anyway, giving the impression of being taller than he actually was. He pulled his gloves off and tucked them into his belt. His hat came off with a flourish and took up residence under his left arm. Everyone in the main room came to a dead stop, staring at the tall man standing in the door. His presence filled the room.

A quick glance at Rebecca’s face told Charlie that she was not a happy person. While she was smiling politely, there was a guarded look to her eyes and a slightly pinched quality to her mouth that told him something was up. He smiled at her, and bowed slightly. "Miss Rebecca. I await your pleasure, ma’am."

He bowed to Mrs. Cooper, and stood, waiting for an introduction.

Rebecca shook herself. "Forgive me, Colonel. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper? May I present Colonel Charles Redmond? Colonel Redmond is the regimental commander of the troops who are currently staying on my property. Colonel Redmond, Mr. and Mrs. Cooper are my dear friends here in Culpeper."

Charlie bowed over Mrs. Cooper’s hand and rumbled in his lowest voice, "Enchantez, Madame. I have heard complimentary things of you, ma’am, but they cannot compare with the charm of your actual acquaintance."

Rebecca looked at Charlie with a slightly surprised look. The accent was back in full force and Charlie was not giving the folks in the store even a moment to do anything other than respond politely to the very formal, very southern gentleman standing before them, even though he was wearing Yankee blue.

Turning to Mr. Cooper, the Colonel advanced and offered his bared hand. "Ah, Mr. Cooper. I have heard very good things of you, sir, from my quartermaster. Please be assured, I have been advised by my commanding officer that we will convert to a cash, rather than scrip basis within the next ten days. Your cooperation with my staff has been greatly appreciated."

Reaching into his coat pocket, Charlie pulled out his personal wallet. "I have retained some servants for my comfort as we winter over here. It is my intention to pay them on a monthly basis, but for them to be prepared to serve my needs, they need to be properly clothed. I hope you do not mind that I have sent them to you for those needs, sir. If I may, here is 50 dollars as a initial payment on my tab." He laid two golden double eagle twenty-dollar coins and a handful of silver dollars on the counter.

Mr. Cooper’s eyes bulged. He had not seen that much real cash coming from one customer in a long time.

"Sarah, Beulah, Reg and Lizbet should be visiting shortly. Please, sir, take proper care of them. I would like them to each have a new suit of clothing, shoes and a winter coat. Thank you." Mr. Cooper could only stand there and nod.

Charlie turned to Rebecca, who was enjoying this bravura performance. "Miss Rebecca? Are you ready, or shall I wait."

"No, Colonel, you need not wait. I have the things I need immediately all boxed and ready, and Mr. Cooper has promised to send me the rest of my supplies."

"Then, ma’am, as soon as Mr. Cooper’s clerk has loaded the trap, I will drive you back to your home."

He turned to Mrs. Cooper, and bowed over her hand. "Ma’am, I trust we will meet again." A polite nod to Mr. Cooper, and Charlie extended his arm to Rebecca.

Escorting her to the trap, they waited, chatting about the weather growing colder, as the slightly rattled clerk loaded the boxes and packages in the back of the trap. The Coopers and the other folks who had been in the store straining to overhear the conversation between the dashing Colonel and Mrs. Gaines all trailed them to the boardwalk to bid them farewell. He then settled Rebecca in the little cart and carefully tucked the lap rug over her knees, before climbing in and clucking Shannon into action.

As soon as they were out of earshot of the rather overwhelmed citizens of Culpeper, Rebecca laid her hand on his arm. "Lovely act, Daniel. The lions may be tamed yet."

They rode home with Rebecca regaling Charlie with stories of the absurdity of her neighbors, all of the lovely, ridiculous, salacious stories that every small town has about its denizens, laughing together gently over the silly situations that small town self righteousness can create. As they approached the manor, Charlie brought up the subject of house servants. Rebecca had assumed that he had hired help for the camp, and had not paid too much attention to the specifics. She was in for a surprise.

"Miss Rebecca, I have done something without your permission. However, with all of the strains that my troops and I are placing on you, I feel its only fair to provide you with some help to manage the house –– other than my troopers. So I have hired some staff for you. If you do not like them, or do not find them acceptable, I will be more than happy to find others that are more suitable."

"Thank you, Colonel, it is very considerate of you, but I am afraid I cannot afford servants at this time."

"Oh, no, Miss Rebecca, I did not mean to place this cost on you. These folks are for my convenience, to ease the burden I have placed on you. I will attend to their needs; they are coming to attend to yours. Please say you will accept them."

Rebecca flushed. The financial constraints that prevented her from hiring any help were magically gone because of this man, and there was hope for her future after the war. How much did she owe him? How much could she repay him and with what?

The storm that had been threatening all afternoon broke just as they returned to the Manor. Cold rain and a driving wind hit hard. Charlie left her to rejoin his men and manage efforts to meet this sudden storm with minimal damage. She went to her room and changed into her daily work clothes, thinking that with this storm, Charlie would need a warm, hearty meal. Within a matter of minutes, a young trooper appeared at the kitchen door. "Colonel asked me to tell you that he doubts he will be available for dinner, Ma’am. The men need him now."

So, instead of creating the lovely pileau she wanted for Charlie, Rebecca put a pot of soup on to cook. When he finally did manage to make it to shelter, he would need it.