Beside her, a set of shelves held white bonechina. Gay pansies and peonies painted the center of each dish. Thesame design stamped the center of each cup, as well as servingbowls and platters. Crocks of jams, sauces, and jellies, as well asTillie’s favorite, strawberry-rhubarb pie, for dessert waitedcloser to arms’ reach. Her stomach grumbled. “What can I do tohelp, Mother?”
“There you are.” Mother’s deep-brown eyespierced her with a where-have-you-been stare as she handed her aplate of cold ham.
Like a storm cloud hanging over the house,George Sandoe, her sister Maggie’s beau, occupied William’s seat,the chair next to Mother’s. Here for supper again. Ever sinceChristmas. Tillie curled her lip as Maggie laid a hand on hisshoulder while placing a dish in front of him. Maggie lit up like afirefly every time he showed up.
Tillie rolled her eyes. “Hello, George.Aren’t your parents expecting you home soon?” She plopped the hamdown and dropped into her seat across from him.
“Hello, Tillie.” He matched her sarcastictone. “Nice to see you again as always.”
Mother inclined her head toward George.“Tillie, how rude. You owe him an apology.”
“Oh, it’s all right, Mrs. Pierce. It wassweet of her to inquire after my parents.” He winked at Tillie.
Father entered the kitchen carrying thefamily Bible. “Glad you could join us today, George.” He shookGeorge’s hand before settling in his chair.
Sam Wade, Father’s twelve-year-oldapprentice, slipped into the seat next to Father, Maggie’s normalchair, and copied his every move. Tillie eyed Sam. Maggie should besitting there, and George should go home.
Mother placed the potatoes, and Maggiecarried a steaming bowl of green beans and a plate of bread. At thesmell of potatoes, fried with onions, Tillie’s mouth watered. Shecouldn’t wait to eat, but first…
Father opened the Bible and read fromGalatians, chapter four. She lowered her head and closed her eyes,intending thoughtful meditation on the Word.
Perhaps after school tomorrow, she might takea ride on Lady up Culp’s Hill and look for ripe berries. Shestifled a yawn behind clenched teeth and tightened jaw muscles.Could Lady make the trip without going lame, poor thing? I don’tcare what Father says. I don’t want to say goodbye to her yet.
The Bible closed with a resounding bang.
Tillie jumped and jerked her head up, eyeswide.
Father’s brown eyes focused on her. A tremorrippled through his jowls as he shook his head. “Welcome back,daughter. As usual, you listened close. Would you like to tell usabout the passage?”
Her face and ears burned, and she stared ather lap. “I’m sorry.”
Father sighed as he accepted a bowl of greenbeans from Maggie. “You worry me.”
Tillie braced for a lecture and shot a quick,miserable glance toward George.
“I hear the Rebels are trying to get toHarrisburg.” George placed a piece of bread on the edge of hisplate. He passed the bread to Tillie.
She laid a slice on her plate, refusing tomeet his eye as she chanced a peek at Father. His steady glarepromised he would let it go for now. They had company, but hisexpression also told her George would go home.
“George says the Rebs are coming, and weshould all be prepared.” Maggie slid her hand through George’s arm.“Isn’t that right?”
“I don’t believe it,” Father said.
George covered her hand with his own but kepthis eyes on Father. “I think they are. I know how you feel, sir,but I respectfully disagree. All the indications show they’recoming. The question isn’t if, but when.”
Tillie uttered an exaggerated lovelorn sighand batted her lashes. She forced a high falsetto voice. “Georgesays the Reb Army is coming, and he’s going to be my knight inshining armor.” She put her elbows on the table edge and laced herfingers together, placing them under her chin in an angelic air.“Oh, how chivalrous of you. Be still my fluttering heart.”
George and Sam laughed, but Maggie tsked andglared at her.
Tillie laughed loud and long.
Mother reached over and, using her thumb andmiddle finger, flicked Tillie’s elbow. “Get your elbows off thetable.”
At the same time, Father’s voice boomed.“Tillie, don’t be unkind. George was speaking to me. You’re fifteennow and a young lady. Time to start acting like one.” He chewed andfrowned at her.
She quieted and lowered her gaze. Her faceburned, and the spot on her elbow stung, but she resisted the urgeto rub the area. She speared green beans with her fork and raisedthem to her mouth.
Father kept his eyes on her for a momentlonger before returning to George. “I do disagree with you. Did youread the proclamation in the paper last week?” Father scooped aforkful of potatoes. “President Lincoln called for fifty thousandmen from Pennsylvania. He won’t let the Rebs get anywhere nearHarrisburg. Hooker will stop them before they reach Marylandagain.”
Maryland. Antietam. The bloodiest day of thewar took place a mere fifty miles away. Both armies might findtheir way to the Commonwealth. No. Father said it won’t happen.That’s that. Recalling Mr. Brady’s photographs near Sharpsburgafterward, Tillie suppressed a shudder. The newspaper printed a fewof them. Mother cried when she looked at them.
Father waved his fork around. “My guess isthese are only raiders. A small band of men causing trouble in thehope of scaring the President into sending troops here, so the bulkof their army can do mischief somewhere else. Like Washington.”
“I must disagree, Mr. Pierce, which is why…”George closed his hand over Maggie’s. He faced her. “I’m joiningup. I’m twenty-one now and time I did my part. I wanted to goearlier, but Mother became distraught over the idea. I think Fatherconvinced her it’s the right thing to do. Yesterday, GovernorCurtin called for more men. I answered the call this afternoon. Inthree days, I go to Carlisle to join the Twenty-First PennsylvaniaVolunteer Cavalry.”
Tillie perked up. She’d get her sister back,all to herself.
Maggie’s mouth hung agape. “Oh, Georrrr-ge.”She drew out his name in a long dismayed whisper as tears filledher eyes. When he patted her hand, Maggie nodded, forced a smile,and blinked fast several times.
Everyone fell silent. Another of their youngmen leaving for
