Tillie laughed. “I’m glad you said that. Idon’t either.”
“You know,” Tillie glanced back towardWashington Street, “with everything I’ve read in the papers, ifsomeone told me two armies would meet here, I would have laughed.”She stepped off the curb to go around a group headed in theopposite direction, before rejoining her sister. “After all, thisis sleepy little Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Nothing ever happenshere.”
* * * *
“Mr.-and-Mrs.-Pierce-guess-what-happened-to-me-this-morning?” Sambarged into the kitchen, the words spilling out of him, joltingTillie.
Father squeezed Sam’s arm. “Don’t hold back,boy. Tell us what happened.” Father laughed.
Mother passed the dinner bowls around.
They laughed at Sam’s puzzled face, butjoined in when he got the joke.
“We followed the boys to their encampmentnear Pennsylvania College. They invited us to help care for thehorses, so we watered and brushed them.” Sam took a quick bite ofhis bread, tucked the morsel into his cheek, and continued, “Someof the soldiers showed us their weapons and how they work, too. Ieven held a rifled musket today. They said if we get permissionfrom our fathers, we can come back this afternoon and help somemore.” Sam took another quick bite, chewed, and swallowed. “Can Igo back, sir?”
“Why, Sam Wade.” Mother laid down her fork.“I distinctly remember telling you not to get too close to thesoldiers.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He obviously tried to soundcontrite. But his head bobbed up and down, and his blue eyessparkled. “But they waved to us to come with them so I reckoned youwouldn’t mind, since they invited us.” He crinkled his forehead atFather. “May I go, sir? If I get my chores done early, may I goback to the camp with Gates and Bertie? Their parents said they cango.”
Poor Sam worked so hard, a day off wouldn’thurt him. How unfair if Father said no.
Father scowled at the boy as he lowered hisfork. “Did the soldiers invite you or are you telling me they did?”He held up a hand to emphasize his next words. “I’m not accusingyou of lying, but I don’t want you at the camp if they told you notto get in the way.”
“No, sir.” Sam’s eyes opened wide. “I promisethey invited us back. May I go?”
Father faced Mother with a what-do-you-thinklook.
“I don’t object, but the decision is yours,dear.” Mother speared a potato. “The boy gets so fewdistractions.”
Tillie’s eyes darted between Mother andFather as she bit off the end of her asparagus stalk. Good for you,Sam. Have fun.
Father nodded. “You may go. Forget the choresthis once. I’ll do them myself. See you mind them and stay out oftheir way.”
“Yes, sir.” Sam wriggled in his chair. “Iwill.”
* * * *
Sam returned home for supper with twosoldiers in tow. Both men removed their kepis.
“Mr. Pierce, this is Sergeant Woods andCorporal Morgan. I brought them home for supper.”
Compared to the young Confederate who ogledher yesterday, these men appeared healthy and well fed, and so muchmore handsome for being Northern boys.
Corporal Morgan smiled at Tillie, and hiseven white teeth gleamed against his suntanned face.
“Corporal, what did you do to your hair?”Tillie pointed to his head. A distinct line ran around the edge ofhis hair, an exact match to the bill of his hat. Above the line,his hair was a lovely walnut brown, but below, a honey color.
His grin was warm and friendly. Hestraightened and put a hand over his heart, feigning hurt. “Iworked hard for this hairstyle. Are you maligning my skills,perchance?”
She laughed. “Gracious no. Merely commentingon a most unusual style. I approve heartily.”
Corporal Morgan drew his hand across hisforehead and then flicked his fingers, as though shaking sweataway. “Thank goodness.” His green eyes sparkled. “No, it comes frommany days out in the elements, Miss Pierce.”
She scanned him from top to bottom. Hislight-blue trousers with a bold yellow stripe down each side tuckedinto knee-high cavalrymen’s boots, and the cloth clung to hismuscular thighs. He reminded her of George. She pursed her lips andglanced at Maggie, who worked at the stove, her back to the men.Tillie readjusted her smile and turned to Sergeant Woods. Ashorter, slimmer man than the corporal, he held a burlap sack inthe crook of his arm.
Sergeant Woods appeared older than CorporalMorgan, though with their weather-beaten faces she couldn’ttell.
Woods expression was more solemn, almost sad,and the haunted shadows in his eyes made him seem ancient. Hesmiled and gave a quick head bob for a hello.
“Please come in and join us for supper.”Mother welcomed them. “I apologize for the slim fare, but the Rebscame almost daily and insisted we give them our food.” She gesturedat the meager spread. “However, you’re welcome to share ourmeal.”
Sergeant Wood stepped forward. “Then perhapsthis might help alleviate some of your distress.” He held out theburlap sack.
“Coffee!” Mother’s eyes lit, and she buriedher nose in the sack, inhaling the pungent aroma. “Oh, thank you,thank you so much. Let me make a pot now so it’ll be ready aftersupper.” She bustled to the stove.
Father chuckled at Mother’s delight. “One ofthe first things the Rebs took was coffee. There’s been noneanywhere in town for the better part of a week now.” He held outhis hand.
“Thank you for welcoming us into your home.”Sergeant Woods and Corporal Morgan shook hands with Father.
“Which cavalry unit are you boys with?”Father brought them to the table, inviting them to sit.
“We’re with the First Corps, First Divisionof the U.S. Calvary, sir, commanded by General Buford.”
“General Buford. I’ve read about him.” Tillieput a bowl of stewed tomatoes down at the corporal’s elbow. “Hefought well at Antietam.”
“Yes.” Sergeant Woods’s smile left his face.The same haunted look Tillie glimpsed earlier shadowed hiseyes.
Her brow creased as she appraised firstCorporal Morgan, then Sergeant Woods. “Did I say somethingwrong?”
Corporal Morgan frowned and laid a gentlehand on his companion’s shoulder. “No, you didn’t.” He smiled. “Uh,the general is settin’ up shop out near the college.” He addressedFather. “He’s having us spread out on that ridge of high groundthere. He believes the Rebs went northwest toward Cashtown, so hewants to be ready for them. In all honesty, we’re not entirelycertain where they are.”
Mother spun from the stove. Everyone turnedat her sharp intake of breath.
“Whatever the case, ma’am,” the
