Mother finished with the coffee and claimedher place at the table.
Father read a passage from First Samuel,chapter seventeen. After reading the passage, he put the Bible awayand returned to the table.
“David and Goliath.” Sergeant Woods spoonedthe tomatoes onto his plate. “Is that how you judge the situation,Mr. Pierce? Are we David or Goliath?”
“Oh, David for sure.” Corporal Morgan jumpedinto the conversation before Father got a chance to speak. Heblushed and ducked his head to hide a chagrined smile. “Iapologize, sir. I assure you my parents brought me up better thanthat. Three years in the Army does erode one’s manners.” He tookthe bowl of potatoes Maggie offered him.
“That’s all right, corporal.” Father placedsome beans on his plate. “You expressed my thoughts well.”
“We are the stronger side,” Morgan went on,“they think they have God on their side, but we know we do.” Hescooped a large helping of mashed potatoes. “The more so becausethe infantry isn’t far behind us.” He passed the potatoes toTillie. “I suspect they’ll be here within a day or two and all willbe well.”
“Will there be fighting here?” Mother’s voicediminished.
Corporal Morgan ate a forkful of potato. Hisjaw stiffened as he held the food in his mouth before swallowinghard. He turned to Mother with a deliberate, serious stare. “Hardto say, Mrs. Pierce, but most likely we’ll fight somewhere nearhere.”
Forks clattered on dinnerware as everyoneabsorbed the news.
* * * *
After supper, Tillie followed everyone intothe parlor. Mother served the coffee with the fancy, company,silver coffeepot before settling herself in a chair.
“Sergeant Woods let me clean his carbinetoday.” Sam sat on the floor near the sergeant’s feet. His eyesgleamed with hero worship. “Didn’t you, Sarge?”
Woods ruffled Sam’s hair. “Yes I did, and afine job he did, too.”
Everyone ruffled Sam’s hair. Tillie studiedhim, curious. Sam was easy to like. He didn’t seem to mind whenpeople did.
Mother turned on Sam, breaking Tillie’sreverie. “Why, Samuel Wade, you deliberately disobeyed. I told younot to get in the way.”
Corporal Morgan and Sergeant Woods both roseto Sam’s defense. They spoke over each other to reassure her.
“No, ma’am, he wasn’t in the way. We enjoyedhaving him and his friends around.” Sergeant Woods gave Mother areassuring smile. He smiled at Sam and mouthed, “I’m sorry.”
Sergeant Woods sat forward in his chair.“Mrs. Pierce.” He laid his elbows on his knees and spoke in a slow,deliberate manner. “Young Sam here was a good boy and did what weasked him to do, right away and with good humor. To reward him, Ioffered to let him hold my carbine, and I showed him how to cleanthe stock and barrel. He did not ask, and he did not break anyrules.”
“No, he didn’t,” Corporal Morgan echoed.
“Well.” Mother studied each man. She sat backand relaxed. “Since you say he behaved as a good boy, and youoffered, I will not insult you, or Sam, by suggestingotherwise.”
Tillie let her breath out. Thankgoodness.
Sergeant Woods shifted as if about to riseand sat back again. “I must also beg your forgiveness for mybehavior at the supper table.” He dropped his gaze to the floor andheld his palms out, at the general chorus of dismissal. “It’s—well,you see—my brother and I fought at Antietam. He died there.”
“Oh, sergeant, I’m so sorry.” Tillie touchedhis arm in sympathy. “I didn’t mean to be so thoughtless.”
“You weren’t thoughtless.” He patted herhand. “How could you know? We’ve just met.”
“Well, I feel bad nonetheless. I’m sorry foryour loss.”
Maggie left the room.
“Did I say something wrong?” Now he raisedhis eyebrows, an uncertain frown on his face.
Father sat forward and waved away hisconcern. “Her beau died a few days ago. He was on his way to hisnew unit when he was killed by a Rebel soldier.”
“I’m so sorry,” the sergeant whispered.
After a moment of awkward silence,conversation resumed and they talked like old friends catching upafter years apart. The men stayed for another hour.
“We must be back by eight o’clock. General’sorders.” Sergeant Woods told them with regret. His slow, measuredsteps brought them to the front door. Corporal Morgan followedhim.
“Thank you so much for the coffee.” Mothergrasped his hand in hers. “Such a wonderful treat.”
“They took all your food?” Morgan shook hishead. He fidgeted with the kepi in his hands. “The powers that betold us the Rebs didn’t loot folks. Goes to show you, I guess.”
“They appeared pretty hungry to me. I’m notsurprised. But we’ll manage.” Mother shook the corporal’s hand.“The Lord always provides.”
“Yes, ma’am. He surely does.” Morgan settledhis kepi on his head. “Well, Mr. and Mrs. Pierce, thank you for afine evening. Good night, Miss Pierce.” He saluted Sam, whoreturned the gesture.
“Give our regards to the older Miss Pierce.”Sarge shook hands with Father. “Good night, folks.”
Tillie went to bed and stared at the ceiling,seeing Sergeant Wood’s sad eyes and the corporal’s infectious grin.Her eyes drifted closed as a vision took shape. She stood on thefront porch in her best brown muslin school dress. In one hand, sheheld a white handkerchief, and in the other, a flower, which sheheld out to a man in a resplendent cavalryman’s uniform, astride ablack steed. Tillie sighed as he leaned down to kiss her goodbye. Asmile twitched her lips. What a wonderful evening.
* * * *
Tillie bounded down the stairs for breakfastwhen the doorknocker rattled. Corporal Morgan and Sergeant Woodsstood on the stoop with a huge wooden box propped between them.
“Sergeant, corporal, good morning. Howwonderful to see you again.”
“Good morning, Miss Tillie. Is your maaround?” Morgan panted, struggling to hold his end of the box andremove his cap. Sergeant Woods nodded a greeting.
“Please come in.” Pulling the door wide,Tillie indicated the huge box. “What have you got in there?” Shegrinned. “I’ll go find Mother. She’s in the kitchen makingbreakfast. Are you hungry?”
The two of them manhandled the crate into thehouse, tilting it to get through the doorway. Big black lettersburned into the side read: Official Property of the U.S.Government.
“What in heaven’s name is all this? You twodidn’t do something illegal did you?” She giggled.
They put the crate down with a thump andstraightened. Both men breathed
