“Oh, yes. Sorry.” Tillie twirled, belling herskirts, and strode to the kitchen.
“Mother, Corporal Morgan and Sergeant Woodsare back with a huge box. They wanted me to come and get you.” Sheturned to Sam eating his breakfast. “You might want to go getFather.”
Sam nodded and bolted out the back door.
Tillie followed Mother back to the hall. Themen bobbed their heads at Mother as she approached.
“What’s this?” She wiped her hands on herapron. “What have you boys done?”
“Nothing illegal, ma’am, if that’s whatyou’re asking.” Corporal Morgan twisted his cap in his hands, agrin on his face. “We took up a collection from our unit, and whenGeneral Buford heard what the Rebs did with your food, he wrote outa requisition slip to take to the quartermaster, so we brought yousome supplies.”
Father entered the hallway, still wearing hisbloody leather apron and holding a crowbar. Tillie put a hand toher mouth and turned away as Sam joined Father, a hammer in hishand. Together they pried open the top of the box to reveal anenormous quantity of food—eggs, cheese, sacks of flour, coffee,sugar, rice, and beans.
Mother lifted out one of three rashers ofbacon and gazed into their grinning faces. Her voice came out softand heavy with emotion. “You boys must stay for breakfast.” Usingher apron, she wiped tears from her eyes.
* * * *
Tillie and Maggie ascended Culp’s Hill, inthe waning warmth of the day, scouting for wildflowers. Atbreakfast, Sergeant Woods and Corporal Morgan announced that muchof the infantry had arrived during the night, and more were due inthe next day or two.
“Thank you for coming with me.” Tillieselected a handful of pink buttercups. “I hoped you’d keep mecompany. Some girls from school handed out flowers, and I wanted todo the same.”
“I’m happy to. I think flowers are awonderful idea. We can use our old ribbons to make pretty bouquetsif you want.” Maggie reached for a daisy.
“Good idea.” Tillie plucked a daisy.“Imagine.” She lifted the flower as an offering. “Handing a flowerto a young, handsome officer and he pledge his undying devotion inreturn. How delightful!” She giggled.
“No!” Maggie almost yanked a flower out ofthe ground.
Tillie cocked her head. “Why not?”
“No more soldiers, not for me.” A savage tonesliced through Maggie’s voice as she reached for another daisy.
Did she mean George? A soldier for one day,for heaven’s sake? And not an actual soldier, but a farmer. Tilliebit down hard on her tongue and turned her back to hide her burningcheeks. Her heart pounded out her shame for her cruelty and lack ofcompassion. Reaching for a black-eyed Susan, she pulled the stemuntil it snapped. She tossed the yellow flower into her bunch. Theyworked for the next quarter hour in silence.
They sat on a fallen log in the forest’s cooldarkness and organized their flowers. The lowering sun couldn’tpenetrate the thick trunks. They waved away clouds of gnats as theyfinished bundling flowers, tossing those already wilted. Theydescended the hill, stopping for a cool drink at Spangler’s spring,a small creek winding around the base of the Culp’s Hill.
As Tillie scooped water into her mouth, herwords hung between them. She couldn’t ignore it. “I’m sorry I saidwhat I did about the soldiers, Maggie.”
Maggie shrugged. “It’s not your fault.” Shegave Tillie a quick smile. “I’m not upset. Come. Let’s go home. Themosquitoes and gnats are becoming quite bold.”
Tillie splashed cool water on her face. Shelet the droplets drip off her chin and run down her neck.
Once they left the cool of the woods, theheat assailed them again. Tillie gasped. “I wish we had Lady.” Thememory of her horse brought a sharp pang of sadness. Where wasLady? Did they mistreat her?
Maggie patted her shoulder. “I do too. It’s ahot walk home.”
They approached Baltimore Street as the sunslid behind Big Roundtop. Heat radiated off the red brick housesand the cobblestone street. Entering through the kitchen, Tillieand Maggie stopped at the washbasin to sluice their faces and washtheir hands. Maggie went upstairs and returned a short time laterwith a handful of old hair ribbons. They settled at the sittingroom table to make bouquets. Tillie rearranged her flowers, baskingin the idyllic scene. Father read the newspaper, Mother knittedmore socks, and Sam pored over his textbook. If only life might goon like this forever.
Chapter 11
Wednesday, July 1, 1863
Tillie’s body rocked back and forth withMaggie’s insistent hand on her shoulder. “Wake up, sleepy head.We’re off to see the soldiers, remember?”
“I remember,” Tillie mumbled into her pillow,her voice sleepy. “What time is it?”
“Time to get out of bed. I’ll meet youdownstairs. Hurry up.” Maggie left the room.
Tillie rose and squinted at the window. Thefiery red disc broke the horizon and glared with vicious intensity.Oh goody. Another hot, humid day. Tillie sighed and plodded to herarmoire. She dressed in her pink checked calico and made the bed,then splashed cool water on her face before going downstairs.
Sam sat at the table, eating toast andjam.
“Good morning, girls.” Father raised hiscoffee cup to his lips.
Mother placed a plate of toasted bread andsome jam in front of them and then poured herself a cup of coffee.Tillie stared at her. They just received a huge box of foodyesterday. What happened to the bacon and eggs?
She was just about to ask, when Motherinclined her head to the plate. “Just because we’ve been given it,doesn’t mean we should squander it.”
Tillie frowned at Father, but he chuckled andsipped his coffee. She wrinkled her nose, picked up her toast, andate.
“Where’re you all off to today?” Fathercrunched into his toast.
“We’re going to welcome the soldiers again.”Maggie spread butter and jam on her toast.
Tillie chimed in, “We have the flowers wepicked on Culp’s Hill last night. Other girls did that yesterday,and we didn’t want to be empty-handed today.”
Cheering erupted from the street. Tillie,Maggie, and Sam turned to Mother in silent appeal.
Father chuckled again.
Mother waved her hand as she began washingdishes.
Tillie bolted out the back door, Sam andMaggie at her heels as she flew down Breckenridge Street in time tosee more of the cavalry passing up Washington Street, taking thesame route as the
