“Didn’t you hear the firing?” Maggie sat.
“Of course.”
“Sit down, everyone.” Father pulled out hischair, his Bible in one hand. “Let me read, and then we’ll hearwhat he has to say.”
When Father finished reading, Sam shoveled aforkful of beans into his mouth and chewed. He chased it down witha gulp of milk and set his glass down. “I was at the encampmentwith Gates and Bertie, brushing the horses, fetching water, andjoking with the soldiers before the cannon started firing.” Hedropped a hot ear of corn on his plate and passed the bowl.
“You should have seen poor little LeanderWarren.” Sam laughed. “The minute the first cannon boomed out, Leestarted screaming like a girl. He threw his hands over his ears anddropped into the hay. What a sissy. When the bugler called Bootsand Saddles, that’s the call to battle, Lee ran home lickety-split.I swear I never seen him run that fast.”
“Don’t swear, Sam.” Mother lowered her browand pressed her mouth tight. “It’s ‘I’ve never seen him run thatfast.’” She pinned him with a stern look. “To that point, I hardlythink you’re being charitable of the feelings of aseven-year-old.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Sam frowned. He drew in a deepbreath and let it out.
“Why didn’t you run home, Sam?” Maggie passedhim the bread.
“We, that is, Gates and Bertie and me—”
“Gates, Bertie, and I.” Mother put her forkdown and sat back. She dropped her hands into her lap. “I don’tcare for your language.”
Sam blushed.
Father grinned and squeezed the back of Sam’sneck.
Tillie laughed. “Take heart, Sam. Mother wasfrightened when you didn’t come home. She’s not really mad at you.”Her heart went out to him. She hated their scolding too.
Mother’s fierce gaze bore into Tillie. Shestopped her fork halfway to her mouth. “Don’t be impertinent,Tillie.”
Sam smiled but tried to hide it by taking adrink of milk. He put the cup down. “Gates, Bertie, and I wanted tostay and see the fight. When the gun firing started, Gates askedSarge what it was, and Sarge said rifle fire. Then he told us allto run home and don’t stop until we get there.” Sam’s eyessparkled.
Mother opened her mouth to scold Samagain.
“There’s nothing to fear, Margaret.” Fathercut off whatever she intended to say. “The boy is unharmed andall’s well that ends well.” He gripped Sam’s shoulder and thenslapped him on the back.
Mother glared at Father, but said nothingmore. She finished her meal in silence.
When dinner ended, Mother rose and, without aword, left the room. Father followed her. Maggie gathered suppliesto bring to the basement.
Tillie cleared the table.
Sam crept up behind her. “Am I in a lot oftrouble with your mother?”
Tillie gave him a sisterly peck on the cheek.“She was scared. We didn’t know where you were or if you were safeor not. If we had to go look for you, we didn’t know where tostart.”
Sam blushed. A pleased smile spread acrosshis face, and his blue eyes lit. “She was afraid for me? No one’sever been afraid for me before.”
Tillie grasped his elbow. “We all were.”
Mother strode into the kitchen. “Tillie,tomorrow I’d like you to—”
Sam walked over, flung his arms aroundMother’s waist, and hugged her tight.
Mother held her arms out at her sides, eyeswide, mouth open. Then she wrapped her arms around the boy andleaned down, enfolding him in an embrace.
Tillie’s throat clogged. She pursed her lipsand blinked back tears.
Sam broke away, and his smile became a grin.“Thanks.” He ran out the kitchen door.
Tillie turned back to washing dishes. Shelifted her apron and wiped away tears. Behind her, Mother blew hernose.
The front door rattled with hard, insistentraps. Voices in the hall drifted back. Father came to thekitchen.
“Tillie. Margaret. Mrs. Schriver would like aword with us.” He headed back to the hall.
“Mrs. Schriver.” Mother grasped Mrs.Schriver’s hands in greeting. “Please come into the parlor and sitdown.”
“No thank you, Mrs. Pierce.” Mrs. Schriversmiled and shook her head. “I’m not here for a visit. I came to asktwo favors of you.”
“Of course.” Mother stepped back.
“First, I’m going to my father’s farm. Idon’t feel safe alone in the house with the girls. I came to ask ifMr. Pierce would look after my home for me while I’m gone.”
“Certainly,” Father said. “Think nothing ofit.”
“Thank you.” She inclined her head towardTillie. “I also wanted to ask permission to take Tillie withme.”
Mother’s mouth dropped open. She looked atFather. “What do you think, James? Should Tillie go with her?”
“I wouldn’t ask, Mrs. Pierce, except I knowTillie and Beckie are good friends. They might enjoy spending theafternoon together. We’ll be home by suppertime.”
“I think it’s a good idea, Margaret.” Fatherwalked over and put a hand on her shoulder. “If fighting does eruptagain, it would get Tillie safely out of the way.”
When Mother didn’t respond, he addressedTillie. “What say you, Tillie? Do you want to accompany Mrs.Schriver?”
“Well, if you and Mother don’t object.”Tillie shrugged her acquiescence. She preferred to stay home, butdidn’t want to hurt Mrs. Schriver’s feelings by refusing. “I don’tmind going with Mrs. Schriver. I can help with the girls.”
“All right then.” Mother lifted her hands ina gesture of surrender. “Go upstairs, get a clean dress, and put itin the basement. You can change into it when you get home.”
Tillie went to gather her things. She emergedfrom the basement, kissed her parents, and said goodbye. Had sheknown what awaited her at the Weikerts, she might have refused.
Chapter 12
Tillie and Mrs. Schriver hurried Mollie andSadie down a silent and deserted Baltimore Street. Every fewseconds the air resounded with the pfoom, pfoom of distant cannonshots. Tillie’s heart pounded, and her mouth went dry. The fightinghadn’t stopped, but it did sound farther away. Perhaps theConfederates were yielding ground. It was strange that theycouldn’t hear it inside the house.
She had Mollie by the hand, and with eachthud of the cannon, Tillie picked up her pace until she almostdragged the seven-year-old behind her.
They passed through the brick entrance gateof Evergreen Cemetery, cutting across diagonally, moving fast.Distant cannon blasts goaded them on.
“Mama, stop! I can’t walk so fast.”Five-year-old Sadie dug her heels into the ground and pulled back,like a donkey
