For one brief moment, she wished the soldiers had never set foot on Rose Hill, bringing with them the shocking proclamation of freedom. The thought was selfish, she knew. Though the slaves had no choice but to stay on the plantation all these years, none had been mistreated since George left for war. Luther was too far gone in his anger over Adella’s betrayal and then his grief over George to give much consideration to the slaves, especially after his Negro driver, Monroe, mysteriously disappeared. Rumors in the quarter suggested someone murdered him, but his body was never found. Moses took charge after that, and life on the plantation for the slaves became more pleasant. Yet when the majority had chosen an uncertain future yesterday rather than choosing to stay and help bring in the crop … well, that said more than words ever could.
Heaving a sigh, Natalie squared her shoulders. Harvest was still several weeks away. She could only worry about one problem at a time. Today, she was David facing Goliath. Colonel Maish and his Northern troops had taken possession of her property, establishing the battlefield. Now she had to figure out what she could use for a slingshot and stones.
They arrived at Langford Manor before she came up with a plan. That it was still standing left Natalie weak with relief.
“Thank heaven,” she whispered as they drove across the yard to the big house. Not quite as grand as Rose Hill Manor, the home she grew up in held a special place in her heart. It, like Rose Hill, was her son’s inheritance, his future. She would do everything in her power not to lose either.
“Guess that Yankee colonel tellin’ the truth,” Moses said. “Look yonder at all them tents.”
Indeed, across what used to be fallow cotton fields lay a sea of white canvas tents, one neat row after the other. A roped off area held more horses than she could possibly count, and empty wagons formed a long line that disappeared behind the tents. Obviously, more men than she had seen at Rose Hill were encamped on her property. Any hope she’d held for their immediate evacuation vanished like a mist in the breeze.
“No wonder them Yankees won the war,” Carolina said, balancing on her knees in the wagon bed to get a better look at the spectacle. “They done built a town overnight.”
Moses drove the wagon to the front of the house. Several men in uniform stood on the porch, deep in conversation. A hush fell over them when Moses stopped the wagon mere feet from the steps, just as he’d always done over the years.
Natalie’s stomach twisted when the men’s curious gazes landed on her. What had Colonel Maish told them about her? That a foolish widow owned the plantation and thought to prevent the Union Army from doing as they pleased? Briefly, she wished Alexander Lopez were there. Perhaps the colonel would not be so arrogant if he had to face a man.
“I help you down, Miz Natalie,” Moses said in a lowered voice before setting the brake. When he came around to her side of the wagon, she noticed he appeared as apprehensive as she felt. “Does you want me to come inside with you?”
As much as she longed for his steady presence, Natalie knew she had to handle this on her own. “Thank you, Moses, but no.” She allowed him to assist her down from the high seat. It wouldn’t do to fall flat on her face in front of the Yankees who now lined the porch rail, watching. “You and Carolina wait here while I speak with the colonel.”
“Yes’m.”
Gathering what little courage remained within her, Natalie brought her chin up and mounted the steps. Ignoring the men’s bold stares, she headed for the front door. A familiar voice stopped her.
“Good morning, Mrs. Ellis.”
Natalie turned to her right and found Colonel Maish standing at the far end of the wraparound porch, admiration in his dark eyes as they traveled over her attire. That her stomach did a strange flutter under his perusal startled her.
“Good morning, Colonel. I see you and your men have settled in.” She looked out to the canvas city, mostly to prevent him from observing how his apparent appreciation for her laborious toilette left her flustered. If she had any hope of insisting he listen to her concerns, she couldn’t display the slightest form of weakness.
“We have, but I’ve also kept my promise,” he said, dismissing the other men with a nod as he joined her at the railing. The soldiers descended the steps, with one taking a last curious peek at her before they headed in the direction of the tents. “I sent a message to General Granger yesterday evening apprising him of your situation. I expect to hear back from him in a day or two.”
This news surprised her. “I appreciate you handling my interests in such a prompt manner, Colonel.”
His dark beard twitched. “Shall I assume you did not believe I would?”
Natalie offered a small shrug. “I admit I wasn’t entirely convinced.”
“And now?” His eyes glinted. Was he making fun of her?
She lifted her chin again. “Now I will make certain my belongings are where they should be. The Rose Hill house servants have cleaned Langford Manor every month since we closed it. There has never been anything missing or out of place.”
The challenge in her voice was unmistakable even to her own ears. Any humor the colonel may have felt vanished as he narrowed his gaze on her.
“As I stated yesterday, Mrs. Ellis, my men are not thieves. Corporal Banks and I are the only ones who have been inside the house. When we first arrived, we walked through it, ascertaining it
