“And you believe I will be able to sell the cotton once the blockades are removed?”
“I do. The price of cotton is at an all-time high. With so many southern plantations not producing, those with a crop in the field stand to make a decent profit. More, I believe, than what the Army would pay you in cash.”
A rooster crowed from somewhere nearby while Natalie contemplated the offer. After several moments, during which various expressions crossed her face, she seemed to come to a decision. She stood and faced Levi. “Very well, Colonel. I would like our agreement in writing, if you will. I would like to know how many men you will hire and how many soldiers you will provide.”
Levi bit back a chuckle. This wasn’t the first time she’d asked for something in writing. It probably wouldn’t be the last before it was all said and done. Considering she’d lived her entire life as a pampered daughter and wife, she seemed to have a keen understanding of business. “As you wish. I will have the papers drawn up and sent over for your signature.”
A pleased smile curled her lips. “Thank you. I would have never dreamed something good could come from having the Union Army camped on Langford land, but it appears I was mistaken.”
For a moment, Levi was captivated by the delight on her face. The same feeling he’d experienced when he’d given her the box of oranges washed over him. Pleasure. It was pure pleasure making this woman smile.
The screen door screeched open, and out bounded Samuel, covered in dried mud from head to toe. He ran to Natalie. Levi thought for certain she would keep him at arm’s length to protect her gown, but he was wrong. When Samuel reached her and wrapped his dirty arms around her skirt, she smiled down at him.
“Did you finish watering the garden?” she asked, using her fingers to comb his sweaty hair from his face.
“Yes, Mama. Harriet ’n Carolina are still working.” Samuel peeked up at Levi. “Is that the man that gave us the or’nges?”
Natalie met Levi’s gaze, humor in her blue eyes. “It is. Would you like to thank him?”
“Thankee, sir.”
Levi turned his attention to the boy. “You’re welcome. Have you been working with Ebenezer to get him to obey your commands?”
Samuel shook his head.
“Well,” Levi said, glancing to where the dog lounged in the shade of the house. “If you want him to mind you, you’ll have to teach him his lessons.”
Carolina came through the door then. “There you are, Samuel. Don’t run off like that without tellin’ me or Harriet where you goin’.”
“I wanted to find Mama,” the boy said, eyeing the cookies on the plate. “Can I have a ’lasses cookie, Mama?”
Natalie nodded. “Yes, you may.” She glanced at Levi. “Why don’t you share one with the colonel, the way he shared his oranges with you.”
Samuel looked up at Levi then back to the cookies. With a pudgy finger, he silently counted the remaining cookies on the plate. Three were left. Apparently deciding that was enough to share, he carefully picked up the china plate with both hands and held it toward Levi.
“Want one?”
Levi grinned, wondering if his nephew Lucas was anything like Samuel. The boy had been born shortly before the war began. Levi hadn’t seen him in several years, but thankfully, his brother had survived the battles and was even now home with his family in Pennsylvania. Seeing Samuel’s cherub face looking up at him reminded Levi of his own deep longing to return home.
“No, but thank you. You can eat mine.”
Samuel’s eyes brightened. He wasted no time returning the plate to the table and reaching for a cookie.
“We will take our leave now,” Levi said to Natalie, tugging on his gloves. “Corporal Banks will return tomorrow with the papers. Once you’ve signed them, we can begin hiring workers.” He glanced at Banks. Instead of finding the corporal attentive to the plan, however, the young man’s gaze was fastened on Carolina, who, when Levi glanced in her direction, wore a shy smile, lashes fluttering as she snuck peeks at Banks.
Levi heaved a sigh. The last thing he needed was a lovesick corporal. There was still far too much work to be done in Texas to waste time on flirtation and silliness.
He cleared his throat, gaining Banks’ attention. That man drew his shoulders back and gave Levi a firm nod.
“Thank you, Colonel,” Natalie said, falling in step beside him as he moved to the stairs. “With so many changes taking place, I didn’t know how we would get the harvest in. I would have never believed it, but you and the Union Army are an answer to prayer.”
Her comment dogged him all the way back to Langford Manor. While Natalie Ellis might be pleased with the turn of events, he was not. He’d come to Texas to free Negroes still in bondage, not help the very people who had kept them enslaved.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Miz Natalie, that corporal is here to see you. I told him to wait on the porch.”
Natalie breathed a sigh of relief at Carolina’s announcement. If she’d had to stay on her knees pulling weeds from around her mother-in-law’s prized rose bushes one minute longer, she was certain her legs would never unbend. All morning she’d labored over the fragrant bushes that bordered the house. First pruning and cutting away dead flowers and leaves, then pulling weeds that sprang up overnight, it seemed, despite the lack of rain.The work was hot and tiresome, but she felt a measure of pride with her accomplishment, bleeding fingertips and weary muscles notwithstanding. She hoped Martha Ellis would be pleased should she be given an opportunity to look down from heaven and see how Natalie was faring as mistress of Rose Hill.
“Thank you, Carolina.” She unfolded
