She heard the pride in his voice. He, a black Union soldier, had fought to free people of color like himself, and he no doubt had celebrated all the more when Lee conceded the Confederate Cause. Looking at Banks now, happily eating a molasses cookie made by a woman who had been a slave less than a week ago … well, it was most definitely a new and different world.
“Where is your home, if you don’t mind my asking, Corporal?”
“I don’t mind.” He grinned. “I’m from Massachusetts. Prettiest state in the union, my mama always says.”
Natalie smiled, his cheerful attitude contagious. “Well, if your mama said it, it must be true.”
His grin grew. “The colonel doesn’t agree. He and I argue from time to time which state is prettier. He, of course, says Pennsylvania is. Having never been there, I don’t know if he’s right, but I know I wouldn’t want to live anywhere but Massachusetts.”
“The colonel is from Pennsylvania?” she asked, oddly pleased at discovering something personal about the serious man without his knowledge. She thought he might have mentioned his home the day he and his troops arrived at Rose Hill, but many of the details of that day had been lost in the events.
“He is. Has a big family back home, from what I can tell.”
As Corporal Banks went on about his own family, Natalie sat in stunned silence. Why had it not occurred to her that the colonel might be married and have a family? It doesn’t matter, she reminded herself, ignoring the rush of disappointment that settled over her. His marital status had nothing to do with their business agreement, which was the only reason they had any cause to interact. But it made sense that he would have a wife, considering he was handsome and strong and—
“Ma’am?”
Startled, she found Banks looking at her. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“I asked if you were ready to sign the papers. The colonel is eager to get the men hired so they can begin tending the crops.”
Yes, he would be impatient to get Natalie’s cotton harvested and wash his hands of her and Rose Hill.
She stood. “If you will excuse me, I’ll get a pen and ink.”
Corporal Banks stood politely. “Yes, ma’am.”
When she returned, she signed her name opposite Colonel Maish’s on both papers. After blowing on the ink to keep it from smearing, she handed one sheet back to the corporal. “How soon should we expect the men to arrive?” she asked as they both stood.
“Within the week, I would say. There are hundreds of freedmen looking for work, so it shouldn’t be too hard to round up a crew.”
How odd, Natalie thought as she watched the corporal mount his horse and ride away. The men who worked cotton fields as slaves would now work those same fields as freedmen, earning wages this time. She couldn’t help but wonder if they were better off or not. Rose Hill slaves had always had plenty to eat and a roof over their heads. Now they had to find work and pay for food, clothes, and housing. A pang of guilt washed over her, knowing her former slaves were woefully unprepared for life away from the plantation.
Carolina appeared on the porch, her gaze trained on the departing man. “Guess we’ll have more o’ them so’diers around once they tote them free Negroes back to work the cotton.”
“I suppose we will.” Natalie eyed Carolina. “I’m sure you wouldn’t mind if one soldier in particular spent time at Rose Hill.” When Carolina’s wide gaze met hers, she couldn’t help but laugh. “It is as plain as the nose on your face you’re partial to the corporal.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Carolina’s face melted in a gooey smile. “Ain’t he handsome? I ain’t never see’d a Negro man so sure of himself. And that uniform look mighty fine on him, even if it is a bluecoat.”
“My, Carolina, I do believe you are smitten.” A hint of envy tinged her words. Romance and flirtations, it seemed, were not her destiny.
“I might be, Miz Natalie.” She shrugged, a shy look in her eyes. “My stomach gets all wiggly when he look at me.”
Ever since Luther Ellis sold Carolina’s mother and sisters, Natalie felt protective of the girl. She wouldn’t want the Union soldier to break Carolina’s heart. “Well, mind you don’t do anything foolish when it comes to Corporal Banks. He and all the other soldiers will eventually leave Texas and go home.”
Carolina sobered. “I know.”
After Carolina retreated into the house, Natalie stood on the porch, looking east. The warning she’d given Carolina rang true for herself as well. She had no business mooning over a handsome Yankee colonel, especially one with a family waiting for his return. Oh, that the Union soldiers had continued north the day they stopped by Rose Hill instead of settling on her property nearby. Life hadn’t been easy before their arrival, and most certainly would not have been after they departed, but the days had passed with a sameness she’d found comforting.
Now, nothing felt familiar.
Not even her own heart.
CHAPTER NINE
Levi stood on the porch of Langford Manor evaluating the thirty former slaves milling about the yard. Corporal Banks and several of his men had gone to the surrounding communities and found hundreds of men willing to work. The settlements, they said, were overwhelmed with free men and women looking for employment. Many towns were already experiencing problems due to the lack of jobs for the newly freed Negroes. Thefts were on the rise, as were the tempers of local residents unsure how to handle the influx of unemployed workers. A solution, however, was slow in coming. There simply weren’t enough jobs to go around nor citizens financially able to hire all the former slaves.
Studying the group, one man in particular caught Levi’s eye. He was large and well-muscled, but what captured his attention was the man’s face. Raised scars were
