Eunice’s eyes widened. “You dare speak to me in such a tone! Your mother and I were practically sisters growing up.”
“I don’t mean to be disrespectful.” Natalie tempered her frustration. “I’m simply doing the best I can to manage the plantations and see that my son’s inheritance remains intact.”
The older woman seemed mollified. For the moment, anyway. “You would be wise to keep your eyes on them—especially that arrogant colonel. You mark my words. Thieves and miscreants, all.” With that, she huffed noisily and disappeared into the house.
Natalie closed her eyes. Could things get any worse?
A glance toward the men told her they’d received their instructions from Colonel Maish and were now setting about cleaning up the debris left from the storm. He and Corporal Banks stood apart from the group, talking. At one point, they both looked in her direction, and heat rose to her face. What must they think of her outlandish cousin?
She turned to go inside.
“Mrs. Ellis, a word, please.”
Colonel Maish’s deep voice stopped her. He strode toward the house, an unhappy look on his face.
Before he could commence with his scolding, which surely was his intention, she shook her head. “You needn’t subject me to your chastisement, Colonel. I apologize for my cousin’s behavior. It was ill-mannered and completely inappropriate of her to point a rifle at you. But you must understand, she’s been through a great deal at the hands of unscrupulous men wearing Union uniforms.”
He’d reached the bottom of the steps but didn’t make to ascend. “How so?” Skepticism reverberated from the two simple words.
“They burned her home before she was allowed to think through the consequences of arguing against the proclamation. It was unnecessary. I am certain she would have, like the rest of us, come to terms with giving the slaves their freedom. Now she, a childless widow, is homeless. Surely you can see how she would be distrustful of anyone wearing a blue coat.”
He eyed her a long moment. “While I am sorry your cousin’s home was burned—for that has never been something I approve of—it is no excuse for endangering people who had nothing to do with her loss. I may need to confiscate your weapons while she is in residence.”
Natalie’s back stiffened. “Sir, you would leave us completely defenseless because of an inconsequential incident? I apologized for her behavior. That should be sufficient.”
“I don’t find having a gun leveled at me inconsequential.” He glanced into the house then back to her. “How long will she stay with you?”
She shrugged. “I don’t really know. Her arrival took me by surprise. She retired early last night, claiming exhaustion from the long journey. Then the storm arose. We haven’t had much opportunity to discuss it.” For certain, she would discuss it with Eunice. While she wanted to help her cousin as much as possible, the idea of Eunice remaining at Rose Hill indefinitely was simply too unbearable to consider.
His dark gaze narrowed. “Then my advice to you is, keep your eye on her. And your guns. She isn’t to be trusted.” He turned and strode away.
The warning was nearly identical to that of her cousin’s regarding him.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
With afternoon sunshine beating on his back, Levi stopped to mop his brow with his rolled-up shirt sleeve. High on the roof of Rose Hill Manor there wasn’t an ounce of shade or even a lone cloud to offer a respite from the oppressive heat. July in Texas was not for the faint of heart—that was for certain. He hoped his men were following the instructions he’d left with Banks and his staff and not taking advantage of his absence. The hot days made it all too easy to get lazy, especially for the younger men who weren’t as disciplined as he’d like.
Glancing at Moses, who continued hammering shingles into place, he marveled at the older man’s stamina. They’d been working the better part of the day, measuring and cutting pieces of wood to replace the damaged ones. Climbing up and down the ladders, first onto the kitchen wing roof, then up to the main house, where the two buildings were joined by a covered walkway. Levi wasn’t ashamed to admit he was worn out, but Moses kept right on going.
Sitting back on his haunches, he gazed at the view around him. From their lofty vantage point, he could see for miles. Fields, woods, and plains. Far in the distance, following the sun’s path, the landscape gave way to gently rolling hills covered in trees. He’d been told they weren’t far from the edge of the frontier, where various Indian tribes still made their home. Years ago, he’d longed to head to the wildernesses to seek adventure and excitement. But after four long years of war, boyhood dreams seemed part of another lifetime.
Gazing at the landscape, Levi felt the tug of home pull on his heartstrings. Like many soldiers, he had yet to return to his family despite the war’s end. He’d been ordered to Texas soon after Lee surrendered, although skirmishes had continued west of the Mississippi until mid-May and delayed their arrival in Galveston. His brothers, Matthew and Joshua, had both returned to their wives and children. Matthew would have to learn how to walk with only one leg, but he was alive, for which they were grateful. Letters from Ma and Pa and his sisters and brothers all spoke of their eager desire to have Levi home, but that would have to wait until his mission in Texas was complete.
Looking down to the tools that surrounded him, he couldn’t help but smile. He’d always had an interest in carpentry, but it hadn’t been more than a hobby before the war. Soldiering was what he’d believed he was destined for. His time at West Point only served to confirm it. Now, with the world such
