Standing, she gazed at the vast fields. When the harvest was in, the hired workers would move on. Though she would receive payment for her cotton this year, she owed money to the bank, owed more for taxes. If there were anything left over, it wouldn’t go far, especially now that Moses and the others were employees, requiring wages. She could barter with them for food and housing, as Colonel Maish suggested, but eventually, they would want cash payments for their labor. How could she keep the plantation running without money to pay workers? The situation seemed impossible.
Looking west, she wondered, not for the first time, if she should accept her sister-in-law’s invitation to come to Oregon. After Luther had passed, leaving Rose Hill and all its vast responsibilities to Natalie, Adella wrote and begged Natalie to bring Samuel and come live with them. That Samuel’s half-sister also lived with Adella was a concern, mainly because Natalie wasn’t sure how to feel about the child her husband had fathered with a slave. Yet despite the hardships and fear she faced if she remained in Texas, this was their home. Rose Hill and Langford Manor were Samuel’s inheritance. She couldn’t simply give them up.
But everything had changed. Samuel might lose his inheritance after all. With slave labor, there had always been plenty of people to complete the work necessary to plant and harvest the cotton, corn, and wheat. Without them, she didn’t see how the plantation could continue to operate.
Luther had been right all along, she realized. Rose Hill could cease to exist without slaves.
Two riders rode up the lane toward the house. Her heart tripped over itself when she recognized Colonel Maish’s blue uniform. She had to admit she looked forward to his presence on the plantation today, continuing with the repairs to the barns and other damaged roofs. She frowned when she glanced at the second rider, though. She’d assumed it was Corporal Banks, but as they came out of the shadows, she saw it wasn’t the Negro soldier.
Alexander Lopez entered the yard, a dark scowl on his face.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“Señora Ellis, I am relieved to see you are safe.”
Levi watched Lopez swing out of his saddle before his mount had time to come to a full stop. He rushed up the steps to Natalie and took her hand in his, grazing her knuckles with his lips.
“I arrived in town late last night with plans to visit you this morning. In the café, before I could even order breakfast, I heard talk of the storm. I came as fast as I could.”
Annoyance coiled in Levi’s belly at the man’s familiarity. While Natalie didn’t appear overly joyful to see Lopez, she didn’t withdraw her hand from his grip.
“As you can see, the storm did some damage, but nothing that can’t be repaired.”
Her gaze flitted to Levi. It didn’t go unnoticed by the Tejano.
He turned unfriendly eyes to Levi. “I met the colonel on the road to Rose Hill. He informed me he is helping with the repairs.” A chilly smile lifted his lips. “Neglecting the Union Army’s mission in order to help a beautiful widow, eh, Colonel? My, how one’s priorities can change with the wind.”
Levi dismounted, ignoring the barb. He directed his attention to Natalie, who withdrew her hand from Lopez before looking at him. “Mrs. Ellis.” He nodded politely even as he wished to snatch her away from the man. “I will keep several workers on cleanup detail today, but the others can return to the fields. My men will supervise, as I’ll need Moses’ help again with the shingles. He became quite adept at cutting them yesterday.”
“Very well, Colonel.”
“Natalie, what is this all about?” Lopez said, his Spanish accent thick. “I understand the army’s need to camp on your family’s land, but what purpose do they have here at Rose Hill?”
She glanced between Levi and Lopez. Levi couldn’t tell if she was annoyed by the question or hesitant to reveal the business agreement she had with the Union Army.
Before she could answer, however, her outlandish cousin bustled through the open door. At least she wasn’t wearing her nightclothes or carrying a gun this time.
“Natalie Ellis, what are you doing entertaining men at this hour?”
Levi saw Natalie’s fist clench briefly at her side before she released it.
“Cousin Eunice, I’m not entertaining anyone. May I present Señor Lopez, a friend. He heard about the storm and was concerned for our well-being. Señor Lopez, this is my mother’s cousin, Mrs. Porter. She’s staying at Rose Hill.”
The rotund cousin eyed Lopez. “I take it you’re Mexican.”
Lopez inclined his head. “I was born in Tejas, but of course that was when Tejas belonged to Mėjico.”
“My late husband, Judge Leftwidge Porter, was a congressman in Shelby County.” Pride practically dripped from the statement. “He had many friends who were Mexican. I told him frequently to stay on their friendly side after that scoundrel Santa Anna stopped causing trouble and went back to Mexico. ‘It won’t do us any good to keep enemies,’ says I. The judge agreed.”
Levi held in a chuckle when he saw the look of uncertainty pass over Lopez’s face as he studied the odd woman.
“Well, don’t keep your company standing on the porch, Natalie,” Eunice said, retreating into the house. “Invite him in for breakfast.”
Natalie closed her eyes for a moment before offering a polite smile to Lopez. “Señor, please, won’t you join us for breakfast? Especially if yours was interrupted on my behalf.”
“I would be delighted,” he said, bowing. He sent Levi a triumphant look.
“Colonel?”
Levi switched his attention back to Natalie. “You are welcome to join us as well.”
The smug look
