“You don’t look so good, Miz Natalie. Why don’t you sit down a spell?” Concern rang in the man’s deep voice. She did look rather pale.
She waved him off. “I’m fine. Go on now and get the others. Carolina, please gather the house servants.”
As Moses and Carolina exited the room, Corporal Banks entered. For a brief moment, the soldier stared at the young black woman’s retreating back before he seemed to remember Levi awaited him. “The men are in position, sir.”
“Thank you, Corporal.” He turned to Mrs. Ellis, who now had tiny beads of moisture dotting her forehead and upper lip. The room was definitely stuffy, but he wondered if it wasn’t the sheer shock of learning her slaves were free that had her ill. “Ma’am, we will escort you outside so you may address your people when you’re ready. My orders are to have you read the proclamation to them yourself.”
She simply nodded.
They made their way to the porch. Nearby, a teenage boy tugged on the rope of a large cast iron bell, the resounding noise calling to workers throughout the property. Negroes began filling the yard. More arrived from the fields and barns, hurrying toward the house. When it seemed all had arrived, Mrs. Ellis stepped to the rail. Levi noticed Moses stood off to the side of the group with one arm around a stout woman and little Isaac hoisted in the other. Samuel stood beside them. His dog was nowhere in sight.
“I am sure you’re all wondering why the soldiers are here,” Mrs. Ellis said, her voice wobbly as her legs had been. She grasped the porch rail with both hands, her knuckles turning white. “They have brought news. The war is over.”
Gasps followed by cheers went through the crowd. “Who won?” someone called out.
“The Yankees.”
A low murmur rose and fell.
“They also brought a proclamation that concerns you.”
All eyes focused on Mrs. Ellis. Levi almost felt sorry for her. Her world was changing at a lightning-fast pace, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. He stepped forward and handed her the printed paper.
With hands shaking, she read the remarkable words. When she came to the end, she looked at the people in the yard. “You are free men and women.”
It only took a moment before the group erupted. Hats flew in the air amid whistles and shouts. One man cried, “Free, my Lord! Free, free, my Lord!” Some knelt on the ground and wept while others hugged their neighbors. Moses simply held the woman and the boy close, tears streaming down his face.
“If you will excuse me, Colonel.” Mrs. Ellis’ subdued voice pulled his attention away from the boisterous celebration. Her face looked like a sun-bleached sheet when she handed back the paper. “I would like to be alone now. I have much to consider.”
He bowed slightly. “I understand. My men and I will depart shortly.”
She nodded and moved toward the doorway. She hadn’t taken more than a few steps when her legs gave out. Before Levi could react, she collapsed into a puddle of blue-and-white fabric.
CHAPTER THREE
“Mama? Mama!”
Samuel’s frightened voice penetrated the fog that gripped Natalie.
“Your mama is going be fine, son. Let’s get her inside.” The deep voice seemed very near.
As Natalie became aware of being lifted in strong arms, she forced her eyelids open only to find herself face to face with Colonel Maish. “What …?”
“You fainted.”
His muscles flexed beneath her as his grip on her tightened.
Horrified to find herself in the man’s arms, Natalie glared at him. “I did not faint, sir. I simply became overly warm. Please put me down.” Her stocking-clad calves were exposed in this position, and she tried in vain to smooth her voluminous skirt and crinolines into place.
A shade of humor gleamed in his deep brown eyes. “Call it what you will, ma’am, but you hit the porch fairly hard. Let me get you inside and make certain you aren’t injured.”
Helpless to argue, Natalie let the Yankee carry her into the parlor and settle her on the sofa. The fact that she did feel a bit lightheaded irked her further. She took a steadying breath.
“Mama, you fell down.” Samuel crawled up beside her, his cherub face showing curiosity rather than concern. “Why?”
She smiled at her son and drew him to her side. “Mama had a silly accident. I’m fine now. Did you and Isaac enjoy your peaches?”
“Mmmhmm. Why was all the slaves crying and hollering?”
She glanced at Colonel Maish, who stood nearby, watching.
The explanation she gave her son regarding the slaves’ freedom was none of his concern. She would have a long talk with Samuel later and explain what it meant. Right now, she simply wanted the Yankee officer out of her home and off her land.
“They’re happy the war is over, like I am. It means the soldiers can all go home.” She gave the colonel a pointed look.
“My papa can’t come home.”
The sad words tugged at her heart. Samuel rarely spoke of the father he had never known. “No, love, he can’t.”
Samuel looked up to Colonel Maish. “Will you go home?”
The colonel nodded. “As soon as I have completed my orders.”
“Is your home in Texas?”
The man’s dark beard twitched. “My home is in Pennsylvania. But I’ve been ordered to stay in Texas for a while, so I guess you could say it’s my home for now.”
Seemingly satisfied, Samuel bounded off the sofa. “Mama, can I go play with Isaac? We were gonna go rock hunting down by the creek, but Moses said we had to go stand in the yard and listen to you.”
Natalie hesitated to answer. Nothing in their world was the same as it had been a mere hour ago. She wasn’t certain
