“You cannot mean to seize my property after I have just informed you it is not available.” Natalie stared at him, aghast at the very thought of a company of Yankees living in her childhood home.
He turned. “Mrs. Ellis.” He took a deep breath, as though forcing himself to remain civil. “I have my orders. If you would like—” Something outside the window caught his eye. A grave look swept his features, and he returned his gaze to her. “I fear you have more important things to worry over than an abandoned plantation.”
Hurrying to the window, Natalie covered her mouth with her hands, choking down a wail that threatened to come forth.
A line of slaves, bundles on their backs and in their arms, made their way down the long drive toward the road.
The exodus had begun.
A wave of compassion washed over Levi as Mrs. Ellis stared out the window. Hearing her story, seeing the pain and fear in her eyes, he couldn’t imagine what was going through her mind now. Although she seemed to be a strong woman—she’d kept the plantation going all alone when others in similar circumstances could not have—he had glimpsed vulnerability in her eyes.
“Miz Natalie?”
They turned to find Moses in the parlor doorway, his hat held with both hands.
“Moses.” The whispered sob spoke volumes. Tears glittered in her blue eyes as the big Negro approached. “I suppose you’re here to tell me you’re leaving too.”
“No, ma’am.” He nodded toward the window. “Them folks ain’t got no place to go, but freedom done called their name. Harriet and me, we figure on stayin’ at Rose Hill, if that be to your likin’.”
She nodded as tears slipped down her cheeks. “Of course it is to my liking.” She cast a wary glance at Levi then back to Moses. “I can’t pay you. I am not sure how …” Her words trailed.
“Don’t you worry none ’bout that, Miz Natalie. We work that out later.”
“Thank you, Moses.” Looking toward the window again, she asked, “Has everyone else gone?”
“Not everyone, but most. We has ’bout two dozen left in the quarter.”
Carolina appeared in the doorway and gave a slight shrug. “I stayin’ too, Miz Natalie, if that be all right. I got no place to go.”
Levi thought Mrs. Ellis might crumple to the floor again from sheer relief.
“I promise I will pay you somehow.” She included both servants in her gaze. “It will all depend on whether or not we can bring in the harvest. Without workers though …”
There was no need to finish the statement. Without workers, how could she get the cotton harvested, baled, and shipped to the markets in Galveston?
“My men and I will take our leave now,” Levi said, offering a slight bow. He had a camp to set up and orders to see about. The plight of a widow—albeit a beautiful one—was not his concern.
Her worried frown turned into a scowl. “And do you still intend to occupy my property without my permission?”
“I will send word to General Granger and let him know that although the plantation is abandoned, the owner resides nearby. Until I hear from him, I have my orders, and my men need a place to camp.”
“Colonel, Langford Manor is a home. My home. It’s filled with family heirlooms and personal belongings. I will not have your men rifling through my property, taking what little there is left of value and ruining the furnishings with muddy boots and dirty bodies.”
They stared at each other, neither willing to concede defeat. She crossed her arms and arched one fine brow, almost daring him to proceed with his plans.
“I assure you,” he said, “my men are not thieves. Besides, they will stay in tents on the property.” He glanced down at his boots covered in trail dust. “However, I will occupy the house. I also require use of a room for an office. Other than the kitchen, I do not foresee a reason to disturb the rest of your home.”
She seemed to measure his earnestness through narrowed eyes. “Do I have your word you will contact your superior regarding the matter immediately? And that you will vacate the premises the moment he informs you a grave mistake has taken place?”
Levi held back a chuckle. General Granger was not likely to consider the use of an unoccupied plantation a grave mistake. The man had far more important matters to concern him, the most pressing being the liberation of more than two hundred fifty thousand Texas slaves.
“I will deliver his response to you personally, Mrs. Ellis.”
“Very well.” Although she agreed to the plan, her tone was anything but compliant. “You may make use of the downstairs guest room as well as the adjoining sitting room. They have their own entrance, thus you will have no need to venture into the rest of the house.” She glanced at Moses then back to Levi, her gaze challenging. “I will have Moses drive me over in the morning to see that all is well.”
Levi met the challenge with his own unflinching stare. Did she think the threat of her arrival the following day could prevent his men from ransacking the place if they chose, as other Union companies had done all across the South? His men knew they would face severe punishment if they stooped to such ignoble levels.
“That is your choice, Mrs. Ellis.” He inclined his head. “Until tomorrow.”
He made his way to the porch and down the steps to his waiting horse. The men were already on the move.
“I take it things went well with Mrs. Ellis.” Corporal Banks handed him the reins to his horse before swinging up onto his own mount.
“Why do you say that?” Levi looked back to the two-story white house. Mrs. Ellis stood at the parlor window.
“I haven’t seen you
