'I brought lunch,” she said and held the bag up. “I've got enough to share.'
'What did people eat for lunch in Civil War times?” Mavis asked as they left the booth and headed for the battlefield.
'Aunt Beth decided we would be Confederate army sympathizers-we get johnnycakes instead of hardtack.'
They debated the merits of cornbread over crackers until they reached the bleachers. As Robin had reported, people were already filling the viewing stands, and she and Mavis were forced to climb up to the top level to find seats.
'What on earth is Carlton wearing?” Mavis asked once she was seated.
Carlton had taken his long-tailed frock coat off, revealing the bright-pink replacement vest Connie had made him. He was pacing in front of the raised stage that had been erected at the near end of the main battlefield. The bleachers ran along the ridge above the field, perpendicular to the stage.
The opposite side of the field from the ridge was obscured by a thick stand of trees. Several paths led out of the woods, and according to the plans provided by the re-enactment group, one of these would be used by the Confederate soldiers as an entrance point for this battle. The Union soldiers should be gathering on the adjacent soccer field preparing to join the battle from the end of the field opposite the small stage.
'That would be the vest Bebe had Connie make him. She rejected the original one because it didn't match her dress.'
'She's wearing a neon-pink dress?” Mavis asked in disbelief.
''Fraid so. I hate to sound mean, but she didn't seem to be able to grasp the concept of period authenticity. She had a costume made by a tailor in Seattle. Who knows if she even told the poor soul who made it that it was for a Civil War event?'
Mavis scanned the bleachers around them.
'Look-is that our Carla down there?” She pointed to a row near the front and at the opposite end from where she and Harriet were sitting. “Is she with that handsome young man sitting next to her?'
'She is,” Harriet said. “That's her new boyfriend.'
'I leave town for a couple of days, and Carla has a new boyfriend? How did that happen? And where did he come from? He's not from around here.'
'I know-his posture is too good. I don't know who he is or where he came from, but he's so buff it seems to have turned the heads of the Loose Threads and made everyone but yours truly willing to throw caution to the wind on Carla's behalf.'
'Well, he certainly seems to have put a bee in your bonnet,” Mavis said.
'Aunt Beth thinks I'm turning into a bitter old lady, but I think it pays to be cautious where strangers are concerned.'
'I can't believe Beth said that to you.'
'Well, not in so many words, but it's what she meant.'
'I still find that hard to believe.'
A short bugle blast sounded, and the crowd hushed. Carlton welcomed the crowd then introduced the fifth grade class from Joseph Meeker Elementary School. Four girls and three boys each read a portion of the history leading up to the battle the audience was about to witness.
'Please join me in a round of applause for our young historians,” he said. When the noise had died down, he continued. “Thank you for attending our inaugural event. We hope this will start a summertime tradition for all of you as well as the merchants of the Foggy Point Business Association. The shops and restaurants downtown will be open late tonight for your post-battle enjoyment.” He glanced at his notes. “Let the battle begin,” he finished and raised his arm to ring the bell and signal the armies.
'Is it me, or was that rather clumsy?” Mavis asked.
'I'd have to say he's not a natural emcee. I guess we should be happy he didn't attempt a joke. I've had the misfortune of witnessing that pitiful activity,” Harriet replied.
'Well, we need to consider getting a professional master of ceremonies next year-if there is a next year.'
The Union soldiers took the field, complete with drum-and-bugle corp. Ranks of soldiers marched stiffly past in precise rows. While all attention was focused on them, a thin ribbon of Confederates began winding through the forest, just becoming visible as they reached the tree line.
When they had a line of soldiers that reached from one end of the field to the other, one of the “invaders” gave a rebel yell, and the rest jumped out of their concealed locations. Just as it seemed the Union soldiers were getting the upper hand, a troop of Confederate cavalry came thundering out from the middle trail and momentum shifted.
'Wow, that Confederate bunch is sneaky,” Harriet said. “Look, they have men on the other trails waiting for an opportune moment to join the fray.'
At the end of one path, about a dozen men were lining up, waiting their turn. On the trail closest to the broadcast booth, a lone man lay partially concealed by a tree stump.
'Where?” Mavis asked, and Harriet pointed to the two locations.
'I'm not sure that single guy is a Confederate. He doesn't look like he's wearing a uniform.'
'Maybe he's supposed to be a farmer or something,” Harriet suggested.
'Or maybe he's just an observer who wanted a better view.'
They turned their attention back to the field, where the battle was heating up. The action shifted to the edges of the field, isolating a quartet of mounted soldiers who proceeded to put on a display of swordsmanship and riding, finally ending with the mock death of the Confederate riders, who made dramatic falls from their mounts.
When the “bodies” had been carried away, several cannons were wheeled onto the field by the Union Army. These were fired with a great deal of noise and an even greater amount of smoke. As the smoke cleared, the audience could see that the battleground was now filled with the prone bodies of gray-clad soldiers. The Union had carried the day.
After a few moments, the northern army organized back into their marching units and retreated to the soccer field, followed by the mounted soldiers. The audience clapped enthusiastically.
When the victors were gone, the defeated rose from the dead to take their bows. The crowd cheered even louder.
Mavis and Harriet stood and cheered along with the rest of the audience.
'Look,” Harriet said, and pointed to the path where the lone farmer had been earlier. “It looks like the farmer got caught in the crossfire.'
'That's kind of harsh,” Mavis said. “I mean, we know farmers probably got killed, but this guy didn't look like the homegrown farmer-soldiers you see in history books, going to battle with their pitchfork as a weapon.'
'You're right-he doesn't look like he even has a weapon. He's sure playing it for all it's worth, too. Look, he hasn't gotten up yet.'
'Maybe he fell asleep while he was playing dead.'
The two women sat back down and waited for the people below them to exit the bleachers. Mavis chewed on a piece of johnnycake.
'Do you have any honey, Honey,” she said with a smile at her own pun.
Harriet pulled a small plastic honey dispenser in the shape of a bear from her lunch bag.
'Don't tell Aunt Beth,” she said and handed it to her friend. “I couldn't figure out how they carried their honey around in those days, so I smuggled the bear this morning.'
'Come on,” Mavis said after a few bites. “I think the crowd has thinned enough that I can make it down the stairs without tripping on my skirt or someone else's. We need to find something to drink with these bricks.'
Harriet stood up, and her gaze wandered to the forest edge.
'It looks like something's wrong with our farmer,” she said. “He's still lying there. Having a dramatic moment is one thing, but the rest of the people have left that side of the field and he's still in the same spot.” She watched intently for a few moments. “He's not moving.” She started to go down then glanced back at Mavis.
'You go ahead,” Mavis said. “I'll catch up,'
Harriet hiked her skirt up and held it bunched in her fists as she hustled down the risers then continued toward the stage and the forest beyond.
'Where are you going in such a hurry?” Carlton asked as she brushed past him.
'One of the re-enactors looks like he's been injured at the edge of the forest,” she said without stopping.
