Words Heard In Silence / Xena Uber

She straightened up from the laundry basket and smiled at him. "My, my, Colonel Redmond, you certainly are solid in that opinion. What would you have me do, let these people sleep on dirty linens?"

He swept her into his arms in a very protective embrace. "I would have you tell me when the work is too much and let me get you more help. You, my dear, are the mistress of this house. Your job is to supervise."

She chuckled, running her hands over his shoulders and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "I love you, Charlie, but the fact remains that right now we do not have a spare pair of hands and the laundry still needs to be hung. So unless you want to do it," she gave him a wink, "you had better let me get back to it so I can wash up before supper is on the table."

Charlie pulled his riding gloves off, stuffed them in his belt, grinned and started pinning linens to the line. "As I said, I will do it myself rather than have you back in bed from exhaustion."

She laughed and pulled the linen from his hand. "Charles Redmond, you are the master of this house and I will not have you doing woman’s work. Good Lord, Charlie, what would your men say if they saw you hanging laundry? Sergeant Jackson would never let you forget it." She gave him a playful look that dared him to challenge her. Then she reached up and ran her fingers through his hair. "You need a haircut. I will tend to that after supper. Now really, Charlie, I promise this will be the last thing I do today and I am yours for the rest of the evening. Perhaps we can see if Colonel Polk and Elizabeth would like to play whist this evening."

Charlie smiled down at her. "A haircut, humm. All right, on one condition."

"Yes?"

"We let Richard and Elizabeth entertain themselves tonight and spend a little time just the two of us."

"Will you hold me in your arms and read poetry to me?" She looked at him with total adoration

"I will. And stroke your back and tenderly kiss you, as well. A right, proper romantic evening."

"Why, Colonel Redmond, you do know how to turn a simple country girl’s head. Sounds wonderful. We have a date. I think the haircut can wait until tomorrow."

To set the mood, Charlie immediately launched into quoting one of his favorite poets, the English cavalier, Phillip Sidney.

When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see,

For all the day they view things unrespected;

But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee,

And darkly bright are bright in dark directed.

Then thou, whose shadow shadows doth make bright,

How would thy shadow's form from happy show

To the clear day with thy much clearer light,

When to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so!

How would, I say, mine eyes be blessed made

By looking on thee in the living day,

When in dead night thy fair imperfect shade

Through heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay!

All days are nights to see till I see thee,

And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me."

--*--

Charlie was preparing the fire in the rear parlor, having just dismissed Beulah after giving her authorization to bring another three members of her family up to work at the farm. Colonel Polk knocked, and then entered the room. "Charlie, do you have a minute?"

The commander’s shoulders slumped; he had promised the evening to Rebecca and really did not want to go back on that promise. "What do you need, Richard?"

"I promise you it will only take a minute or two. I have reports that you need to see before I dispatch them."

"All right," Charlie joined him at the door just as Rebecca came in. "Dear, I have one small thing to tend to then I will be right in, I promise."

She smiled and caressed his cheek. "All right, Charlie." She then looked to his friend. "Do not keep him too long, Colonel Polk."

"No, Miss Rebecca, it will only take a minute."

"Very well. You know, Charlie, I think I will meet you upstairs." She told him with a twinkle in her eye that gave him great pause.

"All right. I will be up directly." Trying not to think about it, he turned to his second in command. "Come on, Polk."

--*--

Once the men had left, Rebecca adjourned upstairs. She found her orders had been followed precisely and by the fire in their room sat a tray with hot tea and sweet rolls. She finished preparing the room and when she was finished she had a rather nice little spot created by the fire.

Spreading a couple of heavy army blankets, she covered them with the quilt from the bed, to take some of the hardness from the floor. Then she changed her clothes and slipped into her robe. After that, she took her hair down and gave it a quick but thorough brushing so it flowed freely over her shoulders. Then she sat down near the fire and waited.

--*--

Charlie and Polk adjourned to the office for a brief review of Polk’s reports to the Quartermaster General.

Charlie shook his head. "I swear I believe these idiots are using the war just to get rich. The quality of some of these woolens is such that I would not give them to slaves. Flaws, holes even. How do they expect us to keep an army moving on this garbage?"

"I do not make the stuff. I just complain about it."

"Well then, keep complaining." Charlie signed the documents, then said, "If there is nothing else?"

"No, Charlie. Go spend time with your lady. I would say she has something planned for you."

Charlie smiled contentedly, as he walked back to the rear parlor. Rebecca was no longer there and the fire was banked. Smiling in anticipation of spending quiet time alone with his lady, he mounted the stairs to their room. Opening the door, he looked into the sitting room. No Rebecca. But the door to their bedroom was cracked and there was a soft light coming through. He stepped into the room and was confronted with the most beautiful vision. There she was, dressed in a soft robe, her hair loose and shining around her shoulders. His chest went tight; his hands itched to touch her. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to get a little control over his suddenly pounding pulse. "My love, you are beautiful."

She smiled and ran her hand over the blanket. "I dare you come over here and tell me that, Charlie." She gave the floor next to her a pat. "I have something sweet over here and you did promise me a romantic evening."

Charlie ran his finger under his collar to loosen it a bit, then walked over and settled onto the quilt next to Rebecca. "My love, you are beautiful." He lifted her hand to his lips, then turned his head and caressed it with his cheek.

"And you are the most charming and handsome thing I have ever seen." She leaned over and gave him a tender kiss.

Her lips left his, and, for a moment, he remained immobile, his eyes closed, savoring and memorizing the silken warmth that had touched him. When he did open them, Rebecca was looking into eyes that were the silver of the moon on a summer night.

"Would you get out of your uniform, Charlie? We should both be comfortable this evening." She ran her finger down his cheek. "I have plans for you, dear man."

"What would you like me to put on, dear? You know I am yours tonight, and every night for the rest of my life."

She tugged in the button of his tunic. "I do not care what you wear, but this," she tugged again, "is far too much cloth between us."

Charlie choked a little at her suggestion. He needed to know more of what she wanted. "Just the jacket or should I put on my nightshirt and robe?"

She chuckled at his apparent nervousness. "Get ready for bed, Charlie. I promise I will not bite."

Unlike their normal routine, where Rebecca afforded him some privacy as Charlie transformed from man to woman, he could feel her eyes burning into his shoulder blades. A blush started at the tips of his ears and burned its way down his body. Slowly, he removed his cravat and unbuttoned his shirt, sliding it off his shoulders. The wrappings around his chest came off, freeing both his breasts and the woman under the disguise. The transformation from man to woman was almost complete.

She slipped her britches and underwear off, and pulled a clean, white nightshirt over her head. Donning the robe, she tied the belt. Charlie turned to look at Rebecca's face, unsure if the woman by the fire wanted who she was now.

Rebecca held her hand out. "My beautiful Charlie."

Charlie let go of her breath in a soft sigh, retrieved a little book from the pocket of the tunic and returned to sit beside Rebecca. She was feeling a little shy and a lot hopeful.

"Charlie," Rebecca dipped her head just a bit before looking back to her companion, "I am not really in the mood for poetry at the moment." She gave Charlie a beguiling smile.

Very gently, Charlie covered Rebecca's hand with her own much larger one. "What are you in the mood for, sweetheart?"

Her blush deepened and her smile grew wider from embarrassment. "I was hoping, maybe we could, well……" She looked up. "Well, I really want to explore a few things with you."

Charlie's blush matched Rebecca's, but she moved gamely forward. In a voice made husky with sudden wanting, she responded, "I am always here, always open to anything you want. Ask, and if I am capable, it is yours."

"Are you sure? I do not want to make you uncomfortable, but I think it is time for me to learn more about the feelings I have when I am with you. Feelings I have never felt before."

Rebecca felt a fine tremor pass over Charlie's body. What Charlie wanted was to take Rebecca in her arms; to make Rebecca scream with pleasure; to hear her own name cried out in that moment when the universe exploded into a myriad of crystal rainbows. "Darling, my heart, my soul and my body are all yours to do with as you wish."

She nodded her understanding. "I have a confession to make. Before I got sick, there was a night when you came to bed. You thought I was asleep, but, well I was not……" Rebecca leaned in and kissed Charlie again. "It was that night that these feelings began stirring and I have had them everyday since and they only get stronger with each passing day." And yet again she kissed her. "I am told it is because you excite me, Charlie."

Charlie drew a deep breath, in part to quell the embarrassment at knowing that Rebecca had listened as she eased the ache between her thighs that night. Then Rebecca's words soaked into Charlie's brain. I excite her? Charlie drew Rebecca into her arms and gently returned the kisses. "And you excite me beyond words, my love."

Rebecca’s breath caught in her throat as she felt Charlie’s hands on her body and the sensations started in her body with a vengeance. "I want to explore a little." She tentatively ran her hand over the outside of Charlie’s thigh. "I need to touch you, Charlie."

The tremor ran deeper; Rebecca could feel it under her fingers. "I am yours." It was just a breath against her ear, and she could hear it down to her soul.

"I am not sure how far this will go, Charlie, you do understand that? And I certainly do not want to tease you, so if you would rather not, I will understand." She stilled her hand on Charlie’s leg until she received an answer because she really had no desire to make Charlie miserable.

At the moment, Charlie did not care where the exploration went. All that was important was that Rebecca was touching her. Her. She swallowed convulsively and repeated, "I am yours. However you want me."

Rebecca smiled and took another kiss. She slid her hand up Charlie’s side then to her shoulder until she started back down the front of her robe. She paused in her movements just as her hand reached the slight swell of Charlie’s breast. She broke the kiss and looked to Charlie for permission.

Charlie's eyes were silvered with desire; she could not control her body's reactions. Still she looked at Rebecca and shyly smiled and nodded.

The small woman let her hand travel slowly the rest of the way. Touching Charlie’s body was delightful and she was truly glad she decided to explore her desires more. Her hand lingered at Charlie’s breast and then slowly closed over it, feeling it and learning the feeling of her body. She moved her hand and slid it under Charlie’s robe, needing to get still closer.

With her free hand she placed Charlie’s hand on her own hip. "It is all right Charlie, I need your touch too," she whispered, feeling just a little nervous.

Charlie's breathing was rapid and shallow. Her eyelids fluttered to half closed as Rebecca's fingers closed around her always sensitive breast. Charlie could feel her nipples tightening till they ached. Charlie's hand gently stroked up Rebecca's side, a long, sensuous stroke that traced from her hip, along her waist, up her ribs and came to rest with Charlie's thumb stroking the tender skin beneath her breast. "You are so beautiful."

Her words and her touch sent chills all over Rebecca’s body. "God, Charlie, I have never felt anything like this before. It feels so good." She brushed her thumb over Charlie’s hardened nipple. She realized that her own were becoming erect and very sensitive.

Charlie's body curled around the hand that was driving her insane. Each stroke of Rebecca's thumb went straight from her nipple to her core. Charlie dropped her head to Rebecca's shoulder and tenderly kissed her neck.

Rebecca’s head moved to the side giving Charlie as much room as she needed to nibble and caress the hollow of Rebecca’s throat. A soft moan left Rebecca’s lips when her eyes slid shut. Rebecca felt dizzy. Knowing that sitting upright for much longer was not an option, she began laying back, making sure to hold tight to Charlie. "Yes." She moaned again.

Charlie slid her arm under Rebecca's shoulders and eased her down to the quilt. Never taking her lips from the throat and shoulder, Charlie softly covered Rebecca's body with her own. The feel of the slender form under her, the length of their bodies pressed together drew a long, shuddering sigh from Charlie.

"I love you, Charlie." Rebecca managed to gasp out even as she tugged on the belt of Charlie’s robe and slipped it from her shoulders. "Tell me how to please you."

"My love, my love. Anything. Touch me." Charlie slid her hand around Rebecca's breast, gently rolling the already hard nipple between her fingers. "Just touch me. Hold me."

She moved to Charlie’s neck and began exploring there with her lips. She loved the feel of the soft skin under her lips. It amazed her how loving and tender this was and how much she wanted to be here with this woman. Her hand slipped back to Charlie’s breast and grasped the warm weight through the material of the nightshirt. She threw her head back and moaned when she felt Charlie touch her nipple. "God!" She gasped and she felt a rush between her legs.

She felt her body responding to her lover. She brought her leg up and it settled between Charlie’s legs. She was going to shift until she heard a long deep growl from the woman.

The feel of Rebecca's thigh against her own aching need drove Charlie to the point of no return. "Oh, God, please, please." Charlie moaned. Her hips started to move in slow rhythm. Her hands wrapped themselves around Rebecca's shoulders, holding on for dear life, as Charlie quivered in Rebecca's arms. She buried her head in Rebecca's shoulder. "Please."

"Yes, Charlie, it is all right, my love." She whispered in her ear. "I have you, darling, let go. I will protect you."

The force of Charlie's hips against Rebecca’s thigh increased. Then Charlie's body stiffened, pressing hard into Rebecca. A high pitched, stifled cry, half sob, half sigh broke from the woman's throat. "Rebecca." For a moment or an eternity, Charlie lay rigid in Rebecca's arms as the universe exploded through her body. Then she sank, boneless into Rebecca's arms. "Oh, God. Oh, love." Reverent, shattered, Charlie whispered in Rebecca's ear.

Her arms wrapped around the woman and she sighed herself, quite satisfied that she had pleased Charlie. "I love you." She whispered. "I will never love another like I love you."

Charlie was embarrassed. "I am sorry. I did not want to startle you or push you too much. It is just that every night I have held you and wanted you and....I love you so much, Rebecca." In a smaller voice, "I need you so much."

"Shhh……" She comforted her, gently stoking her back and combing fingers through hair that still needed to be cut. "I wanted this too, Charlie. I wanted to know if I could please you, make you happy. You have helped me understand a great deal tonight with your gentleness and your patience."

"Patience? You touch me and I explode like a rocket! It was unlike anything I have ever felt before, dear heart."

Rebecca worked her way from under Charlie and shifted until she was lying in Charlie’s arms, her head resting on her shoulder and her hand slowly tracing over her stomach. "I just needed to know I could please you. That I would be enough for you." She did not quite know how to explain her feelings. She cuddled closer, feeling Charlie’s arms tighten around her. "I felt like such a failure in my marriage. My husband did not desire me. He did not love me and I never pleased him." She fought hard against the tears that wanted to spill.

Charlie hugged her close when she felt rather than heard the sob Rebecca choked back. "Mr. Gaines was a fool. You are amazing, dear woman. Your compassion, kindness and ability to give of yourself in these uncertain times when it would be easy to turn your back on all those around you is astounding."

"I think you are biased."

"I, my dear, am very biased. You are beautiful and I desire you very deeply. Your touch excites me, your kisses set me on fire and now I find that I have not the strength to resist you even for a moment when you hold me and want me."

"I will admit that I was confused and unsure of it all. But when I opened my eyes and you were there, everything became so clear. I realized that I could never find what I have with you with anyone else. I intend to hold onto you forever."

"I will be yours for the rest of my life, dear. But what confused you, love?"

"All of it. You were here and so charming, wonderful and kind. You were what I dreamed of for a life and a home. But, Charlie, you have to admit that ours is not a conventional relationship. I had to know and understand that. That everything I wondered about just did not matter in the whole thing. I love you; it matters not to me that you are a woman under your disguise. But I had to find that. I had to understand that it just does not matter to me."

"What convinced you, darling? I have always thought that because I was not what I seemed, that I was something that our society reviles, I thought I would spend my life alone. You are, to me, a miracle."

She sighed and pulled herself up to look into Charlie’s eyes. "I cannot tell you what it was. Maybe it was your kindness, your tenderness, your fierce loyalty to service and duty." She shook her head. "I do not know, all I do know is whatever it was, I have fallen head over heels for you. I cannot wait for our life to really begin together. I will be proud to take your name and call myself your wife."

"And my gender? What of that, dear? You know there are things that I can never give you, things that most men do not even have to think twice about."

"I assume, dear Charlie, you are speaking of children? You should know that if we want them bad enough and are faithful, one way or the other we will be blessed with children. But if having children should never come to pass, I will still happily live my life with you. You are my family now, Charlie. All that I have. All that I want."

"Rebecca, my love. You are the family, the love I dreamed of and thought I could never have. You are the miracle in my life."

"Then it seems that we have everything we need, Charlie." She giggled and poked her in the ribs. "Maybe one of these days I will even live down the stigma of having married a Yankee."

Charlie rolled over onto her back and covered her eyes with her hand. "Ah, the shame of it all."

Rebecca chuckled and pulled Charlie’s hand from her eyes. "I am sure I will survive it."

Charlie rolled onto her side so she could look directly at Rebecca. "Are you really? You know, it could get unpleasant." She stroked Rebecca's cheek. "I do not ever want to cause any unpleasantness for you."

The blonde ran her hand down Charlie’s arm. "My dear, I have survived a war. Nothing can be as unpleasant as that. I believe our life together will be wonderful."

The gentle stroke raised goose bumps on Charlie's skin. Her voice became husky again. "What of you, dear heart? As much pleasure as your touch brings me, I would also love to give you that pleasure."

Rebecca shivered at the thought and smiled. "Charlie, what I want from you right now is to be with you. I love you and I want to experience everything you have to offer, but I must admit I am nervous. No one has ever effected me like you do."

Very gently, Charlie stroked Rebecca's arm, caressing the tender skin on the inside of her elbow and wrist with just the tips of her fingers. "I am right here, love. All you have to do is ask me and if I do something you are not comfortable with, then tell me."

She nodded, a nervous smile still playing on her lips. "I have a question for you."

"Anything, love."

"The other night……when you……well……" she had the good grace to truly blush and look away for a moment. "How often do you do that?"

Charlie blushed from the roots of her hair to the tips of her toes. She laid her head down on Rebecca's shoulder and rested her hand gently on Rebecca's hip. In a choked whisper she finally figured out how to answer. "I used to do it occasionally, usually when being lonely got too bad. Now. Ummm. When the need to touch you and be touched by you gets to be more than I can handle without breaking my word to you." She lay there, expecting Rebecca to draw away.

She sighed and held Charlie as close as she could. "I just wondered. I have never……un……well, I have not."

Charlie ran her hand from Rebecca's hip up her ribs until again her thumb rested on the tender skin under her breast. "What do you feel, dear heart? You talk about 'these feelings,' so tell me about them."

She gave a small nervous laugh, "my heart beats faster, my stomach flutters wildly and I get a warm feeling all over my body."

Charlie traced small circles on the very sensitive skin with her thumb. "Does this bother you?"

She released a half moan half sigh and her eyes closed slowly. "No. Not at all."

"Tell me what you feel. Tell me what you want."

"I feel warm all over. My heart is beating so hard I feel light headed……" She licked her lips, trying to breathe normally, "I do not know what I want. I have never been asked."

Softly, Charlie let her thumb slide up and caressed the obviously hard nipple beneath the thin material of her nightgown. "You can use your imagination, love, and if you find you do not like something, tell me."

Rebecca gasped softly. "I do not know anything other than being……" She stopped, refusing to say the word. She knew Charlie would never hurt her like she had been hurt before, but still she had no idea and she was afraid this fact would disgust Charlie. Fear was starting to war with the new feelings of arousal.

Charlie stopped immediately. "Tell me, love. I want to know. I need to know what you are feeling, and more importantly, what you are afraid of."

Rebecca noticed immediately Charlie had stopped touching her. She smiled and tried not to look disappointed. "My husband never cared how I felt. Never cared that he hurt me. Never tried to be tender. I am afraid I really do not know much about the more intimate matters of life. Especially with someone like you, who is so kind and tender with me." She laughed a little. "If you came in, pushed me to the bed and did what you would, that I would understand."

Softly, Charlie started stroking Rebecca's cheek, neck and shoulder. "I want to come to you with gentleness and with all my love and want and desire and tenderness. I want to gently explore every inch of your body, first with my fingers, and then with my lips. Then I want to bring you to the absolute height of physical excitement and passion, so that at least for a moment, you will know how much I love you, how much my heart and soul and body longs to be linked to you."

"And I want that so much. I am just afraid that I will not please you."

Gently but firmly, Charlie drew Rebecca's face so that she had to look into her eyes. "There is nothing you can possibly do that will not please me. All you have to do is touch my body with your hand - anywhere - and a fire runs through me. You kiss me and I ache for you. You caress my breasts and I tremble with need. When you entwine our bodies together, so close, so sweet, I soar to heaven."

"Is there not some part of you, that would like to have a wife who is more versed in loving? Who is not terrified that she’s going to do something wrong? I am truly damaged goods, Charlie."

Charlie dropped her head and very gently kissed directly over Rebecca's heart. "I want no one other than you. And you, I want very much. You are no more damaged goods than any other woman with no experience of loving. Few women have experience in loving another woman. I think I would like to try and heal the hurt he dealt you with my love and loving, sweetheart." Her lips brushed gently over the swell of Rebecca's left breast. A soft puff of warm air engulfed Rebecca's nipple.

Uncontrollably, Rebecca’s body arched toward Charlie and she moaned. Her hand found the base of Charlie’s neck and she felt herself even more engulfed by the tingling sensations in her body.

Charlie caught the tight nipple in her lips and traced the fine tracks of the puckered flesh through the thin gown. She cupped Rebecca's other breast in her hand, using her thumb to softly caressing it, circling the taut nipple with the lightest of caresses.

"Charlie……" She felt her body responding. She was shaking under Charlie’s touch. She was powerless to do anything but squirm under her lover’s caress. Her hands roamed over Charlie’s body as she enjoyed what was happening.

Charlie looked up at Rebecca. "Does this scare you, love? Shall I continue or would you like something else?"

"Not scared," she managed to get out, as her brain tried to come back to itself, "warm, very warm."

"Do you want me to continue?"

"Hold me? Let me just learn this feeling."

Charlie slipped her arm around Rebecca's shoulders and drew her close, so that the length of her body fit against Rebecca's from shoulder to ankle. She left her hand resting on Rebecca’s breast, motionless. "I am right here, love, right here."

"I know." She placed a kiss on Charlie’s neck. "Thank you. Are you sure this is all right?"

"I am very, very sure. I would spend my whole life just holding you if that is what you need."

She snuggled closer, wrapping herself around Charlie. "I am going to need more, Charlie. I am just not sure what that is. I know it sounds silly." She looked to her lover. "So it is not wrong to want pleasure? I think I am scared by what my body is doing lately. Umm, I have noticed that something very odd is happening, you know." She gestured vaguely. Then she laid her hand in the area of Charlie’s groin. "Here." She absolutely could not believe she was having this conversation.

Charlie suppressed a smile. Anything that could even vaguely be construed as making fun of her would not do, even when the smile was from knowing that Rebecca's body was responding to her in every way. Rebecca's mind and fears still needed reassurance, though. "Love, it is really very simple. This is the area where you feel the pleasures of passion most intensely. Nerves and muscles tighten in preparation of your release. More blood flows there, too, intensifying your sensitivity. I suspect you also find that you are damp there as well."

She nodded, hiding her face in her shoulder, completely embarrassed. "Yes. Very much so. Surely there must be something wrong. Maybe I should talk to Elizabeth."

"There is nothing at all wrong, sweetheart. It is just your body providing lubricant so that as I touch you and stroke you, there is nothing to detract from your pleasure. Just as you oiled your hands to give me a back rub, your body provides lubricant for the most intimate of caresses."

"I feel like a fool. You would think I would have some clue of these things. But no, this has been happening so much lately I thought there was something wrong with my courses."

"My love, if there was no one to teach you these things, how could you possibly know them? And what you are telling me pleases me immensely. It means that I do to you what you do to me - excite you with my touch, with my presence. That, my love, makes me exquisitely happy indeed." Charlie took Rebecca's hand and laid it on her chest. She could feel Charlie's heart pounding under her touch.

She laughed and ran her hand over Charlie’s chest. "You have no idea how much you effect me. I have been embarrassed for days."

"And I have been changing my underwear twice daily, so that I would not embarrass myself."

Rebecca burst out laughing then calmed and laid her head back on Charlie’s shoulder. "That makes me happy too, Charlie."

They lay, facing one another, with Charlie holding the smaller woman tenderly in the crook of her arm. With her free hand, Charlie gently caressed Rebecca’s shoulder, her arm, her back, her side, the rise of her hip, then back up to her shoulder. She placed soft kisses on Rebecca's face, her cheeks, forehead, lips and the tip of her nose. "Be gentle. This is the safest place in the world. Let yourself enjoy my body touching yours."

Rebecca nodded and gave Charlie a kiss. "All right. I trust you."

Charlie's hand continued to stroke gently, tickling the fine hairs at the base of Rebecca’s neck, tracing the lines of muscles and bones along her spine and across her shoulders. Then those teasing fingers came forward, tracing the tendons in her neck, caressing the hollow at the base of her throat and then, with one finger, tracing a path that carefully spiraled around one breast to end by rolling the tight nipple between finger and thumb. All the while, Charlie placed kisses as soft as a butterfly's wing all over Rebecca's face. "You doing all right?"

"Oh yes, now that I know I am supposed to feel this way." She whispered in her ear. "I am all right."

"You are very all right, my love." Charlie continued to hold and caress her, gently, tenderly; hoping that her gentleness and undemanding love would be the healing for the injuries that this gentle woman had sustained.

Chapter 16

Monday, December 12, 1864

"Charlie, sit down."

He looked at the chair she had placed on the back porch. "Umm, Rebecca, dear heart, you know Jocko usually tends to these things for me; shaving, haircuts, you know, the basics."

"Yes, I know and I also know eventually the good sergeant will not be around to do it and you will just have to trust your wife to tend to these things. Now sit."

Charlie continued looking at the chair, but made no movement toward it. Rebecca approached and waved the scissors under his nose. "What is the matter Colonel Redmond, do you not trust me?" She teased. "Certainly an army Colonel is not afraid of a tiny woman with a pair of scissors."

"No, of course not, dear. It is just that I have certain ways that I like things and Jocko knows them." The look on her face made it clear that his preferences and old habits were not a sufficient excuse. "And I have invited Jocko to come back with me when the war is over..."

"Yes, and I am sure he will have more important things to do than cut your hair. Now sit down, Charlie." She pointed to the chair with the tip of the scissors. "I assure you I know how to cut a gentleman’s hair. I did it for my brother and my husband and I did not scalp either of them."

"Yes, Ma'am," meekly, Charlie sat down.

Rebecca chuckled and settled a towel around his shoulders. "You would think I planned to lop off your ears with the way you are acting." She picked up a comb and began running it through his hair.

"No, dear, it is not my ears I am concerned about."

"Then what would it be?" She pulled a length of hair between her fingers and made the first cut.

"Um. My reserve? My sense of propriety? My ability to keep my hands off you?"

She laughed, making another cut. "Good Lord, Charlie, I am cutting your hair. How could you possible find that in any way intimate?" She leaned over and whispered in his ear. "Now, if we were in our room……."

"My dear, just being this close to you and having you run your fingers through my hair is seriously distracting."

"Think of something else, Charlie. Think about putting up a tent, or better yet, sitting down to a lovely Sunday tea with Mrs. Williams."

Charlie chuckled, making very sure to hold his head still. After all, she was holding a large pair of very sharp scissors. "You certainly do know how to dampen a fellow's ardor, my dear."

"Hopefully, I will learn how to build it as well." She made another cut just as Jocko rounded the corner.

The Irishman stopped in mid step, his eyes went wide and he laughed. "Well now, what do we have here, Colonel C?"

Charlie ignored Jocko for a moment to respond to Rebecca. "You do, my dear, you already do."

He then looked at his batman with a slightly sour look on his face. "Obviously, a haircut. She felt that you had failed to tend to me properly."

"Oh, now, is that so?" Jocko looked to Rebecca who just smiled and shook her head. The batman knew he was being played with. "Well, if you would bother to come back to camp once in awhile instead of staying up here at the main house like a proper gentleman then I might find time to give you a suitable haircut."

"Rebecca, dear, do we have a closet where we could stash this reprobate so that he could do his job properly?"

"I am sure we could find a space, however, you know that after I get done with you I could always cut the sergeant’s hair, too. He looks like he is about due for a trim himself."

Charlie's eyebrow rose and an evil little grin played around his lips. "Yes, my dear, I do believe my batman is looking a little shaggy around the edges. And there is the matter of a widow he met on one of our rides. One whom I suspect he would like to impress."

Rebecca looked to Jocko. "Is that right? Have you found a lady to woo, Sergeant? If that is the case, then we most certainly should fix you right up. I am sure Sarah would be happy to boil water so I could give you a shave too. I still have Mr. Gaines’ razor. Of course it has not been used in years and may be a little dull but I am sure that you would manage a nick or two and I know Colonel Redmond has some wonderful cologne we could put on you."

"Ah, thank you, Miss Rebecca, but I am perfectly capable of shaving myself, ma'am. And Tarent usually gives me my haircuts."

"And you usually cut the Colonel’s hair." She gave Charlie a little nudge even as she continued to torment the batman. " Times are changing, Sergeant. I think having a lady cut your hair would be a nice change of pace." She evened up the hair at the back of Charlie’s neck. "I am sure the Colonel would be happy to help."

"Why, Jocko, I am sure that Miss Rebecca would be more able to give you the kind of hair cut that any lady would find attractive, instead of looking like Tarent put a bowl on your head and trimmed off anything that stuck out. Just let her finish up mine and you can have this chair."

Jocko looked around nervously. "You know I think I hear Duncan calling." He gave a crisp salute. "Have a good day, Colonel, Miss Rebecca."

It was all Rebecca could do to hold in the laughter as Jocko managed to take off running without actually running away. "What is it about a woman with scissors that a man finds so dangerous?"

"Perhaps, dear, any woman with scissors is in a position to um... create an instant eunuch... or at least a symbolic one. Men are so proud of their hair and beards that it may as well be the other appendages. And you know how protective men are of certain portions of their anatomy."

She chuckled again as she began working around his ears. "I know it is important enough that you find it necessary to add some rather impressive padding to your trousers."

"Well, love, that padding does not hurt either your standing or mine in this community."

"This is true." She very carefully trimmed the hair from behind his ear. She gave him a tap on the shoulder when he squirmed. "Hold still. As I was saying, Mrs. Cooper is impressed."

"My love, the only person I need to impress with my skills and ability as a lover is you. The padding is not for you; it is to protect you. Of course, if you like the things such equipment can do, I can at least provide a simulacrum."

She stopped just before the next cut. "Excuse me?"

Charlie blushed. "I, uh, I can, uh, use a, uh, prosthesis if you like."

She stepped around and looked at him for a moment before going back behind him. "You have done this before?"

"No, but, um, I have heard of such things. And I believe I know where I can get one, if that is what you would like." Charlie's head dropped, his chin on his chest, his voice low. "I want to be as much of a man as you need from me."

Rebecca rubbed his shoulders and leaned over to whisper in his ear. "Charlie, in the privacy of our bedroom, you are exactly what I want. I think you are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen and I love touching you and having you touch me in return." She kissed him on the cheek. "I trust you to show me what things are possible there, but I desire only you."

Charlie looked into her eyes, hoping to see truth. "Just me? I am enough for you?"

"Yes, my dear Charlie. Just you. You make me happy and you are more than enough for me."

Charlie grinned happily. "Well, then, I guess I shall just have to learn how to live with that."

Rebecca went back to the haircut. "Yes, I guess you will. I am sure you will adjust quite nicely." She ran her fingers through his hair checking the cut. "Now are you going to hold still while I take the razor to your neck, or do I have to tie you into that chair?"

Razor? My Neck? Blunt razor? "I will be very, very still. I promise. Please, do not slip? My neck is very sensitive."

She took the razor and ran it over a leather strap. "I promise not to cut your throat, Charlie and I was only teasing about the razor. It is quite sharp." She handed it to him. "See for yourself."

"No, dear. I trust you." Charlie bent his head forward, exposing his neck to her hand and blade.

At that moment as Rebecca put the blade to Charlie’s skin it made her realize how much he really did trust her. If she were a confederate spy, she could easily cut Charlie’s throat and there would not be anything anyone could do about it. She very carefully and very lovingly began to scrap the short hairs from his neck. "I love you, Charlie."

He waited until she was through trimming his neck. Then he turned to look into her eyes. "I love you, Rebecca. I trust you with everything I am and everything I have. I trust you with my honor."

"I promise to keep it safe and protect it and you until my dying day, Charles Redmond."

All Charlie could do was close his eyes and savor the moment.

--*--

Once Charlie’s haircut was finished and Rebecca released him for his torture, she sent him on his way and carried the chair back into the kitchen. Sarah was tending the fire in the boiler. She looked up and gave Rebecca a little smirk. "Do not worry about it, Miss Rebecca, men start squirming in the chair as youngsters when their Mama cuts their hair and that is one of the things they never outgrow. My Mama used to say it was because they all thought they were like Sampson."

Rebecca laughed. "I can see that. I hope Colonel Redmond does not think of me as Delilah."

Rebecca stepped back out on the porch to collect the things she had left out there, when a commotion made her go around the corner of the house. There she saw Duncan and another trooper in the midst of a fistfight. "Boys! Stop this!" She left the porch and ran to the men. "Stop this!" She wanted to try and separate them but knew she would not have the strength to stop these two men who were intent on hurting each other.

She moved to the back of the house and yelled as loud as she could. "Charlie! Sergeant Jackson!"

Charlie was just entering his office, while scratching at the little hairs that had slipped inevitably under his collar. He turned and ran around the house, looking for Rebecca. He was sure she was in trouble.

Jocko had been to his tent to gather his belongings and was hauling them back to take over the little room that Beulah had told him was to be his own. He dropped his belongings in the mud and started running.

"Oh, Charlie, you have got to stop them!" She pointed to the other side of the house when she saw Charlie come out of his office.

Charlie looked to where Rebecca was pointing. Duncan was rolling in the mud with what looked like one of the Pennsylvania troopers from Montgomery's company. Fortunately, Jocko was on the way to the scene from the other side.

The two men moved quickly. Charlie literally lifted Duncan off the larger man. Davison, a trooper history of aggressive behavior, was up and after Duncan again in a heartbeat. Jocko grabbed Trooper Davison and pinned his arms behind his back.

Rebecca stayed well back but watched as the two men pulled the fighters apart from each other. It was everything she could do to stay back and let Charlie handle the situation.

Charlie's command voice was present in full force. "‘Tenshun." Both men realized their commanding officer was present. They snapped to full attention, eyes forward, one with a blackened eye, and the other with a bloody lip.

Charlie stalked around both of them. "All right. Which one of you wants to tell me what is going on here?"

Both men remained stubbornly silent.

"All right. Duncan. You are the last man I would expect to break the rules about fighting in camp. What happened?"

"Sir, noth…… nothing sir." Duncan’s eyes strayed to Rebecca, then back to his commander.

Charlie caught the look. He stepped behind Davison. "What about you, trooper. What have you to say?"

"Nothing, sir." The man all but growled his answer.

"You are both aware that fighting is a punishable crime."

"Yes, sir." They answered together. Duncan swallowed hard.

"Which one of you started this?"

Duncan stepped forward without a word.

Duncan's one glance to his fiancéée had told the story. Charlie's eyebrow rose. Duncan Nailer was the gentlest man in the whole regiment. Whatever Davison had said about Rebecca must have been harsh. Charlie nodded. "I assume that something was said or done that inspired this behavior."

"I threw the first p..p..punch, sir." Duncan responded. "It was my fault."

"Duncan, go to my office. Wait there for my judgment. And wipe your feet before you go in. I do not want mud on everything." He turned to Davison and just waited.

Duncan double-timed it around the house to wait for the Colonel. Davison just continued to stand there at attention staring straight ahead.

"Since I know Duncan well enough to know that he would not throw a punch without at least some provocation, do you want to tell me what you said."

Davison’s eyes strayed to Rebecca,and then he looked hard at Charlie. "I said she was a whore."

"You realize you are speaking of my fiancéée." Charlie’s voice was hard and flat.

"You deserve her." His lip curled before he added with a sneer. "Sir."

Charlie's temper was rising rapidly. A deadly calm settled over him, one that Jocko recognized as the most lethal of all of Charlie's moods. "Really? Would you care to tell me, Mr. Davison, just why you hold that opinion?"

"She is southern trash. Makes sense you would find your way into her bed."

"Does that mean you believe I am southern trash as well, Mr. Davison?"

The man said nothing but continued to stare at his commanding officer. Then he took a deep breath. "They should not have given you command. You are a southern sympathizer. Look at what you are ordering us to do for these rebels. I would rather cut my own throat than chop one piece of wood to keep them warm."

"Are you aware, Trooper, that we are following orders issued by our Commander in Chief himself?"

"Not all people agree with him, either. They started this war, let them suffer for it."

"All right. We are going to resolve this issue today." He turned to Jocko. "Muster the regiment. I want full attendance, in formation, in the north paddock in fifteen minutes." Turning back to Davison, he commanded, "You, sir, will be free to state you opinion at the muster. I expect you to state it succinctly and as a gentleman. Know that I will personally speak for the other side of this issue."

Charlie called one of the staff sergeants from his old regiment over. "Sergeant, guard this man. He is under arrest for fighting in the encampment. Further charges, specifically dereliction of duty, may be brought."

Charlie stalked off to his office to deal with Duncan while the regiment gathered.

"Well, what do you have to say for yourself, lad?"

"Sir, I am s..s..sorry for fighting." Duncan stood ramrod straight, in front of Charlie’s desk.

"So how many of your fellow troopers have the same opinion of our situation as Davison?"

"Sir?"

"Mr. Davison just informed me that he referred to Miss Rebecca as a whore. He went on to inform me that I should not have been given this command because I am a southern sympathizer. I assume that he said something similar to you."

Duncan’s eyes dropped to the floor for a moment, then he looked back up. "Yes, sir. He said awful things about Miss Rebecca and he……" The boy stopped and shook his head.

More gently, Charlie urged him on. "Tell me, Duncan. I cannot fix it if I do not know what I am facing."

"Davison said awful things about Miss Rebecca that I would ra..rather not repeat, and as for those other things, sir, I know that sev……several of the men in Major Monty’s command grumbled around about them."

"I assume that he called Miss Rebecca a whore. Anything worse than that?"

Duncan looked very uncomfortable and squirmed under Charlie’s stare. "He said……said……"

"Go on, lad. I am not angry at you. In fact, if it had been me, rather than you, I might be in the uncomfortable position of having to discipline myself."

Duncan laughed a little. Then he stood up straight and looked at his commander. "He said she should be taken out into one of the f..f..fields and shown what a good northern man could do for her, instead of sharing her bed with you. Then he made comments about what Miss Rebecca might do." He took a deep breath. "I tried to ignore him sir, but when he talked about hurting Miss Rebecca I just cou..cou……could not let that go."

"I understand, Duncan. I would have done exactly the same thing that you did. What about the problems he seems to be having with me as his commander?"

"Sir, men grumble. Not……not all of them mean half the things they say, but Davison is just mean sir. Always has been. Major Monty could be in command and he would find something wrong there, too. You just have more for him to hate, sir."

"All right. Your punishment for fighting will be levied at the muster. Time for us to go."

Charlie walked out with Duncan behind him just as Polk came charging up. "Colonel. What has happened?"

Charlie stalked toward the assembly point. "You will have to conduct the action review. Seems Mr. Davison has a major complaint about me as well as a desire to insult our hostess - rather grossly, I might add."

"Rebecca? My Lord, what could someone possibly have to say about Rebecca?"

"Evidently that she is southern trash, a whore and that she should find out what a good Yankee man can do for a woman instead of sharing her bed with me. By the way, I am a southern sympathizer who does not deserve command."

"My, my, Charlie. Did you start the war, too?" Polk chuckled, trying to wrap his mind around this whole blow up and also trying to figure out why Charlie had not whaled on Davison for what had been said about Rebecca. "And what did young Duncan, back there, do."

"Whaled on Davison. Wish I could have."

"Davison said these things to Duncan? Does not seem like a bright thing to do. Anyone with eyes can see Duncan has a horrible crush on Rebecca."

"He said similar things to me." Charlie's voice was dead flat.

"Oh, Charlie, I am sorry. What are we going to do about this?"

"You are going to give Davison a chance to voice his opinion. I am then going to point out a few facts. At which point, any man who agrees with Davison will be invited to go elsewhere. Immediately. Dishonorable discharge for dereliction of duty and failure to obey the orders of the Commander In Chief."

"All right. We will deal with it. Tell me, did Rebecca hear this?"

"To be honest, I do not know."

"I hope not. She has been very kind and does not deserve this kind of disrespect."

"No one does."

The two men arrived at the muster point. "All right, Polk. It is your show."

The second in command took his place in front of the troops, walking back and forth slowly. "All right. Seems you boys need a chance to get some things off your chest. And if you want to do that, we are going to give you a chance to do that right now." He turned and looked into the crowd. "But before that Colonel Redmond has a few things to say to you."

Charlie stepped up and stood before the men. Slowly, he swept his gaze across all of the assembled companies, making eye contact with individual men he knew to be troublemakers and malcontents. Some avoided him; most looked at him with some degree of curiosity.

"It seems that some of you may have problems with the relationship I am trying to build with this community and with some of the work details to which you have been assigned. I also understand that you may have problems with individuals, either among our hosts or within this command. This is your chance to voice your opinions."

He paced in front of the troops. "Before you do, however, you should know that the 13th Pennsylvania is operating on orders directly from the Commander in Chief, and validated by both General Grant and General Sheridan."

"Colonel Polk will be conducting this process, as I have a personal interest. Therefore, I will only speak as a member of the regiment, not as your commanding officer, until such time as it is appropriate for me to perform my duty."

Polk took a step forward. "You heard the Colonel. Any man who has something to say about our situation can say it now, or report to me in my office within the next half hour. But let me tell you, gentleman, I will not tolerate derogatory things being said about Mrs. Gaines. If you have something to say about the Colonel or me, say it now. Nothing else will be tolerated."

He looked to Charlie who was clenching his fists. "Anything else, sir?"

"Davison. I told you that you would have a chance to speak your opinion. You may do so now. Publicly."

Clearly, Charlie was going to bring this issue to a head.

"I do not have anything to say that the men loyal to the Union do not all ready know. That woman is a whore and you are a sympathizer."

"Any man who agrees with Mr. Davison is free to step forward."

Polk watched with some curiosity as about twenty men fidgeted about and then fifteen or so stepped forward.

"Quartermaster. Pay these men their quarterlies and their muster out pay. See to it that they have civilian clothing. Show them as mustered out of the 13th Pennsylvania as of this date. Go in an orderly fashion, leave the battle lines and your release from duty will not be noted as for cause. Create any disruption, harass any civilian in any way, and you will be charged with disobeying a direct order, dereliction of duty, and shown as a dishonorable discharge. Am I clear?"

The men just looked to each other and stared at Charlie, not believing what had just happened. "You cannot do that!" One of the men in the back yelled.

He turned to the regiment. "Oh, yes I can, trooper. This regiment will obey the orders of our Commander in Chief. As such, we will begin the process of reconstructing the Union. The civilians of this community are not armed opponents. They have done nothing to warrant this antipathy. General Grant himself, when he bivouacked here last spring, said this was the most devastated portion of the country he had seen and that these people deserved our support and assistance if they were to successfully return to the Union."

Charlie went on to address the other critical issue, his own commitment to duty. "I have personally served this country for twenty years. I stood at Buena Vista and lived. Some of you have been with me since that time. I stood at Vicksburg. Some of you were there during that bloody hell. I will stand with you as we end this conflict. But I will not have it said that the men of the 13th were ever anything less than honorable gentlemen."

"Oh, and trooper? I can do more than that. The penalty for failure to obey a direct order from your commanding officer during wartime is death."

A sudden chill fell over the restless crowd. The tone of Charlie’s voice made it perfectly clear that he was not threatening them. Instead, he was simply stating that he would have absolutely no compunction about enforcing the punishment should the situation warrant such an extreme act.

Polk signaled to a few armed troopers acting as sentries and they began rounding up the few men that had stepped forward. "Anyone else want out now? This is the time to speak up."

Charlie stood with his arms crossed and his face etched in stone.

They watched, but no one else had anything to say, except for Duncan who raised his hand. "Sir?"

"Corporal Nailer?"

"You told me that I would find out my punishment for fighting, Sir."

Charlie turned to the rest of the men. "Nailer fought with Davison. Davison called Miss Rebecca a whore and called me a southern sympathizer. I will entertain suggestions for what should be done to Mr. Nailer for this infraction of the rules."

"He should be forced to eat Sergeant Jackson’s rabbit stew." Someone piped up from the back, causing a roar of laughter from the rest of the group.

"Now that is punishment. Other suggestions?"

None of the men seemed to keen on naming a punishment of one of their own. They shifted back and forth.

"Well, since Mr. Nailer got into trouble for defending Miss Rebecca, I think that assigning him as her permanent bodyguard seems appropriate. Of course, that means he is always on duty one way or another. What do you think, Colonel Polk?"

Polk cleared his throat and hid the smile behind his hand. "I think that is a good idea, Sir. He can accompany Miss Rebecca into town and the likes when you are unavailable.

Charlie turned to the troops. "Gentlemen, what do you think of that idea?"

"I have seen Miss Rebecca when she is riled up about something. I feel sort of sorry for Nailer, sir." One man at the end of the row offered. "Nothing worse than a southern lady having a full blown conniption."

"All right, men. Unless one of you still has a problem with President Lincoln's orders or with my command?"

They answered all at once as a proper unit. "No, Sir!"

"Then, gentlemen, our orders are to find a way to get the citizens of Culpeper County through this winter in one piece –– and along the way, maybe make the reconstruction of the Union we have fought for so long and hard a little easier.

The men shifted a bit, expecting to be dismissed. Instead, Charlie talked quietly with Polk for a moment, and then turned back to the troops. "While I have you all here, I have another announcement."

They formed back up, waiting to hear what else their commander had to drop on them.

"As part of our holiday celebrations, I hereby announce a formal Gymkhana, to be held on the 22nd and 23rd of this month. The winning company will serve this spring as my personal guard and the vanguard of the Regiment. The man with the most points within that company will serve as the color bearer. There will be appropriate prizes for the winners of each event. Gentlemen, it is an opportunity to hone your skills as soldiers, horsemen, and members of a crack fighting team. Events will include the traditional and cross-country endurance races, horsemanship, and demonstrations of skill with saber, lance, rifle and side arms. We will invite the civilians of the community to observe our games. You have a fortnight to practice. I expect every one of you to participate in some event."

A cheer went up from the men. Such events were usually fun and they enjoyed the challenge. Anyway, showing off to the locals sounded like a good idea.

Charlie smiled. The men were distracted from their latest crisis and there seemed to be universal approval for the gymkhana. "Dismissed."

The men disbanded and returned to their various duties with a buzz of excited chatter.

--*--

Rebecca stripped the linens from the bed. Part of her wanted to be mad and upset over what had been said about her but she could not. The fact of the matter was, she could understand why Charlie’s men would think such things. What did make her mad, were the nasty things said about Charlie.

She put the old linens in the basket and placed new ones on the bed, remaking it quickly. "Fools, can they not see how hard Charlie is working to make things better." She grumbled as she continued puttering around the room.

"Papa?"

Rebecca looked up to find Em standing in the doorway. She went over and scooped the little girl up. "What are you doing here sweetheart and where is your Mama?"

"Mama sweep. Em want Papa."

"Oh, honey, I do not think right now is a good time to disturb Papa. Let us go down and have some apple slices."

"Apple!" Em bounced around in Rebecca’s arms.

"Yes, ma’am."

She carried the baby down stairs, meeting Elizabeth at the bottom. "Good afternoon, Rebecca."

"Good afternoon. Care to join Em and I for some tea and apples?"

"I would love to. I have finished my rounds. Tell me what happened just a little bit ago."

"One of the troopers got into a fight with Duncan. Apparently he had some unkind things to say about Charlie and I and Duncan took him to task over it."

"Oh dear," Elizabeth looked down the hall at Charlie’s office. "Give me a few minutes and then you and Em come join me in Charlie’s office."

"Do you think that is all right?"

"It will be more than all right. And very necessary." Elizabeth turned on her heel and went to Charlie’s office, knocking on the door.

"Come."

Elizabeth entered the office and closed the door behind her. "I knew it," she said as she crossed the room and settled into a chair.

Charlie was sitting at his desk with his head in his hands. He looked up sourly, "What?"

"That you would be in here brooding."

"Well, what would you have done? I had rebellion in the ranks. I tried the nice way. It did not work. How many more men believe what those do and do not have the guts to say so?"

"I know, Charlie, trust me. This must be very difficult, but sitting here brooding over it is not going to help. You and Richard are very good commanders. You will handle it, I am sure."

"And to have them use Rebecca as the excuse. I made her a target and they took the shot. So how much of this really is my fault?"

"You made her a target? Did she not ask for your protection?"

"Damn it, Elizabeth. I could have offered her my protection without sleeping in her bed."

She smirked at her friend. "No you could not. Charlie, I love you. We have been friends a long time and I am very fond of Rebecca. I think she suites you, but Charlie she did this to herself by inviting you into her bed."

"Are you saying that little……" Charlie bit back what he was going to say "was justified in calling Rebecca a whore?"

"No, I am not saying that at all. No one has that right. But the simple fact is, people think you two are carrying on a torrid affair and as a result people have formed opinions about a widowed woman who is apparently giving her body to the Yankee Colonel."

"So which one of us is worse - the traitorous southern woman or the devil Yankee colonel? And God help me, I am more than eager to make her an honest woman. You know that, Elizabeth."

She chuckled again. "Charlie, Rebecca is an honest woman, a good woman. And you are no more a devil than Mr. Whitman," She paused and rethought that with a smile. "All right, you are no more a devil than I am. This war has caused many hard feelings, Charlie, and you have to know your men are tired and are going to lash out. I think the plans you have for the winter festival are wonderful and will go a long way to boosting morale. Remember, Charlie, these men miss their wives and children and sweethearts and they see you up here with Rebecca and you seem so happy. They must resent that."

Charlie closed his eyes and then buried his head in his hands again. If they knew. If they only knew what I go through to keep them clothed and fed, to get them the care they need when they are sick. They are like my children. When they face the enemy and die, cut down like cattle. When I have to write their parents, their wives. When I see them lying in the infirmary missing an arm or leg.

"Elizabeth. I cannot do this any more. When the cease fire is declared, I will muster out as quickly as I can."

"Charlie, I know this has been hard on you. I know you are happy here with Rebecca and looking forward to coming back and starting a life with her. I want that for you both, I want you both to be happy, but you must know that there are people in the community who feel exactly as some of those men. They are not going away and chances are they are going to be more verbal about it. You cannot come to your office and brood every time. You will sink into despair and I assure you Rebecca will grow tired of it. You have to be prepared to be strong and make a stand."

"I know you are right, Elizabeth. But, damn it all! It feels like I have had people hating me all my life." In a much sadder voice, a lost voice, he added. "What is wrong with me, Elizabeth?"

"My dear friend, there is nothing wrong with you. Do Richard or Jocko hate you?"

"No." Sullenly.

"Do Whitman or I hate you?"

"No."

"Does Rebecca Gaines hate you?" She gave her friend a grin and a wink.

"No." Charlie got a wry look on his face. "You are trying to back me into a corner."

"Not at all. I am just pointing out that there are people who love and care about you. And save Richard, all the rest of us know exactly who you are, Charlie, and not one of us hates you for it or anything else. Moreover, one of us loves you because of it. I hate to break this to you, my friend, but if you were truly a man, I do not think you would have had such good fortune with Rebecca."

Charlie looked at Elizabeth with vast confusion. She had just put forth an idea that had never occurred to the good colonel.

"I mean, I gather from things that have been said, that she was treated badly, true?"

"Yes." Charlie spoke slowly, his mind working overtime to try and process what Elizabeth was suggesting. "She was abused terribly."

"By her husband, a man in every sense of the word. She told me what kind of life she had with him. That he all but raped her when he wanted to. She has never known tenderness from a man. I think if you had been male, she would have been far more skittish. Tell me Charlie, did she invite you to share her bed, before or after she found out?"

"After." Charlie looked wary. This was a perspective that he had never even begun to consider.

"I will bet you a month’s pay that if you had been a man in every sense of the word, you would still be sleeping in your tent. Rebecca loves you because you are a woman. In every sense of the word."

Charlie slumped back in his chair, his mouth literally hanging open. Scenes were running through his head, scenes of the two of them together, of Rebecca telling Charlie how beautiful she was, how important her tenderness was.

"Charlie Redmond speechless? My, my I will have to write this down in my journal."

Charlie looked up at Elizabeth. "So you think she really wants me?"

Elizabeth smiled. "That is easy, Charlie. Yes. I know she does. Anyone who looks at her can see that."

"But... I mean. The first time we had dinner. She challenged me to convince her. She wanted me to be a gentleman. She treats me like a gentleman. She wants to be my wife."

"She is a very bright woman, Charlie. She knows you will have to continue to be a man to the outside world and she is adapting to that so that she will not accidentally reveal your secret. But when you are alone and especially when you are alone in your bedroom, what are you there?"

Very slowly a smile of extraordinary serenity spread over Charlie's features. "That is the only time when I am a woman. I am just me."

"Right, and has Rebecca turned away or been repulsed when you are ‘‘just you’?"

A blush rose up Charlie's cheeks. He was remembering her desire to touch and please him, to learn that she could please him. "Apparently not."

"Indeed. So, my dear friend, get rid of the gloom and doom and prepare to get on with your life with this wonderful woman."

There was a well-timed knock on the door. Charlie was grateful because he could tell Elizabeth was about to go off on a rant.

"Come in." He grinned at Elizabeth. She had a habit of reading him riot acts when he got too morose. Avoiding them was always a good thing.

The door opened and Em bolted in, running as fast as her little legs would carry her to Charlie. "Papa!" She screamed as she giggled and flung herself at him.

Rebecca carried the tray in, trying not to laugh.

Elizabeth smiled at her friend. "Does she hate you, Charlie?"

Charlie looked at his friend and shook his head, while coping with a small, dark haired, blue-eyed monkey who was rapidly climbing his body. "Elizabeth, you are a terrible manipulator. Em, do not chew on Papa's buttons." Charlie tried to rescue his uniform from her ever-inquisitive hands and mouth.

Rebecca laughed as she poured tea for all of them. "She’s teething, Charlie. What do you expect?"

"Papa good."

"I swear, I am going to soak a piece of rawhide in honey to give her something to chew on that does not involve my brass buttons. My expensive brass buttons."

When Charlie raised his voice, Em’s movement stopped and her lower lip poked out as tears formed in her eyes. "Papa?" She choked out.

"What is it, little one? You are a good girl, a very good girl. Just do not chew on my buttons." He smiled at her and reached into his pocket, pulling out a piece of soft undyed leather that he had picked up to work into a braided hair piece for Rebecca. He could get more where that came from. "Here, little one. If your teeth are hurting, you can chew on this."

She took the leather and turned it over in her hands then offered it to Charlie. "Papa bite?"

Elizabeth was doing her best to hide the smile on her face but failing. Rebecca handed her a cup of tea then placed one in front of Charlie.

Very seriously, Charlie folded the strip of leather in half long ways and took a solid bite in it, leaving very clear indentations in the leather.

Rebecca laughed and relieved Charlie of Em. "Papa’s silly?"

Em straightened in Rebecca’s arms and gave her a very serious look as she grasped her leather in her hand. "Papa good."

Charlie laughed. "Well, ladies, do you believe the youngest member of your sorority or have I managed to totally demean myself in your eyes with my little display of temper?"

Elizabeth chuckled. "You know how I feel, Charlie."

Rebecca leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "And I think you are good, too."

Em simply refused to remain with Rebecca. "Papa hold Em." She reached for him.

"Demanding, are you, little one?" Charlie shifted to accommodate the little girl. "I suppose it is all right. Aunt Rebecca's had you for hours." Charlie sipped his tea, then lowered the cup and held it for Emily to taste. She preferred her tea with lots of milk and a little honey. His was too dark and bitter for her. She made a nasty face, and then started chewing on her piece of leather.

Rebecca settled down in a chair next to Elizabeth. "Charlie, Duncan is not in a lot of trouble, is he?"

"No, dear. In some ways, he is something of a hero. Most of the men are pleased that their usually anti-social colonel has found a lady and clearly wooed and won her. A sign of masculinity, I believe. Duncan did exactly what at least half of them would do; he stood up for his commander's lady. And, you must realize he sees his 'punishment' as more of a reward." Charlie absently picked up a piece of apple and offered it to Em while he spoke.

The baby took the apple and sucked on it making a long, happy humming sound. Rebecca smiled at the picture of Charlie with the baby. "Well, I am glad he is not in serious trouble. I would have felt bad if he had been. Duncan’s a sweet boy."

"Duncan is a grown man, with a rather serious crush on you, my dear. Step gently with him, please."

Rebecca blushed. "Oh, Charlie, you are being silly. Duncan is just a boy."

"Rebecca, dear, Duncan is twenty five years old and has served in this regiment since the beginning of the war. He has been wounded in battle three times and has won multiple commendations for bravery. He is most decidedly a man, a very gentle, caring man. I have only held him back because of the degree of damage he took at the Wilderness."

"All right, I get your point, Charlie. I promise to be good. He reminds me a bit of Andrew."

"Actually, dear, I am more concerned about you hurting him than anything else."

"Hurt him? Charlie I would never hurt him."

Charlie looked to Elizabeth for help. Rebecca just did not understand what Charlie was trying to tell her.

"You brought it up, Charlie." Elizabeth giggled.

Charlie groaned, and provided Em with a piece of cheese to crumble on his coat. "If you look at him as a boy, you are liable to treat him more casually than if you see him as a man. He may mistake casualness for intimacy and invitation and believe he means more to you than he does. It would be painful for him to get his hopes up and have them dashed."

"Charlie, Duncan is well aware that you and I are engaged. But I promise you, my dear, to be very careful with him."

"Thank you, love." Another piece of apple was provided to the small child in his lap, and the combined apple juice and childish drool mixed with the cheese crumbs on his tunic to make a pleasantly gooey paste that fascinated Em. She proceeded to use it to draw random shapes on Charlie's chest.

Rebecca just shook her head and Elizabeth stood. "If you will excuse me, I need to go check Montgomery. Things are looking much better on that front, Charlie. I think we will see him open his eyes in a day or two."

"I do hope so. Having him come around, both physically and attitudinally will do much to resolve the problems we have been having with morale." Emily continued to use the mixed cheese crumbs and masticated apple to decorate Charlie's jacket. The normally immaculate Charlie did not even seem to notice.

"We will make him better, Charlie." She waved at Em, who was now trying to put her mush-covered fingers in Charlie’s mouth.

"Papa bite."

Charlie let the child slip the decidedly questionable cheese and apple goo into his mouth, sucking gently before he let her fingers go. "More apple, Em? I know you are doing your best. Both of you are doing your best with him. I do appreciate it."

Elizabeth could not stand it any longer. "Charlie, you do realize you are being covered in mashed apples and cheese?"

Charlie looked up at her. "Yes. I believe that is rather normal behavior for a young child. Jocko has been giving me these long suffering looks for what she does to my uniforms, but I really have not found an alternative."

The doctor looked accusingly at Rebecca. "You do realize that this is because of you. Before he met you, he would not have let a child within fifty feet of his uniform."

Rebecca smiled and shrugged. "There have been lots of interesting changes since Charlie got here."

Em shook her head and cuddled into the crook of Charlie’s arm.

"Nap time, little one?"

Em shook her head and burrowed deeper into Charlie’s shoulder.

Charlie took his large handkerchief out of his pocket and cleaned up the little girl’s face and hands. "Cuddle up, little one. I will keep you safe and when you are asleep, I will carry you up to bed." He looked at the two women in his office and smiled serenely.

WARNING! The following chapter contains reference to a very aggressive rape that occurred in the past. It also contains scenes of intense sexual intimacy between two woman.

Chapter 17

Wednesday, December 14, 1864

Whitman settled into his chair at Major Montgomery’s bedside. It was late and he had volunteered to sit with him through the night to give Samuelson a much needed break.

Adjusting the lamp so he would have enough light, he took a sip of his tea and began working on his newest poem. As he composed careful lines, he heard Montgomery groan. Setting his pad aside, he moved to the edge of the bed.

"Major?"

He groaned again and his eyes opened. He looked confused and in a great deal of pain.

"Good to see you sir. Let me go get Dr. Walker."

He took the lamp to make his way across the hall to Elizabeth’s room. He knocked on the door then pushed it open just slightly, without going in. "Doctor, the Major is coming to."

Elizabeth woke quickly, sitting up and rubbing sleep from her eyes. "Come in, Whitman."

He pushed the door open further and entered the room. "Montgomery is coming to."

"Excellent." She got up and pulled on her robe. "Let us go see the gentleman."

Returning to the room, Whitman stood back and watched as Elizabeth worked with her patient. "Should I wake Colonel Redmond?"

"Actually, yes, I think he will want to know this."

He excused himself then went to their room, knocking firmly on the door. After a moment, Rebecca opened the door. "Yes?"

"Miss Rebecca, Dr. Walker sent me. Major Montgomery is coming to. She thought the Colonel would like to know."

"Of course, we will be right there." She nodded to him and closed the door. Then she went to the bed and gently shook Charlie’s shoulder.

Charlie rolled over from her pillow and slowly opened her eyes. "Yes? What is wrong, sweetheart?"

"Nothing. Dr. Walker sent word. The Major is coming around."

"Wonderful." Charlie got up right away and pulled on his robe. "Let us go."

Entering Montgomery’s room, they watched as Dr. Walker tenderly took care of her patient. "How is he, Doctor?" Charlie asked, stepping forward.

"Well, come see for yourself."

Charlie got closer, looking down on his officer. Montgomery’s eyes slowly tracked to Charlie. The colonel smiled. "Good to have you back."

The man did not speak. He just closed his eyes. Elizabeth tucked the blanket around him and stood up, taking Charlie by the arm, away from the bed. "It is going to take time."

"Elizabeth, how aware do you think he is now?"

"It is hard to say, Charlie, but I believe he understands what is being said. That was apparent when he gripped Rebecca’s hand the other day. I am sure at this moment he is confused and in a lot of pain, but the fact that he is responsive is a very good sign."

"I want to make sure that all he hears from now on are southern accents. Not just you and Rebecca, but find everyone with a southern accent, male and female, and pull them in to sit with him."

Elizabeth nodded. Rebecca joined in. "I am sure we can provide him with constant care. I think that the ladies who are here will be happy to help."

"It is going to be a long hard road with him, Charlie, and I will go along with this plan as long as it does not upset him so much as to endanger his health," Elizabeth said.

"I agree with both of you. But I also think that his problems may be as much emotional - left over from the Wilderness - as they are physical. I would like to try and handle both issues if possible."

"And we will. For tonight there is not much more we can do than let him rest. Whitman and I will remain with him and if there are any further changes we will let you know. Now you two need to get back to bed."

"Thank you, my dear. How I handle Montgomery will be critical to morale - especially after that little demonstration of temper I had the other day."

"I know," Elizabeth laid her hand on her friend’s arm. "We will make sure he gets the best care possible and that the men, especially his men, know that you are doing your best for their Major."

"What would you say about him having a few visitors - as long as they were not his caretakers?"

"I think that it would be good for him to have one or two a day, as long as it does not tire him out. Men from his troop could be beneficial as long as they speak positively about the happenings in camp."

"That would be good. If I can find men who will speak enthusiastically about the relationship with the locals... even better."

"Yes, absolutely. Positive reinforcement will be needed to aid in the healing process. Perhaps we could also ask Reverend Williams to pay a visit."

Charlie chuckled at that. "As long as you do not invite his wife."

Elizabeth laughed as well. "I think she is secretly sweet on you, Charlie," she teased, giving Rebecca a wink when the blonde woman stifled a chuckle herself.

"Well, if that is all that we can do tonight, shall we all try and capture a little more rest before we face tomorrow's demands?"

Elizabeth laughed as Charlie ignored her comment. "Yes, by all means go back to bed. If there is any change I will wake you."

"Elizabeth, let Whitman watch. I have a vested interest in keeping you healthy."

"Charlie, I am a doctor. I promise to take care of myself, but the care of my patients comes first. I promise to rest but I want to stay with him for a bit longer."

"All, right. I will check with you in the morning. And do get some sleep, my friend."

"I will. Good night, Charlie, Rebecca."

--*--

Thursday, December 15, 1864

Constance took the afternoon watch. When she was first asked to sit with a wounded soldier, she had thought nothing of it, until she walked into the room. Being confronted by one of the men who had assaulted her was a terrible shock. In fact, it had been so overwhelming that she could not speak of it or even allow herself to think of it for quite a while. When she finally allowed herself to consider Montgomery’s presence in the same house, she realized that it was a test from God; a time for her to truly discover the meaning of forgiveness.

She sat close to the bed, working on a small sleeping gown for the baby that would arrive in a few months. She was roused from her work when Montgomery asked for water.

She poured a cup and very gently helped him take a few small sips. He focused on her when she took the cup away. "Where?" He managed to croak.

"You are at Gaines Cove Farm, Major Montgomery. You sustained a head wound from an injured horse and we have been caring for you here."

He grimaced with pain. "Should have……let me die."

"Major Montgomery, everyone here has been quite committed to your survival. I do wish you would join us, sir." She gave him another sip of water and carefully arranged the pillows behind his head.

"No." He closed his eyes and licked his lips. "Would rather die."

Constance smoothed the hair back from his forehead. "You know, I do understand. There was a time not too long ago when I wanted to end it all as well."

He looked to her, wishing he had the strength to knock her hand away. He did not need the comfort of southern trash. "You should want an end."

"No, sir. I should not. I have one child by my husband, who died at Seven Pines, and another one on the way - a 'gift' from one of the men who came through wearing the uniform of the 13th Pennsylvania. Which one, I am afraid I cannot tell you. This child, regardless of his father, deserves a life."

"You are implying……"

"Sir, I am implying nothing. I am stating that men from this regiment raped me. As a result, I am now pregnant. Prior to that day, no man except my lawful husband had ever touched me and that was done with love. Believe me I was as defiled as you, with your hatred of all like me, could wish. So you, sir, have no excuse for wishing to be dead." She did not say anything about Montgomery’s presence that day, the day that his men had raped her, and this man in bed before her had sodomized her.

"Why then? Why do you not take your revenge? Or has that southern bastard who is commanding my men had his influence on you as well?"

"It is very simple, Major. The Good Book says it best of all. 'And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other'. Your men assaulted me, defiled me and in doing so, defiled themselves. This anger and hatred will continue until the good Lord's words are heeded."

"So has Redmond taken these men to the post for this? I am sure he would be willing to stripe the back of a good Northern man, to protect the sensibilities of a Southern," he paused and his next word came out as a snarl. "Lady. I do not see how you can believe they defiled themselves."

"Colonel Redmond does not know, nor will he ever, at least from me. I realized that 'Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.' I was a good wife, loving and loyal to one man. I had done nothing to bring this abuse upon myself. The men who abused me did not see me as an individual, but instead saw only with the hatred and evil in their own minds and hearts. They will have to live with the results of their actions, bearing the guilt and defilement in this life and paying the price for their defilement in the next."

"You are as much of a fool as that bastard."

"And you would risk your soul in Hell so that you can enjoy your anger and guilt now?"

"I have seen my men cut to ribbons, good men who did not deserve to die. The only unfortunate part of this war is that we have not wiped out your kind."

"And I have seen my home, my husband and my family destroyed because you chose to come here - to my land, to my home - and do your damage. I do not remember the southern forces invading Pennsylvania until long after your men had managed to cut terrible swaths through the people and land of Virginia."

"You people chose this war. You wanted this. You deserve what happens."

"How, sir, did we choose this war? We chose to secede from the Union, a right we had under the Constitution. You chose to persecute us for exercising our legal rights. And how, sir, did I choose to be the object of your men's evil intent?"

"I was called to fight, to keep this Union together. That is what I have done. And I am not responsible for the actions of those men."

"And if I were to identify them to you and you find that they are men under your command?"

An uneasy memory of Davison and his cronies came to mind. "It cannot be undone now can it? Maybe you will get lucky and the child will die, then you will not have to live with the reminder."

"I would not want the child to die because the child did not break the commandments. The child is pure. The poor men whose anger overcame the purity of their souls are the sinners here, not this child. You see, sir, I do not hate you. I pity you and your men. For you are small and consumed with hatred. You will spend the rest of your days being eaten away by the beast in your souls, unless you let go of your anger and see the reality before you."

"I do not want your pity. I do not want anything from southern trash."

"Sir, the Good Book says 'to everything there is a season. A time to kill, and a time to heal.' Whether you like it or not, this is your time to heal. You may fight it, you may resist it, but your time, Major Montgomery, has come. We have had our time of war. It is now time to think on peace."

"I only wish to die. But since that is not going to happen just yet, I demand you leave me alone."

"Tell me, sir, why you wish to die?"

"It is a fitting end. I should have died at the Wilderness with so many of my men. I would rather die than spend one more minute under the Redmond’s command."

"Have you plowed such iniquity and sown such wickedness that you deserve to reap the same?"

"I only wish for the peace that only death can bring."

"Were you the cause of your men’s deaths?"

"I led them into that Hell."

"And you faced the same chances of dying as they did?"

He closed his eyes and seemed to be remembering that time in his life. "I should have."

"Why do you think so?"

"Because that is what a good commander does. And because I did not, I have been subjected to Redmond. I cannot stand that bastard. I would cut his throat if I had the strength."

"Dear me. What has Colonel Redmond done to earn such enmity?"

"He breathes. But I am sure you find him charming, like the southern sissy he is. Are you sharing his bed too, or is he only bedding the whore who owns this house?"

"Ah, poor man, your own heart must be so impure that you must see it everywhere you look. No. I am not sharing his bed. I believe he sleeps with his wife to be. And from what I understand, General Grant does not find him a coward in any way."

"Oh, yes, he has managed to convince the core of command about what a perfect officer and gentleman he is. And he is going to marry her? That is the first smart move I have ever seen him make. Now at least he is thinking about taking land. Using this woman is the best decision he has ever made."

"I would not know what he has convinced command of. I only know what General Early said about facing him. I believe he said 'Grant sends Redmond after me because he is the only man with the courage to face me head on.’"

"Redmond is a coward who lets southern troops escape, because he hates to kill his own kind."

"What ever leads you to say that, sir? I had understood that Colonel Redmond only recently assumed command here."

"It is only my opinion. I base it on things I have heard about your wonderful Colonel. I cannot believe you do not see it. He is so……pathetic. I am still not sure how it is that he is with the woman. I am sure he prefers the company of men."

"My, jealousy is certainly an ugly emotion, sir."

"Jealousy? I assure you I am not jealous of Redmond."

"It certainly sounds like you are. Perhaps your problem is that women do not find you as attractive. Or are you one of those men who need to dominate a woman - like your rapist troops?"

"I have no problems with women. And a man has rights with his woman."

"If a woman consents. What of those who do not consent? Like me? Did your men have a right to rape me?"

"A man has needs to fulfill. He should do what is necessary to do that."

"Ah, so rape is justified then?"

"If that is what it takes."

"My, what a fine representative of your precious Union you are, then Major. I believe that rape is a hanging offense in every state in your Union."

"Then have Redmond hang me."

"Are you saying you have committed rape, sir?"

"I have a wife. I have taken what I wanted when I wanted it."

"From her or from others?"

"It does not matter and is none of your concern."

"Ah, then you have never been loved. I feel sorry for you. You have never felt the exhilaration when a woman comes to you, craving your touch, aching for your love. You have never known the true pleasure of a woman's tender touch. You poor, poor man."

"Such romantic notions you people have. The world is a cruel and heartless place and you must be cruel and heartless to survive in it."

"Ah, I remind you that those who live by the sword shall die by the sword and as for those of us whom men call meek - well, we shall inherit the earth."

"You can have it. I have no desire to live in a world where your kind exists. Now leave me alone."

"Sleep, sad sir. One of us will watch over you as you recover." Constance sat quietly, watching over the man who had himself once watched over her as his men violated and raped her, then joined them.

--*--

Rebecca sighed and ran a cloth over her face in preparation for bed. It had been a long day and she was looking forward to getting some rest. She hoped Charlie would be up soon. She really wanted to relax in her lover’s arms and let the frustration of the day melt away.

She smiled when she thought of Charlie; Rebecca’s body tingled from head to toe at the thought of being close to him. She shivered, keenly aware that her body was responding now to the mere thought of Charlie. She looked down to find her nipples had tightened painfully. "Oh, Charlie," she groaned as she moved to the bed and climbed under the covers.

Charlie's day had been long and difficult. He had spent much of the day filling out all of the paperwork necessary to justify his summary discharge of men and to notify the other commanders in the area to watch for them, as their behavior was unpredictable. He was looking forward to stripping away all of the trappings of his position, getting cleaned up, and then finding some quiet comfort in Rebecca's arms.

He came into the bedroom already stripping his coat off. In the weeks they had been together, he had grown comfortable with having her witness his nightly transformation.

"Good evening, darling." He looked over and smiled at her, already cuddled into bed with the comforter pulled up to her chin and tucked in around her shoulders. "How was your evening, beloved?"

"Long and lonely without you. I am very glad this day is done. Major Montgomery is going to be quite the handful. His attitude is positively hateful."

"I knew he had problems. How bad is it?"

"Well, he will not talk to me at all. He practically threw the soup that Whitman brought him and I suspect he was very unkind to Constance today. She has been somewhat upset since her time with him."

Charlie rolled his neck to ease the stiffness. From the bed, Rebecca could hear the slight crunching as the bones settled into place. He sighed. "I may just have to get him somewhat better, then send him home. God save me from vindictive idiots. Can you or Elizabeth talk with Constance tomorrow and find out what happened?"

"We have already discussed it and one of us will try to talk to her. Being upset is not good for her baby. So we want to try and help her. I will make sure you know anything we find out."

Charlie walked over to the bed and leaned down to kiss Rebecca's forehead. "Thank you, love. I am not sure if you were not better off before we came; we have put you through so much in the last weeks."

She took his hand and intertwined their fingers. "We have been through it together." She gave a little tug. "Now get undressed and come to bed."

Charlie went back to the washstand and used the jack he now kept beside it to pull off his boots. The weskit and cravat followed, so he stood in his shirt, britches and sox. With his back to her the transformation that always liberated Charlie and enthralled Rebecca began. He pulled the braces off his shoulders and then pulled his shirt and singleton off over his head. The breast bindings came off next, and Charlie quickly ran a damp cloth over her body to wipe away the reminders of the day. She swept her britches, underwear and socks off in one piece, and draped them over the rack beside the washbasin, reaching for her nightshirt in the same motion. With a simple sweep, Charlie dropped her nightshirt over her head and padded over to crawl into bed.

Rebecca curled into her arms immediately and placed a kiss on Charlie’s throat. "I missed you."

Charlie ran her hands over the fine, soft flannel that covered Rebecca's back. She kissed the soft blonde waves that flowed over her shoulder, as that was the only part of Rebecca she could reach with her lips. "Ah, I see you did. But you have me now, love."

She blushed and buried her head in Charlie’s shoulder. "Hush," she teased, giving her a poke in the ribs. "It is not my fault I am having these reactions. It is yours."

"And what reactions are you having, beloved?" Charlie's nose twitched. She could feel goose bumps rise on Rebecca's flesh wherever her fingers touched.

"You evil thing, you. You know what is happening." She giggled and scooted closer. Then she took Charlie’s hand and placed it on her breast. "See."

Charlie’s hand gently covered the full breast with the very taut nipple at the center. She flattened her hand and lightly brushed the tip of the nipple with the palm of her hand. "Oh, you mean this? I thought perhaps you were just chilly."

"I am……not chilly," she managed to gasp as her body arched into Charlie. "I am many things, but I am not chilly."

The same hand that had been teasing Rebecca's nipple slid under her chin and drew her face up so that Charlie could kiss her. And kiss her she did, slow, long, languorous, searching kisses, exploring every inch of her lips and her mouth.

Rebecca moaned and enjoyed the kiss, taking Charlie’s hand and putting it back on her breast.

Charlie continued the kiss, and softly rolled Rebecca's nipple between her fingers. When breathing became necessary, Charlie's lips slid to Rebecca's ear. "Does this make you want more, darling?"

"Oh yes!" She wrapped her hands in Charlie’s hair. "Much more." She placed several little kisses where her lips could reach. "Will you teach me?"

"We will teach each other, darling. Every person is different, or so I am told; some like a gentle touch, others a firmer one. Everyone has parts of their body that are sweet to touch and stroke and taste - and no two people are the same."

Rebecca took a deep breath and reached under the blanket, lifting her gown and placing Charlie’s hand on her hip. "I want to learn about pleasure, Charlie."

Charlie ran her hand over the sweet curve of Rebecca's hip and up to her slender waist. "I think the first thing that you need to discover is what feels good for you. I have both hands and lips that can caress you wherever you like, however you like. And there is no part of your body - no part at all, that I would not love to caress with either my hands or my lips."

Rebecca gave a bit of a whimper, being this close to Charlie, yet not knowing exactly what she wanted was making her half insane. She felt the ache between her legs increase and she moaned again. "Show me how."

Charlie's hand swept up her ribs to cup Rebecca's breast. First she teased at the nipple, long fingers stroking and tracing the circle of puckered flesh. "Some women like gentle and slow." Charlie shifted a bit so that she could tenderly trace the tendons of Rebecca's neck with her lips. "Some women like to have more than one part of their bodies excited and played with at a time."

"Yes." Rebecca gulped for air as her hand traveled slowly over Charlie’s arm. She placed Charlie’s hand over her own and guided them to the curls between her own legs, with Charlie’s hand over her own. "Show me."

Charlie drew a couple of very deep breaths to try and keep herself under some kind of control. Rebecca was already wet and open, her need coating the fine curls and moistening their intertwined fingers. "Softly, very softly, explore all the folds. Feel how your lips open like a flower, how your body seeks pleasure and provides the lubricant to make each touch like silk." Like silk, like fire. Oh, God, give me strength tonight.

Rebecca nodded and with Charlie’s hand still with her own, began her first exploration of her own body. She shuddered, drawing a deep breath when they began caressing her. "Oh, Charlie……" She bit her lip to keep from crying out too loudly.

Charlie slipped around her so that she was supporting Rebecca's body with her own, lifting the two of them up to give her a little more leverage. "Tell me what you feel, love. What feels sensitive and good. What is more exciting and what is so sensitive that too much pressure would be painful."

Rebecca’s eyes were tightly closed, her breathing raspy and rapid. "Feels good." She managed to say even as their hands stroked swollen flesh. She felt her body begin to shake, from building pressure deep within her.

"Do you feel this little nub?"

Her hips jerked involuntarily and she gasped. "Yes."

"That is one of the most sensitive parts of a woman’s body. Stroke it with the right amount of pressure and you will find pleasure, love." As she spoke, she also guided Rebecca’s hand to that tight bundle of sensitive nerves.

"Charlie!" Rebecca murmured through clenched teeth, not a sound of pain but one of intense pleasure. She let Charlie’s hand guide her and she explored. She felt her excitement building. "Charlie……"

Charlie guided Rebecca's fingers over her now engorged clitoris, sliding lower to gather more moisture and spread it over the little button. She had Rebecca roll it between her index and middle fingers, then clamped her fingers on either side of the nexus and tugged firmly.

Rebecca body arched and went rigid, shaking intensely with release. This was something Rebecca Gaines had never experienced before. When it was over, she sank deep into Charlie’s arms and cried.

Charlie held her and softly stroked her head and back. "Sssshhhh, love, shush. It is all right, love. It is all right. Breathe, sweetheart."

She took two deep gulping breaths then looked up at Charlie. "Wonderful."

"Yes, love. It is. And with the one you love, it is more than wonderful. It is a time, when for a few moments, you are no longer alone inside your skin."

Rebecca nodded and curled as close to Charlie as she could get. "I am glad I found out about this." She chuckled. "Thank you for showing me."

Charlie lay there, gently holding Rebecca's still form. The ache at her own center was driving her mad. The sight of Rebecca exploring herself, the feel of Rebecca’s heat and passion so close to her own flesh and yet not truly touching her was torture.

Rebecca giggled and shifted, now that her brain was coming back to her, she thought speech possible. "You should try that." She teased.

"I have, love. How do you think I have managed to keep my hands mostly to myself so far?" Charlie's voice was a little shaky.

"But what about now?"

With Rebecca in her arms, with an ache that was as much of her soul as her body, the idea of self-satisfaction was pallid indeed. "Right now, my own touch is insufficient, dear."

"Then teach me." She whispered, kissing Charlie’s throat and neck.

A tremor ran through Charlie's body. She was so intensely excited and had been holding herself under such rigid control that the feel of Rebecca's lips on her throat, and Rebecca’s soft whisper were driving her higher than she expected. Through clenched teeth, Charlie admitted, "It will not take much. All you need do is stroke that little nub and I think I will explode."

Rebecca’s hand slowly found it is way to Charlie’s legs, fingers trailed lightly over soft skin, then she went between Charlie’s legs. She giggled a bit. "Yours are stiffer than mine."

"Stiffer?" The nonsequitor was enough to draw Charlie out of her haze of desire at least a little bit. The return of some semblance of control was actually welcome.

"Hmm," Rebecca purred, grazing her fingers through Charlie’s hair. "Coarser, thicker. Let us see what else is different." She slowly slipped her fingers between Charlie’s legs.

Charlie's body arched up into her hand and a long, deep groan worked its way up from somewhere deep in her body. The hand wrapped around Rebecca's shoulder clenched convulsively.

"Is this good, my love?" Rebecca’s fingers continued stroking the heated flesh.

"Oh, God, yes." Charlie whimpered.

Rebecca remembered what Charlie had taught her and she found the nerve center and began an earnest exploration. Her touch was firm and dedicated. She was not sure why, but she thought Charlie would want and need a firmer touch than she had.

Charlie's hips rocked into her hand in a rhythm as old as time. She had dreamed of Rebecca's fingers touching her so lovingly, so intimately. It only took a few strokes and then Charlie's whole body arched up, rigid, braced only on her shoulders and heels. A deep, husky cry tore from her. "Rebecca."

Then Charlie crashed back to the bed, trembling from head to toe, her hips jerking into Rebecca's hand. A flood of steaming fluid drenched Rebecca's fingers. Then Charlie stilled, the only movement and sound was of the air sobbing into her lungs.

"Yes, love." Rebecca whispered. She did not remove her hand. She felt almost instinctively that she should stay there until Charlie asked her to move. She pulled the woman into her arms so that her head rested on her shoulder. "I love you, Charlie."

Charlie's heart was still pounding under Rebecca's touch. Being cradled so intimately by this beautiful woman was more than the usually stoic Charlie could manage. Silent tears slid down her cheek and dampened Rebecca's gown. Tears that were born of the intensity, the relief, and most of all, of the total surrender that this most intimate and tender embrace required. Charlie was home.

--*--

Friday, December 15, 1864

Rebecca sat at the breakfast table finishing what everyone considered a huge breakfast. Charlie had sat through the first part of the meal with a silly grin on his face. Elizabeth watched them, but decided to wait until Charlie had left for the day before she said anything.

As she leaned back in her chair and watched out the window as Charlie walked down the walk with something of a bounce in his step, she chuckled, and then turned back to Rebecca.

"Well?"

Rebecca looked up from the coffee she had just poured. "Well what?"

"So what has you two grinning like a pair of baboons?"

Rebecca blushed. "Why, Doctor, I have no idea what you’re talking about."

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. "Something happened that I do not know about, or I too would be stretching my grinning muscles like you two are."

Rebecca tried to hide her grin, which only widened. "I assure you, the Colonel has been a perfect gentleman.

"And have you been a perfect lady?"

"I like to think so, yes." She was nearly laughing now, but trying very hard to keep from it.

"Shall I take it that the two of you are discovering a new aspect of your relationship?"

"I believe that would be a safe assumption on your part, Doctor."

Elizabeth laughed softly and shook her head, then went back to brooding over the information she had gleaned from Constance in the early hours of the morning.

"What’s wrong, Doctor?"

"I had a long talk with Constance this morning. A very long talk. Seems that our Major Montgomery was awake and feeling hostile last night."

"Yes, Constance did not seem right last night, but I did not want to push her for information. She was tired when I saw her."

"It seems that Montgomery is currently just as abusive toward both Southerners and women as Charlie said he had been before the accident. Also that he is hostile and suicidal."

"I was afraid as much. He is not a kind man. What did he say to her?"

"Evidently quite a bit, including but not limited to suggesting that she deserved being raped by his men because she was a southerner."

"His men? My Lord, do you mean to tell me that the men who did this are part of Charlie’s troops?"

"Evidently. And although he did not say specifically, I would say that our Major might know who did it. Charlie does not know, and to be honest, I am almost afraid to tell him. Not because of what it would do to Charlie or to the men, but because of what it would do to Constance."

"Those men need to be punished. If they are not, any woman they choose is next. It could be you or me and what would happen to Charlie, Richard and Constance then?"

"You are right, I suppose. I just hate dragging Constance through this. Perhaps Montgomery, in his anger and arrogance, will provide us with more information."

"We will give him a few days, but if he does not tell us anything else, I will have to go to Charlie. I am going to be his wife. He trusts me and if he found out I knew this and did not tell him, he would never forgive me."

"Rebecca? Constance knows that the men who raped her were from the 13th, but it was before Charlie took command."

"You know Charlie as well as I do. I am sure even better. You know that he would want to know this regardless. It would not matter to him when it happened. He would want to take those men to task."

"It would be hard on him. The penalty for rape is hanging. And he would do it because he could do no other."

"I know that, I do not want to hurt him, but look at Constance, look at Em. You know the men who did this see her here at the house. Maybe they do not remember her, or maybe they do. If they do, can you imagine what kind of things are being said about that lovely woman, who has had to endure far more than any of us have?"

"As a doctor, I am pledged to save lives, to do no harm. But this is hard. In this case, what I know is supposed to stay with me, part of doctor –– patient privilege. And what I know, if not used, could eventually cause another, even more painful riff than Duncan's little fight."

"Doctor, I will not hide this from Charlie, but I will help you try to get more information out of the Major."

"And we will have to gently get information from Constance. I fear that more than I fear grilling the arrogant Montgomery."

"I know, we will not do it right away. But it has to be done."

Both women looked grim. "You know, I think I will discuss this with Richard. He may be able to handle it more effectively than I, and I would be much more comfortable not breaking my physicians’ oath directly. Constance’s history and Montgomery’s delirious ramblings are protected by that oath."

"Yes, I think he would be a great assistance to Charlie with it."

"Perhaps I can convince Richard to take this issue on himself, and handle the military side of it. In this way, though Charlie will have to sit in judgment as regimental commander, he can stay clear of it. Otherwise, he may find that this simply polarizes the troops further."

"That sounds like a very logical thing to do. And maybe he could deal with it in a quiet manner, only letting those who need to know, be privy to the information."

"Let us hope. See what you can do about getting Constance to talk with you, please. I really hate being in this position. It feels like I am being pulled in two different directions."

"I will. I will talk with her today. We are supposed to take Em to the pond for a picnic. I will talk to her there."

"Thank you, Rebecca. It is an impossible situation for me to be in. I am not supposed to share the confidences of my patients, yet what these two, separately and together, have told me has the potential for harming so many others if some action is not taken."

"I know and I would never ask you to betray that confidence, but if I can get the information from one or both sources I am bound by no honor other than that as Charlie’s wife."

Elizabeth stopped short. "Charlie's wife? So you will marry him? How soon?"

"Yes, we are getting married. When, I am not sure. We have not set a date yet. I do not know if it will be before he goes or when he gets back."

"If I know Charlie, he will want to do it before he goes. He'll want to make sure that if something does happen, you will be taken care of."

"That does not matter to me. I just want him to come home."

Elizabeth smiled. "You know, he is called Lucky Charlie. I think it is because he always considers the worst case and prepares for it. That way, having prepared for it, he somehow manages to keep it from happening. At least that is what he says."

"He had better be very careful. I expect him to come home and help me get the farm running again. Do you think he’ll be happy here, Elizabeth? He will not get bored, will he?"

Elizabeth looked out the window over the rolling land, perfect for raising healthy horses. She looked back at the shy, eager woman beside her. "No, Rebecca, I do not think that Charlie will ever be bored living with you. Challenged, perhaps, but never bored."

"I hope it is good challenged and not bad challenged."

Elizabeth laughed, the first genuine and uninhibited laugh that Rebecca had ever heard. "It is very good challenged, my dear. Very good indeed."

"I am glad you approve. I know you are one of Charlie’s closest and dearest friends and your opinion is important to him."

"Rebecca. We are both seeing a Charlie that I have never seen. He is open, he is laughing, he is happy with you. Even with all the burdens on him right now, he is laughing. And I think he feels very loved."

"After last night," she paused and smiled, "he should."

Elizabeth looked at Rebecca for a moment, startled. Then a slow blush traveled over her features. Rebecca had sounded so sultry and so satisfied that just her tone of voice was embarrassing. Damn. Sometimes this being a virgin is just a plain annoyance.

Chapter 18

Saturday, December 17, 1864

Saturday was the first day that had been clear in over a week. Charlie needed to get outside, to smell the clear air without the constant odor of ashes, burning wood, and damp wool.

His need to get out of the house was urgent; he also needed time alone with Rebecca to resolve an issue that had been gnawing at his conscience for weeks. What better way than to take his love on a ride through this crisp early winter morning.

With that plan in mind, he slid from the bed into the chill morning air, and briskly dressed in his work clothes, knowing that the little sounds of him moving about would rouse his fair-haired lady.

"Good morning, sweetheart. Look, it is a beautiful clear morning."

Rebecca rubbed the sleep from her eyes and smiled at Charlie. "Charlie, you are very chipper this morning."

"Oh, I am, my dear, I am. I am so sick and tired of rain; I swear I have no idea which way to turn. I need to be out and about today. So, will you join me for a ride this afternoon? I can have Shannon ready for you right after my staff meeting?"

"I would love to go for a ride. It will be nice to get away from the house and have some time for just ourselves."

He stepped over to the bed and slid his arms around her, holding her gently and kissing her forehead. "Then I will be here promptly. Ummmmm. Have I told you that I love how you feel when you have just awakened? You are so warm and soft."

"Hmm, is that so? Could be because I sleep so close to you I steal all your body heat." She smiled and nuzzled Charlie's neck. "I suppose it would not be possible to talk you into coming back to bed?"

"I was going to go run. You know how much I need to keep in shape, love. It would not do for the Colonel to start growing hips and a fanny, now would it?"

She could not help but chuckle, even as she kept her arms around Charlie and her nose buried in his neck. "No," she sighed. "I suppose not. I guess we should both get a start on the day then so we can go riding with a clear conscience."

"Then, dear, I will call for you promptly at one thirty. I think I will take a longer run than usual since it has been so long, have my bath and then breakfast in the office. I want to clear as much away as possible so we can have an undisturbed afternoon. Could you ask Sarah to arrange it?"

"Of course. Your bath will be ready when you get back. I suppose I should go check on the Major this morning as well."

"I would appreciate it. I hope that placing him in debt to Southerners for his life will help shift his attitude."

"I hope so, Charlie, but he is very bitter and very angry. I do believe he would see us all dead if he had the strength."

"I was afraid of that. Well, if nothing more, I have the grounds to send him home without raising the enmity of his troops. We may even come out the heroes in this for saving his life."

"I do not want to be a hero, Charlie. I just want to help the poor man to get better. I will try my best to change his mind about us, but I must tell you, once he is stronger, if he is still in his current state of mind, I think it would be prudent to have an armed trooper outside his door. I would hate for him to burn the house down around us."

Charlie's eyebrow shot up toward his hairline. "That bad? I knew he was angry, but I did not realize it was so entrenched."

"It is. Charlie, I believe he could be very dangerous."

"I will have a guard placed on his door this afternoon. I also need to discuss this at the staff meeting today. Between that little expulsion the other day and Montgomery coming around spitting enough nails to frighten you, we still have a problem."

"I know, and thank you. I will feel safer and I am sure the other ladies will as well."

"Then of course we will put a guard on him. I will quietly ask Polk to only use men who served with me in the 49th."

"Thank you." She gave him a little kiss on the cheek.

By now, Charlie was fully dressed, in the outfit that most amused Rebecca; the one with the short, belted jacket, tight pants and hobnail boots. Just to amuse her, he asked, "Do I look all right?"

"Oh yes you do...very all right." She nearly leered at him.

"Well, love, I will see you at half past one." A quick peck on the cheek and Charlie was off.

For Charlie, the morning went by quickly. There was some consternation over Montgomery's attitude. Fortunately, none of the other officer's shared his point of view, or, if they did, they were not admitting to it. The orders were clear; reconstruction was to be effected gently and peacefully. Before he knew it, one thirty arrived and Tarent was outside the door with Black Jack and Shannon both saddled and ready to go. Both horses were full of energy; the cool weather after days of rain and mud had them in as exuberant a mood as their owner.

He was standing, hat in hand, reins from both horses in his other hand, smiling and ready to go.

The front door opened and Rebecca stepped out on the porch, pulling on her riding gloves. "Why, good afternoon, Colonel."

"Good afternoon, dear lady. Are you ready to ride?"

"I am very ready simply to spend the afternoon with my charming Colonel. I do not care where we go or what we do."

"Then come along and we shall run away for the day." He lifted her into the saddle, his hands lingering for a moment on her trim waist, then made sure she was settled and in control of the rather frisky mare. He swung up onto Black Jack's saddle and played the big stallion for a few minutes while the horse danced and fidgeted. Then the two of them set off around the house toward the bridge over Gaines Run and the orchards and pastures west of the pond.

"I do believe, Charlie, Shannon needs to get out more." Rebecca chuckled as she gave the feisty beast a pat on the neck.

"Tarent warmed them up for us, so I would say a good run would be in order." The two of them entered the big pasture behind the stable yards and gave both horses their heads. Running neck and neck, knee-to-knee, they covered the half mile or so to the tree line in good time. Both were laughing with sheer joy at the end of the run.

"Oh Charlie, that was wonderful!"

"It was indeed." He pulled Jack to a sitting trot and Shannon followed suit automatically. Drawing in a huge lungful of fresh air, he turned to her, grinning like a willful boy full of mischief. "What do you say we just keep riding west?"

"West, east, I do not care as long as we keep riding. We can ride in small circles for all I care at the moment. I am just glad to have the time together."

They rode through the strip of woodland that bordered the run and across the old wooden bridge, breaking out into a long run of grassland that led toward the foothills in front of them. The profile of the Blue Ridge was hazy purple in the distance. "Then we ride, dear."

Rebecca was completely amused by her fiancéé. He seemed like a young man, so full of life and energy. "You know, Jack would make a fine stud. I believe we could get good money for his colts."

"I rather had that in mind, love. He has been put to stud on a couple of occasions and the line ran true. And, just in case you were wondering, both Jack and Shannon are mine, not the Army's."

"I am very glad to hear that, Charlie. I was rather hoping I would not have to petition President Lincoln to buy Jack out from under you."

"Another gallop to get the beans out of these two?"

"Of course. Where you go, I follow."

"Sometimes I think I should call you Ruth, not Rebecca." And with that jibe, he touched his heels to Jack's side and was off running again"

She smiled and shook her head, sending Shannon right after the frisky two ahead.

The ride continued until it was clear the horses needed a rest and perhaps some water. Charlie found a small glade, with a couple of fallen logs that would serve as seats for them and a rill that chuckled over moss-covered stones. He slid off Jack and lifted Rebecca down from her saddle, and then ground tied the horses near both the water and a small patch of grass. He pulled a blanket from the roll behind his saddle and a small packet with a flask, apples and cheese from his saddle pack.

He spread the blanket over an outcropping of rock and offered her his hand. "A small treat, my love?"

She smiled at him. "You think of everything don't you?"

"Well, I actually have something I want to talk with you about." He was nervous and fidgety.

"What? You know you can talk to me about anything." She placed her hand over his, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Umm... Well, I was thinking. About our future. About all the things that might happen. And I have found that if I. If I, umm, plan for the worst case, um, it usually helps. Keeps bad things from happening." The last came out in a rush.

Rebecca looked at him, trying not to get upset. "Please, do not think like that, Charlie. Nothing bad is going to happen. I believe that. You have to believe that as well."

"I do believe that. But what I have found is that if I do all the things I have to do in case the bad things happen, then they do not happen. I know it sounds superstitious, but it has worked for me for twenty years, and it is extremely important to me. You are the most precious thing in my life, and I want to make sure everything is taken care of before I go, just in case. Please?"

"All right, Charlie. You know I am willing to do whatever will make you feel better."

He caught her left hand in both of his and tenderly kissed her fingers, then lingered over her hand, just looking at his mother’s small garnet ring on her hand. "You know, this hand represents the only people who have ever truly loved me, I think."

"Charlie, I love you with all my heart and soul, but there are others who love you as well. You have very dear friends who care for you so very much."

"I know. But that is not the same, is it, love?" Charlie took a deep breath. "So, Rebecca, my love, will you marry me before I am called back to service?"

Rebecca could only smile tenderly at him and stroke his cheek with her fingers. "Of course I will."

Charlie was wearing his childlike look, part impish, and part bashful. "I talked to Reverend Williams. He could marry us on the 28th of January. I was hoping you could be ready for a small wedding that quickly. Could you?"

"The end of January? My goodness, that is not a lot of time, is it?" She considered it for a moment and nodded slowly. "Yes, I am sure I can enlist enough help to be ready."

Charlie caught her other hand up in his and covered them both with delicate kisses. "You. Have. Made. Me. Exquisitely. Happy."

"And you, my dear Charlie, have made me happy beyond words." She looked up suddenly. "Oh my...oh my..."

"What is it, darling?" Rebecca looked a little pale.

"This will be a military wedding, will it not? Charlie, I know nothing about military weddings."

"My dear, this will be what ever kind of wedding you want. Reverend Williams has agreed to officiate, and I am sure that Polk and the boys will want to honor us, but if you wish, we could have a civilian wedding. I will even get a new civilian suit, if you want me to."

Rebecca smiled and shook her head again. "No, no not all, Charlie. I think you will look absolutely dashing in your dress uniform. I just need to make sure that everything is perfect. I would not want anyone to think you have married below your station."

Charlie shifted so that he could pull the smaller woman into his lap. "My love, I am the interloper here. I just want it to be good enough for you." Charlie could feel her trembling in his arms. "My love, are you chilled?"

"You, sir, are an important commander in the Union Army, very trusted and apparently highly spoken of in the circles of high command. I have been talking with Elizabeth, Charles Redmond. I know more than you think. I am shaking partly from the chill and partly from nerves."

"You, madam, are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, the owner of a fine property, and a woman of such spirit and intelligence and breeding that any man would be proud to call you his wife. And if you are chilled, I have a flask of brandy. Would you like a sip?"

"Why, Colonel Redmond, are you trying to get me drunk so you can take advantage of my person?" she teased, tugging on his tunic.

"Sweetheart, I have no desire to see you back in a sick bed, so I took the precaution of bringing a bit of medicinal brandy. And if I were going to take advantage of you, I would have done so already. I do believe you may have attempted to take advantage of me on occasion, though," he laughed as he poured her a shot of brandy into the little silver cup that formed part of the flask.

She laughed as she took the cup and sipped the brandy. "Well, now, my reputation will be completely undone if people find out I have been trifling with the Colonel. Taking advantage of him in ways that I never thought possible." She finished the cup and smiled at Charlie as she held it out for more.

He refilled her little cup up and leaned in to whisper in her ear "Love, you may trifle with me all you wish. I am yours to command in all things."

Charlie's breath tickled her ear and she giggled like a schoolgirl. "You have no idea what that does to me."

"Oh?" His voice sank to a rumbling purr. "Then tell me, darling. You can tell me anything and everything."

"Oh, Charlie," Rebecca sighed as she again sipped from the cup. "You just excite me all over. Before you came, there were nights when I was afraid to go to sleep, for fear of what the next day would bring. And now, I cannot wait for night so I can be with you and be in your arms. And I look forward to every morning because I know it will bring us new joyous discoveries." She licked her lips after taking another drink.

Charlie's lips, so close to her ear, dropped to place light, teasing kisses on her exposed neck. "My future is with you, dear. It is a future I dreamed of and never thought I would find. And here you are, loving, feisty, adventurous, and so beautiful it makes my heart stop. I love you, Rebecca."

"I love you too, so very much." She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him quite soundly.

He savored her kiss, flavored with brandy, spiced by the crisp air. He responded with teasing nips and strokes with just the tip of his tongue.

Rebecca moaned. She was feeling just a tad light headed. She was not sure if it was from Charlie's kiss or the brandy, but she decided that it did not matter. Another strong shiver ran through her body, but she knew that was from the kiss.

Charlie whispered in her ear, "Love, we either have to stop or we have to make a commitment to go on and the devil take anyone who stumbles upon us. For I crave your touch past words to tell you."

Rebecca pulled back and looked at Charlie. "Go on? Outside? My, my, Colonel." She laughed. Nothing like that had ever been suggested to her before.

"My love, if you keep teasing me like this, I probably would not care if the entire regiment were watching."

"Charlie!" She blushed and buried her face in his neck. "I cannot believe you said that."

"And would you prefer that I could resist you, dear?" This teasing was more fun than he had anticipated.

"You need not resist me, Charlie, but that was just scandalous." she smiled, running her hand over his chest. "I am glad you cannot resist me," she said sincerely before kissing him again.

Charlie groaned and sank into her kiss. When he could speak again, he looked into her eyes. "This is wonderful, darling, soon to be wife of mine, but I think it is getting late, love. And it is getting colder. We need to get back. To our nice, warm room. To our nice soft bed."

Rebecca’s laugh could only be described as sensual. "Oh yes, that is an absolute must. Our nice…… warm... bed."

Charlie stood and pulled her up into his arms. She came to him fluidly, almost boneless and for a moment, the two stood, wrapped close, just savoring the feel. "Time to go, dear."

"By all means, dear man, lead the way. But do it very slowly. I am afraid I may be just a tad tipsy."

"Stand here, while I gather up our blanket. I shall get you home in one piece, I promise." Quickly, Charlie gathered up the blanket and the remains of their afternoon snack and stowed them in his saddle bags. The last thing to go into the saddlebag was the silver flask. "One more?"

"You are trying to get me drunk." She teased, even as she accepted the cup.

"I am trying to keep you from getting sick from the cold. And I will take the last of that, if you do not mind."

"If you insist." She handed him the cup.

Charlie lifted the cup in silent toast to his bride and tossed back what was left, then stowed the flask. He whistled for Shannon and she obediently came to him, allowing him to lift Rebecca into the saddle. "Take care of my girl, Shannon."

"Your Shannon is a very good girl. I am sure she will see me safely home."

Jack was a little less cooperative, having stood patiently while Charlie packed his gear. He danced a step or two as Charlie swung into the saddle. They set off at an easy pace, riding knee to knee, as much to make sure Rebecca was not too inebriated to ride, as to enjoy the closeness of her company.

"I promise you, Charlie, I will not embarrass you by falling out of the saddle." She reached across and took his hand.

The trip home was uneventful. They arrived at evening mess, so there were few men around the stables. Charlie was left to groom the horses himself as his companion looked on.

He settled both horses into the holding stalls and began with Shannon, pulling her saddle, bridle, and saddle blanket off and setting them onto the racks to be cleaned. The mare received a rough currying, with special attention to the area under the saddle pad that was damp with sweat, and an apple as a reward for good behavior followed. He led her to her regular stall, where she settled down to peacefully munch some hay. Then he returned to tend to Jack.

Rebecca watched Charlie, with a look that was half smile and half leer. She was feeling the effects of the brandy to her very toes and she wanted to play. She walked over and leaned on the wall watching him. "Do you have any idea how handsome you are?"

"I am certainly glad you think so, my love, as you will have to look at me for many years to come."

"I do think so, very much." She moved to the front of the stall and slowly moved close to Charlie.

Charlie was focused on brushing Jack down and did not realize that Rebecca was coming closer and closer. "I will have to stay fit for you, then."

"Oh yes, it is a must," she purred as her hands came to rest directly on his tightly muscled bottom, which she proceeded to give a long loving rub. "Hurry, Charlie, that nice warm bed awaits us."

Her hands on his rump were the last things Charlie expected. Her hands kneading his buttocks were almost more than he could take. For a moment, he froze; then his forehead dropped onto Jack’s near wither. In a very low, warning tone, he queried, "Ah, Rebecca, dear?"

"Yes, Charlie, dear." He did not have to turn around to see the smile on her face; he could hear it.

"We will be able to go inside sooner if you, ah, refrain from ––"

"From?" she teased further, giving his bottom a little pinch.

"From playing with my body," he whispered.

She removed her hands and put them up playfully. "Your wish is my command."

Charlie groaned. Under his breathe, he muttered, "I could dream." He quickly finished grooming Jack, gave the big horse his favorite treat, a carrot, and led him to his stall. "There. Shall we, ma'am?" Charlie offered Rebecca his arm to escort her decorously to the house.

"We shall, Colonel." She winked and took his arm.

As they walked out of the stables, they could hear sniggering behind them. Charlie turned and looked.

Standing at the corner of the barn, were three of the Pennsylvania contingent of the regiment. They gave their commander very impressed looks. "Very nice, Colonel," one yelled. Another was laughing so hard Charlie thought that he might pass out.

The next trooper waved. "Now we know why they call you Lucky Charlie!"

Charlie's first impulse was to call them down for being disrespectful, until he felt Rebecca's silent chuckle. Instead, he grinned, threw the men a casual salute and walked on with the beautiful woman on his arm giggling softly.

"I think your status with your men just went up tenfold, Colonel."

"Well, perhaps it will put some lie to the rumor that I prefer the company of men." A cheerful grin lit his features. Little did any of his men realize the full meaning of that statement.

"Well, then, I suggest we just finish off that rumor right now." She pulled Charlie to a stop and threw her arms around him, bestowing a deep kiss upon him. When they parted, she looked back to the men who were staring, slack jawed. "Have a good evening, gentlemen."

Charlie looked back, winked and smiled. "Gentlemen, meet my bride."

Rebecca whispered, "Protecting my reputation, Charlie?"

"Always, my dear. I prefer not to have you referred to as the Colonel's whore. They will refer to you as the Colonel's lady or they will not enjoy their lives."

"I love you, Charlie. You are my hero."

--*--

The two of them walked into the house just as the ladies were preparing to go in for dinner. They rushed upstairs to clean up from their ride. Charlie used Rebecca’s small sitting room as his dressing room, while Lizbet helped her mistress out of her riding habit and into a dress more appropriate for supper at home. Within a matter of minutes, they were ready to join the other inhabitants of the house for a warm, though simple meal.

Charlie escorted Rebecca to her place at the foot of the table, and then took his own seat at the head. The two of them had fallen into the patterns of a more courtly and traditional time so easily. Elizabeth shook her head and smiled softly to herself. Yes, Charlie was hooked, well and truly. The role of master of the house suits him.

They all bowed their heads to say grace, then Beulah and Reg began serving the soup. Charlie started the conversation by inquiring after the events of the day. Young Jeremiah Carter piped up excitedly "I went fishing and caught dinner for us!"

"Well done, young sir. And what kind of fish are we having?"

"Corporal Nailer said they were the nicest bass he had seen in ages."

"I like bass quite a bit. Thank you for your contribution to the table."

Jeremiah glowed. The tall colonel may have been a Yankee, but he was also a nice man, who always spoke to him politely and let him eat with the grown ups, a privilege he had not enjoyed in his own home. Then the reality of the situation descended on him again. He remembered that Charlie and even Duncan were the enemy and he retreated back into the sullen silence that had been his more normal behavior.

As Jeremiah’s fish was being served, the ladies all ‘‘oohed’ and ‘‘ahhed’ over his catch. When the praises for the lad had died down, Rebecca spoke up.

"Ladies, I have a great favor to ask of you."

All heads turned to their hostess with looks of interest on their faces. Miss Rebecca had offered them sanctuary; returning the service in some way was certainly a welcome opportunity for these proud women.

"As I think you know, the Colonel has asked me to be his bride, and I have consented. Alas, the demands of the times have created a situation where urgency is more important than propriety. We have set the date for January 28th."

A buzz went round the table. The 28th was so soon, and with Christmas and the New Year ahead, it gave them very little time to prepare for a proper wedding worthy of their respected host and hostess.

Rebecca continued, "Ladies, I will need the assistance of every one of you to make sure this wedding is all that we can make it." She smiled charmingly at each of the women at the table. The buzz turned into an instant cacophony, with words like ‘‘dress patterns,’ ‘‘lace,’ ‘‘flowers,’ ‘‘cake,’ and ‘‘wine’ all bubbling up to the top of the din. Charlie and Jeremiah looked at one another in mild panic. By mutual consent, the man and boy both skipped dessert, excusing themselves to go and hide in the back parlor, where Charlie chewed a cigar to shreds while he played a game of checkers with the boy.

--*--

As the two were finishing their game, one of the new servants, another of Beulah’s cousins, knocked on the door. "Colonel, sir, the little one refuses to go to bed without seeing her Papa. Miss Constance told me that she thinks you are her daddy, and I swear I do not know what else to do with her." As she was speaking, little Emily squirmed in her arms, trying to get down to go to Charlie. The look on Emily’s face was one of quiet determination.

Charlie held out his arms to the little girl. "That is all right, Tess." He turned to Jeremiah. "Will you excuse me while I settle this young’un down?"

Jeremiah looked on with wide eyes. Yankee officers were supposed to be devils that ate small children for breakfast. This one was a gentleman who treated him like an honored guest and a grown up, and who comforted little Southern girls who mistook him for their father, not the ogre he had be taught to expect. Still, Yankees killed his father. The boy was getting more and more confused. All the things he had been told did not match his own experience. Duncan was kind, almost like an uncle and the Colonel was a gentleman with an accent more obviously Southern than his own. As he watched, he thought hard about his own father, killed only a couple of months before at the battle of Winchester.

While Jeremiah brooded, Charlie took Em into his arms. "Were you a good girl today?"

"Um huh." One finger went into her mouth and she cuddled against the scratchy blue wool covering his shoulder.

"My good girl. You ate all your supper?"

A little head nodded. Charlie looked inquiringly at Tess who smiled and nodded as well.

"So why were you being naughty when Tess told you it was time to go to bed?"

"Want hugs, Papa. Miss Papa. Em not sweepy." Em yawned and cuddled into his shoulder.

Charlie smiled and held the little girl closer. She wrapped one hand around one of his buttons, sucked on her finger a little, then promptly feel asleep on his shoulder. He held her for a few minutes to make sure she was sound asleep, kissed her on the forehead, and then handed his small bundle back to Tess. "Thank you, Tess. Tuck her in well."

"I will, sir."

"Good night."

The young woman left the room carrying the child. Jeremiah sat in his chair, looking thoroughly confused.

Charlie watched the boy, waiting patiently for him to speak. Since he had arrived, Jeremiah had been sullenly polite, distant, and obviously angry, both at the Union troops because he blamed them for his father’s death and at his mother for demanding that he be a gentleman and mind his manners. Perhaps the boy was finally ready to talk.

"Why does she call you papa? You are not her father, you are just a damned Yankee passing through." Jeremiah had been dying to ask Charlie this very cutting question for a while, but had not found the courage before tonight.

"I think it is because I look something like her own father, and she misses him."

"Why would she want to call a Yankee papa? I would never do a thing like that. It insults the memory of her father."

"Jeremiah, she is just a little girl who does not understand or care about North and South, Yankee and Confederate. She just misses her daddy. I look like him, am kind to her, and make her feel safe. I like to think that if her father were alive, he would appreciate the care I give his daughter in his place."

"Sir. My father would not appreciate it if I called a Yankee ‘‘Papa.’ He would be offended and feel betrayed. My father fell at Winchester, fighting with Jubal Early against your side."

Charlie was a little startled. Jeremiah already had a number of confusing problems to deal with. The possiblity that his father had been killed by one of Charlie’s own troops in the heat of battle was something that he needed to address and quickly or this mercurial and proud boy might find himself in a great deal of trouble very soon.

"So tell me, Jeremiah, do you understand why we are at war?"

The youth gave him a very startled and confused look. "Everybody knows why we are at war."

"Do they really? Why do you think we are at war?"

"Because you Yankees are evil and tried to take our Southern way of life away from us. You tried to free all the nigger slaves and make us work in factories like you make your shanty Irish slaves work in New England."

"If that is true, then how did the war start?"

The boy looked unsure. "Uh, Yankees shot at innocent Southerners down in Charleston, South Carolina?"

"What if I told you that was not why we are at war and that the first shots of the war were fired by Southerners?"

"Jeremiah, men go to war for many reasons. But the fact that we have gone to war does not make one side right and the other wrong, nor does it mean that one side are all devils and the other all angels. It just means that we disagree and have failed to find a peaceful way to resolve our differences."

Charlie stopped for a moment. The confusion on Jeremiah’s face was stumping Charlie. An inspiration came to him.

"Tell me, Jeremiah, have you ever gotten into a fight with someone at school?"

Looking a little abashed as well as startled by the sudden change of topic, Jeremiah responded, "Yes, sir. And I caught the very devil for it, too. The teacher gave me what for, and when I got home, my Da gave me a good licking and sent me to my room without supper. He said I was raised to be a gentleman and a Christian and that I should find a way to settle my differences without fighting like a common street urchin."

"Well, wars are what happen when large groups of grown men do exactly what you did in that school yard. The biggest difference is that when grown men fight, like the Union and the Confederacy troops are doing now, instead of a few bloody noses, hundreds of men are wounded and killed. War is a terrible thing, a time when we fail at being gentleman and good Christians. A time when we cannot find a way to resolve our differences by talking and resort to fighting like common street urchins."

"But you are a soldier. Your job is to fight."

"That is certainly true. And if you ask the career soldiers –– the ones who have devoted their lives to the army, as I have –– you will find that the biggest proponents of finding peaceful settlements to our differences are the very men who are willing to fight if necessary. I think I am a soldier because I know if a fight starts, I can help end it more quickly. That way, I can help keep the damage to a minimum."

"That is not what I heard my father saying. He said we should whip you all back to the North." The boy did not add the rest of his father’s statement ‘‘like dogs to their kennels.’ Somehow, he felt that would be disrespectful of this imposing soldier who said the strangest and most puzzling things.

"Perhaps, Jeremiah, your father was behaving the same way you did when you got in the fight at school."

Charlie let the boy sit and consider that idea for a while. After a long pause, Charlie steeled himself to say what needed to be said. "Jeremiah, I want you to hear this from me, and not overhear it out in the camp. Our troops fought at Winchester with General Sheridan’s troops, against General Early. I do not know, and to be honest, no one will ever know, if your father was killed by one of my soldiers. But I do know that the men who fought –– on both sides –– fought bravely and honorably. Your father was one of the unlucky ones, sacrificed to our inability to find a peaceful resolution to a very difficult problem. I am very sorry."

The boy sat in stunned silence. No tears came to his eyes. Somehow, this was not what he had thought war was about. War was supposed to be noble and glorious, not about grown men who could find no better way to solve their differences than by shooting and killing one another. But as he though about it, he could see how his father sounded just like the boys at school, blustering and threatening and cocky. Before he could say anything or gather himself to react with anything other than a sort of numb confusion, the parlor door opened and the ladies filed in, all still chatting eagerly about the wedding plans. Charlie and Jeremiah looked at each other, and by silent, mutual consent, returned to their quiet games of checkers.

--*--

Sunday, December 18, 1864

Charlie was up early and cheerfully about his business, preparing the troops for the gymkhana, cheering the boys on, and doing a bit of practice himself, since he was one of the finest horsemen in the regiment.

Rebecca attended to her usual morning responsibilities, meeting with Sarah, Beulah, and Reg to organize the servants’ activities, and with Elizabeth, to coordinate care of the two refugees who had rather severe colds, exacerbated by malnutrition. Elizabeth was also concerned with Constance’s condition. Her energy was declining, and she was requiring more rest just to get through the day. This pregnancy was straining her already depleted resources, and both Elizabeth and Rebecca were deeply concerned. Finally, there was the issue of Major Montgomery, who vacillated between being arrogantly abusive and morbidly suicidal.

This morning it was Rebecca’s turn to spend time with the wounded Major. As she approached his door, her sewing basket in hand to pass the time, the guard warned her that the Major was in a particularly unpleasant mood.

Rebecca entered the room and settled herself in the rocking chair beside the window. "Good morning, Major. I trust you slept well."

Montgomery rolled over and faced the wall.

"I am glad to see you moving around a little. I am sure that lying in bed all day must be uncomfortable."

That foray into polite conversation received a non-committal grunt as Montgomery jerked at the covers to try to get more comfortable.

Rebecca took some soft blue material out of her sewing basket. She had cut it into a shirt for Charlie and was methodically sewing fine overstitched seams to make sure it was strong as well as warm. "Perhaps one of the orderlies would have time to help you with a bath later today. That might make you more comfortable."

"Madam," he sneered, "The only thing that would make me comfortable would be to be out of your house and out of this godforsaken nest of rebellious vipers."

"Sir, given that your mistreatment of your horse was the cause of your injuries, you should be grateful that this ‘‘nest of rebellious vipers’ has been able to offer you another chance at life."

"Madam, I did not ask for another chance at life. It was thrust upon me, no doubt so that Charles Redmond could torment me with yet another piece of evidence of my ‘‘unjustified animosity’ toward Southerners."

"Well, sir, it is true that President Lincoln and General Grant have ordered the Colonel to begin the process of reconstruction in this area. I believe that the Colonel is simply following orders in his behavior towards the residents of Culpeper."

"Oh, so you are suggesting that General Grant ordered the Colonel to take you to bed, or are you just part of the benefits that will be available to Northern officers when the war is over?"

Rebecca gritted her teeth. Charlie had asked her to be civil no matter what this man said and civil she would be. Just barely. For as long as she could stand being in the same room with the vile pig. "Sir, my personal relationship with the Colonel is just that. Mine. I rather suspect that my fiancéé would not particularly appreciate your comments, though." She paused for a moment. "As a matter of fact, there is an issue of a criminal charge of rape being investigated."

"Oh, yes. Your fiancéé, the gallant Colonel Redmond. I think you should know that he has done this before."

"Really? And whom might the unlucky woman have been, sir?"

"Why, I must confess, I have seen him become involved with at least a half a dozen women. And each time, he has conveniently been called back to service just before the final commitment is made. That man has avoided more altars than battles. I even suspect that he has more than one byblow populating the countryside. But you will not find the good Colonel paying for his bastards’ upbringing. As I understand it, what he does when things get too close for comfort is to run to his whore in Washington."

Rebecca was having a hard time listening to this man’s vitriolic lies. Part of her wanted to slap him silly, and perhaps do permanent damage to his already injured brain. The other part wanted to laugh in his face, knowing intellectually that part of what he was ascribing to Charlie was physically impossible. The rest, based on what both Charlie and Elizabeth had told her, was patently untrue. But how to break through this sea of rancor was beyond her.

"That, sir, from a man who I believe enjoys watching women being raped, and then taunts them with the results of your actions, is beneath contempt."

"You cannot prove anything, you greedy little whore. It is my word as an officer and a gentleman against the word of that little lying, Bible quoting bitch. I am quite sure that no board of inquiry would ever accept her testimony. As for you, you pitiful little slut, play your games with the Colonel. Let him take care of you, draw him in, and when you know what his orders are, I am sure you will pass them on to your rebel cohorts. As for Redmond, he is not only a Southern sympathizer, he is a damn fool who has no more right to lead this regiment than I have to be King of England."

Rebecca was appalled at the ocean of hatred roiling out of this man’s mouth. He strained to pull himself up in the bed, and glared at her. "Yes, indeed, you little slut. I wanted you the minute I saw you. I wanted to throw you down in the hall and tear your skirt off. I wanted to show you just what a good Pennsylvania man could do to a woman. I could not decide if I was willing to look at your face as I took you and taught you what a real man was like or if I wanted to turn your face to the floor so I did not have to watch you whimper and whine. You would have been just like your little friend, Constance. You would have whined and cried and screamed. But secretly, you would have loved it, the feel of a real man inside you, controlling you. Just like she did. She begged for it, you know. By the time the third man was through with her, she was so sloppy and open that I had to take her in the ass just to feel something. You would like that, too, would you not, you little slut?"

The blue shirt lay ignored in her lap, as she fought the urge to expel her breakfast on this vicious, twisted excuse for a man. All of the pain and horror of her life with Gaines came back to her, as she recognized the same qualities in Montgomery as she had seen night after night with her husband. Slowly, she rose from her chair, the shirt falling unnoticed to the floor. Deliberately, she advanced to face him directly, staying just barely out of arm’s reach, emboldened by her own new found knowledge and by Montgomery’s incapacity.

"Major Montgomery. I believe I have just heard you confess to being a party to the rape of Constance Adams."

"I believe you did. And I dare you to attempt to prove any of it, slut. My word against yours. My confession, as you call it, is pure hearsay that no court in the country would accept."

"You pitiful excuse for a man. You know nothing but rape and power. You slime. You are no better than my husband, that raping, whoring drunken bastard. If it had been up to me, sir, I would have let you lie there and die in your own blood and gore. Were it not for Colonel Redmond getting Dr. Walker down here in time to operate on you, you would now be dead and burning in hell where you belong."

Neither of the two occupants of the room had noticed when the door opened a few minutes earlier, nor had they been aware of both Charlie and the trooper assigned to guard Montgomery’s door standing there listening to this damning exchange.

Charlie stepped into the room as Rebecca delivered her condemnation. In a low voice, he simply said, "Enough. Both of you." He dropped his hands onto Rebecca’s shoulders, and could feel her shaking with rage. "Major Harrison Montgomery, you are under arrest for the malicious rape of Constance Adams, self confessed, and with the confession witnessed by myself and Trooper Abel Franklin, as well as Mrs. Rebecca Gaines. Trooper Franklin, I will send someone to relieve you immediately. I request that you immediately provide your testimony as to what you have heard today to Colonel Polk so that it can be fully documented. I remind you, Major Montgomery, that a verbal confession, witnessed by two standing members of the regiment, is considered by the Military Code as being as valid as a written confession. There is only one penalty for rape. We will summons a Military Court of Inquiry as soon as I can get General Sheridan here to officiate. Would you like me to send for a minister to tend to your soul?"

"Well, Redmond. You have what you wanted. A legal way to get rid of me –– the only man in the whole regiment who would willingly stand up to your Southern sympathizing and your treasonous actions against the Union. You should have just let me die –– and no one would have been any wiser."

"I suggest that you save your comments for your counsel and for the court, Montgomery." He turned to Rebecca, who was white faced and trembling. "Gather your belongings, Mrs. Gaines. I will escort you to your quarters, and send someone to take your testimony."

Chapter 19

Sunday, December 18, 1864

Charlie gently escorted Rebecca to her sitting room and settled her into her favorite chair before the fireplace. "My dear, I must attend to a couple of things." He rang briskly for Reg and as he waited for the man to appear, quickly penned two notes. One was for Polk; the other was to Major Swallow. The two notes were essentially the same, outlining the results of the afternoon’s confession.

Reg slipped into the room. "You rang, sir?"

"Yes. Deliver these two notes as quickly as possible. Run. And if you see a trooper –– any trooper –– on your way, send him to me immediately."

Reg tugged his forelock and scurried from the room.

Charlie returned to Rebecca’s side. "My love. Are you all right?"

"I am fine, Charlie. Just angry."

"Want to talk about it, dear?"

"I do not know what to say. I simply cannot believe he could be so arrogant about what he and those men did to Constance, and I am ashamed of the way I feel toward him."

"I heard you, dear, tell him that he was no better than your husband. Is that what Gaines did to you? What they did to Constance? And why should you feel ashamed, love? He is despicable."

She lowered her eyes, unable to look at Charlie. "Yes." She offered softly before looking back at him, tears in her eyes. "I should not have said those things to him. It makes me as despicable as he is to wish such things."

Charlie took Rebecca into his arms. "My dear, to want to exterminate vermin is not despicable. It is human. That you should suffer such treatment at the hand of your husband, who had vowed to protect you, certainly qualifies Mr. Gaines as vermin in my mind. Listening to Montgomery spew his venom and clearly enjoy the impact it was having on you was enough to make both Franklin and I feel physically ill."

She sank into his arms with a sigh. "I must admit it had much the same effect on me." She took a deep breath and sat up, wiping her eyes, giving Charlie a little smile. "Do you not have things you should be attending to?"

"I sent messages to both Polk and Swallow, and expect a trooper at the door shortly to take over from Franklin. Until then, I am yours, dear."

"What will happen to him, Charlie?"

"He will be hanged. There is no alternative. I will have to have Sheridan down here to conduct the court martial, as I believe if I sit the board of inquiry, it will be questioned."

She gave a slightly frustrated laugh. "Ironic. We spend weeks saving his life, only to have it taken from him."

"He condemned himself. To be honest, I almost suspect he did it on purpose. I have often seen officers spiral down into suicidal guilt and anger when they lose too many men, and Montgomery certainly fits that pattern. Unfortunately, there is little or nothing we can do about it. If Franklin had not been witness to the confession, I do not know if I would have made the charge or not. Perhaps he could have been saved, perhaps not. Certainly, Constance has room in her heart for forgiveness. But Montgomery does not have the same in his. Mostly, he cannot forgive himself."

"Charlie, we are going to have to be very careful with Constance. She is not well. The pregnancy is very difficult. I am afraid that this could make it more so."

Charlie sighed deeply. He had seen Constance growing paler and frailer as her child grew within her. "I do not want this to become a circus. I have a confession; I have a senior staff officer, I have two witnesses. I believe we can keep it quiet and simply transfer Montgomery to Sheridan as soon as he can be moved. I can only imagine what conducting the trial here would do to morale, let alone what it would do to Constance. It is a very ugly picture."

"It is indeed." She rubbed his arm. "I really am concerned for her. Elizabeth is taking very good care of her, but there is only so much we can do. Either Lizbet, Tess, or myself have Em almost all the time. Constance is so weak she cannot look after the baby. It is a good thing that child adores you so; some nights you are the only one who can calm her down."

Charlie smiled indulgently. "She is a charming little imp. And I have noticed that lately she seems to go to you as much as she comes to me. Rebecca, what will happen to Em if Constance……."

"Dies?" She shook her head. "I am not sure. She has no other family that I am aware of."

"Would you..." Charlie floundered. He loved the little girl dearly, and knew that Rebecca did too. But to ask her to consider adopting a child who still had a living parent, when they were not yet married seemed to be both tasteless and something of an imposition. On the other hand, he would certainly be proud to raise the little scamp if her mother succumbed to the risks of pregnancy.

"What, Charlie?"

"Well, um, if Constance, um, does not, um, survive her, um" Charlie flushed a bit. This was one of the strangest ways he had ever considered to gain a family. Perhaps planning parenthood was not a bad thing. "Well, if Emily is left alone, would you consider raising her?" he finished in a rush.

"Me? Oh, Charlie, I," She paused then smiled at him. "No, Charlie, I will not raise her. We will raise her. You will be a wonderful Papa. She is quite her Papa's little girl now."

"I meant us, love." Charlie blushed, starting with his ears and spreading over his face. "I know it is not the normal way to acquire a family, but I also know you want one. And I do not wish Constance ill, but you know how I am. I always figure that if I plan for the worst case, well, then if it happens I am ready and if it does not happen, I have been lucky."

"Of course." She cupped his cheek. "I am sure all will be well."

Charlie luxuriated in her touch, cuddling her close for a few minutes. As they sat quietly, a hesitant knock sounded at the door. Charlie rose and went to talk quietly with the trooper for a few minutes, then returned to Rebecca’s side.

"You know, dear, there are many orphaned children who will need love and care. What do you think of adopting children after we are married, love?"

She smiled. "Hmmm, a whole herd of children for the good Colonel to corral along with the horses?"

Charlie held her close as he laughed. "My dear, if I can keep this herd of unruly troopers under control –– at least most of the time –– I think I can handle a herd of children. How many were you thinking of, darling?"

"Oh, I do not know." She gave him an evil grin. "We can just keep going until we run out of bedrooms."

Charlie laughed, a full, hearty laugh. "My dear, clearly you are intent on making sure that I keep my exercise program up and maintain my image. For with that many children underfoot, I will no doubt have to do a fair bit of weight lifting just to carry them all around with me." With that, he kissed her soundly. "It sounds like a lovely plan, my love –– a whole house, full of laughter and growing young’uns. All because of our love." He gently tickled her. "And you will be able to keep your lovely figure as well, my dear, without the risks or drain of pregnancy. I think it sounds like a perfect plan."

--*--

Monday, December 19, 1864

A light frost covered the grass, and Charlie’s boots made the stiff blades crunch as he ran his morning route around the stables and the exercise rings behind them. The men had laid out various practice courses and several groups were already clustered around the drawings of the various jump patterns for the events. In the center of the largest exercise ring, some of the men were already sparring with saber and small sword. Some were practicing classic cavalry maneuvers, attempting to thrust a javelin through a small ring hanging from a swinging beam and using sabers to pick up rings from the ground, all while riding at a brisk clip.

Off in one corner of the main paddock, all of the company commanders, except Montgomery, were holding an impromptu conference of some sort. Casually and very quietly, Charlie walked up behind them curious as to how well his plans for inspiring both teamwork and a bit of good-natured competition within the regiment were going.

Braddock of Company H, and the only company commander who had served with Charlie on the western front, was holding forth to the others. "Look, we all want to win the honor of both the vanguard and the colors. That means we are going to have to get the men to work together, regardless of whether we are from the old 13th or the remnants of the 49th. And my Ohio boys are more than willing to do so. So tell me what I have to do to get these stiff necked Bucks County boys of yours to pull together."

Swallow, the most senior of the Pennsylvanians, stroked the pencil fine beard at the tip of his chin for a moment. "Well, you know Colonel Polk’s been working with Montgomery’s boys in Company D. He set up an internal review, where each man voted to decide which members of the company would compete in which events, the object being to put together the team that was best equipped to win the overall competition. You know what a mess Monty had left that company in. I swear, before Polk took them over, I was breaking up fights almost every night. He has them working together pretty well now."

The other members of the little conference nodded at Swallow’s advice. Hoffstader piped up, "Yes, it is working. I have had a good bit of luck with mixing up the teams that have been repairing the fencing. All it took for me was to find the thing we all had in common, and for my boys, taking care of the horses was the thing."

"Well, just being able to stay in the fight, especially after what the rebs did to us at the Wilderness, was enough for my boys. I swear, giving command to that upstart Wilson was the stupidest thing I ever saw." Major M’Cabe, who still had not completely healed from the grapeshot he had taken in the shoulder, spat to emphasize his disdain for the young, arrogant General who had led an entire division of Union cavalry into hell because he was too stubborn to take proper precautions.

Young Avery, who had taken command of Company I after the Wilderness campaign, looked glum. "Have you been watching the fellows from Company C? They are driving hard, every one of them. I swear, I think they need to prove something after both Monty and that idiot who called Mrs. Gaines a……." he trailed off, at a loss to repeat the insult. His companions relieved him of that burden by nodding sagely at him. "Anyway, I think they want to prove themselves. So they are all pushing hard."

Swallow and several of the other commanders laughed. "Yes, lad, that would be the kind of thing Polk would put them up to. Prove that Monty and his little clique were just that –– a little splinter group, and that the rest of them are good, God fearing, hard riding, well trained soldiers."

Maguire looked back and forth between Swallow and Braddock. "What about the Colonel? What do you think he will do? Will he play favorites, either for his old troops from Ohio or for Polk’s boys?"

Braddock laughed. "Lucky Charlie play favorites? That man has always been the most ‘‘by the book’ officer I have ever heard of. No, he will definitely not play favorites. But watch out. He has been known to compete personally in the individual events and he is absolutely deadly out there."

Swallow added, "I think the man could ride a horse through hell and back without breaking a sweat. And Tarent and MacFarlane both think he walks on water when it comes to horses."

Major Byrnes, ever the regiment’s black sheep, finally grew bored with this discussion. "Gentlemen, there are three days left before we all go out there and either prove we can stay on a horse or make asses of ourselves. What do you say to a little wager?"

Charlie smiled. His officers were on the right track, and where they went, he was sure the men would follow. Quietly, he slipped away. He had promised Duncan some private practice and pointers with the small sword.

--*--

The evening was crisp; the fire was warm. Elizabeth had gone to bed early after a particularly trying day. Two of the men, practicing for the gymkhana’s mounted lance competition, had managed to overextend themselves. The result was two broken legs, one broken arm, and a number of bruises. MacFarlane and Tarent were both unhappy as well, as two horses were decidedly upset. Not injured, just upset.

Charlie, had spent the day alternating between writing extensive dispatches to Sheridan about Montgomery and the related problems within his command, and working with the men as they practiced. He was tired, but edgy and not yet ready for sleep. More to the point, he had finally realized that Christmas was a week away and he did not know gift he should get for Rebecca.

The two of them sat together in the back parlor sharing an after dinner coffee and brandy, as well as the details of their respective days. Charlie obliquely broached the subject he was most concerned with.

"Say, did you know that some of the men have been making toys and such for the refugee and neighborhood children?"

"That is very sweet. I am sure the children will be delighted with some new toys. Em discovered an old rag doll of mine a few days ago and refuses to give it up."

"I saw it clutched in her arms when I went in to say goodnight. She is very cute with it. Does it have a name?"

She laughed, nearly loosing her brandy through her nose. "I am afraid I was never very talented in that respect as a child. Mother always told me I called it 'doll'. Em however has christened it, Em. Quite original I think."

Charlie laughed. "Ah, yes, she is certainly the center of her own universe, is she not?"

"I do believe that you also share that special place in her heart. She loves you so much."

"And I love her." Charlie looked at his lady almost shyly. "But you, my heart, are at the center of my universe."

"And you are mine, love." She placed her glass down and took his hand. "Are you tired yet? You have had a very long day."

"Not yet, love. I just need to spend a little time with you. It was a rather harrowing day. I am more tense than tired, I fear." He took a sip of brandy. "I have obtained some lengths of good sound worsted and thought they might make good Christmas gifts for the ladies."

"Oh yes, that will be very nice indeed. Some of these ladies have not had anything new in a very long time. I must say, Charlie, I think that Christmas is going to turn out to be wonderful this year."

"And what of you, my love? What would you like for Christmas?"

"I honestly had not given it any thought. I am just glad to have you here with me. But I suppose, knowing you as well as I do, if I do not give you an answer, you will never rest. So, let us see, it is too late to do anything about it now, but maybe next year we could replace my mother's piano."

"You play, my love? I do enjoy listening to piano music. It is so soothing. What happened to your mother's piano?"

"I do play. I am afraid we had to sell it, when things got difficult. Mr. Cooper gave a very fair price for it in a time when he most certainly did not have to do so."

"He is a very generous man. I wish that things were different; I could see him being highly successful if the situation were more benign. You know that General Grant commented that this was the most devastated section of Virginia when he was encamped here last spring?"

"I know. But now that the war is going to be over soon, we can start rebuilding. You have given us an excellent start."

"I mean to give it everything I have once I muster out. This is your home, my dear. I cannot help but want to return it to prosperity, if for no other reason than to make you happy."

As he spoke the words, Charlie’s mind was spinning at a rapid rate. Perhaps Cooper still had the instrument, or knew where it was. If he could get the actual piano back, it would be delightful. He made a note to talk with Cooper personally on the following day. If not in time for Christmas, perhaps the piano could be his bride gift.

"With you at my side, I shall always be happy, Charlie."

--*--

Tuesday, December 20, 1864

The gymkhana was just a few days away. Charlie decided it was time for him to check in with the men, and remind them that whoever won the competition; they were all his men and all under his eye and his care.

He told Rebecca he would be eating with the men that night and set out, dressed in his simple tunic, britches and boots, without the normal markings of his rank, to measure the pulse of his regiment.

As dusk fell, he walked into the compound that Montgomery’s boys had built. Their tents were all shored up with rough planking; berms and ditches controlled the flow of water around the little enclave, and there were cheerful fires burning in the small squares that defined the clusters of tents. A group of men was gathered around one such fire, carefully roasting a brace of rabbits that a troopers had brought down with a sling. A small barrel of ale was being tapped and shared.

Charlie joined the men, sharing a mug of the ale and chatting with them. He askedwhat they had received in the mail shipment that had come in the day before, and congratulating one of them on the birth of his first son. With friendly joking, Charlie moved on to visit more clusters of men throughout the encampment. He would share a joke, a story, congratulations or commiserations as appropriate, and with each stop, he encouraged and challenged the men to do their best in the competition. There was not a soldier in the regiment who did not want to win the honor of bearing the colors. It was the most dangerous position in the entire regiment, and the most glorious and desired. Charlie made it clear that the only way to earn that coveted position was through teamwork and excellence.

By the time he had finished his rounds, he was exhilarated. It was clear that the efforts to unify these two very disparate forces were starting to work. The men were excited. They were functioning as teams, with each company working together to field the best, most competitive team they could in the upcoming games. He was also a little more relaxed than usual, as he had shared a glass of beer, even though a small one, with just about every group of men he had visited.

He slipped into the house quietly, as many of the inhabitants were already abed, and pulled his boots off at the foot of the stairs. Carrying them in one hand, and using the other to grasp the balustrade, as his balance was a little impaired, he made his way up to Rebecca’s room.

She was sitting before the fire, dressed in her nightgown and a robe, brushing her long hair that glowed red in the fire’s flickering light. To Charlie, she looked like an angel, with a halo of red-gold light around her. His hands itched to touch her, his heart hammered in his chest.

She turned to see him enter the room on less than steady on his feet. She stood and slowly walked toward him. "Charlie, are you all right?"

"Absolutely, my dear. I simply shared a glass or two with the men as I chatted with them." In a softer voice, he added. "You are utterly bewitching tonight, my love."

She took a step back from him after getting a good whiff of the beer he had been drinking with his men. Her stomach rolled and she felt dizzy. "I am glad you had a good time." She tried not to sound as upset as she felt, but visions of Gaines' drunken fumbling came flooding back to her.

Charlie watched Rebecca backing away from him in confusion. The expression on her face was one that he normally associated with an unpleasant smell. Do I have something on me? I took my boots off, but did I sit in horse droppings? He looked down at himself, a little befuddled. No, there was nothing untoward on his uniform. "Rebecca? Did I do something wrong?"

She shook her head, remaining silent but turned back to her table and took her seat as she tried to keep her tears from falling. "Of course not." She choked, trying desperately to keep the emotion from her voice but failing miserably.

Charlie shook himself, trying to clear his head. This was not what he expected. The evening had been highly successful. His men were in good cheer and they were coming together as a team. Christmas was ahead of them and he and Rebecca were about to celebrate it together for the first time. By all accounts, everything should be fine. But the evidence in front of him said something was not fine.

Moving very slowly and speaking very gently, he approached Rebecca. "Darling, tell me what is wrong. You know if I can, I will fix it. If I cannot fix it, at least we will share it and by doing so, halve the pain." By the time he finished his little speech, he was standing behind her, softly caressing her shoulder.

She swallowed hard and tried not to flinch at his touch. She realized there was no reason to have such a reaction; as always, his touch was kind and tender. "Beer," she whispered quietly.

Beer? It made no sense to him. Of course he had been drinking beer. That is what his men drank at night. Well, it did have a strong smell. While he had not had that much to drink, and had certainly come to bed more inebriated from his evenings of chatting with Whitman or Polk over a few glasses of brandy, he probably did smell of it. "You have a problem with beer?" Judiciously, he backed away from her. Perhaps the smell offended her. She might not like the smell of beer, but he still could not figure out why it should make her cry. Charlie backed up to the door, and stood there looking for the world like a child being sent to his room and not knowing why. "Please tell me what is wrong, dear."

Keeping her head down and her eyes on the hands in her lap, she turned and offered the only explanation she could. "He drank beer."

He? He who? Oh, hell. Gaines would drink beer then come to her. It had to be. She associated the smell of beer with the pain of Gaines’ unwelcome attentions.

"Darling, I am sorry. I had no idea……" Charlie trailed off, at a loss as to what to do or say to make things different. He had climbed the stairs wanting Rebecca with every fiber in his body. Yet in the matter of a moment, somehow, he knew he was no better than Gaines. "I will leave you until I no longer smell of something that reminds you of so much pain."

Charlie turned to leave, his shoulders slumped, his head bowed with shame and pain. A few beers, a night with the men and he had turned into that which he most detested. He had turned into the same kind of man his father was, as Gaines was.

The voice in his head was back in force. See. It is in you, too, like a poison, like an insidious evil that you can never escape. You do not deserve this woman, and you know it. Especially now, if the first thing you think of after a couple of beers is to come and bed her, regardless of her feelings, regardless of what has been done to her in the past.

Rebecca rose from her table and moved to the bed. Every single ghost that haunted her told her to let Charlie go and sleep off his drunk elsewhere. But her heart made different demands. She got up and went to the door, peering around to see if Charlie was still upstairs. He was standing at the top of the steps, looking down them as if he were trying to decide if he could manage them.

"Charlie?"

"Yes, Rebecca?" He responded without turning around. If he had, she would have seen the tears in his eyes that blurred the stairs before him.

"Please, please come back. I am sorry. I did not mean to..." She stopped, not sure what she wanted to say. "Please come to bed."

He took a deep breath. "So am I, dear. I did not know. Let me get cleaned up and I will join you."

"No. Please come now. You are not him. I should know that. I should know that what was wrong with him will not be wrong with you. You have never been anything but kind and loving to me, Charlie. Please, just come back."

Charlie sat abruptly on the top step of the stairs. In a low voice, made rough by suppressed tears, he started to confess. "No, dear. You do not understand. I am exactly like him. I had a few beers with my men and all I wanted to do was take you to bed. I had no more thought of what you wanted and needed than I did of what Shannon or Black Jack wants when I put them out to breed." In a much smaller, broken voice he added, "I have become what I tried to escape. I am so sorry."

Rebecca took a few tentative steps toward Charlie. Some sense of fear remained that his temper would snap and she would be slapped back. But her soul told her to move forward, to offer support and comfort to its other half. Slowly she sat down next to him, wrapping the hem of her nightgown around her feet to keep them warm and resting her chin on her knees. "I love you, Charlie."

"I love you, Rebecca. I would give anything to have not hurt you tonight. I promise, I will not drink beer any more, since it bothers you, darling." Charlie was babbling and Rebecca knew it. Every so often, he simply turned into a scared, miserable child, trying so hard to please and so afraid of failing.

She reached over and took his hand, bringing it back and holding it tight in her lap. "I never loved him, Charlie. I have never been in love before," she smiled at him and brushed the hair back from his forehead with her free hand, "until now. I know you did not mean to hurt me and, to be honest, I had never realized what the smell of beer would do to me. I did not know I would react that way."

Charlie did not say anything. He sat very still. As she caressed his forehead, his eyes closed, and he leaned into her hand. She could feel his pulse pounding in his wrist and see it in the veins at his temples.

"Now let us go back to our room and get ready for bed. Everything is fine, my love."

Charlie stood and followed Rebecca back into the bedroom. He went immediately to his side of the room, stripped his clothing off and bundled it into a tight wad, which he carried back into the sitting room and left by the door for Lizbet or Jocko to pick up in the morning. Rebecca grew a bit concerned, as Charlie’s bedtime washing seemed to go on for longer than usual. When she finally did climb into the bed, the smell of mint was quite strong. Charlie lay still, remaining on the far side of the bed and facing away. "Good night, love. Sleep well," she said, in the same subdued voice from the stairs.

Rebecca sighed and rolled over to Charlie's side of the bed. She draped her arm over her waist and kissed the back of her neck. "I love you, Charlie. Good night, my love."

--*--

Wednesday, December 21, 1864

Reg was carefully polishing the woodwork in the front hall. Preparing the house for Christmas was a tradition that Beulah was strict about. The house had to look perfect for the callers who would inevitably troop through to see how much Miss Rebecca was benefiting from the Union Army's presence. A loud rapping on the front door startled him out of the trance he had settled into as he carefully rubbed bees’ wax into the balustrade.

He hastily stuffed the rag he was using into his pocket, smoothed his hair as best he could and opened the door. Before him stood a short, wiry man with close-cropped beard and hair, dressed in a very dusty Yankee uniform. There were three stars on the man's shoulder.

"Colonel Redmond, please."

Reg closed his jaw with a snap. "Yes, Sir. Come in, Sir. Can I get you something, Sir? Who shall I tell him is calling, Sir?" Reg knew he was babbling, but the sight of those stars, plus the brass on the shoulders of the small group of men behind this little man had put him into a panic.

"You may tell him General Philip Sheridan is calling."

"Yes, Sir, General, Sir. Would you step into the parlor, Sir, and let me build a fire for you and your men? Are you sure I cannot get you or your men something, Sir? Some tea, or maybe a brandy or..." Reg trailed off, realizing that he could not open the door to the parlor, bow, pull on his forelock and look like a rational, properly trained house servant all at the same time.

"Is there a problem?"

"Oh, no, Sir. Right away, Sir. I will just go and get him, Sir."

At that moment, the door from the small family dining room at the back of the hall opened and Charlie entered, carrying young Em. He had just finished feeding her lunch, a significant amount of which had found its way onto the front of his blue frock coat.

Charlie looked into Phil Sheridan’s eyes and nearly panicked. A slow blush worked it way from Charlie’s ears across his face. "Good day, General. I was not expecting you, sir."

The General did an extremely good job of hiding his amusement at seeing one of his finest officers covered in unrecognizable mush. He took a deep breath, "Apparently not, Colonel Redmond."

Charlie first tried to salute, but with a squirming child in his arms, it was less than effective. He then started to offer his free hand to the General, and noticed that it was still lightly coated with mashed apples and cereal. He hastily wiped it off on the skirt of his coat and settled Em more securely in the crook of his left arm, to complete the greeting.

While Sheridan had managed to keep a straight face, Colonel McCauley was not so successful. A muffled snicker could be heard coming from behind the hand that McCauley had clamped over his mouth. Other members of Sheridan’s entourage could not resist the impulse. Here was one of the most pristine, "regular army" member of all of Sheridan’s staff, covered in gruel, with a squirming child in his arms, a blush that would do credit to a school girl and no hope of regaining his regimental dignity in sight.

"Um, Reg. Would you please take Em to Miss Rebecca? And while you are at it, please ask Beulah to bring us some lunch." He turned to Sheridan. "I assume, General, that you have not yet eaten?"

The General removed his hat and looked the Colonel in the eye. "Lunch would be most welcome."

Charlie handed the squirming child to Reg. Or rather, he tried to hand the child to Reg.

Em shook her head furiously and grabbed Charlie's collar. "No! Em stay with Papa."

At that moment, a voice floated down from the second floor. "Charlie Redmond. Where is that child? It is time and past time for her bath and her nap."

The snickering got even more pronounced. Not only was Charlie covered in a child’s lunch he was also obviously seriously henpecked. This was a sad fate for the Army of the Shenandoah’s premiere cavalry commander, a man they had all thought was a confirmed bachelor.

"Have you other plans, Colonel?" the General asked, while trying to contain the grin threatening to break across his lips.

"Um, no, General. Actually, I just finished lunch myself and was going to get cleaned up and go back to my office." He turned towards the stairs and raised his voice. "Miss Rebecca. Rebecca, you might wish to join us, as we have guests." He continued to hold the child, who had attached herself like a small leech to his coat collar and was peeking over her own shoulder at the men in her hall.

Rebecca dried her hands on a towel she had prepared for Em's bath. Before she even poked her head into the hall, she called. "Guests? Oh, who in the name of God would have the bad manners to call just before a holiday?"

"My commanding officer and his staff." Charlie’s response was very flat, devoid of any expression or emotion at all. Rebecca had learned that tone was a very bad sign.

Rebecca took a deep breath and quickly glanced into the mirror as she removed her apron and tossed it aside. Oh wonderful. Charlie is going to have my hide for this. "I will be right there, Colonel Redmond."

Reg, in the meantime, had retreated it to the kitchen, where he had helped Sarah and Beulah quickly assemble trays with ham, breads, pickles, and cheese, as well as a huge pot of hot tea for the officers. They carried the rough lunch into the main dining room, and threw open the doors, inviting the officers in to eat. Charlie let out a very relieved sigh. Now, if only Jocko had seen them coming and managed to grab a clean coat for him, he might be able to rescue some shred of dignity.

As Reg opened the doors to the dining room, Rebecca descended the stairs. The gentlemen of Sheridan’s entourage all drew themselves up to greet the lady of the house. Snickers were muffled, although several of the men could not help continuing to grin.

"General Sheridan, Gentlemen, may I present our hostess and my fiancéée, Mrs. Rebecca Gaines?"

Rebecca tried to present herself as the proper hostess and a lady worthy of the distinguished Colonel. The very first thing she did was relieve him of Emily and then smile at the General. "General Sheridan, Gentlemen, good day to you, Sirs, and welcome to my home."

The gentlemen bowed politely to the lovely, somewhat flushed young woman before them. The child in her arms squirmed and reached out for Charlie, fussing and whimpering. "Papa. Want Papa!"

Charlie stepped in. "Gentlemen, we have put together a hasty lunch for you. If you would step this way, you can ease your hunger while Mrs. Gaines and I attend to this particular... small, and very demanding citizen."

"That is all right, Colonel Redmond; please attend to the General and his men. I will see to our Em and return shortly."

"Thank you, Miss Rebecca." With a look of relief, Charlie turned back to the officers in the hall and led them into the dining room. Beulah had thought to provide a pile of warm, damp towels in a basket on the sideboard to let the men wipe the dust from their hands and faces. "It is a chill day, gentlemen. There is hot tea, hot cloths, and some fine brandy to warm yourselves." Reg was tending the fire, stoking it from glowing embers to a warm flame. "So, General, to what do we owe the honor of your presence? Will you be joining us for the Christmas feast?"

"I will indeed, Colonel. I wanted to see for myself this Eden you had found for the winter. Your letters about the beauty of the land made me desire a see it for myself. I also wanted to see for myself the condition of the civilians you have told me about, and to see what progress you have made in unifying your regiment."

McCauley cleared his throat. "Um, General, there was the matter of that paperwork you were waiting on, as well."

Sheridan smiled a dour half smile. "Oh, yes. Thank you for reminding me. Just a little bit of administrative hoopla to attend to, I think."

Charlie looked at Sheridan with a puzzled expression. Paperwork? He was certain that he and Polk had submitted everything that they were supposed to. But then, the ongoing adventure of trying to get quality supplies from the Quartermaster General was always a challenge.

"Well, sir, I am sure we can clear up any questions you may have. I will send for Polk while you eat."

"No, Colonel, do not bother Polk. You will be responsible for answering the questions I have." The General turned his back to the Colonel and picked up a plate as he looked over the food placed before them. "Looks like your Mrs. Gaines is a very capable hostess, Redmond."

"Yes, sir, she is. She has found homes and productive work for a number of refugees and has helped to organize the ladies of the community to do what they can help themselves and the refugees survive the winter. It has been hard for her, I confess, for some of the locals see her as a traitor for associating with us, but she has been magnificent."

Sheridan picked a few things for his plate and slowly turned to face his officer. "Your fiancéée, aye, Colonel Redmond?"

Charlie drew himself up to his most erect and dignified, an effect that would have been a perfect demonstration of his pride in his lady, had it not been marred by the now drying and flaking bits of gruel on his uniform left from Em’s lunch. "Yes, sir. My fiancéée. Mrs. Gaines has done me the honor of consenting to be my wife. We plan to announce it officially at the New Year, although many of the local folks already know. It will be a small wedding, probably before the spring campaign, as is appropriate for her second marriage."

"I suppose congratulations are in order then. Will the new Mrs. Redmond be joining you when you go west?"

"When I go west, sir? I had understood that General Wilson was to go west and I was to remain here." There was a hint of a squeak in Charlie’s voice. McCauley and Brigadier General Merritt, standing behind Sheridan at the buffet, overheard the conversation and snorted to one another.

"Yes, of course. West, that is where the excitement will be after the war, Colonel. Certainly you want to be where you are needed the most. I have two or three burgeoning forts that I think you would be just right for. They are just getting started. Not much in the way of luxury or comfort, but if you can survive the Indian attacks, I am sure you will be fine."

Rebecca swept into the dining room at that moment. "Oh, my. The west! I hear it is very exciting, rugged and natural."

Charlie stood there with a bemused look on his face. "The west. Yes. Well, sir, I believe we need to see this situation to an end before we start thinking of Indian attacks, sir."

Sheridan could only smile at the couple as Rebecca took her place next to Charlie and looped her arm through his. The General could tell he might be able to bait the Colonel but he would not succeed in luring his lady. "Yes, Redmond, I do believe that is the wisest course of action. Very good, young man."

"I look forward to it, sir. Now, I believe I asked if you and your staff would be joining us for Christmas. Miss Rebecca, do you think we could find places for these gentlemen?"

Rebecca smiled and caressed Charlie's arm as she looked at the General. "Of course, Colonel Redmond. I will have Reg and Lizbet prepare rooms immediately. We are honored to have the General in our home."

Sheridan smiled at Rebecca. "Thank you, ma’am. My men and I are honored." Sheridan gestured to McCauley, who stepped to his General’s side and handed him a packet of papers. "But I have a question, ma’am. Why do you persist in referring to Charlie as ‘‘Colonel’?"

Rebecca blushed and looked to her fiancéé, then back to the General. "To be honest, it just seemed like the thing to do."

"Madam, it is customary to refer to officers in the United States Army by their proper titles." He handed the packet of papers to Rebecca. "Perhaps you should review these documents?"

Her heart jumped to her throat, fearing she had made a serious mistake in front of Charlie's commander. She swallowed hard and took the packet of papers. "Of course, General. I do apologize if I have offended." She glanced to Charlie, hoping that he was not too horrified.

Charlie was totally confused. Had his summary dismissal of the men who had objected to the orders to begin the process of reconstruction come back to haunt him? Had he been demoted? Was that why Sheridan was talking about the western forts? Was he going to be banished to some two-bit stockade in the western plains, never to be heard from again? If that was the case, it was time for him to tender his resignation. He looked around at the other officers in the room. Several were brigadiers, the rest wore the same eagles on their shoulders he had on his. Most were younger than him. Charlie was afraid that his twenty years of honorable service was about to end because of one moment of righteous anger. He nodded to Rebecca to open and read the documents.

Rebecca slowly opened the envelope and with shaky hands removed the papers and began reading. After a moment she looked to Sheridan. "Really, General?"

"Really, Mrs. Gaines."

By now, every man in the room was watching the tableau between the three of them with some degree of interest. Strangely, every man also had a glass in his hand.

Rebecca nodded and slowly folded the papers and placed them back in the envelope. Then she looked to Charlie. "I am sorry. I did address you incorrectly." She paused and then continued as she failed to contain the smile on her face. "Brigadier General Redmond."

Slowly, the reality of what she had said soaked into Charlie’s consciousness. A serious look came over his face and he drew himself up to full attention, saluting General Sheridan. "Thank you, Sir." Somehow, in that moment, the bits of Em’s lunch were forgotten, the embarrassment and the teasing were forgotten. The man before them was one of the finest field commanders in Sheridan’s force, and had finally been recognized by the War Department as such.