CHAPTER 7

Selby and Rock sat in companionable silence in the study. The two men had managed to escape the party, but knew that it wouldn’t be long till they were found by the ever energetic Penelope. Each held a snifter of brandy. In between sips, they puffed on cigars. Rock glanced around the study, admiring the craftsmanship of the oak bookcases, the large oak reading table and other furniture in the room. “Can’t understand why you went with oak in here, Selby. Must’ve given that man you hired to do the work a complete fit!” Selby was reclined in his chair, feet propped up towards the fireplace. It had begun to rain a bit, and the change in weather caused him pain in his old hip injury which had prevented him from joining in the war. He shifted positions, finally placing a small pillow at his back and finding a small degree of comfort.

“Yes, actually it was Emma’s husband who did all the woodwork throughout the house. Fine job he did, too. That man had talent. I gave him the basic ideas for how I wanted this room to look, and he about busted a vein in his neck when I told him I wanted it all in quartersawn oak. He blathered for a few minutes, but I convinced him I was serious.” He smiled a bit at the memory of the man turning completely red, indignant that he would have to work with cheap wood, not the more sought after mahogany or teak.

“Less wealthy people paint the darn stuff over, hide the fact that they can’t afford the more elegant stuff. What got into you?” Rock was truely curious. It wasn’t often that someone openly displayed oak, the price being so low due to the quantity of it. At first Rock had thought that Selby was just a bit odd, but over the years he came to know the man, and knew that sometimes his passions overrode popular opinions.

“I love the tones. The texture. The solidness it exudes.” His face took on a faraway look, the man had a passion for the finer things in life, and if he was the only one who thought of oak as something so worthy, well, then the rest of the world could go jump in the river. “Well,” Rock said, “I must admit it does look nice, but I don’t think it will ever catch on.” The late hour and the fine brandy were catching up to him. He leaned his head back in his chair as the two men continued basking in the quiet solitude they had found away from the noisy party.

A few moments later, the door to the study opened, the hard wash of lights from outside disturbing the soft tones in the room that the fireplace had created. “There you two are!” exclaimed Penelope, as she bustled into the room. “Come now, Selby, you too Papa. We have to bid goodnight to our guests!” Slowly and with much grumbling, the two men rose from their seats, tugging on vests to try and appear less rumpled than they were. “Papa, the widow Lindsey was asking after you. It seems she very much enjoyed the dance you two shared earlier in the evening. It would be a shame if you didn’t say proper goodbyes to her.” They allowed the woman to shoo them out into the hall, where it was apparent that many of the guests had already taken their leave.

Rock glanced around and found the woman in question. He had indeed enjoyed the delightful widow’s company, finding her witty and charming. Rock found it difficult to believe that such an attractive woman was still single. As he manuvered his way over to say goodbye, he took a moment to take in the sight of the woman. She was no more than forty, he figured, only the slight indication of grey about her temples. She had strong features, but her eyes were kind and she had a smile that made his old heart skip a beat. “Mrs. Lindsey, a sorry thing that this delightful evening has to end.” He gave her a smile, and she practically swooned from the attention. “Oh, Captain, my word, a sorry thing indeed. You’ll be returning to your unit I suppose?”

“Yes, sadly. I would much prefer more time in your sweet company. Perhaps, if I could be so bold, we might correspond?” The widow blushed a bit, bowing her head demurely to hide the reaction. “Not bold at all, Captain. I would like that very much.” They stood at the doorway, the soft patter of rain could be heard from outside. “Please, allow me to escort you to your carriage.” Holding his overcoat over the petite woman’s head, he led her out to her waiting ride, promising to write soon.

As the carriage pulled away, Rock made his way back up the steps and into the house. Reil and Emma were chatting with Penelope and Selby. Emma had her left hand in Reil’s left, with Reils right arm about the taller woman’s waist. They seemed unconcerned about the display, and to Rock, it looked as thought the two had been in that position many times before tonight, even though he knew that was impossible. They just looked *that* comfortable together. Rock was happy for his young ward, and only hoped that she wouldn’t get her heart broken.

As he approached, Reil turned his way, gone from her face were the traces of doubt and indecision that had been present for the past week. In their place, a look of confidence and bliss. Her inner demons had been tamed by the dark haired beauty that stood by her side. “Rock, I was wondering where you disappeared to! What are our plans?”

“Well, the passes I got give me two days, but yours are different.” He hid a smile that was bursting to get out. The confused, crestfallen look on the young woman was priceless! “Well, whu...umm....I have to leave now? In the rain??” She was sorely confused. Rock couldn’t hide his smile anymore. He pulled a piece of paper out of his jacket pocket and handed it to Reil. She let go of Emma’s hand and opened the paper singlehandedly. A relieved look came over her features as she read the furlough papers. “I should hit you, you know...good thing for you that you outrank me!!”

“I know you said you didn’t want to take that much time, but it’s only for five days. You really do need the rest. I’ll be going back tomorrow, there’s things I need to take care of at the unit. But you take your time, enjoy yourself, have a little fun! You deserve it.” Reil leaned over and gave the man a tight one armed hug, nobody in the room missing the fact that contact with Emma was never lost. “Um, Rock? Could we talk a minute?” With a look of apology to Emma, she reluctantly let the woman go, pulling Rock off to the side to talk to him in private.

“What’s on your mind, Sprout?” Reil smiled at the childhood nickname, used so rarely now since she had grown. She smiled at the man who was more of a family to her than her own had been and placed a hand on his upper arm. “Emma has asked me to stay at her place. Would the Haversham’s be offended if I don’t stay? They did mention earlier that they had been expecting us both to stay due to the distance we had to travel to get here.”

Rock thought about this for a moment, carefully exploring all the ramifications. Finally he answered, “Reil, I’m sure the Haversham’s won’t mind, but I’m concerned. I don’t want to see you rushing into something that may hurt you eventually.” He ran his hand down the side of her face, conveying through his deep grey eyes his concern for her well being. Out of all the children he had taken in over the years, Rock believed that Reil was the most trying. Always so headstrong, so eager to get on with her life, hating the restrictions that her age and gender had placed on her. Not that he didn’t love her for it, it just made for more worry.

Reil saw the look in his eyes and read him like a book. “Don’t go getting all mother hen on me now, Rock!” she gently admonished the tall man, “I’ll be fine. I am fine. I’ve never been *more* fine.” She looked him in the eye, and he could see that, yes, she was. It took him almost by surprise, when did his little girl grow up, he wondered not for the first time, and probably not the last. But he wanted to be sure, ever so sure, that this was not a passing thing. “What do you see when you look at her?” A simple question, really. With no simple answer.

Reil answered with not a single ounce of hesitation. “I look at her, and I feel as though her eyes dive into my soul. And when I come up for air, there she is, all shimmering, the droplets of my soul still clinging to her in a halo of light. And left behind are shards of her own soul, filling in the once empty gaps that I didn’t even know I had. I am lost, but in her arms, I am found.” She had taken on a faraway look as she said all this, and Rock had no further doubts that at least Reil, was in love. As for how Emma felt, all he had to do was look over and see the woman watching them. No, watching Reil. “Go, go to her and have a wonderful time. I’ll talk to Penny and explain.” She gave his arm a squeeze, a silent ‘thank you’, and went to stand beside Emma once again, this time to say goodbye to her hosts.

Emma’s carriage was awaiting them outside, with Reil’s horse tethered to the back. The horse’s tack had been placed inside on the floorboards, making Reil grateful that she wouldn’t have to dry out the leather. The carriage itself wasn’t fancy, just a cushioned seat with a canvas top, a few tassles, some brass trim. Functional, yet fancy enough befitting a lady of Emma’s station. Reil had wondered about this point, knowing that in Fredricksburg it was known that the woman owned a brothel. Obviously, her social standing here, nearer to the north was different than what it was further south.

As they tucked the carriage blanket over their legs to ward off the chill night air, and headed for their destination (which was still unknown to Reil), the young blonde took the opportunity to satisfy more of her own curiosity. Speach became difficult, however, when she realized Emma’s hand was placed on her knee under the blanket. While she certainly enjoyed the sensation, she was also concentrating on keeping the horse on the muddy road. Emma’s soft voice occasionally giving directions and the light patter of rain on the cover of the carriage was quickly lulling her into forgetting everything else and kissing the woman again right then and now.

She finally roused herself out of the soft nest her mind was settling in and broke the silence. “Where are we headed?” Emma looked over at her, her head still reeling with amazement that this woman had stolen her heart, and in so short a time. “Home.” came the soft answer. “When my husband died, I took over everything, although I had some small fight on my hands when some male relatives wanted to run things. It took a bit of work, but now everything is in my name. We’re not far, that’s why I’m not worried about finding the way in the rain...otherwise I, too, would have taken up Penelope’s offer to stay the night. Turn left up ahead, there...between those two trees.”

Reil did as was instructed, easily handling the docile horse that was attached to the carriage. “What did your husband do for a living?” Emma had told her earlier how her husband and young son had gone to town to sell a horse, been attacked by a lone rebel who had been roaming the countryside (apparently trying to get back to his own unit), and how the horse was shot out beneath the two, killing them both instantly in the ensuing fall. She knew he was in the Army of the Potomac, like herself, but Emma hadn’t mentioned what he did.

“Well, prior to the war, Roger was a master craftsman. Learned his trade in England. He did all the work at the Haversham’s house. That’s how I know Penelope, we became fast friends. When the war started, he joined the north, loyalties being very divided here in Virginia...I believe the people here have been hit hardest by the split, so many having relatives on both sides of the conflict. Fortunately, he was very good at his craft, and there were many pieces of his work in our house, so between the family inheritance that I learned about after his death, and what I was able to sell, I’ve been able to live fairly well.”

“Why do you think he never told you about the money?” Reil thought it a bit odd that it wouldn’t have come up at some point. “I figure he wanted to make it on his own, he just put the money in the bank and left it there, I did all the bookkeeping for his business, and I only ever saw the money from the work he did. Don’t get me wrong, he did very well, but I don’t think he was ever proud of his family, saw the money only as something of a bother. Since he knew he could take care of his family on his own, he just never thought about it. He used to always be so proud, didn’t like to take any kind of favors from anyone. I guess he saw the inheritance as a favor. I only know I’m glad, now, that it’s there. I don’t know what I would have done without it.”

They were nearing the house, and even through the dark and rain, Reil could tell that it was not as large as the one they had just left, but it wasn’t small either. It had a big wrap around porch, and a large door with stained glass insets. There were three visible stories, and probably a full sized root cellar, judging by the small windows along the bottom, under the porch. She could barely make out a building towards the back, and Emma directed her in that direction. They pulled up to what was revealed as a barn, and Emma got out and banged on the small door. Reil got out as well, and joined her, trying to use the carriage blanket as shelter from the rain. Emma ducked down a bit to share the makeshift cover. They saw a light go on in the loft, and finally a young man with dark, tousled hair opened the door. “Jimmy, see to the horses, would you?” The boy woke up a bit more, realizing his mistress was the reason his sleep was interupted. “Yes, ma’am. Right away Mrs. Collingsworth! Anything else?”

Emma gave the young man a warm smile, “No, Jimmy, and thank you...sorry to wake you, the party got out late.” Jimmy had moved outside, opening the big bay doors to the barn. He began leading Reil’s horse inside, then came back out and began unhitching the other horse. “No problem, ma’am, I’ll have these horses set up right quick, don’t you worry none.” Emma thanked him again, and led Reil towards the back door to the house. They entered into the large kitchen, and Reil found herself face to face with a very irate Flo.

“Where have you been with my little girl? Come traipsing in here all hours of the night! I ought to have you horse whupped, boy!” All the time, Flo was waving a wooden cooking spoon at Reil, who had backed up against the kitchen door and was desperately searching for something...anything that would calm the woman down. “Th..the...party...got out...la...late....uhm...” The wooden spoon came very close to the blonde woman’s nose, and she stared at it cross eyed. “Don’ wanna hear yore ‘scuses boy!” Reil sidestepped and moved quickly to the other side of the butcher block island in the middle of the kitchen. Flo followed, the chase begun.

Meanwhile, it was all Emma could do to keep from laughing at the scene unfolding in front of her. She let it go on for the sake of Flo, who felt Emma needed at least a token show of protecting the woman she had practically raised. “Aren’t you going to do anything? I could use a little help here!” Reil had overcome her stuttering in favor of outright peevishness. She had seen the faint smirk that Emma was trying to hide. “Come on, Emma!” she pleaded with the tall woman, “she’s gonna smack me silly with that spoon if you don’t do something!” Poor Reil was a sight, standing there feinting moves left and right, trying to stay out of the range of the madly swung spoon. “And drippin’ water all over my kitchen...I’ll string you up!” Flo was in full fury, but she wasn’t really mad. She was having too good a time seeing the young man squirm.

Emma finally gave out a laugh, but stepped in between the two just after Flo had actually managed to get a whack in on Reil’s arm. “That’s enough Flo. I think you’ve scared Reil enough for one night. Why don’t you go and get some sleep. I’ll call for you if I need you.” All the while she was talking, Emma was steering Flo towards the door, taking the woman’s cloak off it’s peg, wrapping it around her shoulders. She was finally able to stop the woman’s tirade long enough to take her face in her hands. Looking deeply into Flo’s eyes, she said in a soft voice, “It’s ok, Flo. This is the one. You go now, please.”

Flo immediately calmed down, realizing that the woman in front of her was no longer a child, she could make her own decisions. And Emma’s words were the same ones she had used nearly eight years ago, when Roger had come into her life. Emma had been right then, and she knew Emma was right now. When it’s love, she thought, it’s love, and there ain’t nothing you can do about it. With a grand resigned sigh, she quietly left through the kitchen door, walking across the way to the small house that was next to the barn. She turned once, calling out, “You be sure to shout if you need me...” then slowly made her way to her small house.

Emma turned to see Reil standing there, nursing her sore arm. “Yikes, Emma, who was that? She sure weilds a mean spoon! Do all your guests get treated like that, or am I just a special case?” Emma laughed again and walked over to her poor, dripping soldier. She pulled her into a tight hug, “You’re special alright, do you know how much I’ll have to pay for that in the coming weeks. I’ll hear nothing except how you dripped water in the kitchen!” Reil looked up into shining blue eyes. “Go ahead, laugh. At least you won’t get stung with that spoon!” Emma decided the best solution was to lean down and give the woman a soft kiss. “How about,” another kiss, “I make it,” yet another, “up to you?”. Reil was melting under the assault and felt her knees going weak, when suddenly, the loving embrace broke off. She wobbled a bit, trying to find her balance once again. “Wha...?”

Emma was tugging on the wet overcoat. “We have to get out of these wet clothes. I have some things of Rogers upstairs that you can use, if you don’t mind. He was a bit bigger than you, but they’ll do.” Reil let the coat come off and Emma placed it by the kitchen hearth to dry. She walked over to the door where she had dropped the blanket in her attempt to get away from the crazed housekeeper. It was soaked through as well, and she placed it alongside the other wet things that were accumulating near the hearth. She stared at one of the objects that had been set out, her mouth going dry at the implication. Finally daring to look up, there was Emma, calmly standing there in her shift, one leg propped up on a stool to remove her shoes. Reil felt her old companion the permanent blush making it’s grand return. She quickly turned her back to the woman and placed her hand over her eyes for good measure.

Reil had known it would come to this, eventually, but had hoped it would have been a bit more, well...romantic. Everything that had happened since entering the kitchen had been a new experience. She was at a loss for how to properly react to this new situation. She politely cleared her throat, then asked in a weak voice, “Um, you mentioned some dry clothes?” Emma wanted to let out a laugh, but realized that Reil was seriously embarassed. “Don’t worry, you can turn around. The shift goes all the way to the floor, it’s not like I’m exposed or anything.”

Reil considered this for a moment, then slowly turned around. She bent down to shuck off her wet boots and set them by the fire. Padding over in her stocking feet, she stood before the woman once more. “You’re shaking. Did Flo upset you that much? Here, let me take a look at your arm.” Emma hitched up the sleeve to reveal what would soon become a nasty looking bruise. “Ow, that must really hurt.” She ran her fingers lightly over the discoloration, causing the woman to flinch slightly.

Emma pulled her hand away thinking she had hurt her, only to find her hand suddenly held in Reil’s smaller one. Hesitantly, Reil drew the hand closer, placing small kisses on each knuckle, finally bringing the clasped hands to rest over her heart. Head bowed, speaking so softly Emma had to strain to hear, “I...I..don’t know where to go from here. What to do.” She lifted her head up and looked into the eyes of the woman who held her soul. Reil wished desperately at that moment that she actually was a man, that she could please this woman in every way. She silently thought that maybe this wouldn’t work out. That maybe all they would ever have were kisses, hugs and soft caresses. The thought made her heart sink.

Lucky for Reil, Emma had different thoughts. It wasn’t that she had ever been with a woman, but she was older, a bit more experienced. “Don’t you worry about that. We just try a little bit of everything, find what works. I’m not sure what to do either, but together, I’m sure we can come up with something.” This brought a small smile and a deepening of the ever present blush. “You’re cute when you blush, do you know that?”

“Nobody else ever made me blush, so I wouldn’t know.” She stumped a woolen toe on the floorboards, fighting with herself over her next words. “But, I’m...well...I’m not a man. What if I can’t please you?” Emma cupped the small face with her free hand. She thumbed away a tear that had slowly escaped the confines of those springtime eyes. “Please, love, don’t cry. It doesn’t matter to me that you’re not a man. I don’t want you to be. I just want you to be...you.” The taller woman hadn’t even noticed the endearment that she had used. Reil just looked up at her in wonder. How did she get so lucky? She really didn’t know.

A little while later, they sat on an old mattress that they had pulled out of a spare bedroom, sipping hot chocolate while wrapped in several large blankets. The fire crackled merrily away in the kitchen hearth. The smell of wet wool and leather boots and shoes drying mixing with the smell of hot chocolate creating an odd combination in the air. They talked long into the night, finally falling asleep in the hours just before dawn, arms wrapped tightly around each other. Part 7