I was grateful that Kate had agreed to come to dinner on such short notice, though she knew nothing of my plan: I had to diffuse my feelings for Warren as best as I could, and inviting outspoken guests was one way to do that. Arriving just past the hour, Katherine Raleigh walked through the door as I opened it to her and passed me as if to search the premises for contraband.
“Hello, Annie,” she chirped.
With a stride of an officer, she strutted into the hallway, her long flowing flowered dress swishing behind her. Her escort, Mr. Wells Davidson, greeted me and bowed. He introduced himself as it was obvious that Kate was preoccupied inspecting the décor.
“Wells Davidson, Madam. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Cunningham. Katherine has told me of your graciousness,” the gentleman said bowing.
“My pleasure, I’m sure, I replied.
“My dear, you’ve certainly brightened this place up.” Kate said as she swung back through the hall after the preliminary inspection. “Why, when I first told you of its availability, my only fear was that its drabness would be depressing for a single woman such as yourself. You see, Wells, Annie has added new curtains, more light, and what is it? You’ve changed the furniture around, is that it?”
Wells followed Katherine into the living room looking around and then at Annie. Katherine continued her wandering from room to room. Her booming voice called to us from the dining room, “And look at this beautiful table. I knew that you had a knack for entertaining. Wells, you’ve got to see this centerpiece,” she said reentering the hallway and then the living room, letting out a huge sigh.
“Please, sit down,” I said motioning to the sofa and chairs. “I’m expecting another guest shortly.” We talked for a few minutes passing time about the onset of spring, the weather and the past winter.
A knock sounded at the door and I turned from them. “There he is now.”
“He, eh?” said Katherine. “This is good, Annie, very good.”
“Good evening, Captain,” I said opening the screen door to Warren. He stepped in holding a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of brandy. “What do you have there? You didn’t have to bring all this. Really, but thank you. They’re quite beautiful,” I said admiring the flowers. “Come in, I have a few guests whom I want you to meet.”
With that statement, Warren looked somewhat surprised.
I led him into the living room and introduced my guests to one another.
“Captain Dodd, what keeps you in Marsh Station?” Katherine said in an officious manner.
Wells broke in, “Fighting for the new nation no doubt, Katherine dear,” his jolliness trying to diffuse her tone.
Seating himself, Warren replied, “I’m here for General Stuart, Madam. At least for the time being.”
“Yes, who knows where we’ll all be if Richmond falls,” replied Katherine wistfully.
“That may be very far off, Miss Raleigh,” the captain responded.
“Yes, certainly,” I said. “Shall we start with a drink? Then I’ll check on dinner, I am sure that we can move away from the subject of war for just a little while. It’s all we ever hear anymore.”
“That suits me just fine, but I must ask the Captain one thing,” replied Wells. What do you think of Butler in New Orleans?”
Apparently no answer was intended as Wells continued. Warren opened his mouth, and then closed it again realizing that Wells never intended an answer from him.
“I understand, Wells continued, “That he has been confiscating the property of people who wouldn’t swear allegiance to the Union. Butler implied that the women there were whores; so apparently, in retaliation they’re decorating the inside of their chamber pots with his portrait. Serves him right, I say.” With that out, he sighed and turned to me “Now, Miss Cunningham, allow me to assist with the beverages. Katherine, Captain, what would you like?”
When the drinks were served and everyone was more relaxed, Captain Dodd turned to Katherine Raleigh who sat tall, peacock-like exposing a deep cleavage in his direction.
“How did you and Annie meet?” Warren asked.
“Oh, Captain. I thought you knew. Annie is my cousin, you see. Several months back she arranged to perform at my tavern while her troupe settled here for a time, the same troupe I might add, who had the audacity to return to the dankness of Arlington. I offered her a room in this lovely little cottage of mine. With the war and all, I’m hardly ever here myself, trying to run the business.”
Turning to me she added, “Oh Annie, dear, as I said, you’ve done a marvelous job fixing this place up. I should hire you to decorate a few of our rooms upstairs. They could use some fixing up now that business is improving.”
Color rose to my cheeks. “Thank you Kate, but I’ll have to decline. My garden is keeping me quite busy as it is right now. And, I may begin working at the hospital soon.” Hurriedly I added, “Shall we dine?” intentionally cutting Katherine off before she attempted to recruit me for detail at the Three Lanterns, potentially embarrassing both of us.
With that we moved to the dining room, filled as it was with candles and oil lamps. The dinner, I must say was satisfying and under the circumstances, nearly elegant. The menu consisted of roasted chicken accompanied by rice with herbs and walnuts, carrot salad, fresh greens, warm bread and several bottles of table wine, that I’d found tucked back under an eave in the cellar.
Sitting around the table, Warren poured our wine and after also giving the toast, I piped up. “Kate, I have a confession to make. I found this bottle up in the cellar rafters. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Mind? Why I can’t even remember if I put it there. It really is a fine accompaniment to this meal. Annie, you’ve put together a delicious dinner here.”
“It is delicious, thank you, Miss Cunningham” offered Wells.
“Superb,” said Warren. After a pause, he turned in Kate’s direction. “Miss Raleigh,” Warren started to say.
“Please, call me Katherine, or Kate, Captain.”
“Kate, then. You must hear lots of war stories from the men who pass through the Three Lanterns these days.”
“Oh yes. Of course, of late, they’re all about Richmond and McClellan. Will it fall? When? But what I’ve noticed most of all is not what they say, but how they look.”
We must have all turned to look at Kate at the same time because she went on.
“No, hear me out. I must admit, I do enjoy looking at the men, but my point here is there are so many young ones, still boys, I’d guess. They come in and I have to wonder if they’ve ever even had a drink before, except maybe at home behind the barn. I just hope that if they ever come back through here, it isn’t to the hospital just over the hill there. If they go in, chances are that’s where they’ll stay, if you know what I mean.”
“Yes, I understand what you’re saying. Those hospitals are fetid places. You might just want to reconsider working up there, Annie,” he said.
There was a long pause and I didn’t say a thing.
Wells, thankfully, changed the subject.
“Fly fish, Captain?”
“I do. I find it’s always a good time to bring a string of trout back to the Officer’s barn and have the cook grill ‘em up. The men like it. A real treat for them,” he said.
They discussed fly-tying at some length while Kate and I served strawberry pie and coffee.
After dessert, Katherine announced, “I promised I’d be back in time to see the new show. Why don’t you join us for a nightcap?”
“No, thank you, perhaps another time” replied the Captain. “I have an early morning tomorrow.”
Walking them to the door, I bid them good-night. Picking up the bottle of brandy that Warren brought earlier, I headed toward the dining room, and head on bumped into Warren who was standing just inside the doorway. Nearly dropping the bottle, he caught himself and began to laugh.
“Nice folks but thank goodness, they’re gone” I said, looking towards Warren but not into his eyes. I knew that his eyes could�
�ve snagged me like a striped bass with a long hooked lure and I needed a moment to gather myself first. But I didn’t get that moment.
“I’ve wanted to do this since I arrived,” he said. Walking to the dining table and setting down the bottle he turned to me and held my hands at arms’ length, smiling and looking into my eyes. Putting aside the dank days of war, discarding the weight of fatigue, and shaking off our tensions, he kissed me softly. I felt a bit surprised, but I didn’t fight him or his touch.
His kisses were like rain. Quiet drops on my mouth and face after a long drought. Hushed night sounds filtered in the windows as he held me around my shoulders. We stopped and looked at one another as if coming up from a deep dive in a warm lagoon. Kissing him felt oddly comfortable, even familiar. Without the awkward stiffness that a first kiss from a new lover had brought in the past. Those sweet kisses lasted for as long as it took me to sail across the river at home with a breeze at my back. I know, because that’s where I was while we passionately learned the channels of one another’s lips on a spring night in the middle of my dining room.
His gentleness showed what his artistry as a lover could be. I knew then that someday, I would be an artist with him, discarding any cares or concerns about his politics, his allegiances or his line of duty.
We paused. I pulled away from him gently. “I guess we’d better get those dishes out of the way. Willing to work, Captain?” I asked.
“I’m at your command, Madam,” he retorted and bowed low over one outstretched leg.
It took a few minutes to organize the dishes. Donning an apron, I found a bar of soap and asked, “Captain, could you pour the hot water into this basin for me?” I asked pointing to the dish tub.
“Of course,” came his reply. Warren lifted the kettle and poured the steaming contents into the basin as I’d asked.
Handing him a towel, I couldn’t resist getting a bit more information about his job.
“So, you said that you’re working under General Stuart?” I asked him.
“Yes, I’m at the officer’s headquarters, the converted barn I told you about, over in an area they call The Oaks. I’m in supplies, so I never know when I’ll be called out. Lately, I’ve been working on establishing and supplying the tent communities all around here. With the hospital and prison too, we’ve been very, very busy.”
“I see. Every day, our little town seems to grow with this war. Have you stayed then, mostly in this area?”
“Yes, but that probably won’t be the case for very long. It looks like Richmond, and parts farther south will see some new action and that means supplies moving down from this area.”
Are you from around here?” Then I wish I’d never asked my question. He might ask me the same and I knew I shouldn’t go in the direction of creating my personal story. Not then anyway. I felt too vulnerable around him. Passion aside, I looked down, though I felt heat rising to my face.
“Maryland. Baltimore actually,” he said. “And you?”
“Arlington,” I answered. Still looking down, I scrubbed harder and took a deep breath. I wondered how I got so good at lying.
Late night settled in and after the dishes were finished, Warren poured our brandy and we retreated to the side porch lured by a light breeze and the new sound of peepers.
“I had never met Wells before tonight,” I wonder if this is just another affair for Kate,” I said.
“She certainly knows how to make herself at home, doesn’t she?” Warren asked.
“That’s Katherine,” I said, “And even though she’s hardly ever here, it is her house. But I know what you mean. She comes on a bit strong.” We both laughed.
We walked into the open to take in the sky and stars. Looking up and holding me from behind, Warren smelled my hair, breathing in deeply and whispered, “Thank you for a beautiful evening, Annie.”
I turned into his chest, lost myself there for a moment and then looked up at him, “You’re very welcome, Captain, I’m so glad that you could join me.” I said.
Affection was my weakness. More than anything I wanted to put aside the war and its details. Burrowing my face into his chest, he rested his chin on the crown of my head, his arms firmly enveloping my back. I knew that we had questions for one another, but we resisted them for the moment, satisfied with simplicity, and in those days of ugly war, the rarity of tender human touch.
Each Other Page 13
