Memphis

by Sara Orwig

  “So did the Federals.”

  “How did you find us, Sophia? I don’t remember anything,” Will said, turning to look at her along with everyone else. She met Major O’Brien’s amused gaze.

  “I was in the barn where Major O’Brien took shelter. He asked me to help get you both to Memphis.”

  “She’s the reason we’re here today,” Major O’Brien said quietly and everyone continued to look at her, but she couldn’t pull her gaze from Major O’Brien’s.

  “She said she was from Memphis and when she discovered you were with me, Will, she promised to get us here and she did. Without my help. I was as unconscious as you.”

  “Sophia!” Will exclaimed. “I owe you more than I realized. Hannah Lou told me you brought us both home in a wagon, but I didn’t know Caleb couldn’t help.”

  “Of course, he helped. He lifted you into the wagon—I couldn’t have,” she said, blushing. “Does your mother still have as many soldiers to care for?” she asked, wanting to change the subject from herself.

  “Actually, she has twenty-seven now.”

  “Doctor Perkins says Mama is doing a marvelous job,” Hannah Lou said, “so we have more at the house now than before. Be thankful you have your own bed, Major O’Brien. If you’d stayed at our house, you’d probably be on a pallet on the floor, sharing a room with others.”

  “I’m thankful every day for the care I’m receiving,” he said, and Sophia blushed again, wondering if he were teasing her or if he meant it.

  “I’m sorry you’re not at our house after all Will has told me about you,” Hannah Lou said, batting her eyes. Sophia stared at her. Hannah Lou was flirting with him. If she knew what he was like—but then Hannah Lou would probably love his rough ways and his teasing.

  “Caleb is very special,” Amity said softly, smiling at him. “I can tell you that, Miss Stanton. I wish we could move you home, Caleb.”

  “I’ll be there before you know it,” he replied. “Where’s Rafe?” he asked Darcy, glancing at Hannah Lou. “That’s my older brother who married Amity’s sister.”

  “He’s supposed to be home in three weeks.” Darcy fished beneath his coat and withdrew a white object. “Look what he brought me last time. It’s a shark’s tooth.”

  “Marvelous!” Caleb said, turning it in his hand and handing it to Will to view. “And how are the studies coming?” Will passed the tooth to Hannah Lou who handed it to Sophia. She turned the jagged tooth in her hand, thinking about life on the high seas because she had never been away from Memphis, never seen an ocean. When she looked up, she caught Major O’Brien watching her.

  “I can answer for him,” Amity said. “I’m teaching him French and Latin now. He’s a very good student except when Rafferty is home from sailing. Then I have a reluctant pupil.”

  “I’ll do better,” Darcy said swiftly, and Caleb squeezed his shoulder and nodded.

  “Have you heard the number of casualties from battle?” Will asked.

  “I read the figure in Miss Merrick’s paper and she told me over twenty thousand.”

  “Could you believe the Bluecoats would fight like that?”

  “No. But we gave it right back to them. It’s going to be a long struggle, Will. And Amity said Farragut has commenced shelling the forts below New Orleans.”

  “If they get New Orleans, they’ll try to take Vicksburg next.”

  “Enough talk about war!” Hannah Lou said. “That’s all we hear all the time now. The opera is closed. The river is blockaded. I don’t want to hear another word about war.”

  “I’m beginning to wonder if Doctor Perkins will ever let me get up again.”

  “He will soon enough,” Major O’Brien said as if he, too, was obediently following doctor’s orders. She met his cool gaze again, and then looked at Will who was already appearing fatigued. Talk swirled around her, Hannah Lou and Amity Therrie constantly flirting with the major until Hannah Lou stood up.

  “My brother’s been away from home long enough for his first outing. Major, it has been delightful to meet the man Will has told me so much about.”

  “I hope what he said was good.”

  “At least half was,” Will answered good-naturedly, but Sophia noticed he seemed to be making an effort to keep his eyes open. She stepped into the hall and when the servants carried the chaise out, Sophia followed them to the door.

  As the servants started down the walk with Will, Hannah Lou lingered. “Major O’Brien is so handsome! You’re lucky to have him here.”

  “I’d be glad to send him to your house.”

  “Oh, I wish we had room. Mama said not one more soldier under her roof. I’d spend the whole day with him if he were at our house. Doesn’t he make your heart flutter?”

  “Hannah Lou,” Sophia said, amused, “he isn’t the easiest patient.”

  “Maybe not, but he’s the best-looking one I’ve seen. I better go. I’ll come back tomorrow.”

  As Hannah Lou hurried down the front steps, Sophia closed the door. She gazed at the open bedroom door, hearing Major O’Brien’s voice. She should ask Amity Therrie and Darcy O’Brien to stay as long as they want. Too bad she couldn’t turn the care of Major O’Brien over to Miss Therrie, she thought. Hannah Lou and Amity Therrie flirted with him as naturally as sun shining in the morning. Sophia couldn’t imagine batting her lashes at him and telling him how much she enjoyed caring for him.

  Five days later as she said goodbye to Amity and Darcy, Major O’Brien stood beside her. He wore her brother’s shirt and pants and he leaned against the doorjamb. He hugged Amity and Darcy.

  “You’re coming home soon?” Darcy asked.

  “As soon as I can travel,” he said, giving Darcy an awkward squeeze with his good arm.

  “Hurry,” he said. Standing beside Major O’Brien, Sophia watched until the Therrie carriage pulled out of sight.

  “Too bad Doctor Perkins said you couldn’t travel home with them,” she said as she closed the door.

  “Sorry, Miss Merrick, but you’re stuck with me,” he said, sounding angry. “I’m tempted to go anyway. I hate to be away from Darcy. I feel like he needs me.”

  “Miss Therrie seemed to truly care for him.”

  “She does, but Darcy’s been shuffled around since he was eight years old. Rafe is gone a lot; I’m gone a good deal of the time. Darcy deserves a home and a settled family.”

  Anyone who had survived the wagon ride back to Memphis from the battle should survive a train trip to New Orleans, but Dr. Perkins had been firm about no traveling. And for once Major O’Brien listened to him. Sometimes she suspected the major was in more pain than he admitted.

  “I’ve stood on this leg all I can,” he said, looking at her. “Can you help me?”

  She moved closer and placed her arm around his waist, wondering if he stayed a year if she would still feel the same tingling reaction when she touched him. He draped his arm across her shoulders and leaned on her, inhaling deeply.

  “You hurt, don’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why do you push yourself? You didn’t have to go to the door with them.”

  “I want to get well.”

  “You have the patience of a provoked snake.”

  He chuckled softly. The days he had been bare, she had been intensely aware of him, thinking once he was clothed, he wouldn’t be as disturbing. Glancing up at him in her brother John’s cambric shirt and too-large black trousers, Major O’Brien was as unsettling as ever.

  “It’s a warm day, and I want to get outside.”

  “We can go to the front porch or into the backyard where you can sit.”

  “The back,” he answered and she helped him to a wooden chair carved by her father that was in the shade of a tall magnolia. Major O’Brien sank down in the chair and looked around. “You have a big yard.”

  “Papa bought this lot and half of the next one. That gives us space to raise chickens and have a root cellar.”

  He leaned his head bac
k and closed his eyes.

  “I’ll be right back and I’m sure Mazie will hear if you call.”

  “Fine, Miss Merrick.”

  As she entered the hall, Henry approached. “Ma’am, Miss Stanton is here to see you and the major.”

  “He’s outside,” Sophia said, looking at Hannah Lou in surprise. Dressed in pale green silk, she looked as beautiful as Amity Therrie and she looked ready for a party. Her hair was shining, parted in the center with curls over each ear. A parasol was in her hand and a wide hat was perched on the back of her head and tied beneath her chin.

  “My goodness, you’re dressed today, Hannah Lou. Is someone having a party?”

  “No. I just came to call. How is Major O’Brien?”

  “The same as ever. He’s mending,” she added, leading Hannah Lou outside and realizing the reason for Hannah Lou’s fancy dress. He looked up as she came through the door.

  “You have company, Major.”

  Receiving another surprise, she watched him get to his feet with only the slightest waver and one quick grimace. She stared at both of them in consternation as Hannah Lou rushed forward and held out a jar to him.

  “Will and I wanted you to have some of Mama’s special jam, Major O’Brien. She makes the best in the county.”

  “Thank you, Miss Stanton. I’m honored,” he said, taking the jam and holding her hands a moment. “Sit down here,” he said, moving to an iron bench. Hannah Lou perched on one end and he carefully sat down beside her, turning to face her. “Won’t you join us?” he asked Sophia, looking up at her.

  “I’ll come back shortly. There are some things I need to tend to in the house.”

  “Sophia, you’ll get an invitation,” Hannah Lou said, “but Mama said to tell you. Auntie Eudora and Uncle Patrick are having a ball in May to raise funds for shoes for our soldiers. Everyone in town will be there and you’re to come and bring Major O’Brien. We’re taking the boys from our house.”

  “Hannah Lou, you know I don’t go to parties.”

  “Botheration, Sophia! Mama said you have to come and to tell you that even your papa would have approved of this party. After all, it might help Amos and John and Morris.”

  Felling a pang, Sophia thought about them. She missed them dreadfully and prayed for their safety every day. “I’ll think about it.”

  “And you have to come, too, Major. I really do insist. Maybe you’ll be well enough to dance by then.”

  He laughed and his eyes sparkled. “I’ll answer for both of us. If I’m still in Memphis, I’ll get Miss Merrick there. We’ve earned a party.”

  “Good! Then it’s settled.”

  Annoyed, Sophia stared at him. He constantly took charge, and she wasn’t certain she wanted to attend a party.

  “Will said to tell you that he wants you to come see him as soon as you can get around.”

  “If you both will excuse me, I have some things to attend to,” Sophia said, knowing Hannah Lou wanted Major O’Brien to herself. Hannah Lou had already captured all his attention.

  “Sophia works constantly. I like a little fun in my life.”

  “What’s fun, Miss Stanton?”

  “I love parties and dancing, men who are fun,” she said. As Sophia closed the door, she couldn’t hear the rest of Hannah Lou’s answer, but her tone of voice was coy and as Sophia glanced out the window, she saw the major and Hannah Lou laughing. Hannah Lou’s hand was on his arm and she leaned close to him. Sophia felt a pang. What’s the matter with me? I don’t care if Hannah Lou touches him or kisses him or falls in love with him. Or if he does with her. Tightening her lips, Sophia turned away. In minutes Hannah Lou would let him steal a kiss.

  Sophia returned to her desk to go over her household records and bookkeeping and soon she realized her mind was back on Major O’Brien and not on the figures in front of her.

  Annoyed with herself, she pushed back the chair and went to her room to get a bonnet. She paused in the kitchen doorway as Mazie bent over the stove.

  “Mazie, I’m walking down to the general store for some supplies and I want to get there before it closes.”

  “Did Miss Stanton go home?”

  “No, but she came to see Major O’Brien. She’ll never miss me.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Sophia left the house and hurried down the street, the disgruntled feeling gradually leaving her. She loved her city on high bluffs overlooking the river, President’s Island downriver, the islands called Paddy’s Hen and Chickens to the north. She enjoyed Memphis’s bustling commerce, the tall trees, and the friendly people. The war, the blockade and the shortages it caused worried her. They should get through the winter with the garden Henry planted, but would she be able to acquire paper to keep printing The River Weekly? she wondered.

  After picking up thread and nails, she went to the newspaper office and soon she was engrossed in the paper, all thought of Major O’Brien gone.

  On Friday the second of May, a telegram came. Major O’Brien lowered the message as he sat in the parlor and gazed solemnly at Sophia. “Amity and Darcy arrived safely. They wired me, because New Orleans has fallen to the Union. The Federals occupy the city.”

  “Oh, no! Your family is safe?”

  “Yes. Memphis or Vicksburg will be next.”

  She nodded as she left him; she couldn’t imagine her city under siege.

  Wednesday afternoon of the following week she was at the newspaper office again, staring in consternation at the press. The hinge was bent on the lid to the boiler and she knelt, trying to twist a bolt free, knowing that if John were home, he could do it easily. She tugged and pulled and tried another set of pliers, but couldn’t get the bolt loose. She would have to go home and get Henry and she hated to be unable to do something so simple herself.

  Angrily she tackled it again, the pliers slipping. “Ouch!” She yanked her hand back; her knuckle was bloody where she scraped the skin. The tiny bell over the front door tinkled, and she looked up.

  Major O’Brien stepped inside. “Trouble?”

  “What in heaven’s name are you doing here?” she asked in shock.

  Caleb felt a twinge of amusement at the surprise in her wide eyes. His leg throbbed as he crossed the room. Her hair had come free of pins and a lock hung down her back and a smudge of grease was on her jaw.

  “I’ve been in the house long enough. I asked Henry to hitch the horse to your carriage and give me directions to get here.

  “Doctor Perkins will faint.”

  “No, he won’t. In the first place, he won’t know about it; also he’s too busy with other wounded men to care what I do.”

  “That’s true. If you can ride down here, are you going back to war?”

  “Want to be rid of me, Miss Merrick?” He had to bite back a smile, because that was obviously exactly what she wanted. She blinked and closed her lips tightly and her cheeks flushed. He shifted his arm in its sling. “I’m not ready for a battlefield. Not until I can draw and fire as quickly as I did before. I’m in no hurry to get myself killed.”

  “I didn’t want to get rid of you,” she said stiffly.

  “What happened?” he asked, taking her hand in his and turning it. Her hand was warm and soft, with an ugly scrape along the knuckle of her forefinger. She tried to pull away.

  “I scraped my hand. It’s nothing,” she insisted.

  He pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at the blood. She drew her breath. He stood close enough to notice an enticing scent of rosewater. “What were you trying to do?” he asked with concern.

  She motioned toward the one-cylinder press. “The cylinder isn’t working. There’s a bolt I was trying to loosen.”

  He tied the handkerchief around her hand. “There. Show me the bolt.” When she pointed to it, he picked up the pliers in his left hand.

  “Hold my hand steady and I’ll turn the bolt.”

  She placed her hand over his, holding his tightly and he turned. “I hate to be so helpless.” He wiggled m
e fingers of his right hand, jiggling the sling around his neck.

  “You’re not very patient, Major,” she said. He turned to look at her and her face was only inches away. Her eyes were an unusual shade of blue, reminding him of spring flowers at home. Sophia was pretty, he observed. She blinked and looked down as he felt the bolt give way.

  “Now I can do it,” she said, taking the pliers from him.

  He stood watching her work, feeling frustrated and wanting to do the task for her. His leg throbbed and he sat down to watch her. In minutes she wiped her hands on a rag. “Now I think it’s fixed. I’ll have to fire up the boiler. I can work with the proof press if I need to.” Her eyes narrowed as she crossed the room to sit on the other side of the desk from him. “Your wounds hurt don’t they?”

  “A little. You print the paper all by yourself?”

  “Yes. I have help with deliveries. Papa and John both belonged to the International Typographers Union, but I don’t. We don’t sell as many copies now and the paper is shorter.”

  “What’s news?” he asked, studying the notepad in front of her.

  “There’s a growing shortage of so many supplies, pins, lard; salt is becoming more scarce. We’re cut off by the Federals. I talked to Mister Qualls, a cotton factor, and in spite of the law against exporting cotton except through Southern ports, we still have a large trade in cotton.”

  “What’s large?” Major O’Brien leaned back on his chair.

  “He said over a hundred bales a day. Before the war Memphis was the largest inland cotton market. Last year four hundred thousand bales went through here. Papa said at the war’s outbreak the industrial output here was valued at four million dollars.”

  “What’s the population of Memphis?” he asked with interest.

  “We’re growing—now faster than ever with the factories that are going up because of the war. At the start of the fifties Memphis had a little over eight thousand people. At the beginning of this decade the population is over twenty-two thousand and it keeps growing.”

  “As I rode along the street, I noticed a number of able-bodied men. More than I expected to see,” he commented.