Songs the Soldiers Sang

by Bette McNicholas

  “I’ll tell her, but I believe she’d rather stay here.”

  “Say about four, or would you like me to send for you?”

  “No, no,” she laughed. “I believe I can walk down to the other end of the road on my own.”

  “Great, Laurel. I’m really glad I ran into you. Maybe I can escort you home on Saturday.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chesapeake City, Maryland

  On Friday of that week, Laurel and Junie were pleasantly surprised when two couples unexpectedly arrived and became the first guests at the Bray Bed and Breakfast. Both said that Robert had recommended the place to them and they had come to attend the party. She beamed when she hung the No Vacancy sign.

  As soon as the couples were registered, Laurel hurried over the bridge to find the handyman, Elmore, who was on her payroll (part time), to come to work to care for the horses and help with the valises.

  The following morning when Elmore arrived back, bright and early, Laurel closed her mouth to hide her grin, realizing he had managed to come in time for some eggs and biscuits and ham that Junie prepared for breakfast. She knew how fond he was of Junie’s cooking. She shook her head and shut her eyes for a second, smiling.

  The hours went by quickly with the extra work of having guests staying at the inn, and Laurel soon became aware she’d need a lot more wood for the fireplaces, and was thankful she had Elmore. He had cut and stored a lot of wood in the barn when she first hired him, and was now grateful he was there to load the logs and bring them up to the house in the wheelbarrow.

  Right after lunch, Laurel went to get ready for the afternoon tea at the Winston’s. Taking a second look around the house to make sure everything was taken care of, she rushed up the stairs, thrilled with an invitation to a party. She still had the beautiful dress Arielle had given her and the cape from Mrs. Crowley, and didn’t have to worry about what she’d wear. Her wardrobe was sparse, and she appreciated the fact that she didn’t have to waste time pondering what to wear, which gave her the leisure of dressing and allowing Junie to help button her dress and fix her hair.

  After she turned around several times, checking out her appearance in the mirror, she thanked Junie, gave her a hug and went downstairs in time to leave for the party with her guests. They had decided to walk to the soiree with Laurel, and she was able to dismiss Elmore earlier than anticipated and save money.

  Fall leaves covered the gravel road and stuck to their shoes as they walked toward the Winston’s home. The gentlemen locked arms with the women to keep them from slipping on the wet leaves.

  A wrought-iron fence surrounded the large redbrick mansion, and ancient trees with large trunks and thick roots that spread across the yard, sat on either side of the front walkway regally guarding the home. The shutters on the nine-over-six windows, as well as the front door were painted a dark green. In the middle of the door was a huge wreath made of fresh pine and magnolia leaves, covered with fresh fruit that had been dipped in paraffin and preserved.

  Inside, the place bustled with conversations, the tinkling of glasses, music playing from somewhere in the background, and servants serving champagne and finger foods. Whatever the occasion, Laurel found the place quite festive. She hadn’t seen an occasion like this since before the War.

  Slipping away, she separated from her boarders and decided to forego the receiving line. Instead, she stood in a doorway undetected, and watched Robert, now all grown and behaving like a true gentleman, greeting guests along with his parents, another elderly couple and a pretty woman, she assumed was probably a cousin.

  Turning the corner, she entered a large drawing room and made her way to the solarium where she came upon three men strolling through the room playing their violins. The spacious glass-enclosed porch was much like she remembered, with ficus trees and potted palms sitting in the corners, and orchids and violets on all the tables and tea carts. The area was crowded with friends of the Winston’s drinking punch, tea or champagne, eating tea sandwiches and cakes and chatting, all in a holiday sort of mood.

  The glass windowpanes were slightly frosted now that the outside temperature began to drop in the late afternoon shadows. Wintertime approached and the homes along the waterfront would soon feel the chill and dampness from the humidity. Thinking about the weather that would soon follow, caused Laurel to shrug and shiver slightly.

  “Now, Laurel, what brought on that chill?” Robert whispered behind her ear as he placed his hands on her shoulders.

  She turned and smiled. “What a lovely gathering, Robert. Thank you for inviting me.”

  “The pleasure is all mine. I was afraid you weren’t coming because I didn’t see you come through the receiving line.”

  “I apologize,” she said, lowering her eyelids. “I don’t know many people here, but I’m sure some of them knew my father and grandparents, and I didn’t want to be reminded, nor did I want to answer any questions.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t think. You were right to avoid the introductions. I’m sure my mother, in spite of the fact that she considers herself the epitome of proper etiquette, would have mentioned them while considering doing so was the only correct thing. Not to ask you about your family would have been a social blunder in her mind.”

  They laughed together. “Come.” He offered her his arm, and escorted Laurel into the next room. “Let me get you something to eat and drink. Now tell me, what are your plans for the next week or two, Laurel?”

  “I’ll be here, of course, and perhaps the inn will be occupied and I will keep busy with the boarders and try not to think about the upcoming holidays and being without my family again.”

  “I thought,” he said, raising his eyebrows, “perhaps we could spend some time together and visit. I’ll be going to England soon. As a matter of fact, my parents are leaving ahead of me and I’ll be here alone. I thought if you were free, maybe we could go ice skating on the canal if the weather changes and the water freezes.”

  “Sounds delightful, but I don’t own skates any more,” and feeling a tad of pity, added, “no doubt some carpetbagger has sold them by now.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m sure there are plenty pairs of skates around here you can borrow. If not, the hardware store might be able to accommodate us.”

  Laurel smiled. “You seem to think of everything, Robert. I’m glad we got together.”

  “Me, too. Stay here and finish your food. I have to make the rounds and be cordial and visit with everyone. I’ll be back in a while.”

  Laurel nodded and smiled, watching Robert move in circles. She sat back in her chair and enjoyed her plate of sandwiches. Two women entered the room and stood near her chatting and she couldn’t help but overhear their conversation.

  “Lovely engagement party. Don’t you think?”

  “Yes. I totally agree. Robert has chosen a lovely young woman to be his bride. Quite well off I heard.”

  “You’re right. They came all the way from England for this occasion, and the Winston’s will go to London for the wedding.”

  Laurel froze the moment she heard the word engagement and couldn’t bring herself to leave the room.

  “I wonder how long his fiancée and her parents will stay in Maryland?”

  “Martha said they were leaving mid-week. They have their holidays and wedding preparations on top of one another, and only came to meet Robert’s family and visit for the week.”

  Laurel took a deep breath, swallowed hard and slid her plate onto the nearest table and was grateful she knew her way around the Winston’s house, as she maneuvered her way out of the room unseen by Robert or his family and headed toward the kitchen. Once there, she gave a sigh of relief, nodded to the servants and quietly stepped out the door and headed home in a rush.

  Junie came out of the kitchen the moment she heard the bell over the front door jingle. Wiping her hands on a towel, she asked, “What’s wrong, Chile? Didn’t you have a good time?”

  Laurel shrugged. “Robert got engage
d, and I felt a little awkward being there.”

  “Well, don’t you nevahmind. Come in the kitchen. I’m fixin’ some hot cocoa.”

  Laurel put her arm around Junie’s shoulder. “You always know how to fix things.”

  ****

  Several days went by and Laurel kept busy with the laundry and housecleaning to prepare the inn for the next travelers who might stop to register. After the party, her mind continually thought of Robert, and she frowned trying to figure out why he never mentioned his upcoming marriage. Strange. And she had to admit her feelings were hurt.

  Hurt, not because he had fallen in love with someone and had plans to marry, but because he never bothered to allude to the fact that the party was to announce his engagement and for some reason or other, he didn’t think enough of her to introduce her to his fiancée.

  However, she would get over the snub, and in the future when she thought about Robert, she would simply be a tad annoyed. Bored, she put on a jacket and a pair of gloves and went out into the small informal garden and sat on the cold cement bench, covered with moss, to read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

  Deep into the first chapter, Laurel was disturbed by a rustling sound behind her and turned her head to see Robert coming through the woods.

  “Laurel. I hoped to find you at home.”

  “You could have walked down the road,” she said without smiling, rubbing her neck. “You frightened me.”

  He walked up and sat down next to her. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to scare you, but I didn’t think you’d be outside, either. It’s a little brisk, don’t you agree?”

  “No. The sun is pleasant and the wind isn’t gusting much. I needed a little air and wanted to read,” she replied, hoping he’d get the hint that she preferred to be alone.

  “You disappeared last Saturday. I looked everywhere for you, and finally one of the kitchen servants said you had gone home.”

  “What do you want, Robert?”

  “Nothing. I wanted to see you. If the canal isn’t frozen, I thought maybe you might want to go for a buggy ride and drive along the bay.”

  Feigning a cough, Laurel closed her book. “Robert, I am not going to go anywhere with you alone—that would not be considered proper. Skating on the canal where other people would be around is one thing, but the canal isn’t frozen and you’re engaged to be married in a couple of months.”

  “Are you angry with me because I’m engaged?”

  She gave him a glance that should have chilled him if the December air hadn’t already. “No. Certainly not because of any reason you might think I’d be upset. You and I were nothing but childhood friends during the summer months when I visited my grandparents. However, I thought the fact that you didn’t bother to tell me you were inviting me to your engagement party, and didn’t bother to introduce me to your fiancée, rather strange.”

  “How so? I would have introduced her if you had come through the receiving line.”

  “Seems to me, Robert, you don’t think enough about either of us to introduce us to one another. I feel sorry for her; you’re not very chivalrous.”

  “I thought we were friends, Laurel.”

  “Once upon a time, maybe. A lot of things have happened in our lives since then. We might have renewed our friendship, but not now. I hope you’ll be very happy.”

  He put his arm around her shoulder and said, “Can’t we can still be friends? I’m going to be living in England, but will travel back and forth to visit my parents,” he whispered, leaning over to kiss her.

  Laurel stood and pushed him off the bench. She waited until he had landed soundly and gathered himself before continuing. “Don’t bother, Robert,” she snapped and turned and rushed toward the house. “I never want to see you again. Never!” She shouted and entered the inn, slamming the front door behind her.

  Chapter Fifteen

  For a few days after her last encounter with Robert, Laurel was hesitant to go outdoors without Junie or Elmore for protection. But Thanksgiving came and went without incident and they were busy collecting greenery to begin decorating and Elmore cut down a white pine and built a wooden stand for their Christmas tree.

  Once the tree was up and placed in the bay window of the living room, Laurel went to the general store with Junie and they purchased some bows and ornaments. They also made small wreaths out of boxwood and holly and Elmore hung them outside in the middle of all the front windows, securing them with red ribbon. By the end of the day they admired the decorations and looked forward to their first Christmas at the inn.

  Laurel thanked Elmore over and over again and inhaled the wonderful holiday scent of the sap on the tree’s branches.

  Junie’s spirits were high, and she sang a good part of the day and baked cookies and cinnamon twists and stored them in tin cans. She and Laurel selected decorated round tins they lined with dishcloths, then Junie filled one with baked goods and one with one of the fruitcakes she made the week before, and Laurel placed an envelope with money inside the lid to give Elmore and his family for Christmas.

  Laurel had put money aside each week for Junie because she refused to ever allow Laurel to pay her a salary. But her mammy gave in and agreed to use some of the money when they went shopping for one another.

  Laurel found a beautiful gray knit sweater for Junie with a wide collar, pretty wooden buttons, and two big pockets in the front, one on each side. In the bookstore she bought a book of nursery rhymes for Jacqueline and a book about the Corps of Discovery explorers and commanders, Lewis and Clark, for Holt. She also purchased a doll for Jacqueline that Junie made a small wardrobe of clothes for to give to her. They prepared fruitcakes and cookies for Mrs. Flanagan, Patrick and his family, and for Catherine. Laurel hoped Holt would come to visit before Christmas, but she hadn’t heard from him since he mailed her the gun.

  This Christmas didn’t come close to the plans for the holiday preparations they once enjoyed in Beaufort, but in comparison to the ones spent during the war years, this was a festive celebration. For the first time in five years, they weren’t worried about where their next meal would come from or frightened of being caught by renegade soldiers from either army, especially throughout the final months of the war.

  “I doan wanna have to eat all these fruitcakes myself if’n the major don’t come in time to take them to his home.”

  Laurel laughed. “Me either, Junie. I’m going into the woods to cut some more holly for the fireplace, then the decorating will be finished and we’ll be ready to celebrate Christmas with time to spare.”

  “Be careful. You sure you doan need me to go wif you?”

  Laurel shook her head. “No, I think the Winston’s surely must have left for England by now. Besides, I won’t be far from the house.” She put on a coat and opened the front door, grabbing her basket and scissors. “Looks like it’s clouding up a bit. We may get a white Christmas after all.”

  Laurel hurried cutting the holly, and placing the greenery in her basket, while concentrating on being careful not to touch the thorns at the same time. She selected one last branch bursting with berries, when the sound of a twig breaking, stopped her.

  “Who’s there?”

  She turned around in a full circle and saw or heard no one. Frightened, nonetheless, she reached down and picked up her basket to go back inside, when all of a sudden someone came from behind and covered her mouth with a gloved hand.

  She tried to break free, but was unsuccessful. Afraid for her life, she grabbed the scissors out of the basket and stabbed the arm that was locked around her shoulders.

  “Damn you, Laurel.”

  Turning, she yelled, “Robert! Was that supposed to be funny?”

  He pulled out a pistol and said, “I don’t think so…”

  Before he uttered another word, she heard Holt’s voice, “Laurel? Where are you?”

  “Holt! Over here…”

  “Laurel, are you all right?”

  By the time Holt reached her, Rober
t had mounted his horse and fled down the road.

  Holt entered the woods and lifted Laurel in his arms and swung her around. “Are you all right?”

  Breathless, she spewed out the words about Robert’s attempt to kill her, as fast as she could.

  “Was that the man on the horse that went by?”

  “Yes. He didn’t return to his home—his parents live down the end of this road.”

  “I doubt I’ll be able to catch him now, but let’s get you inside and safe before I go to see his family.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “Don’t worry about me. I had just arrived and when Junie opened the front door, she told me you were out back in the woods cutting holly, and I walked around the side of the house looking for you.”

  “Your timing was perfect. I’m so happy to see you, Holt. When I heard your voice…I wish I had known you were coming today. I must look a fright.”

  “You could never look like a fright. What do you think that Robert wanted? Why did he pull a pistol?”

  “I’m not sure. At first I thought I may have made a mistake stabbing him, and perhaps he had been fooling around, but when he pulled out a gun, I became more frightened. I think he may have planned to rape me. There was such a fierce and vengeful look in his eyes.”

  “I hope not, because when I find him, he’ll regret even thinking of harming you. Let’s go inside. I want to hear all about this person and besides, whatever Junie is preparing for dinner smells delicious.”

  ****

  Junie waited by the side door for Laurel and Holt to come back inside. Laurel started to tell Holt about Robert, but he held up his hand.

  “Wait here. I’m going to try to catch up with this man. Can you unhitch the wagon and put the horses in the barn?”

  “Are you staying?”

  “I don’t have time to talk now, Laurel, but yes. I’m also taking you two with me when I go.”

  “Where are we going?”