The Widow of Rose Hill (The Women of Rose Hill Book 2)

by Michelle Shocklee

  She had no time for Eunice’s pouting. “Colonel Maish was comforting me, Alexander. We have experienced a number of upsetting incidents over the course of the past twenty-four hours.”

  “Oh, Señor,” Eunice said, barreling between Levi and Natalie, forcing them to step farther apart. “You have come just in time. We are desperate for one of our own men to protect us.”

  Alexander dismounted and joined them on the porch, his face a dark scowl. “You are in danger?” He glanced at the soldiers.

  Eunice nodded enthusiastically. “As you recall me saying, Señor, the Yankees burned us out down in Shelby County, and I had to flee the only home I’d known since I was a young bride. The judge … er …” She glanced at Natalie, seeming to remember her recent reprimand, then continued. “Well, never mind that. We have had a fire here, Señor. The grain barn was destroyed.” Her glower found Levi. “I felt sure the Yankees had something to do with it, but as it turns out, one of the Negroes they hired is responsible. He attacked poor Natalie and nearly killed our Samuel, too.”

  Alexander turned his startled look to Natalie, obviously astonished by the tale he’d just heard, while Levi stood silent, hurt and uncertainty in his dark gaze. Cousin Eunice appeared poised to launch into another speech, which Natalie simply could not endure.

  “Please, everyone.” Natalie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “The fact remains that Jezro must be found. That is most important.” She looked at Levi, wishing she could explain the situation with Alexander, but this was not the time nor the place.

  After a long moment, he acquiesced. “I will have my men begin the search immediately.” With a slight bow, he turned to descend the steps. His voice had held none of the warmth from minutes ago.

  “Natalie, my dear,” Alexander said as soon as Levi joined his men in the yard. “Please, tell me all that has happened.”

  She allowed him to lead her to a wicker sofa, where she explained about finding Jezro in her bedroom, the fire, and nearly losing Samuel, keeping her eyes averted when she described Levi’s heroic rescue of her son. She didn’t want anyone to guess her love for the colonel. “So you see, Alexander, we are very grateful for the soldiers. We might have lost all the barns had we not had their help.”

  “That may well be,” he said, frowning at the group of men in blue uniforms receiving instructions from Levi. “But wasn’t it the colonel who chose the new workers? He should have taken more care in who he allowed onto a plantation where a widow and her small son reside.”

  Levi’s own admission of that very thing echoed in her mind. “No one could have predicted something like this would happen.”

  “I daresay an officer in the Union Army should have,” Eunice said, adding a firm nod to punctuate the forceful words. “That man is too arrogant for his own good, and now that arrogance put you and little Samuel in danger. As your mother’s dearest relative, I advise you to end your agreement with the army posthaste before something else happens.”

  “I must agree with your cousin.” Alexander exchanged a satisfied look with Eunice. When he met Natalie’s gaze again, his face turned grave. “I have learned some troubling information about Colonel Maish. In fact, that is the very reason I came this morning, as it is rather alarming.”

  Natalie stared at the man. “What sort of information?”

  “The kind that leads me to believe you are in far more danger with that man on Rose Hill land than you were with a former slave who turned out to be a thief.”

  She stood, angry that he would say such a thing. “Alexander, Colonel Maish has been nothing but a gentleman in the time I’ve known him. He risked his life to save Samuel. I doubt anything you might have learned through gossip is even true.”

  Carolina and Corporal Banks rounded the corner of the porch, their smiles fading when they took in the serious faces of Natalie, Alexander, and Eunice.

  “Miz Natalie,” Carolina said, hesitation in her voice. “Harriet wants to know if she ought to make up some sandwiches for the soldiers befo’ they head out.”

  “Of course not,” Eunice said before Natalie could answer, her tone indignant. “We can’t spare a morsel of food now that the grain barn has been destroyed.” Her accusing eyes landed on the corporal. “I’m still not entirely convinced those Bluecoats didn’t have a hand in it. It would not surprise me if they bribed that Jezro to do it, just to keep the attention off the true culprits.”

  Corporal Banks’ brow furrowed, but he remained silent.

  “Carolina,” Natalie said, determined not to let her overbearing cousin make decisions that were hers alone to make. “Please ask Harriet to use the bread she baked yesterday and what’s left of the ham in the smoke house to feed the soldiers. While Cousin Eunice is correct—we will need to begin rationing immediately—we also can’t neglect the very men who helped save the barns and who are even now going in search of the man responsible.”

  Natalie watched the couple retreat in the direction they’d come from.

  “Perhaps we should go inside to discuss the news I have discovered,” Alexander said, glancing at the handful of soldiers who still remained in the yard. Levi was nowhere to be seen.

  Exhausted by everything that had happened, Natalie agreed, needing the tranquility of her favorite room in Rose Hill Manor to help sort things out. She allowed him to lead her inside, wishing she could send Eunice away while Alexander revealed whatever it was that had him upset. She couldn’t imagine anything he’d learned about Levi would change her feelings. She loved him. When the dust settled from all the events of the past twenty-four hours, she would explain about Alexander and her fears for the future, and, if she were brave enough, admit her love for him.

  When the two women were settled on the parlor sofa, Alexander stood near the ornate fireplace and took a deep breath.

  “I am sorry I must bear such disturbing news, Natalie.” His dark eyes conveyed his distress. “Suffice it to say, my concern is only for you.”

  “Please, Alexander.” Natalie was ready to have this conversation over with. “Tell me.”

  He nodded, frowning. “I have just come from Austin, where I ran into an old friend. We enjoyed a good visit, discussing the many changes in Texas. When he learned I had business at Rose Hill, he shared a most interesting tale.”

  Natalie’s patience thinned. “Such as?”

  “Because he is a Tejano and a respected business owner, the Union Army General—Granger, I believe his name is—has sought my friend’s advice on many occasions over the last weeks. Just a few days ago, Colonel Maish met with the general, and my friend was there. Later, when he asked about the colonel, he was told of the man’s fierceness in battle, and how countless Confederates died by his hand.”

  Natalie shuddered. She didn’t want to hear stories from the war. She and everyone else in the country still struggled to put the pain it wrought behind them. “He fought for the North, Alexander. That is no secret. What he did in those battles is between him and God, the same as any other soldier, including my husband. I don’t see how this information has anything to do with me.”

  “You once told me your husband died at Manassas Junction at the hands of a Yankee officer on horseback.”

  “Yes.” A knot of trepidation began to form in her belly.

  Satisfaction flashed across his face before he grew sober again. “Maish was in that battle, as a captain. He received his promotion to colonel because he boldly rode into the fighting, killing dozens of Confederate soldiers with his saber as he went.”

  The implications of the story settled over Natalie like a dark, ominous cloud.

  Alexander knelt before her and took her hands in his, his eyes showing his deep concern. “There is a strong possibility, my dear Natalie, that Colonel Maish is the very man who murdered your husband.”

  She stared at him, unable to believe it. Surely Alexander’s friend was wrong. Of course, Natalie knew Levi had killed men, Southern men. War forced a man to do things he would never do ot
herwise. She thought back to the night they sat on the porch swing together. He’d asked about George’s death, and she’d conveyed to him the same details she’d disclosed to Alexander several months ago. If Levi had been in that battle, he would have mentioned it, she was certain.

  A sound from the foyer drew her attention.

  Levi filled the parlor doorway a moment later. When she met his solemn gaze, what she saw in his eyes sent a chill racing through her, ending when it reached her heart and the tender shoot of love that had just begun to blossom.

  He’d heard Alexander’s accusations.

  And he wasn’t there to deny them.

  Levi hadn’t intended to eavesdrop, but when he’d come in search of Natalie and heard Lopez use his name, he’d stood outside the parlor, listening. Everything the Tejano said was true, of course. When he’d learned how and where George Ellis died, he’d wondered the same thing Lopez seemed certain of. Had he killed Natalie’s husband, Samuel’s father? They would never know, but the look of betrayal shining in her eyes now, staring at him as though he’d slain Ellis there in the parlor, sufficiently snuffed out any hope he had of explaining himself.

  “Is it true?” She stood, her voice full of distress.

  Lopez rose to his feet, a sneer on his face when Levi glanced at him.

  “That I was in the battle at Manassas Junction? Yes, I was there.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Lopez and Eunice stared at him, satisfaction in their eyes.

  “I believe this is a conversation we should have in private.”

  “Absolutely not.” Lopez stepped closer to Natalie. “I will not allow the man who may very well be responsible for making her a widow to come anywhere near her again.”

  “I agree.” Eunice stood on the other side of Natalie, as though she needed their physical protection from Levi. “Indeed, little Samuel will never know his father because you killed George Ellis.”

  Levi seethed at the charge, fighting to remain calm. He’d had about enough of the accusations, and he was preparing to challenge them when Samuel brushed past him, staring up at Levi with wide, troubled eyes.

  “Did you hurt my papa?”

  Levi’s indignant wrath evaporated at the sight of the fatherless child. What could he say? “I … I don’t know, Samuel.” The truth sounded pathetically inadequate.

  “Samuel,” Natalie said, breaking free of her protectors and coming to kneel in front of her son. “I need you to go play in your room while I talk to the grown-ups. Then I’ll come up, and we’ll talk about your papa.”

  Samuel’s frown deepened, and he put his pudgy hands on either side of Natalie’s face. “Did the co’nel hurt Papa, Mama?”

  She gathered him into her arms and carried him from the room. “I don’t know, Samuel,” she whispered as they went out the door. Samuel’s head was on her shoulder, but his teary eyes landed on Levi.

  They disappeared, leaving Levi with the strongest urge to follow and capture them both in his embrace. He’d never intended to hurt them. To hurt anyone. War, they surely must understand, left lives broken, even those who never saw a battlefield.

  “You are not welcome here, Colonel.” Eunice drew herself up to her full, rounded height. “You need to leave.”

  The officer in him refused to budge. He didn’t take orders from the woman. Besides, he had to talk to Natalie. Between her supposed engagement to Lopez and his involvement in the battle where her husband had perished, they had plenty to discuss. But one look at Lopez’s stony face told Levi he would not have an opportunity to speak with her alone. Not now, anyway.

  Without a word, he spun and exited the house. The yard was devoid of soldiers and horses, every available man off searching for Jezro. He’d put Banks in charge of the details, knowing the corporal would make certain every inch of the plantation was searched. Moses felt the field workers should not be involved in the hunt since there was no way to know if Jezro had been working alone or not. Levi agreed. Looking to the cotton fields now, he made out the shapes of people at work.

  “Colonel, suh?”

  Moses strode toward him.

  “I done searched all the buildin’s like you asked, suh. Didn’t find no stolen things anywhere. Thought I might look in the quarter houses whilst the others are out in them fields.”

  “I’ll join you,” Levi said, glad to have something to occupy his mind besides the debacle between Natalie and himself. “Until Mrs. Ellis is able to ascertain what’s missing from the house, I want to be certain Jezro doesn’t have more goods stashed somewhere.”

  Together, they walked down the sloping lawn to the quarter, passing a larger cabin that had probably once served as the overseer’s home. When they reached the two rows of small houses, he and Moses entered the first one. Though it had plank floors and a fireplace, there wasn’t much else to offer comfort. Two sagging rope beds, several straw pallets, and a few crude furnishings occupied the cramped space. Unwashed dishes were stacked in a bucket, and a few items of clothing hung from pegs on the wall. There were very few personal belongings, despite the cabin housing a half-dozen people.

  “This here the cabin where Jezro was stayin’.” Moses glanced around the area that wasn’t even as big as Rose Hill’s parlor. “I’ll look over here.” He indicated the bed farthest from the door.

  Levi nodded, trying to imagine where Jezro might have hidden the treasures he’d stolen from Natalie. That the Negro had been in her bedroom, going through her things, and then attacked her … well, that man better be long gone. If Levi got his hands on him—

  “I feel responsible for all this mess with Jezro, Colonel.”

  Levi looked up to find Moses’ troubled gaze on him.

  “How so?”

  “I shoulda been more careful, keepin’ a better eye on them boys.”

  The same guilty thoughts plagued Levi. “I suppose we’ve all learned a valuable lesson, especially when it comes to keeping Mrs. Ellis and Samuel safe.”

  “Yessuh, I ’spect we has.”

  They continued their search. A few minutes later, Moses tapped the floorboards with the toe of his stiff-looking leather shoe.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’s listening for a holler spot underneath them boards. Makes a good place for hidin’ things you don’t want found.”

  Levi got the impression Moses knew this from experience. A few more taps, and Levi’s curiosity reached its limit.

  “Did you ever hide something in the floor you didn’t want found?” He expected a guilty expression to fill the other man’s face, perhaps from stealing something from his master and keeping it secret, so he was surprised when Moses grinned.

  “Shore did. I hid my Bible under them boards. First while I’s at the Langford’s then after I come to Rose Hill, up over the kitchen.” He smiled. “I shore am pleased I don’t got to hide that book no more. I got it sittin’ on the table there in our room, as proud as can be.”

  Levi nodded, and they both went back to work. The old Negro was a puzzle—that was for certain. He never seemed angry at Natalie or her family for keeping him in bondage all those years. Even telling a story about having to hide his Bible brought a smile rather than righteous anger.

  They went through each cabin but found no stolen items. Exiting the last one, they walked into hot afternoon sunshine. Levi glanced over and saw a small shack off by itself. Although a horde of flies buzzed around it, it wasn’t an outhouse. Those were in the opposite direction. Too small to be of much use for storage or animal care, he wondered at its purpose.

  “Should we check inside that building? Jezro may have used it as a hiding place.”

  A grave look washed over Moses’ face. “That there the shed. When a slave disobeyed or got into mischief, Massa Ellis had him thrown in there.”

  Levi looked back to the small structure. Moses’ tone alone told Levi how bad it must have been to be put inside. “I’ll check it. You don’t have to.”

  Moses t
ook hold of Levi’s arm when he started toward the building. “Colonel, suh, that place nastier than anythin’ you can imagine. Not even Jezro go anywhere near it.”

  He contemplated the information for several moments. “Is it still used?”

  “Not since ol’ Massa Ellis die.”

  “Why don’t you tear it down?”

  Moses shrugged. “Don’t guess I ever thought to.”

  “Would Mrs. Ellis care if you got rid of it?”

  “No, suh, I don’t believe she would.”

  They both turned to study the shed. When Levi met Moses’ gaze again, the glint of eagerness he saw there matched his own. It would feel good to destroy something as hateful as that shed. Especially after such a vexing day.

  “We’ll need a sledgehammer.”

  A grin stretched across Moses’ face. “I’ll bring two.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  It had been a full week since the fire. Gratefully, Samuel didn’t appear traumatized by the event. He played with the kittens and with Isaac, ran around the yard with Ebenezer, and curled up in Natalie’s lap for stories each night before bedtime. Everything would seem back to normal if it weren’t for the shadow of sadness in his eyes whenever Corporal Banks or one of the many soldiers residing at Rose Hill passed by.

  Gently pushing the porch swing with her toe, Natalie broke open a pea pod and let the small green balls roll into the bowl in her lap, thinking of the day they’d learned Levi had been at Manassas Junction. Samuel shed huge tears because the colonel hurt his papa, or so he believed. She soothed him as best she could, trying to explain that no one knew what happened the day George died. When her son finally quieted, he didn’t ask about his papa or Levi again, and Natalie didn’t press him.

  She sighed. Levi hadn’t been back to Rose Hill since that terrible day. Corporal Banks was very tight-lipped about it, and not even Carolina could get information from him about the colonel’s whereabouts. Natalie vacillated between the need to see him and talk things through and silently railing at him for his role at Manassas. Why, of all battles, had he participated in that one? She couldn’t deny the description of the man who’d killed George fit Levi. Reasoning also told her it fit every other Union officer who was there, but what if Levi was the one responsible for ending George’s life? How could she give her heart to the man who may have run his saber through her husband’s heart?