Words Heard in Silence (105 page)

"I am tired, dear, but I fear that I will have to forego sleeping with you for one more night. I just do not think I can get up the stairs."

"Oh I think I can find a way for us to be together. I cannot go another night without being near you."

Charlie caught his breath. She had been rather distant physically throughout the evening. Patting his knee and leaning her head against his good thigh was the limit of her contact. He found that as the night progressed, he longed for her touch. No, he was not in any shape to make love, but he needed to feel her arms around him again and he ached for just a touch from her lips. "I would love to be with you, dear. So whatever you devise, I will be happy."

"Then I shall be right back." Rebecca left the parlor, returning a few minutes later with a pile of bedding that was bigger than she was. After a few minutes, there was a bed placed on the floor near the fireplace. She turned and held out a nightshirt. "Would you like me to help you get dressed for bed?"

"I have no other options, dear. I just cannot do it myself yet. The arm and hand will not cooperate." He saw the slightly dashed looked on her face and added, "but even if I could do it, I would love your assistance."

She nodded and approached him slowly. "Tell me if I hurt you." Carefully she unbelted his robe and help him slip out of it. Then the clothes began to come off. She was very careful about Charlie's right side. "Are you all right?"

Charlie was breathing a little hard. Moving that right arm was painful and anything that nudged the raw bones of his hand was also difficult. She had not yet gotten to the most difficult wounds. "I am as right as I get nowadays, dear. You are far more gentle than Jocko."

"I would hope so," she chuckled and began rolling the sleep shirt. "Do you have any suggestion for what you think might be the best way to do this? To be honest Charlie, it would be easier for you to sleep nude, but it is difficult to say who might walk in here."

"Well, if you get it on the right arm first, then over my head, I can work my left arm into without too much trouble. Then all you have to do is get my trousers off."

"All right." She helped pull the shirt over Charlie's head, slowly and carefully. "Now just hold it up while I take off your trousers." She worked the button and the hook free. "I am sure this is going to be painful, but I will do it as quickly as possible."

Charlie held his breath while Rebecca carefully eased his trousers over the bandages on his hip and thigh. She looked at them carefully for a moment, and seeing no signs of seepage, patted him on his calf. He looked down at her and smiled. "Painless, dear."

"Good." She very gently touched Charlie's right leg. "These do not bother or concern me, Charlie. You are still the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."

Charlie looked at her, seeing the truth in her eyes. "You, my beloved, are terribly biased. I hope you stay that way."

"There is nothing biased about how I feel about you." She helped Charlie pull the sleep shirt down. "Now, can we get you to the bed?"

Charlie grinned at his beautiful wife. "I certainly think you are the most stunning, beautiful, feisty thing I have ever set eyes on. And yes, I think if you give me a hand, I can lower myself down there."

Rebecca held her left hand firmly as Charlie moved from the couch to the bedding on the floor.

With a shaky moment or two, Charlie managed to get down onto the bed without doing major damage. She carefully arranged herself so that the injuries were properly supported and then sank into the soft padding. Extending her left hand to Rebecca, Charlie almost shyly asked, "Can I offer you a shoulder?"

"Absolutely, just let me get changed."

Charlie laid back and watched Rebecca as she started to remove her dress. Watching Rebecca emerge from the whalebone and skirts of her clothing to display her slender, elegant body was always a delight for Charlie.

She settled her nightgown over her head and gently climbed into bed with Charlie. "I would like to be close to you, but I do not want to hurt you."

"Rebecca, I have missed you for so long, having you not come over here hurts far more than anything your touch may do to me. I am starting to heal; it is not as bad as it was."

She sighed and placed her head on Charlie's shoulder then gently draped her arm over her waist. "Is this all right?"

Charlie smiled. She was home. "It is perfect, darling. There is just one thing missing."

"Yes?"

Charlie turned her head and gently laid her lips on Rebecca’s forehead. "Just one thing. Your lips."

Culpeper County, Virginia

Thursday, June 1, 1865

Dear Major Swallow,

I write to you as one of my first activities after regaining use of what is left of my hand. I have also written to your brother to extend my personal condolences on the loss of your young cousin, Joshua. His death is mourned and honored. He fell in a good cause, as I believe our ability to keep those supplies captured at Appomattox Station from General Lee’s forces was the most telling action that led to the final surrender.

Indeed, as my last official act as an officer in the United States Army, I am writing to the family of each man who fell that day, for in my opinion, to ride into the face of those howitzers was truly an act of immense courage. I know that Colonel Polk long since prepared the official notifications, but as their commanding officer, I feel an obligation to honor the valiant fallen. We all knew that day just how important it was to keep those supplies from getting through; though I would have taken a different approach from General Custer’s, we had a job to do, we did it, and the result was, as we both know, the cessation of the war in Virginia. I thank God every day for the end of this most painful disruption of our national family. Trooper Raiford fell still holding the flag; Trooper Franklin and then your cousin followed him, so that the Colors of the 13th Pennsylvania never flagged on that day.

I mourn, too, the loss of Captains Hoffstader and Avery and many of their men. Companies B and I took a major blow in that last charge under General Sheridan at Appomattox Courthouse. Thank God that General Grant’s infantry was there to support us, for I believe the Southerners were desperate and would have been truly formidable had we not had that support. Dewees fell, too, that day, successfully rescuing a pocket of his men who had been entrapped by enemy forces. He gave the ultimate gift –– his life for his men’s.

I have not had word of all the others who were injured but I understand most recovered from their wounds. I would be most grateful if you would advise me of the status of your men in Pennsylvania. I am asking Captain Braddock to keep me advised of the condition of the Ohioans who mustered out under his charge.

Several of our men have chosen to settle here in Culpeper and build new lives. In particular, Tarent and MacFarlane are working the stables here for me, and Jocko has chosen to remain as well. It surprised me that young Duncan Nailer stayed on, but then, he and Mrs. Carter seem to be exploring their common friendship through young Jeremiah. I would not be surprised to see them marry sometime in the future.

Richard Polk has taken over from Major Byrnes as the Military/Civilian liaison in the area. I would not be surprised if he resigned his commission and took up civilian politics in this community. As one would expect of Colonel Polk, he has managed to charm the ladies and make the gentlemen his cronies. We do expect him to be somewhat tamed in the coming months, as he and Dr. Walker will wed next month. I do not expect the good Doctor will allow our friend too much latitude in his personal dealings in the future.

I hope this letter has found you in good health, and happily reunited with your family and look forward to receiving word from you on the progress of our men as they return to civilian life.

Cordially,

Chas. Redmond

Brig. General, U.S. Army (Ret.)

Charlie looked at the letter he had written, one of almost a hundred sending condolences and inquiring after the health and status of his men who had been killed or injured in the last days of the war. He sat back and considered the events of the past month, since he had truly begun his journey to recovery.

The last part of May had been an interesting time on the farm. Many of the families who had been taken in had found their way to other things. Charlie and Rebecca had purchased another two dozen horses. This had resulted in Tarent and McFarlane hiring on another three hands to help take care of the rapidly growing herd.

Richard and Elizabeth set a date for their wedding. Rebecca considered it to be one of the things that had inspired Charlie to work harder to get better. He was getting stronger everyday and took getting out of the house very seriously. He had managed to avoid his own wedding plans, and, now that more plans were in the offing, was once again purposely making himself scarce. Wedding plans were a little more than Charlie could handle.

There had also been an incident, which helped Charlie and Albert get to know each other better. Shannon, in a fit of pregnant pique, bit Jack on the neck, removing a chunk of flesh about the size of a ten dollar gold piece. Charlie’s arm was still not serviceable enough to do the hard work, but he calmed Jack while Albert did the work of patching the horse up. It gave the two a chance to get to know each other and it gave Charlie a chance to thank Albert for taking care of the farm and Rebecca while he was unable to do so.

Jocko had managed to start formally courting Mrs. White and young Duncan had done the same with Jeremiah’s mother, Samantha Carter. Rebecca wondered if she would ever see Charlie in the house again if they all decided to get married.

Culpeper was slowly starting to recover from the horrors it had been subjected to, and people were starting to settle into the community once again. A few new buildings were being constructed, including the new schoolhouse. Someone had suggested Richard would make a fine marshal once his retirement was ratified, and he had been heard to be considering it, but he would have to see what the future Mrs. Polk would have to say about it.

Charlie and Richard had discussed the idea of building a clinic for Elizabeth as a wedding gift, but they were terrible at keeping the secret and she soon found out. A short time later she hired a young man who had recently returned home to draw up the plans.

Charlie had begun correspondence with Mr. Cooke about the possibility of opening a bank in Culpeper. The need for investment capital was great, and Charlie felt he would soon see progress in that direction.

Evenings were spent with their friends and with their children. Em was learning her alphabet, making both her Mama and Papa very proud. Little Charlie was starting to push himself up and hold his head up for longer amounts of time. Andy had a minor bout of colic, which kept Rebecca and Charlie up for three days straight, but they were more than happy to be tending to the youngest of their brood.

Bedtime had found Charlie and Rebecca settling into a new ritual. Rebecca first washed Charlie’s wounds with warm water, then applied a lotion Elizabeth had given them. She said it would help Charlie’s scars fade and while they would never be completely gone, would help to reduce them. Charlie loved the extra attention and his fears that Rebecca would be repulsed by his injuries began to fade along with the scars.

Of course Rebecca knew Charlie was getting spoiled rotten and she would still be applying lotion long after there was no further need, but she really did not mind. All that mattered to her was that Charlie was there with her.

Charlie smiled. It was good to be getting back into a routine, good to be able to walk upstairs under his own power. With daily exercise, he was beginning to regain use of his right arm, and to regain some strength in his right leg. The extensive loss of muscle tissue meant he would never be totally normal; but he kept working and exercising, trying to build up some flexibility and strength in the ravaged tissue. His right hand still ached, and Elizabeth warned him that he would probably feel the ghosts of those missing fingers for the rest of his life, but he could hold a pen, a knife, and a fork now, so he was spared the indignity of having to have his food cut up for him like a child.

The back door to his office banged open. Em had learned several new things, one of which was that Charlie’s office was always available to her when her father was in it.

"Papa, look. Fishy in rock. Why, Papa?" Tess trailed behind her impetuous charge.

Charlie looked at the rock clutched in Em’s rather grubby hand. "It is called a fossil, Em. When this fishy died a long, long time ago, the body lay on the sand at the bottom of the pond. More sand covered it up and over time, the sand turned into rock." Charlie and Tess exchanged sympathetic looks and then Charlie motioned for Tess to leave; he would look after his daughter for a while.

Em looked at the piece of sandstone and thought for a minute. "Why, Papa?"

Charlie rolled his eyes. ‘‘Why’ had remained Em’s favorite word and at times, he was hard pressed to come up with an answer he thought she might be able to understand. Finally, he had an idea. "Come with me, little one."

They walked down to the pond, where Charlie picked up a handful of wet, clay-ridden sand. "See, Em. It is loose sand, right?" She nodded as he pressed it into a compact ball. "Now, when I press on it, it gets harder." She nodded again. "When things press on it for a long time –– a very long time –– it will get even harder." He took the wet clay ball and walked with the child to the stone barn. "So, we will find a big rock and press it even more, then let it dry out. Then you can see it get even harder." Em watched, fascinated, as Charlie found a couple of stones and made a makeshift brick mold. "Now, we will come back in a couple of days and see what happens."