The Whippoorwill Trilogy - Sharon Sala Page 0,315

Katie.”

She patted T-Bone, giving his ears a playful tug as she moved toward the back door. The least she could do was wash her hands and face before attending to the bothersome business of company. As far as she was concerned, the only good part of it was the fact that she would get to visit with Robert Lee, no matter how brief the meeting.

The baby kicked as she moved into the house.

“I don’t like this any more than you do,” she muttered, as she poured some water up into a wash basin and scrubbed at her hands and face.

She removed her work apron and combed the fly-away tendrils of her hair away from her face. The bang of the front door signaled the arrival of her visitors. She smoothed her hands down the front of her gray, stained smock and lifted her chin.

The swell of her belly preceded her entrance into the parlor. She saw the man in Union blue, as well as the perturbed expression on Delilah’s face, but it was the tall, somber man with dark hair and black eyes standing by the fireplace who captured her attention. As always, Robert Lee’s quiet presence intrigued her, and at the same time, filled her with a sense of peace.

“Good morning,” Letty said, letting her gaze linger longest on Robert Lee. “Thank you, Robert Lee.” Then she included everyone else in the greeting. “Please… have a seat.”

“Mrs. Potter, my name is—”

Robert Lee was already on his way out the door when Letty interrupted the soldier and called him back.

“Robert Lee, I know you’re terribly busy, but I would appreciate it if you would stay while this gentleman and I have our conversation.”

Carson Mylam frowned.

Robert Lee pivoted on one heel, walked across the parlor to the chair nearest where Letty was sitting, and sat down with his hat in his lap.

“Letty, would you like for me to fetch some tea?” Delilah asked.

Still hot from her soap making task, Letty was already fanning herself with a small, paper fan. She arched an eyebrow at Robert Lee, who stared at her for a moment, then looked away.

Letty saw a muscle jerking in his jaw and knew he was irked with her for asking him to stay.

“I think these gentlemen would most likely prefer something a bit stronger,” Letty said, and pointed toward a cupboard in the corner.

Delilah was as familiar with men’s likes and dislikes as Letty, and headed for the whiskey decanter and the small shot glasses on a shelf above.

Once Delilah was at her task, Letty eyed the officer again.

“I’m sorry. I interrupted you. As you were saying…”

Carson was out of his element. This woman was nothing like he’d expected. There was perspiration on her face, stains on her clothing, and her hands were obviously reddened from some sort of menial labor. He would have expected a woman of her wealth to have her every wish granted by servants. Instead, she appeared as a servant herself, and showed no embarrassment or made an apology for receiving company while being so great with child.

He cleared his throat.

“My name is Carson Mylam, a major with the Union army.” At this point, he pulled his letters of reference from his pocket. “I have letters of reference from President Lincoln, as well as two of my superiors, both of whom are generals. I’ve come on the behalf of the government of these United States to speak of a matter most urgent.”

“I doubt you have been in a single state since you crossed the Mississippi River. This territory damn sure isn’t one, so don’t go throwing the United State government at me. Back there, they don’t even know we exist.”

Carson frowned.

Letty frowned back as she stared at the papers he was holding.

“So what is it you came to talk about?”

“I came to beseech you, on behalf of President Lincoln, to beg for your help.”

“What could I possibly do? I’m near to giving birth. Surely you aren’t asking me to pick up a rifle and go fight your war?”

The skin on Carson’s neck turned bright pink.

“No, Ma’am. I have come to you, because of your great wealth and power.” And even as he was saying it, there was a moment when he realized how foolish that sounded.

Letty stared at him for a moment, and then laughed—out loud—without care for the lack of lady-like behavior.

“And what is it that you think my wealth and power is going to do… stop bullets?”

Carson’s neck flushed a darker shade of