Joseph and Clara bowed their heads against rolling gales of wind as they walked up 4 ½ Street to Bea’s apartment, where they were to join Bea, her brother, Jeremiah, and Sergeant Kessler for coffee and dessert. With each gust, vibrant autumn leaves gathered around their shoes, then fluttered onward. Joseph settled his hat a bit lower on his forehead. “If this wind continues much longer, all the trees are going to be bare come morning.”
Clara tipped her head and looked at the sky. “Those clouds remind me that winter can’t be far off.”
Joseph nodded. No doubt the commanders and soldiers in the field were thinking about winter, as well. War was difficult enough in decent weather, but spring storms created a mucky terrain that proved difficult for man and beast, and the frigid cold of winter brought a grueling set of difficulties all its own. While winter camps would be set up to provide some protection from the elements, there would be an increased lack of food, clean drinking water, and sanitation. Disease would run rampant and take as many lives as most battles. When the warmer weather finally arrived, the melting snow would leave a sea of mud that would mire soldiers, animals, and wagons alike. He wouldn’t complain about changing weather—not when he slept in a warm barracks and had plenty of hot food to eat.
Clara’s tug on his sleeve brought him back to the present. Her brows dipped low over her eyes. “You didn’t hear a word I was saying, did you?”
He shot her a quick smile and shook his head. “I’m sorry. I was lost in my own thoughts. What were you telling me?”
“Bea expressed concern that conversation might prove difficult since you don’t know Jeremiah and Sergeant Kessler, so I thought we might play charades.” She glanced at him. “I thought it might set all of us at ease. What do you think?”
“So long as I’m with you, I’ll enjoy myself. But who’s going to decide what charades we’ll be acting out?”
“Mrs. Ludwig was pleased to lend her assistance. I have the slips of paper in my reticule.” He took her elbow as they climbed the steps. “I promise I haven’t looked at them.”
“Hmm. You may have to let the rest of us win just to prove your honesty.” He chuckled. “I’m joking. I know you wouldn’t cheat.”
“Thank you, kind sir.” Clara nodded toward the door. “Here we are.” She led the way up the porch steps and knocked.
Before either could say anything further, Jeremiah appeared with his hair still damp and freshly combed. He hung their wraps on the wooden pegs in the hallway and ushered them into the parlor, where Andrew and Bea awaited them. Andrew stood straight as a stick and lifted his hand to salute before quickly dropping it to his side. He was obviously uncertain what protocol he should follow.
Joseph extended his hand and offered the sergeant a sympathetic smile. “No need for formality, Andrew. We’re two civilians enjoying a Sunday afternoon visit and a game of charades.”
“Charades?” Bea arched her brows and looked at Clara.
“I thought it might be fun.” She reached into her reticule and withdrew folded slips of paper. “Mrs. Ludwig was kind enough to prepare these for us.” Clara placed the slips into a bowl on the table and turned to the three men. “Who would like to play?”
All three of them raised their hands. Bea shook her head and frowned at Jeremiah. “I thought you were going to play chess with your friend this afternoon.”
Jeremiah settled back in his chair. “This sounds like far more fun than chess. I can always go later. Shall I go first?” Without waiting for a response, he plucked a paper from the bowl and opened it.
“You’re a terrible host, Jeremiah. You should have let one of our guests go first.” Bea crossed the room and sat down beside Andrew.
Jeremiah ignored her and held up six fingers.
“Six words,” they shouted in unison. When he held up only one finger, they called out, “First word.”
Jeremiah nodded, bent his arms at the elbow, and flapped them up and down.
“Chicken!” Bea said.
Jeremiah shook his head and continued flapping his arms.
“Bird?” Andrew leaned forward when Jeremiah waved encouragement. “Birds?”
Jeremiah hurried to the hallway and returned with a shabby red velvet bonnet. He held up four fingers and pointed to the frayed feather tucked near the brim.
“Feather,” Clara said. “So the fourth word is feather, and the first word is birds.”
“Ha! Birds of a feather flock together,” Joseph hollered. “Is that it?”
Jeremiah tossed the paper onto the table. “That’s it! Since you guessed correctly, I think you should go next, Joseph.”
After withdrawing a paper from the bowl, Joseph held up five fingers and then looked toward the kitchen. He strode to the dry sink, picked up a misshapen bar of soap, returned, and held up one finger. While holding the soap near his shirt, he moved it up and down the sleeve and did the same to his trousers.
“Washing clothes,” Andrew said. When Joseph shook his head, Andrew said, “Scrubbing your body?” Joseph shook his head again but waved encouragement to the others.
“Cleaning?” Bea asked. Joseph nodded enthusiastically for her to continue. “Cleansing?” He held his fingers together and gestured in a stretching motion. Bea frowned, then shouted, “Cleanliness?”
“Yes!” He held up five fingers and pointed to the ceiling.
They all looked up, and Jeremiah chuckled. “I think he’s offering to clean the ceiling, Bea.” They all erupted in laughter.
Once the laughter died down, Andrew leaned forward. “Godliness. Cleanliness is next to godliness. Is that it, Joseph?”
“Right you are, Andrew!” Joseph turned to Clara. “Why don’t you go next and let us see your acting abilities, Clara.”
She smiled at him, stood, reached into the bowl, and read the saying before holding up eight fingers. She waited a moment and held up three fingers.
“Third word,” Andrew said.
Clara nodded and rapidly pointed her finger back and forth between Bea and herself.
Andrew scooted to the edge of his chair. “Girls! Women! Ladies!”
“Friends,” Bea shouted.
Clara nodded, held up four fingers, and stepped to Bea’s side. She pulled her into a tight hug.
“Hug! Embrace! Squeeze!” The fellows continued to shout their guesses, but it was Bea who raised her eyebrows and said, “Close?”
Joseph hesitated only a moment before he nudged Andrew. “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Is that it?”
“Yes!” Clara hurried to his side and dropped down beside him.
Andrew shook his head. “You sure got that one in no time, Joseph.” He waved to Bea. “Come on, Bea. Take a turn.”
She nodded. “I’ll do mine and then we’ll have cake and coffee.” She reached into the bowl, read the paper, and stepped to the middle of the room. A tiny smile played at her lips as she held up six fingers and gestured that she was going to act out the fourth word. Moments later, she shaped her fingers into a heart and then enveloped Andrew in a giant hug.
“Love,” Joseph and Clara shouted in unison.
Bea nodded and moved back to the center of the room before holding up six fingers. She pretended she was holding a rifle and shooting. After several incorrect guesses, Jeremiah shouted, “War! Love and war. All’s fair in love and war. Is that it?”
“That’s it.” Bea grinned at her brother, but he didn’t return the smile. Instead, his eyes flickered with a mysterious look.
Perhaps he thought Bea had been too familiar with Andrew. In truth, her hug had seemed a bit overzealous. Then again, who could say?
Moments later, Jeremiah pointed to the kitchen. “I’m ready for that cake and coffee, Bea.” Once Bea and Clara disappeared into the kitchen, Jeremiah turned to Joseph. “Terrible thing that happened in Lawrenceville. I bet you wish you hadn’t been there during the explosion.”
Joseph placed his elbow on the armrest. “I wish nobody had been there. There were so many young women killed or injured. In the aftermath of Antietam, I fear they’ve already been forgotten.”
“Nobody who works at the Arsenal has forgotten.” Jeremiah rubbed his jaw. “What with the colonel looking to make changes and insisting on those investigations, it would be hard to forget.”
Andrew scooted forward on the sofa. “I hear tell there’s going to be some changes made in the filling room and maybe in the packing room too, but nobody’s saying much.”
Joseph was uncomfortable discussing the agreed-upon changes with either of the men. Granted, not much had been completed yet. It seemed they took one step forward and then the war took precedence over all else. The colonel was attempting to maintain some secrecy about the process, and while Joseph agreed, he doubted confidentiality was truly possible. The colonel continued to worry that Confederate sympathizers might be working among them at the Washington Arsenal and had decided secrecy was paramount. But from the sound of things, many workers either knew or surmised far more than the colonel would like.
Jeremiah raked his fingers through his hair. “We heard all the new workers are going to be interviewed, but that ain’t happened. Not that I’m hankering to be questioned, mind you. They read us a letter or something from the colonel. Now, though, I’m thinking it was just a hoax. I even heard tell the colonel has decided to investigate the soldiers assigned here in the past six months, too. Don’t that beat all? Sounds like the colonel don’t even trust the men fighting for the Union.”
Joseph straightened in his chair. “Where did you hear members of the military are going to be questioned?”
“I don’t rightly recall. I think it was one of the new sergeants in the warehouse who mentioned it when he came over to freight and shipping.” Jeremiah scratched the back of his neck. “Yeah, I think that’s who it was. He said he was transferred here a couple weeks ago. When he reported to headquarters, he was told he’d need to come back for another interview. He thought it was strange and wondered if any of us knew anything about it.”
“And?” Joseph asked.
Jeremiah furrowed his brow. “And what?”
“What was he told?” Joseph sighed. He was teetering on the edge of exasperation. One minute Jeremiah acted as though he were a fount of knowledge, and the next he behaved like a youngster without a lick of sense.
“Oh! Just that we’d heard new hires were being interviewed, but we didn’t know what was going on with the soldiers.” Jeremiah shrugged. “Which is the truth. We never hear what’s happening with you fellas unless it affects our work.”
Jeremiah’s knowledge that soldiers would be interviewed was a direct contradiction to what he’d just said. However, Joseph was more concerned about the possibility of being interviewed than Jeremiah’s truthfulness. He’d be forced to reveal his brother was fighting for the Confederacy. If he was permitted to remain at the Arsenal, he’d be an easy target if and when any problems arose.
Yet he might not be one of the soldiers questioned. The colonel had trusted him and sent him to Lawrenceville after reviewing his initial paper work and conducting a brief interview. Perhaps the colonel wouldn’t place his name on the list. The thought quieted his mounting anxiety.
“You feeling poorly, Joseph?” Andrew gestured to his face. “You’re as pale as a bucket of fresh milk.”
Joseph swallowed hard and forced a smile. “I’m fine. Just having a few thoughts about the war—must have affected me more than I thought.”
Bea entered the room bearing two slices of cake. She gave one plate to her brother and one to Andrew. “Let’s enjoy our cake, and then Jeremiah is going to go and play chess with his friend. The rest of us can continue with charades, if you’d like.” Bea directed a tight smile at her brother.
Clara carried a piece of cake to Joseph and glanced over her shoulder. “If you want to be included in our outings, Jeremiah, perhaps you should find a young lady and begin courting.”
Andrew chuckled. “Mazie Carmichael might be a good choice. She works with Bea in the packing room. What do you think, Bea? Should the two of us talk to Mazie and see if she might be interested in Jeremiah as a suitor?”
Jeremiah’s dark hair matched his dark expression. “Absolutely not. I don’t want to court anyone. I don’t need another woman in my life telling me what to do.”
Clara chuckled and then returned to the kitchen and brought back the coffee, cream, and sugar.
While talk of Jeremiah courting Mazie continued, he wolfed down his cake and coffee, then pushed to his feet. He carried his dishes to the kitchen and grabbed his coat from a peg. “I’m gonna be on my way. If you’re kindhearted, you won’t say nothing about those courting ideas to Mazie. I’m not gonna call on her, so there ain’t no need for her to get her hopes up.”
After Jeremiah departed, Clara stared at the door and shook her head. “I’m trying to decide if that remark means Jeremiah is kind or arrogant.”
Bea grinned and patted Clara on the shoulder. “I would say it’s a bit of each.”