Chapter 20

 

The men had packed up all their belongings, and as quickly as camp had appeared, it disappeared. Walter had gone with them. Talan escaped and returned to camp when Benjamin left for town.

With only three tents around one fire, it wasn't an army headquarters anymore. It was an abandoned pocket of existence known only by those who knew where it had been to begin with.

An hour had barely passed since the group’s departure and James, Hugh, Talan and I sat anxiously around the fire, silent, lost in our own thoughts. Some moisture swirled in the cold air and made the atmosphere feel a bit like spring. Along with the heat and scent of wood smoke, I was comforted, even if I was nervous. I was about to find the paper and pencil I had bought when Clara approached our minimized encampment.

She was drying her perfectly dry hands on her apron as she approached. She had her blue shawl wrapped neatly about her shoulders. When she finally spoke her voice was quieter than usual. "Sophie? I'd like to show you something. May I talk to you?"

"Of course." I turned to the gentlemen. "Excuse me." Hugh tipped his hat as I left, and I walked with Clara toward the cabin.

"I'd like to thank you for the help over the past few days," Clara said. "Your brother has been a Godsend in the kitchen, cooking for the men."

This much was certainly true. Talan had disappeared on various occasions just to be found assisting Clara with a task, and with the cooking every time he got the chance.

"It's our pleasure. I don't know what would have become of us if it hadn't been for you." I wasn't lying.

"Oh, well..." She just smiled.

She was very pretty. She was probably around 30, but girlish freckles dotted her nose and her face was healthy and glowing. Dark brown hair, though slightly messed, was tied up to keep it out of her daily work. Tendrils fell forward to delicately frame her face. It struck me that I had never really looked at her. I could swear I had studied her features before. Then I realized that her eyes were what made her face so familiar to me.

They were dark, brilliant green, but almost brown. I knew where I'd seen them before: her brother.

"You're more than welcome," she said.

We entered the warm cabin and were the only ones in the room.

"Now. Why I brought you." Clara pulled out the trunk from the corner. "You are going to the church social?"

"Oh!" I had almost forgotten about it. "Well, if we still can, yes."

"I don't see why you couldn't," Clara said. "What do you plan on wearing tonight?"

My mind went blank. Think 1800's.

"Not pants! Er... I mean... my dress."

"Well, if you wanted…" Clara pulled open the trunk's lid. "Being a social and all, with a gentlemen to escort you even..." She began sifting through various men's garments and billowy white material that would someday be fashioned into night clothes or undergarments. She pulled out a dress from the bottom, spreading out the skirt and bodice over the bedspread. "Perhaps you could wear this instead?"

The elegant dress was dark green with bell sleeves and a full skirt. Dainty black buttons, detailing, and lace were sewn expertly to the pieces making the dress look like a wearable work of art. I couldn't speak for several moments.

"Clara... Thank you," I managed to whisper.

"It's too small for me now," she said. "I always thought if I had a daughter, I'd keep it for her." She had a soft smile on her face. "But that's certainly not the case right now, and I'm not sure it will be, but... we have some time."

Her hand went from the sleeve of the dress to her abdomen, where she pressed her hand to about the spot I her navel was. My thought that I'd never really looked at Clara before was confirmed.

Her apron was tied higher than usual and beneath it I could see the rounded bump of another Merrill child.

"I love my son." The index finger on her left hand drew little circles around the collar button on the green dress while the index finger on her right made identical movement on the apron covering her protruding belly. "My sister and I were so close. It would be wonderful to have a little girl." She paused. "But, I am happy to know this will be worn again, at least once."

I smiled. She leaned forward and we hugged.