ELIZABETH
The hot, noon day sun beat down hard on the cotton pickers as she watched from the wide verandah. She was still wearing her mourning outfit as it had only been 8 months since she'd been notified of her husband's death. His whole platoon had been wiped out and was assumed dead & buried in the North. She began to weep as their baby boy crawled up onto her lap and wanted to nurse. She took him inside and offered her breast..........
Nothing would ever be the same again. It wasn't that the slaves she used were ever unpaid. She thought of them as hired help & made sure they were housed and clothed and fed plus she paid them a salary. No; it was the fact that there was mass destruction all over Georgia. Many had already moved to the city of Atlanta, starting to rebuild the place Sherman had burned to the ground.
After the baby had napped, she took him for a long walk, collecting berries and mushrooms; their big dog trailed behind, keeping a watchful eye on them. The night sky beckoned them home and she bathed and put her son, Alexander, to bed. This was when she missed her husband the most. Alone and lonely, she, too, went to sleep but not before shedding more tears.
The long weeks turned into months and soon her son had a birthday. The cotton was sold and she added the money to what she already had in the bank. She knew she was lucky to have enough to last well into her golden years. She had just turned 22 and was trying to adjust to life without her handsome, wonderful soldier/husband. She hated the Yankees for destroying her happiness.
One day, she and her son were inside the big house when her Maid said she had a caller. It was a gentleman who was sent ahead to announce that his boss was looking to buy some cattle and had arranged to pay handsomely for them. But when she discovered his boss was a Yankee, she politely but firmly declined the offer.
Two days later, she watched from the porch swing as another gentleman rode up on a beautiful chestnut horse. His riding breeches and matching jacket were of the best quality and she couldn't help but notice his trim, handsome profile. "Goodafternoon, M'am. Caleb Patterson here." He reached out to shake her small, soft hand. He had heard how beautiful she was but had not been prepared for her to take his breath away.
After stating his reason for the need of the animals and doubling his offer, she found herself relenting and sold him 10 of her prized cattle. He made arrangements to have them picked up the following day.
She hadn't expected he would be with the men from his farm but as they worked, she offered him some refreshment. Iced tea in hand, they sat on the big front porch and marvelled at the lovely weather and the view. They discovered they had many things in common and he asked if he may call on her and Alexander again. She found herself interested; still, the Yankees had killed her husband!
It was not long into their friendship that he proposed and she gave him her answer the next day; yes. It wasn't proper to court for long with a small child involved and people gossiping. The simple wedding was in sharp contrast to the beautiful, expensive wedding band he placed on her finger. She hoped that in time she would grow to love him as she had her late husband. Their wedding night was spent in Tennessee and was very romantic but her heart just wasn't in it.
They decided to live in her home and use his for his business needs. At home, she continued with the running of their large plantation and discovered she was pregnant immediately. By the time their son was born, she had begun to love him like a wife should. Whereas her first husband had not bothered with her at all while she carried his child, her second husband found her irresistable and they enjoyed their relationship right up to the time of her delivery. The baby was christened "Seth" after his paternal grandfather in Boston.
Elizabeth nursed her new baby and life went on. They were finally a regular, settled but happily married couple. He taught her how to golf and she taught him all about gardening. They belonged to a local church and volunteered their time with teaching poor families to read and write. Being one of the wealthiest men in the new South, they were popular in Atlanta but usually refused all party type invitations, preferring to keep to themselves.
But once a year they threw a big barbeque and invited folks from all over the state of Georgia. It was a day long affair and ended after dark with a huge display of fireworks. Around 4 pm, Elizabeth was nursing Seth and was just putting him down for his nap when her personal maid entered the parlour.
"Miss Elizabeth, excuse me but there's someone outside beyond the outer fence asking for you; he told the horse trainor to tell the butler he was a relative of yours. Shall I invite him in?"
"No; I'd better go see who it is, Emily. Thank you." The maid took the baby from her while Elizabeth buttoned up her long full dress. My, but Miss Elizabeth was looking mighty fine today! Every man at the barbeque was feasting their eyes on her but she only had eyes for her husband.
She walked swiftly and proudly out the back door and headed for the pasture, a pale blue bonnet over her black curls. She carried a parosol to provide further protection from the last rays of todays brilliant sun. With her free hand, she lifted the hem of her beautiful, navy blue dress with its white lacy neckline and puffed sleeves to walk down the path.
Trevor watched her approaching from the huge house and felt weak in the knees. She was no longer the young girl he had married but a very beautiful and enticing widow. He wondered how long she had worn her mourning clothes as he knew she had been informed of his death. How he wished she had not had to endure such untrue news!
She walked toward him, hesitantly and then slowed her gait to stare. No!! It couldn't be! She must be dreaming!
"Trevor? Trevor McDonough??"
And then she fainted!
He swiftly rushed to catch her and held her in his arms while she swooned. She was as white as a sheet and he waved his hat in front of her face to help revive her. When she began to come to, he gently whispered "Elizabeth; it IS me; your husband has come home to you. My God, how I've missed you!"
She half sat up and hugged his bony neck and shoulders. His face was the only thing she recognized; how could she forget his blue eyes? He was almost half the size he was before and was pale and shaky.
"Trevor! We thought you had died; your whole platoon......"
And so they spoke of the war and the child they shared and the burning of Atlanta. The sun began to go down in the east and they stood together in the long shadows of this spectacular day. She knew that soon Caleb would miss her and begin to come looking for her. Her breath caught in her throat; what to do? How to explain? How did she feel?
She felt elated and surprised and shocked to see him and thanked their almighty Father for his life. But she had promised Caleb that they would be husband and wife forever and ever and Trevor must accept it. But how to put it all into words?
But Trevor sensed a problem and immediately asked if it was with their son. Relieved when she replied no, he asked "Well, what is it, Elizabeth? You don't love me anymore?" And then he saw her wedding band...........
"I loved you when I married you and I will love you when I die. I would have waited if I had any idea you were still of this life. But, dear Trevor, I am another man's wife now. And I am obliged to continue our life together. Your son has been adopted by my husband and it would be too confusing for the boy to have two fathers. Please, try to understand.........."
But he did not; he could not. All he knew was that the family he thought would be waiting and welcoming him "home" with open arms, was some stranger's family now. As he mounted his horse to depart, he sobbed out loud, for his grief was overwhelming. She tried to speak but no words would come out and before they did, he had ridden off in the sunset of his life.
He was never heard from again and she kept the news of his survival to herself. As she watched their son grow and mature, she saw a younger version of Trevor and alone in the house, she cried. Caleb often wondered why she often stared off into space when the subject of the war came up. He knew she still felt hatred towards some of the Yankees who took her husbands life. And he couldn't blame her much.
As the years went by and she grew old with him, he couldn't help thinking how lucky he was to have met her as a war widow and who grew to love him as he had immediately fallen in love with her.
But Elizabeth never stopped watching for strangers riding up on horseback and asking to speak with her. Her heart wanted it to happen; her head told her it better not.
War is Hell; but friendship is the marriage of the soul.
The hot, noon day sun beat down hard on the cotton pickers as she watched from the wide verandah. She was still wearing her mourning outfit as it had only been 8 months since she'd been notified of her husband's death. His whole platoon had been wiped out and was assumed dead & buried in the North. She began to weep as their baby boy crawled up onto her lap and wanted to nurse. She took him inside and offered her breast..........
Nothing would ever be the same again. It wasn't that the slaves she used were ever unpaid. She thought of them as hired help & made sure they were housed and clothed and fed plus she paid them a salary. No; it was the fact that there was mass destruction all over Georgia. Many had already moved to the city of Atlanta, starting to rebuild the place Sherman had burned to the ground.
After the baby had napped, she took him for a long walk, collecting berries and mushrooms; their big dog trailed behind, keeping a watchful eye on them. The night sky beckoned them home and she bathed and put her son, Alexander, to bed. This was when she missed her husband the most. Alone and lonely, she, too, went to sleep but not before shedding more tears.
The long weeks turned into months and soon her son had a birthday. The cotton was sold and she added the money to what she already had in the bank. She knew she was lucky to have enough to last well into her golden years. She had just turned 22 and was trying to adjust to life without her handsome, wonderful soldier/husband. She hated the Yankees for destroying her happiness.
One day, she and her son were inside the big house when her Maid said she had a caller. It was a gentleman who was sent ahead to announce that his boss was looking to buy some cattle and had arranged to pay handsomely for them. But when she discovered his boss was a Yankee, she politely but firmly declined the offer.
Two days later, she watched from the porch swing as another gentleman rode up on a beautiful chestnut horse. His riding breeches and matching jacket were of the best quality and she couldn't help but notice his trim, handsome profile. "Goodafternoon, M'am. Caleb Patterson here." He reached out to shake her small, soft hand. He had heard how beautiful she was but had not been prepared for her to take his breath away.
After stating his reason for the need of the animals and doubling his offer, she found herself relenting and sold him 10 of her prized cattle. He made arrangements to have them picked up the following day.
She hadn't expected he would be with the men from his farm but as they worked, she offered him some refreshment. Iced tea in hand, they sat on the big front porch and marvelled at the lovely weather and the view. They discovered they had many things in common and he asked if he may call on her and Alexander again. She found herself interested; still, the Yankees had killed her husband!
It was not long into their friendship that he proposed and she gave him her answer the next day; yes. It wasn't proper to court for long with a small child involved and people gossiping. The simple wedding was in sharp contrast to the beautiful, expensive wedding band he placed on her finger. She hoped that in time she would grow to love him as she had her late husband. Their wedding night was spent in Tennessee and was very romantic but her heart just wasn't in it.
They decided to live in her home and use his for his business needs. At home, she continued with the running of their large plantation and discovered she was pregnant immediately. By the time their son was born, she had begun to love him like a wife should. Whereas her first husband had not bothered with her at all while she carried his child, her second husband found her irresistable and they enjoyed their relationship right up to the time of her delivery. The baby was christened "Seth" after his paternal grandfather in Boston.
Elizabeth nursed her new baby and life went on. They were finally a regular, settled but happily married couple. He taught her how to golf and she taught him all about gardening. They belonged to a local church and volunteered their time with teaching poor families to read and write. Being one of the wealthiest men in the new South, they were popular in Atlanta but usually refused all party type invitations, preferring to keep to themselves.
But once a year they threw a big barbeque and invited folks from all over the state of Georgia. It was a day long affair and ended after dark with a huge display of fireworks. Around 4 pm, Elizabeth was nursing Seth and was just putting him down for his nap when her personal maid entered the parlour.
"Miss Elizabeth, excuse me but there's someone outside beyond the outer fence asking for you; he told the horse trainor to tell the butler he was a relative of yours. Shall I invite him in?"
"No; I'd better go see who it is, Emily. Thank you." The maid took the baby from her while Elizabeth buttoned up her long full dress. My, but Miss Elizabeth was looking mighty fine today! Every man at the barbeque was feasting their eyes on her but she only had eyes for her husband.
She walked swiftly and proudly out the back door and headed for the pasture, a pale blue bonnet over her black curls. She carried a parosol to provide further protection from the last rays of todays brilliant sun. With her free hand, she lifted the hem of her beautiful, navy blue dress with its white lacy neckline and puffed sleeves to walk down the path.
Trevor watched her approaching from the huge house and felt weak in the knees. She was no longer the young girl he had married but a very beautiful and enticing widow. He wondered how long she had worn her mourning clothes as he knew she had been informed of his death. How he wished she had not had to endure such untrue news!
She walked toward him, hesitantly and then slowed her gait to stare. No!! It couldn't be! She must be dreaming!
"Trevor? Trevor McDonough??"
And then she fainted!
He swiftly rushed to catch her and held her in his arms while she swooned. She was as white as a sheet and he waved his hat in front of her face to help revive her. When she began to come to, he gently whispered "Elizabeth; it IS me; your husband has come home to you. My God, how I've missed you!"
She half sat up and hugged his bony neck and shoulders. His face was the only thing she recognized; how could she forget his blue eyes? He was almost half the size he was before and was pale and shaky.
"Trevor! We thought you had died; your whole platoon......"
And so they spoke of the war and the child they shared and the burning of Atlanta. The sun began to go down in the east and they stood together in the long shadows of this spectacular day. She knew that soon Caleb would miss her and begin to come looking for her. Her breath caught in her throat; what to do? How to explain? How did she feel?
She felt elated and surprised and shocked to see him and thanked their almighty Father for his life. But she had promised Caleb that they would be husband and wife forever and ever and Trevor must accept it. But how to put it all into words?
But Trevor sensed a problem and immediately asked if it was with their son. Relieved when she replied no, he asked "Well, what is it, Elizabeth? You don't love me anymore?" And then he saw her wedding band...........
"I loved you when I married you and I will love you when I die. I would have waited if I had any idea you were still of this life. But, dear Trevor, I am another man's wife now. And I am obliged to continue our life together. Your son has been adopted by my husband and it would be too confusing for the boy to have two fathers. Please, try to understand.........."
But he did not; he could not. All he knew was that the family he thought would be waiting and welcoming him "home" with open arms, was some stranger's family now. As he mounted his horse to depart, he sobbed out loud, for his grief was overwhelming. She tried to speak but no words would come out and before they did, he had ridden off in the sunset of his life.
He was never heard from again and she kept the news of his survival to herself. As she watched their son grow and mature, she saw a younger version of Trevor and alone in the house, she cried. Caleb often wondered why she often stared off into space when the subject of the war came up. He knew she still felt hatred towards some of the Yankees who took her husbands life. And he couldn't blame her much.
As the years went by and she grew old with him, he couldn't help thinking how lucky he was to have met her as a war widow and who grew to love him as he had immediately fallen in love with her.
But Elizabeth never stopped watching for strangers riding up on horseback and asking to speak with her. Her heart wanted it to happen; her head told her it better not.
War is Hell; but friendship is the marriage of the soul.
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