Free Leigh Ann's Civil War by Ann Rinaldi

it necessary to throw him out of the house, I guessed.
    "But I've heard you've been here awhile now." Viola had done her homework. She had searched Teddy's desk for the folder on Eldredge and read his background.
    "You've been in Georgia since 1846," she told him.
    Oh, Viola was smart! I was so proud of her. She knew his wife had died and that he had three children, and at the dinner table she asked about them with real interest.
    "Because the mill lost clients in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Newark early this year, it had to lay off thirty people," Eldredge told Viola. "Now we have lost at least ten male workers to the army. And we are getting large military contracts from the Confederacy. I would have liked your father's permission to hire more hands."
    "He isn't well," Viola said. She did not elaborate.
    "I would write to your brother Theodore, then. Is it possible to get mail through?"
    Viola and I looked at each other. We were both thinking the same thing. The lady with the basket full of vegetables.
    "First, Mr. Eldredge," Viola told him kindly, "I am sure that when my brother hired you he gave you full authority to hire people when they are needed. That is why he made you superintendent, is it not?"
    He swallowed deeply and took a sip of wine. "Yes, I suppose you are right, Miss Viola. I am, you see, not as confident as I used to be. Not since my wife died."
    Viola nodded. "So why don't you just go ahead and hire them?" she suggested. "And then write to Teddy and tell him about it? If you leave the letter with me, yes, I have ways of getting the mail through. But not until the battle they're about to fight is over. Not until then, Mr. Eldredge..."
    Her voice trailed off. We all fell silent. The grandfather clock in the hall struck seven.

CHAPTER TEN
    Within a week or two of Manassas, which was what we called that first battle, we got the telegraph in Roswell. But even without it, we knew the next day from couriers arriving on horseback from Marietta that the South had won.
    To say there was rejoicing in Roswell makes words cheap. The dram shops were overflowing. The women opened their houses and had high teas. The band played in the town square all day. People had picnics on their front lawns. They put up colorful ribbons on their front porches. The churches held special services for the wounded.
    That afternoon more couriers arrived with handbills saying that the Confederate Congress in Richmond called for a day of thanksgiving. They also said that our army had 387 killed, 1,587 wounded, and 13 missing. The Federals had 460 killed, 1,124 wounded, and 1,312 missing.
    We sobered when we heard that. Viola hosted a high tea and invited Camille Smith, her sister, Emily, her younger brother, David, her parents, Archibald and Anne Smith, as well as the Reverend and Mrs. Pratt. Now she looked first at me, then at Camille, who had another brother off fighting.
    "How will we know who was killed or wounded?" Viola asked.
    "We'll hear soon," Reverend Pratt promised. "Another courier will come."
    The tea soon ended. Camille and her parents hugged us as they left. Viola and I sat by candlelight at dusk, staring at the remains of the rum nut pudding cake, petits fours, the pudding pecan pie, the sparkling punch bowl, and the brandied cherry ring.
    From the distance we heard faint shouts of celebration and band music. Viola had a glass of sherry in her hand.
When did she start drinking sherry?
    I said nothing. Jon stood in the doorway. "Is there anything I can do, Miss Viola?"
    She did not even turn to look at him. "No."
    "I know you are worried. I never told you all, but I feel guilty because I can't go and fight. I should have been at Manassas. Your pa's asleep. Now why don't you let me take you for a little walk outside in the garden. It will do you good."
    Now she did look at him. "Because it isn't your job to take me for a little walk in the garden, that's why."
    "You are a beautiful young woman, Miss Viola. And your sister soon