Sarah's Roses, Book II: Roses of White

Chapter XX

Happy New Year everyone :)

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Chapter XX

I escaped to the little room I now shared with Elsie and Evy and sat on the bed, thinking hard. It had been a difficult day, but this was the last straw. Colonel White was my father? It couldn’t be true, it couldn’t. There had to be some mistake, some misunderstanding. Come to think of it, I should have guessed right away. The words he had used and way he behaved when he saw my mother’s portrait made it rather obvious. Of course, he had covered it up quite nicely, pointing out how he had been in Europe and all, and I had bought it. Perhaps I had bought it because I couldn’t comprehend the idea of him being my father. Even now I couldn’t bring myself to fully believe it.

The big question was what was I to do? One thing was certain; I wouldn’t give away the fact that I had overheard the conversation. It would be easier for all of us if he didn’t know that I found out I was his daughter. My only fear was Sammy coming in and telling them I had been eavesdropping. Oh well, either way I couldn’t stay in here forever. Standing up, I walked to the little mirror over the dressing table and gazed at my reflection. I had to go and face the colonel and I was determined to behave calm and composed. Uncle Andrew said emotions are a thing that you can learn to control, and now I was going to put myself to the test and see just how well I could control them.  I straightened out my shabby dress, patted my hair into place and returned to the parlor.

“What are the orders, sir?” I heard Sammy’s voice as I approached.

“We haven’t quite decided yet,” Sergeant Hosehigh said, “got a little sidetracked with some personal history.”

I grasped the door handle and opening the door, marched into the room with determined strides. All three rose from their seats. My first action was to take a good look at the Sergeant Robert Hosehigh. Now that I knew who he was, it was so easy to recognize him. Of course he was much more grown up now, but there were features about him that had not changed, like his dark brown eyes, the red hair, that funny cleft in his chin, they all pointed towards my old friend from long ago. I stole a quick glance at Sammy, standing tall and straight in his dark blue uniform. I had to admit it made him look smart and impressive. And at last I turned my attention to Colonel White.

“Miss Rose,” he addressed me in much the same way as when he had first come to my door. Any trace of surprise, sorrow, or awkwardness had vanished without a trace.

“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting Colonel,” I spoke in a calm, reserved voice.  I even forced myself to look into his steel grey eyes, “you said you wanted to ask me some questions?”

His hat was off and I could see he had a head full of light brown hair with just a slight reddish tint to it. He did have some gray hair thrown about, but they blended in with the rest of the auburn strands and you could hardly notice them.

“We’re tracking a Confederate spy who goes by the name Cleaveland Browne. After a long chase we lost sight of him. Word reached us that he headed in the direction of the Greensten Plantation, which is why we showed up at your doorstep. Have you seen the man?”

“Would you really expect me to tell you if I did, sir?”

“Probably not,” a hint of a smile appeared on his lip, “but it is my duty to ask just the same. Do many people pass through your plantation, Miss Rose?”

“Quite a bit sir, though I have to admit most of the company is unwanted.”

My sentence caused him to clear his throat a little. “Could he be hiding on the plantation without your knowledge?”