Sarah's Roses, Book II: Roses of White

Chapter XIX

Chapter XIX

“Strange, isn’t it,” Sammy said in an amused voice, a smile playing on his lips, “the first thing I should hear coming from your mouth, Elsie, is how someone is too independent. If I didn’t know better, I’d think my double was in the house. Some people are just made in stone.”

“Lord love me, Samuel Climb! Where did you come from?” Poor Elsie sputtered. “I suppose I should give you a hug first, and then get angry at you scaring the livin’ daylights out of me! Coming up out of nowhere like that, you nearly gave me a heart attack, wretched boy.”The smile on her face contradicted with what she was saying. She reached over to give him a hug, and since Sammy was a good two heads taller than Elsie, she had to stand on her tiptoes to reach around his neck.

It truly was a touching scene, so beautiful and filled with love. I saw a tear steal down Sam’s cheek, Elsie had plenty of them in her eyes. Elsie had always made light on the fact that she had been separated from her family, but when I saw her and Sam hugging each other, I understood just how of a sacrifice it had been for her to stay behind.

At last Elsie pulled away and wiped the tears from her eyes. “Who would have thought?” She sniffed, “I was sure I would never see you again and here you are right in front of me. And all dressed up in uniform too. Wait a minute,” she turned to face me, “how come yous not all surprised and upset?”

“I saw him earlier, outside,” I explained.

“And you didn’t tell me nothing? Why it should have been the first thing coming out of your mouth the moment you came to this kitchen.”

“I’m sorry Elsie, but there is so much going on at the moment, and I’m just not handling it all.”

“Does it hurt?” Sammy motioned to my face.

“Does what hurt? Oh,” my hand covered the cut on my lip, “no, not at all. I don’t even remember about it until someone points it out.”

“Was it your captain, Sam, who attacked our Sarah?” Elsie demanded. How awkward it was to remember that we were on opposite sides of the war.

“No, that was Captain Sawnders,” I answered before him. “It was Sam’s officer who came to my rescue.”

“I told her not to go out there, but she obviously didn’t’ listen to me,” Elsie scolded.

“You should have seen her though,” Sammy defended me, “didn’t show any fear even in front of an entire regiment of soldiers. Who would have though Sarah could be so brave?”

It was very embarrassing to hear the two of them discussing me and all I wanted to do was get out of there.

“Well, uh, I’m afraid the two of you will have to excuse me.” I said.

“Where are you going?” Sammy seemed confused at how I was trying to get past him and out of the kitchen door.

“To hear out what sort of questions Colonel White has to ask me. Do you know where he is?” I directed my question to Sammy.”

“He’s in the parlor.”

“Thank you,” I gave a slight smile and retreated out of the kitchen.

“Ten to one she’s trying to get away from you,” I heard Elsie’s say.

“Why do you always have to be such a wet blanket?”

I shut the door and walked off before I could hear anymore of the conversation. Right now I didn’t have time for matters of my heart; I had bigger problems to deal with. Shoving Sammy into a dark corner of my mind where I hoped he wouldn’t bother me, I headed to the parlor. The door was shut and as I reached over to grasp the door handle I heard voices on the other side. It sounded like the sergeant speaking. My hand remained over the handle but I didn’t open the door. I figured I would listen a bit. We were at war after all, and I just might hear something useful.