Page 90 of Moonshine and Magnolias
When the memorial started, he stayed on the edge, letting those who knew Maybelle Clayton get closer. He lifted a glass in salute to the woman before finally taking a drink. They finished up with a chorus of Amazing Grace.
“The Redcoats are coming!” someone yelled. Other voices took up the cry, some shouting about shots being fired at Fort Sumter and the South rising again. The crowd gathered closer, apparently unconcerned with historical inaccuracies. Rather, their faces were all amused and entertained as a man on horseback rode up the tree-lined drive to the house.
An older man and woman came out of Fountenoy Hall followed by several other reenactors.
“Oh, Father! What are we to do?” Brandi asked, her hair in ringlets peeking out of her hat after the rider delivered his message and departed. She looked perfect as the beautiful Pansy, though her nose was reddened, but she wasn’t the one Rob ached to see.
“You must find safety in the next town. Leave tonight with your sisters under the cover of darkness and make your way to your aunt’s house. Be careful, Pansy.”
Wait. There Wendy was, in a period dress buttoned up to her chin, helping her mother and Eulalee clean off picnic tables set up in the shade of the trees.
“Be brave, my children,” the father said. Rob didn’t hear the rest of the dialogue. His only goal was to get to Wendy before she had a chance to disappear. The show ended and the crowd surged, forcing him to wind his way across. Wendy was gone by the time he reached the bench.
But her mom wasn’t. She tossed a few water bottles into a recycling bin, then straightened up to watch his approach. “It’s our conscripted assistant chef.”
“Yes, ma’am.” If Mrs. Marsh was being this friendly, her daughter probably hadn’t told her much.
She grinned. “Had to find out what happened to Pansy Hamilton, huh?”
“I admit the story piqued my curiosity.”
“Well, it’s nice to see you back here. Make sure you say hi to Wendy before you leave again. And Brandi, if you can get a hold of her.”
“I will. Do you know where she is?”
Mrs. Marsh’s eyebrows drew down and she looked around. “She was here just a minute ago. I’m sure she’s around.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” He waited as Mrs. Marsh headed back to the house. On to plan B.
It would be nice if he had figured out a plan B.
He wandered through the tents, the women cooking over open fires or sewing holes in their men’s clothes. Tonight Pansy would meet the Captain and he’d profess his love. They’d live happily ever after. And Rob would lose his chance to do the same.
Maybe he could get the Angels Eyes to work with him instead of against him.
Another cannon boomed, vibrating the air around him. In the smattering of applause that followed, two solid shadows appeared by his side. He ignored them to watch a woman tear the thread with her teeth and test the strength of the new button.
A shadow fell over him and he didn’t move.
“Why don’t you come with us,” Loïc said.
Though the words were phrased as a suggestion, they were definitely more a command. Still, he followed without complaint. As long as they didn’t kick his ass off the grounds until he got a chance to talk to Wendy, he’d go along willingly.
They escorted him beyond the tents to where Sebastien and Brandi stood waiting. Her normally open and pretty features were scowling and she tapped a bat against the ground.
The bat contrasted with the bonnet on her head and hoopskirt wider than a staircase, but her tightened mouth and intent to harm in her different-colored eyes made her ferocious. “I thought you understood you’re not welcome here.”
“Can you put away the compulsion to beat me to a pulp and listen? I’m not here to cause Wendy any more pain.”
“We wouldn’t let you anyway,” Sebastien said.
Rob acknowledged the truth of his comment with a nod. “I just need five minutes with her. And if she doesn’t like what I have to say, then you can use that bat in the worst way you know how.”
***
Wendy glanced out the window of the connecting rooms Sebastien had vacated for the reenactment and down to the rows of white cloth tents on the grounds below. The room was the only private space big enough to hold the female reenactors and clothing for their many costume changes. How fortunate for Mr. Hamilton that Pansy had no brothers.
Rob was down there, somewhere. She retreated to the house as soon as she saw him, managing to look like she had something to do. His letter had suggested he’d see her again, so she wasn’t surprised that he showed up. The shock came when her body tingled with anticipation of being touched by him again.
