Chapter 3

Robert took immediate exception to this perceived discourtesy and turned on the man like a small fury. In street argot, of which Louisa -perhaps fortunately - understood very little, he told the man in no uncertain terms that he was out of line and owed "Mrs. Stetson" an apology. To her utter amazement, the man ducked his head and said, " I'm sorry, ma'am. If you'll tell me where you want your trunks, I'll get them unloaded."

"Just carry them inside and put them down," she said. " I haven't seen the house, so I don't know what sort of condition it's in or even where everything is."

"Mrs. Stetson, if you're payin' him to bring the trunks in, he needs to bring 'em all the way up the stairs, at least," Bobby advised.

"Yes, that's a good idea, Robert. Take everything upstairs, please, Mr. Redding."

"Yes, ma'am."

Mrs. Stetson and her son walked into the house, which had sat empty for over eighteen months after its secesh owner had fled south rather than live in a city where Abraham Lincoln was the Chief Executive. Even in the full light of day, the place was dusty, the furniture shrouded in holland covers, and it looked very bleak indeed. "Oh, dear," Louisa said. "No wonder the rent is so low."

"Ain't nothing that a good cleaning won't fix, ma'am," Bobby said reassuringly. " I'm good at scrubbing, and I bet Molly and Curtis and Lucy will help."

"Who are they?"

"Molly is Miss Amanda's maid, Molly McGuire – she's Irish, doncha know – and Curtis and Lucy are colored folks. They work for the major."

"Major Davis, Amanda's new husband?"

"Yes'm. They was -were- slaves, on'y when Mr. Lincoln freed all the slaves in Wash'ton and Georgetown, they stayed on to work for Mrs. Rosemont, on'y she didn't pay them near enough, and when she was caught smuggling stuff across to the secesh and had to go down to Virginia an' stay, well, Curtis and Lucy come- came – to work for th' major."

"Oh, my. When did all this happen?"

"Couple months ago, I think. It was before I came to live here, so I don't know for sure."

"I see. Well, I think we're definitely going to need some help to clean this place up, and I only have a few days to set it to rights before I start my new job at the War Department. I've been hired as a clerk, you see, copying orders and writing letters."

"That's good. There's good people at the War Department; th' major works there, and Colonel Thornton."

"That's good to know. I have to find a school for Fred, too. Where do you go to school, Robert?"

"Oh, Cap'n Daniel is going to teach me, but not 'til after we get back from Illinois. That's where th' major's family lives, see, near Chicago."

"You're going to visit them for Christmas?"

"Yes'm. They haven't met Miss Manda, see, on account of she and th' major have only known each other for about three months an' it's a long ways away, even on th' train."

"Yes, it certainly is a long way."

Dotty West had looked out the window to check on Bobby and hadn't seen him, but had seen the wagon outside the house across the street and remarked on it to her husband. "And I don't see Bobby, so maybe he went over there to say hello. You know how friendly he is," she added.

"Indeed, my dear. Let's put on our hats and coats and go over there to welcome our new neighbors – and check on the boy."

The driver had finished unloading and was just driving off when Daniel and Dotty crossed the street. They knocked on the door and Fred answered, accompanied by Bobby.

"Cap'n Daniel, Miss Dotty, this is Fred Stetson. His mama has rented this house, but it sure needs a good cleaning," Bobby said.

Louisa Stetson joined them at the door. "Hello," she said. "Bobby has been a big help. I'm Louisa Stetson, a friend of Amanda's. Bobby tells me that she was married only yesterday."

"That's right. I'm Amanda's mother, Dorothea West, and this my new husband, Captain Daniel West. Welcome to the neighborhood, Mrs. Stetson."

"Thank you. Won't you come in? I'm afraid the place is in rather rough shape, though."

"Oh, my, yes," Dotty said, as she looked at the thick layer of dust and not a few cobwebs. "You simply cannot stay here until the place is clean, my dear; why, there might be mice, or birds' nests in the chimneys, or any number of things. This house has been vacant for well over a year, and I'm afraid it's been allowed to deteriorate badly. We have an extra bedroom, Amanda's old room, at our house, and your son can stay in the room with Bobby. Matthew and Amanda are a few blocks away at a house Matthew is renting from a friend of ours while she's away for an extended period."

"Well, I don't want to impose.." Louisa began.

"Nonsense, ma'am, it's not an imposition at all," Daniel rumbled. " You cannot stay here, as my dear wife has said. Come over to our house and get warm; we'll deal with your trunks later. Have you had breakfast?"

"Coffee and a bun at the depot," Louisa said. " We came in on the train from Pittsburgh, you see. We were living with my late husband's parents."

"Coffee and a bun aren't nearly enough for a growing boy," Dotty said firmly. "Our maid, Molly, will fix you a proper breakfast."

"Thank you, you are very kind."

By the time Louisa and Fred finished the breakfast of flapjacks and ham that Molly had quickly prepared, they were almost asleep in their chairs.

"Did you sit up in the chair cars all the way from Pittsburgh?" Dotty asked.

"Well, yes, sleepers are so expensive, you see."

"Then you should go up and go to bed. Come with me; you can wear one of Amanda's nightgowns, and Fred can sleep in his underclothes."

"Well, I…."

"No arguments, my dear. Come this way."