Chapter Three
Kid and Lou spent a rowdy evening with the Owens family, due to their three lively children all under the age of ten. Amelia, the eldest, was immediately taken with Lou and insisted on sitting next to her during dinner. Lou could not help but be overwhelmed by her energetic brothers aged seven and six, as it had been quite some time since she had been around children so young.
Isobel and Rob did not seem to mind the loud conversations and children quarreling as they ate, but Lou felt herself withdrawing from all the noise and excitement in the small house. She longed for the open spaces of their journey east once again, where she could be alone with Kid in the cool spring breeze.
Another challenge was Kid's aunt Corinne, the matriarch of the household. The small, wizened woman sat, for the most part, in her rocking chair by the fire, but she let her opinions be known throughout the evening whenever she saw fit to comment on their conversation. She berated the children as unruly ruffians and admonished Isobel for letting them run wild. Isobel, for her part, seemed not to hear the unkind words of the old woman, and smiled ruefully at Lou when she caught her eye.
Corinne's chief focus that evening was Kid's boyish wife, Louise. Corinne peered critically at Lou's short hair and plain clothes, wondering just what sort of women lived out west. She had never traveled further than Richmond herself, and could not understand why anyone would leave Virginia in the first place.
She grudgingly approved of Kid's determination to defend his home soil when the need arose, like a good Southern gentleman. But Corinne spent the evening bemoaning the fate of her poor sister, Ann, who had married a drunkard and raised an outlaw for a son. Kid ignored her comments about Jed and his mother the best he could, but Lou could tell he was grateful when Rob suggested they step out onto the front porch to discuss some important issues.
Lou watched apprehensively as Kid left the room, knowing they would be speaking of the war and when they would leave to enlist. No matter how hard she tried to banish it from her mind, the thought that he would soon be leaving filled her with a painful, gut-wrenching fear. She felt dispossessed — abandoned amongst people and places she did not know. Lou thought of their family back in Rock Creek and wished they were all together now. She wanted to forget Virginia and the war and return to simpler times when they just delivered mail and had the odd adventure along the way.
Isobel noticed the miserable look on Lou's face and felt sorry for her. Corinne had begun badgering her for information on 'her people', so Isobel quickly stepped in and asked Lou to help clear the table. Lou complied, and smiled gratefully at her behind the old woman's back. Isobel led her out to the back porch of the small house where she had set up a wash basin.
"I like to do the dishes out here at night. Ma tends to get a little ornery after dinner," Isobel said kindly, pumping cold water into the basin. "Besides, the way I see it, we have to stick together. I've had to live with many a year now so I know what it's like when she turns that razor tongue of hers on you."
Lou tried to smile, but she was filled with sadness. The night was so beautiful, the sky filled with millions of stars, and yet she couldn't bring herself to enjoy them.
"I know it's hard for you, Louise. But I'm glad you're here," said Isobel, putting aside the dishes. Lou was fighting back tears.
"Everythin's happened so fast," she explained quietly. "A few weeks ago I was with my friends in Rock Creek — they were the only family I'd known in a long time. But now, everythin's changed. I don't know what's goin' to happen."
"I know." Isobel stood beside her, staring out into the darkness. The noise of the children and Corinne's commanding voice drained away into the background. "I've cursed this war since secession was first mentioned, but there's no stopping it now. And try as I might, I can't get Rob to see that he's needed here by his family more than he ever will by the Confederacy. But war does strange things to men, especially Southern men. It's their honor that's at stake."
"I don't want Kid to fight," Lou said in a low voice.
"Then why did you come with him?"
"Because I know he has to."
Isobel smiled, a grim expression on her face. "Then we share a bitter burden, Louise. But I'm glad you're here so we can. I hope you'll stay with us when Rob and Kid leave."
Lou felt sudden gratitude for the older woman. Even though they known each other only a few hours, Isobel managed to make her feel not entirely alone in her new surroundings. Despite Corinne and her interfering ways, Louise knew she was lucky to have a new friend in Isobel. She would not be able to cope on her own with Kid away fighting. They would be able to support each other as their husbands defended their home together.
"Thank you, Isobel, I'd like that," Lou replied, swallowing the painful lump in her throat.
Isobel smiled with more warmth, and Lou realized just how grateful Isobel was to have a companion closer to her own age. Life must be lonely for her with only her bickering mother-in-law and young daughter for female company. But Isobel said no more and returned her attention to the supper dishes.
"Let's get these done, then, before Ma tears shreds out of the children."
Lou smiled and joined her at the basin.
