Sarah's Ground (9781439115855) by Ann Rinaldi Read Free Book Online Page B

told her. “Thereare a lot of Quakers who have sons in gray right now. And some who have sons in blue.”
    She told him to hush. I made her tea, and she spoke of her boy Donnie as if he were still with her. Then she spoke about the neighborhood.
    â€œMany Quaker Friends fled to New Jersey when it looked like there was going to be war,” she said, “but they have all returned. The big house on Union Farm, half a mile from your west gate, has been reopened. And there are lights on at Walnut Hill.”
    She knew everything about the neighborhood. Then she told me about old Wes Ford, an ex-slave man who is living nearby.
    â€œHe came to your mansion about 1802,” she said. “When Bushrod Washington inherited the place from the general. And he left with John Augustine’s family. He stayed that long, though he’d been set free in his masters will in 1829. One thing about the Nigras around here. They don’t want to leave. Robert, pour me another cup of tea.”
    He poured it.
    â€œSo Mr. Herbert told me,” I said.
    â€œWes Ford can tell stories about the general and his wife. Stories told to him by Billy, the general’s body servant himself. Billy was still living here when Wes Ford came in 1802.”
    Then, having won my interest, she gave the conversation a turn.
    â€œFunny, isn’t it? You and Mr. Herbert living all alone here in this big house.”
    â€œMr. Herbert is going to start a Home Guard. I’m going to ask him to teach me how to shoot,” Robert said.
    â€œRobert, you are not going to learn how to shoot. Now, we have discussed this.”
    â€œWe’re not alone,” I said. Robert’s young, handsome face was flushed. He reminded me of Charles, my first love.
    â€œOh? I’d heard that the lady from the Association had a sick mother. Didn’t she go home to her?”
    I was trapped. “Yes, she did. But we have four servants, three of them women. And I’m actively seeking a female companion.” I looked at her. “Do you want the job?”
    â€œI beg your pardon?”
    â€œDo you want to come and live here with me and help guard my virtue?”
    She looked flustered. “Dear me, no. I’m not insinuating anything. I don’t wish you to take it that way. Heavens, I’ve known Mr. Herbert for years. We all have. He is so full of decorum he could pass for Saint Joseph in the dark.”
    I had never liked Saint Joseph. I didn’t think much of a man who’d allow angels to tell him how to conduct his marriage.
    Then she got up. “Come, Robert, it is time to go.” She turned to me. “The good Lord has his plan. I’m sure you will find someone.”
    â€œI’m sure I will.”
    â€œHe knew what he was doing when he took my Donnie. At least Donnie won’t have to go fight in the war and get himself killed.”
    I did not understand such convoluted reasoning. But then, I did not know how a mother felt who had lost a son. I did know that if it happened to me, I wouldn’t go around telling people that the Lord knew what he was doing. And I wouldn’t make my other son pay for it either.
    The next who came to visit was Anne Frobel, a Quaker woman.
    She came the day I was planning on going to town to get passes for myself and the servants.
    â€œIs thee planning a trip?”
    â€œI was going to Alexandria to get passes.”
    â€œAnd why isn’t Mr. Herbert taking thee?”
    â€œHe’s been advised against going.”
    â€œAh, so he hasn’t taken the loyalty oath, then?”
    â€œNo, he hasn’t, Mrs. Frobel.”
    â€œWell, we Quakers don’t take oaths, you know. But I did come to deliver him a message.”
    I had brought her into the kitchen and sat her down. “Shall I fetch him? He’s repairing the wharf.”
    â€œNo, but thee can tell him this. We got together and decided that if he needs our men in the Home Guard