Ella caught the door behind her, easing it closed so it wouldn’t slam. Sara, her best friend, looked her way and smiled in acknowledgment. Sara was waiting on a table near the front window, so Ella took her remaining eggs, vegetables, and pies to the counter and waited for her to finish with her order. While she stood there, she glanced out the window. Both The Mercantile and provost headquarters were visible from where she was standing. 

“Thank you, Mr. Williamson. You come back anytime. And please say hello to the missus.” Sara shoved her pad in her pocket and came running up to the counter. 

“Hello.” Sara pulled Ella into a big hug. “My dear, you must be parched after—oh my goodness!” She gave her friend a long look. “What in the world happened to you?” She stepped back, staring.

“Yankee invaders, that’s what.” Ella hurled out the response. It felt good not to have to apologize for her temper this time. 

“Well, this should be interesting. Give me a moment. I’ll be right back.” Sara darted into the kitchen. When she came through the two swinging doors, she held a stack of small hand towels and a bowl of soapy water. “Here you go.” She placed them on the counter. 

Ella reached for a towel thankful she could clean up her arms and wipe the dust off her face while Sara stooped to get the yolk off the bottom of her dress and shoes. 

“You are quite a mess, but oh, you are still a sight for sore eyes! I’m so glad to see you. Let me bring you some tea from the back. It will do you a world of good.” She shook her head in dismay. “I may have a dress you can change into. I keep a spare dress here in case I spill food on the one I’m wearing. The lady down the street does a great job of getting out stains. I’ll take your gown to her. She owes me a favor.”

“Thank you, Sara. I feel rather sticky and dirty. A clean gown would help. I don’t have many gowns as you know. I cannot afford to lose one.” 

Sara scooted together all the dirty towels and flew into the kitchen. She came out with a pitcher of tea and a brown bundle. “I got the dress and tea. I’ve had so much on my mind these past weeks. Mostly Nolan. I haven’t heard from him. But I’m sure he’s all right.” Her voice caught.

Ella looked up at the mention of Nolan. Her brother and Sara had become engaged just before he left to join his regiment over a year and a half before. “I hate to ask, but did he mention anything ‘sides fighting or the weather? I haven’t heard a thing from him, either.”

“No, just the usual about missing me and you and Aiden.” Sara bit her lip. “He said nothing that would tell us anything. I’m worried. I guess we have to keep checking the lists.” Her voice almost choked to a whisper. 

“He doesn’t mention where he is, does he?” Ella knew the answer before she asked it, but still felt compelled to ask. She worried about him a lot; it would be nice to know where he was, so she could read the posted reports and make sure he was okay. 

Sara laid the bundle down trying to change her own mood. “No, he never mentions where he is. And the letters are weeks old before I get them.” Her mouth worked. “We must have faith. Your brother never told us anything he didn’t want us to know. He is more protective than most and wouldn’t want either of us to worry.”

“Well, that’s just it. I thought one of us would have heard… something. There have been so many killed.” Seeing Sara’s anxious look, Ella moved them away from the subject. “You’ve talked me into borrowing your dress, but I insist on doing something for you.” She would discuss it with Lizzy, her housekeeper, and surprise her. 

“You need not do anything for me. Friends help each other.” Sara nodded towards the door. “How long can you stay? Can I take Jason a cup of lemonade while he waits?”

“I should get back soon. Truth is, Jason didn’t come—just me and Bess.”

“Ella, are you crazy? Your brother would be furious. There is so much crime now. If something happened to you, what would become of Aiden?”

“Pish! Nothing will happen. I brought my gun.” Ella tapped her leg. She kept it near although the vexing invaders weren’t what frightened her. It was Jason, her overseer. “I am not worried about driving to town, but can I share something with you? I confess I don’t know if it’s just my imagination, but I need to talk to someone.”

“Sure, can you talk out here?”

“Yes. It’s Jason. I don’t bring him with me to town because he makes me feel strange. I catch him staring at me. Last week when I was milking a cow, I felt like someone was watching me. I turned around, and he was staring at me from the doorway of the barn. He acted like he had just walked up. He apologized for scaring me and left. Each interaction is unsettling. It’s frightening.” She shuddered. “And it’s happened more than once. He comes around and asks if I’d like him to take me to town, but I refuse—I tell him that Carter and I are going, or I don’t know when I’ll be going. And only yesterday, I saw him standing by the barn, watching me beat a rug. I pretended I didn’t see him, but he had this strange grin on his face. His attention unnerves me.”

“Staring? That’s odd. Does he say anything?” 

“No, he doesn’t. But when he drives the buggy, he tries to sit closer than is necessary.” She shivered.

“Ella, have you mentioned this to anyone—Lizzy or Carter? And no, I don’t believe you imagine people staring at you. That behavior is disturbing.”

“Thank you for believing me. I thought I was being ridiculous, but it unsettles me when he comes near. You raise a good point. I’ve told only you. I will mention it to Carter and Lizzy this evening.”

“That’s smart of you. I couldn’t bear for anything to happen to you.” Sara gave Ella a quick hug. “Please ask Carter to ride with you, if you will.”

“I’ll consider that. I promise.” She smiled at her friend, her relief obvious. 

Sara picked up the basket of pies, bringing them up to her nose. “Let’s both enjoy this heavenly bouquet.” She inhaled. “Cook’s fresh-baked apple pies! This is a wonderful surprise you’ve brought me this morning, and I forgot to ask for any. Thank you." Beaming, she pulled one out of the basket and sniffed. “We sure need these. Everyone loves Cook’s pies.” She put the pie down and picked up the basket, turning it and seeing remnants of a yoke. Some had already dried. Some were still wet. 

Ella’s attention moved to the window and what was beyond.

“What are you looking at? Ladybug, if you stare any harder, you might burn a hole in whatever or whoever has your notice!”

“Burning holes in the backs of Union soldiers might be a good thing.” She smirked. “I am watching the doors of The Mercantile. I saw a high-ranking soldier go inside. This could be interesting. With the flag already flying, I wonder what other business he could be about.” 

The door across the street opened and Colonel Jackson Ross walked towards the restaurant. “Oh no! He’s coming here now!” Red-faced, she groaned and turned towards Sara, determined to ignore him. 

“He, who? Who is coming here?” Sara stood on the balls of her feet and tried to look over her friend’s bonnet. “Oh, that’s the colonel. Nice fella. Quit your worrying. He comes every day for breakfast. It’s either an order of flapjacks and grits, or grits and eggs with bacon, but always grits. Says he cannot get enough of our Southern tradition. He asks me to melt cheese on them. Have you ever heard of such of thing? But I’ve tasted it, and it’s superb. I might put it on the menu and call it cheesy grits!” She chuckled.

Ella slapped the top of the counter in defiance. “Isn’t there any place off limits to them?” At her friend’s irritated look, she apologized. “I’m sorry. It’s just that they are everywhere. And to be honest, it worries me. No, that's not true. I am angry. In fact, I’m livid!” She squeezed up her face in an exaggerated huff.

“Well, just you don’t go saying something to set him off. He is very nice, and I better not have to remind you about manners, Ella Grace—we need nice here! This is a business I depend on and I don’t want to have trouble because of that temper of yours.”  

"I will be nice," Ella murmured, just loud enough for Sara to hear her. She hoped she could make it out the door before her voice betrayed the simmering ire she felt and the recognition she didn’t want to acknowledge. 

She had never introduced herself to Colonel Ross. Seeing him could embarrass her after the deserved set-down Sara had just given her. Guilt shamed her. She had been rude to a man who had saved her life. Sara would never understand. She was the one person who didn’t let her get away with anything, but their friendship always survived their squabbles. They were more like sisters.

“Let me take that dress out to the back of the restaurant and change. This sticky, gritty mess is very uncomfortable.” She picked up the brown package, ready to scoot through the kitchen doors. 

“I will clean off a table while you change,” Sara said, her voice soft. “Hurry, I want to see how it looks!”

“Okay, I’ll be back in a minute.” Ella turned back to her friend, “Thank you for this.” Hugging the brown package to her chest, Ella glanced back towards the door. Maybe he won’t recognize me in this dress.

“Ella, wait! I was so thrilled about the pies, I forgot to look into these other baskets.” Excited, she pulled back the covers “Ah, I see the origin of the egg yolks. What happened?” 

Ella frowned. She would not get to change, and she risked Colonel Ross seeing her again still looking a mess. “Well, it’s not quite a dozen today, courtesy of the Yankee invaders. This morning, I started off with a full basket—must have been three dozen. Now, I don’t think I have even twelve eggs left. Those Yankees stirred up my horse. Sweet Bess nearly bucked me clear off the seat!” Her voice rose as she continued, “Anyway, those I’m not wearing, I’m looking to sell.” 

She managed a small smile for her friend. Her loud rant had drawn the attention of Mr. Burns and everyone else in the restaurant. That only added to her misery; she was already self-conscious about her bedraggled appearance. 

Sara lowered her voice to almost a whisper. “Please be careful with what you say. And, I beg you, please, please watch that temper of yours. I can’t afford any trouble, Ella Grace Whitford.” She wiped her hands on her skirt and looked towards the door. “As you can see, the colonel is heading this way. Hurry and go change, and when you come back, please act natural… well, no. Just be polite to him, at least for me,” she pleaded in a rushed voice. 

“Fine. Please don’t get so out of sorts.” Ella pulled a face. She would do as Sara asked and not let her temper get the better of her. Sara took her temper in stride, but she didn’t need trouble. “I promise to be polite. You should go. You have a customer. I can’t stay long, anyway.” She turned to go change her dress.

“Please don’t leave so soon. We haven’t gotten to visit yet. I have something to tell you. Stay a few minutes longer. It won’t be dark for a long time and I won’t keep you.”

“All right. I will, but not long.” Ella gave her a quick hug and went to the pantry in the back of the restaurant. It had a door and offered a semblance of privacy. A few minutes later, she returned, her stained dress folded in the brown paper. “Can I lay this here?” She motioned towards the counter.

“Yes. I’ll handle it. There, now! That looks better. Don’t you think so?” Sara stepped back and appreciated her, a satisfied look on her face. 

“I love this color, and the material is so soft. Is it cotton?”

“Yes. And blue is your color. It highlights your beautiful auburn hair.”

Before Ella could answer, Sara leaned in and whispered, “Have you heard the latest? It’s about Mr. and Mrs. Smyth at The Mercantile.”

“No. What happened?” Ella whispered back, half-listening as she craned her neck. She spotted the colonel. He had stopped and was talking to another officer. 

Looking around before she spoke, Sara replied in a hushed, disapproving voice, “The Smyths took the oath yesterday.” She nodded for emphasis. 

Ella was silent for a moment before she spoke. She schooled her face to contain her temper. “I don’t like it. I am shocked at the change in their sympathies. They take the oath and hang that dreadful white flag out there. I noticed there were more flags today. It may help them, but it hurts the rest of us.” She shuddered. “I guess the Christian thing is to forgive, but it’s hard when you have good men fighting and dying for the cause.”

“I still can’t believe the Yankees have been here so long—it’s been two months, Ella. A lot of their men come in here. They aren’t all that bad. But some are abrupt and… not clean. Sara wrinkled her nose in obvious distaste.

Alarmed, Ella looked her friend in the eye. “What if they forced you to do it?” 

“I don’t know. I think I would refuse. No, I know I would refuse. Nolan has put his life on the line, and he has my heart and my loyalty, as does the cause.” Sara’s tremulous voice betrayed her apparent confidence. She paused before continuing, “Though, I had not considered that they would ask. I should, I reckon… consider that they will ask.” 

“Well, what about your father and mother? Surely these Yankee devils won’t pressure a minister of a church to swear the oath.” Sara’s parents had become like surrogates to Ella since the departure of her father.

“Shh! Lower your voice,” Sara returned. “Mamma said they already asked.” Keeping her eyes on the door, she grinned and whispered, “Papa said ‘no,’ that his oath was to God Almighty.”

Ella snorted.

“What was that?” Sara held her hand over her mouth and laughed.

“I was just thinking about your daddy telling them no, and I got carried away.” 

“Yes, his stern tone would have made them sorry for even asking!” 

Both laughed, until one and then the other snorted once more, which only elicited more peals of laughter.

Sara looked past Ella, out of the screened door. She nodded, signaling that Colonel Ross was almost there. “Tell me now, how is that adorable little brother of yours?” she prompted, her voice jovial and a little louder than in their earlier conversation.

Ella took the hint. Forcing a smile on her face despite her mood, she jumped into the conversation. “Aiden’s great. Growing like a weed. Oh! We found a puppy a week ago. Or maybe he found us. He was scratching at our front door. I think he must have gotten separated from his mother although I know no one around who has either a female or male lab. He isn’t black—rather, he’s more of a golden blond color. And he has two different colored eyes. One eye is brown, and the other is blue. He was wet and hungry when we found him, but he’s just what Aiden needed. He’s named him Bo, and they’re inseparable now. They are always playing. Aiden’s favorite game is something he calls ‘Pirates’”.

“Gracious, what’s that?” Sara laughed and shook her head. 

“I’m not sure of the rules, but the two of them stay absorbed in it—”

The door to the restaurant jingled and Colonel Jackson Ross entered. The black and silver braided brocade on each shoulder of his uniform stood out, giving him an air of importance. 

Ella’s eyes locked onto his for a moment taking in the measure of his broad shoulders, square jaw and the vivacity in his gaze. There was much to appreciate. She caught her breath and wondered whether he would stay silent about having already met. Heat flooded her face. She hadn’t even introduced herself when he had been everything kind. 

The colonel smiled in her direction. He looked as if he might say something, but after a moment, he walked to the table in the far corner. The sound of his spurs moving across the wooden floor stressed his long and easy gait. He lifted the chair off the floor instead of pushing it back, so it would not create noise. 

His mamma must have taught him to do that.

When he walked past her, she caught the smell of horses, leather, and spice wafting in the air behind him. She started to speak but decided against it. What could she say? ‘Goodness, suh, you smell heavenly’? Or maybe I can remind him he saved my life a little earlier and thank him. No. I’ve already thanked him once, and I don’t want to encourage any further interaction with him. 

“Dearest Sara, I must leave. I need to get back to Aiden. Lizzy and Cook are watching him, but they have other chores, as we all do. Cook will have more pies for you later this week. The strawberries are almost ready to pick. I’ll bring ‘em soon as I can. And thank you for this loan.” She smoothed her hands down the front of the clean blue dress.

“Oh, I had forgotten about strawberry season. How wonderful!” Sara clasped her hands together. “You tell Cook, we would love some of her delicious cobblers.” She gave her friend a hug and a kiss on the cheek, and then whispered in her ear, “Take extra care getting home now. See you later this week.” 

Ella looked over one more time to the table with the colonel. He saw her and gave her a wink followed by a wide smile.

Winked! He winked at me. Her face burned with color. 

“I promise.” She hurried to the door, knowing her behavior was only adding to her embarrassment. Still, it felt justified. She sprinted down the steps to her buggy. 

Once installed, she thought about the handsome face inside The Griddle. No! What is going on with me? One handsome face and I am making a cake of myself. He was the enemy, the invader. He was a Yankee. Though that was one handsome face that also saved your life. “Ugggghhhhh!” she screamed out in a frustrated burst, as much to stop her thoughts as to protest them.

The Elders had thought the war wouldn’t touch New Bern, or at least that was what they’d told everyone. When they’d found out the Yankees were coming, they’d said, “Our boys will win.” 

They had been wrong. Not only had some of her family and friends died or gone missing but her own life as she’d known it had changed. When her father disappeared, she had become more of a mother to Aiden than his sister. It had all happened so quickly. 

Urging Bess to pick up speed, Ella cringed at the town’s destruction. Boarded up homes, buildings, and broken windows, damaged from looting dominated the landscape. The colorful rose bushes and fragrant gardens from before the war had vanished, replaced by a few hardier flowers that had pushed themselves towards the sun from beneath overgrown, unkempt grass and bushes, spurred by the spring weather. 

Seems like all the nicer homes are now, occupied by the Yankees. She felt her chest tighten. She had heard there were close to twenty thousand in the area, a number she still couldn’t comprehend. Well, at least they were doing something useful by repairing some of their chaos. Flicking the reins, she urged the mare to pick up her speed. She couldn’t get home soon enough.