Christmas at Carnton (Carnton 0.5)(26)

“I know,” he whispered. “I do too.”

She pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve. “Emmett and my husband met each other in camp and became friends. They fought alongside each other. Warren often said that Emmett was the brother he’d never had. They even favored each other.” She gave a little smile, and in that simple, beautiful act, Jake glimpsed a measure of her strength.

He looked down at his hands. How many men had he watched die since this war had started? How many had he killed? How many women out there were grieving much like this one beside him, and Mrs. Zachary, because their husbands or fathers or sons or brothers weren’t coming home? It wasn’t a question new to him.

Yet in that moment, it had an edge to it that cut deeper than it had before. He released the brake and snapped the reins.

She gave him directions to the Presbyterian church, and he headed that way.

“I want to stop by and see the facility. That’s where we’ll host the gatherings before the auction.”

“Gatherings before the auction?”

“Yes, where the women will meet to knit gloves, scarves, socks, and caps for the soldiers, and to write letters of encouragement. The children will draw pictures for the soldiers too. We’ll also form several quilting circles, then we’ll auction off the quilts. Closer to the actual date of the event, the other hired cooks will come to Carnton and we’ll bake and cook for all the attendees. Mrs. McGavock says they’re expecting hundreds of people to come from Nashville and the surrounding communities.”

Hearing the tender pride in her voice, Jake nodded. “Yes, Mrs. McGavock told me.”

The church was unlocked and they let themselves inside. No sign of the preacher as they looked around, Mrs. Prescott peering inside rooms and commenting on occasion.

“We can set up some tables over there.” She pointed. “And the ladies can visit as they knit. We’ll need patterns, but Mrs. McGavock says she and the other ladies have plenty of those. Oh! And we’ll need to buy skeins of yarn too. Mrs. McGavock told me she has enough to get us started. But eventually we’ll need to purchase more.”

Jake just nodded. He wasn’t about to say anything to discourage her, but again he considered how much easier it would be—and maybe even more profitable—if the women would simply donate the funds, let the army buy what they needed, and be done with it.

“What?” she asked softly.

He shook his head. “I didn’t say anything.”

“I know. But you were thinking something.”

He looked into those soft blue eyes and realized he was going to have to hold his cards a little closer to his vest. He smiled and gestured toward the hallway. “After you.”

She sighed and walked back outside. “Before we go by my house, I need to stop by the lumberyard and get the supplies for the nativity.”

He paused. “The lumberyard? I bet Colonel McGavock has enough spare pieces around the barn that you could use.”

She accepted his help up to the bench seat. “Mrs. McGavock was explicit in her instructions. She said to go to the lumberyard and that a Mr. Harban would supply whatever I needed.”

He held up a hand as he claimed the space beside her. “Then to the lumberyard we go. But I know for certain there are a couple of pieces of wood in the barn back at Carnton. Enough for a child’s nativity.”

“A child’s nativity? I’m not making a child’s nativity, Captain Winston. I’m building a life-sized booth and manger that will stand in the front yard by the house at Carnton. The children will all take turns playing Mary and Joseph and the shepherds over the course of the auction.”

He stared. “You’re making a real nativity?”

She nodded.

“You are?”

He smiled. She didn’t.

“My father was a master carpenter, Captain Winston, and he taught me a thing or two about woodworking.”

Jake tried to curb his grin but couldn’t. The image of her with a hammer and saw sparked amusement. “But you’re—” He gestured.

“A woman?”

“Well . . . yes, ma’am. You’re obviously a woman. But you’re also . . .” He stared, not wanting to say it. And definitely making certain he didn’t look down.

“With child,” she finally supplied, an eyebrow rising.

“Yes, ma’am. With child.”

“Which precludes me from being able to build something?”

He laughed softly. “Which makes a project that would already be a challenge even more so.”

Her eyes narrowed the slightest bit. “For one, it won’t be a challenge. I’ll only need your help toward the end, when it comes to nailing the larger pieces together. And secondly, I’ve already drawn out the plans. I have all the measurements and the list of required supplies.” She pulled a piece of paper from her reticule and handed it to him.

He unfolded it, and his smile faded. He looked over at her. “You’re serious.”

This time she was the one to laugh, though the action held no humor. “Yes, Captain. I’m serious. Now, please, I need to go to the lumberyard, then stop by my house for some of my and Andrew’s things, then return to Carnton so I can begin baking.”

“Baking? But the auction isn’t for another two weeks.”