Nan Ryan (49 page)

Charmed by his good grace, Kathleen managed to smile at the tall, slim man. “No, Colonel, it was I who suggested you wear his clothes. And may I say you look very handsome in them.” She turned to greet Uncle Rembert, then said, “I believe Hannah has dinner ready. Shall we all go into the dining room?” She smiled up at her guest and took his arm.

The place of honor at the head of the table was given to Cort Mitchell and, after pulling out Kathleen’s chair, he took his place as though he belonged there. Hannah proudly served the meal, smiling and coddling the tall Texan, hovering close to his elbow most of the time, ready to refill his plate before he could want for anything. Kathleen, Scott, and Uncle Rembert sat almost mesmerized by his easy chatter. He had a gift of gab and the subject he talked most about was one near and dear to the hearts of his table companions. He had known Hunter well and related to them story after story of the time they had spent together in Virginia at the beginning of the war.

“Ah, we were so full of hope then. We were sure the Confederacy would be triumphant. If anyone had told me then how it would have ended, I’d have thought him insane.” Cort’s gray eyes clouded slightly, “No, it didn’t turn out the way we expected. I spent most of my time in and around Virginia with Lee’s army. It was my dubious honor to escort the magnificent general to the Appomattox Court House on Palm Sunday, April 9, to surrender to General Grant. It was a sad journey, I assure you. Part of the Union band had remained and as we rode up to the Court House they played “Auld Lang Syne” and I don’t mind telling you it was all I could do to keep from crying like a baby. But the proud general showed no emotion at all, he wore his best dress uniform, and he was an imposing figure even in defeat. The Yankees lining the street stared at him with awe and respect. It must have been the most tragic day of General Lee’s life, but he bore it like a man and remained the strong, majestic general he’d always been. If I live to be a hundred, I shall never forget that sad day.” Cort shook his gray head. “But enough of that,” he smiled and rolled his eyes, telling Hannah that he had never eaten such light biscuits in all his thirty-four years. He ate heartily and once again turned the conversation back to Hunter.

“Scott, one of the first things I remember about your father was his saving the life of a young drummer boy. The boy was hardly older than you are now and he had been wounded in an ambush on the Rapidan River. He lay out in the open battlefield and your father, brave man that he was, covered the child’s body with his own while bullets flew all around them. The way he protected that child, one would have sworn he was as precious to him as you. He carried the child to safety and operated on him right behind the lines. Saved his life, he did.” Cort smiled at Scott. “I had met your father before that day, but that was the first time I really knew what he was made of. Hunter was wounded himself, but he refused any kind of aid until he had taken care of the drummer boy.”

“Did the boy live, sir?”

“He sure did, thanks to Hunter. And I’ll tell you, that kid fair worshiped Hunter after that.” Cort looked to Kathleen. “That was only the beginning. Shortly after that, we were in the thick of the battle in Virginia. I’ve never seen a man any braver than your husband. He had nerves of steel; I don’t remember ever seeing him afraid.” Cort took a drink of coffee, then laughed, “You know, I’ve seen big, tough-looking men brag about how they couldn’t wait to meet up with the Yankees so they could tear them limb from limb. Then when the time came, they were faced with the unpleasant fact that they were cowards, fleeing like crybabies in the face of danger. Not Hunter Alexander. Hunter was neither big nor tough, as you well know. He looked more like a poet than a soldier and he never blew his own horn or told anybody how he would teach the Yankees a lesson. Yet, when he marched into battle, he faced the enemy with calm reserve, never outwardly showing any sign of fear or distress. I’ve seen him in hand-to-hand combat, doing the job he had to do, while the expression in those brown eyes never changed, his nerve never wavered. He was as brave a man as I’ve ever known in my life.”

Beaming with pride, Scott said, “Don’t stop, Colonel Mitchell. Tell us more about my daddy.”

“Yes, Colonel, we never tire of hearing about Hunter,” Uncle Rembert agreed.

Kathleen said nothing, but her eyes never left the colonel. She, too, longed to hear more about her dear, dead husband.

Cort patted his full stomach, pushed his plate away, and said, “Hannah, if I could steal you away and take you to Texas with me, I would do it. That was the best meal I’ve ever eaten in my life,” and he winked at her.

Hannah ducked her head, embarrassed, but very pleased. “Now, Colonel Mitchell, it weren’t nothin’. Why, I wish you coulda been here when we really laid out a feast,” and she took his plate and waddled into the kitchen.

Kathleen rose from her chair, “Since Uncle Rembert was kind enough to bring a bottle of brandy, why don’t we all go in the drawing room and have a drink.” She led the way and Cort followed, with Scott at his elbow, saying, “Colonel Mitchell, tell us more about Daddy.”

“Sure I will, Scott,” Cort smiled and ruffled the boy’s hair, “but why don’t you call me Uncle Cort?”

Scott smiled at the tall, friendly man and said, “Sure, Uncle Cort.”

“And please call me Kathleen,” their hostess said over her shoulder.

“If you’ll do me the pleasure of using my first name,” was the reply.

Seated in the drawing room, Cort lit up the cigar Uncle Rembert offered and took a drink of his brandy. “Hunter and I used to spend hours talking together about the happy day when the war would end and we could get back to living. I’m sure he must have written you about our talks of his coming to Texas.”

Kathleen looked at him, unable to hide her shock, “You mean Hunter planned to go to Texas after the war?”

Cort read her dismay and quickly corrected himself. “Oh, ma’am, it was just talk, you know how that goes. I’m sure he never meant to do it, but we used to discuss the move; how ne would buy a little piece of land, get a few cattle. I shouldn’t have mentioned it. I just figured he had written to y
ou
about the idea. Obviously, he didn’t, so I’m certain he lever really meant to do it.”

“Hunter didn’t mention it in his letters to … he never said anything about it,” Kathleen said, flustered. “Cort, surely you knew Hunter was a doctor. I can’t imagine him jiving up his profession.”

“Of course not, Kathleen. When we talked about his coming to Texas, he never considered giving up the practice of medicine. No, what Hunter wanted to do was live on a ranch, but be near enough to a town or community to set up an office. But, as I say, it was just talk, probably more on my part than his, if memory serves. I thought so much of Hunter, I was the one who tried to persuade him to join me an Texas. I told him that Texas is where there is a lot of opportunity and I thought a man like him could do well there. It was just an idea, a dream, nothing concrete.”

“Cort, where do you live in Texas?”

“Well, ma’am, it’s just a small settlement, one you’ve never heard of, I’m sure. My ranch is just outside a little place called Jacksborough, the county seat. It’s in north central Texas.” Cort laughed then, “I’m afraid you wouldn’t think it a very pretty place, Kathleen. Not much out there out jack rabbits and mesquite trees, but I love it because it’s my home. I’ve lived around there all my life and I’m anxious to get back, though there’s nothing there to compare with the beauty of Natchez.”

“Colonel, I’m sure Jacksborough is a charming place and I hope someday we can pay you a visit.”

“Could we, Mother?” Scott asked hopefully. “I would love to go. Cort … pardon me, Uncle Cort … do they have Indians there?”

Cort laughed and drew on his cigar, “Well, Scott, we have had Indians in those parts, but I haven’t been scalped yet and I’ve never known anyone who has. There’s talk of building a fort there in the near future. If you decide to visit me,
’
. think I can assure you you’ll be safe.”

“I don’t understand why Daddy never told us about going to Texas,” Scott looked puzzled.

Kathleen cleared her throat and said, “Scott, although know you would love to stay and question Colonel Mitchel all night, it’s past your bedtime.”

“Oh, Mother,” Scott protested, “we’re just getting acquainted. I want to hear more about Texas. Tell her, Uncle Cort, I’m too old to be going to bed so early.”

Cort smiled at the boy and said, “Tomorrow’s a school day, isn’t it, son? You’d best mind your mother and get your rest.”

“You see,” Kathleen smiled at Scotty. “Besides, Colonel Mitchell is tired, I’m sure. He’ll be going to bed soon.” Cort nodded yes.

“It is getting late, I must be going,” Uncle Rembert rose and Cort got up to shake hands with him. “So glad to meet you, Colonel Mitchell. You’ll never know what your visit has meant to all of us.”

“It’s been my pleasure, sir,” Cort walked him to the door “ Hunter spoke of you all often and now I know why he did.’

After Uncle Rerabert had left and Scotty had reluctantly said goodnight and gone to bed, Kathleen and Cort went alone in the drawing room. “Let me pour you another glass of brandy, Colonel,” Kathleen offered.

“I’ll do the honors,” Cort motioned for her to sit down. He poured a glass for them both and came to join her on the long couch. “Kathleen, you and your entire family have been so kind to me. I can’t thank you enough.”

Kathleen took the glass of brandy and smiled, “Colonel your visit has been a tonic for us, it is we who should thank you.”

Cort touched his glass to hers and said softly, “Here’s to letter days for all of us.”

Kathleen smiled and took a sip, “Yes, let’s hope for better tomorrows. Cort, you haven’t told us about your family. Do you have a wife? Children?”

Cort laughed and said, “I had a wife before I left for the
fax
, but I don’t anymore. She got really angry when I joined the Confederacy and left her there alone. I don’t think she ever got over it. She wrote to me for a while after I left and ben, within three or four months, the letters quit coming, finally, I heard from her after I’d been gone for over a year, she said she was tired of waiting for me and she was leaving Texas. Several months later, I got another letter and she said be was divorcing me.”

“Oh, Cort, I’m so sorry,” Kathleen said kindly.

Still smiling, Cort said, “Don’t be. I wasn’t surprised, he was awfully young and spoiled. She was a cute little thing and even when I was home there were always boys buzzing around her, attracted by her beauty and wit. I should have known that if I left her alone, it wouldn’t be long before someone else took my place.”

“Cort, how can you take it so lightly?”

“I don’t, Kathleen. It hurt me, there’s no denying it. I loved that little girl and she made me happier than I ever new I could be. All I’m saying is that I don’t hold it against her. She was too young and pretty to be left alone and I knew when I left. I hope she’s happy, she deserves to be, and I’ve o doubt she’s married again to some man who takes good are of her like he should. I was too much of a wanderer to have settled down in the first place.”

“I wish I could take things in my stride the way you do, Colonel Mitchell. You seem to face life head on and aren’t overly shocked by anything that happens.”

“Kathleen, I’ve had my share of surprises, but then haven’t we all? And what choice do we have but to face them. f we let every little problem throw us, we’d be in a devil of a shape, begging your pardon for my language.”

“You’re right, Cort.” Kathleen fell silent and felt the piercing gray eyes studying her. She coughed nervously and said, “Cort, there’s something I want to ask you.”

Sensing what she was about to say, Cort said, “Kathleen Hunter Alexander loved you as much as I’ve ever seen a man love a woman. I know you had some problems, thought Hunter never told me what they were. And I never asked but I knew him well enough to know that he was suffering in side and it was over you. He felt you didn’t love him the was he did you. I used to tell him no woman was worth being hurt too badly over because that’s the way I felt about it. I told him if you didn’t feel anything for him to just forget you there’d be plenty of women in the world who would. Hunter would never listen. He told me he had a son he worshiped and the thought of leaving him forever was more than her could bear, but I suspect it was much more than the though of leaving Scotty that bothered him. If I’ve said too much please forgive me. I never saw Hunter again after early ’63 so what happened between you two after that is unknown the me.”

“Cort,” Kathleen looked into his gray eyes, “Hunter and I did have trouble and it was all my fault. I made him suffer for years and for that I can never forgive myself. But it was misunderstanding between us that took Hunter away and when Vicksburg was under siege, I heard Hunter was there I went to him and we worked it out, everything was wonderful between us. I looked forward to the day when Hunter would come home and I could spend the rest of my life making up to him for the bad years I had put him through.”

Cort patted Kathleen’s hand, “Then, Mrs. Alexander, a least your husband died in peace. You and that boy were the only things in the world that mattered to him and I’m happy to hear you worked out your differences before he was killed Hunter was as fine a man as I’ve ever known and, now that I’ve met you, it’s easy to see why he could never have forgot ten you.”

“If that’s true, Cort, why would Hunter talk to you about going to Texas? He never told us, so he must not have been alarming to take us along.”

“I told you, Kathleen, it was mainly my idea. And if he did consider it, it was only because he thought you didn’t want him here. Forget about Texas, he never would have gone, and the important thing is you made everything right before he died. Don’t be too hard on yourself, my dear. Remember only the good times and discard the bad. Your husband adored you and would have come back to spend the rest of his life with you and Scott.”

“Cort?” Kathleen smiled at him.

“Yes?”

“You’re a very nice man,” and she rose, kissed his cheek, and said, “You must be terribly tired. The bed’s all ready for
you
in Hunter’s room.”