Read Online Redeeming Gabriel by Elizabeth White - Free Book Online Page B

smell. “What’s for lunch?” He snatched a roll in each hand and danced out of Portia’s reach. “I’m starved!”
    “You always starved.” Portia rescued the rest of the rolls by setting them inside the dumbwaiter and slamming the door. “When you gonna stop growing and quit raiding my kitchen all hours of the day and night? I had a whole bucket of blackberries in the pantry last night and had to go pick more just to have enough for a cobbler!”
    Schuyler laughed and picked Camilla up from behind, whirling her in a dizzy circle.
    “Schuyler, quit! You’re squeezing the life out of me!”
    “I’ve been bigger than Silly-Milly for a year now.” Schuyler winked at Portia. “Pretty soon I’ll be able to put you over my shoulder!”
    “That would be a sight.” Portia shook a finger. “Put your sister down and go help your grandma down the stairs. I heard her bell a few minutes ago.”
    Schuyler dropped Camilla with a thunk that jarred her teeth. She whacked his bony shoulder, then, grumbling under her breath, picked up a heap of linen napkins waiting to be folded.
    “I will, but I’ve got to tell you the news first. Jamie’s ship’s been sighted! Another blockade runner made it in last night, and the captain says the Lady Camilla ’s going to make it into port tonight.”
    Camilla forgot her aggravation. “Praise God! Is the ship intact?”
    Schuyler nodded. “She’s coming slowly. Seems she’s only sailing with a couple of sails for some reason, but the body of the ship looks fine.” He shrugged. “Maybe she’s overloaded with supplies.”
    Portia closed her eyes. “May the good Lord be with our boy.”
    Camilla fervently echoed the prayer.
     
    “The meeting of the Mobile Missionary and Military Aid Society is hereby called to order,” announced Mrs. Chambliss in stentorian tones. The bird’s nest in her new spring hat quivered in tandem with her three chins.
    The dozen women who littered Lady’s sitting room that bright Monday morning responded by putting away quilting hoops and bags of lint that they had been pulling for bandages. Under cover of the titter of feminine conversation, Camilla, who sat next to Fanny on the window seat, muttered, “I still think we ought to shorten it to ‘MoMass.’” The paradoxical title of their charitable organization always struck Camilla as ridiculous and pretentious.
    “Camilla, you are so crude. Where would our dear, brave soldier boys be if we women didn’t cook and sew and work our fingers to the bone in their absence?” Fanny examined her perfect nails.
    Camilla’s reply was forestalled by the deafening thump of her grandmother’s cane against the oak plank floor. All conversation came to a halt.
    Lady posed the cane scepterlike beside her chair. “My son-in-law has agreed to transport the provisions we’ve been collecting on the next train into Mississippi. It’s time to get down to the business of packing and labeling it all.” Her compelling green eyes swept the room, daring anyone to find an excuse not to participate.
    Even Lottie Chambliss wilted. “Where should we gather to work?”
    “Since we’ve stored everything in the railroad warehouse, we might as well leave it there.” Lady tapped a finger against her lips. “It occurs to me that one or two strong male backs would be invaluable. Camilla!”
    Camilla jumped. “Ma’am?”
    “You will please contact Reverend Leland and request his assistance tomorrow morning.”
    She’d had enough of the pretend minister’s company of late. “Why don’t we just get Horace and Willie to help?”
    “Horace and Willie will be otherwise occupied. Besides, the dear boy has told me repeatedly to call on him if we ever needed him.” Lady tapped her cheek. “Perhaps Fanny wouldn’t mind asking him.”
    Fanny simpered, “I’ll be glad to get a message to the reverend, since Camilla seems to be reluctant.”
    “It’s not that!” Camilla passed Fanny an annoyed look. “I hesitate to