got gold fever when news of Sutter’s Mill reached us; they left this spring.” He shrugged. “I hate slavery, and other than those aforementioned times, have never owned another man.”
The joy in her heart spread to her mouth. “Please forgive me for my misjudgment, sir. Ownership of a human being is absolutely deplorable in my humble opinion.”
“No offense taken. We’re in agreement, ma’am.” He turned toward the house. “Come meet the children. They’ll love the interruption.”
The oversized, double twelve paned front doors impressed her to the hilt with their cut glass. Simply exquisite.
He led her inside to a grand entry hall, not quite as grand as Sea Side, but how had he built this house in the middle of nowhere without slave labor?
“Your home is beautiful, Mr. Buckmeyer.”
He beamed. “Call me Henry.”
“Henry, then.” Movement diverted her attention away from scrutinizing the extra wide staircase to her left.
“Miss May! You came. You’re really here.” Behind Mary Rachel, a string of well scrubbed children filled out of a room that connected to the dining room to her right.
“Yes, I’m really here.” May did her best to imprint all the names to the lovely little faces, but she was getting lost when Henry started explaining the relationships.
She got it that Lacy, the dark-haired little beauty belonged to the lady who came in with the children, but she’d for sure need to take notes to keep this crew straight.
Where had Chester gone? He was better with names and relationships.
Mary Rachel asked a question, then before May could answer, the next oldest daughter—Gwendolyn, if she had it right—asked one of her own. Then the biggest boy Charley, stepped forward and added his voice to the sudden melee.
“Enough, silence. Where have your manners gone?” Henry stepped between her and the children. “Get back to your studies. You can talk with Miss May at dinner—one at a time. Now git.”
Like good soldiers marching off to war, Henry’s children obeyed his order. She loved it. These little ones acted exactly like hers would, if the right man would only come along and do his duty.
After the last one disappeared into the room off the dining hall, she turned toward the man. “You run a tight ship. My compliments. Your offspring are lovely.”
He leaned in close. “I got my bluff in on them early, and bless the Lord, I haven’t had to use the switch on the little darlings much at all.”
She smiled. What was it with this man? Usually, the men she’d been around only cursed in God’s name, not blessed Him. “Well, they certainly are well behaved.”
“Thank you. Care for water or a little something to eat? Dinner’s still another hour or so.”
“No, no. I’m fine, but if perhaps I could see my room, I’d like to get organized for Mary Rachel to start this afternoon.” She looked around. “Where did Chester get off to?”
“He stayed with Jean Paul. I suspect they have already carried your things upstairs.”
“How’s that possible? I would have seen.”
“We have two other sets of stairs.” He looked toward the one right beside the front double doors and extended his bent arm. “Mary Rachel has your room all ready.”
She laid her hand over his forearm and let him lead her upstairs, pleased as punch over her decision to accept his offer—and to make the trip, a grand adventure, indeed.
“I’d envisioned Texas as being wide open, only a few trees, and more desert-like, yet all I’ve seen completely dispels my previous impressions.”
“Yes, ma’am, it’s a big state. Why, you’ve barely scratched its surface.”
Henry stopped at the side of the door and let her waltz on in. She took three steps then twirled around slowly soaking in the room, then glanced back to him. “Ten foot ceilings?”
“Helps with the heat.”
“I love your home. Truly. It’s beautiful, or did I already say that? Are all the rooms this
The joy in her heart spread to her mouth. “Please forgive me for my misjudgment, sir. Ownership of a human being is absolutely deplorable in my humble opinion.”
“No offense taken. We’re in agreement, ma’am.” He turned toward the house. “Come meet the children. They’ll love the interruption.”
The oversized, double twelve paned front doors impressed her to the hilt with their cut glass. Simply exquisite.
He led her inside to a grand entry hall, not quite as grand as Sea Side, but how had he built this house in the middle of nowhere without slave labor?
“Your home is beautiful, Mr. Buckmeyer.”
He beamed. “Call me Henry.”
“Henry, then.” Movement diverted her attention away from scrutinizing the extra wide staircase to her left.
“Miss May! You came. You’re really here.” Behind Mary Rachel, a string of well scrubbed children filled out of a room that connected to the dining room to her right.
“Yes, I’m really here.” May did her best to imprint all the names to the lovely little faces, but she was getting lost when Henry started explaining the relationships.
She got it that Lacy, the dark-haired little beauty belonged to the lady who came in with the children, but she’d for sure need to take notes to keep this crew straight.
Where had Chester gone? He was better with names and relationships.
Mary Rachel asked a question, then before May could answer, the next oldest daughter—Gwendolyn, if she had it right—asked one of her own. Then the biggest boy Charley, stepped forward and added his voice to the sudden melee.
“Enough, silence. Where have your manners gone?” Henry stepped between her and the children. “Get back to your studies. You can talk with Miss May at dinner—one at a time. Now git.”
Like good soldiers marching off to war, Henry’s children obeyed his order. She loved it. These little ones acted exactly like hers would, if the right man would only come along and do his duty.
After the last one disappeared into the room off the dining hall, she turned toward the man. “You run a tight ship. My compliments. Your offspring are lovely.”
He leaned in close. “I got my bluff in on them early, and bless the Lord, I haven’t had to use the switch on the little darlings much at all.”
She smiled. What was it with this man? Usually, the men she’d been around only cursed in God’s name, not blessed Him. “Well, they certainly are well behaved.”
“Thank you. Care for water or a little something to eat? Dinner’s still another hour or so.”
“No, no. I’m fine, but if perhaps I could see my room, I’d like to get organized for Mary Rachel to start this afternoon.” She looked around. “Where did Chester get off to?”
“He stayed with Jean Paul. I suspect they have already carried your things upstairs.”
“How’s that possible? I would have seen.”
“We have two other sets of stairs.” He looked toward the one right beside the front double doors and extended his bent arm. “Mary Rachel has your room all ready.”
She laid her hand over his forearm and let him lead her upstairs, pleased as punch over her decision to accept his offer—and to make the trip, a grand adventure, indeed.
“I’d envisioned Texas as being wide open, only a few trees, and more desert-like, yet all I’ve seen completely dispels my previous impressions.”
“Yes, ma’am, it’s a big state. Why, you’ve barely scratched its surface.”
Henry stopped at the side of the door and let her waltz on in. She took three steps then twirled around slowly soaking in the room, then glanced back to him. “Ten foot ceilings?”
“Helps with the heat.”
“I love your home. Truly. It’s beautiful, or did I already say that? Are all the rooms this
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