The Widow of Rose Hill (The Women of Rose Hill Book 2) by Michelle Shocklee

Author:Michelle Shocklee [Shocklee, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Smitten Historical Romance
Published: 2018-02-11T18:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Levi exited General Granger’s office in Austin, stepping into the Texas sunshine after too many hours of sitting through meetings and discussions with the general and a dozen of his top officers. They’d accomplished a great deal, including plans to institute the Freedmen’s Bureau, the organization Congress had established in March to help the former slaves acclimate themselves to their newfound freedom. Once in place, the bureau would open branches in all the inhabited areas of the state, bringing relief to the thousands of refugees, both black and white, who were homeless and jobless. The bureau would provide rations and protection and would even administer land abandoned by Confederates. The key to promoting peace and goodwill throughout the state, General Granger and others believed, depended upon the creation of a new labor system followed by the education of the Negro. Both would take time.

Levi headed toward his tent, sobered by how much work still remained. Reconstruction, the government called it. In reality, it was simply helping people live out their daily lives. Stories of free Negroes being beaten, robbed, and murdered continued to come in. There was also the real problem of too few jobs across the state to support the influx of wage-earning workers. White men, especially those who’d owned slaves, didn’t take kindly to having to compete with them for jobs now.

But amid the ongoing difficulties and adjustments were also stories of hope. Schools for the children of former slaves were already popping up. Levi thought of Natalie teaching her servants their letters. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride, knowing how difficult her life had become because of the slaves’ freedom, yet she was making a valiant effort to change, not only her way of doing things but her way of thinking as well.

Recalling their time on the porch swing two nights ago, he now recognized the hope he’d allowed to build up in his heart unawares. With Samuel’s head resting on his lap, the lad’s beautiful mother inches away, the homey scene had convinced him to explore his attraction to the widow. Though their differences were many, was it so far-fetched to imagine a life with Natalie and Samuel? He’d tested the waters when he’d asked if she would consider remarriage. Her uncertainty was expected but not off-putting.

Then she’d told him of her late husband’s death at Manassas. The grief on her face over his loss, the knowledge of all that little Samuel had lost, too … Levi knew then a future with the widow would be impossible.

“Maish, a moment of your time.”

First Lieutenant Ridley exited the general’s office and strode toward him. The man saluted Levi before offering his hand.

“It’s good to see you again, Lieutenant.” Levi nodded toward the building behind them. “Congratulations on your appointment to the Freedmen’s Bureau. I believe much good will come of it.”

“Thank you, sir. I’m eager to begin work.” A frown tugged the tall man’s brow. “However, until we have it organized, the general wants me to continue investigating the cattle thefts.

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