Sarah's Ground (9781439115855) by Ann Rinaldi

he is starting in the neighborhood, they are willing to serve.”
    I stared blankly at her. “But I thought … ,” I said, and then I stopped.
    She smiled. “Mrs. Harbinger was here, then?”
    I smiled. “Yes.”
    â€œShe’s trouble, that woman. Here, let me cut the rhubarb pie. It’s from rhubarb in my own garden. Everybody thinks we hide in time of trouble, Miss Tracy. We don’t go looking for it, is all. But when it comes, we don’t try to sidestep it. Already two boys from the neighborhood have joined the Union army.”
    I nodded. “I’m neutral, Mrs. Frobel,” I told her. “So I quite understand your feelings. We want to keep this place neutral ground. Open to all.”
    â€œAs it should be,” she agreed solemnly.
    I consider it beyond the pale that Mr. Herbert cannot go to Alexandria anymore. It would hurt me terribly if I were home on my father’s farm and couldn’t go into Troy. I know Mr. Herbert is pained because of this, especially since he is known by everyone in the county as an upstanding man with a strong central core, something planted there inside him by his ancestors, who carved out this country before it was a country.
    Lest it sound as if I am mooning over him, that is not the case. We have a professional friendship.
    It is late June now. Except for the soldiers who come to visit in small groups once in a while, one wouldn’t even think there was a war going on. I know I have to go to Washington City to see General Scott, to get passes for our servants, butI don’t want to disrupt the lazy peace of the days.
    We seem to have established a pattern in the house. I get up early, but no matter how early, it seems as if Mr. Herbert is in the kitchen at breakfast already. He asks, at breakfast, if there is anything I need done in and about the place that day And I ask him about food. What is coming into bloom in the fields? Are the corn and potatoes and tomatoes ready? Would he like fish for supper? If so, does he want to take the boat out or have Dandridge do it? If I’m going to town, I ask him if there is anything he wants. Then we part, he going his way and I, mine. I assign the servants their jobs, decide what I am going to do, and, if I need help, ask them to assist me.
    I check their work during the day, visit my garden, cast some bread crumbs to my crow, feed the chickens, put milk out for the cat, and in general behave like a housewife who is seeing well to the ways of her household.
    Mr. Herbert insists that if I go to town, I take Emily with me. “There are soldiers wandering around out there on the roads and in the woods,” he reminds me.
    Every day, no matter what happens, I write a letter to Miss Cunningham and report happenings and expenditures. I have not heard from her since she left. I wonder when she is coming back and almost hope she isn’t.
    This first week in July, Mr. Herbert did not want to talk about fish or money at breakfast.
    â€œThere are rumors,” he said, “that Federal troops might be placed here.”
    I stared at him. “And from whence come these rumors?”
    â€œA Nigra friend of Dandridge’s came around yesterday. It’s all the talk in Alexandria, he said.”
    â€œCan you trust him?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAll right, then I must go today to see General Scott and tell him we will not have Federal troops here, mustn’t I?”
    He regarded me sadly. “Take Priscilla. She’s a better bodyguard than Emily You know how Emily is afraid of war.”
    â€œI think Emily is the only sane one amongst us,” I told him.
    â€œBe serious, Miss Tracy.”
    â€œDo you think there is any sanity at all in our being here?”
    â€œMiss Cunningham insists that the presence of a lady will keep people from looting and destroying this place.”
    I laughed. Then I sobered. “So, Mr. Herbert, i’m to hold off the