Nellie is our sweetest. And Tigger is a good old girl if Ive ever known one. Nellie loves him, so theyre great on a ride together. Theyll be perfect for the twins.
Justin grinned and stood. Nancys bringing the crew in for breakfast. Say an hour or two?
Two hours will work for me.
Justin thanked her. She finished with paperwork and realized she was constantly looking up, certain that she was going to see a Confederate soldier staring at her.
I dont believe in ghosts, she reminded herself. But saying the words out loud sounded defensive. I dont. I really dont! she said to the empty room.
Irritated with herself, she went out to the stables. Justins family would be out soon.
Ashley saddled Varina and stroked her mane. The farmer they had bought her from when Ashley had been a teen had been an avid fan of Varina Davis, the one and only first lady of the Confederate States of America. Because she had been named Varina, they named Nellies last colt Jeff, for Jefferson Davis, the one and only President of the Confederate States. That morning, she and Justin chose Varina and Jeff as their mounts, while she assigned Nellie to the younger, slightly more timid of Justins twin girls, and Tigger to the other, while Nancy, Justins mother-in-law, was on the slightly more spirited Abraham.
Ashley took the girls around the paddock a few times, just going over the basics. Justin had been right about their experience, but they were smart little girls with common sense, and Ashley thought they would do well.
Ashley gave her attention to the girls as they rode around the outbuildings and then toward Beaumont, the Creole plantation next door. The girls were delighted by the ride, waving to everyone they passed while traversing the house and outbuildings area and then concentrating on their fathers and grandmothers admonitions to be on the lookout for wildlife.
Are there alligators? Meg, the bolder of the twins, demanded.
Yes, by the bayou. But theyll leave you alone if you leave them alone. We wont dismount anywhere near the bayou. Now, you dont want to bring a small-sized dog or even a medium-sized dog out there. They look like dinnertime to the alligators, Ashley told them. She was listening to the girls; she was looking everywhere. They had searched last night, but it had been dark. Now it was daylight, and, hopefully, if Charles Osgood had come out here and fallen, hurt himself or had some other trial, they might find him now.
We dont have a dog, Jeanine, Megs sister, younger by five minutes, said.
Can we get a puppy, Dad? Meg asked.
Soon enough, Nancy said, grinning at Ashley.
Why not now? Meg asked.
Because Daddy is busy, Nancy answered. Nancy was one of those women who had gone to a beautiful shade of silver-white naturally.
Watch for animals, girls, Ashley interceded. Well be close enough to see the alligators basking in the sun. These woods arent that dense, but with all this land, every once in a while a black bear or a cougar wanders across the road. I know that you see nutria
What are nutria? Meg interrupted.
Theyre the largest rat, essentially, Justin said.
Ugh! Jeanine said.
The buggers were brought over years ago, in the 1930s, and theyve multiplied into the millions, Ashley explained. Theres actually a bounty on them, because they can be so destructive. But they dont hurt people. The animal that you do have to be careful of in these parts is the cottonmouth snake. But it likes water, too, and were not going in the water. Animals usually leave you alone as long as you leave them alone.
Watch for herons! Justin said.
I wouldnt mind seeing a cougar, Meg announced.
Theyre shy, too. But well see what we see, Ashley assured them.
They counted seven herons, two raccoons, an armadillo and three owls up in the trees. When they came to the bayou, Ashley pointed out two alligators sunning on the opposite bank. As she did so, she saw that staff members at Beaumont were engaged in their work already. A man dressed in a droop hat, cutoff denim and a dotted cotton shirt was standing by a wagon that showed freshly hewn sugarcane. Another, dressed more like an early nineteenth-century Louisiana French businessman, was giving a tour.
She looked up toward the second story of the plantation house, where the family had lived. A man was standing there, dressed in a Confederate uniform frock coat.
Ashley blinked against the light. He looked like
Like her ancestor, Marshall Donegal.
The man lifted a hand to her.
Yet when she blinked again, he was gone. Her imagination at work again. Of course, she was still concerned about Charles Osgood. But he was due back to work the next morning. If he didnt turn up by then, the police would have to get involved at a serious level.
She realized that Justin was watching her.
Are you okay, Ashley? he asked.
Im fine. The light is playing tricks, thats all. I thought I saw a Confederate soldier at the window. Toby Keaton does workshops and tours on the real workings of a sugar plantation over there. We do the Civil Warkeeps me sending tourists to him, and him sending them to Donegal Plantation, she said. Would she have told the truth if Jake were here? Jake, who seemed to know what the dead were saying.
You have Charles Osgood on your mind, Justin said.
I do. I cant help it.
They rode along the bayou for a while, and then Ashley led them around the second trail to head back to the house. The girls chattered the whole time.
Justin nudged Jeff and the horse trotted up next to Ashley again. I know you were hoping to find Charles, he said.
I am worried, Justin, really worried, she said.
Hell show up. But let him know how worried you were. That will make him feel good, Justin told her.
Ashley offered him a smile. Sure, thanks.
Back at the stable, Ashley tried to keep her mind busy, letting the girls help her with the saddles and bridle and tack. She taught them how to groom their horses.
As she put away the last of the brushes, Justin strode over to her. Great. Now Jeanine doesnt want a puppy anymore. She wants a horse.