On to Richmond by Ginny Dye

is.”
                  Carrie bit her lip.  This was typical Louisa, trying to manipulate her by insinuating her father wasn’t important to her.  Carrie stifled the impulse to throw something at her.  She knew she was really too tired to deal with Louisa today.  It didn’t look as if she had a choice, however.  She thought longingly of Sam’s offer to tell Louisa she was out.  She should have taken him up on it.  But when a neighbor traveled more than two hours to visit, you couldn’t exactly turn her away.   Forcing her voice to remain pleasant, she responded.  “Of course, I’m interested.  Did you see my father?”
                  “No,” Louisa said, waving her hand dismissively.  “I was much too busy to do that.”  She leaned forward eagerly, her eyes snapping.
                  Carrie refrained from shaking her head in disgust.   Louisa had the floor for now.  She wouldn’t give it up till she was ready. Thinking longingly of the hot meal she could be consuming in peace right now, Carrie settled back on the love seat. 
                  Louisa tilted her head and smiled brightly.  “Being in the center of the social whirl of Richmond kept me much too busy to do ordinary things.  I do believe this war is going to do wonderful things for our city.”
                  “Such as being the target of Union attacks?”  Carrie asked dryly.
                  “Oh, pooh.  It will never come to that.  And besides, let them come if they are foolish enough to try such a thing.  Our brave boys will send them running back to the North.”
                  Carrie looked at her sharply but didn’t say anything. 
                  Louisa rattled on, mindless of Carrie’s silence.  “This war is doing wonderful things for the social life of our capital.  Choosing Richmond to be the capital of our whole wonderful new nation was simply a precious move.  Why, do you realize the increased number of parties and dances going on there?”  She glanced at Carrie but didn’t wait for her to speak.   “The teas are simply marvelous, and I, along with some other girls, was out at the Camp of Instruction three different times to take cakes and other goodies to our dear boys.  Why, I was even fortunate enough to be there for one of the horse races they stage for entertainment.  It was simply a glorious time.” 
                  Seeming to forget for a moment there were no handsome young men to impress, Louisa smiled and batted her blue eyes. “I do believe I attended a social function every day I was there.  There is no end to the eligible bachelors to escort you and dance with you.  It is any girl’s dream come true.”
                  Not any girl , Carrie thought silently.  Her mind strayed to the things she still had to do that day.  When Louisa prattled like this, it wasn’t necessary to really listen.  If Carrie simply nodded her head when the girl took a breath, Louisa would be content believing she had undivided attention.
                  Louisa took a breath, watched for Carrie’s nod, and hurried on.  “I don’t believe I have ever seen anything so noble as the masses of soldiers coming to protect our city.  Some of them are really quite plain young men, but many of them are the finest Virginia has to offer.  They have laid aside their riches and position to perform their duty in this, our time of need.”  Louisa paused, her voice becoming reflective.  “Why many of them have come with only a servant or two.  Of course, it is ridiculous to expect them to do the work of a regular soldier.  A group of us girls talked with several of them while they directed their servants in cleaning the military grounds they had been ordered to clean.  Don’t you think they’re terribly clever?”
                  Carrie spoke carefully.  “I think