Rebel Heart: (Swept Away) Of Life and Love during the American Civil War

She pressed herself closer to him

They got the key to their room, noted there was a fairly large bed, big enough for two, a basin on a shelf with water, a washcloth, two towels and a small, high window overlooking the back. All quite cozy and as much as they had hoped for.

"You want to go first for the bath," asked Hank. "She said room twenty-six."

"I'm a bit leery about it," said Daniel. "It could be that it is just nice of her, but makes me wonder," he added, looking straight on at his friend.

"Leave your wallet here, and anything else of value," suggested Hank.

"OK," he answered, taking out his billfold and handing it to Hank. "Sure would like to get cleaned up without paying a fortune for it."

"Yell, if there's a problem. These walls are so thin, I'm sure I'd hear you."

Taking one of the two towels, Daniel went down the hall to room number twenty-six. Approaching the door, he heard soft singing, and as he came to it he smelled something sweet. He knocked lightly, and would have called to her by name, but didn't know what it was.

"Coming," she said. He heard the door bolt being retracted.

Entering the room, Daniel saw the tub in the center, and looked at the woman, who looked at him in a funny way saying, "I added hot water, so you should find it comfortable."

Daniel looked around the room. It was softly lit with candles, and a red curtain hanging from a large window was pulled tight. He felt a little funny, with the woman there, until she said, "This is a double room. I'll go into the other room, you make yourself comfortable in the water. There's soap on the edge of the tub. Oh, I see you brought a towel. I just appreciate what you boys are doing for us, keeping those Yankees away."

"Thank you ma'am," he answered. "This is very nice of you." He waited until she disappeared into the other room and had closed the door. Then, he removed his outer and inner garments and slipped into the water. What an experience! One he hadn't had for months. The tub was large enough that with his legs bent he could sink down to his chest in the warm water. Pure pleasure!

He would have liked to stay, but knowing that he was a guest and that Hank would come in after him, he got to work using the soap in his hair, making a lather, and then washing every part of his body. He was just about ready to emerge, a clean man, when the woman came back into the room. "This time, she was dressed in a far different way, if one could call it dressed at all.

"I've an extra treat for you, Johnny Reb."

Daniel looked at her. Her hair was down, and she wore only a short slip showing every part of her legs, with a neckline so low her ample breasts were almost fully exposed. She came closer to him, and then right up to the tub, and took a seat on its edge.

Daniel was glad his nether parts were safely covered by water, for the woman was definitely affecting him in a most personal way.

She leaned toward him. "Honey, I know you've been off fighting for us, missing all the things at home. I know a man needs a woman from time to time, don't you see. I can help you forget all those terrible things you've seen in battle."

Many things were going through Daniel's head as she sat there, waiting for his answer. He had never known a woman. This one was much too friendly and offering far too much to think that her offer had anything to do with appreciation. He felt sure she wanted money, though she had said nothing about it. On the other hand, she would be an easy way for him to experience the grand pleasure, with no further commitment or obligation. Only some money. But, this woman was a stranger to him. Not one that he loved or cared about.

He looked up at the woman who now was looking down at him. She looked vulnerable, not hard and professional, at least not apparently so. Finally, he thought of what his father had told him about this kind of woman—that they often carried diseases that could have a lasting deleterious effect on him.

"Get off!" he said, in a loud voice. "Leave me to get dressed."

"You don't want me, Johnny Reb?" she said in a honey-sugared voice. She twisted on the edge of the tub, bringing her breasts closer to his face.

Daniel couldn't help but notice them, and in truth he would very much have liked to take them in his hands. But he didn't like that she refused even to acknowledge his words. "Do you not hear, woman? I came here at your kind offer of a bath. That's all."

Abruptly she got up, and standing a bit away from the tub she said, "I was going to show you a real good time, soldier. Get up, get dressed, and get out of here!" She stomped out of the room, entered the adjoining one, and slammed the door shut.

Daniel stood up in the tub, dried off his upper body, then one leg and the other, and quickly got dressed. He was glad she didn't return. He left the large soap bar on the edge of the tub, but took a small one and returned to the room he and Hank shared.

"All done?" asked Hank, grabbing the other towel.

"She's offering more than a bath."

Hank stopped in mid-stride, turning back to face him.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, she left the room while I bathed, but later came back wearing a skimpy slip that showed just about everything she had."

"Really? What did she say?"

Daniel proceeded to tell him everything that happened. He was amused that he was so curious, even having him describe her breasts. Hank sat down. Daniel knew he was aroused. Yet he also knew that he was of a religious nature, one who usually attended every one of the religious services that came around their camps.

"Guess I won't get my warm bath," he said, dejectedly.

Daniel went to him where he sat on the chair. "Hey, I took this small bar of soap. She won't miss it because she had a big one. You could use it and clean up with the pitcher of water on the counter."

"Yeah," he said. "Not a bath, but better than nothing."

While Hank was bathing himself with the soap and water, Daniel tucked himself into the bed, glad to be sleeping on a real one. He looked forward to a delicious breakfast in the morning and then to setting out on the long hike that would at last take them home.

Note: Yes prostitutes and women needing money were not uncommon among the troops of both the Union and Confederate armies. With the destruction of crops and seizure of food and livestock by both armies in some parts of the country, many people in Virginia and other southern states became impoverished.