She walked back from the house to the office after the tour, lifting her skirts off the muddy grass on the path. It was a school group, and they always dressed up for the kids. She wore a red calico dress with white lace and a white waistband with a big bow at the back. Instead of a hoop she wore a simple rope skirt to add fullness to the dress. Her hair, being short, was down—she told the children she'd been sick and the doctor had cut off her hair in hopes it would help her get well more quickly.
The manager of the historical plantation had just finished up his own part of the tour as well. He gave the children a tutorial on a soldier's life—a Confederate soldier, as that was the reenactment gear he had on hand—and they ate it up. He even fired his reproduction musket rifle for them. He came strolling back to the office close behind her, all in uniform and carrying his infield rifle and canteen.
They walked into the office together, and he held the door for her. It was just the two of them on staff today—they usually only paid for as many people at a time—and it was quiet on the property after the children had gone. She moved instinctively to the fireplace to warm up, even though there was no fire in it yet, and he looked at her pensively from where he stood by the door.
"You know, you look lovely in that dress."
"Why thank you! You look handsome in your uniform." She smiled. He was a kind sort of man, and she took his compliment gracefully.
