midday
`` No ; I want you to come , '' she answered simply , and took his hand in hers . A deeper color swept his face as they descended the gentle slope together , she amused and quietly diverted by his shyness , and thinking how she meant to give this boyish rebel a better dinner than he had had for many a long mile . And she did , he aiding her with the vegetables , she mixing johnnycake for the entire squad , slicing the bacon , and setting the coffee to boil . Toward midday the scouting squad returned , to find their officer shelling peas on the cabin steps , and a young girl , sleeves at her shoulders , stirring something very vigorously in a large black kettle -- something that exhaled an odor which made the lank troopers lick their gaunt lips in furtive hope . The sergeant of the troop reported ; the officer nodded and waved the horsemen away to the barn , where they were presently seen squatting patiently in a row , sniffing the aroma that floated from the cabin door . `` Did your men find the lady ? '' she asked , looking out at him where he sat , busy with the peas .