Yikes! Poor Myles. He has quite a conundrum brewing.

And Tara had better be careful on her walk. She better not go searching for trouble. Perhaps a certain Union soldier should accompany her.

And Col. Thomas... I can feel his pain and agony. What's he going to do when he sees Sue with Myles???

Great job! Can't wait for more!

I can't wait for everyone to meet!!!! It's getting close right???????

Em

Oreo, I have been catching up with you in the past few days and finally caught up. I just have to say how much I adore this story, I love the little things like Bobby's horse named 'Graceland' and the way you put real people inside the story. I love the B/T developments and I hope for some quiet and fuzzy time for them.

And Myles in a dream world having visions of Lucy as a ballerina

I promised they'd meet by the end of the week and I think that gives me about 57 hours. I'm trying but I don't want to rush it.

Chapter 24 – Part 1

"Sunday a soldier of Company A died and was buried. Everything went on as if nothing had happened, for death is so common that little sentiment is wasted. It is not like a death at home." ~~Elisha Hunt Rhodes, 2nd Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry

Jack and D rode side by side while Tara and Bobby followed. Bobby couldn’t help but notice that Tara had grown quieter. “What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?” he asked.

“Nothing much.”

“You aren’t a very good liar, Tara.”

“That’s not exactly a compliment for a spy,” she said with half a smile.

“Maybe I’m just especially good at reading you.”

“Okay, I’m an open book. What do you read?”

“You’re scared.”

“I am not!”

He held up his hand. “Not about getting shot or doing something fool crazy to help out, but you are afraid about what’s going to happen when we get back to camp.” Her eyes widened for just a second and he knew he’d hit the truth. “I’m right, huh?”

Her eyes darted to his and she quickly diverted them back to the reigns in her hands.

“Tara?”

She sighed. “I guess. Maybe. A little. So what’s going to happen?”

“Col. Thomas will probably set you in a tent somewhere with the volunteer ladies that help in the hospital.”

“Oh.” She kept her face downcast.

Bobby smiled at her. “And I’ll sneak over to see you every spare minute I’ve got.” He was delighted with the smile that blossomed on her face. “You were scared I was going to forget about you once we got there?”

“I . . .I … just didn’t know,” she stuttered. “Everything is so crazy.”

“Listen, luv, I’ll be honest. I wasn’t looking to court anyone during a war. It’s not exactly the best of circumstances. But you came along and I couldn’t help what I felt. And I didn’t try real hard to resist either.” She grinned at his comment and he continued, “Tara, I don’t know what’s going to happen to us. I can’t promise you a lifetime ‘cause I don’t even know if I’ll be alive tomorrow, but what I can already promise you is that as far as it depends on me, this drongo will be by your side, if you’ll have me. So?”

“I’ll think on it.” She pretended not to be elated by his words and bit her lip to keep the smile from exploding on her face.

“Tara!”

“Okay, I’ve thought about it.” She let the smile erupt. “I’ll have you.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The deserted tent city of the Gen. Sheridan’s encampment surprised Sue. First, it surprised her that camp was now set up southwest of Richmond, and second, she’d expected to find her father’s camp bustling with activity. “Where are they?” she asked Myles.

“Probably in battle somewhere,” he said, lifting her out of the wagon. “I’ll go ask around. There’s always people still in the medical tent. “I want all of you to stay here and don’t wander off.”

Sue scanned the area. Tents were lined up in straight rows for nearly a mile, but in some places the tents veered in strange little turns around parts of the terrain. Myles had gone off in a determined direction so she assumed that he knew where the hospital tent was located. Since it was the military, there was probably some kind of order to the whole thing.

Samuel sensed her question. “The Army regs say the camp is supposed to be in a grid pattern,” he explained, “with the officers' quarters at the front end of each street and enlisted men's quarters aligned to the rear. See dese here colors?” He pointed to a flag outside the tent. “They tell which company those tents belong to. The mess tents are in the center and the Surgeon’s Call is in the back.”

“Do you think we could find my father’s tent?” she asked.

“Shore do, but Mr. Myles said to stay here.”

“Sorry, Miss Sue, I have to agree with him this time. He’d have a rough time finding us if we wander off.”

Sue sighed. “I guess I can wait a little longer.”

She did not have to wait long for Myles to return. “They left this morning for Sailer’s Springs to cut off the remainder of Lee’s army.”

“Are we going to meet them?”

Myles shook his head. “Bringing you here was one thing, but taking the colonel’s daughter into battle is another thing altogether. They’ll return by nightfall. Sailor’s Springs isn’t far.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gunfire in the distance caused Jack, Bobby, and D to all look at one another. From the sounds of it, they were headed directly towards what appeared to be large battle.

“What’s going on?” Tara asked.

“Sounds like some fighting – a lot of it,” D explained. “Here, you might need this.” He pulled the Colt her father had given her from the waist band of his breeches and passed it to her. Tara had to strain to reach it.

“D! Why would she need that?” Bobby asked.

“We can’t protect her from everything. Believe me I’ve tried. We’ve got to trust her to protect herself if she needs to.”

“Can you even shoot that thing, luv?”

“Watch.” She scanned the area in front of her. “Name a target.”

“That tree over there.”

Tara rolled her eyes. It was a large oak and only about 50 yards away. Tara fired and easily hit it. “Now, give me a real target.

“That bird.” He pointed to a crow had taken flight from the tree. Tara spurred Blossom to a gallop. She could hear her father’s steadying voice. ”Shooting from a moving target at a moving object is more a matter of imagining where you’ll both be in the next ten seconds than it is about accuracy. Picture it in your mind.” She did just that, lifted her gun, squeezed the trigger, and watched the crow dive to the ground. She slowed Blossom and turned her to face the men.

“Good shot, Tara!” Jack praised.

A proud grin was splayed across Bobby’s face. “Maybe the sheila could give you a run for your money, Capt. Hudson. Where’d you learn to shoot like that? No, wait, let me guess – your father.”

“He didn’t do so well in teaching me to cook, but ride, shoot, read, and write, he had those covered.”

“So, who taught you to cook?” Jack wondered.

D laughed. “My Donna, and I can assure you that she had her work cut out for her.”

The ensuing laughter died as another volley of gunfire erupted. Bobby drew Graceland abreast of Skater. “What are we going to do?”

“If it’s our regiment, we fight,” he stated matter of factly.

“And Tara?”

He glanced back at the woman who’d become a part of their team and then at his best friend. “We could leave her here if you think she’d stay.”

“Well, you’ve known her for as long as I have, what do you think?”

Jack shook his head and shrugged. “We could tie her up.”

“And if we didn’t make it back?”

Jack ran his hand through his hair. “I’ve got an idea, but I can tell you right now that you’re not going to like it.”

and the idea is?

cath

Well didn't Bobby promised to tie Tara at some point? If Bobby's not going to like Jack's idea I can only imagine Tara's reaction...

Well, I have a feeling that Jack's idea is going to be interesting and Tara and Bobby's reaction is going to be VERY interesting!!!

Joy

I'll bet Jack is going to suggest they take her into battle. Bobby ain't gonna like that one bit.

i have some ideas but i am going to keep quiet... just in case i am completely wrong....

So close now, yet still so far..

I see you lurking! Give me more!

What's the idea?? I see meetings in the very near future

Looking forward to more Oreo

Uh oh, what's the idea, Jack?

Oh, I have an idea too -- I wonder if it's the same idea that Jack is having?
kav

And the idea is??

Still loving it a lot!

Helene

After you read this, let me know if the plan is what you thought. I'm curious and I'd like to hear your ideas.

Chapter 24 - Part 2

Sitting on her father’s cot, Sue could almost feel his presence. They hadn’t seen each other in almost a year and half. He’d gotten a two weeks furlough the winter of ’64. She tried to picture him in this world, commanding a several hundred men. Even though he’d always been a strong leader in their home, church, and community, it was hard to imagine him as a colonel in the Calvary.

Lucy picked up a framed daguerreotype of the family from the small table which served as his desk. “You gave him this frame for Christmas when he was home last time, didn’t you?”

Sue pressed the shirt on the bed to her face and inhaled her father's scent. “Yes. I thought he should be able to have us with him.”

“What do you think he’ll say when he sees you here?”

She set the shirt aside. “You know, when I said yes to coming, I pictured a joyous reunion. I’ve missed him so much, and I imagined he’d be as happy to see me as was to see him.”

“But now?”

“Now, I’m a little afraid of his reaction. I think he’ll be happy to see me, but I just didn’t realize how my presence could complicate his work here before now.”

Lucy picked up a piece of paper from the desk and joined her on the cot. “He’ll be happy, Sue. Here, read this.”

“I can’t read his personal papers.”

“It’s a letter he wrote to you, but hasn’t posted.”

Sue took the paper in her hands and immediately recognized her father’s handwriting.

April 4, 1865

Dear Sue,

I cannot describe to you my feelings on this calm spring night, when three thousand men are sleeping around me, many of them enjoying the last, perhaps, before that of death. I have no fear of death for myself as I am ready to face God whenever He calls, but I fear it for the lives and souls of those in my charge. It is so difficult to decide who will be placed in the most danger.

Forgive me for unburdening myself on you, my dear daughter. You are so insightful, however, you have probably already guessed I’m particularly concerned about some leadership decisions I have made of late. As officers, we are supposed to not show any special favor to any individuals who are under our command, but we are just men. I do have a few men who have become not just my soldiers, but also my friends. I had to send them on a special assignment and they have yet to return. I am concerned about them, and I miss their experience in the field. Please pray for these men, Sue. They are highly skilled, honorable, and good men. Also, pray for the lady who should be accompanying them. You would like her. You are both full of courage. She has risked her life to help to the Union.

As I wrote your mother, Richmond has fallen. We are now in pursuit of the remnants of Lee’s Army. There is a charge in the air. The men can feel it. I can feel it. Victory is so close, we can taste it. I pray this will be over soon and we can celebrate Independence Day together.

I wish to hear news of your brothers, so please pass along anything you hear from them. It brings me great peace to know you and your mother are safe. I long to see you both.

All my love,
Your father

“Lucy, I don’t know why, but I feel like we should pray for these men and this woman right now even more so than my father. I only wish he’d listed their names.”

“We can pray right now. The Lord knows who they are.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Emerging from behind a clump of bushes, Tara looked at Bobby. “So, what do you think?”

He scanned her form from head to toe. She wore a pair of Jack’s trousers, cinched with twine at the waist, with the cuffs rolled up. Bobby had provided the her father’s white shirt which was large enough to hide her womanly curves. D had given her his uniform jacket, claiming he could get another. “It won’t work. You’re just too pretty to be a man.”

“I think it’ll work,” Jack said. “We just need to cover her hair. Here.” He passed her a keppi.

“Where’d this come from?” she asked.

“You don’t want to know.”

Tara shuddered as she took the cap, but bent at the waist and tied her hair in a knot, before sliding the keppi over it. “Better?”

“Much,” D admitted.

“She still looks too pretty,” Bobby groused.

“Tara, rub some mud on your face,” Jack instructed, passing her the canteen.

She grimaced, but poured a little water into the dirt, and stirred it with a stick. After tentatively dipping her finger into the mud, she made a streak across her cheek.

“Oh, good grief, that’s not how to do it,” Bobby said, squatting in front of her. He grabbed a handful of the mixture in one hand and held her head steady with the other. “Now, hold still,” he ordered, and then smeered it haphazardly over her creamy skin.

She spit out some of mud that had gotten into her mouth. “Yuck!”

D laughed. “Look! She’s already acting more like a man – spitting and everything.”

Tara propped her hands on her hips and glared at him.

“You can’t do that, luv. Men would cross their arms over their chest if they wanted to have glare. Only women do the hip thing.”

She moved her hands to cover her chest and leveled her gaze at him. She dropped her voice an octave, trying to sound like a man. “You mean like this.”

“Just don’t talk much,” D advised.

Bobby watched her. If it wasn’t so serious, it would be comical. But it was serious – dead serious. “Okay, Jack, she looks sort of passable, but how are we going to keep her alive?”

He went to the saddle bag on Blossom and dug inside. He pulled out a white cloth with a red cross painted on it and waved it in the air. “With this.”

Bobby’s eyes widened. “She’s going to be a medic? You think that little red cross is going to protect her.”

“Neither side is supposed to shoot at a medic,” Jack explained.

“A lot of good it did the previous owner of Tara’s saddle.”

He understood Bobby’s unease with the plan. He had his own doubts. Still, he believed the plan would work and keep Tara the safest possible. “Medics don’t usually get killed, Crash.” Jack turned his attention to Tara. “You can help the injured. I know you’ve got experience with that. Do you think you can handle it?”

Tara looked from Jack to Dimetrius, who smiled encouragingly, and finally, to Bobby. His jaw was tense and arms crossed defiantly across his chest. His eyes had taken on a hard mica glint. He was not liking this plan. “Bobby?”

His eyes locked on hers, but softened when he saw something unfamiliar in them. She was scared. He suddenly realized there really was no other choice. Leaving her alone out here was dangerous, and sending her on to the camp alone was foolhardy. This was not about her taking unnecessary chances. She had to do it as much as he had to go fight with his company. He couldn't protect her, but he could believe in her ability to protect herself. He took a deep breath, dropped his arms, and met her eyes directly. “Of course she can do it.” She exhaled the breath she’d been holding and her smile told him thank you.

“Try to let the others pull the wounded off the field. You’re smart. If you can help men escape from prison, you should be able to sneak onto a battle field. I know you can do this, Private Williams.”

I trust you to protect them all

Helene

Me too :hide:

The letter Sue's father wrote to her about praying for Jack, Bobby and Tara was touching. Hopefully she'll meet them soon enough.

Waiting for more

Wow. That's not what I thought Jack had in mind, but it was close. I had a feeling he was going to take her into a battle, but I thought it would be as a soldier. I like this one much better. Just keep them safe.

And I'm glad Sue and Lucy are praying for them now. I'm positive that'll help all the way around.

I also thought Jack might pass her off as a soldier!! His way should be a little safer!!!

I'm with Sue - I don't know how Mr. Thomas is going to react when he finds out Sue is there!! This is a very dangerous time for everyone until they take control totally!!

This is such a wonderful story, Oreo!!!

Joy

Wow

The reunion and first meet is not far off I think.

Hopefully everyone will be fine.

Everyone seems to have the right frame of mind right nowint this/that time.


Great story

Yeah i was right, however that fact has not quenched my nerves.....what with my angst riddled mind i am going into over drive here....

Chapter 24 – Part 3

Howie stumbled into Col. Thomas’ tent just as Lucy and Sue finished praying. Levi jumped up and barked at the sudden invasion. Out of breath, Howie struggled to speak. “Sue, ya’all need to tell them that I’m no spy!”

“What?” Sue asked.

Howie propped his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breah. “The soldier’s that’s chasing me. They think I’m a Confederate spy.”

At that moment, a soldier threw back the tent flap and stepped inside. He directed his musket at Howie who immediately stuck his hands in the air. “Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!”

“What’s going on here?” Sue asked.

“We believe this is a Rebel spy ma’am. We’ll have him out of your way in a minute.”

Sue stepped between the soldier and Howie. “This man is not a spy, sir. He assisted me and my friends with our transportation needs out of the goodness of his heart.”

“And you are?”

“Col. Daniel Thomas’ daughter, Sue. Lt. Myles Leland brought Lucy, Samuel, and myself here.”

While the young man appeared to want to believe her, Sue could see him struggling with his doubts. “Ma’am, I’m having a hard time with your story. Maybe someone snowed you ‘cause no officer would bring one woman to the front, let alone two.”

“This one did,” Myles bellowed, throwing back the other tent flap. “Lower your weapon, corporal.”

“Sir?”

“Lower it. I take full responsibility. They all are with me.”

“Even him, sir?”

“Yes, even him. Corporal, I gave you a direct order.”

Reluctantly, the young man complied. “I’ll need to report his to my superior, sir.”

“I understand. Dismissed.”

Myles faced the others. “Well, now, I think I need to find something to keep the three of you out of trouble.”

“Where’s Samuel?” Lucy asked.

“Where do you think a smithy would be? He was drawn to the forge like a moth to a flame. Now, about the three of you . . .”

“Don’t bother worrying about us,” Sue announced. “We’re going to volunteer at the hospital.”

Lucy’s surprise told Myles it was the first that she’d heard of the idea, but Howie looked positively white. “You want me to help take care of injured Yanks?” he squeaked. “Miss Sue, I’d do just about anything for you, but you gotta know the sight of blood makes me real woosy and queasy and dizzy and . . .”

“We get the idea,” Myles interrupted. “Perhaps you could be on your way then. Of course, I’ll pay you for your services.”

“On my way? You mean you’re sending me back?”

“That’s generally how it works,” he said dryly.

“You can’t do that. Now that I’ve helped ya’all those same thugs in the alley are going to have it in for me. My life will be in mortal danger. You know I did save your life lieutenant. If I hadn’t come along, they’d have beaten you like an old rug.”

Sue patted his arm. “You’re welcome to stay with us, Howie, and you’re right, we owe you a debt of gratitude. Right, Myles?”

Myles sighed. “Yes, I suppose we do. But if he can’t work in the hospital, what are we going to do with him?”

Lucy smiled. “He could be your personal assistant.”

He glared at her. “Thanks, but no thanks. I don’t need a personal assistant.” He studied Howie. “Hmmm, I know exactly what you would you be perfectly suited for. Come on, Howie. Let’s escort these ladies to the Surgeon’s Call and then I’ll help you find a new place of business.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The gunfire got louder and Tara grew more pale. She and Bobby trailed behind Jack and D and every so often, Jack caught a few words of Bobby trying to keep her mind off the fight ahead. Finally, he heard Bobby call, “Hey, Jack, hold up a minute. I think we need a break.”

He lifted Tara off Blossom and led her to a secluded spot. Jack watched Bobby wrap his arms around her and press his head against her wool keppi.

Jack started to follow and explain that they didn’t have time for this, but D stopped him. “Give them a few moments,” D said. He picked a piece of grass and chewed on the end. “You ever been in love, Jack?”

“No, I thought I was. Actually, I tried to be, it just wasn’t working.”

“You tried to fall in love.”

“Yeah, my mom wanted it and her mom wanted it and she wanted it, but I just couldn’t make the feelings come, but Bobby and Tara can’t be in love. They’ve only known each other a week.”

“Sometimes it doesn’t even take a week, ya know,” D said with a sigh.

“Is that how it was for you and Donna?”

D laughed. “Me? I fell for her in a matter of hours, but it took her longer to see I was worthy of her attention.”

Jack took a long swig from his canteen, then hooked it back on the horn of Skater's saddle. “I guess I think it’s just not very responsible of Bobby to fall in love during a war.”

“Responsible? You think he was looking for this?” D shook his head. “Jack, you may be a crack shot and one heck of a leader, but you don’t know a lot about love. Listen up. When you find that special someone who gets a hold of your heart like no one ever has, you’re just plain powerless.”

"Powerless, huh?" Jack thought. He hated feeling powerless so he guessed he could put off love until after the war, maybe even after he made his way out West. When he fell in love, it would be a matter of choice, not chance.

Tara was smiling when Bobby escorted her back a few minutes later. Though still tense, she seemed more relaxed. Bobby held her waist as she mounted, then took her hand and whispered, “Remember what I said, luv. No matter what.”

LOL! Well, we will see about that Jack! Just wait until you get back to camp and meet a special nurse.

i have a feeling jack's gonna love being powerless when he sees sue

cath

Jack, Jack, Jack you are soon going to be hit by hurranice love and your legs won't keep you up......


I wonder what Bobby said to Tara, was it a propospal....

Jack, my boy, you're going down!!! It's only a matter of hours now!!!

Joy

Oh Oreo, I love this soooo much. I get beside myself with excitement when I see a new post This is two of me, scary thought, isn't it?

Yes -- this is what I was thinking too BUT I couldn't help but think LICE when I read that bit (by the way -- anyone read Scritch Scratch?)

I do believe that Bobby has had a lightbulb moment -- or in these times would it be called a Tallow Moment?


Love Howie as comic relief...and I have absolutely no idea what Myles has in mind. I will have to poner that one.


That is so Jack Hudson in any century!!!!! I can't wait until he meets up with Sue!!!!


There he goes planning again. Luckily he's about to meet a woman who knows about the power of prayer!!!!!

kav

If only Jack knew what was in store for him.... I can't wait to see it personally.

Good lord, what does Myles have planned for Howie now?

Yeah, it put off until about 3 seconds after you've been with Sue. And then you'll see how powerless it to put up with it.


And you'll have as much choice about it as Sue does.




post we're one post closer to Jack and Sue meeting.

and wait til he meets Howie.
Britt

this is soooo good...can't for the two to meet......wonder what jack will have to say then!

Oh Jack - You're so funny Good luck! (Yes - that was very sarcastic)

Em

the power of Love is a mysterious thing......... and Jack's little comment, all Jack through and through great job!

Chapter 25 – Part 1

”I may be compelled to face danger, but never fear it, and while our soldiers can stand and fight, I can stand and feed and nurse them.”~Clara Barton, Civil War nurse and activist

Edging their way around the battle, Jack, Bobby and D recognized the colors flying of their own regiment’s temporary field hospital tent on the outskirts of the battlefield. The area buzzed with activity and no one noticed them. Tara tied Blossom to a tree and smiled encouragingly at the nervous men. “Go. I’ll be fine. And be careful.”

“You too,” Bobby said. "Remember."

Reluctantly, they took off toward their company to join in the battle.

Tara darted behind one of the tents and peered around the corner to study how things were handled. In her work in gathering information, she'd learned that moments spent in observation could pay off greately. She saw that the stretcher-bearers deposited the wounded side by side in a windrow on the ground in front of the table under the first tent fly. A number of assistants took charge of the injured soldiers by staunching blood flow and bandaging wounds. Some men were lifted on to the first table of the surgeon’s tent. She watched a red-haired soldier, writhing and groaning in pain, receive anesthesia before the surgeon exposed his wound. He then passed him to the center table where another surgeon made a hasty examination and determined what was to be done and did it. Tara forced the bile from her throat as she watched a soldier’s leg be sawed off and flung into a pile of amputated limbs.

She tore her eyes away from the scene, needing to do something to help these men. Snagging a knapsack she seen the other assistants carry from a supply tent, Tara joined the victims in the windrow. She knelt beside a middle aged man with a gaping hole in his arm. She could hear Bobby’s words in her mind. “Just act like you know what you’re doing and no one will ask you a thing. And if someone asks you something, just tell them you’re a fresh fish.”

“I’m supposed to say I’m a fish?” she had asked.

“We call new recruits, fresh fish.”

She opened the knapsack and pulled out a roll of bandages. ”I feel more like a fish out of water,” she thought, examining the wound. The bone hadn’t been severed so she wrapped it tightly to stem the flow of blood. This one would live if the wound didn’t get infected.

She moved on to the next soldier. Shrapnel had splattered his chest and his breathing was raspy. Even with her limited experience, she thought his lung had been damaged. Before she could even get a compress out of her pack, his labored breathing ceased. She’d lost her first patient.

On and on she went. There seemed to be no end to the fallen heroes: broken bones, severed limbs, abdominal wounds, and entire sections of the brain blown away. She lost count of how many she’d administered aide to and no one seemed to pay her any undo attention. As soon as the surgeon’s finished treating a man, he was carted off to the hospital at camp in either an ambulance cart or a wagon.

Once, she looked up to see the battle before her. Even though they were far enough away that rifle fire wouldn’t reach them, she could see the field was littered with bodies. Puffs of white smoke billowed from the rifles whenever they fired casting a smoky haze over the whole area. She scanned the area looking for signs of Bobby, Jack, or D, but couldn’t find them. Fear paralyzed her. What if they were already numbered with the dead?

“Hey, fresh fish, get your mind back in the battle!” an assistant yelled.

Tara shook her head, and forced her attention to the patient beside her. “Hey,” the young blond said. “If you hurry and patch me up, maybe I can still get out there and send some Rebs to their Maker.” Tara pushed the hair from his forehead to reveal an ugly, jagged gash.

She pressed a wad of cotton to it. “I think your fighting is done for day, soldier,” she tried to say in her deepest voice.

“How old are you, boy?” he asked. “Fifteen or sixteen.”

“Eighteen,” she lied.

He smiled at her warmly. “Bet you wish you were still home eating your mama’s cinnamon rolls.”

“Something like that.” She wrapped his head with a bandage and signaled the driver that he was ready to go. She placed her hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “Take it easy, soldier.”

“Fresh fish, we need you in the field. A driver's been killed. Can you drive a wagon?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Col. Thomas didn’t remember being happier in a long time. As Capt. Hudson, Lt. Manning, and Sgt. Gans approached, a grin creased his face despite the “war music” that played around them.

“You made it!” he shouted.

“Yes, sir. Reporting for duty,” Jack said, hiding the cough that had nagged him constantly.

“And Miss Williams?”

“She’s alive and safe.”

“Good. I’d love to hear your tales, but as you can see, we’ve got a war going on. Captain, I need your sharp eye over on that hill. Lt., gather your regiment and lead them in a charge against the right flank.”

All three men saluted, and he watched them speed off. He heard Manning’s familiar voice gathering the men who they led and Gans ordering some others into formation. Their experience in battle made them two of the best. With swords and Colt pistols drawn, they raced into the right flank of the Confederate Infantry. “May God go with you,” he breathed and turned to the give orders to the next regiment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Breech-loading rifles were not supplied, except in small numbers and to select groups of sharpshooters and cavalrymen. Jack fell into both categories. He loaded his Sharps .52 calibre repeating rifle and sighted his target from the back of Skater. Squeezing the trigger, he felled the Reb nearly a half mile away. The black smoke that rose from his special weapon gave away his position.

The Confederate Army hated the Sharps. A volley of gunfire was directed towards him. Jack spun Skater around looking for cover.

“Jack, over here!” he heard someone yell. He darted for the gully and dropped from his mount face down in the mud without even realizing they’d used his first name. Another soldier in the crevice returned more fire. A dense white stream of smoke lept from the muzzle of his gun, and the crashing report struck their ears a few seconds later. Another shot and another, and yet another, and the smoke thickened. Jack eased his head over the edge of the gully and was able to discern vague movements at the Reb’s cannon.

Jack swung his weapon into his arms, steadied it on a rock, and took careful aim at the soldier manning the cannon. He fired. The man dropped, but it was already too late. The fuse had been lit. Those in the hole covered their heads when they heard the terrible screech of a canon ball. It exploded several yards away, and the mini-balls contained within shot in every direction.

Jack’s gasp sent chills through Tara like a cold November wind. “Jack? You’re hit!” The blood was spreading across his the back of his left shoulder. As the smoke cleared, she glanced at the other man and saw that the explosion had ripped a chunk of his skull off, exposing grey matter, and he now lay at unnatural angle in the ditch. She felt sick to her stomach at he sight and dizzy, but forced herself to focus on Jack. “I need to roll you over. I need to know if it’s still in you.”

Jack moaned as Tara eased him over onto his back. She pulled a wad of cotton from her packt and tore open Jack’s uniform. She pressed the cotton to the hole in Jack’s shoulder, and Jack tried to fight her. She grabbed his hand. “Listen. I know it hurts, but we’ve got to stop the bleeding.”

“How bad?” he asked.

“You’re going to be fine, Jack. It went clean through.”

He coughed and the jarring movement made him wince. “You sure?”

She tried to smile reassuringly at him. “Bobby would be furious if I let you die.”

“What are you doing out here?” he managed to ask.

“Lucky for you this fresh fish got thrown in the big pond.”

He coughed a few more times, moaned softly, and closed his eyes.

And Private Tara Williams prayed. “Lord, please don’t let him die.”

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOO
Jack and Sue are suppose(SP) to LIVE and meet and get married.
Tara and Bobby are suppose to LIVE and get married.
Col. Thomas is suppose to LIVE and go back to his wife.
D is suppose to LIVE and go back to Donna.
Myles and Lucy are suppose to LIVE and figure out if they're like each other or not. maybe


I think that covers everyone we know.

hihihihih i'm with her hahahah

I think Jack is on his way to Sue!!!

Joy

Joy me thinks you are right- woo hoo..

Yep, that's kinda what I was thinking, too. Jack's going to the hospital now. Sue's at the hospital. Mm-hmm.

Now, we just have to keep everyone else safe.

Oreo, this is great. Can't wait for more!

:eek jaw drops:
I'll be back to comment when I've revived sufficiently!
kav

Chapter 25 – Part 2

The matronly woman, whom Sue guessed was nearly 60, crossed her arms over her chest. “No, you won’t do at all.”

“What do you mean? We won’t do. We’re here to volunteer, and clearly you need our help.” Sue stared at the scene before her. They’d come to the hospital, which was really a former mill, where injured soldiers were being transported. A beehive of activity, the hospital greatly needed additional help to handle the newly arrived.

“The volunteer nursing corps states that all volunteers are to be ‘plain looking’ and ‘middle-aged’ and the two of you are neither.” With that, the woman spun on her heel and marched off.

Sue and Lucy stared at one another in disbelief. “Now, what do we do?” Lucy asked.

“We do what we came here to do. If they don’t want us to help, then they’ll have to have us bodily removed.”

Lucy’s eyes followed the plumb woman who was barking orders to some stretcher bearers. “I think she’d do it, too.”

A tall blond-haired, blue eyed soldier with a limp approached them. “Did I hear that you two wanted to help?”

“Yes,” Sue admitted.

“Good. Then come with me. I’ll get you set up away from Dragon Dix.”

They bit back a chuckle “By the way, my name is August. I’ll take you to where they bring the injured in. We can always use help there. She’ll be too busy to see you until your already working. Work hard and she’ll probably let you stay.”

“Thank you for helping us August. Is she always like this?” Lucy asked as they followed him down an aisle between the cots, then out the door to a large separate tent.

“She’s actually an amazing woman. This place wouldn’t run without her. She works harder than ten nurses and doctors combined.” He pulled the tent flap back and Lucy and Sue saw the tent was already filled with injured lying on a bed of straw. He quickly showed them where the bandages and other supplies were kept. “Can you sew up a wound?” They both nodded. “Good. The water’s over here. Some folks don’t think you gotta wash you hands between patients, but Dix does, so make sure you do.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tara flagged down the stretcher bearers who loaded Jack onto the hospital wagon. With the wagon now full of injured, Tara headed back to the temporary field hospital. Immediately, she was informed that she’d be taking the next group on to the camp hospital. Another team of stretcher bearers carried the injured awayf, but she stopped them when they got to Jack.

“His bullet went clean through. He doesn’t need to see the surgeon. I’ll just take him on in.” Too tired to care, they left him and soon her wagon was filled with others ready to transport.

Pulling out onto the road as gently as she could with the old wagon, she exhaled. “Now, if I can just find my way there.”

She caught sight of another ambulance wagon from another regiment farther down the road and decided her best bet was to follow them. Despite the rattling wagon, she snapped the reigns and quickened her pace. The men in the back moaned, but most were only barely conscious. She vowed to avoid any holes and ruts. Then, she realized something. Unlike the other injured soldiers, Jack hadn’t received anything to kill the pain since she hadn’t let them remove him from the wagon. She rummaged in her knapsack and located a small vial with the word “absinth” printed on it.

“Jack? Can you hear me?” she asked.

“Yeah, I’m still here,” he said painfully from where he was propped behind the buckboard seat. She lowered one hand over the back with the vial in it. “Jack, can you reach this?”

She felt him weakly take the bottle. “Pull the cork from it with your teeth and then take two swallows of the stuff inside. It’ll help with the pain.”

“It smells like licorice,” he coughed. He took two swallows and grimaced. It burned going down. Re-corking the bottle, and dropped it in his lap. “Thanks,” he mumbled. “Better already.”

As the sun sunk lower behind the Virginia hills, she fought to keep her eye on the ambulance cart ahead of them. The road wound in and out between farms. If darkness fell before they reached their destination, she would be lost with a wagon load of desperate men.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sue had never seen so much blood and if left her feeling a bit queasy. She pictured Howie and smiled. What had he said? Queasy, woosy, and dizzy? Yes, that was a pretty good description. While the sight was unnerving, it was the sickening sweet, iron tinged smell of the blood that got to her. Forcing herself to focus, she stared at the face of her newest patient. A chock of sandy brown hair that stood straight up when his keppi fell off. Sue was sure the young man had lied about his age to join up..

There was little anyone could do for him. His breath rattled in his chest and already Sue had learned what that meant. “Very few survive a chest wound,” August had told her when he came around to check on her. “Do what you can.”

But there wasn’t anything to do. She brushed her hand across his forehead and prayed for the brave young man and his mother. She was going to be devastated. The boy took a deep ragged breath, then took no more. Sue stood and moved on to the next one.

To her surprise, she found another soldier already kneeling beside the patient, mud covering his boyish features. Their eyes met and immediately Sue realized it was no boy at all.

“His name is Captain Jack Hudson. He has a bullet hole through his shoulder. I’ve stopped the bleeding, but it needs sewn up,” the soldier said. “And he’s been ill. He’s been coughing for over a week. Oh, and he may be a little out of it. I gave him absinthe.”

“Just patch me up,” the man lisped and then opened his eyes. He smiled at Sue and reached his hand out to touch a loose tendril of blonde hair. “Look, Tara, an angel.”

Sue took his hand in one of hers and brushed the other over his forehead. “No, just a Sue, and you’re not going to be meeting any angels if I can help it.” She lifted her eyes to his companion and whispered. “Tara? Odd name for a man, isn’t it?” She smiled, trying to ease the woman’s obvious discomfort.

“Abraham’s father was named Terah.”

“True. Why don’t you go wash up in that barrel and give me a hand with him, Tara?”



Special Note: Dorothea Dix was an American philanthropist, reformer, and educator who was a pioneer in the movement for specialized treatment of the mentally ill. She became the Union's Superintendent of all women nurses working in army hospitals during the Civil War (so she would not have been serving at this one). She recruited nurses for the army during the Civil War, and hired only women that were plain and at least middle-aged. She was called "Dragon Dix" by some people. She ordered the immediate court marshal of every drunk doctor she came in contact with. She worked for over 20 years to improve the treatment for mentally ill people and for better conditions in prisons.

They've finally met, and Sue, Jack was right the first time, he's met an angel!!!

Thanks for another wonderful post, Oreo, and for the history lesson!! I'm learning a lot with this story!!!

Joy

ahh how sweet is that, they finally met yeah

yay they finally met.....the angel part was good......can't wait until he's better

Woo Hoo!

An angel? How cute is that? You just wait until you're not on drugs Jack...

Em

Such a cute meeting

I don't thinks Jacks gonna be changing his mind anytime soon about Sue being an angel!

Great post Oreo

Alright! They met!

2 wonderful posts

'an angel' she certainly is jack and you are about to become powerless

as a nurse i like the sound of dorothea dix

cath

I knew the name Dorothea Dix sounded familiar. Thanks Oreo!

Now, Jack and Sue have finally met. Yay!

And speaking of Howie, where did he and Myles wander off to anyway???

Yes where are they?