he's always powerless when it comes to Sue

Hooray! They have FINALLY met!!!

I'm posting what would normally be tomorrow morning's post tonight since tomorrow is looking a bit packed. I'm judging extemporaneous speaking (for 4-H) at a county fair right after church services.

Chapter 26 – Part 1

“In a world where there is so much to be done, I felt strongly impressed that there must be something for me to do.” ~ Dorothea Dix, Union Superintendent of Nurses

Much to Bobby’s dismay, he could not find Jack. He delivered orders to his regiment to clean their weapons, wipe down their horses, and see to the dead – in that order – then he went in search of his best mate. His heart skipped a beat when he located Skater tied on a stringer of horses gathered from the field after the battle. Spurring Graceland into a gallop, he headed for the temporary field hospital. If Jack had been injured, Tara would know.

“Can I help you lieutenant?” one of the medics asked, giving him a clinical once over. “Are you injured?”

“No, I’m looking for Captain Hudson. Have you seen him?”

“I’ve seen a lot of men today and some were captains.”

“How about another medic? A fresh fish that doesn’t even look eighteen.”

“I know who you’re talking about. Little fellow. Picked up on stuff real quick. Haven’t seen him since the sarge had him replace an ambulance driver who got himself killed.”

Bobby felt the blood drain from his face. “He sent Private Williams into battle?” he croaked.

“Yes, sir, and I haven’t seen hide nor hair of Williams since.”

“If you see him, tell him Lt. Manning is looking for him and for Capt. Hudson as well.”

“Will do, sir. Sorry, I couldn’t be more help.”

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

Tara made herself useful in the hospital. She had sewn so many wounds in the last few days that she was certain she’d never quilt again. August had taken the three of them – she, Sue, and a black woman who she learned was Lucy up to the third floor to care for the injured there. Tara couldn’t keep her eyes off Sue.

Sue was obviously a lady. The way she moved, spoke, and acted all spoke of being reared in a fine home. Still, Sue had an earthy quality about her that instantly put the man she was attending to at ease. In fact, Tara, herself, felt at ease with the woman. She’d handled the difficult soldiers with patience and determination. Occasionally, Lucy asked Sue if she could see alright. Tara wondered if Sue suffered from some kind of eye affliction and noticed that she carried an oil lamp with her well into the night, from bed to bed.

Sue hadn’t noticed, but another matronly woman had been watching the young blond as well. She guessed that Sue must be a young nurse and the other one was just keeping an eye on her student. As Tara wrapped a puncture wound in a sergeant’s arm, she felt her own energy start to wan and her head dropped. She jerked back up. Sue witnessed this and smiled. A minute later, she pressed a cup of coffee into Tara’s hand. “You look like you could use this.”

Together, they returned to their vigil beside Jack. Much to Tara’s dismay, he’d developed a fever. Sue placed a cloth in a basin of cool water and wrung it out. Gently, she placed it on his forehead. “Is he your intended?” Sue whispered.

“Jack? Heaven’s no. He’s a friend of my ah…other friend and he saved my life after I helped him escape from prison.”

Sue looked relieved. She smoothed his velvety hair. “He was in prison?”

“Yes, Libby for a little while. That’s when he got sick.”

“Tara, can I ask you something?” Tara nodded and Sue continued in hushed tones. “Why are you dressed like a man?”

They hadn’t seen Dragon Dix approach behind them. She placed a firm hand on Tara’s shoulder. “And that’s exactly what l’d like to know as well.”

UH-OH, busted!

I hope Tara can still help out!

Love the way Jack and Sue met.

she's know him for less than 12 hours and she already is relived that Tara isn't Jack's fianncee(SP).

Well, I think Sue is already smitten!! Just let Jack get this fever out of the way and he won't be far behind!!!

Poor Bobby!! I hope he finds Jack and Tara soon!!!

Oh, oh, I think Tara is in a spot of trouble!!!

Joy

hope bobby finds them soon

yup sue is well and truly smitten

cath

Uh-oh. Busted. I'm sure Tara will be able to talk her way out of this one okay. Or now would be a good time for Bobby to come in and save the day...

Now, about Myles and Howie...?

Bobby must be going nuts...and did I get it right...things between Tara and Bobby are more serious then they appear?

Can't wait for more Oreo

yeah i think so 2

ohw tara you better tell her something she believes

This is fantastic, Oreolover!

so they have now meet- woo hoo. let's hope that you keep Jackson safe and sound.....Lorna you are listening aren't you..???

Chapter 26 Part 2

Col. Thomas regretfully had do deny Lt. Manning’s request to go back to the battalion camp and ascertain information about Capt. Hudson and Miss Williams. Without Capt. Hudson, leadership of the regiment, fell to Manning, and he could not afford to lose another fine officer. The Union had lost thousands of soldiers today. Estimates for both sides rolled in at over nine thousand casualties.

“We believe that the Rebels will try to go North tomorrow over the High Bridge on the Appomattox River towards Farmville. I don’t need to tell you, Lieutenant, that if the Confederates are able to destroy the bridge, we won’t be able to pursue them.”

“I understand, sir.”

“Go get some rest, Lieutenant Manning. You’re going to need it.”

Yet, rest didn’t come to Bobby that night. He tossed and turned on the hard earth and pulled his blanket over his shoulders. Sleep never did come easy before something big was about to happen, but this time, he had to admit it was more than that.

“You asleep, Bobby?” D asked quietly.

“No.”

“Didn’t think you would be. They’re going to be okay.”

“You don’t know that,” Bobby said more forcefully than he intended.

“You’re right. I don’t.” D was quiet for a few minutes. “You a praying man, Bobby?”

“I have once or twice.”

“You might want to try that once or twice thing tonight.”

“I already am, but thanks.”

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

Howie flopped onto the cot in the tent Myles had arranged for Samuel and Howie near the foundry. Myles had located the tent belonging to his friends Jack Hudson and Bobby Manning and placed his things in there. He’d obtained permission to put Lucy and Sue up in a tent of their own.

“Tired, Howie?” Samuel asked as he shucked his boots and tossed them beneath his bed.

“Exhausted. I think I’ll just go to sleep with my boots on.”

Samuel caught a whiff of Howie’s boots. “Whoooeee! Sorry, Howie, but there’s no way that that is going to happen. You smell like cowpies in August.”

“What do you expect when you muck out horse stalls from sun up to sun down. I don’t know what that Leland fella was thinking. Can you imagine giving a business man like myself a job like that? So, it’s not my fault that my boots stink. ”

“I don’t rightly care whose fault it is, but I’m not smelling you all night long. It’ll give me nightmares fer sure, and I’m looking forward to some mighty sweet dreams.”

“Speaking of sweet dreams, did you go talk to Miss Lucy with Mr. Leland?”

Samuel stiffened. “No, I didn’t know he was going to see her.”

“When I saw him a while ago, he said he was on his way to the hospital to let the two of them know where their quarters were.” Howie then closed his eyes and within seconds he was snoring.

Already annoyed, Samuel hurled his boot at him. “Fines, I said you weren’t sleeping with those boots on.”

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

When Myles entered the hospital, his own wounds immediately started to throb sympathetically. He rubbed his aching arm and stopped a passing male nurse. “Excuse me. I’m looking for a young blond named Sue and a black woman named Lucy. Do you know where they are?”

“Third floor, but be careful, Dragon Dix is up there now.” He pointed to the staircase and walked away.

Myles didn’t like the sound of that. Whoever or whatever a Dragon Dix was, they had better not be causing either Sue or Lucy any grief. The stench of the hospital grew worse and the temperature warmer as he climbed the steep stairs. Just as he rounded the corner, he caught sight of a young soldier being carted off by the collar of his jacket to the far end of the room by an older woman. He then spotted Sue, nursing a fevered man in bed, and finally, he saw Lucy. Her face was silhouetted in the light of the oil lamp against the window pain as she wound bandages.

She smiled when she looked up and saw him, and he walked first to her. “Evening, Lucy.”

“Evening, Mr. Myles. I’d almost forgotten about you.”

Myles frowned deeply. “Then you must have been awfully busy - - to forget about me,” he teased and Lucy laughed softly. “Have you and Sue eaten?”

Lucy had to admit that neither of them had, but then explained how overwhelmed they had been with injured. She heard raised voices from the other side of the room, and turned towards them. “Poor Tara.”

“Did you say Tara? That older woman is named Tara?”

“No, the older one is Dorothea Dix. She’s in charge of the nurses here. The other woman is Tara.”

“So that’s a Dragon Dix. What other woman are you talking about? All I see is a young soldier in a jacket two times his size.”

“Mr. Myles, are you blind? If all the male soldiers are as observant as you, no wonder she pulled it off.”

Myles studied the young uniformed man at the other end and his eyes lit up. “You mean that he is she?”

Lucy giggled. “My, aren’t you a quick study?”

love the way luce responds to myles and sams conversation with howie

cath

I have to make this quick. I keep getting bounced out. I'm glad Sue is at Jack's side -- but not glad that he has a fever. Poor Tara has been found out -- but I bet the crusty older nurse is secretly kind of impressed. It strikes me how it all must really have been this way -- women who had no clue about treating injuries of any kind just thrown into the fray because it was necessary. And that line about Tara never wanting to quilt again me too -- and I was supposed to make one this summer.

Lucy teasing Myles...happy sigh...they're getting comfortable!

kav

Observant as always i see.....

i love how myles and lucy seem to be drawn to each other.

can't wait for sue and jack to finally have there first "conversation"

and tara...what is that dix lady going to do

Uh oh. Poor Bobby. I'm sure he's probably going out of his mind with worry right now. He knows his friend's horse is alive but doesn't know about Jack. Or Tara for that matter. But it just shows how good of a soldier he is since he didn't go off on his own after being told no. He knows about the greater good and all that. However, was D told he couldn't go?

I love what Myles found for Howie to do. So typical. Poor Samuel. He'll probably have to remove Howie's boots for him.

And perhaps Myles should go save Tara from Dragon Dix. I'm sure an officer's presence could be a little beneficial right now, especially since the person's who idea it was in the first place (Jack) is currently not in his right mind.

This is great, Oreo. MORE???

Oreo, I just love this story!! Howie is so Howie!! I love the way Myles and Lucy are so comfortable with each other!!

Poor Tara - Myles, go save her!!!

Joy

I ditto the Myles saving Tara part!

And I just love the teasing between Lucy and Myles, aren't they just cute together?

Helene

Oops I forgot to post my reaction about Howie's assignment! Here it is:



kav (whose tummy hurts now)

I want to thank you all for your comments. You all are great! And Kav I love the gnome avatar. I smile every time I see it.

Chapter 27 – Part 1

“Oh how hard it was to part with those men, with whom we had watched so many weary days and nights -- we felt that they had, truly, "become endeared to us through suffering." Sarah Emma Edmonds, a Civil War nurse who early in the war dressed as a man and served as Frank Thompson

Once Tara had endured Dorothea’s initial tirade of why she was posing as a man in her hospital, she was able to persuade the head nurse to listen to the entire story. Starting with her mother’s death and her father raising her, Tara didn’t leave out a morsel of information. Dorothea kept her attention trained on the young woman and seemed to be watching Tara’s every movement almost as much as she was listening.

“So you were actually spying for the North although you lived in the South?” she clarified. “And you were able to devise a method of for the prisoners to get information out of the prison? How?”

Tara explained how she had them make dots under letters in the books she loaned them. “In a few days, I’d swap books.” She went on to explain how she’d helped several escape over the years with the last ones being Capt. Jack Hudson, who was lying in the bed over there, and Lt. Bobby Manning, another Calvary officer. Tara couldn’t help but add how sick Jack had been.

“What did you do for him?”

“I made a willow bark tea and an lobelia elixir. They seemed to be working until we ran out. That was all before the Rebels tried to hang me.”

“Hang you?”

“I was arrested for spying, but Jack, Bobby, and D got me out of it.”

“And exactly how did they get you away from the Rebels?”

After explaining the gunfight and her own shock, Tara told her how she’d helped the injured at Five Forks, but insisted the whole thing could have been prevented in Gen. Crook had let her do surveillance on the Rebels.

“I already looked so bad from my last little ordeal, if the Confederate’s had seen me, they’d have believed my story a hundred percent. Can you believe he actually said the Union would not be hiding behind a woman’s skirts? He’d let men get killed rather than let a woman help him. What a fool!”

Finally, she got to the part explaining why she was dressed like a man.

“So you see, I had to do it. Our boys needed my help,” Tara said nervously.

Dorothea Dix shook her head, sighed loudly, and smiled. Perhaps Tara Williams was a kindred spirit after all.

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

A coughing spasm seized Jack and Sue eased another pillow under his head and offered him some water. “Please drink a little, Captain,” she pleaded. “You’ve got a fever.” She worried her lip between her teeth as he managed a coupled of sips. Pressing her hand to his forehead, she could feel his fever had only risen. She prayed even harder for the man.

“That’s Jack Hudson!” Myles said behind her. Sue, of course, hadn’t heard him and Lucy touched her shoulder. Sue turned.

“Mr. Myles knows this man,” Lucy explained.

“His name’s Jack Hudson. He’s in your father’s company, and he’s a good friend.”

Sue rubbed her aching neck. “And he’s a very sick man. His fever is up even farther.”

“Have they given him anything?” Myles demanded.

“We haven’t even seen a doctor all day,” Sue admitted, her face etched with concern.

“That is simply not acceptable. If you both will excuse me, I shall remedy it immediately.” With that, Myles Leland marched over to Dorothea Dix fully prepared to engage in battle with the head nurse.

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

Tara had been most surpised the night before when Dorothea Dix had actually chuckled at the end of Tara’s story. “My dear,” she had said, “I am most impressed. You have taken on a man’s world and not just survived, but come out of it relatively unscathed.”

“Then, you won’t turn me in?” Tara had asked.

“To whom would I turn you in? No, I think I could use your healing skills here much better.”

“Then I can stay – and Sue and Lucy?” Tara knew that adding the latter two was risky, but she wanted to try.

Dorothea had looked over at the other two women. Sue was wringing a cold compress, and Lucy was rolling bandages as she spoke to a lieutentant. She’d been watching them. Neither woman had taken a break all day, and their nursing skills were more than adequate. “You’re all too young and far too pretty,” Dorothea huffed, “but if we’re lucky the war will be over soon anyway. You can all stay.” A smile had spread across Tara’s face like she’d just been given a prize. “Now, let’s go find you some proper clothes and all three of you need to eat. I can’t have my new nurses fainting from hunger when they’ve so much to do.”

Dorothea turned to lead the young woman to fresh clothes and ran full force into the chest of the tall, blond lieutenant. Myles caught the nurse and righted her. “Excuse me, ma’am, but my friend in dire need of medical attention.” Despite his manners, Tara could see the man was angry, his jaw set firmly and his shoulders squared.

Tara marveled at the ease with which Dorothea handled the lieutentant. She placed a hand on his arm and saw him visibly relax. “Perhaps you haven’t noticed, but all these men are in need of medical attention.”

“Where’s the doctor? I demand to see him.”

Dorothea didn’t flinch at his imperious tone nor let it rattle her. “The surgeon’s are resting. They operated on men for the last fourteen hours straight. What I can I do for you?”

Myles could see he was getting no where. “Captain Hudson has a high fever. He has yet to see a doctor. He’s a good man, an excellent officer, a dear friend, ma’am.” He took a deep breath and steadied his voice. Have you any medicine? I’m willing to pay for it.”

“Money doesn’t get the medicine here to the hospital,” she said sadly, “but I can see the man is a good friend. Let’s see what we can do for him?”

well things are coming together!!!.......now just get jack better and bobby and D to stop worrying!

I loved seeing that Dorothea saw the same determination in Tara that she has herself!! I'm glad she's going to let all three women stay!!!

Myles on a mission does get things done!! Maybe Dorothea has some idea how to break Jack's fever!!!

Joy

I believe everything is going to be grand....WOO HOO

Loving this story!!
It is so well done.
Gin

Wow. That was amazing.

A thought occurred to me. All they have to do is time warp into present day, grab a bottle of Ibuprofen or something, then go back in time and administer it to Jack. Sounds simple enough to me.... Nah, seriously, it's stories like this that make me think how lucky we are to be living in the time that we are. Fevers don't have to be life-threatening anymore, limbs don't have to be severed as often, and medical conditions are much better all the way around.

Okay. Stepping off the soapbox now.... "

Okie, I completely agree about the medical stuff. It is simply amazing how we have been blessed. I won't even get into the food they ate - yet.

Chapter 27 – Part 2

What they would later call the battle at High Bridge began just after daybreak. Fighting there had actually began the day before with the Confederate Calvary fighting stubbornly to secure the Appomattox River bridges. They had pushed many of their troops across the bridge by the morning of April 7, and Confederate general James Dearing was mortally wounded.

“Men, we can’t let them burn the bridge!” Bobby yelled to the troops under his command as they came up on the Rebel Army’s rear guard attempting to set fire to the bridge. “If they do, we won’t be able to pursue Lee’s Army!”

Bobby’s men were in high spirits having heard the news that eight Confederate generals had surrendered after yesterday’s fighting at Sailor’s Creek. Closing up ranks, they charged the rear guard with gusto backed by the Infantry ll Corps.

Adrenaline surged through Bobby. During his first battle, it had been hard to take another man’s life. It still was if he thought of it like that. But now, he’d grown to see himself as part of a machine – a unit – that had a job to do. His job was to fire at targets and keep them for firing at him. For Bobby, firing his gun had become like a farmer tilling the earth or a smithy shoeing a horse. It was simply what he did.

By noon, they had prevented the rear guard from destroying the High Bridge. This allowed the Union infantry and artillery forces to catch up to the Rebels at Farmville.

“Take your men on back,” Col. Thomas had told him. “The Union ll Corps is going to handle things from here on out. The horses need rested.” Bobby turned Graceland around. “And Lieutenant, I’ll meet you at the hospital when we get there.”

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

While Lucy, Tara, and Sue had taken turns sleeping for four hour stretches, when Lucy’s second shift came, she was too awake too sleep. Instead, she wandered down the “street” of the battalion camp towards the foundry. Samuel was pounding a red hot piece of armament on the anvil, before sinking it into a barrel of water with a loud hiss. Wearing a sleeveless shirt, his brawny muscles glistened in the sunlight, and Lucy’s breath caught. He reached into his back pocket, pulled out a red handkerchief, and mopped his brow. Then, he spotted Lucy and waved her over.

“Hey, Miss Lucy. Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”

Lucy brushed the skirt of her dress and tucked a stray tendril back in her bun. “I’m a sight alright,” she said rolling her eyes. “I just needed a little break from the hospital, so I thought I’d take a walk.”

“And naturally, you walked straight to me,” he teased. “Come on, let’s go over in the shade for a minute. I want to hear all about yesterday.” He took her elbow and led her to grove of trees. Chatting on the way, Lucy told her about Dragon Dix and about Sue saying how they were going to just go on ahead and do what they came to do. She told him about Tara dressed up like a man and he laughed. “Bet she’s a handful,” he quipped.

“And courageous,” Lucy added. “Mr. Myles came last night, too. A friend of his had been wounded and he got his cockle up. Dix wasn’t impressed, but she did give his friend some of an herbal mixture she’d made up. It seems to be working ‘cause he’s breathing a little easier, and we hope it breaks his fever. Sue’s real worried about the young Captain.”

“But how are you doing, Luc? I’ve been worried about ya’.”

Lucy leaned against the bark of the tree. “It was a long day and a lot of work, but more emotionally tiring than anything. It’s just so hard to see all those brave men hurting and in pain. Some have lost eyes or limbs and some won’t even make it.”

A tear trickled down her cheek and Samuel thumbed it away. “I bet it was hard,” Samuel said sincerely. “But they were blessed to have ya’ with ‘em. So the Dragon Lady let ya’ stay?”

Lucy licked her lips. “She’s actually very nice and very competent. Her name’s Dorothea, not Dragon Lady, and yes, she said we could stay even in we were ‘too pretty’ and ‘too young’.”

Samuel ran a single calloused finger along Lucy’s cheek, then took her hands in his. “I’d have to agree with the ‘too pretty’ part.” He stared at her for several seconds as if he was trying to find the right words. “Lucy, this may not be the time or place, but I want ya’ to consider something. You’ve probably already figured this out, but I find you an amazing and alluring woman, and I’d like to court you.”

Lucy smiled brilliantly and started to say something and he pressed a finger to her lips. “I don’t want an answer right now. I can see you’ve been through a lot, and I want you to think on it some. There’s a lot to consider. It could effect more than just me and you.”

”Like Myles.” Lucy thought. After a few awkward moments of silence, she said, “I will consider it, and I’m truly touched by your honesty. I’d better get back. I only get four hours to sleep, and I think I’m already down to three and half.”

Reluctantly, he let her go. He thought about offering to walk with her, but thought she’d rather have the time alone to think. He might care for Lucy, maybe even have the beginnings of love for her – but the situation was complicated, and they all knew it. Samuel knew Leland wouldn’t intentionally hurt her, but she would get hurt if she chose that path. Maybe it wasn’t fair to place this on her shoulders right now, but then again, maybe it was just what she needed.

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

Jack fitfully tossed and turned all through the night. “Give the herbs time to work,” Dorothea had assured Sue. “Why don’t you sponge off his chest with cool water as well? Just keep the dressings dry.”

Sue was glad that Dorothea didn’t watch her as she pulled back the course blanket. She had never seen the chest of a man other than that of her brothers. His well-toned muscles rippled with each breath. She placing her hand tentatively over his heart. While she could feel the rattle in his breathing, his hard pounded strongly. She wrung out the sponge and ran it over the dips and curves along his chest. “You listen to me, Captain Jack Hudson,” she whispered, “you keep right on fighting, and whenever you feel too weak to fight, just know I’ll do the fighting for both of us.”

Love it!

Christine

something tells me sue won't be leaving his side for her sleep

wonder what luce will say to samuel and how myles will react to what he asked her

cath

Oreo, you've given us a lot to think about!!

It's a hard decision Lucy has to make, and if she chooses Samuel, Myles is not going to be happy!! But Samuel is right, that would be the best decision for Lucy!! Heartache lays the other way!!!

Sue, I have a feeling, with that hospital full of soldiers, Jack is the only man you see right now!!!

Joy

*sigh* this is sweet.... and i see then end of the war as being nigh...Woo hoo

i still don't know what to think about samuel and lucy, in that time and age it was "not done " to have a white man with a black woman, so i can see where samuel wants to protect her....but still, i very much like the idea of myles and lucy together....i will just wait and read what you come up with

Gee, I don't know what to say. You are such an excellent writer and you are covering all the bases so well. All I can do is sit back and wait (im)patiently for the next installment... which will be soon, right?

Chapter 28 – Part 1

"He will take more chances, and take them quicker, than any other general in the country--North or South." ~A contemporary so described Robert E. Lee

The battalion camp barely filled with the return of the Calvary. “Get some rest, men,” Col. Thomas called. “We’ll probably be headed out again tomorrow morning.” The horses peeled off as the men headed for the temporary stalls with their mounts. Bobby, D, and Col. Thomas headed for the former mill turned hospital. As they approached, a knot the size of a boulder formed in Bobby’s stomach. What if Tara wasn’t there? What if she was?

D offered to take the tired horses to the coral and said he’d meet with them later. Both men swung off their horses stiffly and passed D their horses reins. Battle weary, every one of the hours they’d been in the saddle showed on their faces. Col. Thomas pushed open the door and stepped inside the temporary hospital. No one was surprised to see him. Whenever he returned from the battlefield, the first thing he did was check on his injured troops.

Row by row, he walked down the aisles, stopping to speak to all of the men who had been under his command and few who weren’t. Sometimes he’d offer them words of encouragement, sometimes he’d pray with them, and sometimes he’d thank them for their sacrifice especially if they’d lost and arm or leg. Immediately, the men’s countenance brightened and their pain eased.

Bobby, too, took time to speak to the men he knew although he didn’t feel nearly as apt at it as the colonel. The ever growing knot in his stomach didn’t help. By the second floor, when no Tara and no Jack were spotted, he began to lose hope. Col. Thomas placed a hand and Bobby’s shoulder. “You hanging in there, Lieutenant?”

Bobby merely nodded. As they climbed the steps to the third floor, his feet felt waited down. He trailed behind his commander as if the man could shield him from the bad news he feared. “There’s Jack!” he suddenly said, pointing to his friend half-way down the row. “And it looks like he’s found a pretty little sheila to nurse him.”

Bobby stared as Col. Thomas broke into a run and pulled the nurse from Jack and spun her around. The poor girl looked scared senseless until she seemed to recognize the colonel, and a brilliant smile enveloped her face.

“Daddy!” she cried throwing her arms around his neck.

He pulled into a crushing hug. Tears streamed down both of their cheeks without shame. After several minutes, Col. Thomas pulled back. “Sue, what on earth are you doing here?”

Bobby had approached by then. “Looks like she’s taking care of my best mate.” He offered his hand to her. “Miss Thomas, my names Lt. Bobby Manning. How’s Jack doing?”

“His fever is down, but he’s still unconscious.”

“Was. Who can sleep when Crash is around?” Jack croaked.

Bobby sat down on the little stool next to Jack’s cot. “I see you went and got yourself the prettiest little nurse in the place.”

Jack’s eyes met Sue’s for the first time, and she felt like she would drown in his chocolatey pools. She was grateful that her father had kept his arm around her waist. “Capt. Jack Hudson,” he said formally, “I’d like for you to meet my daughter, Miss Sue Thomas.”

With the sun behind her, Sue’s blonde hair haloed her face. Despite his fevered condition, Jack remembered her gentle touch throughout the night and some of the words she’d whispered to him. His image of her had filled his dreams, and now, she stood before him, just as beautiful. His head still felt full of cotton and he struggled to form his thoughts. “My angel is your daughter?”

Both Bobby and the colonel laughed, and Sue blushed prettily. “He’s been pretty out of it.”

“I don’t know,” her father said. “I think he’s got you pegged already.”

“Sparky, I know you’re tired, but I need to know something. Did you happen to see Tara?”

“Tara - as in the woman dressed like a private?” Sue asked.

“Yes.”

“You dressed Miss Williams up like a soldier?” Col. Thomas demanded.

“Father, it’s a long story. Can’t you see how worried he is about her?”

“Have you seen her?” Bobby begged.

“She’s fine. She’s sleeping in the nurses’ tent.” Sue barely had time to finish her sentence, before Bobby had sprinted off.

Col. Thomas sighed. “Now, what exactly is he going to do when he gets to the nurses’ tent – march right in?”

“Probably,” Jack mumbled, closed his eyes, and drifted back to sleep.

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

Myles saw the Calvary return, and not for the first time, worried about his decision to bring the colonel’s daughter to the front lines of the war. He reminded himself that she’d not been placed in any danger – well, not really, and they many indeed need her help. Still, not that he had to actually face Col. Steven Thomas, he didn’t feel nearly as secure in his decision.

Straightening his jacket, Myles squared his shoulders and prepared to ask permission to enter the colonel’s tent.

“He’s not in there,” a familiar voice said from behind him. Myles turned at the sound.

“Myles?” D asked crossing the area and clasping the man’s hand. “When did you get back? Have you seen Bobby and Jack yet? They’ll be so happy to see you. The colonel, for that matter will be, too.”

Myles grinned at the man’s excitement, but then sighed and admitted dryly. “I’m not so sure about that.”

Don't worry Myles, I'm sure colonel Thomas will forgive you! I can't wait for Bobby and Tara to meet, they deserve this time togther...(cough:fuzies:cough)

Wow. Jack and Sue have now officially been introduced. I think the colonel will give Jack permission to date his daughter now.

And I can't wait to see Bobby and Tara's reunion. Lots and lots of fuzzies, right?

And Myles shouldn't worry about how Col. Thomas will react. I think things will work out just fine.

Can't wait for more!

Oh I think Jack's the one the col. had in mind for Sue all along! And I can't wait until Bobby crashes into the nurse tent. Oh post more, post more. This is sooo exciting!

kav

Brillant....

I think that went very well!! Kav, I agree that Jack was probably the soldier he wanted Sue to meet!! I'm sure he is happy that they already seem to have a bond of sorts!! Myles, I think it's going to be fine!!!

Bobby marching into the nurse's tent!!! How come I can see that???

Joy

Can't wait to see how Bobby is going to get Tara out of that nurses tent....

Myles, don't worry about Col. Thomas. I think he was happy enough to see his daughter that he'll forgive you.

So is Bobby going to barge into the nurses' tent in search of his lady love?

Not only would it be funny, but I'm sure it'll be fuzzy too.

Please? Pretty please? With an oreo on top?


Christine

hope bobby stops before he barges in to the tent or he could be chased out by a bunch of tired angry nurses, not a pretty sight

cath

Chapter 28 – Part 2

To his credit, Bobby did pause and look around before entering the nurses’ tent. Seeing no one, he eased back the flap and slipped inside. Although there were five cots in the tiny tent, only one was occupied. He smiled at the figure curled on her side, no longer in uniform, but he told himself the handkerchief tied around her hair would have to go. Without making a sound, he squatted behind her, closed his eyes, and placed a kiss on her cheek.

The woman in the bed bolted upright and let out an ear piercing scream.

To his horror, he realized that she was not his Tara.

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

Myles and D enjoyed catching up with one another on their walk to the hospital. Myles filled D in on the fact that Jack was indeed there and that he’d seen him. He chose to omit the fact that their mutual friend was being cared for the daughter of the colonel, who Myles had brought with him.

D told Myles all about Bobby and Tara.

“Is this the same little waif that was dressed like a private?”

“That’d be her,” D admitted. “Then, you’ve seen her, too, and she’s okay?”

“She’s fine. Made friends with the superintendent of nurses and everything,” he said as they neared the set of structures that made up the hospital. “So, how did you guys meet up with her?”

In the middle of D’s explanation, they heard a scream coming from the nurses’ tent. Because of Myles injury, he couldn’t run as fast as D. He entered a few moments behind his friend and stared at the sight before him. Bobby Manning had his hands on Lucy’s shoulder’s, shaking her.

Myles yanked him away, drew back his fist, and prepared to defend her honor. At just that moment, Tara, having heard the commotion, entered the tent. “Bobby! What on earth are you doing in the nurses tent?”

bet bobby is now a vivid shade of red and trying to come up with an explanation that doesn't get him shot!!

cath

Oh, Bobby, of all people to kiss when Myles is around!!!

Joy

Too funny!! Oreo, I'm loving this story!!

Tee hehehehe