Chapter Twelve
Matthew tried to shift his body into a more comfortable position. It was not easy when his stomach was sewn up. Every move he made seemed to tug on the stitches. He cursed softly as that pinching pain struck again when he shifted his hips.
“Such language. Tsk. Tsk,” drawled James.
Matthew scowled up at his friend. “If not for that idiot with his knife I wouldn’t be in this uncomfortable position.”
“Better this than the gutting the man was trying to accomplish.”
“True. Just dinnae feel inclined to admit it. Will have to remind myself of that more.”
“It was a fierce skirmish. Good thing you saw them coming.”
“Abbie did. One of the fools lost his cap and she saw it on the water. Gave it to me and I looked down the river for them but almost gave up too soon. They werenae even being quiet. That’s why I finally spotted them. Voices carry well on the river.”
“They were not soldiers. They were Night Riders or marauders or whatever the hell they call themselves now. Hell, they could even have just been some good old boys who thought they’d kill them some blue bellies. So, you and Abbie were down by the river, eh?”
Matthew sighed. “Why is everyone suddenly interested in my love life? The doc and now you.”
“So, it is a love life, is it? Going to marry the girl?”
“That is my business and my business alone.”
“You’re no fun.”
“Could be because I am in pain.”
“Well, here’s something to take your mind off that. They just buried Julia.”
“Ah, hell.”
“Yup. Doc sent some men over to the graveyard to dig a spot next to Robert. No coffin. We ran out of the ones we had and no one around to build another.”
“I could have except for this hole in my leg.”
“And shoulder and belly. They put her in a sheet. Abbie was tending to the baby, poor mite. Orphan now.”
“I suspect there will be a lot of those when this war ends. Will certainly be a lot of bairns with no das.”
“News is we are headed out.”
“Where to?”
“South.
“We’re already south.”
“Obviously not the right part. They are already packing up things so think it must be true. Rumor is there is going to be a hard drive into the enemy’s lands in an attempt to end all this. The army in Virginia needs more men. Thinking this is going to take a long time to end as there are a lot of places where there is fighting. This area will be slow to let it go. Still a lot of Reb soldiers in the area or Reb sympathizers.”
“Already feels as if this war has gone on too long.”
“Much too long,” said the doctor as he walked up and began to check Matthew’s wounds, “and the hate and resentment will last even longer. Always does.”
“That’s cheerful news.”
“Realistic news. I studied a lot of history. Fascinating subject.” He glanced at Matthew. “Or are all you Scots close friends with the English?”
Matthew glared at James who just laughed. He then caught sight of Abbie pausing to talk to Boyd who still could not move his arm and helped out at the infirmary where he could. She looked a strange mixture of annoyed and deeply saddened.
“Ah, Julia was interred a little while ago.”
“Interred? Listen to our doc with his fancy words,” said James and laughed when the man glared at him.
“You should hit him for that. Hard. Set him straight,” urged Matthew and then grinned. “Right in that big smile he is always flashing.” He laughed along with the doctor but then winced as that also pulled at his stitches.
“Just thought you ought to be warned,” the doctor said to Matthew.
“Ah, aye. I could read it on her face.” He nodded toward where Abbie still talked with Boyd. “Since I am wounded and bed-bound”—he rubbed his forehead to try and chase away a throbbing headache—“I thought she would be gentle even if her mood was sour.”
“Such naivete,” the doctor murmured. “We’re moving out soon. Day or two at the most.”
“What about the people in the town?” asked James.
“I am afraid they will be left to fend for themselves or leave for someplace they believe will be safer. You”—the doctor pointed at Matthew—“will be and so will Boyd. No need to drag either of you to a new posting when you are both wounded as you are. So you can go home.”
“That could prove a dangerous journey”—he rubbed his bandaged arm—“especially since I wouldnae be able to shoot nor would Boyd.”
“Then I will speak to the major as soon as I can and he’ll send one able-bodied soldier with you.”
“I’ll just meander over there with you, Harvey,” said James.
“Hey, how did ye ken his name?” asked Matthew.
“I asked.” James turned to smile at Abbie as she walked over. “How do, Miss Abbie. Sorry about your friend.”
“Yes, it was a sad waste. Thank you.”
She watched the doctor and James walk away and then sat down on the edge of Matthew’s bed. “Why are you rubbing your head?”
“Headache, and it is getting worse, so let me apologize now if I get a wee bit snappish.”
She grinned. “I think I can survive.”
“I am sorry about Julia, Abbie.” He took her hand in his and brushed his thumb over the back of it.
“She was the first friend I made in this place.” She shook her head. “Since I left Pennsylvania, too.”
“I think Rose and Maude like you well enough.”
“Oh, they do, but they are a bit older, have lived more, and all that. Julia and I had a more common ground to work on. Perhaps that is why she chose me.”
“Chose you? For what?”
“To care for her son.” She smiled faintly at the way his eyes widened with shock. “She made me promise. So, I fear I am no longer a simple country lass”—she grinned—“to go for a stroll with. I am a mother now. Julia even made out a rough will, had it signed by some of the other women too, naming me the boy’s guardian. I also promised to try and contact Robert’s family.”
“Ye think they might want the bairn?”
“They might, but Julia made no allowances for that, and if they take a long time to come around, I may not want to oblige them, either. Then I have to wonder why she didn’t mention them or choose them for her baby. She gave me no warning about them. It is a puzzle I will have to solve when and if it arises.” Abigail frowned when he let go of her hand to yank the blanket over himself. “Are you cold?”
“Just a wee bit chilly. Guess winter hasnae completely left us yet.”
He closed his eyes and Abbie frowned, unable to hide her concern. When she saw the flush grow on his cheeks and beads of sweat form on his forehead, she knew her concern was warranted. Standing up and looking around, she spotted the doctor and waved him over. The man hesitated, glanced at another wounded man, and then hurried to her side.
“Ask quickly as I need to tend to a man with an infection forming,” he said.
“I think Matthew is getting feverish.” She tried to speak calmly but knew some of her growing fear must have leaked into her voice when the doctor patted her on the shoulder before checking on Matthew.
“Definitely a fever starting, but it might not get too high. It’s not unusual for a wounded man to run a fever. After all, his body just took a severe battering. Get a bucket of cool water and some rags to wash him down. Check his wounds now and then for any hint of infection and he should recover from this. He was astonishingly healthy before he went down.”
She watched as he hurried back to the other wounded man. Moving quickly she got a bucket of cool water and several rags. She was proud that the doctor trusted her to do what was needed but she dearly wished he could have stayed to supervise anyway, or simply help. It was not just any man she was going to work to heal, it was Matthew. She wanted all the skill and power the good doctor could bestow.
Dipping a rag into the water, she then wrung it out and gently bathed his face. By the time she had wiped his neck and shoulders the cloth was no longer cool. The increasing fever heat in his body had almost dried it out. She did it again with close to the same result. Next she wiped the cloth over his arms and chest twice before doing the same for his legs and feet.
As she wet the cloth again she thought over things she had read in her father’s books, ones saved from when he had trained to be a doctor. Her mother had hated her looking through such books but her father had often sat with her explaining what she had read and the pictures. She knew all the places where a wound to them could prove fatal, because the person would bleed out. He had thought it good knowledge for her to have in case she was attacked when she had no gun.
She rested her fingers against the vein in his neck and felt the strong pulse there. Then she checked his wrists. Pausing to check his shoulder wound and seeing no hint of infection, she then checked his leg wound and decided it was also clean. As carefully as she could, she folded the sheet down to study the wound on his stomach. Then she ripped two rags into strips, wet them, and laid them over his neck, wrists, and ankles.
“What are you doing?”
Abigail screeched softly and spun around to stare at the doctor. “You walk mighty softly.”
“You want me to stomp?” He smiled briefly at the cross look she gave him. “Now, answer the question, please.”
She explained what she had learned from her father and his books. “I just thought it might work to stop the fever from rising.”
“Seems to be working,” he murmured after checking Matthew over. “You found no hint of infection at the wound sites?”
“No. All his wounds look as good as something like that can.”
“Good. I best get back to my patient. It might be wise to do that only now and then.”
She nodded, tempted to ask why, only to see that he had already gone back to his other patient. Abigail thought hard about his advice and decided to follow it even though he had given her no reason for it. She could think of several but did not have the medical knowledge to know if she was right. Using each rag to wash down a part of him, she removed the strips of cloth.
Tossing the cloths into the bucket of water, she checked Matthew for any sign of his fever. It was still there but had lessened considerably. Abigail doubted he was cured of his fever, but a respite from it could only help him heal. Then he opened his eyes and looked at her. In his eyes was a cloudiness that told her he was not yet free of the fever’s effects even if his skin had cooled.
“Sorry, Abbie, I must have fallen into a wee nap.” He winced and rubbed at his forehead. “I dinnae suppose ye have anything for the ache in my head.”
“A cold cloth,” she said, picking a rag out of the bucket, wringing it out, and slapping it on his forehead. “If it still troubles you after this, I can rub it. That sometimes helps.”
“Anything to stop this throbbing.”
Abigail sat at the head of the bed, gently settled his head in her lap, and waited a few moments before moving the damp rag and beginning to rub his temples. The lines of pain on his face began to smooth out and she knew he was falling asleep. She waited, continuing to rub his forehead but with lessening firmness, until she was sure he had fallen asleep. Then she grimaced as she tried to get off the bed without waking him. She was beginning to think she was stuck until he woke up again when she was grasped under the arms and neatly pulled out then set down on her feet. Looking over her shoulder, she found a grinning James standing behind her.
“Looked like you were stuck,” he said.
“Thank you.”
“No trouble, pigeon.”
“Why do you call me that?”
“You are on the small side and you do wear gray a lot.”
“My mother liked the color. She had a lot of gowns in that color. I stitched the gown to fit me.” She glared at her chest. “Sometimes a lot.” She ignored the soft snort of laughter James let slip.
“Is he going to sleep for a long time?”
“I hope so. He needs it. Not just for the wounds to heal but for the fever trying to settle on him. Why?”
“Well, I will keep a watch over him for a while.”
“That is very kind of you, but there is no need.”
“There is. You need to get ready to travel.”
“Why?”
“Because you need to take a journey.”
Abigail felt the twitch of a headache and rubbed at her forehead. “Again—why?”
James sighed. “He needs to go home,” he said with a nod toward Matthew. “These soldiers are all heading out to join up with the main army. Grant is gathering all the men he can. God knows why. So our officer has decided we will all go. But Boyd and Matt will be sent to Matt’s family to finish their healing.”
“Why do I need to go?”
“You have to drive the wagon so I can keep a close watch over Matt and Boyd if there is trouble.”
“Dan,” she began.
“Nope. He wants to go with the major. Seems he has family in the same direction they are going and thinks he might get to see them for a bit.”
“I hope they have gotten through this mess unharmed thus far.”
“So do I. Go on. I will watch over him and you get done what you need to so we can be on the road first thing in the morning.”
“I do hate the mornings,” she muttered and almost smiled when he laughed.
Abigail slowly walked back to Mrs. Beaton’s home. She was unsure about traveling to Matthew’s home but knew someone was needed to drive the wagon. If she insisted Dan do it, she could well be forced to say a final farewell to Matthew, and that was something she did not want. If he wanted her gone he would have to be man enough to tell her to go. Nor did she want to deprive Dan of the chance to see his family. Considering what he was riding into, it could be the last meeting for all of them.
There was also a lot she had to get ready. Her chests were almost fully packed as she had kept them as the storage for her things. Unfortunately she had gained a few new things. There was a baby she had to get ready. Then there was the problem of how to carry the goat’s milk so it did not spoil or, even more difficult, the goat itself.
Then she thought of Noah and winced. She had the strong feeling he would want to come with her but she was going to have to make him understand that he could not, that she would have to come back for him. She had no home and she had no husband. It was going to be difficult to make people understand the baby was not hers by blood and the fewer people who believed that, the greater the problems would be in settling somewhere.
She suddenly stopped and looked toward Mrs. Dunmore’s house. There was one thing she could do to ease whatever trouble she would have with Noah. It was close to the time the woman had said she could have the puppy, she thought as she hurried toward the house, and knocked on the door.
“Hello, Miss Abigail,” the woman said as she opened the door. “I was wondering when you would come or if you had changed your mind.”
“No, I still want the puppy. You still have him?”
“Yes, yes, come on in.”
Abbie stepped inside and followed the woman as she walked toward the back of the house. “Is he ready to leave his mother?”
“He is. There is just one thing. He is not going to get very big, I think.”
“That would actually be nice.”
“I hope the boy thinks so.”
“I think he will not care.”
She saw the puppy the moment they stepped into what looked to be the woman’s laundry room. The quick glance around she took told her Mrs. Dunmore did the wash for the soldiers. Then her gaze went back to the puppy she had picked out for Noah. It was still small, a little black and white ball of fur sitting there watching his siblings wrestle.
Mrs. Dunmore picked the puppy up and walked back to Abigail. She held up one of the dog’s paws and said, “See? The paw is small and he is still the smallest of the bunch. So thinking he is going to be small. Not a runt, but smaller than all the others.”
“I think Noah will be very happy with that. Thank you.”
“No, thank you for taking him. I was afraid I would have to put him down because no one would want him and I can’t keep him. Have too many damn dogs now.” She frowned as they started back toward the front door. “Are you sure Mrs. Beaton will be fine with you bringing the pup home?”
“Not at all.” Abigail smiled when the woman laughed. “I haven’t asked or told her and I am certain I will be made to pay for that, but it doesn’t matter. For one thing I am leaving soon.”
“Well, sorry to see you go and hope you have a safe journey.”
Abigail thanked her and left the house. The puppy kept licking her face so the rest of her walk home was both slow and crooked. She was laughing when she stepped into the Beaton house only to come face-to-face with Mrs. Beaton. The woman stared at the puppy but not with the horror Abbie had expected. The woman stepped closer and patted the dog’s head, much to Abbie’s surprise.
“If it messes inside the house it will not be the puppy’s face that gets rubbed in it.”
“I understand.”
“One of Mrs. Dunmore’s?”
“Yes, the smallest one.”
“Good choice. My little dog was one of hers too, also one of the smallest ones, but the Rebs shot it when they rode through town.”
“I’m sorry. They killed Noah’s puppy, too. And my cat. Makes no sense.”
“Just meanness.” She frowned faintly. “Noah’s been wondering where you were. Is the lieutenant doing well?”
“I think so. He developed a fever but I think the fever isn’t a dangerous one but we are taking him home tomorrow. And the army is leaving very soon after.”
She nodded. “I am not surprised. We will be fine here. I have faced this before. I know how to hide what needs hiding, and how to keep from being shot because some fool is in the mood to shed blood.”
Abigail started up the stairs and prayed Mrs. Beaton’s confidence was not misplaced. She stepped into her room and found Noah sprawled on her bed looking at a book. He sat up and immediately saw the puppy. His eyes wide with surprise and hope, he slid off the bed and walked over cautiously. He patted the puppy who immediately bathed his face with enthusiasm, making the boy giggle.
“What are you going to name him?” she asked.
“I can name him?”
“Of course. I got him for you.”
“He’s mine?”
“He cannot make a mess in the house. Mrs. Beaton is very firm on that.”
Noah took the puppy from her and hugged him to his chest. “He won’t. I will make very sure of that. I was good with my puppy.” He studied the little black and white dog wriggling in his arms. “This one doesn’t look like my puppy at all. Mine was all brown. I think I will name him Wags.”
“Wags?”
“Because he does a lot of that. See?” He held him out from his body for a minute and the whole animal shook from the force of the tail wagging he did.
“I guess he does.” She patted the dog then moved to her chests, opening the one she used most often and beginning to toss things inside.
“What you doing?”
“Packing. I need to leave in the morning.”
“I’ll go pack, too.”
Abigail sighed. “No, love, there is no need for you to pack.”
Noah stopped heading out the door and walked back to her side. “Why?”
“Because you can’t come with me now. It would be too dangerous.”
“Then you should not go!”
“I have to. I have to drive the wagon.” She reached out to take his hand in hers, but he stepped back and put the hand on the puppy. “I need to have a place to live before I take you with me. I have no home, no husband, and no idea when I will find either. When I gain at least a home to call my own, I will come back for you.”
“You are taking the baby.”
A direct hit, she thought, and scrambled to think of a way to explain that. “A baby needs an adult to care for it all the time. I promised Julia I would care for her child. Promises are meant to be kept, you know.” Noah nodded. “He needs to eat round the clock and he cannot even go to the bathroom by himself but needs his napkin changed, and he cannot run away from any trouble that finds him.”
“I don’t want you to leave me. I could help you with the baby.”
“You probably could but there is still the problem that I have no place ready for us to live. After I find a house for us, I will come back for you, Noah. This isn’t a forever type of leaving. I am just taking Matthew home because he is badly wounded. Once he is settled and has his family to care for him, I will look for a place to live where you can come and stay with me. Noah?” she called when he just turned around and walked out.
He kept on going and she heard him run to his room. For a moment, she thought about going after him then shook her head. She could not give him what he wanted. The tears shining in his eyes had cut her to the heart but she had to harden herself against them. She had a very good reason to make him wait. He would have to accept that.
Finishing her packing she fetched her gun from where it stood near the door downstairs and put it with the chests. She had saved so little she did not want to lose it now. Once done she went down the stairs and into the kitchen to help Mabel one last time. When the children trooped in to sit at the small table set aside for them, she was saddened by the fact that Noah did not come down with them. Each child sent her angry glares and she accepted that she was now the bad one.
“So you are leaving us,” said Maude as the stew was passed around the table.
“Yes. Matthew is too injured to join the army when it leaves to join with one of the bigger forces south of here.”
“The soldiers are leaving, too?” asked Anne, her sultry voice a little high with shock.
“They are but I am not sure when. Fairly soon I think, as they were packing stuff up when I left the infirmary.”
Rose frowned. “So, there will be no one here to protect the town.”
“No soldiers, but with no soldiers here perhaps there will be no trouble.”
“Ha!” Maude shook her head. “With men running about with guns and eager to shoot something, there is guaranteed to be trouble. We can handle it. We did before the soldiers settled in here.”
“It would be better if they stayed,” muttered Anne.
“Just because you can’t make up your mind which one you want is not a good reason for one or more of them to desert,” said Maude and she winked at Abigail.
Abigail hid her answering smile by eating a spoonful of stew. Anne went out walking a lot and with an impressive array of soldiers. The young woman’s busy and varied social life was about to die out.
When the meal was over she asked Mary if they wanted a story and was politely told no. Abbie was not surprised, but Maude and Rose looked shocked. She shook her head at them, afraid they were about to say something.
“But why?” Maude asked the moment they were out of the room. “You read to them every night and they seemed to love it.”
“I am not taking Noah with me.”
“Oh. I gather he expected to go with you.”
“He did and I had to say no. It is still not all that safe to travel. Worse, he pointed out that I was taking the baby.” She nodded when Rose winced as they reached the main room. “I explained why the baby has to go and why he has to wait. I don’t even have a house to live in. I need to get settled somewhere then I can take him. He doesn’t like the waiting part and I think he is trying to think of a way to persuade me. He had that look.”
“Oh dear,” said Maude. “Don’t worry about him. Me and Rose will keep an eye on him and remind him that it is only a wait.”
“Thank you.”
After getting ready for bed, Abigail crawled beneath the covers and tried very hard to put her concern for Noah aside. Since she was the cause of his unhappiness, it was not easy. She knew she was right. He had to wait for a while. She would work as hard as she could to get herself a place where they could live. A whisper in her mind reminded her that she also needed a husband, but she ignored it as she fell asleep.