“Do you hear that?” Dan turned toward thedoor.
Mr. Weikert opened the kitchen door. Throughthe hiss of the rain, cheering atop Little Roundtop traveled like awave rolling toward Cemetery Ridge and on to Culp’s Hill on theirright.
“What does it mean?” Sadie wailed, blue eyesbig and round. “Oh, what does it mean?” Sadie threw her hands overher ears and looked around for an opening between the adults toscoot back under the table.
Mrs. Schriver held her arms out, and thechild ran to her.
“No need to fret, child,” one man said.“Them’s our boys. It’s over.” A smile lit his face. “The fighting’sover.” He reached over and shook the shoulder of the man lying nextto him. His grin faded as he gazed into the soldier’s lifelesseyes. He clenched the dead man’s collar, and then let go and layback down. He covered his face with his hands. His words muffledbehind his hands, “Praise God.”
Dan raised his coffee cup in a toast. “HappyFourth of July, everyone.”
Those at the table lifted their cups. The menfollowed suit with empty hands as though holding a cup. “HappyFourth of July,” they chimed in unison.
“May the heart of this fair Nation be foreverinclined unto wisdom, so we may never fall into the folly ofanother war.” Another man, lying near the stairs, wiped tears fromhis face.
“Hear, hear,” echoed a chorus.
The doctors arrived for another day ofgruesome work. It broke the spell, and Tillie and the others putaway their breakfast dishes and set about spending their Fourth ofJuly nursing and tending the hundreds of men in the house, on thegrounds, and in the barn.
****
The early morning storm moved on, MotherNature having done her best to wash the earth clean. Throughout theday, the sky remained gray and overcast, heavy with the promise ofmore thunderstorms. Tillie performed her duties, oblivious to theweather. Late in the afternoon, the light dimmed. Out of the cornerof her eye, she saw a finger of lightning streak through theclouds, followed by a resounding crack of thunder that made herjump.
“God is angry with the carnage.” The soldiershe nursed lay on the floor waiting his turn at the surgeon’stable. His comment seemed directed at no one in particular.
Tillie smiled but didn’t respond. She wound abandage around his mangled leg with mechanical motions.
Two orderlies came in and dropped another manon the floor near the dining room door. A line of men waited fromthe table out the door and into the hallway. Tillie finishedwrapping and bandaging. She drew in a deep breath and let it out,stifling a yawn. She patted her patient on the chest and moved onto the next. Before bending to her task, she rolled her head fromone shoulder to the other to relieve the ache in her neck andshoulders.
Doc Billings came to stand beside her. Heunwrapped the bandage and, using his fingers, pulled open the woundto inspect the bone. He sighed. “I have to take off the leg.”
“No! No!” The soldier shrieked and grabbedhold of the doctor’s arm. “Please, God, don’t take off my leg. Howwill I work my farm when I go home?”
Doctor Billings put his hands on the man’sarms. “Now calm down.” He eased the man down and talked to himuntil he quieted. “I must. The bone is shattered, and there isnothing I can do to save your leg.” He held the soldier’s eye untilthe man settled. When he accepted his fate, he nodded and layback.
Doctor Billings spoke to Tillie, but his eyesslid beyond her to the door. He straightened. “You there, littlegirl.”
Tillie turned as Mollie shrank away from thedoor.
With a bloody hand, Doc Billings gestured herforward. Blood dripped off his fingers. “Come here, young lady.”His voice softened. “Come and give this man a drink of water so Ican take off his leg.”
Tillie grabbed the scissors and cut histrousers.
Mollie inched forward. She picked up a cupnext to a water bucket and dipped it in, then came close and heldit, too frightened to move. Panting from severe pain, the soldiergave her a thankful smile and took the mug. After he drank, hehanded it back. She took it and, crying, ran from the room.
* * * *
As the day wore on, the rains passed overGettysburg. The gray skies remained. But by early evening, the sunmanaged to find a chink in the clouds, and slim rays of sunlightfiltered down, warming the wet earth. Steam rose from the ground,lending a spectral aspect as thin wisps formed around lifeless men.Tillie imagined the grim reaper walking through the field,rejoicing over his fine harvest.
Despite the number of men treated, and thosethey didn’t get to in time, the queue of waiting men never ended.Tillie began to think a procession of men stretched from Gettysburgto Baltimore waiting for help.
Finally, the time came for the family,doctors, and nurses to sit down to supper. The Weikerts used uptheir supplies feeding the soldiers since the fighting startedthree days before. In return, the army provided small fare, butthey accepted the food with some grace. Her mouth watered when sheremembered their meal from their first day. A rueful smile crossedher face. If they knew, they might have been more sparing. As shesipped her coffee, she glanced at the doctor. Dark shadows circledhis eyes. He gave a prodigious yawn and rubbed a weary hand overhis face and hair. Tillie’s heart went out to him. He hadn’t restedin days.
“You look exhausted, Dr. Billings.” Shetouched his arm. “Won’t you take even an hour to rest?”
He looked through her as though she weretransparent. “I’ll be all right,” he said. “These poor men don’tget a rest, so I don’t either.” He took a bite of his bread. Heeyed her as he chewed. “You’ve been a great help to me these pasttwo days.”
“Thank you.” She straightened her shouldersand sat tall, grateful for his praise. Hearing she mattered madeher heart skip a beat.
After the meal ended, she helped clean up,and then stepped outside to use the outhouse. As she walked backacross the
