She held out her hand, and he laid the scrapin her palm. “Thank you,” she breathed. “I shall treasure italways.” She closed her hand over the prize before putting it inher pocket. She kissed Corporal Townsend on the cheek. He blushed,stammered some words, and took his leave.
Tillie watched him walk away, her spiritslifted by his visit. She went back into the house to tell Mrs.Schriver he remembered them.
* * * *
The sun sank behind the Roundtops beforeTillie, the doctors, and orderlies entered the basement kitchen fordinner. The captain who ministered to General Weed sat at thetable, a cup of coffee in his hand. He stood and bowed to her.
“I must apologize to you, Miss Pierce.” Heremoved his hat and bobbed his head. “I’m a day late in returningfrom my task of securing your message to your parents. Thecircumstances of yesterday’s battle prevented me from getting hereany sooner.”
Tillie took his hands. “That’s all right,captain. I understand the delay. Besides,” she shrugged in a quick,conciliatory gesture. “You wouldn’t have found us here. We decidedto skedaddle ourselves. We ran to Two Taverns for safety’s sake.”She crossed the kitchen and used the washbasin to clean her handsand splash water on her face. She grabbed a towel to dry her faceand moved to the table.
“Did you find my home?” She took a plate offood from Mrs. Weikert and sat herself down across from thecaptain.
“I did.”
“Well, how many linden trees are outside myhome?” She smiled, wanting reassurance he’d gone to the righthouse.
“Never mind that.” He waved away herquestion. “I don’t care how many trees are in front of your house.To prove it, I’ll tell you, your mother told me about how the Rebsstole your horse. She also told me to inform you that Jenny Wadewas killed while baking bread at her sister’s house. She said youwould want to know.”
Everyone fell silent. The women exchangedglances, realizing their good fortune. Sam’s words came back toher. She’s a traitor, and I hope she gets what she deserves. No, noone deserved that, not even Ginny. With how much Tillie dislikedGinny, she knew Mother imparted the information as a reminder ofChrist’s edict to love your neighbor as yourself and to pray foryour enemy, because at any time the Lord might call you to accountfor your deeds.
“Ginny,” Tillie said.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Her name wasn’t Jenny. It was Ginny.Virginia.” She lowered her eyes to her plate. “Ginny Wade, and yes,Mother would want me to know that.”
“Your parents were relieved to hear you aresafe and unharmed. Your sister, Maggie, sends her love.”
Tillie’s eyes filled with tears at thethought of her family. Her heart lightened knowing they weatheredthe conflict and now knew she survived as well. She didn’t realizethe weight of the fear she lived under until now.
“Thank you,” she said. “I can’t tell you howrelieved you made me.”
The captain placed a hand over hers. Then hekissed her hand. “I’m glad I could help you in return. Now, I mustget back to my unit. It’s been my great pleasure making youracquaintance, Miss Pierce.” He rose and headed for the door.
“Take care of yourself, captain.”
He nodded and reached for the doorknob.
“Oh, captain?”
He turned at her voice.
“Thank you for the Bible. It’s been of hugecomfort to me.”
He saluted and took his leave. After hedisappeared, she realized she never asked his name.
* * * *
The clock chimed one o’clock in the morningwhen she dropped into an exhausted slumber. She no sooner closedher eyes, than someone shook her awake. Her body did not want torouse enough to acknowledge the person depriving her of rest.Opening her eyes, she discovered Doc Billings standing over herholding a candle and whispering to her to get up.
“What’s the matter?”
“I need you, Miss Tillie. You need to getup.” He shook her again.
“What time is it?” She sat up, her brainstill fuzzy.
“Somewhere around two in the morning.”
“Do you never sleep?”
“I am sorry to rouse you so soon aftersending you to bed. But I have a patient who’s taken a turn, andhe’s asking for you. Please come.”
Tillie flung back the covers and jumped,fully dressed, out of bed. She groped around for her shoes butcouldn’t find them. Instead, she went in her stocking feet towardthe door.
Doc Billings followed. “Wait,” he whispered.He grabbed Beckie’s petticoat lying on the bed. “I need bandages.Do you think she’ll mind?”
Tillie suspected she would a great deal, butdidn’t say so. She shrugged. “I’ll tell her in the morning,” sheassured him.
They entered the dining room together. Aprivate lay on the operating table. She remembered assisting Dr.Billings while he amputated the boy’s right arm earlier in the day.She shook her head. No, not today, yesterday.
She approached, smelling the sweet, cloyingodor of decay. One reason for removing a damaged limb was toprevent infection, though it often happened despite their bestefforts.
“Miss Tillie.” The boy’s voice rasped hername. He extended his left hand to her. “I knew you’d come. I askedthem to get you.”
Tillie took his hot hand in one of hers andplaced her other on his brow. In the candlelight, his eyes wereglassy.
“How are you feeling, David?”
“Oh, I’m much better now you’re here.”
“I’m glad.” She forced a smile and turnedaway, fussing with his bandages to hide her emotions. He was dying,and she didn’t want him to see she knew.
“What can I do to help?” she asked to gaincontrol of herself and the situation.
“You can start by tearing that up.” Dr.Billings indicated the petticoat. “We’ll need plenty of clean wrapsfor him.”
Tillie squeezed David’s hand before pickingup the garment. After they cleaned him and changed his bandages,David drifted to sleep. Tillie went back to the bedroom for theBible lying on the end table. She returned to the dining room andsat next to his pallet.
“Where did you go?” His voice was groggy.
“To get this.” She indicated the book.
“I like Hebrews.” He closed his eyes.
Tillie opened the book and read.
“Read that again?”
“Which?”
“Chapter two. Start at verse ten and go tothe end,” David said. “It’s my favorite.”
She cleared her throat and began. “‘For itbecame him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, inbringing
