“‘For both he that sanctifieth and they whoare sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed tocall them brethren, saying I will declare thy name unto mybrethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and thechildren which God hath given me, forasmuch then as the childrenare partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise tookpart of the same; that through death he might destroy him that hadthe power of death, that is, the devil.’” Tillie looked up to findhim sleeping. She closed the book and placed it next to her. Shelaid her palm over his forehead again. Heat radiated off him.
She got up and, grabbing the bucket, slippedout of the room. She returned moments later and dipped a piece ofthe torn petticoat into the water. She wiped his face and hand,then opened his shirt and ran the cool cloth over his neck andchest, wishing she could do more. More than once her tears droppedon him, and she wiped them away.
As she worked over him, the words she readcame back to her. A merciful and faithful high priest in thingspertaining to God. Make reconciliation for the sins of the people.That through death he might destroy him that had the power ofdeath, that is, the devil.
Tillie ministered to the boy whose lifedrifted away. He would be in Paradise soon. She understood that hedid not fear death because, for him, death had been defeated. Sherecalled the sermon Reverend Bergstrasser gave the Sunday beforethe battle. Matthew 10 in which he said, though the enemy coulddestroy our bodies, he could not destroy our souls if we were onewith Christ.
Tillie drew in a deep breath and pulledherself under control. No longer would she mourn for David, for hewould be going to a place denied to her until two days ago. Shewould see him again in Paradise. She would recognize him, and heher. Her heart burst for joy.
During the night, she held his hand or wipedhis brow with a cool cloth as he veered between wakefulness andsleep, delirium and lucidity. Just as the sun broke free of theheights to pour its rays through the window and across the sleepingboy, the young soldier opened his eyes. Tillie changed his bandagesand smiled down at him. “Good morning.” She lay her cool palm onhis hot forehead.
“Maureen.” His unfocused eyes met Tillie’sconcerned ones. “Tell Mama I don’t feel good.” The light left hiseyes, and the breath left his body.
Sobs rose in her throat. She cried for allthe men who died despite their best efforts. She cried because shewould never get the opportunity to know them beyond the few minutesor hours given to her.
She hid her face in the crook of her elbowwhile his blood dripped from her fingers. Regaining her composure,she leaned over and kissed his brow. Her tears fell onto his face.She would never get used to seeing a man die.
Chapter 22
Doctor Billings cradled Tillie in his armwhen they entered the kitchen. He spoke quiet words of comfort. Shesniffed and nodded at intervals while she wiped her reddened eyesand moist nose. She leaned on him as he guided her to a chair andsat her down. The surgeon brought her a cup of coffee and somebread and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. Tillie laid her armson the table and dropped her head on them.
Beckie barged in and tripped over a woundedman. He cried out, but she ignored him. Her skirts filled his face.“Has anyone seen my petticoat?” She glared around the room. “I gotup and discovered my best petticoat missing. Tillie, are youwearing it?” She balled her fists and put them on her hips,shifting her stance.
Tillie raised her head and gave Beckie a dullstare. “Why on earth would I wear your petticoat?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Beckie cocked her head,her voice heavy with sarcasm. “Perhaps because you’re jealousbecause I have a clean one and you don’t. I just wondered if youdecided to put it on, that’s all.”
“Rebecca!” Mrs. Schriver started, but Tilliejumped to her feet.
“No, Beckie, I’m not wearing your petticoat.”Her hands shook as she raised them to her bodice buttons. “Do youwish me to undress and prove it?” Unreasoning fury overtook her asshe yanked the buttons, one by one.
“Miss Tillie doesn’t have it, Miss Beckie.”Doctor Billings stepped forward. He half turned to Tillie andgestured to her to stop. He regarded Beckie. “I took the garmentearly this morning. I woke Miss Tillie to help me with a patient,and I took your petticoat for bandages.”
“You took it.” Beckie crossed her arms andadopted a superior tone. “You slipped into my room while I wassleeping and stole my best petticoat from off my bed.”
Doctor Billings flushed, but remained silent.He straightened and clenched and unclenched his fists. Hisexpression indicated he would not dignify her accusation with aresponse.
“Rebecca Weikert!” Tillie slammed her fistson the table. “How dare you say such things? What is the matterwith you? It’s. A. Petticoat!” She almost screamed those last threewords, when she recalled Mrs. Weikert’s reaction to her petticoatthe day they ran to the Bushmans’ farm. Her rage soared. “You haveseveral and it wasn’t your best, you told me so. How selfish canyou be?” She stamped her foot. “And step away from that poor manbefore you kill him!”
Beckie glanced down, as if aware for thefirst time her skirts choked the soldier on the floor. She took onelarge step forward. The man gasped in air.
Doctor Billings moved to check him.
Tillie drew in a ragged breath. Mother alwaystold her when she felt about to lose control, to count to ten andtake deep, slow breaths. She held her hands out to Beckie in agesture of reconciliation and softened her tone. She sat back down.“I’m sorry I yelled. We used your petticoat to help a man. We triedto save his life, but he died anyway. Since the garment
