The Bride Price (24 page)

Jamie chuckled as he stood to give Christine
his seat and then sat on the hearth facing the girls.

“Just call me gimpy,” Sophie said
pathetically from her chair.

Christine frowned. “What happened?”

Sophie filled her in on the day, leaving out
some of the more personal portions.

“Richard did all that
and
you were
shot at?” Christine exclaimed.

Sophie nodded. “Yep.”

Christine frowned. “I’ve never known Richard
to treat anyone like that.”

“I think he objects to the competition I
present.” Jamie kissed Sophie’s hand.

Christine smiled gently. “Can I get you
anything?”

“No, thanks. I’m fine.” Sophie turned to face
her.

The butler chose that moment to interrupt the
group. “Dinner is served.”

Jamie and Christine stood. Jamie nodded
toward the door. “I’ll take Sophie in, Christine. You go on
ahead.”

Jamie picked Sophie up and carried her to the
dining room. Settling her in her chair, he prepared a plate for her
and then himself. Sophie smiled her thanks.

“How’s your ankle, dear?” Nona asked.

“It’s fine, Nona. I just have to stay off it
for a few days.”

“At least a week,” Michael interjected.

Jamie rolled his eyes. “Won’t that be
fun?”

“Yes, Jamie, I’ll look forward to our
evenings filled with playing cards and great conversation.” Sophie
turned her head, and gave Jamie a mock scowl, before turning back
to Michael with a serene smile.

Jamie sat next to Sophie and kissed her hand.
“It’ll be my pleasure.”

Conversation swirled around the table as
everyone began to eat. Sophie on the other hand, picked at her
food. Unable to elevate her foot, the pain made her sick to her
stomach and the strain of hiding it made it difficult to catch her
breath.

Nona and Christine were discussing the strife
a few of their distant neighbors were dealing with, while Michael
interjected the occasional observation. All the while Sophie sat
silent.

“Sophie, is it that bad?” Jamie whispered.
She gave a stilted nod, so he laid his napkin on the table and
stood. “Excuse me, Nona. Sophie is in a great deal of pain. I
thought I’d move her back to the library, if that’s
acceptable.”

“My word, yes, yes. I’ll send Betty in with
some ice.”

“No, I’m happy to take care of that. Please,
finish your dinner.”

Jamie picked Sophie up and carried her back
to the library. As they crossed the threshold into the room, Sophie
burst into tears and took several deep breaths in an effort to push
the pain away.

“Sweetheart,” Jamie whispered as he settled
her in her favorite chair and placed a pillow under her leg. “I’ll
be right back.”

Sophie squeezed her eyes shut and nodded as
he left the room. Lifting her skirt, she examined her ankle and
grimaced at the sight. Twice the normal size and bruised, the
longer she stared at it, the more it seemed to throb. She’d managed
to convince herself she’d never walk again by the time Jamie
returned with the ice.

“Here.” Jamie sat on the hearth and wrapped
the ice around her ankle. He handed her a glass of amber liquid,
and Sophie raised an eyebrow in question. “Whiskey. It’ll help dull
the pain.”

Despite the fact that she barely drank, she
downed the liquid and sputtered at the burn.

“You were supposed to sip that, sweetheart.”
Jamie chuckled.

“Oops.”

Jamie took the glass from her with a
concerned frown.

“What did you find out about the
shooter?”

Jamie sighed. “Nothing yet. I have a few of
the men on it. How’s your ankle?”

“Bad.” She dropped her head to the back of
the chair. “Don’t leave me here, okay?”

Jamie leaned over her and lifted her chin.
“I’m not going anywhere. Would you like another drink?”

Sophie shook her head. “I want drugs.”

Jamie stroked her cheek, catching a tear with
his thumb. “Would you like Michael to give you laudanum?”

“No. I hated it when they gave it to me
before.”

“Before?” Jamie sat back on the hearth and
handed her his handkerchief.

Sophie filled Jamie in on her arrival and the
events that led up to her forced drugging. Admittedly, she
purposely made it sound a little worse than it was, but was still
taken aback by the vein pulsing in his neck.

“I’m going to kill him.”

“Who? Richard or Michael?”

Jamie stood. “At this moment in time, I don’t
know.”

Sophie had a sense of conviction and reached
out to take his hand, tugging softly. “Sorry. I’m fine, and I’m
sure Michael was just trying to help at the time.”

Jamie squeezed her hand before kissing her
fingers and sitting down again. “Richard, however, was a
bully.”

“Yes, you’re right, but it’s in the past, and
quite frankly, I’m over it.”

“Well, what can I do for you then?”

“Nothing.” Sophie let out a deep sigh. “Just
sit there and let me be pathetic.”

CHAPTER
NINETEEN

May and June found the couple growing closer.
Sophie had shared the news of Jamie’s recovery, albeit not
complete, with Michael and Nona, and they had welcomed him into the
family fold. He still slept most nights in his tent, but Sophie had
managed to steal him away for a few nights in the privacy of her
room.

The cavalry training was brutal, and Jamie
found he didn’t have as much time with Sophie as he’d have liked,
but he spent every morning and every evening with her, which would
have to be enough for now.

Although he and Richard formed a tentative treaty,
Sophie wouldn’t have anything to do with him, going so far as to
limit her visits with Samson. Jamie was fine with her decision, but
he did have to work with the man, so he tried his best to rise
above the animosity to succeed in their mutual goals. He also spent
a great deal of time working with Topper. The young man was
becoming quite adept at using his left hand, almost to the point
that people didn’t realize he was missing his right.

One morning, when he didn’t find Sophie at
home, Jamie walked out to the Wades barn and as expected, found her
standing outside of Samson’s stall.

Jamie pulled her into his arms and kissed
her. “Good morning, sweetheart. I should have just waited for you
here.”

Sophie smiled and kissed him back.

“You’re up early. How did you sleep?”

Sophie looped her arms around his neck and
crinkled her nose up in annoyance. “I wasn’t with you, so I didn’t
sleep very well.”

“I missed you, too.”

She reached up again to kiss him, but they
were interrupted by one of Jamie’s men rushing in to say that there
was word of General Lee advancing on Gettysburg. They had to gather
the troops and provide support. Sophie went white.
What’s
today?

She did a quick calculation in her head.
“Jamie, it’s July 1. Today’s the first official day of the
battle.”

Jamie pursed his lips. “Gettysburg
address?”

She nodded. “In November, but yes, now is the
battle.”

This battle would turn out to be the most
famous and most important Civil War Battle. It occurred over three
summer days, July first, second, and third. It started out
seemingly small, but by the end of the battle it involved 160,000
Americans. Rubbing her forehead with her palm, her groan was
audible, even over the rush of people moving around the barn.

Today the two divisions of Confederates will head
back to Gettysburg. They run into Federal cavalry west of the town
at Willoughby Run and the skirmish began. Events would quickly
escalate. Lee would rush 25,000 men to the scene. The Union had
less than 20,000.

The Union ends up winning the battle, but how do I
warn the men without changing history?

Sophie would have to figure out a way to get the
hospital ready for the wounded that would be coming through the
doors – or tent flaps, as the case may be. She’d have to get
Christine and the rest of the nurses prepared for the
onslaught.

Gripping Jamie’s arm, her eyes filled with tears as
he turned toward her. “Jamie, please be careful. I’ll pray for you.
Just know it will be over in three days, and I want you home
immediately.” She pulled him closer and whispered. “This is
my
battle. The one I spent the most time reading about,
working with the team to reenact, and the one I
never
shut
up about. Please try to remember what I told you. Do you hear
me?”

He kissed her. “I promise.”

Sophie took off running back to the house.
Letting herself in the front door, she headed for the dining room.
Michael, Nona, and Christine were sitting at the table eating
breakfast.

“Sophie? Is everything all right?” Michael
stood, a look of concern on his face.

“General Lee is attacking Gettysburg. All
cavalry have been called up. Jamie and Richard have gone to
help.”

“Oh, my,” Nona exclaimed.

Sophie looked at Christine. “We have to get
the hospital prepared for the wounded. We need to make sure there
are clean linens and boil all of the instruments. We should have
fresh water and get together whatever medication we can.” She used
her fingers to check off the things she thought they would need.
“We need to call in every doctor we can find, same with the nurses.
Make sure the icehouse is packed—we can treat the minor injuries
with ice.”

“Sophie, slow down. I can’t keep up with
you,” Christine said.

The next two days were spent preparing the
hospital. Even Dr. Palmer joined in. He tried to fight her on some
of her “insane ideas” but Sophie didn’t care. If, God forbid, Jamie
came in wounded, she was not going to let anyone butcher him.

Beyond tired by Friday night, Sophie was
thankful she was able to sleep; however, she woke on Saturday
morning with a feeling of dread. This would be the day the wounded
and dead would arrive. Sophie got up, got herself dressed, and ate
a quick breakfast. Opening the front door, she saw Christine coming
up the driveway in her little carriage and barely waited for her to
stop before jumping in.

“Good morning. Are you ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be. Do you mind if we
pray?” Sophie asked.

Christine shook her head and they said a
quick prayer. Sophie would find herself praying several times over
the trying day.

The wounded started trickling into the
hospital at ten o’clock. They poured in at eleven. Sophie was
frantic. She hadn’t seen Jamie or Richard, and she was having a
hard time concentrating on what was going on around her not knowing
if they were safe.

She spent her time comforting the wounded and
trying to keep the instruments as clean as possible. She knew it
would be impossible for some of them to keep their limbs but tried
to suggest splints whenever she could, for those soldiers who
hadn’t already been amputated in the field.

By four o’clock she was beside herself. It
was so hot, the hottest it had been, some would say, and she wasn’t
sure if she would be able to stand up straight much longer. She
felt sick to her stomach from not only the heat but also the worry.
She told Christine she needed a break and had just walked outside
when she saw Jamie walking towards her. She ran, throwing herself
into his arms, uncaring that his body was filthy and covered in
blood.

“Oh, God, Jamie? Are you all right? Where
have you been? I’ve been worried sick.” She started giving him the
once over, looking for bullet wounds.

He smiled. “I’m fine, Sophie.” He grabbed her
hands. “Sophie, the blood’s not mine. I’ve been helping to gather
up the wounded. How are you?”

She threw herself back into his arms. “I’m
okay now that I know you’re safe. Where are Richard and
Samson?”

“Let’s find somewhere to talk, all right?”
Jamie said.

Sophie’s terror grew as Jamie drew her over
to one of the smaller tents set up for the doctors. Sophie grabbed
the lapels of his jacket. “Jamie, tell me. Please.”

“Richard was riding Samson, and a cannonball
went off a few hundred feet from them.” Sophie’s hand went to her
mouth. “Samson sustained a nasty wound. Not only that, but
Richard’s leg was broken from the impact of Samson falling on
him.”

“Why was Richard even there? He’s not a
soldier!”

“He wanted to help.”

“Did they shoot Samson?” Sophie’s eyes filled
with tears. The thought of such an incredible animal being killed
was heartbreaking.

“The General was ready to, but Richard and I
convinced them not to. We’ll try and patch him up over the next few
days and see how he does. We didn’t shoot Richard either, although
it was tempting.”

Sophie gave him a sarcastic grin. “Thank you.
So, where are they?”

“They’ll be here. Don’t worry.”

“Did Samson get up?”

“Yes. He did remarkably well. However, he’s
limping severely and not happy to have anyone near him. We found a
young private that Samson didn’t object to quite as much, so he’s
leading him home.” He smiled down at her and pulled her into his
arms. “Let me hold you for a minute.”

She buried her face in the rough wool of his
jacket as his arms wrapped around her. “I was so worried, Jamie.
Tell me everything that happened.”

“Later.”

Before Sophie could say anything, she saw
Samson being led up the hill by a young man, a very young man.
Samson’s limp was severe, but it looked as though someone had tried
to bandage his leg. He was giving the young soldier a devil of a
time, so Sophie pulled herself away from Jamie.

“Samson,” she called.

Samson turned his head toward her and
trumpeted a greeting as she rushed toward him. Stopping in front of
him, she put her palm out, and he nuzzled her hand as she crooned
to him and moved her hand up his face. “Shhh, what a big brave
horse you are. That’s a good boy.” She moved her hand down his neck
and started moving her body to the rear of his to have a looked at
his injury.