Words Heard in Silence (47 page)

"Demanding, are you, little one?" Charlie shifted to accommodate the little girl. "I suppose it is all right. Aunt Rebecca's had you for hours." Charlie sipped his tea, then lowered the cup and held it for Emily to taste. She preferred her tea with lots of milk and a little honey. His was too dark and bitter for her. She made a nasty face, and then started chewing on her piece of leather.

Rebecca settled down in a chair next to Elizabeth. "Charlie, Duncan is not in a lot of trouble, is he?"

"No, dear. In some ways, he is something of a hero. Most of the men are pleased that their usually anti-social colonel has found a lady and clearly wooed and won her. A sign of masculinity, I believe. Duncan did exactly what at least half of them would do; he stood up for his commander's lady. And, you must realize he sees his 'punishment' as more of a reward." Charlie absently picked up a piece of apple and offered it to Em while he spoke.

The baby took the apple and sucked on it making a long, happy humming sound. Rebecca smiled at the picture of Charlie with the baby. "Well, I am glad he is not in serious trouble. I would have felt bad if he had been. Duncan’s a sweet boy."

"Duncan is a grown man, with a rather serious crush on you, my dear. Step gently with him, please."

Rebecca blushed. "Oh, Charlie, you are being silly. Duncan is just a boy."

"Rebecca, dear, Duncan is twenty five years old and has served in this regiment since the beginning of the war. He has been wounded in battle three times and has won multiple commendations for bravery. He is most decidedly a man, a very gentle, caring man. I have only held him back because of the degree of damage he took at the Wilderness."

"All right, I get your point, Charlie. I promise to be good. He reminds me a bit of Andrew."

"Actually, dear, I am more concerned about you hurting him than anything else."

"Hurt him? Charlie I would never hurt him."

Charlie looked to Elizabeth for help. Rebecca just did not understand what Charlie was trying to tell her.

"You brought it up, Charlie." Elizabeth giggled.

Charlie groaned, and provided Em with a piece of cheese to crumble on his coat. "If you look at him as a boy, you are liable to treat him more casually than if you see him as a man. He may mistake casualness for intimacy and invitation and believe he means more to you than he does. It would be painful for him to get his hopes up and have them dashed."

"Charlie, Duncan is well aware that you and I are engaged. But I promise you, my dear, to be very careful with him."

"Thank you, love." Another piece of apple was provided to the small child in his lap, and the combined apple juice and childish drool mixed with the cheese crumbs on his tunic to make a pleasantly gooey paste that fascinated Em. She proceeded to use it to draw random shapes on Charlie's chest.

Rebecca just shook her head and Elizabeth stood. "If you will excuse me, I need to go check Montgomery. Things are looking much better on that front, Charlie. I think we will see him open his eyes in a day or two."

"I do hope so. Having him come around, both physically and attitudinally will do much to resolve the problems we have been having with morale." Emily continued to use the mixed cheese crumbs and masticated apple to decorate Charlie's jacket. The normally immaculate Charlie did not even seem to notice.

"We will make him better, Charlie." She waved at Em, who was now trying to put her mush-covered fingers in Charlie’s mouth.

"Papa bite."

Charlie let the child slip the decidedly questionable cheese and apple goo into his mouth, sucking gently before he let her fingers go. "More apple, Em? I know you are doing your best. Both of you are doing your best with him. I do appreciate it."

Elizabeth could not stand it any longer. "Charlie, you do realize you are being covered in mashed apples and cheese?"

Charlie looked up at her. "Yes. I believe that is rather normal behavior for a young child. Jocko has been giving me these long suffering looks for what she does to my uniforms, but I really have not found an alternative."

The doctor looked accusingly at Rebecca. "You do realize that this is because of you. Before he met you, he would not have let a child within fifty feet of his uniform."

Rebecca smiled and shrugged. "There have been lots of interesting changes since Charlie got here."

Em shook her head and cuddled into the crook of Charlie’s arm.

"Nap time, little one?"

Em shook her head and burrowed deeper into Charlie’s shoulder.

Charlie took his large handkerchief out of his pocket and cleaned up the little girl’s face and hands. "Cuddle up, little one. I will keep you safe and when you are asleep, I will carry you up to bed." He looked at the two women in his office and smiled serenely.

W
hitman settled into his chair at Major Montgomery’s bedside. It was late and he had volunteered to sit with him through the night to give Samuelson a much needed break.

Adjusting the lamp so he would have enough light, he took a sip of his tea and began working on his newest poem. As he composed careful lines, he heard Montgomery groan. Setting his pad aside, he moved to the edge of the bed.

"Major?"

He groaned again and his eyes opened. He looked confused and in a great deal of pain.

"Good to see you sir. Let me go get Dr. Walker."

He took the lamp to make his way across the hall to Elizabeth’s room. He knocked on the door then pushed it open just slightly, without going in. "Doctor, the Major is coming to."

Elizabeth woke quickly, sitting up and rubbing sleep from her eyes. "Come in, Whitman."

He pushed the door open further and entered the room. "Montgomery is coming to."

"Excellent." She got up and pulled on her robe. "Let us go see the gentleman."

Returning to the room, Whitman stood back and watched as Elizabeth worked with her patient. "Should I wake Colonel Redmond?"

"Actually, yes, I think he will want to know this."

He excused himself then went to their room, knocking firmly on the door. After a moment, Rebecca opened the door. "Yes?"

"Miss Rebecca, Dr. Walker sent me. Major Montgomery is coming to. She thought the Colonel would like to know."

"Of course, we will be right there." She nodded to him and closed the door. Then she went to the bed and gently shook Charlie’s shoulder.

Charlie rolled over from her pillow and slowly opened her eyes. "Yes? What is wrong, sweetheart?"

"Nothing. Dr. Walker sent word. The Major is coming around."

"Wonderful." Charlie got up right away and pulled on his robe. "Let us go."

Entering Montgomery’s room, they watched as Dr. Walker tenderly took care of her patient. "How is he, Doctor?" Charlie asked, stepping forward.

"Well, come see for yourself."

Charlie got closer, looking down on his officer. Montgomery’s eyes slowly tracked to Charlie. The colonel smiled. "Good to have you back."

The man did not speak. He just closed his eyes. Elizabeth tucked the blanket around him and stood up, taking Charlie by the arm, away from the bed. "It is going to take time."

"Elizabeth, how aware do you think he is now?"

"It is hard to say, Charlie, but I believe he understands what is being said. That was apparent when he gripped Rebecca’s hand the other day. I am sure at this moment he is confused and in a lot of pain, but the fact that he is responsive is a very good sign."

"I want to make sure that all he hears from now on are southern accents. Not just you and Rebecca, but find everyone with a southern accent, male and female, and pull them in to sit with him."

Elizabeth nodded. Rebecca joined in. "I am sure we can provide him with constant care. I think that the ladies who are here will be happy to help."

"It is going to be a long hard road with him, Charlie, and I will go along with this plan as long as it does not upset him so much as to endanger his health," Elizabeth said.

"I agree with both of you. But I also think that his problems may be as much emotional - left over from the Wilderness - as they are physical. I would like to try and handle both issues if possible."

"And we will. For tonight there is not much more we can do than let him rest. Whitman and I will remain with him and if there are any further changes we will let you know. Now you two need to get back to bed."

"Thank you, my dear. How I handle Montgomery will be critical to morale - especially after that little demonstration of temper I had the other day."

"I know," Elizabeth laid her hand on her friend’s arm. "We will make sure he gets the best care possible and that the men, especially his men, know that you are doing your best for their Major."

"What would you say about him having a few visitors - as long as they were not his caretakers?"

"I think that it would be good for him to have one or two a day, as long as it does not tire him out. Men from his troop could be beneficial as long as they speak positively about the happenings in camp."

"That would be good. If I can find men who will speak enthusiastically about the relationship with the locals... even better."

"Yes, absolutely. Positive reinforcement will be needed to aid in the healing process. Perhaps we could also ask Reverend Williams to pay a visit."

Charlie chuckled at that. "As long as you do not invite his wife."

Elizabeth laughed as well. "I think she is secretly sweet on you, Charlie," she teased, giving Rebecca a wink when the blonde woman stifled a chuckle herself.

"Well, if that is all that we can do tonight, shall we all try and capture a little more rest before we face tomorrow's demands?"

Elizabeth laughed as Charlie ignored her comment. "Yes, by all means go back to bed. If there is any change I will wake you."

"Elizabeth, let Whitman watch. I have a vested interest in keeping you healthy."

"Charlie, I am a doctor. I promise to take care of myself, but the care of my patients comes first. I promise to rest but I want to stay with him for a bit longer."

"All, right. I will check with you in the morning. And do get some sleep, my friend."

"I will. Good night, Charlie, Rebecca."

C
onstance took the afternoon watch. When she was first asked to sit with a wounded soldier, she had thought nothing of it, until she walked into the room. Being confronted by one of the men who had assaulted her was a terrible shock. In fact, it had been so overwhelming that she could not speak of it or even allow herself to think of it for quite a while. When she finally allowed herself to consider Montgomery’s presence in the same house, she realized that it was a test from God; a time for her to truly discover the meaning of forgiveness.

She sat close to the bed, working on a small sleeping gown for the baby that would arrive in a few months. She was roused from her work when Montgomery asked for water.

She poured a cup and very gently helped him take a few small sips. He focused on her when she took the cup away. "Where?" He managed to croak.

"You are at Gaines Cove Farm, Major Montgomery. You sustained a head wound from an injured horse and we have been caring for you here."

He grimaced with pain. "Should have……let me die."

"Major Montgomery, everyone here has been quite committed to your survival. I do wish you would join us, sir." She gave him another sip of water and carefully arranged the pillows behind his head.

"No." He closed his eyes and licked his lips. "Would rather die."

Constance smoothed the hair back from his forehead. "You know, I do understand. There was a time not too long ago when I wanted to end it all as well."

He looked to her, wishing he had the strength to knock her hand away. He did not need the comfort of southern trash. "You should want an end."

"No, sir. I should not. I have one child by my husband, who died at Seven Pines, and another one on the way - a 'gift' from one of the men who came through wearing the uniform of the 13th Pennsylvania. Which one, I am afraid I cannot tell you. This child, regardless of his father, deserves a life."

"You are implying……"

"Sir, I am implying nothing. I am stating that men from this regiment raped me. As a result, I am now pregnant. Prior to that day, no man except my lawful husband had ever touched me and that was done with love. Believe me I was as defiled as you, with your hatred of all like me, could wish. So you, sir, have no excuse for wishing to be dead." She did not say anything about Montgomery’s presence that day, the day that his men had raped her, and this man in bed before her had sodomized her.

"Why then? Why do you not take your revenge? Or has that southern bastard who is commanding my men had his influence on you as well?"

"It is very simple, Major. The Good Book says it best of all. 'And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other'. Your men assaulted me, defiled me and in doing so, defiled themselves. This anger and hatred will continue until the good Lord's words are heeded."

"So has Redmond taken these men to the post for this? I am sure he would be willing to stripe the back of a good Northern man, to protect the sensibilities of a Southern," he paused and his next word came out as a snarl. "Lady. I do not see how you can believe they defiled themselves."

"Colonel Redmond does not know, nor will he ever, at least from me. I realized that 'Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.' I was a good wife, loving and loyal to one man. I had done nothing to bring this abuse upon myself. The men who abused me did not see me as an individual, but instead saw only with the hatred and evil in their own minds and hearts. They will have to live with the results of their actions, bearing the guilt and defilement in this life and paying the price for their defilement in the next."