Clockwiser (13 page)

The pit in my gut sunk deeper. I had a strong suspicion Willie wouldn’t be back that soon.

I joined James at the mirrors. Other men were waiting in line, ribbing each other. I poured water over my hands into a bowl, then splashed my face.

I had an idea to sow a seed for Willie’s story.

“You know, I heard Willie saying something about feeling sick.”

James shook his head. “I hope not. Disease is a bigger threat to an army than guns.”

He left and another guy nudged me.

“You done?”

I grunted and left for the barracks, where I climbed on my bunk and collapsed flat on my back. Why did Willie have to interfere? Why couldn’t he just mind his own business?

I tilted my head slightly until my sight lined up with Willie’s bunk. It was perfectly made with his knapsack and haversack sitting upright at the foot.

A groan escaped my lips. How would I explain his disappearance when he didn’t take anything with him? I considered the possibility of hiding it, but where? Then Willie would be accused of desertion, and he wouldn’t thank me for it when he got back.

James had already bedded down. Henry and Joseph entered along with most of the other guys. Henry had this night time ritual that consisted of reading from his little
New Testament
. When he shut the book his eyes would close and his lips would move. I hoped he was praying for Willie right now.

I could use a little help myself.

Joseph, on the other hand, seemed afraid to close his eyes. I wondered if he was scared of the dark. It was his reluctance to sleep that kept him awake long enough to notice that Willie hadn’t yet joined us.

“Anyone know where Willie is?” he asked softly to no one in particular.

“Uh, no,” I said.

“Last I saw him was at the mess hall,” Henry muttered

James moaned. “He’s a big boy. He can find his way to his own bed, now if you don’t mind shutting it.”

Candle flames were blown out up and down the aisle and the sounds of snoring followed shortly after. My stomach twisted and turned and my chest felt like something big was sitting on it. Come sunrise, everyone would know that Willie was a no-show.

It wasn’t going to be pretty.

I awoke to the buzz.

“
Watson’s defected.”

“
Are you sure?”

“
Coward.”

I pulled on my trousers and shirt. “He was sick yesterday,” I said to whoever could hear me. “Maybe he’s in the medical shed?”

I got a strange look from a tall, slender guy with a toothy mouth. “No, I heard they checked there already.” He combed his hair, parting it on the side. “A soldier noticed the cot hadn’t been slept in last night and reported it to the lieutenant.”

James sat next to Henry on Henry`s bunk and they talked in hushed tones.

“This is so unlike him,” James’s rough voice reached me. “He didn’t act like he wanted to leave. He would’ve told me. And even if he slipped away for the night, he would’ve come back.”

Some guys did that, took off for the night and returned before the bugle blew. The camp wasn’t fenced, and the higher-ups often turned a blind eye as long as the soldier was back for roll call.

Which Willie had missed.

“Is it possible there could be foul play?” Henry countered.

“I suppose,” James said. “But who? And why?”

By midmorning, the grounds had been scoured. I was paired with Joseph to search for any sign of Willie. If he were sick or dead anywhere on the camp grounds, the lieutenant wanted to know.

Joseph looked a little pale. “I’m really not that great with blood.”

I stopped to stare at him. “You’re afraid of blood and you joined the army?”

“I’m not afraid of blood. I just don’t like it. Rather it doesn’t like me.”

“Don’t tell me you faint at the sight of blood?”

“I can’t help it. And my father made me.”

I shook my head. The kid’s old man made him join the army when he was so obviously not the tough guy sort. Made me want to punch his dad in the face.

“So, what’s your plan for when we fight the Confederates?” I asked. The kid wasn’t going to last two minutes.

“I’ve joined the military band. Bugle player. I don’t have to fight and I’ll be fine as long as I keep my eyes closed.”

Sure, he’d be fine. He wouldn’t faint from the bloodshed, but he’d be a perfect blind target.

I pushed through a tangled brush. “Well, I don’t think you have to worry about finding anything gruesome today.”

By noon, Henry, James, and I were in the lieutenant’s office getting the third degree.

His office was small and dusty and with the three of us, plus the lieutenant and his main officer, it felt like we’d squished into a broom closet.

The lieutenant’s mustache wiggled as he addressed us in his stiff, low voice.

“Desertion is a federal offense with severe consequences. Hiding your friend’s whereabouts is not helpful to him. In fact, if you deliver him to us today, I can guarantee a lesser charge and consequence.”

James shifted under his gaze. “I swear I don’t know what happened to him.”

I decided to stick with my mantra. “He was sick. Maybe in his delusional state, he wandered off?”

The lieutenant lowered his bushy eyebrows at me. I didn’t think he bought my line.

Henry spoke up. “As we said before, this is so unlike what we know of his character. We can’t imagine what’s happened to him, and we wish him found as much as you do.”

The lieutenant leaned back in his chair, and slipped a pipe between dry lips. He lit it slowly making a huge show of blowing smoke rings into the air.

“I hope you’re right, Private Abernathy.”

He stared us all in the eyes one by one, as smoke from his pipe billowed up to the ceiling of the closet-sized room.

“Because, mark my words,” he finally said. “We will find him.”

I kept my face like stone but scoffed in my head.
Oh, no, you won’t.

Half way back to the barracks, James muttered, “Stupid plebeian.”

“Now, now,” Henry said. “You know rank isn’t determined by social class in the army.”

“Do you see how pompous he was?” James spat. “When the war is over, he’ll have to tip his hat to me.”

“Soon enough,” Henry said, patting him on the back. “But for now, we must remember our place.”

The bell rang for dinner, the last one for us at Camp Cameron. Tomorrow we headed for Boston and then to Virginia.

I for one was ready to get a move on.

Chapter Seventeen

CASEY

When I woke up it was still dark. I fumbled for my phone to check the time, 5:15. I texted Nate wanting to make sure he got it as soon as he woke up.
How are you? Is Willie okay?

I tucked my covers under my chin and stared at the ceiling. I tried to imagine what Willie must be going through right now. Freaking, that’s what. I hoped at least he slept well. Today wouldn’t be an easy day for him.

The darkness gradually turned to a dull grey and then a warm yellow as the sun rose, casting weird shadows against the walls. My cell buzzed just after 6:00.

“Hello?” I said.

“Hey.”

Hearing Nate’s voice was a balm. I immediately felt calmer, knowing that he was there for me.

“How’s it going?”

“I lent him a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. He’s currently playing with the zipper. He’s easily entertained.”

“I’m coming over.” I threw off my blanket as I spoke, swinging my legs to the floor.

“Sure. I’ll make pancakes. The boy looks hungry.” It was a pleasant invitation, but Nate’s usual lightness was missing.

I chose a pair of Capris and a red tank top. I took a little extra time with my looks, needing every advantage to get back on Nate’s good side and regain his trust. I brushed out my curls and pulled my hair back with a tie, pinning up a few fly-away strands with bobby pins. I added a light brush of mineral foundation to my face, a couple strokes of mascara to my eyes and clear gloss on my lips. I examined my reflection in the mirror. Better.

Mom was already up when I entered the kitchen. She sat at the table with a coffee, her laptop and her phone, doing whatever she could to try to locate Tim. I felt so sad for her.

“Mom?” I said, wishing there was a way I could comfort her. “He’s going to come home.”

Mom’s eyes watered and her face turned a blotchy red. Her spiky blond hair could use a wash, but I wasn’t about to say anything about her appearance right now. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and squeezed.

“Thanks,” she said “I’m keeping the faith, too. My son will come back to me.”

“I’m going to Nate’s for breakfast,” I said as I headed to the door.

“What about work? There’s a pile of papers you could scan and file on my desk.”

“I know, and I’ll get to it, it’s just... Nate made pancakes.”

She nodded and waved me off, too pre-occupied with her thoughts to question why I was heading out so early.

I came to a full stop when I got to the driveway. How was I going to get to Nate’s? I stared at Tim’s car sitting exactly where he’d last parked it and wished I could drive. I usually got shuttled around by Lucinda, my parents, Nate and sometimes Tim. Either that or I walked or caught the bus.

Nate hadn’t offered to come for me like he usually did, and it was too far to walk. My dad had an early commute and was already gone, and I didn’t want to bother my mother.

I glanced over at Chase’s driveway, halfway hoping he’d be out and would offer me a ride, but it was too early in the morning for that. I could take the bus, but that took forever. I fished my cell out of my bag and called a taxi.

Willie was in the front yard of Nate’s house when I pulled up in the yellow cab. I paid the driver and got out.

“Good morning,” I said.

He nodded. “I suppose.”

I recognized Nate’s clothes and couldn’t help but smile a little. Willie looked kind of hot.

“What are you doing?” I asked him.

“Do you see all these wires?” Willie motioned overhead. “Every house has them and they’re all hooked up together to bring the magic lights. Amazing.”

I tried to envision what it would be like taking in all the technology of modern times in one sitting.

“Nathaniel took a bar of butter out of a big steel box, and it was frozen solid! Then he put it into another smaller box and it thawed in less than a minute! I just can’t believe what I’m seeing.”

I hoped Nate hadn’t showed him his laptop or iPod yet.

“It’s a lot to take in, I know.”

“I can’t imagine what you must think of our humble home?”

The Watson house was very impressive for its day, but compared to a modern home...

“I love your home, and your family.” I said. “You’ve been nothing but good and kind to me, letting me come and go, and infringe on your hospitality, without question.”

“Well, I’m glad of it now. It must be very difficult for you. How does it work, this time travel thing?”

“I don’t know. It’s just a ‘gift’ I have. I can’t control it, and I don’t really understand it. I do know that I’m not the only one.”

Willie raised an eyebrow. “Anyone I know?”

I cracked a smile, feeling somewhat conspiratorial. “Samuel.”

Willie’s brown eyes widened.“Our Samuel?”

I laughed a little and nodded. Like me, Samuel often found refuge at the Watson farm, but everyone thought he was a slave fleeing the south instead of a time traveler from the sixties, which he really was.

“The mysteries of this world continue to confound me.” He shoved his fists into his front pockets, a movement that made him look a lot like a twenty-first century guy.

Then he said, “If you can’t control it, how are you going to get me back?”

Good question. I was saved from answering immediately by the appearance of Nate at the door. He wore a black graphic tee and dark jeans, and the way he dragged his hand through his hair made my heart skip a beat. “You two coming in?” he said. “Breakfast is almost ready.”

Nate’s mom was a realtor, and she’d already left for her office by the time I got there. Nate’s dad was a pilot, and was apparently somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. So it was just the three of us.

Willie pointed to the bathroom. “I’ll just make use of the latrine.”

“He spent half the morning flushing the toilet and running the taps,” Nate said. “You should’ve seen him when I explained the shower.”

“Thanks for taking him in like this.”

“It’s fine. I like Willie and after how he and his family have helped you,
us
, how could I not.” Nate poured the last of the batter onto the electric grill. “The question is how are we going to get him back?” He steadied his eyes on me. “Unless you want to do this on your own?”