Love Inspired Historical October 2013 Bundle: A Family for Christmas\The Secret Princess\Taming the Texas Rancher\An Unlikely Union (81 page)

That will settle two issues. Mrs. Ward will remain at home and Nurse Emily can tend to the remaining prisoners without further injury.

* * *

A few hours of precious sleep were just what Emily needed. After supper, her parents drove her to the hospital.

“You be careful tonight,” her mother insisted. “Don’t go near those troubled men without that doctor’s assistance.”

“I won’t,” Emily promised.

She had told them of the incident with Edward but did not reveal his name. Emily did not wish to add to their grief. Stephen’s impending funeral weighed heavily upon them all.

“Abigail and I will prepare food for after the service tomorrow,” Mrs. Davis said. “And the Stantons have offered to open their home.”

“That will work well,” Emily said. “They have the largest parlor and dining room.”

“Indeed.”

“We probably won’t need it now,” her father said.

Emily looked at him. “But Mr. Hastings is acquainted with so many people. Why, those he knew from the city counsel alone—”

“His former counsel members have all expressed their sympathies.”

Former.
The word still stung. Mr. Hastings had lost his position with the governing body last summer. The issue had been over the effort to raise Federal companies from Baltimore. Sally’s father could not support a measure that would form troops to fight against other Maryland men, namely, his own son.

He’d voted no. So had several others. Under pressure from occupying General Wool, he and the other dissenting counsel members had been forced to resign. They were soon replaced by “loyal” men who
would
vote for the measure.

“None of them plan to attend the service tomorrow,” her father continued.

Emily sighed disgustedly. “It is a funeral. Can we not dispense with the politics long enough to grieve for a man from Baltimore?”

“Apparently not.”

Poor Mr. Hastings,
she thought.
Poor Sally.

Her father pulled the carriage to the hospital’s main entrance. Darkness had just about fallen. Army stewards were lighting the gas lamps at the front door.

“Joshua will be by to collect you in the morning,” he said, “as I have business at the fort.”

“Will you return in time for the service?” Emily asked.

“I will make certain of it.”

Her parents both kissed her goodbye. “God keep you,” her mother said. “I will pray for you.”

Emily appreciated those prayers greatly, for as eager as she was to keep serving, she was still uneasy. How would Edward fare tonight? In what mood would she find Dr. Mackay?

Navigating the dim corridors, she hurried inside. Rebekah gave her the evening report. Edward had been contemplative but peaceful. Josiah was strengthening. Sergeant Adam Cooper’s lungs were worse.

“You may wish to set your chair beside him tonight,” she suggested.

Dr. Mackay made his evening rounds. Emily assisted as the morphine powders and other pills were distributed.

“Keep a second oil lamp lit tonight,” he told her, for previously she’d left only one burning.

She could not argue with that. She would have clearer vision of whatever may be happening at both ends of the ward.
And perhaps the extra bit of light will keep tonight’s sentinel fully awake.

Emily prepared for a vigil beside Adam, but Dr. Mackay claimed the spot first. Loosening the top buttons on his vest, he looked as though he was going to keep watch for quite a while. She placed her chair once more beside Josiah.

“Have you a story for me again tonight, Miss Emily?”

His innocence warmed her heart. “Indeed I do, Josiah.”

“Give us another adventure,” the soldier beside him said.

Dr. Mackay’s warning concerning scriptures of war was foremost in her mind.

“What about the Apostle Paul and his adventure on the high seas?” she said.

Josiah’s eyes widened in delight. “Shipwrecks and snakebites?”

“That’s right.”

The man to her left, Corporal John Hudson, a Georgia fellow, worked himself into a sitting position. “Snakebites? Be they copperheads?”

“No,” Emily said. “But just as deadly.”

She turned to the book of Acts and began to read. By the time she got to the part about the snake fastening itself onto Paul’s hand, even Dr. Mackay was listening.

“And he just shook it off and went on?” John asked.

“Indeed,” Emily said. “Although everyone around expected him to die.”

“But he didn’t die,” Josiah said.

“That’s right,” she said. “You see, God had a plan for Paul’s life and nothing, no shipwreck or serpent, could keep him from it. He has a plan for each of your lives, as well. He loves you so much.”

With that, Dr. Mackay came stomping across the floor. “That is enough reading for tonight.”

“I like her Bible stories, Doc,” Josiah said.

“Hush,” he insisted. He stuck his stethoscope in his ears, leaned over the boy.

“I like ’um, as well,” John said. “Read us Joshua and the Battle of Jericho. That one where the walls come down.”

“Wish these walls would come down,” the soldier across from him muttered.

Dr. Mackay pulled his stethoscope from his ears. The look he shot the Confederate man could have snuffed out life. “I said that’s enough!” He turned his glare on her. “Put the Bible away.”

Emily’s heart sank.
No one here is trying to incite rebellion,
she wanted to say.
They simply want to go home!

Though disappointed, Emily did as she was told. She moved to the table where the water pitchers sat. Claiming one, she then went to each bed. Whether the men were truly thirsty or not, they all drank. Emily did her best to smile, to act as if Dr. Mackay’s scolding had not really affected her, but they all knew better. They looked at her with pity.

Inwardly she sighed. She felt like a failure, in every sense of the word. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate their sympathy; she just didn’t want to be the focus of their attention.

Lord, I want them to know You. I want them to know Your love, Dr. Mackay included.

“Emmy?” she heard Edward call.

Fear made her muscles twitch, yet compassion tugged her forward.
I have no need to be frightened,
she told herself
. He is fully awake. So is everyone else in the ward.

“Do you really believe all of that?” he asked.

“Believe what?”

“About God loving you. About Him having a plan for our lives.”

Though her insides were still churning, she forced herself to sit down. “Yes, I do.”

“Julia says the same. So does Sam.”

“They are right.”

Edward’s eyes held a look of defeat. “Perhaps He loves His purpose more.”

“Which purpose is that?”

“Judgment.”

Emily’s heart squeezed in pain. “Is that what you think is happening?”

“Isn’t it? My arm, my friends, my city...I’ve chosen the wrong side. God isn’t with me. The bluecoats and the abolitionists all say so.”

She drew in a quick breath.
Lord, give me the right words.
How could she say with certainty what Heaven’s purpose was concerning this war? She had seen good and bad on both sides. Edward wasn’t personally fighting to keep men in chains any more than every Northern man wished to free them.

“I don’t know what to say to that, Eddie, except that we are all sinners. We are all stubborn and selfish, hurting others when we insist upon our own way.” She paused. “And you are right. God’s holiness demands judgment, but I also know that He grieves for us. In His holiness He provided a way to redeem us, through Jesus.”

He was quiet for several moments. Emily simply waited.

“My family didn’t want me to join this war,” he said.

Julia had once told her that on the first night of the Federal occupation she had begged Edward not to go south.

“I went anyway,” he said. “Convinced I was going to throw those Yankees out of town. I wanted to kill as many of them as possible after what they had done to my sister on Pratt Street. And yet I ended up only hurting her and everyone else I care about.”

Though the night before he’d torn her flesh in anger, Emily took his hand in hers. Edward clasped it tightly, but no trace of the vengeful warrior remained.

“I can’t even look at Sally,” he said. “When I think of what I have done to her...”

She blinked back tears. “She bears you no ill will, Eddie. None of us do. Least of all God. He loves you.”

Footsteps crossed the boards, but Emily continued anyway. She would do her best to respect Dr. Mackay’s orders, but she would not neglect this moment with Edward. She needed it as much as he, perhaps even more so.

“Our choices,” she said, “our failures in life do not change that. God’s love is constant.”

“Blessed are the peacemakers,” Edward quoted. “For they shall be called the Sons of God.”

“Peace begins with God,” Emily said. “By accepting His forgiveness, letting His love fill our hearts. Only then can we look upon other men, not as our enemies, but as treasures loved also by Him.”

Dr. Mackay cleared his throat. Emily looked up. She expected an expression of disdain, but the look in his eyes matched the pain in Edward’s.

“I have need of your assistance,” he said.

“Yes, of course.”

She gave Edward’s hand a gentle squeeze, then followed Dr. Mackay across the ward. The look of vulnerability had passed and that determined frown once again creased his forehead. He strode toward Adam’s bed. One glance at the man and Emily swallowed back more tears. His fever was high. His face showed pain.

“Hold him while I take a good listen,” Dr. Mackay instructed.

Emily carefully claimed the edge of his bed as the Scotsman pushed the poor man from his pillows so that his back was exposed. She cradled the shivering sergeant against her as he moved his stethoscope.

Adam sputtered a weak, kitten-like cry. “So...cold...”

“There now,” she said softly. “It will only be for a few moments. Then you can reclaim your pillows.”

He coughed raggedly, winced in pain.

“Hold on to me,” she encouraged.

He did, but the arms that encircled her were not those of a strong, valiant soldier. They were those of a dying man. Emily looked to Dr. Mackay. She could tell by his distressed expression that the poor sergeant’s condition was grave.

God help Dr. Mackay,
she prayed.
Help him relieve the suffering.

He pulled the stethoscope from his ears. “His lungs are completely full.”

Disgust filled his eyes, but he gently laid Adam down. Emily quickly covered him. She reached for a nearby sponge to wipe the sergeant’s brow.

“Wait here,” Dr. Mackay told her as he walked away.

Emily continued to comfort the man as best as she could until he returned. When he finally did come back, he was angry.

“We are completely out of ether,” he fumed. “How can one be expected to—” He stopped, stared at her. “You will have to steady him.”

She gulped, not liking the sound of that. “What are you going to do?”

“Drain the fluid.”

She saw the instruments on his tray, the tube, the packing. She knew what was coming. He was going to cut into the man’s chest.

But without ether? Isn’t there something else you can do?

With one look at Sergeant Cooper, however, even she knew now was not the time for less invasive measures. While Dr. Mackay readied his tools, Emily pulled back Adam’s blanket. She shuddered, knowing what pain the suffering man was about to endure.

“Ready him now,” Dr. Mackay said.

She looked into the sergeant’s eyes. She saw the fear. She prayed he wouldn’t see it in hers, as well.

“I am sorry,” she whispered. “You must be absolutely still. This will hurt, but only for a while.”

He struggled to speak. “S-sing...”

“Sing?” she said, surprised. “What song?”

“Near...God...”

“‘Nearer my God to Thee’?”

He nodded.

Emily had never considered herself musically gifted, but she didn’t let that stop her. If it would help the man endure the procedure, she would sing. Softly she began.

“Nearer my God to Thee... Nearer to thee...”

He closed his eyes. Dr. Mackay started in. Blood soon stained his fingers. The poor soldier fainted in a matter of seconds, but Emily continued to softly sing. She hoped the music would be a comfort to those around him, also. They all were watching.

Dr. Mackay inserted the tube, then packed the surrounding area with lint. Emily stroked Adam’s hair, kept him from suddenly stirring. By the time she’d reached the hymn’s final verse, she could already hear a difference in his breathing.