“It was a fierce skirmish. Good thing you saw them coming.”
“Abbie did. One of the fools lost his cap and she saw it on the water. Gave it to me and I looked down the river for them but almost gave up too soon. They werenae even being quiet. That’s why I finally spotted them. Voices carry well on the river.”
“They were not soldiers. They were Night Riders or marauders or whatever the hell they call themselves now. Hell, they could even have just been some good old boys who thought they’d kill them some blue bellies. So, you and Abbie were down by the river, eh?”
Matthew sighed. “Why is everyone suddenly interested in my love life? The doc and now you.”
“So, it is a love life, is it? Going to marry the girl?”
“That is my business and my business alone.”
“You’re no fun.”
“Could be because I am in pain.”
“Well, here’s something to take your mind off that. They just buried Julia.”
“Ah, hell.”
“Yup. Doc sent some men over to the graveyard to dig a spot next to Robert. No coffin. We ran out of the ones we had and no one around to build another.”
“I could have except for this hole in my leg.”
“And shoulder and belly. They put her in a sheet. Abbie was tending to the baby, poor mite. Orphan now.”
“I suspect there will be a lot of those when this war ends. Will certainly be a lot of bairns with no das.”
“News is we are headed out.”
“Where to?”
“South.
“We’re already south.”
“Obviously not the right part. They are already packing up things so think it must be true. Rumor is there is going to be a hard drive into the enemy’s lands in an attempt to end all this. The army in Virginia needs more men. Thinking this is going to take a long time to end as there are a lot of places where there is fighting. This area will be slow to let it go. Still a lot of Reb soldiers in the area or Reb sympathizers.”
“Already feels as if this war has gone on too long.”
“Much too long,” said the doctor as he walked up and began to check Matthew’s wounds, “and the hate and resentment will last even longer. Always does.”
“That’s cheerful news.”
“Realistic news. I studied a lot of history. Fascinating subject.” He glanced at Matthew. “Or are all you Scots close friends with the English?”
Matthew glared at James who just laughed. He then caught sight of Abbie pausing to talk to Boyd who still could not move his arm and helped out at the infirmary where he could. She looked a strange mixture of annoyed and deeply saddened.
“Ah, Julia was interred a little while ago.”
“Interred? Listen to our doc with his fancy words,” said James and laughed when the man glared at him.
“You should hit him for that. Hard. Set him straight,” urged Matthew and then grinned. “Right in that big smile he is always flashing.” He laughed along with the doctor but then winced as that also pulled at his stitches.
“Just thought you ought to be warned,” the doctor said to Matthew.
“Ah, aye. I could read it on her face.” He nodded toward where Abbie still talked with Boyd. “Since I am wounded and bed-bound”—he rubbed his forehead to try and chase away a throbbing headache—“I thought she would be gentle even if her mood was sour.”
“Such naivete,” the doctor murmured. “We’re moving out soon. Day or two at the most.”
