“James has returned to the town and the army.”
“Oh hell. He can leave it soon, so why rush back into it? I had thought to keep him here somehow until it was done.”
“The time he signed up for or the war?”
“Both. But now he is in the middle of it without any of us to watch his back.”
“I suspect he knows how to cover himself if he has to. After all, he is the one who never got wounded.”
Abigail made herself comfortable on the side of the bed and opened her book. She was only a few pages in when a heavy sigh came from Matthew. He was clearly not a good reading companion. She turned on her side to look at him and absently pondered the possibility of smacking him with her book.
“Do you want me to get you a book?”
“Nay. I want someone to give me a hand so I can take care of some private business.”
“Okay.” She stood up and left the room.
Matthew hoped she was just going to get someone. He knew he had nearly fallen on his face outside, but he did not think he needed the added humiliation of wetting the bed, which he would do soon if he did not get some help. He swore he would rest as instructed until he could do such things on his own without risking his stitches. He had missed James’s leaving because he did not have the patience to heal himself properly, and that was a hard lesson. Just as he was prepared to yell for Abbie, Iain walked into the room.
“Come on then. Did she say how many days she is thinking of when she says rest?” He put an arm around Matthew’s waist and nearly carried him to the washroom.
“No, but I suspect she has some idea.”
Once done, Matthew allowed himself to be nearly carried back to the bed. “I am not a complete invalid, ye ken.”
“I find that the easiest way to do this. Much easier than just holding ye up while we both stumble along.” After setting Matthew on the bed, Iain sprawled on his back at his brother’s side.
“I suppose. I am angry because I missed James’s leave-taking.”
“I barely had a chance to wish him good luck. He thanked us and rode off.”
“He probably just wanted to get it done. I just hope his luck holds for whatever time he has left.”
“Did he sign up the same time ye did?”
“I think he might have.”
“Then he has ten days.”
“How do ye ken that?”
“Because we marked it down and it is now on the day list for this month. We actually talked about your coming home the other day.”
“Huh, so me, James, Dan, and Boyd are all pretty much done with this mess.” He nudged his brother. “I haven’t seen your new son.”
“I’ll bring him in for a visit when he wakes. Lad is sleeping now, and when he sleeps Emily does, too.”
“Then that must be Jeremiah singing,” said Matthew as a baby’s cry echoed through the house.
“Yup, and that Abbie is fast at hushing him,” Iain said as the noise went away. “That’s a blessing as Emily didnae get much sleep last night because the bairn is getting a few teeth.”
“Hope that misery doesnae last long, for Emily’s and the bairn’s sake.”
“So this lass, Abigail? Are ye gonna wed her or just borrow her for a wee bit longer?”
Matthew grimaced. “I dinnae ken. I keep going round and round then recall it is for life and am back to I just dinnae ken.”
“I am thinking ye best get your wee head on straight about it and soon.”
