Fated Memories (15 page)

That statement echoed in Kitty’s head. What’s ‘the other’?

***

During Simon’s recovery time, Maggie and Kitty had discussed how to tell him what happened with John Leahy. They expected an awkward discussion, for sure, but Kitty was sincere about not having secrets. At least the fact that Leahy had been a casualty of the last battle meant Simon wouldn’t be seeking him out for revenge.

Kitty gave Maggie the signal to go ahead. “Simon, something happened while you were… missing, that I need to tell you.”

His eyes went from Maggie to Kitty and back again. He could tell by their downcast eyes they had upsetting news, and his body stiffened in anticipation of hearing it. “Tell me,” he said flatly. “What happened?”

“Well… I…” Maggie couldn’t get it out and cried instead.

If she wasn’t going to say it, Kitty would. “It was my fault, Simon.”

“No, Kitty, it wasn’t, you can’t blame yourself.”

“It was, Mags…”

Anxious to get to the heart of the matter, Simon intervened. “Will you two stop arguing and just tell me for Christ’s sake?”

Maggie continued in a small sniffling voice. “I… was raped.”

The shock of this revelation caused his whole body to jerk upright but, still weakened by the dysentery, a wave of dizziness forced him back on the bed. Maggie rushed to his side, and he held her tight against his chest, his jaw rippling with suppressed anger and his eyes fighting to contain his tears. “Who?”

Kitty’s guilt had her riveted to the spot, and she answered for her. “He’s dead, Simon. It’s my fault. I should never have left her alone.”

“Tell me who did this. Even if he is dead, I need to know.”

“It was John Leahy. The Confederates killed him for us.”

“Leahy, that sadistic son of a bitch, even the men hated him.” Simon squeezed Maggie tighter, “Oh, God, Mags, did he… hurt you?”

“He roughed me up pretty good, but didn’t do any permanent damage.”

“Damn, I wish the Rebs hadn’t killed him. I want to tear him to pieces myself.”

“I thought of killing him,” Kitty admitted, “like you did Barnes, but I needed the other men to see me beat the crap out of him to make sure they didn’t think we were easy marks.”

“Barnes? I didn’t kill Barnes. Yeah, I went looking for the kid to teach him a lesson, but his friends told me he’d gone AWOL. He’d been threatening to do it for a while and the embarrassing incident at the hospital pushed him over the edge. They saw him sneak out the gate. I’m sorry I gave you that impression.”

Maggie sat up again wiping her face on her sleeve. “And stop blaming yourself, Kit. I know how hard you tried to take care of me, but you could only do so much without sealing me up in a bubble.”

“Maggie’s right. Come here.” He motioned for Kitty to come closer and awkwardly embraced them both. “You women have been through so much, my heart aches for both of you. It’s hard to stay strong with so much going against us. We will survive this, though, I promise.”

K
itty’s body had been fighting off a bug she’d picked up and had been making her feel crappy for days. At least they had Simon back on his feet now, and their Bucktails friends, as well as Chaplain Lawrence and his wife Lulu, gathered at their campfire again for supper. Simon and Maggie had already told Kitty their good news, but they were eager to tell the others.

Kitty watched them rise in front of the group, arms around each other’s waists, and the glow of love clear in their faces as Simon spoke. “First, I want to thank each of you for the kindness and courtesy you showed my wife and my sister while I was missing.”

Max dismissed his thanks. “Ach, no thanks are necessary, Reiger, Bucktails take care of their own.”

“In any case, since tomorrow is our anniversary, Maggie and I have decided to reaffirm our vows to each other with another wedding ceremony. Chaplain Lawrence, if you don’t mind, we’d love for you to officiate.”

“Why yes, Sergeant Reiger, I’d be honored.”

“Good, then it’s settled. My beautiful bride and I want everyone to come back here tomorrow…”

Simon’s words sunk in just as John Gruber raised his cup for a toast. “Tomorrow? Why wait for tomorrow Reiger? You’ve got the Minister, the woman and the witnesses and as big a feast as we’re likely to have already here right now. Get on with it man, do it now. Who’s with me?”

Kitty recalled Gruber’s impetuous marriage proposal.
That is one impatient man!

Chants of ‘Do it now, do it now, do it now’ surged from the gathered messmates and Lulu looked as though she’d lose her mind with excitement.

Simon looked questioningly at Maggie whose blushing smile brought cheers from everyone. “It’s settled then, Chaplain…”

“Wait, wait I at least need to brush my hair and change my dress. Just give me a few minutes to tidy myself up, okay?” Maggie ducked into the tent and, after a quick wash, scrambled for the calico dress Carole Brunswick had made for her. Once dressed, Kitty helped pin up her hair like a dutiful maid of honor. Maggie brought the rose locket out of hiding for the occasion and, slipping it onto a thin hair ribbon, tied it around her neck. Kitty loaned her the jade earrings to wear.

Kitty waved off any concern over her sudden coughing spasm. “It’s okay. I’m just choked up over my sister getting married. Here, let’s see what we’ve got. Something old, the locket. At least it was old in our time. Something new, the dress Carole just made for you. Something borrowed, the earrings. And I’ll want those back please. And something blue… what do I have that’s blue. Let me look… oh, there’s the blue hair ribbon, but it doesn’t match the dress.”

“Seriously Kitty, do you think anyone cares if I match or not?”

“I know. I just want it to be perfect for you. Here, tie it around your ankle. It doesn’t matter if it’s hidden, as long as you’re wearing it. There, now you’re all set. And now I’m crying. I’m so happy for you.” They hugged again for the umpteenth time.

As the women cleaned themselves up and got ready, the men had also been busy. They’d gathered sticks and branches to make an arbor for the happy couple and the chaplain to stand under for the ceremony. Chaplain Lawrence wore the coat he reserved for Sunday services and Lulu picked what flowers she could find growing nearby for Maggie’s bouquet. A very handsome Simon waited at the makeshift altar with his hair slicked back and a clean shirt borrowed from Isaacs. As Maggie and Kitty emerged from the tent ready for the ceremony, murmurs of appreciation rose from the men at Maggie’s glowing beauty. It seemed her feet didn’t touch the ground as she floated up to Simon and reached for his hand. A puffed up Max stood beside Simon while Kitty took her place at Maggie’s side.

Lulu sniffled loudly as Chaplain Lawrence began. “Dearly beloved, we have come together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony.”

Kitty struggled to contain the emotions that welled up inside her. Afraid she’d start blubbering, she tried to distract herself from the chaplain’s words. How mind-blowing. The woman who’d been like a sister to her was marrying the man who’d become her brother.
Wait, is that incest?
She cleared her throat to mask the nervous giggle. This was too solemn an event to be ruined by her distraction. Keep it together Trausch, for everyone’s sake. She tried to focus on anything else she could. Multiplication tables, nursery rhymes, whatever took her thoughts away from the emotionally charged scene that threatened to send her into a meltdown.

Out of the corner of her eye she glimpsed John Gruber standing off to the side with his hands clasped in front of him. Even though she’d refused his offer of marriage, she still found his broad shoulders and dark features very attractive.
I wonder how it would’ve been to… okay back to the multiplication tables.

The couple repeated their vows and Chaplain Lawrence asked for the rings. To prepare for the public announcement, Simon had purchased two silver bands from one of the peddlers that hung around the camp gates. He handed them now to Chaplain Lawrence for his blessing

Then, slipping it on her finger, Simon said, “Margaret McGrail, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and with all that I am, and all that I have. And with this ring I promise to love you and hold you from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death…”

“Stop, don’t say that part.” Slipping the other ring on Simon’s hand Maggie made her vow. “Simon Reiger, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and with all that I am, and all that I have. And with this ring I promise to love you and hold you from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish you… forever.”

“Now that Maggie and Simon have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of rings, I pronounce that they are husband and wife, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Those, whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder.”

Their gentle yet passionate kiss sent a shower of happiness raining down on the gathering as they cheered and hugged and kissed each other. Carried by the emotion of the moment, Kitty even let her emotional wall slip and kissed John Gruber with more passion than she had planned. There might even have been a little tongue action there which surprised both of them. As she guiltily turned away clearing her throat, she saw Maggie smile and nod in her direction. Kitty’s face burned with embarrassment with the realization that someone had noticed her little indiscretion.

Max broke out his banjo, Carlyle the homebrew, and soon the party was in full swing. Gruber spun Kitty around in a polka that made her dizzy, so she sat the rest out, but the music and dancing went on for hours. Once the food and beer disappeared, the guests stumbled off to their own quarters. Simon put his arm around both of the ladies’ shoulders to lead them into the tent.

Kitty planted her feet on the ground refusing to move. “No, I am not sleeping in there tonight. I’ve been a third wheel for a long time with Sonia and Carlos, and now with you two, but I am not sleeping in the same room with a couple on their wedding night. That is not going to happen. I’ll stay at the hospital tonight; I’ll be fine there.”

Simon didn’t need any arm twisting. “Okay, but it’s dark, I’ll walk with you to make sure you get there safe.”

Gruber stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “Wait Reiger, you don’t need to do that. Stay here with your wife. I’ll walk with her.”

“Thanks Gruber, I appreciate it.”

***

After a last congratulatory hug and kiss to her little family, she left with her bodyguard for the hospital. The half-moon shone enough light that they could make their way along the path holding hands, their shoulders brushing. The closeness of him made her earlier musings return. Though he hadn’t captured her heart, he’d certainly stimulated her other parts.

Kitty found an empty isolation room for her bed and stood awkwardly at the door waiting for Gruber to make a move. As he stepped closer, tingles of anticipation rippled through her body. But instead of a repeat of the passionate embrace they’d shared earlier, he placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. “Goodnight, Miss Kitty.” He turned and left.

Okay then
, she sighed. After another extended coughing fit, Kitty sat on the bed with her back propped against the wall in reflection. With so many consequences to consider, it was just as well he left. Without penicillin, STD’s were rampant and, even if she didn’t catch anything, what if she got pregnant? That thought made her shudder.

She’d fallen asleep in that same position until a new round of coughing spasms woke her. Her damp clothes stuck like a second skin from her profuse sweating. Stripping down to her chemise she made herself more comfortable in the bed.

Kitty slept fitfully, her body alternating between extreme bouts of heat and shaking chills. Images of Richard Delaney came to her in her dreams. They’d met at Beth/Gen Hospital and were lovers until the day he’d tired of her and asked her to move out. In her dream, though, everything was still perfect between them. Wrapped around each other in the bed, his tongue left damp tracks over her whole body that made her squirm with anticipation. Her chest hurt from the pounding of her heart. His smiling face wavered in front of her as Kitty reached out to touch him. When reality threatened, she willed herself back, the dreams becoming more intense each time. Her shuddering climax was so strong it forced her eyes to flutter open and returned her to consciousness.

***

Maggie sat beside her on the bed, caressing her head with a cool, damp rag. She smiled as Kitty focused on her worried face.

“Are you okay there, Ethel?”

Her vision clearing, Kitty saw that the camp hospital had replaced Richard’s apartment. This confused her because Richard’s wandering kisses were still damp on her skin. “I’m… wet,” she said, her deep, gravelly voice surprising her. “And naked.”

Maggie cleared the sand from Kitty’s eyes with the cool cloth. “You have pneumonia, Kit. Your fever spiked so high, for a while we thought we might lose you. You scared the crap out of us. You were burning up so Lulu and I took turns bathing you with cool cloths to keep it under control. Are you in any pain?”

“My head hurts, and it feels as if someone’s sitting on my chest.” Maggie’s words finally registered in her mind. “I have pneumonia?” She’d cared for several patients with pneumonia. They’d all died for lack of antibiotics. The sadness in Maggie’s eyes confirmed her fear. “I’m dying?”

“If you do, it certainly won’t be my fault.” Doctor Freeman leaned against the doorway of the small room with his arms crossed, watching them.

Maggie gave him a sideways glance, her lips thinned in agitation. “You can leave us now, Doctor.”

Kitty’s tears were hot on her face. “I don’t want to die here, Mags, I want to go home.” A sob caught in her throat and turned into a painful cough.

“Shh, I’m not going to let you die.” She wiped away her tears with the cool cloth. “The doctor tried to use his archaic medicine on you that even I knew would do more harm than good, so he’s angry at me. Pay no attention to what he said.” Maggie returned the cloth to the basin, her eyes fixed on Kitty’s. “You are a fighter, Kit, and you’ve got me in your corner. No, we don’t have antibiotics, but with common sense and determination we’ll beat this. I’m not giving up on you and you need to promise me you won’t either, okay?”

Kitty only nodded, her lips trembling too hard to speak.

“Max sent over a pouch of Hilda’s tea for you. Do you think you can sit up to drink it?”

Maggie propped up the pillow behind Kitty as she scooted her aching body back. At first the liquid warmed and soothed her throat, that is until a spasm of wracking coughs made her gag and throw up a wad of disgusting green stuff.

Maggie patted her back as Kitty hung over the basin. “That may not feel good right now, but getting the crap in your chest moving up and out will help. We’ll work on that. Keep trying to drink this tea and I’ll ask Lulu to get you a bowl of soup from the commissary. A fighter needs to keep up his strength.” She kissed her cheek and went off in search of Lulu.

Kitty slept on and off for the next three days, surprised at how much stronger she was each time she woke. Maggie and Lulu brewed gallons of tea for her, some from Max’s stash, some from dandelions gathered from the field, and as much willow bark as they could find.

At times Doctor Freeman stopped in to check on her, but only if Maggie wasn’t in the room. He eyed her with caution and always kept his distance. Kitty wondered if he hoped she’d die just to spite Maggie and prove her wrong. The thought made her more determined than ever to survive.

As sitting up to talk and drink her tea became easier, she told Maggie about the strange dreams she’d had at the peak of her fever. Maggie blushed a deep crimson red as her hand flew to her mouth. She laughed until she cried.

“What? Is it that funny I’d have an erotic dream?”

She struggled to get the words out and couldn’t meet Kitty’s eyes. “No, no. But that explains it. Please don’t be upset, Kitty, you were out of your mind with fever and had no idea what you were doing.”

With slow, rigid motion, Kitty put the cup on the table next to her bed. From the way Maggie hesitated, she knew she had to prepare herself for something awful.
Is that why Doctor Freeman has been keeping his distance from me? Did I let loose a barrage of profanity on him like I did with Gruber? Good God, I hope I’m not going from this hospital bed to the one in the cuckoo’s nest.
“Go ahead, tell me. What did I do?”