The Last, Long Night (#5 in the Bregdan Chronicles Historical Fiction Romance Series) (22 page)

Cheers and congratulations rang inside the hospital as Pastor Anthony announced Clifford and Janie man and wife. 

“You finally got her, old man!” one patient yelled.

“I can’t believe she was crazy enough to take your name!” another recuperating soldier teased.

“When you get tired of that ugly mutt, I’ll be here waiting,” a young man promised Janie with a laugh.

When the newlyweds reached the door of the tent and Clifford turned around, the men suddenly stopped talking.  An awkward silence fell over the building.  Clifford stood still, his deep brown eyes sweeping over every man in the building.  “Thank you,” he finally said.  “I wouldn’t have made it through these last months without all of you.” 

Carrie gazed around the room and watched emotions play over the faces of every man there.

One man finally broke through the emotion. “Yeah, well, you just remember that when I need a lawyer after the war and come knocking on your door!”

“Yeah! I figure we at least deserve family rates,” another shouted, bringing a fresh wave of laughter.

Clifford and Janie, laughing and waving, moved out to the carriage and headed back for the house.  Privacy for newlyweds was an unheard of luxury in crowded Richmond, but at least the two would have several hours in their wing of the house before the rest of the boarders came home from work, and then there was a plan in place to keep those men in the parlor as long as possible.  Carrie had done all she could do to give the couple some time.

Carrie took her father’s arm and then reached over to put her other hand through Pastor Anthony’s arm.  “I’ll have the two best escorts in town to take me back to the house,” she said lightly.  She had been about to say she would like to swing by her ward to check on her patients, but the strained look and the sheen of sweat on Pastor Anthony’s face, in spite of a cool breeze, forced the words back.  Her concern flared up anew for him. 

“I must head back to the church,” Pastor Anthony replied.  “I have much to do.”

“And it won’t wait for you to have some lunch?” Carrie asked lightly.  When he opened his mouth to protest, she stopped in the middle of the road and put both hands on her hips.  “This is not a matter for discussion, Pastor.  I am the doctor at your hospital.  Right now I am giving you doctor’s orders.  You are not going anywhere until you have some food.  If you get sick, everyone in your congregation will suffer.”

“I’m fine,” Pastor Anthony protested, but tucked her hand back in his arm, and continued to walk down the hill toward the house.  “I suppose I can eat some lunch.”

Carrie exchanged a long look with her father.  She could tell he was as concerned as she was - that he was remembering what Jeremy had said.

May bustled around the kitchen and came out with a tray of fresh collard greens, cornbread, and sliced tomatoes.  Carrie was so grateful for the large garden she had created in the backyard.   Everyone took turns in the garden, and they also took great pride in it.  It was going a long way in providing healthy food for the many people in their house.  Any extras were sent to the black hospital. 

Last year there had not been enough for canning.  The garden was now twice as big, and May had already set aside a large supply of filled canning jars for the winter.  Carrie sensed it was going to be a hard winter.  More than that; Old Sarah had taught her to read the signs at the same time she’d taught her how to use the herbs and plants.  The husks on the corn were thicker than usual, and the dogwoods were heavier with berries than she had seen in a long time.  Both of those things indicated a long, cold winter.  She would do the best she could to prepare for it.

“Thank you, May,” Pastor Anthony said, his eyes lighting up when he bit into the juicy tomato. 

“You welcome, Pastor,” May responded.  “Does a body good to see her food et.  You do right good work down at dat church.  I be honored to feed you.”

Pastor Anthony smiled warmly and cut into another piece of cornbread.

Silence reigned over the table while the food was enjoyed.  Sounds of trains, carriages, and wagons rolled in through the windows, but there was also peace.

Thomas was the first to speak.  “Will I be shot if I speak of war news?”

Carrie smiled, knowing the question was directed at her.  “Janie is married and with her new husband.  You have my permission to  talk about anything you want.”

“I fear for Atlanta,” Thomas said heavily. 

Pastor Anthony finished the last of his tomatoes and looked up.  “I had heard the Confederate cavalry was holding Sherman’s army back.”

“So far,” Thomas agreed.  “Now Sherman has changed his tactics.  He seems to know he can’t take the city in a direct assault, so he has taken his entire army and is swinging them in a broad flanking maneuver to the west.”

“For what purpose?” Carrie asked, renewed concern for Louisa and Perry sharpening her tone.

Thomas gazed out the window for a long moment.  “No one will really know until he actually does it, but there is speculation he is heading for the railroad tracks around Macon.  Once Hood’s supply lines are completely severed, our troops will be forced to leave the city.”  His voice sharpened.  “They simply must hold it.  Atlanta is an important rail hub and industrial center for the Confederacy.  If we lose it…”

Carrie reached out to take her father’s hand when his voice trailed off, though she remained silent.  There was nothing she could say.  There was no need to say she was certain the war was coming to an end and that it would mean defeat for the South.  Let her father hold on to hope.  Reality would come soon enough.

“Any word from the Shenandoah?” Pastor Anthony asked.

Thomas frowned again.  “General Early has been holding his own since he brought his troops back from Maryland.”  Then he scowled darkly.  “Our troops that burned Chambersburg were ambushed by Union cavalry and badly defeated.  Everyone is back in Virginia now.”

Carrie barely listened.  She had lost all interest in the war or its battles unless they directly involved Robert.  She knew he had not been with the cavalry that destroyed Chambersburg.  She was confident he was safer than if he was behind the lines in Petersburg trying to hold off Grant.  She would have to content herself with that.

“I’ve heard Grant is replacing General Hunter up in the Shenandoah with General Sheridan.”

There was something in her father’s voice that caught Carrie’s attention.  “What does that mean?”

Her father avoided her eyes as he looked out the window again.  He seemed to choose his words carefully.  “Sheridan has the reputation for being very aggressive.  He was the one who led the raid that resulted in the death of J.E.B. Stuart.”  Thomas paused, “Grant has chosen him because he intends to destroy the Shenandoah Valley,” his voice quiet with controlled anger.

“You believe that?” Pastor Anthony asked sharply. 

Thomas nodded heavily.  “I believe he’ll move slowly because Lincoln has not been re-elected yet, but it’s going to be a brutal campaign.”

“Lincoln was nominated by his party,” Pastor Anthony pointed out.

“Yes, but the North is still sick of the war.  It’s our only hope….”

“That Lincoln won’t be re-elected?” Carrie said, thinking about something Robert had said earlier in the spring.

“Yes.  It’s just possible that if we can hold on through the fall, and if the North refuses to elect Lincoln again, that they’ll just decide the cost is too high and give us our freedom.” 

Thomas’s words hung heavily in the air as the three contemplated what it might mean.

Carrie was happy to have an evening free to go to the black hospital.  She was grateful for this year’s thriving vegetable gardens that kept most sickness at bay.  She had most of the volunteer nursing staff canning vegetables from the garden, and teaching others throughout the community to do the same thing.  She knew what a hard winter would do if the people were also hungry.

Just a handful of patients needed her help tonight.  She smiled easily as she dispensed herbs and listened to their talk.

“Miss Carrie!  Miss Carrie!”

Carrie looked up in alarm as Bella, one of the volunteer nurses, ran into the hospital, her eyes wide with alarm.  “What’s wrong?” she asked instantly, taking her arm.

Bella gulped, leaned double and fought to get her breath before finally straightening.  “It’s Pastor Anthony.  Somethin’ be real wrong.  Jeremy sent me for you.”

Carrie grabbed her bag and headed out the door.  “Come with me, Bella.”

Spencer was already in the carriage waiting for her.  “I heard ‘bout Pastor Anthony.  We’ll be at his house in just a couple minutes.”

Carrie swung out of the carriage and ran up the walk before it had even stopped. 

Jeremy met her at the door.  “I’m not usually home during the day, but something…”  He looked into the bedroom where a simple bed was the only piece of furniture.  “My father is very sick.  He has a burning fever and is having trouble breathing.”

Carrie nodded briskly and pushed past him.

Pastor Anthony managed a very weak smile.  “I guess you were right.”

“I’d rather not be right,” Carrie said gently, alarmed by the bright flush on his face and his rapid breathing.  “Are you hurting anywhere?”

“My chest,” Pastor Anthony whispered weakly.  “The pain has been coming and going for a while, but this time it’s really bad.”

“You’ve been hurting like this for a while?” Carrie gasped.  “Why…?”

Pastor Anthony held up his hand to stop her.  “You don’t have to tell me I was unwise…”  His words broke off when he gasped.  His face whitened as a new wave of pain swept through him, and then he fell back against the pillows gasping for breath.

“Carrie…”

Carrie shook her head at Jeremy.  “Not now.  Give me my bag.”  She pulled out the stethoscope, held it to Pastor Anthony’s chest and listened carefully, trying to hide her grave concern for Jeremy’s sake. 

She turned to Bella and was glad she had thought to bring her.  “Bathe his face with cool water.  If he wants water, give it to him.  Do
not
let him move out of this bed.”  She stared down at her patient and then turned back to Bella.  “Do you think you can do that? He can be rather stubborn,” she said ruefully.

“You leave him to me, Miss Carrie.  That man only gonna be movin’ over my dead body!”

Carrie’s lips turned into a quirk of a smile before she motioned to Jeremy and led him outside the house to the street.

“It’s bad,” Jeremy said quietly.

Carrie nodded grimly.  “It’s his heart.”

“Can you do anything?”

“I will try, but he may have waited too long,” she admitted heavily, berating herself that she had let this happen.

Jeremy read her thoughts.  “It’s not your fault, Carrie.  I tried to get him to tell you he wasn’t feeling good, but he refused.  You know how stubborn he can be.  He even hid it from me most of the time.  He made me promise not to say anything.  I was afraid refusing would create even more stress.”

Carrie did indeed know about Pastor Anthony’s demanded promises.  Her mind turned to solutions.  “I’ll mix up a solution of Lily of the Valley.  It strengthens the heart, but it’s also important he not get too much.  I’ll teach Bella how to give it to him.  No one but her is to administer it,” she ordered.  “Is that clear?”

“Certainly,” Jeremy agreed, “but isn’t there something I can do?”

Carrie hesitated and gazed at him.

“It’s that bad?” Jeremy said heavily.

Carrie knew the truth was best.  “I’m sorry.  His heart is in very bad condition.  I will do all I can, but I think the best thing you can do for your father is keep him quiet and spend as much time with him as you can.”

“Visitors?”

“Only one at a time and only a few a day.  Not seeing his people will only cause him more distress.”  She didn’t add that it would be their chance to tell him goodbye.  Her voice softened as she saw the misery in Jeremy’s eyes.  “God still works miracles,” she said gently.  “I see them every day.  If anyone deserves a miracle, it is your father.”

Jeremy forced a smile and then moved back toward the house.  “I’ll tell Bella you’ll be back soon with the Lily of the Valley mixture.”