She was struggling with a large tin jug, so he offered to take it from her. She insisted that they each carry it by one handle. "Good morning, Lieutenant Harkins, and thank you for your assistance with the jug." She was bright eyed this morning, and much more at ease than she was the day before. He smiled back at her, as he felt butterflies in his stomach. They approached the barn, and she put stools beside two separate cows, expecting them each to milk one. The lieutenant looked nervously at the stool, but she did not notice, she just began her work.
It was obvious the man had no idea what to do. He sat there staring, then started yanking on the udders. Finally, he confessed, "Miss Collins, I regret I told you a falsehood. I did not grow up on a farm. I only told you that to ease your fears, as you seemed so concerned yesterday. I do not wish to harm your cattle with my lack of skills."
Flattered, she just laughed at him. "How did you know so much about farming then?" she said with surprise.
He shrugged and admitted, "Books. You have read Plato and Shakespeare, and I have read about farms and animals. However, you have worked the farms and animals, which makes you far more educated than I." He said it with a smile. In actuality, he was the son of the upper class, whose family made their fortune from fur trading and the West Indies spices. He rarely disclosed his family's background. Not only was he modest, but he wanted people to like him for who he was, not who his family was. Sarah sat next to him on her stool, and tried to show him how to properly milk a cow. He just could not do it successfully, and when he bent the udder, a stream of milk splattered all over them. They both laughed, breathlessly, as they looked into each others eyes. After a length of time, she became nervous again, cast her eyes down at the floor, and noticed his boots.
"My heavens! Look at your soles, you have almost nothing left!" She was surprised at the condition because she did not see how badly some of the other men's boots were. "How long have you been wearing those things?"
"I don't really remember now. They still have a bit of wear left on them. It is not winter, yet. That is when it will matter what is one my feet." He smiled, but she frowned.
He wanted so much to kiss her, but he dared not. Instead, he took a piece of cloth from his pocket, then wiped her hands and face free of the splattered milk. With each stroke, he fell deeper in to her eyes, wanting her more and more. After repeated attempts, he finally grasped the concept of milking, and began to fill the jug. She stood and said, "Good. Now you can milk the other nine cows while I go retrieve the eggs from the chicken coop." He gave a disappointed sneer as he realized that she would no longer be lavishing attention upon him. Eventually, she instructed him to take the jugs of milk he filled, as well as the baskets of eggs to the men. She told him that she and her father recognize the sacrifices that the men were making, and felt it necessary to give them all she could.
The men greatly appreciated the unexpected gifts, which reminded them of the homes they left behind. The homes for which they were fighting. The men then told stories of their families, of jobs and women they hoped to see again someday. They discussed how they were going to marry, and have children. They discussed how the children would then be raised in a land free from tyranny and monarchies. All during the discussions, Lieutenant Harkins could only lie on his back, and daydream about one thing--Miss Sarah Collins.
That evening, Lieutenant Harkins again sat on Miss Collins' porch until she appeared. "Is there something I can do for you, sir?" she inquired.
He stood to face her, trying to memorize every line and curve of her visage. He was determined to take that image back to the hell called the front line. "I was hoping that you would once again honor me in a stroll this evening, Miss Collins." He bowed his head, as if he was afraid of rejection, as he did not realize that her heart was racing as quickly as his.
"Well yes, sir, I do believe that this evening is a beautiful time to take advantage of such a stroll." The two walked over the pastures, and along the tree line which bordered the property. She went on about how she wanted to become a teacher and a famous author, but that her father discouraged her. He needed her to maintain the farm while he was away, and the war could go on for years. They both knew that she was getting on in years, and waiting until the war was over was basically resigning her to the role of spinster. "My mother died of smallpox when I was very young. Fearing that I would become ill, my father sent her away. When she died, he blamed himself. Because of this, I feel obligated to him. He saved my life, and I need to care for him in lieu of my mother." She could have told him that she wanted to throw a rope around the moon, and Lieutenant Harkins would not have minded, as long as she was talking to him.
He stopped walking, stared at her with the moonlight dancing across her porcelain face, and asked her, "Would you be happy staying here with your father, never having a family of your own?"
"I accept my duty, as God has assigned it to me." She had long ago accepted this as a fact, yet she was never tempted by a man to dissuade her from it, either. He grimaced. He had already decided that he wanted to court her, and eventually marry her.
"It is getting late, we should be returning, Miss." He reluctantly said. He walked her back to her porch, and as she climbed the steps, he reached down and kissed her hand, bidding her a good night.
The next morning, Colonel Thomas approached the lieutenant, "The scouts have come back with good news. The creek is free from enemy troops; since our men have been well rested, we are going to move out at nightfall. I suggest that you say your farewells to Miss Collins quickly, as we need to pack up camp." Colonel Thomas was an observant man, and he realized that the lieutenant was smitten. "Perhaps, you could ask the lady's permission for us to return to nurse the wounded in the future?" Harkins would accept any excuse to see her again, and his eyes lit up.
"Colonel, sir, would you find it useful for me to scout resources for a hospital in the area? We could leave the wounded here, to be cared for by the townsfolk. That is, if I could find proper accommodations."
The colonel thought, "It would have to be someplace far enough from the creek bed that should the enemy attack here, an alarm could be signaled for preparations. Perhaps you could ask your friend to rally the townspeople, so that upon our return, this can be discussed." This disappointed the lieutenant. He was hoping that he could delay their departure, but the colonel was committed.
The lieutenant quickly approached Miss Collins' home. He knocked on the door frantically, when she answered, he was almost at a loss for words. He was terrified he would never see her again. "We are leaving tonight. I wanted you to know, for I did not want you to be frightened if you heard the noises of us packing up." That was not why he was there. He was there to say good bye to the woman who brought a glimmer of hope back to his life, hope that he thought had died long ago.
"Oh. Well, I hope you know that you men are invited here whenever you need to rest or gather supplies--as a demonstration of the people's gratitude for your efforts." Her lack of personal references disappointed him, so he officially thanked her and began to walk away. Perhaps he read too much into their conversations, he thought. Just then, she shouted, "Lieutenant Harkins, wait." She pulled the blue ribbon from her hair, and said, "Please, take this. It will remind you of a safe place, and a good friend." His mood lightened, although he was hoping to become more than a friend---he just didn't know when he would have the time. War is hell on the heart, as well as the mind and body.
"Miss Collins, do you think it would be possible for you to ask your townsfolk to set up a sort of hospital for the wounded? The entry to this creek is rather hidden from the river, therefore unlikely that enemy troops would find it. This is an excellent place for our injured to rest and get treatment." He hoped she would oblige his request. He needed to see her again.
"Of course, Lieutenant Harkins. I will see to it at once. Do you know when you will next return?" He did not, but that would give the people time to gather supplies and proper shelter.
He kissed her hand
and said his goodbye, then walked down the hill to the rest of the men who were preparing to leave. When dark came, the men moved out, and Lieutenant Harkins left a piece of his heart in an old farm house, with a young lady named Sarah.
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A Note from the Author
Dear Reader,
Thank you for your interest in my book. I truly hope you enjoyed reading about Jane and her family, and I invite you to look into my other works as well.
As a new author, I humbly ask you to consider writing reviews online regarding my books. This feedback not only assists others in buying the book, but it helps me to improve upon future work.
Gratefully Yours,
Rhoda D'Ettore
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Epilogue
Coming Soon
Zodiac Lives Chapter 1
Zodiac Lives Chapter 2
Tower of Tears Chapter 1
Tower of Tears Chapter 2
Tower of Tears Chapter 3
Tower of Tears Chapter 4
Tower of Tears Chapter 5
Tower of Tears Chapter 6
Tower of Tears Chapter 7
Tower of Tears Chapter 8
Tower of Tears Chapter 9
Tower of Tears Chapter 10
Preview: Goin' Postal: True Stories of a U.S. Postal Worker
Preview: The Creek: Where Stories of the Past Come Alive
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A Note from the Author
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