Lost Cause by J.R. Ayers Read Free Book Online Page B

men who would love my company right about now.”
    “Oops.”
    “How are you feeling?”
    “Like anybody shot through the shoulder
feels.”
    “Have you eaten?”
    “No. Not since yesterday evening.”
    “They’re making quail soup down at the mess
tent. Should I fetch you some?”
    “Don’t bother. I’ll walk down later. I need
to stretch my legs.”
    “You’re in rather bad shape to be
walking.”
    “Nothing wrong with my legs.”
    “I was referring to your head. You may become
dizzy. Maybe fall, and injure yourself further.”
    “We can’t have that now, can we?”
    She worked in silence replacing his bandages,
deftly deflecting the hand that strayed to her face a couple of
times.
    “Your wound’s infected,” she said smelling
the bloody bandage she removed from his shoulder. “You need to go
to the infirmary.”
    “Are they going to put me under a tree
again?” She frowned fussing with his new bandage.
    “Of course not. Most of the severely wounded
have been treated. There’s room in the infirmary.”
    “Good. I prefer my bunk to a tree root.”
    “I saw your friend Corporal Campbell this
afternoon,” she said.
    “How was he?”
    “He’s quite uncomfortable. His speech is
slurred and he has trouble swallowing. He asked about you.”
    “Did you tell him I was spry as a spud?”
    “I told him the truth. I saw the priest too.
He said he was to tell me that you love me. You shouldn’t have done
that Jack.”
    “Why not? It’s true.”
    She sat back in the chair and smoothed her
apron. She was wearing a clean blue dress and her hair was
fashioned in a bun and covered with a white kerchief. She was a
spot of beauty in the midst of so much ugliness. “We have to get
something straight mister Saylor,” she said firmly. “If we’re to
remain cordial you must stop saying that you love me. Anyone with
any sense at all knows a person doesn’t fall in love with another
person in less than a week. You hardly know me, Jack. You don’t
know a thing about me or my family or my background. I might as
well be a stranger for all you know about me. I’m not a fool, Jack.
I know what you want from me. So does everyone else who sees how
you behave around me. It’s embarrassing and it’s disrespectful and
it needs to stop.”
    “Since when does telling someone you love
them disrespectful?”
    “When you don’t mean it, that’s when.”
    Jack was beginning to become angry and he
checked himself before he said something he would later regret.
“When can I go to the infirmary?” he asked.
    “Anytime you like. Stop by the mess tent
first; you need to get some nourishment in your stomach if you want
to get well.” She turned to leave and Jack put his hand on her
arm.
    “I’m sorry I embarrassed you,” he said. “I
won’t do it again, I promise.” She seemed poised to speak but
instead she turned quickly and left the room leaving behind the
scent of lilacs.
    Jack dressed in the clean clothes and walked
to the mess tent and sat with the priest while they ate soup and
bread. “Good thing I’m right handed Jack said.
    “How is the shoulder?”
    “Stiff. Sore. Marie says it’s septic. I’m
headed over to the infirmary after I choke down some of this dish
water.”
    “We should be thankful for whatever the Lord
gives us to eat,” the priest said.
    “Another sermon?”
    “We Catholics call them homilies. But no, I’m
not here to preach to you. I am concerned about Corporal Campbell,
though.”
    “His soul?”
    “Of course. But also his outlook. He’s seems
very depressed over his injuries.”
    “Wouldn’t you be? I mean, did you see his
face?”
    “I did. Very debilitating injury. But the
doctor says he can live a normal life, with some adjustments.”
    “Normal? I’m not sure what term you can use
to describe Carl’s life now but normal would not be on my short
list.”
    “There’s more to life than physical
appearance, Jack.”
    “Maybe. But I want to see where Carl is