Soldier Doll by Jennifer Gold Read Free Book Online

grip. “No!” she wailed a third time. She started to run off but stopped after a few strides, sinking down again onto a rock. “No,” she said again. This time her voice was quiet.
    â€œPlease, Meg.” He looked pained. “I have no choice.” His voice was soft now. He crouched down beside her. A tendril of golden hair had come loose from her braid. Gently, Ned tucked it behind her ear. “Every man who can fight must go. You know that, Meg. It’s the law.”
    Meg glared at him. “You cannot go.” She was furious. She stamped her foot on the grass, intentionally crushing a small patch of violets. “You were just ill ! You’ve not yet fully recovered. You’re still coughing!” She stomped on the flowers a second time, taking pleasure in watching them wilt to the ground.
    â€œMegsy.” Ned reached over and took her chin. “I have no choice. You know that. And even if I did—how could I not go like all the other men in town? What would people say about me? I would get a white feather. Please. Think about it.” His eyes were pleading. The sun, so strong just moments before, now seemed to have disappeared behind the clouds. Without its glow to warm them, Meg suddenly felt cold. Ned coughed into his arm, then reached over again toward her.
    Meg pulled away. “Tom Jeffries, Peter Maines, George Taylor—none of them came back.” She stared at the river, refusing to meet his eyes.
    â€œI’ll come back. I know I will.” Ned reached for her again. “Please, Meg. I don’t have a choice. Can I ask you not to make this any more difficult for me than it is already?” A gust of wind shook them. Ned buttoned his coat.
    â€œYou can’t even keep pace with me,” she said through gritted teeth as her eyes filled with tears. “How will you march off to war?” Her voice was bitter now. She wrapped her shawl around her shoulders and pulled it tight.
    â€œI’m not leaving quite yet.” Ned met her gaze. “And there’s training. I’ll be ready by then. Dr. Porter said—”
    â€œThat’s it!” Meg leaped up again. “We shall speak with Dr. Porter. We’ll explain to him that he must tell the officials you are still much too ill to be signing up.” Her eyes blazed with inspiration.
    â€œNo, Megsy.” Ned shook his head. He grasped her hands and held them tightly, pulling her back down next to him. “No. Please, darling. Listen to me. I have to go. I must—”
    Meg shook her head, cutting him off. “You shan’t. Dr. Porter is a close friend of my father’s. We’ll explain to him, and he will—”
    â€œNo, Meg.” Ned’s voice was firm now. “Dr. Porter can’t do that. He took an oath, as a physician. And even if he would do it—I would not want him to. It’s not proper. I must go, and I shall. How would I feel, knowing that I was the only one in the town who did not fight?”
    Meg didn’t answer. She pictured Tom and George and all the others who had waved good-bye in their uniforms, so eager to go.
    â€œFine, Ned.” Her voice was dull now. “I can see I’m not going to convince you. No matter what I say, you’re going to go.” She pulled again at her shawl, her shoulders slumping, and shivered.
    Ned was taken aback. “Did I just win an argument?” He gave her a teasing smile, but she didn’t respond.
    â€œMeg?” He put an arm around her. “I have to go. And as soon as it’s all over, I’ll come right back.” He pulled her closer. For a moment, Meg let herself lean against him. His skin felt cool to the touch.
    â€œOf course.” Meg’s voice was brusque as she pulled away from him again. “Brrr!” She stood up. “It’s getting colder. We should be heading back, really. I must start Father’s tea.” She gathered her skirts