Page 15 of The Power of a Myth

“It’s been never ending today.” One of the other nurses sighed as she finished changing bandages on yet another patient.

Molly had to agree with her it’d been an exhausting, but she was glad she’d been kept busy as she’d had an unsettled feeling inside her stomach all day. Her puma was restless again. It wanted to see her mate.

“I’ll definitely be pleased to get to bed tonight,” Molly answered as she gave a fresh bedpan to one of the injured soldiers. “I was planning on going to the dance, but I think I’ll pass.”

“I don’t blame you. I sometimes wonder how long this war will last. I’ll be a shadow of my former self by the time it finishes.”

“I have to agree there.” Molly laughed.

She finished tidying up her section and with a big yawn headed out of the makeshift hospital tent.

“Molly, can I have a word?” the commander called to her as she walked across the camp toward her tent. She wanted a shower and was then going to collapse into bed.

“Yes, sir.” Molly turned to face him.

She didn’t need the strength of her animal instincts to know something was wrong. Her puma jumped to its paws.

“In here.” The commander turned and walked toward his private office.

Her stomached turned, but she needed to be brave. She followed the commander inside, and he motioned for her to sit, which she did.

“I don’t know how to tell you this. This morning there was a raid by our men on a village in the Northern provinces. It was primarily to rescue injured civilians after the enemy destroyed the village the previous day. Captain Eckhart was in charge of the operation.”

The mention of her lover’s name caused her to let out a little whimper.

“The mission was going well. They found an injured man, and Captain Eckhart helped save his life by giving him a blood transfusion. They were preparing to move the man when Captain Eckhart realized they were caught in the middle of an ambush. He warned his men, who managed to escape injury, but Captain Eckhart was shot in the chest. The doctor with them tried to do everything he could, but I’m really sorry...” The commander was visibly upset. Before he could even get his next words out, Molly knew what was coming and tears were streaming down her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Molly. Captain Eckhart lost his life today. I know you were close to him.” The commander opened his drawer and pulled out a bag. He handed the contents to her.

Molly stared down at Hayden’s dog tags.

She couldn’t speak.

She could barely form a thought in her mind.

“His last words were of his love for you, and he requested these be given to you.”

“No.” She shook her head. “It’s not true.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I want to see him,” Molly pleaded, needing to see the truth for herself. Maybe even sniff out clues to his killer so she could go and find them and rip them apart.

The commander paled.

“What?” she stammered.

“The unit had to get the injured to safety. They made the difficult decision to leave Captain Eckhart’s body behind. When they returned to retrieve it, it was gone.”

“No.” She collapsed farther into the chair, heavy sobs of anguish ripping through her chest.

“I’ve arranged for you to be transported back home, if that is what you want?” the commander questioned.

She didn’t know what she wanted. She needed closure, and there’d only be one way she’d get that.

“I don’t know. I need to think,” she cried.

“Go rest,” the commander suggested. Molly stood and made her way toward the door. “He was a good man, Molly. His loss is being felt in a lot of places.”

“Thank you.” Molly left the room clutching Hayden’s dog tags. Her chest felt empty, and then again, it didn’t. There was confusion in her mind.

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