Page 58 of Under the Tulip Tree
She studied me. “Frankie, isn’t it?”
I nodded.
“When the war is over, Frankie, you should consider becoming a nurse. I believe you have what it takes.”
I watched her walk away, astonished by her words. She might not be so giving of compliments if she knew I’d considered abandoning her and the wounded men the first night of the battle. Still, I tucked the kind words into my heart.
The following day I was cleaning the wound on a soldier’s leg when I felt someone behind me. I turned. “Miz Illa!”
I scrambled to put the basin down without spilling dirty water on the patient, nearly giddy with relief at seeing the woman. I hadn’t realized how important she’d become in my life until she wasn’t there. “Land sakes, we been worried ’bout you. We looked for you before the fighting started,but the soldiers said no one would be able to cross the Confederate line.”
Illa gave me a weary smile. Exhaustion marred her face. “For a time, I was plenty worried about myself, but we managed. We tried to get back, but as thee has said, the Confederates wouldn’t allow us through. A farmer just south of Nashville took us in and gave us refuge. We hid in his cellar during the worst of it.”
I had so many questions and things to tell her, but now was not the time. “Sam sure will be happy to know you’re back. Last time I saw him was before the fighting started. I keep watching for him, but...”
My words trailed off. Her expression said she had news. “Miz Illa? You know something ’bout Sam?”
“Oh, my dear.” Her lips trembled. “I’m sorry to tell thee, but he was badly wounded in the battle.”
I held my breath as my heart beat with fear.Please, God,no.
Tears came to her eyes, and she reached for my hand. “Thee must go to him, Frankie. I don’t know how much time he has left. He’s dying.”
In that moment, imagining life without Sam, I thought I might die too.
CHAPTERTWENTY
A knock at the door interrupted us. It was just as well. Frankie had grown quiet, her face cloaked in the pain of remembering that terrible day. She didn’t seem to know someone was at her door, so I moved to open it.
Alden happily greeted me. “Hello.” His smile faded when I didn’t respond. “What’s wrong?”
I glanced back to find Frankie’s eyes closed. I didn’t know if she’d fallen asleep or if she’d closed them to keep painful memories away. Turning back to Alden, I motioned him onto the porch and gently shut the door behind us.
“Frankie just told me Sam was wounded in the battle. Illa said he’s dying.”
Alden’s shoulders slumped. “That’s awful.”
Pangs of grief swirled through me, which seemed irrationalconsidering the events of Frankie’s story happened over seventy years ago. Yet Sam had become a real person to me, and I mourned him.
“I thought you wouldn’t be free to visit today,” I said, changing the subject away from so much sadness.
“Tom, my friend, had to get on the road back to Memphis before it got too late.” He seemed eager to say something.
“And?”
He grinned. “And he thinks he can help me get a job with the Works Progress Administration here in Nashville. A permanent position.”
I gasped. “Truly?”
“The WPA has a number of projects here, including rebuilding Fort Negley. I’m not sure what the job would be, but I told him I’m interested.”
“That’s wonderful news.” I couldn’t keep excitement from my voice.
A look of satisfaction filled his face. “I hoped you’d be happy.”
Our gazes held for a long moment before I felt heat creep up my neck. Embarrassed, I turned away. “Come in. You’re just in time to help make lunch.”
He chuckled and followed me inside. Frankie was alert once again. Her face lit up when she saw Alden.
