Erin's Rebel Page 13

  ****

  Will surveyed the men before him as best he could in the darkness. Many looked bone weary, as if they hadn’t fully awakened, while others were keyed up, anticipating the coming battle. Hopefully, the element of surprise when they attacked the Yankees, would help turn the tide of the war. Since Gettysburg, things had not been going well. They needed this victory to invigorate the men. If things didn’t go their way, he didn’t have much hope the Confederacy could hold out.

  Will ordered his company, arranged in three columns, to start the march, lighted only by the moon. He could barely make out the faces of the young privates. His gaze alighted on Kevin Donnelly. Although Jenny had tried her best to hide it, he knew she’d been visiting the Irishman last summer on the pretext of bringing Amanda to see him. He also knew her motive in becoming an army nurse was to be near Donnelly.

  The thought of Jenny’s grief if he didn’t bring the young private back to camp, gave him pause.

  He gazed at the stars while his men made their way along a pig path, wondering, as he always did before a battle, if he’d ever see the light of day again.

  ****

  Jake was dog-tired as the troops continued to march through the night. Fear kept him from dropping out of rank from sheer exhaustion. Devised by the generals, this foolhardy plan, a desperate attempt by a defeated Confederacy, just couldn’t work. He shouldn’t have stayed. As they made their way to the Yankee camp, his teeth clenched, causing his jaw to ache, and he longed to take out his rage on anyone he could. It didn’t matter what side they were on. And if he survived this battle, Erin O’Connell and Captain Montgomery would be perfect targets.

  The fog was thick and cloying just before dawn when the orders came to strike. Bayonets drawn, Jake and the other men roused the sleeping Yankees from their tents.

  He briefly fought hand-to-hand with a wide-eyed soldier who tried to wrestle his rifle from him. Plunging the bayonet into the man, he recoiled from the sickening wet thud, then went to the next tent.

  Chaos erupted as the half-clad Yankees tried to fend off the Confederates. Federals who weren’t killed or taken prisoner broke and ran, still in their bedclothes.

  “Let’s get what those Yanks left behind,” Charlie said.

  Rifling through the deserted packs in the tents, they pulled out sugar, coffee beans, and other rations they hadn’t seen in their camp for months.

  “Whooee!” Charlie called. “We’re gonna have a feast for our trouble tonight.”

  ****

  When General Early arrived and called a halt to the attack, declaring it a Confederate victory, Will thought about bringing his men to order, but they were fully occupied in pillaging Union stores. The men were hungry. They hadn’t had any sleep. How could he deny them?

  By afternoon, after having eaten his fill of Yankee supplies, Will stretched out under a wide oak and gazed up at the leaves that had started to change color. He fell into a fitful sleep.

  Someone hummed—a female voice, low and soothing. Will lay in an open meadow on a clear, sunny day. He shielded his eyes, turning his head toward a large oak. Erin sat on a low branch, holding Amanda, while she hummed a lullaby.

  Will smiled at the pair. They smiled back, then Amanda’s eyes opened wide. “Papa, wake up!”

  Will woke with a jolt. One of his lieutenants stood beside him.

  “Sir,” he said, “the Federals are attacking.”

  Will lurched to his feet. Officers scuttled about preparing the men to repulse the coming onslaught.

  The battle Early had thought was over, was just beginning.

  ****

  Jake swore when the Yankees fired into the assembled troops. He was not going to die here. Not at the hands of the Yankees he’d been aiding. But if he broke rank and ran, the Confederates had every right to shoot him.

  Union cavalry broke the Confederate line. When the captain gave the order to retreat, Jake was all too ready to comply. He and Charlie raced toward the bridge they’d crossed last night. If they could outrun the Union soldiers, they might achieve safety.

  Being one of the last companies to arrive last night, they were the first to make it over the bridge. Once they’d crossed, a group of Union cavalry arrived, surrounding them.

  “Men,” the Yankee captain ordered, “destroy the bridge so no more Rebs can get across.”

  When Jake glanced back at Captain Montgomery and the others who’d followed him, the captain signaled to his men to lower their arms.

  “The hell I’ll surrender to these bastards!” Charlie called.

  Before Jake could stop him, the big man barreled into the nearest Yankee soldier, knocking him to the ground. Another soldier raised his rifle and shot Charlie in the back.

  “Yankee bastard!” Jake yelled. Another shot sent a stinging shaft of pain into his thigh. He fell heavily to the ground.

  In the chaos that followed, someone tried to lift him. Blinding pain caused him to lose consciousness.

  ****

  Feeling trapped, Will gave the order to surrender, but the actions of the men ahead of him had changed the plan. A group of privates raced forward and were cut down by Yankee cavalry. To his dismay, he watched Kevin Donnelly fall.

  In an attempt to organize the remaining soldiers, Will stumbled and nearly tripped over a body. Glancing down, he saw the red hair of Sergeant Wagner. Was the man dead?

  He lifted him by the collar, then noticed blood coated his thigh and spread beneath him on the marshy ground. Will stepped over him. Nothing could be done for the sergeant now. He glimpsed movement in the woods, and his breath caught at the sight of a Yankee cavalryman angling toward him with revolver raised.

  “Drop your weapon, Reb!” the man shouted.

  Will clenched his jaw. He gingerly held up his revolver.

  “Put in on the ground,” the Yankee yelled.

  He crouched, placing the gun beside him. His heart raced. He didn’t want to pass the rest of the war in a Yankee prison camp, but saw no other way out.

  Recalling the dream, he wondered if he’d ever see Erin or Amanda again? Raising his arms in surrender, Will prepared to move to the left of the Yankee’s stallion. The man sat with his revolver outstretched. A blast sounded, and Will flinched when the Yankee slipped from his mount and crumpled to the ground. The horse whinnied and trotted off. Glancing behind him, he stared in disbelief. Wagner sat clutching Will’s smoking revolver.

  “I thought you were dead,” Will said.

  “Not yet, sir.” Wagner scowled at the fallen Yankee. “He shot me and killed Charlie.”

  Will followed his gaze to the prone figure of Charlie Ross sprawled several feet away. Turning to look behind the sergeant, he noted the rest of his men were chasing Yankee cavalry toward the bridge. The Yankees raced across, then turned and fired on the Confederates.

  “Retreat!” Will called. His men would only get themselves killed.

  His men aimed covering fire in the direction of the Yankees, then darted toward Will. He glanced down at Wagner, his feelings about the man mixed. “You need that leg wrapped.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Will and the other soldiers checked the fallen men. Donnelly was alive, but blood oozed from his side. Stuffing a neckerchief inside his coat, Will tried to staunch the flow.

  “Hold on, Donnelly.”

  “Aye, sir,” the Irishman wheezed.

  “We’ll get you back to camp,” Will assured him. “My sister would never forgive me if I didn’t.”

  Donnelly grimaced.

  He moved on to see how many wounded they had to take back while his men rounded up cavalry horses that had lost their riders.

  A loud blast drew Will’s attention to the bridge. The Yankees had destroyed it, preventing any more Confederates from escaping.

  He approached Wagner, whose leg was now wrapped in a muslin bandage. “We’d best get out of here quick,” Will said. “The Yanks will likely start firing on us any minute.”

  Wagner sullenly stu
died his leg. “Don’t reckon I can walk.”

  Will glanced toward the group of Yankee cavalry horses. “You’ll be riding back to camp, Sergeant.”

  With the Yankees now occupied on the opposite side of the bridge, he gestured to one of the corporals to see to Wagner while he moved to organize his men.

  ****

  When the men returned to camp at sunset, Erin breathed a sigh of relief when she caught sight of Will leading the company. Jenny clasped her hands as her gaze settled on Kevin. While other soldiers helped him to dismount, she fussed over him. Jake Wagner brought up the rear, astride a dark brown stallion, his left thigh wrapped in a blood soaked strip of muslin.

  Although she’d never wish death on anyone, Erin bristled at his return. She’d hoped the Yankees had captured the bastard. At least then, he’d be out of her hair.

  Kevin told them of the Confederate loss and that many had been captured.

  Although Erin knew their defeat was inevitable, she couldn’t help feeling sorry for these people, who’d had their hopes dashed today. She restrained herself from running into Will’s arms and hoped he would be the one to make amends.

  If there were no way to win him back, then why was she still in this time period? If only she could go back to the future and forget about him for good.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Jake reclined on one of the cots in the hospital tent, with his injured leg propped on a rolled-up blanket. The night before last, Doc had dug out a bullet and told him it wasn’t too bad. He just had to keep off his leg for the next few days.

  The tent was crammed with other wounded men who’d made it back after the battle. He recalled Charlie’s death, missing him already. The big man had been a constant companion, since Jake had joined up.

  Sounds of spoons scraping against bowls drew his attention to a pleasant sight. Two lovely nurses made rounds angling themselves between the bunks in the confined space. He grinned when his gaze alighted on Erin. And the other dark-haired beauty he’d seen around camp. Although they hadn’t been introduced, he knew she was Montgomery’s sister.

  Such a lovely way to start the day. Bored after lying around for two days, he decided it was time to have some fun.

  The dark-haired woman approached him with a bowl and spoon. He gave her his most charming smile. “Well now, who might you be?”

  She pursed her luscious pink lips, then held the bowl and spoon out for him to take. “I’m Miss Montgomery,” she said.

  “Any relation to our brave Captain Montgomery?” He eyed her speculatively.

  “I’m his sister.”

  “Well then, permit me to introduce myself, ma’am. I’m Sergeant Wagner serving under your brother.”

  She nodded. “Pleased to meet you, Sergeant.”

  “I saved your brother’s life, you know. Did he tell you about that?”

  Her eyes widened, and she shook her head.

  “Shot a Yankee who was aiming to shoot the captain.”

  “Will was nearly shot?” Her hand rose to cover her mouth.

  “Surely would’ve if I hadn’t been there.”

  “Jenny,” a woman called, interrupting the conversation.

  Jake looked over to find Erin glaring at him.

  “I need to see to the other patients,” Jenny apologized.

  “That’s quite all right, ma’am. I’m just fine now.” He smiled and lifted a spoonful of porridge to his lips. When she moved away, he whispered, “Jenny.”

  ****

  Erin waited until Jenny went to attend Kevin. Once she was out of harm’s way, Erin sidled up to Jake.

  “Just what are you trying to pull here?”

  His eyebrows rose. “Pardon me?”

  “You stay away from Jenny Montgomery.” She tried to bore a hole through him with her glare.

  “Playin’ the mother hen for the captain’s sister, are you?”

  “I’m serious,” she grated out. “You want something, you ask me.”

  He grinned. “Why, I didn’t think you cared.”

  She lowered her voice. “Once your leg’s healed and Doc sends you back to your tent, I don’t want to see you anywhere near here.”

  He took a mouthful of porridge, then swallowed slowly before replying. “You would deny me access to the doctor?”

  “I have no problem with you seeing Doc. Just stay away from Jenny.”

  “Or what?” he taunted.

  She clenched her jaw and came, oh so close, to smashing that bowl of porridge into his smug face. “You don’t want to know what I’ll do to you, plus she’s the captain’s sister. You want to make more trouble for yourself?”

  “I don’t reckon the captain will be giving me any more grief,” he said.

  “Oh, and why is that?”

  “He didn’t tell you?”

  “Tell me what?” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  He grinned. “I saved your captain’s life.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Ask him, sweetheart.”

  Another man called for water, and Erin moved toward him.

  “When you’re finished there,” Jake said, drawing her gaze back to him, “bring me some, too. I’m mighty thirsty.”

  She turned, wanting more than anything to wipe that grin off his face. What the hell did he mean he’d saved Will’s life?

  ****

  One month later, Erin sat outside her tent. Caring for the wounded from this latest battle had exhausted her. I need a vacation. But then, so did everyone around her. She’d caught a glimpse of Will when he’d marched out with the troops this morning, looking magnificent in his uniform. Just the sight of him set her heart racing.

  Because 1863 was drawing to an end, the fear he wouldn’t return gripped her every time he marched off. She tried to recall the exact date on his headstone. Fighting to survive day to day in this century had caused her to lose track of why she was here. Was she supposed to change history? She didn’t think that possible.

  Jake had proved to be a real pain in the ass while his wound healed. He expected her to wait on him hand and foot. When she balked or tried to have another nurse care for him, he caused an embarrassing scene. Finally, Doc had intervened and set the bastard straight. She also warned Jenny to avoid the man.

  And now that he was healed, Erin had to contend with him sneaking around her again. The man gave her the willies. The worst part was others had verified he had saved Will’s life. And Will had seen to it he made it back.

  An unholy alliance if she ever saw one. But she knew Will would never leave one of his men behind, no matter what he thought of him. For that she respected him.

  A woman with honey-colored hair approached and disrupted her thoughts. She wore a maroon calico dress covered with a blue-checkered shawl, and her head was topped with a brown bonnet. The woman carried a basket on her arm. Likely, she was one of the locals come to hawk her wares.

  “Pardon me, ma’am,” the woman said. “I’m looking for Mrs. O’Connell.”

  Erin looked her over, trying to decide how to answer. “And you are?”

  “My name’s Miss Rachel. I was sent here to find Mrs. O’Connell.”

  Her reporter’s instincts kicked in. “Who sent you?”

  Rachel’s fine brows drew into a frown. “That would be Mrs. O’Connell’s business, ma’am.”

  Erin sighed. If she wanted to learn anything from this woman, she had to reveal herself. “All right, you got me. I’m Erin O’Connell.”

  The woman seemed puzzled. “You’re the Irish laundress?”

  “That I am,” Erin replied.

  Glancing around, Rachel licked her lips. “I’m to tell you to come to the barn over yonder. The one just outside camp.”

  “And who am I to meet there?”

  “I can’t tell you that. You’ll know. Go behind the barn just after sunset tomorrow.” She turned to leave.

  “Wait,” Erin called. “That’s all you can tell me?”

  Rache
l turned back, her eyebrows raised. “There’s nothin’ more to tell. Just be at the barn, and all will be explained.”

  As the woman strolled away, Erin bit her lip. What should she do? She thought it best to just ignore her and stay put. But she itched to sneak out to meet this contact to satisfy her curiosity.

  She only had until sunset tomorrow to decide.

  ****

  Jake held his breath as he crouched behind a wide oak a stone’s throw from Erin’s tent. Luckily, he’d seen and heard the blond-haired woman. He’d hightailed it to this spot, where he wouldn’t be seen but had a chance to overhear at least some of the conversation.

  Knowing Erin wouldn’t confide in him, he’d meet the contact and convince the Yankee to pay him directly. Hell, he’d even defect to the North if the pay was good. But for now, since the woman hadn’t told Erin who her contact was, he’d have to find out for himself.

  Discreetly, he followed her until she approached the pickets. She produced a pass and allowed them to inspect her basket, leaving them happily munching on a couple of blueberry muffins.

  Once she was out of earshot, Jake sauntered up to the pickets. He didn’t have a pass to town, but one of the men standing guard owed him a favor, and he was about to collect on it.

  Following the trail to town, he crept into the woods bordering the road. He trailed the woman without her being aware. After making sure no one else was around, he sprinted to the road and grabbed her from behind. When he clamped a hand over her mouth, her basket dropped to the ground.

  “Come with me. I won’t hurt you,” he whispered.

  She trembled in his grasp. He took a deep breath, inhaling her sweet perfume. She was a fine looking woman. Longing coursed through him. If he had the chance, maybe he could satisfy his lust with her, since Erin had denied him.

  He dragged her into the woods deep enough so they couldn’t be seen. “If you promise not to scream, you won’t be hurt,” he purred against her ear. At her nod, he cautiously released the hand covering her mouth and kept his other arm clamped around her upper chest to prevent flight.