--*--
Thursday, December 8, 1864
Rebecca woke slowly and reached for Charlie, who was already gone. She sighed and rolled over on her back staring at the ceiling. She was not sure what had come over Charlie the last few days, but she wondered if it had something to do with the other women that had shown up. Perhaps he found young Constance and little Emily far more appealing, after all this was a woman with children and it was clear Charlie adored Em. Pushing the thoughts from her mind, she tossed the covers back and sat up.
Lizbet entered the room and opened the curtains. "Mornin,’ Miss Rebecca. What would you like to wear today?"
"I do not care." She answered quietly.
Lizbet looked at her mistress. "Are you all right, Ma’am?"
"I am fine. Just very tired."
Rebecca moved to the window while Lizbet bustled around the room laying out her clothes. She looked out over her land wondering where Charlie had gotten off to. "Has Colonel Redmond left for the day?"
"Oh yes, Ma’am. The Colonel was up and out very early this morning. He had breakfast with Miss Constance, Miss Emily and Dr. Walker before he left."
"I see." She heard her own voice crack as she sniffed back tears. It looked like Charlie was making some new changes. She could not think of a reason why he would not have awakened her.
Rebecca dressed quickly then went to Major Montgomery’s room. She slipped inside to find Elizabeth tending to her patient.
"Oh, I am sorry I did not mean……" She started to leave.
"No, no, Rebecca, come in. I am nearly finished here."
"How is he?"
"Improving. I see some movement behind his lids now. That is a very good sign."
"Elizabeth, did Charlie seem all right to you at breakfast this morning?"
"Oh yes, you should have seen him helping little Em with her breakfast. It was adorable."
She smiled, even though she felt her heart breaking. "Good, I am glad. He did not wake me this morning."
"Well, we were all up very early. One of the hazards of life around the military."
"And Constance?"
"One of the hazards of being pregnant." Elizabeth chuckled, pulling the blankets over the major.
"I am sure." She moved closer to the bed and handed a cool cloth to Elizabeth. "Do you know where the Colonel has gone off too this morning?"
"I believe he is finishing his survey of the needs of the county. You know, he is really very serious about trying to set the groundwork for a effective reconstruction."
"Oh yes, I know. These people do not know how lucky they are it was the Colonel who arrived and not someone else."
"He said something about wanting to get it done so that work could begin before the first snow."
"A valid point. We could get snow anytime now and the weather has started turning." She wondered how long she could make idle chit chat. She felt as if she was dying inside and all she wanted to do was think of something else and figure out how she could let Charlie go.
"He told me privately that he wanted to get this done, and get things settled into a routine so that he would have more time to spend with you."
She smiled and gave a little nod. Apparently Charlie had not explained to Elizabeth that there might be a change in his plans. "That would be nice."
"Rebecca, what is wrong?"
"Oh nothing. I am sure that, given time, it will work itself out." She drew a deep breath. "There is just so much to be done."
"Rebecca, look at me."
The blonde squared her shoulders and looked to the doctor. "Yes?"
Elizabeth looked at Rebecca very closely. There were deep shadows under her eyes, which were slightly bloodshot. Her color was pallid, and there was a very tiny tremor to her hands. "You are pushing yourself too hard. If you are not careful, you will be on my list of patients. I recommend a good meal or two and several naps."
Rebecca nodded. "Yes, of course, Doctor, I will see to it." She gave her friend a squeeze on the shoulder. "Thank you for your concern."
"So do you want to tell me what has you not sleeping and eating properly?"
"You know, Elizabeth," Rebecca lied. "There is just so much work to be done. We have the refugees to care for and the Major to look after while he recovers."
Elizabeth looked with concern at her young friend. Something was going on here, but she could not put her finger on it. Rebecca looked like she was neither sleeping nor eating properly and Charlie had simply looked like hell this morning. His eyes had a haunted look in them, and he had kept looking to the door or up toward the ceiling during breakfast with longing.
"Well, my dear, you will not be able to do anything if you push yourself to the point of illness."
"I promise to take care. As a matter of fact I will go down now and see if Sarah might still have something to eat."
As the young woman turned to leave, Elizabeth watched her carefully. There was something in her stance, something in her walk that projected overwhelming sadness. For long moments after the door had closed, Elizabeth continued to stare after it. Drat. I am going to have to talk to that man. Something is very not right here.
--*--
Rebecca stood on the back porch looking down toward the camp, wishing Charlie were home so they could talk. Then she considered that she had no right to say anything to him. She would just have to wait until he came to her.
The sight of Corporal Nailer brought a smile to her face as she waved to the young man. "Good morning, Duncan."
"Good morn……morning, Miss Rebecca."
"And what are you up to on this brisk morning?"
"Actually, Ma’am, I am here to collect Jeremiah. We are going fish……fishing this morn...morning to see if we can have fresh bass for din……dinner tonight."
"That is very kind of you to look after the boy like that."
"My……ple……pleasure."
"You are a good man, Duncan."
The young soldier ducked his head as he tried to hide the blush. "Thank you."
Rebecca jumped when the screen door banged shut and Jeremiah ran past her to his new friend. She chuckled at the boy’s enthusiasm. "Be good boys and have good luck. I am looking forward to fish for dinner tonight."
They both waved to her as they headed for the pond. She sipped her tea, aware of the warmth of it as it slid down her throat and the coolness of the air and the pain she was feeling. Finishing her tea she tuned for the house to see who needed tending this morning.
--*--
Rebecca left Montgomery’s room once Constance had arrived to take over for a bit. The young woman could not do a lot of the chores because of her condition, but sitting with the injured man was something she could do. Emily was napping and would be for at least an hour. Rebecca promised to take charge of the child when she woke.
She paused briefly at the top of the steps, feeling a bit dizzy. Steadying herself with the banister, she started down the stairs, but paused after the first few steps. She shook her head, feeling the room beginning to spin just a little. Then everything started to grow dim. A moment later everything went dark.
Reg walked into the main hall, on his way to carry a load of wood to the back parlor. Miss Rebecca was lying in a crumpled heap at the foot of the stairs. "Oh Lord, Miss Rebecca."
He looked around, then ran upstairs to find Doctor Elizabeth. He knew better than to try and move Miss Rebecca.
"Doctor Elizabeth. Doctor Elizabeth!" His cries roused everyone in the house.