TDTLBU Chapter Fifty-One

Myra walked slowly along the pasture fence, reading for the hundredth time the precious letter that had arrived only that morning. It was from Josh, although written in Emma's handwriting. His words were beautiful to her. He was alive… he was safe… and he was at peace. How wonderful to receive after so long the news she had been praying for with every breath she took! 

"Who goes there?" growled an unfriendly voice from the bushes as Myra approached the Stewart's house. She glanced up, not seeing anyone, but knowing exactly who was apprehending her. With a grin, she folded her treasured letter and slipped it into her pocket.

"A friend," she answered, looking warily in all directions. She could hear ominous rustling in the trees above her.

"Then why do you wear the uniform of the Third Reich?" This the voice pronounced with an air of importance. The words "Third Reich", as terrifying as they were, did have a grand and imposing sound to them. 

Myra glanced down at her floral print summer dress and tried not to laugh.

"I'm an allied spy," she answered, in a confidential tone. "I have important news for the general. Please, let me pass."

"What's the code word?" A large tree branch, meticulously stripped of leaves and twigs, emerged slowly from the bush nearest the porch steps, blocking her path.

As Myra hesitated, the screen door swung open and Donna stepped out, a wooden spoon in one hand and a mixing bowl in the other. 

"Good morning, Myra," she smiled, and in the same breath, yelled at the bushes. "Mickey Stewart, you let Mrs. Hayes in!"

"That's good enough. Hold off, men," the voice muttered, and the branch was withdrawn. Not trusting the Infantry to grant her any further mercies, Myra hurried up the steps and inside as Donna held the door open.

"You've had news?" Donna smiled at her friend's breathless joy as she pulled the letter from her pocket.

"The best kind," Myra laughed. "He's alright, Donna… my boy is alright!" She threw her arms around Donna and they cried together. The days following the invasion had been terrifying ones. Waiting endlessly for news, hoping for the best but fearing the worst. The telegram bearing news that Josh had been wounded had come only a couple of days before his letter and had given no details. The waiting had been pure agony. With a trembling sigh of relief, Myra collapsed into a kitchen chair and hugged the letter to her chest. "Oh, my boy… my Josh…" 

"God has been merciful to us," Donna pulled a letter from her own pocket. "My Ronnie made it through and he's okay." She smiled again, but her eyes were filled with fear. "Lord only knows what will come next. And… poor Ronnie…" she shook her head. "He thinks Josh is…" she didn't finish her sentence. "I hope he gets the news soon. I'll write immediately… but who knows how long before he gets it?"

"Too much…" Myra sighed wearily. "Too much going on, too many things happening all at once. I… I don't know how much longer I can take it."

"Ah, but our lot is easy," Donna put her letter away so she could butter a cookie sheet. "Think of our poor boys out there and… and our girls…"

"You're right, my friend," Myra grinned ruefully. "I complain too much."

"Oh, not saying we don't have a right to complain," Donna laughed. "After all, I miss my babies dreadfully. My heart aches for them… I just want them safe and home again. But…"

"We're so proud of them," Myra added and Donna nodded. 

"They're fulfilling their duty and being braver than I ever thought they could be." She scooped molasses cookie dough onto her cookie sheet and slid it swiftly into the oven. Wiping her hands on her apron, she sank into the chair opposite Myra. "Do you think Josh and Emma will make a match of it?"

"Oh, I'd love nothing better," Myra smiled hopefully. "I can't think of anyone better for my Josh. She'd be the wind beneath his wings and yet at the same time... his anchor."

"There's no denying she loves him," Donna paged slowly through the letters on the table. "She's never admitted it, but... oh, a mother always knows. I always knew exactly what was going on with Ronnie too, although he never told me..." Her voice trailed off a moment and she glanced up from her letters. "Did you hear about Lissie?"

"Did something happen?" Myra frowned.

"I guess so," Donna shrugged. "I've only heard rumors but… after D-Day, John went public about his support for the war. Seems it's driving him wild that he can't go to fight. So he plans on joining one of the auxiliary services and maybe even getting a job in a munitions factory. And Lissie… well… she's disappeared."

"Disappeared!" Myra cried. "Three weeks before the wedding? Why? Where did she go?"

"Not sure," Donna sighed. "Probably to stay with family out of state… maybe just to get away from Jefferson for a while. Poor girl."

At that moment, a terrific howling and banging began outside, mingled with shouts of "Charge!" and "Take no prisoners!" and *Destroy the enemy!" Horrible shrieks punctuated the howling and Myra and Donna flew in horror to the window.

"Oh, dear God, have mercy," Donna gasped, making a desperate dash for the door and wrenching it open. "It's Mrs. Croft… MICKEY!!! MICHAEL JAMES STEWART!!!"

The Infantry was temporarily disbanded right then and there, under the wary and disapproving eye of a slightly disheveled and extremely indignant Mrs. Croft. They had done no more than scare the poor woman half out of her wits, but it was enough to earn them lasting disgrace forever, once she got through spilling the story to half the community. Myra and Donna were both lucky they managed to hold back their hysterical laughter until their visitor had departed, leaving behind the gloomy pronouncement that she would never return. In the future, she declared, Mrs. Stewart must come to visit her instead, and would she kindly leave her little hooligan and his band of savages behind. 

It felt good to laugh again.

 ✯✯✯

It was the fourth and the last day that Josh would be staying at the field hospital. He would be on his way to England by tomorrow morning. Emma was going about her work as usual, but she hovered close by his side, returning to check on him much more often than was necessary. He followed her with his eyes as she paced down the narrow aisles between the cots, watching her as she bent over the wounded men, administering medicine and comfort and cheerful smiles. 

He was surprised to find out just how much he loved her. He had always liked her, much more than any other girl he had ever known… but he had never imagined he would feel like this about her. How long had it been since he had realized she was his heart and soul… his entire world and the meaning of his very existence? It felt like forever and yet it was all so strange and new… a love this strong. He could hardly bear her absence when she stepped around the corner and vanished from few, no matter how brief a time she was away. He had lived all day for the moments when she would stand by his side and press her hand against his forehead or check his bandages, murmuring quiet words in a voice that seemed so unlike her and yet had been there all the time. He just had never noticed it before. 

She was back again, bending over him to check his wounds. It was late and soon she would be going off shift. He had been trying to gather up his courage all day... and he only had a few chances left before another nurse would come on duty. 

"Emma." he whispered, his voice husky. "Emma…" he paused, violent coughing racking his body. She paused in her work, moving her eyes to his face in concern.

"You okay, Scout?"

"Emma…" he tried again and she was relieved to see him grinning. "Marry me?" 

Her eyes grew wide and she opened and closed her mouth in silence for a moment. She continued changing his bandages, her hands moving quickly. As she finished, she pulled the blankets back up to his chin and rose from her knees. He waited in an agony of suspense while she checked his IV and adjusted the bandages around his forehead.

"Easy there, soldier," she laughed. "Now you're just talking crazy. I think you may be a bit delirious. Just stay quiet and you'll be okay. I'll check up on you when I come back around." 

And just like that, she moved off, leaving Josh just lying there, stunned. The soldier in the bed to the right of his was laughing.

"Bit of a spitfire, isn't she? I've popped the question myself to one of those nurses before… didn't take too kindly to me asking her. That one there, now she's a real beauty. Did ya know her before?"

Josh didn't answer. He was still puzzling over the whole situation, trying to make heads or tails of it. He wasn't sure whether he should be disappointed or not. Of all responses he had expected, that had surely never been one of them. But now Emma was returning, much sooner than he would've expected. And walking much faster than she usually did, too. She fell to her knees beside the cot, dropping her head beside his with a strange kind of half-sob, half-laugh.

"Of course I'll marry you, you crazy idiot."

"For a second there you had me worried," Josh tried to tease her, but he was grinning so wide, he thought his face would split. In just one moment and with one sentence, she had made his entire world complete. "Am I a crazy idiot? If so, then you must be too, cuz you're gonna marry me now."

She raised her head, still laughing.

"I guess I am at that… we're a pair of crazy idiots. Well-matched. But honestly. You could've chosen a more romantic setting. I mean… I can’t even hug you or I’d hurt you."

"What d'ya expect me to do?" Josh grinned. "I’m a bit incapacitated at the moment…” he broke off as she pressed her lips against his. 

"Well…" he muttered when he could speak. "Now that was a kiss."

Emma laughed and ruffled his hair.

"Course it was, silly. But you're not gonna get too many of those around here. Don't say anything about this to anyone or I'll get in trouble. But consider yourself engaged, soldier." She bent to straighten his pillow, then moved off quickly and disappeared around the corner.

✯✯✯

June 14th, 1944

Letter from Katie to family

“They’ve started bringing in the wounded from the Normandy invasion. Until now, I haven’t seen anything this bad. It breaks my heart. And it’s not just the physical wounds, but the mental that are so bad. These poor men… scarred for life… having seen and experienced things I can barely imagine. They cry out all night… just wild with fear and agony. I’ve been doing all I can just to comfort them.

There was one soldier just a couple of nights ago… he lost his leg on Omaha beach... he was thrashing so hard I was afraid he’d fall out of bed. He was calling out for his buddies and he kept saying “They’re dead, they’re all dead!” His eyes were just wild and he was actually crying. Tears just streaming down his face. I stayed with him for hours, just trying to keep him calm. He held onto my hand like it was his lifeline… so tightly it still hurts. I can’t imagine what he’s been through.

I didn't know it was going to be like this, Mama. I didn't know it was this bad. I never dreamed that there were so many men in this kind of pain. Sometimes I feel like my brain just shuts down, because I can't comprehend what I'm seeing. But oh, Mama, don't worry for me. I'm okay. I'll make it through. God is with me here, you see. And finally... finally I can do something to help. I can comfort these men in their pain and somehow... I feel like it's healing my heart."