C. C. Phillips
C. C. Phillips
A thin beam of light traced the frame of the door but the windows were dark when, much later, Preston rode up to the farm shanty where Lily and her sister lived. The mule did not acknowledge the newcomer's arrival, a contradiction to the braying cacophony raised by Washington at the Diamond/Tweed place when Preston rode into their farmyard. Lily called softly from within when Preston tapped gently on the door. She let him into the house then quickly closed the door. “Amy is asleep; Davy hasn't regained consciousness. The fever has lifted and I've been trying to keep him warm. He's shaking like to fall off the bed.”
“Dr. Filmore gave me some stuff, but he couldn't come tonight. I also stopped at home and fetched a few things to help you through… Our farm is two miles the other side of Conception; that is what took me so long.”
“I had begun to think you may not return. You don't owe us anything.”
Preston shrugged. “Only, I said I would be back.”
The significance of that statement was not lost on the young lady. “Do you always keep your word, Mr. Preston?”
“Diamond, my last name is Diamond, the first is Preston…um… I suppose we Diamonds are known to keep our word. What is your last name, Lily?”
She held out her hand. “Lily Brannigan. As you probably have figured out, Davy and Amy are my brother and sister.”
He took the small hand and, though the skin was rough and reddened from lye soap, it felt soft and warm to Preston. He held it longer than an introduction may require, but Lily did not seem to mind. He liked the sound of her voice, too; it was melodious and she spoke as though she had a good education. “I'll bring the stuff in and, if it's alright with you, I'll stay until morning in case there is something I can do to help your brother… I know a little about tending to bullet wounds.”
Lily smiled and said, “Of course! you must stay, I couldn't let you leave at this hour of the night.”
In spite of the Union Army brand, and the fact that the stud had already travelled many miles on the day, Preston had not switched horses while home. Rufus had tended to the animal, rubbing it down and giving it a feed of grain while Preston gathered up essentials that he felt may assist Lily and her family. He also borrowed cash from his parents' 'cookie jar' and collected a rope from the barn. The heavily packed army mount had made the return trip in the darkness without faltering. He seemed to know the destination and took Preston to the doorstep. There had been no patrols along his route; Diamond had pulled up once hearing the distant drumming of hooves, but the rider did not pass near him. Maybe it had been a messenger carrying a note to Lieutenant General Grant.
Preston stripped the pack from the saddle, then took the rig off and stood it on the decrepit veranda to the side of the doorway. Though the horse was unlikely to wander, Preston put hobbles on before turning him out on the sparse grass near the yard. The Brannigan's mule didn't bother to make acquaintance.
Amy was rubbing the sleep from her eyes and Lily was yawning with fatigue when Diamond brought his grip into the shanty. Both girls came wide awake and did not try to hide their pleasure when Preston opened the pack to reveal the contents: comestibles, blankets and Dr. Filmore's medical supplies.
“Don't your parents mind you trotting off with their pantry and linen closet?” Lily asked.
“Er… no… I'm sure they do not mind at all.”
“Well, you must thank them for us. Brannigans aren't ones for charity, but Amy and I are truly grateful… Things haven't been easy these past few months: We've mostly survived on milk and eggs, and the occasional chicken, but we didn't want to kill off our laying hens. Amy is a pretty good shot, but the deer have been slaughtered or run out of the country because of this cursed war. Maybe Davy will heal up quick and things will be all right again.”
Preston was glad the soliloquy had ended on a different note than it started. “We had best poke a few sticks on the fire and heat water. Let's clean up your brother's wound again and put Dr. Filmore's stuff to use.”
Amy said, “I'll fry up some victuals.” Catching a stern glance from her sister, she added, “in case Davy is hungry when he wakes up.”
Davy did regain consciousness while Lily and Preston were swabbing out the wound. His eyes flew open wide and he stared first at the stranger then turned to his sister. “Lily… am I home… or… or have I died?”
The soldier passed out again not hearing Lily's soft reply as she brushed a tender hand over his hot forehead.
“I heard Davy! Is he awake?”
“Only for a moment, Amy. He's gone back to sleep now.”
The breaths were so shallow, Preston feared the patient had died, but he could feel a weak heart beat. “Dr. Filmore said to give him plenty of liquids and keep him from moving around for a few days. I don't think that musket ball broke any bones, just tore the muscle on its way through. It's going to be stiff and sore for a long time.”
“We'll nurse him back,” Lily said. “We had thought we lost him weeks ago. Now that he's here, we won't lose him again.”
Preston yawned and said, “You've both had a turn… if it's alright with you, I'll roll out a blanket on the floor here beside the bed. If he wakes again I will hear him.”
With the light of day, Lily's words gained conviction. Her brother awoke and carried out a raspy but coherent conversation for several minutes. It was obvious that he distrusted Preston's presence; however, he drifted off again before Lily could explain.
Diamond felt he should be going home. Rufus needed help and he had done nothing around the farm since his parents' demise. The campaign against Captain Wiley had stalled; Preston needed more information and he couldn't just walk into a Union Army camp and start asking questions. He would have to wait until General Grant was available. He split a pile of wood for the Brannigans and was saddling his father's horse when Lily came out of the house and said her brother was awake and wanted to talk to him.
A faint touch of colour had returned to Davy's cheeks. He had shed the ashen death mask. “Are you a Blue-belly?” he asked without belligerence.
“My father fought for the Union… He was a career soldier: West Point graduate; fought in the Mexican-American War… So, yes, I'm a Blue-belly or at least the son of a Blue-belly… are you a Reb?”
“I was, now I'm out of it. Our side is on the run, we're losing ground to the north. Our brother Daniel, fought for the Blue Coats; I just found out from Lily that he was killed. I hold no grudges, I just wish it would end.”
Lily, standing to one side, said, “I wish it hadn't started… It's so horrible!”
“We'll just have to start over Lily. Our parents had nothing when they got here, but they worked hard. If they hadn't died so young, they would have succeeded. Everyone is in the same mess now. We still have the farm, we'll finish what mother and father started.”
The invalid closed his eyes a moment and two tears squeezed out from between the lids to trace a wet path down his cheeks. “God! Daniel killed… I hope it was a Confederate boy who shot him….”
“Davy!” Lily cried, “how can you say such a thing? Mr. Diamond is standing right here and if it wasn't for him, you would be dead, too!”
The soldier looked bewildered for an instant. His lips moved as if repeating the words. “Oh! No! That isn't how I meant it. Some of our boys, including me, have seen Blue-bellies shooting their own soldiers… I just hope Daniel wasn't shot by a Blue-belly traitor.” Davy winced again and his breaths became ragged as he continued. “That's how I got shot. I saw a Blue-belly, an officer, aiming his musket at, I think, his superior. I shot the bloody traitor and then I got hit myself….”
Preston's voice held a tremor of excitement, “You actually saw an officer attempting to shoot one of his own soldiers?”
Davy tried to sit up but lapsed back on the bed with a heavy groan. “Yes, that is what I saw. I'm not certain of the rank, but it looked to me like they were both officers… You know, a guy doesn't have much time to look around… when he's under fire… but I'll swear… I swear I saw that much and… I know of two other stories….” The voice trailed off and his eyes closed. “I'm so tired…” He muttered a few more words then fell back to sleep.
Diamond looked sharply at Lily. “I've got to know more about this… I… my parents… I have to find out everything your brother knows about these back-shooting traitors.”
“Preston, what is it? You aren't making sense. What about your parents? What did you mean to say? And, when you told Davy about your father's army life, it sounded like he was gone. Is he…was he… was he killed?”
It was more than the boy had wanted to say, but the words tumbled forth of their own volition: “My father was a colonel, serving under Lieutenant General Grant. He was murdered… murdered by a bluecoat officer and two other men; they killed my mother, too.”
The third Brannigan sibling came into the house toting a bucket of water. Seeing Lily with her hand covering her mouth, a look of horror on her face, the younger girl hastily set down the pail and stepped to her sister's side. “What is wrong, Mr. Diamond? What did you say to my sister?”
Lily's hand dropped to Amy's shoulder. “Your mother and father were murdered? When? Where?”
Preston did not want to go through the nightmare again. He said, “They were attacked… Please Lily, I cannot talk about it. I've said too much and I pray you won't repeat this to a soul. It isn't over; I'm looking for someone… Maybe your brother can help me.”
“Unsaddle your horse, Preston. Davy may wake up soon and you can talk to him then. You don't have to leave….”
Preston considered a moment. “What are you going to do, Lily? I don't see that you have enough food or supplies to nurse your brother and feed yourselves for more than a few days. What if your brother goes into a coma or dies?”
“We'll manage somehow. Davy had a few coins in his coat. We have enough to help us along for a little while.”
“How are you going to get to town? It isn't safe to go alone and you cannot leave your brother unattended.”
Lily's eyes filled with tears. She had been fighting the truth for a long while.
Preston's heart went out to her. “Lily, Amy, I can help… if you'll let me. Let's harness your mule and take that light wagon to town. I'll stand good for a load of supplies, enough until Davy is back on his feet and able to work. By then the weather will be warm enough to start a garden and sow a crop….” Lily opened her mouth to speak but Preston continued: “My father thought the war would be over by spring; your brother said the the Confederate army is losing ground. Things will be better soon, but not soon enough if you don't accept help… Please… the information Davy may have will be all the payment I could ask for.”
Lily began to cry.
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