"Hey Luz, how far are we going?" Elsie heard Perconte ask from ahead of her. She understood why he was asking. Her feet were sore and she was exhausted, not to mention it had been raining for the last half hour.
"Oh Jesus Christ Frank, I don't know." Luz said exasperated. "Until they tell us to stop."
"High ground." Hoobler added. "There's high ground up ahead. "
"Okay genius, answer me this then," Perconte insisted, she couldn't help but smile. "Why is easy company the only company who's either at the front of an advance, or like now exposed at the far edge of the line?"
"To keep you on your toes." Hoobler replied.
"No, that's not what I'm saying." Perconte continued. "I'm saying that we're never in the middle. And we're the fifth of nine companies of this regiment. Abel to Item, think of it."
"You see there?" Hoobler pointed up ahead. He was cut off by gunfire and they all dove to the ground. Bill, who was next to her, had pulled her down and was practically on top of her. She narrowed her eyes at him but he didn't notice.
"Contact right!" She could barely make out Welsh's voice. "Get in the hedge row!"
It was still raining but the gunfire had stopped. Easy company had dug their fox holes and settled in, as did Dog and Fox company whom flanked their left. Elsie was sharing a fox hole with Guarnere, which annoyed her. He had been hovering over her since they left Carentan. She stayed quiet though and was happy he didn't push for conversation. They didn't speak until they heard someone cry out, followed by moaning and whimpering. Elsie stood immediately and was about to jump out of her fox hole when she was yanked back down.
"What the hell are you doing?" Guarnere chided.
"I'm going to check on the noise," She shot back. "You stay here."
"I'm not letting you go out there by your self princess."
"Bill, you need to back off, you can't hover over me like this, it's going to get us both killed." She growled before jumping out of the hole. She headed towards where the cry came from. She shouldn't have been so harsh with Guarnere, she knew he was just looking out for her. But her nerves were a bit frayed. When Tipper got wounded, he was between her and the explosion. She didn't want the same thing to happen with anyone else, especially another one of her closest friends.
"Flash." She heard from the cover of a tree.
"Thunder." She replied quickly. Someone walked out of the darkness towards her.
"Lieutenant Speirs." She greeted with a shaky voice when he was in front of her.
"What are you doing out her private?"
"I came to check on the noise, sir," she replied.
"I just came from there." His voice was cool and calm. "Everything's taken care of."
"yes sir." She turned to leave but stopped and face the lieutenant again. "Sir, I never got to say thank you for getting me to the aid station on D-day."
"You saved the life of one of my men." His eyes were puzzled when he looked at her. "You don't owe me any thanks."
"Anyone would have done the same." She replied.
"You're wrong private. What you did was remarkable." His eyes bore into hers with such intensity. His demeanour was calm but his eyes were wild, like there was a hurricane that constantly stirred inside him. She understood then why all the men believed the stories about him. He was unpredictable and it showed in his unruly eyes.
"Thank you, sir." She shifted her feet, and he dismissed her back to her fox hole.
"What happened?" Guarnere asked when she got back, like she hadn't ripped his head off before she left.
"Don't know, I ran into Speirs and he sent me back here." She said sitting down next to him. She laid her head on his shoulder. "Bill, I'm sorry for before. I just hate feeling that I'm not good enough. How many times do I have to prove I can handle myself?"
"I know you can handle yourself princess." He looked down at her. "It's just, I lost one of my brothers and I don't wanna loose you to."
"This is war Bill, it might happen and we have to face that. We have each others backs. You need to trust that I can do this the same as any one else here." She said calmly.
"I know you can." He smiled at her. "But you gotta know you're not like anyone else here. You're much prettier."
"you're such a charmer Bill Guarnere." She smiled back and elbowed him in the rib playfully before drifting off to sleep.
It was the crack of dawn and Elsie was sitting against a tree while Lieutenant Welsh was talking to some of the NONCOMS. Her and Hoobler had tagged along and were listening to the conversation. She didn't feel like sitting alone in her foxhole after she heard Talbert was the one who got hurt. She didn't want to think about it.
"We don't know what to expect. We may be attacking a weaker force." Welsh explained. "Possibly more paratrooper."
"And you know how they can be." Hoobler interrupted which caused Elsie to let out a small laugh. He just smiled at her eleatedly.
"Fire and maneuver, that's the name of the game." Welsh continued. "Fire and maneuver. Dog and Fox companies will be on our left flank moving with us. Any questions?"
When no one answered him, he said, "Let's make 'em holla."
And then the mortar fire started. Everyone took cover where they could, Guarnere was right beside her. He smiled sheepishly at her before turning his attention across the line. She did the same. She heard Winters shouting orders to keep firing, so she did just that. Aim and fire, aim and fire- she repeated in her head.
"Cover the crest of that hill!" She heard Guarnere order a couple of the men next to them.
"Where the hell did they come from?" Welsh shouted when German tanks appeared. Elsie froze momentarily but one look at Guarnere who was still shooting brought her back to reality and she continued to fire her weapon. These guns aren't going to do anything to those tanks she cursed in her head. She looked back towards Welsh who locked eyes with her, she looked towards a bazooka laying next to a dead soldier then back to Welsh. She ignored the look he gave her and went for it. It's not like he ordered not to. He was right by her side with the ammunition, as they ran into the field to stop the tank headed their way. She knelt down and positioned the bazooka. The first shot bounced off the turret of the tank, which then turned its cannon towards them.
"Wait till I tell you Montgomery." Welsh shouted as he loaded the weapon again. He mumbled something else that Elsie barely heard but it sounded like "Your uncle's going to kill me!"
"What?" She questioned but didn't take her eyes off the target. The tanks gunner fired but because the tank was climbing over a hedgerow the shell flew over head and crashed behind them.
"Fire!" Welsh shouted in her ear. They hit their target and she couldn't help but grin. He tugged her shoulder, "Let's go."
They ran back to the safety of their line and jumped into the hedgerow.
"Hit a home run eh guys?" Liebgott smiled at the lieutenant. His eyes lingered on Elsie a moment longer before he returned to firing his rifle. After that everything started to look up. Second armored showed up with sixty tanks that plowed into the German hedge row. And then it was quiet. The shellings and gunfire stopped- It was over.
"You're a fucking nut case ya know that?" Guarnere said throwing an arm around Elsie's shoulder. She was watching Welsh as he spoke to Withers and Nixon. She rolled her eyes and turned to scold him but noticed the smile on his face.
"Careful what ya say now, she might blow you up too." Bulls southern drawl chuckled. He was standing with Liebgott- who was once again smirking at her- and Toye- who looked impressed. She smiled sweetly up at Guarnere who chuckled at her.
"Don't do that again." He warned with all seriousness.
"You gonna stop me?" She goaded.
"I'll sit on you if I have to." She just snorted at him and excused herself when she saw Winters and Nixon leaving.
"Lieutenant Welsh?" She called out and he turned to face her. "What did you mean my uncle's gonna kill you?"
"I think you miss heard me princess." He said, but the look in his said he knew he was busted. She raised and single brow at him. He stayed silent.
"Sir, with all due respect, I know you're lying." He let out a laugh at her comment.
"You're too damn ballsy you know that?" He smiled. "I know your uncle Tony. Well I've met him a couple times anyway. I'm engaged to his friend's daughter."
"Kitty!" She exclaimed.
"Yeah, Colonel Sink had me transferred to Easy company to help keep and eye on you." He said sheepishly.
"You mean to spy on me." She huffed.
"To look out for you." He assured.
"I can take care of my self sir."
"I can see that." He smiled a genuine smile, and a contagious one at that.
They had just arrived back in Aldbourne where they were greeted with hot showers. Elsie impatiently waited for all the men to be done so she could get cleaned up. She debated showering with the men- in her underwear of course- but decided she could wait a little bit longer. When the last of the men left the showers she all but ran in. The hot water never felt so good on her body. She scrubbed as hard as she could and finally felt clean again. Her hair was tangled and matted along the bottom. She knew it would have to be cut out, but for the time being she could wear it up. When she finally finished with her shower she quickly got dressed and left the shower facilities.
"It's about time." Liebgott moaned. "We thought you might have drowned in there."
"Thanks for waiting." She smiled. Liebgott and Grant had stayed behind while everyone else had gone to get food. The three of them followed suit and headed to the mess hall- that was really just a large barn with tables in it. It was crowded with men from Easy, Dog and Fox company. She was having difficulty locating anyone she knew so she let Liebgott and Grant lead the way.
"Hey sweetheart, you're still alive?" Someone said with a laugh. It was Sizemore. She stopped and smiled at him.
"Looks that way to me." She replied happily.
"Becker will be happy." Sizemore's friend piped in.
"You tell him I'll see him around." She said and headed in the direction that Liebgott and Grant went.
"Shouldn't have stopped you idiot." She said to herself. Not that anyone else would have heard her. With the crowed as large as it was the room was deafening. An arm snaked around her waist and the owner pulled her into his lap. She tensed up and was about to swing her clenched fist when she heard the familiar philly drawl.
"Fancy meeting you here princess." Guarnere said into her ear.
"Jesus Christ Bill, you scared the shit out of me." He just smiled impishly. "I need to get some food, I'm starving." She made to get up but Guarnere held her tight against him.
"Liebgott and grant are grabbing your food." He assured. "They said you were right behind them and to keep you here."
"You better not be lying to me Bill Guarnere."
"Would I do that?" He had a mischievous look about him.
"Probably." She laughed.
Sure enough Liebgott and Grant came back with an extra tray of food for her. They kicked Skip and Penkala out of their seats so they could sit down to eat. Elsie would have moved off Guarnere's lap had there been any more room, but she was too hungry to try and fight for a spot. Liebgott was sitting on the opposite side of the table two spots down with Grant on his other side of him. She caught the hard look on Liebgott's face as he looked at Guarnere. She didn't know why but she smiled. She turned her attention back to her food and soon enough her tray was empty.
"You excited for London tomorrow?" Luz asked from across the table. When they returned to England they were granted one week Leave and she was going to London to blow off some steam, accompanied by some of her Easy company men of course. When she told her friend's she was going to London, Guarnere, Toye and Liebgott had decided that's where they were going. When Grant, Luz, Bull and Martin heard of the trip, they all decided to join.
"Fuck yeah I am." If her exclamation didn't prove it, the wide smile on her face sure did. She stole a quick glance at Liebgott who caught her in the act and smirked. She looked away but was still smiling. She couldn't help it, she was about to get a week off. No drills, no shooting, no killing, and no one getting hurt. And the best part was she got to do it with her brothers. She just wished Tipper, Alley and Talbert were going to.
Elsie was in her hotel room with staring at the red dress laying on her bed. They arrived in London yesterday, and immediately went to the nearest pub for drinks. She drank a little more than she intended but she didn't feel too bad when she woke up in the morning. She spent the morning wandering around London on her own, mostly because the guys needed a little recovery time. She went into a fancy dress shop which elicited some odd stares from the owners.
"I just want to buy a dress." She said quickly. It had been over two years since she wore anything thing that wasn't army issued and wanted to look and feel like a girl again. The couple immediately went to work helping her pick out a dress. They were both very pleasant and very chatty. Elsie didn't mind the conversation though. She found out they had been married for thirty years and had one daughter who was married and lived in Brighton with her family. They picked out a red dress that fit her curves perfectly. She was a little weary to buy it but they said it was the newest fashion in London and that she looked marvelous in it. In the end they convinced her to get it-and an emerald green one of similar style- and now it was laying on her hotel bed. She glared at it one more time before giving in to her girly instincts and put it on. She added some red lipstick for extra effect.
She didn't wear many dresses growing up, always felt more comfortable in trousers and a shirt. But the few times she had dressed up didn't compare to how she looked now. Usually when she wore a dress it was at one of her Uncles dinners or parties and she always wore something modest. Elsie couldn't stop staring at herself in the mirror. The dress clung to her and had a low v-neck line that showed off some cleavage. She always thought she looked plain but now, looking at her self, she felt beautiful. She had gotten her hair cut after she left the dress shop, and the dirty blonde locks shaped her face perfectly.
As beautiful as she felt, she was also nervous about wearing something so revealing in public, especially in front of the men. She was torn from her thoughts when someone banged on the door. She froze, not knowing who it could be. She told the guys to meet her at the pub, and that she would be a bit late. They knocked again.
"Hey princess, you in there?" Came the soft sound of Bull's voice. She let out the breath she was holding and opened the door for him to come in. He stood there and half whispered, "Wow."
"Is it too much?"" She asked nervously.
"No, you look amazing."
She turned back to the mirror. "What are you doing here? I thought I was going to meet you at the pub?"
"You honestly think we were going to let you show up alone?" He smiled. "I told them I'd wait."
"I appreciate it, but can handle myself Bull." She assured.
"Not dressed like that," He laughed. "You'll have every guy fighting over them selves just to talk to you if you're not escorted."
"I knew I shouldn't have gotten this dress." She sighed.
"You look stunning, don't even think about changing."
"I don't know if I can wear this out in public." She admitted.
"Is that what's taking you so long?" He laughed. "You can run out in to gun fire to blow up a tank, but you're afraid to wear a dress?"
"This isn't funny." But she was smiling.
"C'mon princess, lets go." He said and she looped her arm through his.
As they neared the pub her stomach started to knot. She took a deep breath and smoothed her hair before Bull pushed open the doors. She scanned the room and spotted her boys sitting at a table in the back corner across from the bar. Liebgott was talking to Guarnere and had looked up briefly. His head snapped back up immediately and he stopped mid sentence. He was staring at Elsie with his mouth slightly open as his eyes looked her over. Guarnere swung around in his seat to see what he was gawking at. The look on his face mirrored Liebgotts.
"Holy shit." Guarnere said, gaining the attention of the others. They all watched her wide eyed which made her stomach knot more. She bit her bottom lip, then smiled at them. You can do this, it's just a dress- she told herself. She met Liebgotts eyes and his opened mouth slowly turned into a smirk.
"Gentlemen." She said taking the empty seat in between Toye and Grant. "It's not polite to stare."
"Princess, you look amazing." Luz said dumbfounded.
"Thanks for sounding so shocked." She joked.
"We're just used to seeing you in uniform with dirt all over your face is all." Martin added.
"Yeah that's what I meant." Luz joked.
"Well George Luz, you can apologise for offending me with a drink." She said in good humor. He smiled and got up with out a complaint.
"So, what's the special occasion?" Grant asked.
"I've been stuck with a bunch of dirty men for over two years, I just wanted to feel like a girl again."
"Hey you chose this." Toye pointed out.
"And I would do it all over again." She smiled sweetly at him.
Elsie was enjoying herself as she laughed with the men at her table. A couple of them were wandering the room flirting with the women there. She was talking to Martin who was half cut and talking about his wife.
"She sounds like a wonderful person." Elsie smiled.
"She is." He beamed. "You'd love her. Hey you should come meet her when this is all over."
"I would love to." She felt eyes on her and glanced across the table. She caught Liebgott's eye and raised her brow. He responded with he usual smirk. Maybe it was the alcohol, but that smirk of his didn't seem to bother her that time. She turned her attention back to Martin who was still talking about his wife.
"Someone should probably get him back to the hotel." Elsie pointed at Luz who was stumbling across the bar. He tripped on a chair and if Grant hadn't been in front of him, he would have fallen on his face. Elsie burst out laughing. "Martin, I volunteer you for the job."
"What? Why me?" He complained.
"Cause you're dependable."
"What am I supposed to do, carry him?" His jaw was set and his eyes narrowed.
"Grant will help you." She smiled the most innocent smile she could.
"Fuck me." Martin mumbled downing the last of his drink. Before getting up.
"Thank you." She called after him. He answered with a wave of his hand.
"Very impressive, little lady." Guarnere smiled taking the seat next to her. Toye sat on the other side of her and tipped his glass.
"Thank you, good sir." She grinned up at him. "Where's Bull?"
"He took off a with his new lady friend for a romantic stroll around the city." Guarnere winked.
"And you two couldn't could get any ladies?" She smirked. "With all your charm."
"Maybe the only lady we're interested in, is you?" Guarnere returned fire.
"Well I hate to break it to ya, but you're not getting any from me so turn those adorable brown eyes else where."
"Adorable you say?" he nudged her arm, she rolled her eyes dramatically but smiled.
"I'm going to get a drink." She told them.
Two women walked up next to the bar while she ordered her drinks- one for her and one for each of the remaining guys. They smiled at her politely but continued with their conversation. Elsie wasn't listening until she heard the words "Cute American soldiers."
"Are you talking about the ones sitting over there?" Elsie nodded in the direction of her table.
"Yes, actually we are." The one closest to her said in a heavy British accent. "You're American to, do you know them?"
"Yes, actually I do." Elsie smiled, even though she figured they knew that already. She had been sitting with the men the whole night. If they saw the men, they would have seen her with them. "Would you like to come sit with us?"
"You wouldn't mind?" The second one asked.
"No at all." Elsie's smile grew wider. She stuck her hand out. "I'm Elsie by the way."
"I'm Alice, this is Sarah." The one closest to her spoke as they shook hands. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"You as well." Elsie said. When they got their drinks Alice and Sarah followed Elsie back to the table.
"Thanks princess." Guarnere said as she handed out the drinks. "And who are these lovey ladies?"
"Gentlemen, this is Alice and Sarah." She introduced them. "Ladies, this is Bill Guarnere, Joe Toye and Joe Liebgott."
Elsie sat next to Liebgott as Toye and Guarnere pulled out seats for the two women. Liebgott raised an eyebrow at her, she smirked and shrugged her shoulder.
"Well, I think I'm going to call it a night." Elsie said when she finished her drink. "It was a pleasure meeting you ladies."
She didn't miss the looks Guarnere and Toye gave Liebgott when she shood up. He understood what they meant.
"I'll make sure she gets back safe." He stood up and she linked arms with him as they left the bar.
"No protest about having an escort?" Liebgott questioned.
"No." She smiled.