Reaching the town takes only a few hours. We reach the town as the sun starts to set and Miller sends Reiben, Daniel, and Upham ahead to make contact with the Americans here. When Upham returns with Reiben, Horvath and Reiben pick up the stretcher again and start moving Wade into the town. We're directed immediately to the building where all the wounded are being put. To my surprise, there is another nurse that came with me on the plane earlier.
"Davies!" I say.
"Jackson!"
She runs over to me, moving around soldiers sitting on the floor, and lunges at me to give me a hug.
"I was worried, I haven't heard anything since you left," she says.
"Well, that typically happens when communication lines are broken," I say smiling.
"I know," she says, "I guess I was just used to working with you, having you there."
"Well, I'm not staying, but someone else will be staying with you," I say, walking over to the others who are gathered around Wade. "This is Wade, the field medic for Captain Miller's squad. He was hit pretty bad. I did all I could, but he needs a real hospital. We have a mission to complete, and your relief will be coming soon, and he'll be able to get real help."
"Don't worry, I'll keep a special eye on him," Davies promises.
I take her hand. "Thank you."
She nods and moves between the squad to get to Wade. She tells them to move him and they follow her orders. They all linger as Davies and I check on Wade one more time before Miller sighs and tells us it's time to go. You can tell he doesn't want to leave as much has the rest of us, but he's the captain, and so has to make us move since no one else will.
The men all walk by Wade, giving him a light pat on the shoulder, quickly whispering a goodbye.
We leave the town swiftly, going up the steep slope away from the buildings, and away from Wade. The mood of the squad is solemn, all of our thoughts with Wade. Miller lets us stay out of formation as we exit the town, for the Allies control it. After we crest the hill however, he orders us into formation. Now, instead of being in the middle with Wade, I'm in the middle alone.
It's only another hour before Miller suddenly shouts, "Half-track cover!"
We all duck down, hiding behind the tall grass for cover. Then, the noise Miller must've heard earlier gets louder. It's a half-track tank. It rolls by just a few yards from us. We all stay still in the grass, not even trying to get a look in case they see us. I look to my right at Reiben, who is looking toward Sarge and the Captain. I then look at Upham, who was walking near me. He's on the ground too, looking very nervous, but stays where he is, looking around, trying to get an idea of where everyone else is. I get his attention and press a finger to my lips, indicating for him to stay close to the ground. He nods and lies flat on the ground still. Then there's a huge blast.
"Who's doing the shooting?" Horvath asks, looking at everyone. "Who's doing the shooting?"
Then there's a deafening explosion and fire erupts from the tank, a huge billow of smoke above it. The tank stops, fire on the front of it and the top hatch opens. Miller straightens up on his knees, shooting at the Krauts that try to exit the tank. Horvath and Mellish join him and they get back down after the Krauts are down.
Miller gets up and runs behind Upham and I, touching Reiben's shoulder as he barks out an order. "Get ready to move on that left flank. Take their left flank!"
"Hold on, make sure they're down," Reiben says. I shuffle over to Upham, pulling him by an arm and staying low. Daniel moves over to us, grabbing me and drags us both behind Horvath and Mellish. We follow them toward the tank as Miller goes around the other side of the tank. I shake Daniel's hand loose and instead grip the back of his jacket so he can use his gun.
Then there are more gunshots, and a column of smoke from the other side of the tank. The shots echo and when it all goes quiet except for the wind.
"101st, we're coming out!" someone shouts and the squad turns their guns on where the voices came from. Three men rise from the grass and Miller waves us around.
"That was a recon element second SS. We've been expecting a probe, that must've been it," one of the men says. We all converge on the tank, most of them leaning against it from the ground, but Daniel and I jump onto the tank, sitting on it.
"Captain Miller, Charlie Company, Second Rangers," our captain introduces himself.
"Corporal Henderson, Easy Company, 501st," the man who spoke earlier introduces himself.
"Ryan, 1st of the 506th," the one with the bazooka says and I look at Daniel, wondering if I heard that right. Ryan?
Daniel nods at me, confirming he heard it as well and we look back to the captain.
"PFC Tommy, 3rd of the 506th," the last soldier says.
"James Francis Ryan?" Miller asks, focusing entirely on the one who introduced himself as Ryan.
"Yes sir, how'd you guess that?"
Miller doesn't answer; he just turns around and looks at us.
We accompany the three men back to Ramelle, walking through the ruined town. Daniel walks next to me, taking my hand in his and walking closer when we come up to a few others.
"Looks like you got hit pretty hard," Miller comments.
"Yes sir," Henderson says. "Small unit action. They came in; beat the hell out of us with 88s."
Henderson looks at us, his eyes drawn to how Daniel and I are holding hands before averting his gaze back to Miller. I look at Daniel, but he didn't see Henderson looking at us. But he somehow seems to feel my gaze on him, because he looks straight at me. He gives me a small smile, letting go of my hand to wrap his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side. The rest of the squad behind us don't even blink, but I can see a few of the other men stare for a seconds before looking away. They're probably staring half at the fact I'm a girl as they are that Daniel and I seem to be together.
"Tell you what sir, if you're our relief I'm going to file a complaint," Henderson says as we reach the bridge.
"I wouldn't blame you," Miller comments. "Who's your CO?"
I watch Ryan, keeping an eye on him as we stop at the inside of the bridge. Daniel and I lean backward against the side of it. I can't even feel the cold of the stone through my many layers, yet I can feel for some reason the warmth of Daniel's arm from where it's on my shoulders.
"Would've been Captain Jennings sir, 'fraid the best we can muster up tight now is a corporal," Henderson answers. "So what are you guys all about?"
"We're here for him," Miller says, pointing at Ryan who is taking a drink from his canteen. "Ryan."
"Me sir?" Ryan asks.
Miller just waves him over and he hands his canteen to someone, following Miller further up the bridge past us.
"James Francis Ryan, of Iowa?" Miller asks, not wanting another mistake.
"Yes sir, Payton, Iowa, that's correct," Ryan answers. "What is this about?"
"You're brothers were killed in combat," Miller says, not warning him at all, but that's probably best. Sugar coating isn't going to make it hurt any less.
Ryan looks down, and you can see him trying not to cry. "Which-which ones?"
"All of em'," Miller answers gravely.
Ryan just stands there for a moment, looking at him, trying to comprehend what he's been told. I shift closer to Daniel, trying to push images of Miller telling me that Daniel was the one who was dead. Daniel shifts his grip on me, hugging me tighter into his side. I turn into him, not wanting to see Ryan's grief, putting the side of my face on his chest and closing my eyes.
"Uh, on… on the level?" Ryan asks.
Miller sighs. "Yeah, I'm afraid so. Uh… you want to take some time with this. Is there someplace you want to go?"
There's silence, then one of the soldiers behind us asks, "What's this all about?"
"Ryan lost his brothers."
"Which ones?"
"All of em'."
"You came all the way out here to tell me that?" Ryan asks.
"Well you're, you're going home," Miller tells him. "Our orders are to bring you back."
"Bring me back?"
There's a moment of silence except for boots on the stone cobble. "Corporal Henderson, hate to leave you even more shorthanded, but… orders are orders. Uh, any communication about when you're gonna be relieved up here?"
"Sir there's no way to tell, we have no idea what's happening south of us," Henderson says.
"I have my orders too sir," Ryan speaks up. "And they don't include me abandoning my post."
"I understand that, but this changed things."
"I don't see that it does sir," Ryan protests and I look up from Daniel's chest.
"The Chief of Staff for the United States army says it does," Miller states firmly, starting to get a little annoyed.
"Sir our orders are to hold this bridge at all costs. Now our planes in the 82nd have taken out every bridge except the Merderand with the exception of two; one at Villon, and this one here. If we let the Germans take it we're gonna lose our foothold and have to displace," Henderson informs us.
"Private," Miller says as soon as Henderson is finished, "Your outfit wants to stay, that's one thing. But your party's over here."
"Sir I can't leave until at least reinforcements get here-"
"You've got three minutes to gather your gear," Miller overpowers Ryan's voice.
"Sir, what about them, I mean there's barely enough of-"
"Hey asshole," Reiben cuts him off. "One of our guys already died trying to find you, alright? And another may not make it."
Ryan just looks at us and Daniel and I shuffle forward a little as the rest of the squad takes a step forward after Reiben.
"Sir?" Ryan looks at Miller.
"That's right," Miller confirms.
Ryan walks over to us and asks, "What were their names?"
"Irwin Wade and Adrian Caparzo," Mellish answers.
"Wade and…?" Ryan asks, conflicting emotions on his face, the prominent one being shock.
"Caparzo," Mellish sighs. "Wade is hanging on, for now."
Ryan looks away, walking over to the side behind Miller. "It doesn't make any sense sir. Why-why me, why do I deserve to go? Why not any of these guys? They all fought just as hard as me."
"Is that what they're supposed to tell your mother, when they send her another folded American flag?" Miller asks, laying on the guilt.
"Tell her that when you found me, I was here and I was with the only brothers I had left, and there was no way I was going to desert them. I think she'll understand that. There's no way I'm leaving this bridge," Ryan says and walks around Miller, back to where his outfit is. I close my eyes; we came all this way and he doesn't want to leave.
Ryan sits behind the sand bags and other guys come to him, one kneeling in front of him and another rubbing the top of his head as they try to comfort him.
Miller walks away across the bridge and Horvath runs to catch up. I look at Daniel, who has his own expression of concern and anger. Reiben's is all anger, and he turns to us, fuming, before sitting on the wall. Mellish sits next to him, talking to him quietly as Upham just stays off to the side by himself.
"Come on," Daniel says, taking my hands and turning me toward where Ryan is. We walk past them and to the nearest shelled out house. He picks up an overturned table and sits on it, dragging me toward him so I'm standing between his legs. He then releases my hand and puts his arms around my lower back, pulling me up against him. I put my hands on his chest and fiddle with the top button on his jacket.
"What do you think the captain is going to decide?" I ask.
Daniel looks at the others. "Probably gonna high tail it out of here, with or without Ryan. Or we're staying until their relief shows up. If we leave now though, we'd have to tie Ryan up and carry him."
I actually give a little laugh at that and so does Daniel, just imagining attempting to do that.
"I doubt Ryan's outfit will just stand by and let us do that," I comment and Daniel tilts his head.
"Probably not," he says. "How are you, with all of this?"
"You mean with Wade?" I ask, looking at him knowingly. He nods and I ask, "Shouldn't I be asking you that? You knew him better than I did, were with him longer."
He looks away and says, "He's not the first we've lost."
"You mean…?"
"Not Caparzo either," he says and I nod, of course Caparzo wasn't either, too many of men have died in this war for Daniel not to have known a few of them.
I slide my hands up his chest to his shoulders, shifting my feet forward to press my chest against his. "I'm sorry."
His arms move across my back so they're wrapped tightly around me. He puts his face into my neck, breathing in deeply.
"Wade's gonna be fine," he says, almost as if to convince himself as much as me.
"Yeah, I'm sure he will," I say. I wait a few seconds and then whisper, "And you?"
He leans back to see my face. I divert my eyes down when he looks at me and swallow.
"I'm sorry, I-I shouldn't have…" I say and he pushes a piece of hair that got free from my braid behind my right ear.
"Sweetheart," he whispers. "I am going to do everything I can to make sure we both get home."
I nod and he lifts my chin to make me look at him. "Lilly, this is dangerous, many aren't gonna get home. But I promise I'll try my best, just like I'm sure you will."
I just nod and he pulls me into a hug. "And if we get home…?"
"Then I can finish that back porch, help mom with the farm," he whispers.
"I could get a job as a nurse, or a teacher," I suggest.
"And maybe, one day, we could… try for another baby," he says. I tense a little and he pulls back again.
"What if… what if it happens again?" I ask completely terrified of that possibility.
"Then it happens, and it won't be your fault just like it wasn't before," he says earnestly, knowing I still harbor some guilt.
I take a slow breath, and nod slowly. "I'd… I'd like that."
He smiles and kisses me slowly, lovingly and happily.
"Hey, you two!" Horvath shouts. "Break it up, come on, Captain's decided we're gonna stay until their relief shows up. He's laying out the plan."
