Fall 1917 (A)

.

The following day, just like any good farmer, Candy woke up in early dawn as usual. The sun hadn't properly risen and the room was still dim. Still half asleep, the first things that struck her was Neal was here! She smiled thinking of his gentle voice when he talked to her last night and his hands which never released hers.

Impatiently, Candy swung her legs out of the bed, ready to get up and rush to Neal's room. But, to her surprise she was pulled back to the bed by what she thought was her blanket.

Candy became fully awake. Her eyes shot up and through the faint glimmer of light, she realized that her room didn't look at all familiar!

"Oh, no!" thought Candy, realizing what's happening. She's in Neal's room! The pillow she's using was not really a pillow but Neal's arm. They must have fallen asleep last night while chatting.

Candy quivered thinking what Patty's guest might think if she knew she's sleeping in Neal's room. Decidedly, it would be more catastrophic than when Sister Grey caught her with Terry in the middle of the night in the horse stable in St. Paul*. They're adults now, not kids! What if her church friends didn't want to talk to her anymore?

Yet in spite of that, she didn't think she'd care. She's happy that he's here. Candy looked at Neal's sleeping face. His one arm was around her waist. His khaki uniform rose and fell gently together with his breath. Neal slept without wearing pajamas! She remembered when she was his maid, there's not a day when he went to bed without his pajamas. Candy smiled at that memory. That period of time supposed to be the most painful in her life, surprisingly, the recollection didn't hurt anymore.

Gently Candy brushed his peaceful looking face with the back of her hand.

He stirred and slowly started to open his eyes. His gaze met hers and he smiled at her. She smiled back, saw him blink and rub his eye. A second later his smile disappeared and his eyes flew widely open .

"Candy?" Supporting himself on one arm, Neal quickly sat up and moved away from her. "Oh no…!" said Neal. He's running his fingers through his hair in disbelief. "For heaven's sake! I fell asleep! I am so sorry! I-I... I didn't mean it! Last week, I was on night duty for most nights. I hadn't slept much the last two consecutive night because I had to cover-"

To his surprise, Candy laughed.

Neal lifted his eyebrow. "You laughed? You're not angry?"

She shook her head, smiling.

Grinning, he collapsed back to the bed pulling her with him. "I like it too!" He stretched and yawned. "Good morning!"

"Morning!" she grinned back.

"What time does Patty's guest usually get up?"

"Madame Beaufort usually gets up at five."

Neal looked at the clock. "Five minutes after five," he grimaced. "Let's hurry!" Neal got up, pulling her with him. "Let me fix your hair first."

Neal sat her in front of him and Candy felt his fingers run through her hair. It felt so good. It's so comfortable to feel his warmth, hearing his heartbeat and feeling his breathing.

"Let's go," said Neal after he fixed a ribbon nicely in her hair.

"Who cares about Madame Beaufort," said Candy. She cuddled into his strong broad chest. She wanted to be with Neal together longer. "We can just lock the door."

"I won't mind," he said softly. "But I hate to have you endure the gossip alone while I'm conveniently leaving to the Front."

Candy reluctantly got up.

Taking her hand, Neal led Candy to the door. She stood behind the door while Neal slowly opening the door. He meant to peek to asses the situation, but coincidentally, Madame Beaufort happened to open her bedroom door too and Neal was soon came directly face to face with Patty's guest.

"Lieutenant Leagan?" Madame Beaufort asked In French. "I'm Madame Beaufort."

"Ah, Madame Beaufort! Nice to meet you," replied Neal in fluent French. Without glancing at Candy who hid behind the door, he moved forward and closed the door behind him. "Neal. Neal Leagan."

"Oh, I've heard so much about you from Patty and Candy. You slept well last night?"

"Very well, that I just fell straight through. Thank you. "

"Let me help you clean your room," said Madame Beaufort generously, stepping forward.

Hiding behind the door, Candy held her breath.

"Oh please don't bother, Madam Beaufort. We, soldiers, do this thing by ourselves," declined Neal calmly.

"Of course! But while you're here, child, allow us to pamper you. That's the least we can do to our soldier," Madam Beaufort kindly insisted.

Candy got nervous. What if Madam Beaufort were so insistent and Neal couldn't stop the kind offer? Quietly, she tiptoed to the window, pushed it open and climbed up. She jumped to one tree outside the window, climbed down and ran to the front door. She then re-entered the house as normal.

From downstairs she heard Madame Beaufort say, "So where could Candy be?"

"Yeah... Hm, Let me look for her," answered Neal.

"I'm here!" cried Candy. "Madame Beaufort, good morning!"

"Candy," said Madame Beaufort, relieved. "Where were you?"

"I got up early today and took a walk!" She winked secretly to Neal.

"Thank God. I was so worried. Now you are here would you two care for breakfast? I and Patty prepared some special bread for you." She turned to Neal "Don't reject that, please. That's the least we can do for the solider who bravely fights defending our country."

Neal and Candy welcomed the invitation.

Madame Beaufort delightfully fixed fried sausages with fresh eggs and homemade apple juice for them. While they were eating, she made sandwiches with the freshest vegetable unseen of in the Front. Then, Madame Beaufort left to help out in the the farm.

"I can't believe that you'd climb out of the window!" Neal whispered worriedly "Did you fall? Anything hurt?"

Candy laughed, shaking her head. She's still the expert in climbing trees.

"We shouldn't do this mistake again tonight!" said Neal, seriously.

Candy smiled, nodded. Her mouth was full of sausages and eggs. Madam Beaufort was an exceptional cook. She just loved all the stuffs that old woman made.

"Let's go to the river," suggested Neal after he finished his plate, clean. "I'll show you how soldiers clean up." He grinned.

"River? In October? The water must be cold!"

"Better than not taking shower for months!" Candy watched him, open-mouthed, speechless at his casual answer.

Neal just grinned. They then packed the sandwiches and drinks madame Beaufort had prepared in a basket and before long they were running to the river with Neal pulling her hands.

"You're too fast, Neal. Wait for me!" screamed Candy. She started to lose breath trying to catch up with Neal the soldier.

Neal stopped running to fetch her and scooped her up. Cradling her against his chest, he ran carrying her and the basket to the river .

"I know a secret place. It's nice and hidden," she said, laughing in his arms.

"Show me," said Neal, stealing another kiss from her.

Candy clung her arms around his neck, screamed and laughed excitedly. She shrieked when he lowered her and her legs touched the cool water. She felt so happy never before in her life. She lifted her skirt and splashed water on him. He plunged under water to pull her down and they got completely immersed in the cool water… She squealed and laughed some more... until their stomachs began to beg for food.

Giggling, they went to the river bank. He put her in the place that had direct sunlight and bundled her up with dry towels. Both then attacked the tasty food Madame Beaufort had prepared from them.

All of a sudden, a faint sound of distress came to their ears. They looked to each other. Letting their ears guide them, they spotted a little chicken struggle in the river, fighting hard not to be drowned and dragged by the flowing water.

"Oh no, see that?" cried Candy.

Neal plunged back to the water to rescue the poor chicken and gave it to Candy.

"It lost one wing. It must have escaped from a cat or something," said Neal.

Candy wanted to carry it but it jumped from her hand and ran to its mother, nearby.

"She'll be fine if she sticks with the mother," said Candy, expertly. "Good you rescue it, Neal." She rewarded him with a kiss.

"Where's Patty?" asked Neal as he drank the apple juice directly from the bottle. He grinned noticing Candy's surprise look. "Sorry, we don't usually use cups in the trench."

Candy smiled and drank directly from the bottle too, following his suit.

"Patty goes out with her church friends to volunteer delivering socks and other things to the soldiers in the Front using our farm truck. We knitted many things for the soldiers to use in the winter... Like the one I sent to you." She pecked his cheek.

"Must be lovely." Neal pecked her back. "You two are not bored here? Chocques has almost nothing. Why not go back to Chicago?"

"This farm is the best," gushed Candy. "It's close to you." She rubbed his short hair playfully with her fingers. "And Patty enjoys waking up early to take eggs to the market. She likes to give one to any children who asks." Candy laughed.

Neal grinned looking at her bright smile, enjoying her company. She's here with him. They're together..., nothing could be better than that.

"Patty then goes to the veteran office to check names of newly found soldiers."

Neal didn't comment on that one.

"What do you think of this place?" asked Candy. "I found it when I was walking along the river thinking about you." She looked down avoiding his eyes.

Neal saw her cheeks turned rosy.

"Thank you for thinking about me." Neal cupped her face scattering kisses all around her face. "Oh, I really want to marry you!" he sighed. His lips captured hers again and he pushed her gently to the ground.

"You do?" asked Candy. She lay down on her back, he's on top of her now.

"Yes. What kind of wedding you want?" he quizzed, kissing her profusely. "A civil one? A military one?"

"Military one sounds cool."

"Then, let's do a military wedding! We walk together under the sword of arch, what do you say?"

He looked down at her, she looked up at him. They smiled.

"Fabulous! But, if you don't mind...," added Candy, blushing. "Can you carry me instead?" She kissed him. "I want everyone to see you carry me."

"I'd love to!" he whispered. "I will carry you under the sword of arch! Promise!" He kissed her deeply.

"Oh that would be nice, wouldn't it?" sighed Candy.

"He-eh." Neal didn't stop kissing her.

"If we're married, I can stay in your room," continued Candy. "We don't need to worry about Madam Beaufort or whoever." She held his head in her hands and kissed him as feverishly.

"True," said Neal.

"So why not do it?" Candy whispered. "We get married."

"Today?"

Candy nodded.

Neal didn't answer right away. "After the war is better," he answered after a while.

"When is that?"

"Don't know..."

"Why it has to be after the war?"

This time Neal was silent for much longer. "It's just better that way." There's something in his voice like he tried to avoid talking about it. Her heart got caught in her chest, hurt.

"Tell me why," Candy pushed on.

"It's just hard to decide now," avoided Neal. "Let's not talk about it."

"Maybe because you just don't really want to." Candy instantly pulled away, sitting up.

"No... how can I?"

"Then, say it," Candy demanded.

"It's... hard."

"Excuse... excuse! You're no different than Terry!" Candy blurted out.

"What?" Neal jumped up. "Don't compare me with that actor!"

She threw her face, felt ashamed for bringing up the marriage thing and slapped by disappointment by his unwanted reception. If there's one thing that she's so sure of in this world, it would be that Neal would unconditionally ready to marry her.

Dreadful silence fell.

"Candy. It can't be too long," said Neal after a while.

Candy stayed silent, pulling the grass aimlessly with her hand.

Neal sat back down next to her and pulled her closer. There's nothing he wanted to do more than to marry her. How to explain and make her understand that he wouldn't because he cared about her so.

"It can't be too long, because…" Neal swallowed hard, paused. "Because there will be no more men standing otherwise."

Candy shivered instantly hearing his unexpected answer. She turned to face him. Her heart pounding. "What do you mean?"

He stared at her eyes. She looked so pure so innocent. She had no idea what he's facing at the Front...

"Candy..." Neal looked far at the horizon. His voice was so different and distant. It scared her. "If you don't hear anything from me for a few months, I want you to forget me and move on. You're so young... so beautiful. You shouldn't be put in a position where you're forced to become... a... widow or worse yet... stay with an invalid... husband."

Candy gasped, her hands readily flew covering her mouth.

-To Be Continued-

NOTE:

* manga's scene (that Eliza's trap, remember?).

000

Thanks for reading. I do really mean this more than just a routine gesture of gratitude. Thanks so much for your time and attention to keep up with this story.