Part 2
For Fear of the Sting
"Please, Miss, for the love of God help him!" The sight of blood made Leah feel like she was going to be sick, reminding her of the nausea that had been plaguing her for the past few days. These two were rebels, part of the colonial volunteer militia. The soldier who had been run through with a bayonet had his arm draped over his fellow's shoulder, his face deathly pale. She took a step back and drew in a shaky breath to steady herself.
"Take him inside…in the sitting room. I'll be there shortly." She turned away at the moan of pain the man let out as his friend half-carried him up the steps and into the house. She didn't want to think about why she felt so faint and sickened by the blood and gore. Her father, a doctor, had made her assist him many times and she had not been bothered by it then. Half a dozen soldiers had come by begging for aid in the past three days for there had been a battle not far off. This is ridiculous. I must stop being such a… Suddenly she began to heave and choke, though nothing came out since she had not eaten breakfast yet. A weight settled heavily upon her. She could not deny what she had suspected to be true for much longer, but for now she would. She did not have time to dwell on it. She followed the two inside.
She began ripping pieces of linen sheets into strips to be used as bandages. She then took the uninjured soldier's hand in hers and pressed it against the other's leg, on top, right below the hip.
"Press hard, you're pressing the artery against the bone, it'll keep him from bleeding to death on us." She tried to wrap more bandages around the injured man but he jumped and screamed at the pain and cried that he did not want to lose his leg. She stroked the hair at his forehead, trying to soothe him.
"Shh. You'll not lose your leg, I promise. But you must stay still." It took him two spoonfuls of laudanum before he finally quieted down. Soon after they had stopped the bleeding, but Leah had a gut feeling he might not survive. He had lost far too much blood. She did not, however, tell the other this as she turned towards him.
She reached out to touch a blood-soaked part of his shirtsleeve on his side. "Are you hurt as well?" He winced. "Take off your waistcoat and lift up your shirt, I'll tend to it. And sit up here." She pointed to a table and he did as she asked. Nothing was said for long minutes by either of them, but the silence bothered neither as they regarded each other. Leah saw that he had striking features; dark hair and eyes.
"Thank you… for helping him. And me as well. I trust you are not a loyalist, are you?"
She smiled slightly. "Might I not ask you your name before you pry into my politics?"
He flushed. "I am sorry. That was rude of me, when you have been so kind. My name is Samuel."
Leah jumped at the name, bumping his cut. "I'm sorry. My name is Leah. As for your earlier question.. not exactly."
"So you are a Tory?". Leah did not catch the look of disgust that had crossed his face. "But you helped us. I do not understand."
She wrapped a dressing around his middle. "There. You should do well.." She looked up at him again. "I believe that when a person needs help, I am bound by God's will to help him if I can. Even if he was my enemy."
"Do you not believe in freedom from these tyrants? Why should we not rule ourselves?"
"I am already free, those of us who live on the frontier are bothered by none. And besides, I do not think unfair taxes are a thing to start a war over. As for the war, I meant that I have not chosen sides. I doubt I ever will." She stood and he did as well.
"I should be going. I should return to my regiment." He seemed reluctant.
"Stay for the night. I'd much appreciate it, I haven't had company in ages."
He hesitated for a moment and then smiled. "Alright. Just for one night."
They sat side by side on the swing Nathan had built on the porch, listening to the chorus of katydids and crickets and watching fireflies wink in the blue evening light. She laid her head against his chest, careful not to touch where he was injured. He ran his fingers through her hair as he rocked them back and forth.
"I never realized how beautiful it is here, in the wilderness," he said.
"You're not from around here are you?," she asked. She had suspected it when he had first spoken because his manner of speech was so much different.
"No, I hail from Virginia, but I've been here for the past six months."
"Tell me about the battle."
He took a deep breath. "We were lucky to escape at all. Bloody Ban came just as I got Matthew and we ran into them woods---"
"Who?" she interrupted.
"The Butcher. A Green Dragoon," seeing her confusion he added "A redcoat horse soldier. He doesn't give quarter to none, slaughters those who surrender and those who are cut down. He's been known to hang folks who are disloyal, burns the house and leaves the man's wife and children in it. At least that's what I heard."
"What a monster!".
"Don't let anyone know you ain't picked sides, Leah. Never even let them think you've committed treason. I'd hate to think of what would happen to a pretty girl like you…"
She looked up at him and he down at her, caressing her face. She closed her eyes, enjoying it. She liked him. He reminded her of Andrew, he was not like the others who had come before. He hands drifted ever lower before she after long moments put a stop to it.
"No. I can't."
"You are promised to him?" she had told him briefly that three of the King's men had come, requesting quarter in her house a month ago over supper.
"No—I—"
"He won't come back, Leah. He was kind to you, but he used you all the same. I know his kind. Rich, haughty, full of themselves; typical English dandy" He touched her again and she felt her resolve melting. She brushed away a stray feeling of regret at what she had done with Andrew again, soon replaced by sadness at his departure. Forsake not the honey for fear of the sting, her mother had sad. She refused to believe what this man told her. Oh, but it felt so good, to be touched by a man again… She leaned toward him again, submitting to his kisses. She did not wish to argue.
The next morning Leah woke early to tend to the injured man and found him to be dead. They buried him a short distance from the fields of corn, now turning an ugly yellowish gray and withering. Both said prayers for him and wished him peace. Leah felt said for the man and wished that she could have saved him. She gave Sam some of Nathan's old clothing and a meal for him to eat on his journey. He kissed her goodbye. Neither felt regret or loss, and both knew they would never see each other again. The two had found comfort and pleasure in a time of turmoil, however brief, in each other's arms.
