Chapter 4

The next morning the Heywood sisters were walking to the camp as they did the day before.

"Are you sure you understood it correctly Charlotte?" Alison asked to Charlotte turning around the poetry book she picked up to give to Captain Fraser. "I have would not imagine he would be interested in poetry".

Charlotte smiled and simple replied. "I'm sure he will be pleased with the book you chose".

"If you say so" Alison was not really convinced that he would really appreciate the beauty in these words.

ooooooooooooooooooo

Fraser took a look at the book and smiled widely in evident delight.

"Do you like it?" asked Charlotte.

"Yes, thank you" Fraser nodded. "Rückert. I'll never dislike poems by someone who hated Napoleon as much as I did', he joked.

Alison smiled at his comment. Fraser put down the book and with a little difficult he stood up. "I need to stretch my legs. Would you join me for a walk miss Heywood?".

"I want to talk with Colonel Lennox" Charlotte quickly refuse it in order to give them some space alone.

"Would it be wise? Doctor said you should rest..." Alison doubted.

"I'm sure a little walk will do me more good than bad" Fraser reassured her.

Charlotte nodded and saw them leave the tent together.

ooooooooooooooooooo

"First of all, I would like to apologize for my part in Carter's lies. I-" Fraser wanted to be sure Alison had forgiven him.

"You are forgiven Captain" she replied sincerely. "But please no more talk about Captain Carter". She turned towards him, paralyzing him. "I must confess you I thought my sister misunderstood you when she said you would be glad with a poetry book" Alison laughed.

He looked ahead, breathing in. "I guess I'm not typical soldier" he said.

"Not unrefined?" Alison joked.

Fraser shook his head. "I wouldn't dare to say that. Who would not seem unrefined beside you, Miss Heywood?" Fraser smiled.

"I begin to suspect there is a beating heart somewhere beneath that uniform Captain Fraser" she teased him.

"Oh you will search in vain" he replied funny making her laugh.

On their way back to the camp she kept looking at him but he avoided eye contact. 'Captain Fraser, this man confuses me to no end' she thought.

Oooooooooooooooooooo

"Thanks for the walk" Fraser said as they were back in the camp.

"The pleasure was mine Captain" Alison replied.

"I hope we can repeat it again" Fraser said hopefully.

"Yes, you can count on it" Alison surprised herself saying that aloud. Fraser gave her a slight bow which surprised her. 'He is a gentleman', she thought. Alison had not expected his company would make her feel this way. She felt good and special when she was with him. With these thoughts, Alison turned around and left him.

He couldn't stop looking at her. She was everything he always wished for a woman. Suddenly he felt extremely tired and he looked for a chair to fell into. A burning sensation gripped his body.

Lennox, who was sparring with the soldiers, saw Fraser from the corner of his eyes. He dropped his sword and walked towards him. His brows furrowed worriedly.

"What are you doing up and out the bed?" Lennox said sternly.

"I needed some fresh air" Fraser lied.

Lennox smiled looking at Alison. "I hope it worth it my friend... you should have been resting, not walking around when you are not fully recovered" Lennox said with half a smile. Fraser nodded but he could say nothing as another flash of pain spread and he grit his teeth. "What's wrong?" Lennox asked with concerned seeing Fraser grimaced in pain.

"The pain comes and goes, but today it feels as if it's aflame" Fraser confessed. All these days he had tried hard to assure everything he was fine, but now he couldn't pretend anymore. Then a blackness descended over Fraser and he collapsed. Lennox managed to catch him before he hit his head.

"You're burning up" His face darkened with concern. 'How could nobody notice it? How could I miss it?' Lennox blamed himself.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Meanwhile Charlotte saw her sister walk with a broad smile in her face.

"What makes you so happy sister?" Charlotte asked funny. "I would have never guess you may have a good time surrounded by any soldier after all of them are untrustworthly..." teased her.

"I guess I was wrong Charlotte. Not all soldiers are untrustworthy. It seems Captain Fraser is in every way admirable', Alison replied. "I think I shall miss him when I come back home. Is it not peculiar? How we can be strangers to our own affections?' Alison asked.

"It isn't peculiar at all' Charlotte smiled. "Sometimes, we can't see the thing that's straight in front of us. Because we either don't want to see it, or because we're distracted".

Alison was about to argue when they saw something was happening. Some soldiers began to rush towards the infirmary tent.

"Something's wrong. Let's go!" Alison said with panic in her voice as she took Charlotte's hand and follow the soldiers that seem to be in a hurry. They found Lennox holding Fraser as other soldiers where there to assist him.

"Captain Fraser!" Allison gasped as she placed her hand over her mouth seeing him lying unconscious on the ground. Charlotte put her hand on her arm and spoke in a hushed voice. "Let the men bring him to the tent and then we will figure out how we can help him".

Once inside, Alison took a few rushed steps toward him. She sat down beside him on the bed and gently brushed his damp hair away from his forehead. He was burning hot to the touch and his breath rattled in his chest. 'How could she not have noticed something was going on?' Alison asked with regret.

"Miss Heywood" Fraser weakly mumbled feeling her presence beside him.

"Hush, you need to rest".

Fraser nodded and he fell into a coughing fit and eventually, he fell asleep.

Witnessing the scene, Charlotte took the courage to say "It occurs to me that a mustard poultice may help Captain Fraser breathe. We need to clear his lungs"

"I'll see to it immediately" Lennox replied admiring Charlotte confident as she seemed to be in charge of the situations faster.

The hours passed by and Alison and Charlotte didn't leave Fraser's side taking care of him. The doctor was glad with them because they became a great help to him. Periodically, Colonex Lennox and even Carter would stop in to inquire after Fraser.

"Captain Fraser" Alison spoke his name tenderly stroking his forehead.

"Charlotte, his fever broke. We should need to get fresh water to cool him"

"You stay with him, I'll go" Charlotte said as she stood up and left them alone.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Carter was outside waiting for news of Fraser's health. When he saw Charlotte leave the tent alone he took a deep breath and walked towards her.

"How is he?"

"He is much the same. Alison is sitting with him for the time being. We can do nothing else but wait'

Carter sighed in wardly. "It is all my fault" confessed. "He fell from the horse because of me. He is fighting for his life because of me. I was reckless and fool enough to think me smarter and better than him. If only-"

"Don't" Charlotte interrupted him. "You must not think that way. He didn't blame you".

Charlotte's words took him aback. He looked down, hesitant to speak. "How-?"

"I know the truth" Charlotte confessed. "I talk with him because I couldn't understand why he chose to protect. But after talking with him I understood, he loves you as a brother. He would do anything to protect you and he surely has forgotten you. So you should forgive yourself as well".

His voice shaky and full of remorse, Carter murmured. "I wish one day I can do that".

ooooooooooooooooooooo

When Charlotte returned with the bowl full of fresh water, Alison removed the cloth from Fraser's forehead and began to dab water to replace it.

"Ladies you shouldn't be still up. Have you slept at all lately?" Colonel Lennox interrupted them as he stepped in the tent.

Alison shook her head and Charlotte added. "No, we haven't."

"I can stay here with him while you get some rest. I can prepare you a tent for you so you can get some sleep".

"That's very kind of you captain. But I can't leave his side. At least not until he wakes up" Alison said softly.

Lennox nodded. He expected that answer.

"Maybe if we haven't done that walk he would be fine..." Alison voice trailed off.

"You mustn't blame yourself. He's a fighter, he has survived terrible battles and I am sure this will be no exception", Lennox offered genuinely, but he could tell it gave her no comfort.

Alison nodded praying he was right. Charlotte smiled at him grateful for the comfort words he shared with them.

TO BE CONTINUED