Lost Cause Read Free Page A

Saylor?” Jack was silent
lost in the richness of her magnificent eyes. “She’s very
beautiful, but we both have work to do,” Marie said. As you know
there were casualties today. You have a wound yourself mister, uh.
. .”
    “Campbell.”
    “Campbell?” That’s Scottish isn’t it?”
    “No, it’s Texan. Navarro County actually.”
She smiled and her teeth shimmered in the low light and she tossed
her head in a coquettish manner that made Jack feel warm and
happy.
    “You’re a funny man, Mr. Campbell,” she
said.
    “Have you been nursing long?” asked Jack.
    “Since the beginning of sixty-three. I
started when Charles died. I remember thinking if I could help
someone get better then maybe I wouldn’t feel so guilty about
Charles. Silly idea though, I’m as self loathing and racked with
self condemnation as ever these days.”
    “Was it quick? Charles’ passing?” asked
Jack.
    “Thankfully, yes. Canister round I believe
they call them. Blew him all to bits. Nothing left but his boots
and saber and this medallion around my neck.”
    “Do you suppose the war will last much
longer?” Campbell asked.
    “No.”
    “What’s gonna stop it?”
    “The Confederacy will break. Just a matter of
time.”
    “Perish the thought.”
    “You think not?”
    “No. We’ve had a good summer.”
    “Ah, I see.”
    “I am Scottish, you know,” Campbell said.
“Grand daddy came from Aberdeen.”
    “And you mister Saylor?”
    “A mutt I suppose. Some English, some
Scotch-Irish. . .”
    “You look Indian. Any Cherokee in your blood
line?”
    “Don’t know.”
    “He’s a transplanted Scott same as me,”
Campbell interjected. “What about you Miss Hayes?”
    “Cornwall.”
    “England?”
    “Of course. Where else would it be?”
    “I was through Cornwall Mississippi once. You
a Mississippi girl are you Lady Hayes?”
    “Never been. I must get back to the
infirmary. Nice talking to you gentlemen.”
    “But what about my wound?” whined
Campbell.
    “Put some whiskey on it and daub it with
bacon grease. You’ll be spry in no time.”
    Then she faded into the night and Campbell
let go a sigh and Jack swallowed the lump in his throat and they
walked away feeling better than they had all day.
    Walking back to the barracks Campbell said,
“Miss Hayes prefers you over me.”
    “Of course she does,” said Jack.
    “You think she likes train rides?”
    “I think she’s a lady.”
    “So, a lady can’t like train rides?”
    “You talk too much Campbell.”
    “Yeah. Curse of the Scotts I guess.”

Chapter 4
     
     
    The next morning Jack went to call on Marie
Hayes. She was not in the infirmary and Jack went to the stables
where the ambulances were housed and asked a livery hand if the
nurses had been by.
    “No sir. Probably patchin’ up some troops.
There is s a war on, you know.”
    Jack said he knew and the livery hand asked
what he needed a nurse for and Jack suggested the man go about his
business.
    The day was hot as usual and Jack was keen on
finding shade before it was time to muster for morning drills. But
he longed to see Marie in the pure morning light and spend some
time watching the sun dance on her golden hair while she told him a
little more about herself.
    He walked along the thoroughfare toward the
river hoping to see her on the bank washing soiled bedding. It was
quiet, hot, and so humid the air was like warm taffy on the skin.
He looked across the field of wagons and cannon and rows of
bivouacked muskets and wished he was home with the green fields and
the pecan trees full of birds and fruity nuts and leaves so lush a
man could make a hat of them. This war, this damnable war must see
its end. Man was not created to visit such savagery on his fellow
man. Jack longed for the peace that seemed so elusive. Wouldn’t it
be grand to stroll along the river with Miss Hayes and take in the
sweetness of a summer morning with nothing more threatening than
sunburn to worry about? But it wasn’t