The Christmas Ball Read Free

Harrisburg.”
    “That doesn’t sound so bad. Why don’t you want to go home?”
    A flash of pain shadowed her eyes. “Please, don’t ask me.”
    “But, I must report this.”
    She reached up and slipped her small hand into his. “Please, I’m begging you...”
    The other doctor and the nurses bustled about caring for other patients. No one took notice of him and the wounded soldier. “Allow me to treat your wound. We’ll worry about this situation later.”
    She bit her lip and nodded.
    He concentrated on the wound. The ball had gone clean through and hadn’t damaged the main artery. All he had to do was clean and bandage it. As long as infection didn’t set in, she’d be all right.
    As per her wishes, he didn’t allow any of the nurses near her. He’d treat her himself until she was stable enough to go back to her own tent.
    After he’d secured a clean bandage around her thigh, she placed her hand on his shirt sleeve. The softness of her touch caused his heart to trip. How could any woman live like this?
    “Thank you, Doctor. Please say you’ll keep my secret.” Her large, blue eyes focused on him, begging him to be truthful.
    “I won’t tell anyone. But I need to check on your wound each day to be sure there’s no infection.”
    “If you’d come to my tent, we’d be away from prying eyes.”
    He nodded, letting out a deep sigh. She looked so young and vulnerable. He wouldn’t betray her trust.
    ****
    That evening, Sara sat on a rock before a blazing fire, huddled in a blanket against the winter chill. Doctor Ellison had stopped by to check her wound and satisfied with what he found, told her he’d be by tomorrow.
    Having his eyes and hands on her now that he knew she was a woman, sent a thrill through her. But what must he see, a scrawny boy-shaped girl in soldier’s garb? He had women working around him every day. And she didn’t even know if he had a special girl back home. She did know he didn’t have a wife. At least that was something.
    Once she was back on duty, she’d try to find out as much as she could about Doctor Ellison.
    Several days later, she arrived at the hospital tent to relieve one of the other stewards. Dr. Ellison was on duty. She caught his gaze, but looked quickly away, her face heating at the knowledge shared between them.
    He cleared his throat. “Private, I could use your assistance.”
    “Yes, sir.” She glanced around the tent. A few women volunteers were helping some of the men write letters. It didn’t look like there was much work to do at this hour.
    Ellison’s lips curved into a smile. “I need help setting up the barn over yonder for incoming patients. We’re much too crowded in here.”
    “Yes, sir. Would you like me to round up more men to assist?”
    “No. You and I can do it. I want to see how many more patients we can comfortably fit. I don’t know if any of the men we have here now can be shipped to hospitals any time soon.”
    “All right. I’ll fetch a lantern so we can see our way around.” She located a lantern and lit it, then turned to find Ellison shrugging into his military coat. She faced him, her gaze focusing on his firm lips beneath his well-trimmed beard. She wondered how they would taste, but flushed at her indecent thoughts.
    A dark-haired nurse turned their way as they approached the tent entrance. “Doctor, will you be gone long?” She batted her long, dark lashes.
    “No, Miss Fletcher, but my relief should be coming in soon. I’ll be in the barn if you have any emergencies before Dr. Lynch comes.”
    “Of course. I’ll send one of the stewards to get you if I need you.” She smiled brightly, then returned to the letter she was writing for one of the soldiers.
    Sara gritted her teeth. Seemed to her all the young unattached women around here had designs on Dr. Ellison. Well, she really couldn’t blame them. One glance, one smile and she swore she’d melt into a puddle on the floor.
    She hefted the lantern, hoping the