A Bride For Gideon by Caroline Clemmons

Author:Caroline Clemmons [Clemmons, Caroline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-05-09T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

They were both sound asleep when his thrashing and yell woke her. “No, Travis, no!”

Keira tried to wake him but he was locked in the nightmare. She rose and lighted the lamp. She dampened a small hand towel and wiped his brow. At first he fought her but slowly he came awake.

His breathing was ragged, as if he’d just run a long distance. “Did I hurt you?”

“No, but I had trouble waking you. You yelled about someone named Travis.”

“That’s my most common nightmare. You remember I told you there were four of us who were friends: Darren, Alex, Travis, and me. Travis died at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.”

“Obviously you witnessed his death. I’m so sorry.” She wrapped her arms around him, cradling his head on her shoulder.

He sobbed, “Worse, I caused his death.”

“You aren’t to blame for the war.”

He held on to her as if he feared letting go. “You can’t know, can’t understand what it’s like to be in the chaos of war.”

“I hope never to learn firsthand, Gideon. I know you saw and dealt with horrors beyond human understanding.”

“For four bloody years. I’ll never get over it, not if I live to be a hundred.”

“Alec has said the same. I imagine most soldiers have at least thought that.”

“I guarantee they have if they’re rational men. Some put down their guns and refuse to ever fire one again.”

She tossed the damp cloth aside and pulled her husband to the mattress beside her. She kissed his brow. “Close your eyes and try to sleep peacefully. I’ll be right here to hold you.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “I thank God you’re my wife, Keira.”

“So do I.” What a blessing to hear him say that.

She held him until his breathing let her know he was asleep. This time he rested peacefully. What horror had he relived? She wished she could take it from him.

Orla had said Darren had nightmares, too. She knew Alec did because his witch of a wife complained of losing sleep. How many thousands of men went through this?

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