An Unlikely Union by Shannon Farrington

Author:Shannon Farrington
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Evan’s chest was so tight that he could not breathe. The heat was unbearable, yet he was chilled. His hands, only moments ago steady and dependable, now shook uncontrollably. Well-wishers cooed over the child. All he wanted to do was get out of this room.

Nurse Emily caught his eye and, with a look of grave concern, quickly assessed his condition. He strode past her before she could speak. A thousand thoughts fired through his mind as he hastily stepped into the corridor and turned right.

The path ahead was clogged, blue subduing gray. His fellow physicians and army personnel were doing their duty, managing the last of the departing enemy soldiers, yet Evan was in full retreat. He was searching for refuge, for relief, but there was none to be had. Everywhere were legless, armless scoundrels with that dash of rebel pride in their eyes. They were weakened by defeat, yet still strong enough to remind him of what they had done to Andrew, what he in turn had done to Mary.

God forgive me.

He snaked his way through, rounded a corner and pushed past a gaggle of cackling army nurses and orderlies. He needed air. His lungs desperately craved it, but he knew that the outside docks would offer no privacy. Away from the immediate commotion, he came upon an empty room. He quickly commandeered it. It was not much wider than a buckboard wagon, just a nook where the scrubwomen left their buckets and brushes to dry. Shutting the rickety door behind him, he fell to his knees.

His legs were useless, his chest heaving. So ashamed of himself he was, for he hadn’t tasted the salt of his own tears since he was a child. He had shed not one for Andrew or Mary. Now he struggled to bring his emotions under command. He would not allow himself to come to this. He wouldn’t allow those rebs to bring him to such weakness. He must remain strong. After all, he was an officer in the U.S. Army.

But Evan knew full well he had lost the battle. He had been beaten by a Baltimore woman and her child. Now her friend, the little rebel sympathizer herself, came to finish him off. Skirts folding to the dirty floor, she knelt beside him. That look was on her face.

“Go away!” he ordered, but she did not obey. The next thing he knew her hand was on his shoulder. Her touch burned like hot lead through his flesh.

“What is it, Evan? What troubles you so?”

How dare she address him by his given name! This was an army hospital. She was his subordinate and a Southerner at that. He opened his mouth to scold her, yet the words would not come. A groan rose from deep within and all that he did not wish to reveal came pouring out.

“I didn’t save her. I could have. God, forgive me...I know I could have....”

“You did wonderfully. The baby is healthy and Julia will heal in time.

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