Shattered Moments by Irina Shapiro

Author:Irina Shapiro
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, Fantasy, Historical, Time Travel, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Publisher: Merlin Press LLC
Published: 2014-01-05T05:00:00+00:00

August 1779

North Carolina

Chapter 42

Finn made his way through the clearing, weaving between canvas tents that reminded him of Indian wigwams. The night was lit up by dozens of campfires, the dark silhouettes of men just visible as the firelight illuminated their faces. Some were talking softly, some laughing at a bawdy joke, and others just staring into the flames, their faces creased with fatigue and loneliness. Finn could hear the restless neighing of horses and the occasional click of metal as someone unbuckled a belt or cleaned their musket, but otherwise the camp was unusually quiet, the atmosphere strangely subdued.

He hadn’t planned on coming this way, but he wanted to see Jonah and bring word home that he was all right. Jonah had written only one letter in the past few months, asking after everyone and assuring his parents that he was well, but Mrs. Mallory was sick with worry, certain that her son wasn’t telling the truth. Finn missed Jonah more than he cared to admit. Sam and Jonah were the closest thing he had to brothers, and whereas Sam seemed to have the proverbial nine lives, Jonah wasn’t as lucky or as resourceful. If Mrs. Mallory was worried, she likely had good reason and would welcome any news he could bring her.

It took Finn the better part of an hour to finally locate Jonah’s tent since it was situated on the outskirts of the camp, closer to the woods. Finn almost didn’t recognize him at first. Jonah had always been lean, but now he was whippet-thin, his lean cheeks covered by a thick beard that made him look ten years older, his skin waxy in the light of the fire that was burning low, its flames reflecting in Jonah’s fixed gaze.

“Finn! What a surprise!” Jonah exclaimed, as he invited Finn to sit down and held out a cup of strong tea that was bitter and lukewarm. Finn took a sip, grimaced and set the cup down. “I’m so happy to see you, Finn. How’s everyone? Did Susanna have the baby?”

“Not as far as I know. Everyone is well, and they miss you. Your mother is frantic since she hasn’t had a letter from you in months.” Finn didn’t mean to sound accusing, but Jonah seemed well able to write, and months without word was torture for people back home.

“I miss them too,” Jonah sighed and took a sip of tea, seemingly oblivious to the bitterness. “I’m so sick of this war, Finn; I just want to go home. Sometimes I dream of being at home and I’m so happy, then I wake up and I’m in some godforsaken place: cold, hungry, and dirty. It seems as if it will never end.”

“You couldn’t wait to join up, remember?” Finn asked, smiling at Jonah. He had been so young and idealistic then, so eager to fight for his beliefs. The illusions had been stripped away, replaced by the grim reality of war and the senseless carnage that never seemed to end.

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