Vermillion (The Hundred Days Series Book 1) by Baird Wells

Author:Baird Wells [Wells, Baird]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Two Birds Ink
Published: 2015-06-17T04:00:00+00:00

* * *

After an hour weighing his own men against what he could see of the French lines, Matthew felt satisfied enough to return to the garrison. Their shells were empty threats, more for mental injury than any true physical damage. Under darkness with rough terrain ahead, the French had a way to go before they made themselves a target for his own battery.

Inside the gate, he slid from Bremen and handed off his reins. The horse flicked his mane and whinnied in protest, looking distraught that they were already home. Matthew gave him a good scrubbing along his wiry muzzle. “I know, sir. And we shall soon enough.” He patted Bremen's neck. “Just be patient.”

He turned to find Kate had abandoned her post at the command tent. She had not made it far. Seated on the ground, her back rested against the timbers. Head tipped up, her eyes were closed, mouth gently slack. He chuckled. It was the soldier's way: sleep, any time you could. Despite her oblivious state, her fists clutched at her field kit with a death grip. He tossed his hat atop the table beside McKinnon's quill and settled next to her. Dampened from buttocks to the backs of his knees, Matthew sat against the chilled earth, waiting for the French to fire or advance. She stirred at the rattle of a gun carriage outside the wall. Rolling her shoulders stiffly, she glanced around them, seeming to gain her bearings. “See what you needed to see?”

“I did. A damned good sight, too. They have the ridge, but no cover. That is Major Burrell's specialty.”

“What isn't?” she quipped.

“Meaning what?”

“You've known him longer than I. Do you ever get the feeling –” Kate shook her head. “Pay no mind. I'm just tired. I am not even sure what I intended to ask.”

Did he ever wonder about Ty? Continually. Sometimes it felt as though Ty were four or five people, all in the span of a day. Matthew chuckled inwardly. Whoever Ty was, he was luckily always a friend.

Realizing he had been lost in thought for some time, he glanced to Kate, staring ahead looking just as absorbed by something. The impulse came over him without warning. “Tell me about your family,” he blurted.

She laughed, hands coming up. “I've already told you about them. How much would you like to hear?”

Matthew popped up, snapped a look through his glass over the wall, and ducked down again. They had time. “Every detail.”

“That would bore you,” Kate protested.

“I will take that risk.” He would. She was incapable of telling a boring story.

She laughed and shook her head. “Hmm. There isn't anything recent I can tell you about my parents. My mother was my father's second wife, and he had no children before-”

“Mother...father's second wife, first children...I have to get a pencil so I can draw this out.”

“Stop!” She made a mock swipe at his sleeve, as if to stop his leaving. “Anyhow, my father was already old when Fann and I came along.

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