Appomattox Saga Omnibus 2: Three Books In One (Appomatox Saga) by Morris Gilbert

Author:Morris, Gilbert [Morris, Gilbert]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2012-05-01T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

MYSTERIOUS PATIENT

Well, Miss Dix, I suppose you’ve been forced to change your policy.”

Brigadier General William Alexander Hammond, the surgeon general of the United States, smiled down at Miss Dix fondly. He was a big man of only thirty-four, dark and powerful. A beard and mustache covered the lower part of his heavy, intelligent face, and with his strong physique and personality, he seemed to fill every room he entered.

Miss Dix stared at him, bewildered by his remark. He’d come on one of his periodic visits, and the two of them had gone over the Armory Square Hospital thoroughly.

“Why—I don’t know, sir,” Miss Dix said. “Which policy have I changed?”

Hammond nodded toward the tall, strong-looking nurse who was carefully moving a patient whose legs were heavily bandaged. “Why, everyone knows you won’t have good-looking young nurses.” He smiled, then added, “But that young woman certainly comes in the category of good-looking.”

Miss Dix flushed slightly but lifted her head in a belligerent gesture. “I haven’t changed my policy at all, Dr. Hammond, but it is a foolish person who adheres blindly to a rule. Miss Swenson is an exception.”

Hammond’s dark eyes grew interested. “How is she exceptional?”

“She’s a very serious young woman,” Miss Dix said at once. “Most young women’s minds are filled with thoughts of courtship and marriage, but this young lady thinks only of service.” She watched the little tableau, noting how carefully the nurse eased the wounded man over to his side so that she could slide the soiled sheets out from under him, and how she spoke to him quietly the whole time. And she noted, as well, the expression on the face of the wounded man.

“Her name is Grace Swenson,” Miss Dix said without taking her eyes from her young worker. “I’d like for you to meet her.”

“Has she been with you long?”

“Not nearly as long as I’d like.” Miss Dix’s thin lips turned upward slightly in a rare smile. “Watch your behavior, General. Miss Swenson is a clergyman.”

“A preacher?” Hammond’s heavy brows shot upward in an involuntary fashion. “She doesn’t look like any preacher I ever saw!”

“She is, though—a Quaker. Come along, General.” She led the large officer to stand beside the bed, saying, “Nurse Swenson?”

The surgeon general watched as the young woman, dressed in gray except for the white bonnet on her head, helped the wounded man lie down. She was very deliberate, finishing the chore at hand before turning around to say, “Yes, Miss Dix?”

“I want you to meet someone. This is William Hammond, the surgeon general.”

“I’m happy to meet thee, sir.”

Hammond bowed slightly, saying, “My pleasure, Miss Swenson.” He was favorably impressed with the young woman’s calm demeanor. He was an astute student of people and studied faces carefully. He perceived in a glance that she was very tall, and he noted the strength in her feminine figure. He found her rather squarish face and fine complexion most pleasing to look at, and her light blue eyes held the direct stare that he was accustomed to finding only in men.

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