Promise & Honor by Kim Murphy

Author:Kim Murphy [Murphy, Kim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kim Murphy
Published: 2016-08-20T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Chapter Fifteen

With each passing day, Sam grew stronger. Progress was slow, and there were times when he lapsed. Nights were especially bad, but he no longer called for Kate. Day and night Amanda toiled, but she was relieved he had been spared from the recent wave of fighting. “There’s been another battle at Manassas. The Yankees lost. Rumors from town say that General Lee has crossed over into Maryland.”

He grimaced as she pinned the fresh bandage. “That should make you happy.”

“I will be happy when this foolish war is over and not a moment before. I have already sacrificed enough and count my blessings you weren’t at Manassas. But what about a month or two from now? Have I patched you together only to send you to the front again?”

“With Bobby Lee in the North, maybe the war will be over by the time I regain my feet.”

Was he reassuring her or poking fun? “If General Lee’s actions bring an end to this nonsense—”

He sent her a harsh glare, warning her of the latter.

Sam grasped her hand. In spite of being wounded, his grip remained strong. His gaze turned intense. “I’m a captain in the U.S. Army. I have a duty to uphold. There’s a rebellion in this country. One which needs to be put down.”

For some reason, he was patronizing her. “Does that include old friends?” she asked.

He let go of her hand, and his eyes narrowed. “I presume you mean Jackson?”

“As a matter of fact, yes. Wil’s regiment was in the thick of the fighting at Manassas. So what if he’s among the dead Rebs? That makes one less to kill.”

His voice softened. “You know that’s not what I meant. If anyone can survive this war, Jackson can.”

While his words were meant as comfort, she thought of the past. “If he isn’t fool enough to take another bullet intended for someone else. I would have never met John—or you—if he hadn’t.”

“Amanda, I respect Jackson. We were never the best of friends, but we shared a few times—good and bad—in New Mexico.”

Awkwardness and not knowing what to say had returned. She resorted to straightening the folds in her dress.

“Do you love him?” Sam asked.

Her eyes widened. “That’s a highly improper question, Captain.”

His gaze met hers. “But an honest one.”

Like the time she had asked why he requested the transfer to New Mexico. “I’m not certain how I feel about Wil. He has helped me come to terms with John’s death. I don’t know what I would have done if he hadn’t been here, but love...?” She shook her head. “He doesn’t exactly make such a feeling an easy one.”

Sam touched an index finger to her cheek. “An honest answer. I didn’t expect anything else. You let me think there was more between the two of you as a cover for smuggling supplies.”

Had it been more? With Wil, she could never be certain. “I never meant to deceive you, but I feared you wouldn’t understand my reasoning.”

He clenched his left hand to a fist.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.