Rescuing Rose by Susan Pope Sloan

Author:Susan Pope Sloan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wild Heart Books

A farm near Blake’s Mill, Georgia

Thursday, July 21, 1864

A woman was singing. Noah registered the sound as he drifted to consciousness. A pleasant voice, but the melody wobbled as if she wasn’t sure of it. What was that song? He ought to know it, but his head hurt too badly to dwell on the question.

Why did his head hurt? Why was he in a real bed where he could hear a woman singing in the next room?

He opened his eyes but saw nothing. At least he thought his eyes were open. Easing one hand up to his face, he touched bandages. His fingers found the edge of a bandage hanging over his eyes and pushed it up. Bright sunlight made him wince, but he forced himself to blink rapidly, as he’d learned to do while exploring caves back home. His vision adjusted enough to make out a few items in the room.

A pine dresser with drawers that didn’t sit properly. A mirror on the wall above a shaving stand that held a bowl and ewer. Pegs on the wall but no clothing, apart from his own jacket, trousers, and kepi. His hand crept to his chest. He’d been stripped down to his small clothes and covered with a light quilt.

The pain increased when he turned toward the window, but he couldn’t see beyond the length of blue-striped curtains. A man’s room then, he supposed, judging by the shaving items and plain furnishings. A man who wasn’t in residence, probably away in the war.

The war. Where in the world was he? Still in the South or sent home to mend? But no, this room wasn’t familiar to him. He deliberately slowed his breathing and listened for the woman’s voice again. It ebbed and flowed, as if she were walking back and forth. Why didn’t she sing the words louder so he could tell where he was? A Southern accent would prevail even in song.

The melody paused as another voice rumbled. Coming from the same direction as the singer, it sounded masculine. The woman answered in a soft Southern drawl then stopped. Detecting steps coming his way, Noah released the bandage and pretended to sleep. He needed to gather more information before letting anyone know he was awake.

He heard her creep nearer, sensed her leaning over the bed. Then she moved away, closing the door behind her. “He’s still out of it,” she said, “but you’d best stay out of the house until his men come back for him.”

Ah. So he was still in the South. His men had brought him here and planned to return for him. But what had happened?

Sounds from the other room indicated his temporary guardians were gathering items. He made out some mutterings about water as something metal clattered against another object. Maybe it was wash day. Noah waited to be sure they’d moved outside before he resumed his limited investigation.

He touched the bandage again, moving his fingers gingerly over the area until he noted a large bump near his left temple.

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