Ruby (Angel Creek Christmas Brides Book 3)

by Hildie McQueen

  He helped her down and she noticed Hank had hurried off into the trees. “Seems I’m not the only one that misunderstood your rules,” Ruby quipped.

  The army camp was not what she expected at all. It was quite well constructed actually. They entered through wooden gates, into a courtyard inhabited by men and horses. It was like a small village of connected structures. As they drove the wagon to the back, they passed a blacksmith, what looked to be a large dining area, and several other shops that were marked “Commissary”, “Quartermaster”, and other words that meant nothing to her.

  Darkness was falling which made it hard to make out much of the surroundings. However, it felt safe.

  They finally came to a stop and Ruby didn’t move. After a few moments away, Trever climbed into the back. “I’ll come and check on you. Right now I’m going to assess the situation. Get some rest.” With a brisk kiss, he climbed out and was gone.

  Morning came and Ruby was too warm to move. Sometime during the night Trevor had come and settled next to her. However now, he was gone.

  Instead of venturing out on her own, she snuggled into the blankets knowing it would be a bit before Trevor came for her. No doubt, the men would discuss what needed to be done first and such.

  Moments later she sat up and retrieved a brush so she could brush out the tangles from her hair and braid it for when Trevor came to retrieve her.

  Once her hair was combed, she crawled to the back, pushed the flap aside and peered out. From where she sat, all she could see was a back fencing and corrals. There were wooden structures meant to keep whatever animals were kept there safe from the elements. Horses stood around mounds of hay, and she spotted several cows standing near another large structure. It seemed the animals were well cared for there.

  She strained to hear, but did not make out any voices. After a few moments, curiosity got the best of her and she peered around the side of the wagon.

  Trevor and Hank were nowhere to be seen. The men that were meandering about hurried to a destination obviously not wanting to remain out in the cold.

  “How rude,” Ruby mumbled. “To be left out in the cold by one’s husband.”

  “Does Doc know you are hiding in his wagon?” A hoarse voice made Ruby yelp in surprise. An older man with wisps of gray at his temples had approached from the side of the wagon. Beside him was a pig. Both looked to her with interest.

  “I am Ruby Collins, his wife,” Ruby informed the nosy man. “And yes, he is aware that I’m here.”

  The old man looked to the pig as if expecting it to say something. “Why you reckon he left you out here then?”

  “He said this place is not the type of setting for a lady and that I’d remain in the wagon as much as possible.”

  “Hogwash. Why don’t you come to the kitchen with me. It’s warmer in there.” He started to walk off.

  Ruby held out a hand. “Sir are you Cookie?”

  “Yes I am,” the man said and walked with surprising speed to a doorway a few feet away.

  She scrambled from the wagon almost falling when climbing out and scurried after him into what felt like heaven after so many hours in the wagon. The huge kitchen was a hubbub of activity. A young soldier hurried to a back table with a basket laden with vegetables. Another peeled a mountain of potatoes while Cookie stirred one and then another huge black pot that hung over a bright fire in a hearth big enough several men could stand in.

  He motioned to a chair next to the hearth. “All I got is coffee right now. If we mix some milk in it, I bet you’ll enjoy it,” Cookie said with a toothy grin. He looked over his shoulder. “Corporal Smith fetch the lady coffee, make sure to dilute it with plenty of warm milk and add some honey to it.”

  “Honey?” Ruby’s mouth watered. “You have honey?”

  “Keep bees,” Cookie replied. “Use it mostly for cough remedy for these men.”

  When Smith brought the cup to her, the blonde young man watched with interest as she sipped it. It was like paradise in a cup. She sighed and smiled at him. “It’s absolutely perfect. Thank you.”

  Smith blushed, even his ears reddening.

  “Don’t just stand there, get back to work,” Cookie barked and the young man rushed back to his duties.

  An hour later and Trevor had yet to come for her. Cookie told her a message had been sent to him that she was in the kitchens. Soon the men began setting up, each one standing behind large bowls replete with potatoes, beans, and a meat that had been stewed with tomatoes.

  “Keeps scurvy away,” Cookie explained to her. She had no idea what scurvy was but it sounded unpleasant.

  Men came through lined up, each picking up a plate and were served food as they walked past each station. When they got to Cookie, most had something to say to him as the man placed meat on to their plate. Ruby was in charge of doling out biscuits. Although the men looked to her with curiosity, most seemed at a loss of what to say.

  One soldier in particular however eyed her with narrowed eyes, as if in distrust. Ruby immediately took a dislike to him. Something about the man gave her pause. He had a familiar air about him, a resemblance of sorts. However, she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Since he only faced her once, bypassing the bread, it was hard to get a good look once he sat with his back to her.

  It was possible the man had been a Union soldier at one time hosted in Charleston. However, that didn’t explain the way he’d looked at her. Then again perhaps he’d not been treated well by a woman recently.

  “Ma’am?” A solder held out his plate, waiting for a biscuit.

  Ruby shook her head. “I’m sorry. There you go.” The young man blushed at being address by her and scurried away.

  After mealtime was over and everyone served, the soldiers who worked for Cookie began the process of cleaning up. Ruby was enthralled by the proficiency with which everything was accomplished. Leftovers were scraped into buckets. A couple of soldiers showed up with empty buckets for the scraps. They then hurried off to feed the pigs. Dishes were washed by two soldiers while another poured water constantly to rinse them.

  Another solder returned with a rolling cart on which he’d served the officers. She supposed Trevor and Hank had eaten with them since they’d not appeared.

  While the men cleaned, she and Cookie finally sat down to eat. “Can you show me how to make biscuits?” Ruby bit down on the fluffy biscuit. “I have yet to master the art of cooking.”

  “You’ll have time to get plenty of lessons. Quite a few of our boys are sick and Doc will have his hands full. I need to send someone to make sure he eats.”

  With everything that happened, Ruby had not considered what Trevor did and had assumed he was spending the day with the officers.

  “I’d like to go see about him,” Ruby said, taking her empty tin plate to the back. She quickly washed and dried it.

  Cookie nodded. “Of course. Smith!,” he called out. “Go see about Doc Collins and if he ate. Take the Missus along.”

  The young soldier eyed her, once again his face becoming blotchy. “Yes Sergeant.”

  They walked across the courtyard and down to the right to where Smith informed her were the sick quarters. He instructed her to take off her apron and exchange it for a different one. After he handed her a long thick strip of cloth and asked she tie it around her nose and mouth. He did the same.

  Upon entering the space, the cloth did very little to mask the odor of defecation and vomit. There were four cots on one side of the room and another four on the opposite. Ruby gagged several times as they made their way past pale men on cots, some leaning over emptying the contents of their stomach, while still others just remained on their backs moaning.

  “What is wrong with them?” Ruby wasn’t sure why she whispered to Smith.

  “The ague ma’am.” Smith paled and placed a hand over his mouth and nose.

  “Except for Sergeant Pearson, he’s got something else entirely wrong. Festered wounds.”

  Hank had a bucket f
rom which he pulled wet cloths and placed them on the men’s brows. The young man took care and spoke to them in soft tones. The particular man he spoke to at the moment began coughing and Hank hurriedly pulled a bucket to the cot in case the sick man needed it.

  Remembering why she was there, Ruby pried her eyes from the men on the cots to where Trevor stood over a man on a cot that had been set up away from the others.

  As they approached Trevor’s gaze moved to her and his brow furrowed. “You shouldn’t be in here. Some of the men are not decent.”

  She’d been too shocked to notice that indeed some men were devoid of clothing. The pitiful creatures were too weak to care and unable to fend for themselves. She met Trevor’s gaze for a second before looking to the ill man on the cot. “What happened to him?”

  “He fell off his horse and was dragged for a long bit before his foot finally dislodged. Obviously bumped his head quite a bit and lost plenty of skin.” While he spoke, Trevor lifted the unconscious man’s eyelids and peered into them. He then lifted a bandage that had been wrapped around one of the upper arms and frowned in thought.

  “Have you eaten?” Ruby couldn’t help but touch the man’s brow. It was cool.

  Trevor’s gaze moved to where her hand had rested. “I did yes.” He walked around the bed to her and took her upper arm. “Let’s go outside. You look pale.”

  “Of course I’m pale, it’s dreadful in here. Why aren’t any windows open to allow for fresh air. The men are all feverish, the chilly breeze will help with that and the smell. Snatching her arm from him, she set about opening the windows as both Trevor and Hank exchanged questioning looks and watched.

  There were two large windows in the center and another set next to the front door. In the back of the space was a door, which she propped open. Immediately the room cooled. She then set about taking up the basins from the men who seemed to be either asleep or passed out and hurried with them to the back to toss the contents into a smelly barrel that had obviously been used for that purpose. She then dunked a large can into a water barrel and rinsed them before bringing them back.

  A young soldier appeared with more basins. “It’s my duty to accomplish this task ma’am.”

  She assessed the soldier. “You have failed miserably. Almost each one is full.” Ruby stopped before entering back. “Where can I find lye and a mop?”

  An hour later, the smell was not as pungent. Several of the men had been washed. Not by her personally, but she did instruct folded sacks be placed under the ones who had lost control of their bowel movements. She then set about folding sheets and placing them across the waists of those bereft of clothing.

  “I’m impressed,” Trevor said while nodding. “You surprise me.”

  “You seem to have forgotten I come from a war zone. We housed many injured in homes and helped care for them.”

  “Thank you.” His gaze was warm, sending heat to her cheeks.”

  Ruby hurried back to the kitchen area which was called a mess or something like that. This made little sense since Cookie kept it pristine. The herbs they’d brought were soon boiling, filling the kitchen with aromatic aroma of herbs and spices. The hot liquid was poured into large tin pitchers that she and Corporal Smith carted across the way to the infirmary.

  Once again, she covered her mouth and nose with the cloth and waited for the soldier to do the same.

  Inside, she began the process of ensuring each man drank the liquid. Most did without complaint, some eyeing her with too much familiarity, but Ruby wasn’t bothered from it. After all, the men were much too weak to do more than look.

  By the time supper was announced, Ruby was dead on her feet. The entire sick room was cleaner and didn’t smell as bad since the soldier in charge of emptying bedpans ensured to stay on task.

  Ruby walked outside and stretched as her back ached from bending over the cots all day. Her husband had been as busy, examining the men and doing what he could for the unconscious man. All the while, she’d noticed he maintained a protective eye on her and kept Hank busy by issuing instructions for each patient.

  “There you are. Time to feed the men. I need an extra pair of hands.” Cookie motioned for her to come across to the kitchen.

  “I’d not planned to come and become one of his troops,” Ruby mumbled to Smith who joined her half way. The young man chuckled. “Most people don’t”

  Moments later the line of men shuffled through, most looking as overworked and haggard as Ruby felt.

  This time Trevor entered with two men, one of who stopped in his tracks and studied her. He said something to Trevor who nodded. They went through the line as he neared, the man’s blue gaze met hers. “Missus Collins, pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Captain Beauregard, the commander here.”

  His southern accent brought her immediately to think of Charleston. “Are you related to Missus Catherine Beauregard?”

  The man nodded. “Yes, I am ma’am. I was just telling your husband, I am acquainted with your family. Don’t believe ever to have had the pleasure of meeting you, but I do believe to have spoken to your father a time or so.”

  The man looked to be about her father’s age, so it was no wonder he would be more familiar with her parents.

  She smiled widely at him. “It’s nice to find someone else from Charleston here.”

  The man went off to find a seat just as Trevor approached. “Do you wish to sit with Hank and I?” he invited.

  “I’ll eat later with Cookie, if you don’t mind? There are still quite a few men to serve.”

  He seemed to approve. “I will return to the sick men as soon as I finish. If you require assistance settling for the night, ask Cookie to help. I have been informed a room in the officer’s quarters has been prepared for us.”

  Although she was glad to hear they’d not be sleeping in the wagon. The idea of taking the trunks with their personal belongings to where they’d sleep made her already tired bones ache.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the man who’d made her wary earlier. Once again he didn’t come for a biscuit. Again he sat with his back to her.

  Whatever could she have possibly done that offended the man so?

  Chapter Seven

  Whenever he lost a patient, it took something from Trevor. Death was unfair and without honor in his opinion. Those he suspected to survive would die without any reason that made sense and sometimes those who seemed like lost causes sometimes survived.

  The unconscious man, a Daniel Pearson, was firmly in the latter category. Pearson was unresponsive and had not uttered a single sound since Trevor had arrived that morning. His left arm had a wound that had become horribly infected.

  He felt for the man’s pulse. It remained strong and steady. Interesting. Then he ran his hands over the patient’s stomach feeling for any internal injuries. When he turned the man on his side to inspect his back, a moan sounded and Trevor hurried through the rest of the examination. Ever so slowly, he lowered Pearson to his back.

  “Can you hear me?” Trevor spoke into the man’s ear. “If you can, squeeze my hand.” He took the man’s hand and it remained limp.

  “Try again. Squeeze my hand.” Again nothing happened.

  He caught movement at the man’s throat and watched intently. He’d swallowed. Once and then again.

  “Hank,” he called his assistant, whose task that day was to continue what Ruby had done the night before. She’d astonished him with her ease around the patients and how she’d taken matters in hand. Already the room smelled better and although many of the men remained as sick as yesterday, two had recovered enough to sit up.

  When Hank neared with a cup of broth, he asked, “Should I try to feed him?”

  “Yes. He needs sustenance. According to Captain Beauregard, he’s not been feed in three days.

  With a soldier’s help, Trevor lifted Pearson up enough so he could be fed. Then moments later as Hank spooned broth into the ill man’s mouth, he decided to go and
seek nourishment himself.

  That afternoon, he pronounced the first man fit enough to return to his quarters. Although still a bit weak, the young soldier would recover faster away from the illnesses surrounding him there.

  Ruby entered with a soldier by the name of Smith who seemed to have been appointed as her guardian. The young boy seemed barely old enough to be in the army, and he followed Ruby’s orders as if she outranked him.

  They began feeding the sick men. Some immediately threw up, while others had better luck holding down their food. Trevor neared as Ruby tried unsuccessfully to feed a man who was one of the sickest. She held up a bit of bread. “Let’s try just some dry bread. Your stomach is obviously much too weak for the broth.” The man eyed the bread with distrust before opening his mouth and biting off an even smaller piece.

  “You seem comfortable around the sick,” Trevor said to her as she gave the patient another small piece of bread.

  Her gaze met his for a split second before returning to the man who’d closed his eyes, probably battling another bout of nausea. “I did more than my share of volunteering. I worked for many hours taking care of injured men in Charleston.”

  He’d not considered it. “I’m sure it was greatly appreciated. I wasn’t aware until you told me.”

  She smiled up at him and held up a bedpan when the patient became sick. “War is not something pleasant to speak of.” Ruby frowned as she placed the pan on the floor. “What can we do for him?”

  “Wait a few minutes and try some of the herbal tonic that you made.”

  Trevor returned to where Hank wiped Pearson’s face and neck. “He swallowed a few drops here and there. Not enough, but I’ll try again later,” Hank informed him.

  The sounds coming from his stomach were becoming loud and Trevor realized he’d only eaten a biscuit that he’d washed down with coffee earlier that morning. It was almost supper time, and he was famished.

  In two days, they’d established somewhat of a routine. Unfortunately, it included them falling into bed exhausted from all that had to be done. Thankfully there were no new cases of ague. Yet two soldiers were new patients, one had fallen and broken an arm, and the milk cow kicked the other in the face.