Helen’s expression gradually calmed. She looked around at the rest of the squad. “Okay, okay. You’re right, okay? But what do we do about it?”
Bett looked around quickly. Rains was almost through the line. “I’ve got an idea,” she said, and everyone looked expectantly at her.
While the officers were busy hooting and hollering as Rains approached with Sergeant Moore’s food, everyone in the squad except Helen and Tee got up quietly and went through the line again. Rains waited at Moore’s side while she made a big production of tucking in her napkin and preparing her silverware. Before she could take a bite, however, the other half of the officers’ table began laughing. Marching as best they could while carrying trays, the entire squad approached, with Bett calling out the cadence from the rear. Jo led, and when she reached her shocked sergeant, she called out, “Please be seated, ma’am.”
Rains looked around uncertainly and then went to her usual seat at the end of the table without a word. Following her, Jo set down a tray with every salad option on it. “Compliments of your squad, ma’am.”
Rains stared at the food for several seconds, and Bett was sure the corner of her mouth twitched. “Thank you, Private Archer.”
Jo stepped aside, making room for Barb, whose tray carried every type of bread available. “Compliments of your squad, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Private Ferguson.”
Each person followed, bringing meats, vegetables, and soups of every variety being served. The entire mess hall was watching, with laughter and growing applause following each presentation. Finally, when the plates in front of Rains stretched across most of the table, Bett approached with a tray of desserts—but only those containing chocolate. Rains covered her mouth with her hand as Bett repeated, “Compliments of your squad, ma’am,” but she couldn’t cover the genuine laughter in her eyes.
In spite of having cleared her throat, Rains’s voice sounded slightly strained as she replied, “Thank you, squad leader.”
The applause had started up again but it died quickly as Helen walked toward the officers’ table. Worried that Helen would lose her temper again, Bett had specifically told her not to participate, even leaving Tee to keep her company. She wondered if she ought to intercept her, but Helen marched past Sergeant Moore without the slightest glance. Stopping in front of her sergeant, she came to attention. Extending the trophy, she said, “Compliments of me, ma’am.” Before Rains could reach for the object, Helen turned and faced the room, holding it over her head. “It says Sergeant Rains, BSE. That stands for Best Sergeant Ever.” She turned back and lowered her voice. “I guess we both know it ain’t likely, but if there’s ever, ever anything I can do for you, you just ask, all right?”
Rains gave the same, slight nod as Helen placed the trophy on the table. “Thank you, Private Tucker.”
*
The last days of basic training were hectic, as always. Post-training work assignments had been given out, and now the specialized training classes the recruits attended meant they were seeing each other much less during the day. But that evening, with only two full days before graduation, the squad was unusually scattered.
Rains was in one of the small offices in the administration building, working to finalize travel arrangements for those who would be working at other locations after graduation. When she’d marched the squad to dinner earlier, she’d noted Bett’s absence but she didn’t even bother to mark down a demerit. Even the Army wasn’t going to entirely change Bett’s headstrong ways, apparently. But Bett would be here after the others were gone. She’d given up trying to suppress the pleasure of that thought. Bett will be here. We’ll have time to figure out—
In the distance of her mind, Jessie’s voice echoed. On the night of their sleepover, Rains had been so astounded by all the new ways her body was feeling that she had almost panicked. Jessie, sensing her nervousness, had stopped her tender caresses, telling Rains not to worry, saying they’d have time to figure all that out. But Jessie had been wrong. Was she wrong now? After a quick glance at the room clock, she stood, fighting a little snake of fear trailing down her back. Though it was a bit early for CQ, she told herself there might be some questions, some last-minute details to be attended to.
Harold Lutz met up with Rains as she was walking quickly toward the barracks. “Did you hear the asshole is getting transferred out next week?”
“Yes,” Rains said. “About time.”
“Word is, he’s not taking it too good. I heard he was talking especially bad about you. Like, blaming you.”
“I’m not worried about Crowley,” Rains said quietly. “He doesn’t want a fight. He is a coward.”
“Or not a fair fight,” Lutz agreed. “He’s the type that tries to win by taking away something you care about, not playing you face to face.”
At that, Rains felt the snake become a shaft of dread that passed through her back and into her heart, where it lodged with the sharpness of an arrowhead. “Will you check on my squad, Lutz? I’m going to the guardhouse.”
*
Through the guardhouse window Rains could see that Crowley had Bett gagged with her hands tied behind her in the same chair where he had assaulted Jenny. She thought she detected a red swelling on Bett’s face, too, as if she’d been slapped hard, and there was a deep scratch on Crowley’s cheek. Rains tried to quiet the hammering beat in her ears, to think of the best approach, of how to get Bett out safely before putting her knife in Crowley’s heart. She flattened onto the ground as he came to the door. There was no cover, but the guardhouse was on a slight rise, and it was dark enough that she was confident she wasn’t seen.
She heard Crowley’s voice call out, “Hey, Chief! You out there?” Then to Bett: “Don’t you worry. Geronimo will be here soon. Then we’re gonna settle things once and for all.” He sounded as though he’d been drinking. Good, Rains thought as she crept closer, still working out her next move. But then she heard him say, “So in the meantime, let’s you and me get better acquainted, huh, sweetheart?”
In an instant, Rains was in the doorway. “I’m here, Crowley. Let her go. This is between you and me.”
“Oh, fuck no, Chief. Me and your little soldier here, we’re gonna have some fun and then it’s your turn.” He waved his pistol at Bett. Carefully, Rains begin to move into the tiny room.
“That’s far enough.” His voice sounded almost normal and Rains stopped immediately. “You think you’re gonna get me shipped off to the front? I almost made it through this whole war safe and sound just watching you twats parade around, and now you’re sending me out to die on some fucking island or something?” Spittle flew from his mouth and his head shook wildly.
Never taking her eyes off him, Rains reached up and took off her hat. Crowley watched dumbfounded as her braid tumbled out. Loosening her tie, Rains undid the top two buttons of her shirt while saying in a seductive voice, “Come on, Crowley. We can work this out.” She thrust her hips toward him in a provocative motion as she undid two more buttons, her firm flesh shimmering through the gap. “I’ll talk to the colonel. Say it was all a mistake.” Crowley’s mouth was open and he swayed slightly. “Wouldn’t you rather start with some nice red meat?” She ran her hands up to her breasts and reached around to her back, pulling out her shirttail. Then the knife was in her hand and before he could react, she was behind him with the blade at his throat, her free hand holding the pistol to his side. Crowley tensed and the gun fired, the bullet striking the floor. Bett struggled to get free as acrid smoke spread throughout the small space.
Crowley tried to move away and Rains dug the point of her knife in until a thick drop of blood materialized on his neck. Her voice sounded almost exactly like before, but the message was very different. “That’s right, Crowley. That’s what I want.” Her voice became a growl. “An excuse to cut your fat White throat.” He stopped struggling. For the first time, Rains looked at Bett. “Are you all right?” she asked, and Bett nodded emphatically. Rains slid the
blade from the side of Crowley’s jaw toward his Adam’s apple. The drop became a thin line of blood. “Did he hurt you?” Rains asked, almost more to Crowley than to Bett.
Bett shook her head, concerned that Rains wasn’t really looking at her. What she had seen in Rains’s eyes the night that she had dealt with Irene Dodd was nothing compared to the wild viciousness in her expression now. She is going to kill him, Bett realized. Unable to make her muffled words heard, she struggled frantically to free her hands. Rains slid the blade a little farther across, and the blood on Crowley’s neck began to drip. “But he wanted to, didn’t he?” The blade finished its journey to the other side of his jaw. “He likes to hurt women.” Her voice was menacing now.
“Naw, Rains, naw. It wasn’t nothin’ like that.” Crowley begin to babble, his voice higher with fear. “I was just mad…because of the transfer, you know.”
“Shut up, Crowley,” Rains growled. She moved the dagger up his face past his ear to the edge of his hair. The bead of blood followed. “Or I’m going to have my first scalp in ten years. And it’s going to be yours.”
The pistol clattered to the floor.
Harold Lutz came into the doorway, holding a rifle. “All right, Crowley. You’re gonna spend your last week here in the stockade. And maybe the rest of the war, too.”
Crowley looked almost relieved. But Rains didn’t move away and the knife went in a little deeper. Crowley whimpered.
Bett had finally gotten her hands freed and she had the gag off at last. “Rains, it’s okay.” She gently touched the arm that held the knife. “Stand down, Sergeant.”
Without releasing her captive, Rains turned slightly toward Bett’s voice. Bett pressed close to her, hoping her whispered words would break through the rage. “The battle is over, Rains. You’ve won. I’m fine. I’m here. It’s all right.”
Rains turned and sheltered Bett close to her chest and held her tightly—not bothering to button or tuck in her shirt or put her hat back on. Lutz got the bleeding corporal out and the medics arrived to take Bett to the infirmary. Bett was shaky but not crying, although if Rains hadn’t been holding her, she wasn’t sure she would still be standing.
*
Bett gradually awakened to hospital sounds and morning light. Seated in a chair that she had moved right next to the bed, and where she had apparently spent the night, Rains held Bett’s hand; she was bent at the waist so her head rested on the bed in the crook of her other arm, folded near Bett’s knee. Not wanting to wake her, Bett lay very still and studied the side of Rains’s face. She thought again how much younger Sergeant Rains looked without her hat, with that gorgeous braid trailing down her back. Her bangs hanging over her eyes were somewhat ragged, and maybe that was what made her look like a little girl who needed a haircut. In sleep, her features were relaxed and sweet, with none of her guarded, severe expressions. Bett was ready for the day when she would see Rains actually smile. More than anything, she wanted to be the one to make that happen.
Suddenly, Rains gasped and sat bolt upright, looking alarmed. Bett squeezed her hand and watched Rain’s eyes gradually focus, as if she’d come from a long way off. Then she noted something different in Rains’s expression. She looked at Bett now, full on, with no inclination to look away or shutter her emotions.
“How are you feeling?” Rains asked, stretching her shoulders but still holding Bett’s hand.
“Like I’m quite ready to get out of here.” Bett smiled, sitting up in the bed. “You didn’t have to stay all night, you know.” Bett had tried for a casual tone but wondered if the sergeant had any idea how comforted she was by seeing Rains beside her when she awoke.
“Well, I will say,” Rains replied, sounding serious as always, but her eyes had turned bright, “if that’s what they mean by sleeping together, I’m rather disappointed.”
It took Bett a few seconds to process this uncharacteristic remark, and then she broke out into a rush of laughter. “Oh my God, Sergeant. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard you make a joke before. Especially one so risqué.” Rains grunted as if in disagreement, but her mouth turned up a bit as she turned her head from side to side, stretching her neck. “What if I absolutely guaranteed that you wouldn’t be disappointed the next time?” Bett asked coyly. She moved Rains’s hand toward her breast and was leaning forward as the sound of the nurse’s voice came down the hall.
“I hear you, Sergeant. You come out here and leave that girl alone. You got some business with me now.”
“Where are you running off to?” Bett asked, releasing Rains’s hand regretfully and settling back onto her pillow.
Rains reached for her hat on the night table and Bett watched with great interest as the sergeant wound her braid to fit under it and settled the hat on her head. The plait started high on her head and now she wound it to fit under the cap, allowing only the thin line of scissored hair on her neck to show beneath it. “I had to make a deal in order to stay with you. And now that you’re awake, I’ll have to fulfill my part of it.”
“I hope you didn’t sell the family jewels or some such. I’m quite fine, really.”
“No, just agreed to go for some treatment.” In response to Bett’s quizzical expression, she added, “Apparently Crowley’s pistol shot caught a bit of my leg. Either that or it was a splinter ricochet.”
A shadow crossed Bett’s mind at the mention of Crowley’s name, and she grabbed Rains’s hand again and put it to her lips. “I knew you would come,” she whispered, closing her eyes. “You’re much too gallant not to save a lady in distress.”
Rains cupped Bett’s cheek with her other hand. “I want—I want you to know you can count on me, Bett. If you ever need me, I want you to call for me. Call with your heart and I will hear you. I will come anywhere, anytime.” Giving Bett’s hand a soft caress before releasing it, she stood and walked stiffly toward the door, buttoning her jacket as she went. As she moved away, Bett could see the dark stain of dried blood down the side of her left pant leg.
*
Bett sat anxiously in the waiting area until Rains was released. She saw the sergeant taking a few painful steps down the hall, grimacing as she adjusted her weight to compensate for the work that had been done on her leg. Then she saw Bett and lifted her head, walking toward her normally.
“Don’t you try to fake it with me, Sergeant,” Bett said in an angry tone. “And if you ever take a wound like that again and then sit around all night with some woman, there’ll be hell to pay, I can assure you.” Rains’s expression turned so worried that Bett had to look away. Then she stepped as close to Rains as she dared and whispered, “And if you knew how hard it was for me to keep from kissing you right now, you surely wouldn’t have put me through it.”
“Sorry,” Rains mumbled, looking uncertain, and Bett realized they might have given her something for the pain.
“Come on, then.”
She put Rains’s arm around her shoulder and led her limping out the door as the nurse’s voice followed them. “Wouldn’t take no crutch. Oh no. Gotta walk out herself like some war hero or something.”
“Are you hungry?” Bett asked as they made their way across the compound. “The mess hall has just started serving lunch.”
“Probably should eat,” Rains mumbled. “Shot’s making me feel sick.” She stopped for a minute and Bett could see her lips moving as if she was saying something over and over again.
“What is it, Rains? Do you need something?”
Rains took some deep breaths. “It translates to stay strong. My brother and I used to say it to each other when we were tired or hungry on our hunts. Stay strong.”
Bett nodded in understanding and she touched Rains’s cheek briefly. “You are strong, Sergeant. You’re the strongest person I know.”
Sergeant Rains straightened somewhat and turned her eyes to Bett’s. “Then you should get to know yourself better,” she suggested, and Bett smiled.
They started walking again. When they reached the mess hall, B
ett opened the door and helped Rains up the steps. “You go on,” she said, thinking that they probably shouldn’t enter the room together, especially with Rains leaning on her. “I’ll be right behind you.”
Rains was no more than five limping steps into the room when the call went out. “Attention!” The entire mess hall stood as one, saluting. Rains looked around in confusion for a moment. Bett watched proudly from just outside the doorway. She knew this was the WAC’s way of honoring their own, of acknowledging a special deed. And you deserve it, my dearest Gale, Bett thought as Rains took a breath to gather herself, straightened, and walked normally to the officers’ table. Once there, she executed a sharp military turn and returned the salute. Everyone sat. Bett walked in after counting slowly to one hundred, and her squad led off the cheering. The officer’s table joined in. Rains startled at the noise, looking around for the source of the celebration. When her eyes found Bett, she gave a single nod. Bett couldn’t help letting a smile spread across her face. Rains looked away as one of the other officers asked her a question. Bett sat happily with her friends, thinking she had never in her life wanted anyone more than she wanted Sergeant Gale Rains. And never in her life had she been so sure that someone was worth waiting for.
*
Graduation was held on a wonderful fall afternoon. The band played and every platoon paraded around the grounds, showing off their marching skills to the officers, VIPs, and proud parents. Bett was not the least bit surprised that no one from her family was in attendance. She knew how they felt about her participation in the WAC, but she found she honestly didn’t care. She was proud of what she’d accomplished and that was enough. Bett knew that Rains’s leg must still be hurting her, but the sergeant gave no sign. She wore the olive uniform skirt and jacket, for the second time that Bett could remember, and the dress WAC cap with her braid tucked back inside, of course. After their marching was over, Sergeant Rains stood, along with the other sergeants, through the rest of the ceremony, awarding Private First Class designations to some of her recruits, many of whom would be leaving Fort Des Moines to take up postings at Army locations around the country. Sergeant Rains said her good-bye to each with a handshake and a few words, accepting excited embraces from a few—after saluting first, of course. Bett did not hug her, but when they shook hands, she winked and slipped a piece of paper into Sergeant Rains’s palm as cleverly as a spy. It was the address of her new house in town—near the library, naturally. Rains slipped it into her pocket with great care.
Basic Training of the Heart Page 24