Ashes in the Wind by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss Page A

cabinet he took a clean cloth, dipped it into the water and carefully wiped the drylips. He dipped the cloth again, but this time dribbled a few drops into the soldier’s mouth. Alaina watched Cole quietly as he began to speak to the man in a tone that was strong yet cajoling.
    “This is Al. He’s going to stay with you for a while.” As she shook her head with her own desperate need to be gone far away, Cole frowned sharply, warning her to silence. “Rest easy. We’ll be able to tend your wounds in just a few moments. They’re clearing out the surgery room now.”
    Cole straightened and took Al’s thin hand into his larger one and pressed the damp cloth into her palm. “Be here when I get back. If anyone asks, it is on my order.”
    She nodded lamely.
    “Make him as comfortable as possible. It won’t be long.”
    Again she nodded and even as the captain turned away, she was reaching to the washstand for the basin and pitcher. Ever so gently she washed away the dried blood running along his cheek and, with long, cooling strokes, wiped his brow and cleaned around the bandage covering his eyes, shooing the flies that were forever gathering.
    “Al?” The faint rasp made her lean down to him.
    “Yeah, right here,” she half-whispered.
    It took an effort on the soldier’s part to utter the next word. “Thanks.”
    Alaina was suddenly glad she had taken a moment for mercy, and she bit her lips to still their trembling before she managed in her boyish vernacular, “Anytime, Yankee.”
    Cole paused in the doorway of the officer’sdayroom as the medical sergeant called his name. Sergeant Grissom hurried to catch him.
    “There be a young lady to see you, Cap’n. She’s waiting in the vestibule for ye.”
    “I haven’t time—” Cole began tersely.
    “She says it’s urgent, sir. Claims it can’t wait.”
    Cole frowned harshly. He was mystified by such a summons, but he had work to do. “Is she injured?”
    Sergeant Grissom grinned. “I would say most definitely not, Cap’n.”
    “Then is someone else injured?”
    “She did not say that, sir.”
    “Well, see if one of the other doctors is free to attend her.”
    The sergeant raised bushy eyebrows. “She said it must be you, Cap’n. And she’s been waiting near come an hour.”
    Cole sighed and pulled out his pocket watch. “I have only a moment to spare. Tell the lady I will be down directly.”
    Cole hurriedly doffed his blood-stained smock. His uniform was also marred with darkish blotches, not the proper dress to meet a lady, but there was no help for it. He hadn’t time to change. Buttoning the top of his blouse, he strode quickly down the hall.
    Roberta rose from a bench in the foyer and bestowed a brilliant smile upon Captain Latimer as he came across the vestibule toward her. “You seem surprised to see me, Captain.” She lowered her lashes demurely. “I suppose it does seem forward of me coming here like this.”
    “Indeed not, Miss Craighugh.” Cole took herhand solicitously. “I was just now told a lady was waiting. Had Sergeant Grissom mentioned how beautiful the lady was, I might have taken a moment more to prepare myself. But you must understand, I have been quite heavily detained.”
    “You need not impress me with the cause, sir.” Roberta did not try too hard to suppress a rather pretty wrinkling of her nose as she glanced daintily away from his blood-stained blouse. She was well aware of her expressions, having spent many hours practicing them in front of a mirror. “I came here hoping I could be dreadfully presumptuous, Captain.”
    “Continue, Miss Craighugh.” He smiled his consent. “Your voice is the sweetest I’ve heard all day, and I try not to question my rare moments of good fortune.”
    “You are most gallant, Captain.” Roberta tilted her wide-brimmed hat slightly so the captain could admire her fine, aristocratic profile. She knew the beauty of her long, down-turned nose and high cheekbones, the red sultry