The Fire Within

Chapter 9

“She is going home to Maryland,” Ezekiel says glaring at Zachariah. “I’m not sure what your intentions are here, but this is what’s happening.”

Zachariah glowers at Ezekiel as they stand outside of the infirmary tents at the edge of the forest. The night is chilled for June sixteenth. The sky is clouded over with the threat of a horrific storm looming overhead. The sound of thunder and flashes of lightning in the distance announce the coming summer rains. Zachariah wanted to take Grace with him to his home in Philadelphia where he could have nurses take care of her round the clock. Where he could be with her for the week that they’ve been given to bury the dead and to mourn their friends, but Ezekiel won’t hear anything about it. Zachariah knew he was over protective of her, but he never realized how much until now.

“I’m coming with you then,” Zachariah declares. He waits as Ezekiel stares pointedly at him and prepares himself for the argument that is bound to start.

“Did she tell you about herself? Did she tell you anything that happened to her when she was younger?” Ezekiel asks him angrily.

“She did actually. She told me about the would-be fiancé and what he did to her. She told me about the death of her brother and how her father blamed her for being weak. She told me a lot, she trusted me with this information about herself. Why won’t you trust me if she has.”

Ezekiel sighs and hangs his head in defeat. He trusts this man that he’s called his friend for some time now. He just doesn’t understand why he became so enamored by her so quickly. “Explain one thing to me, Zachariah. Why? Why are you so captivated with her?”

Zachariah looks at him and smirks a little, “Because she’s different than any other woman that I’ve ever met. I’ve never met a woman so passionate about what she believes in that she risked her life to help slaves find freedom. She dresses like a man and behaves as such so that she can continue to help those that she feels are being wronged. She’s not the southern debutant who believes herself too dainty to be a part of something important and she’s not the northern lady who talks about the injustices of the south but never really does anything about it and still behaves as though she’s better than those she believes are being unfairly treated. She truly believes that those people being forced into servitude in the south should be free and treated equally. She doesn’t see color, gender, or stature, she sees the person. That’s what I like about her.”

Ezekiel looks astonished. These are the reasons he agreed to help her with her charade and these are the reasons that he thought she would never find a man good enough for her. He never believed that there were many men out there that would appreciate and cherish her in the way she should be cherished. But maybe, he thinks, Zachariah might just be the right man for her after all.

“Fine, you can help me take her to Bethesda.”

“I was thinking that we should take both women to Philadelphia,” Zachariah says. “Bethesda is still on this side of the Mason Dixon, I’m not sure they will be safe there as the Rebels march closer to Pennsylvania.”

Ezekiel thinks about this, “You’re probably right about that. We will gather Mary and move both women to Philadelphia. I’ll send a courier ahead to let Mary know to let the maid leave and to gather her belongings for the trip. But where will they stay?”

“I have a large home in Philadelphia that is currently unoccupied. You may want to have Mary ask the maid if she would like to accompany us, she may need help caring for Grace.”

Ezekiel agrees and he turns and enters the hospital tent to see how his favorite soldier is doing.

Grace lies in the cot in the hospital tent. Her shoulder throbs from the bullet that ripped through her skin and imbedded itself in her shoulder blade. After a lot of pain and torture, the doctor was able to remove the bullet and stitch the wound. They bandaged her and gave her some pain medication that she refused. She wasn’t about to take medication that would make her tired or even make her sleep. With Ezekiel and Zachariah nowhere near to protect her and her identity, she refuses to let her guard down.