Doubt Thou Stars Are Fire

Chapter Thirteen

I spent the next few days in bed slowly recovering. Ben, Florence, and two nurses came to me frequently to visit me. When they weren't in my room, each minute was almost agonizing.  I spent my time alone writing letters to my family, each of them long and detailed about how frustrated I was to be sitting inside of a tent and being unable to move about freely. I received only a small letter saying that they were sorry for my inconvenience. If I had told them why I was hurt, I believe that they would call me home instantly or come for me. I only told them I had gotten sick due to the changing seasons. 

"Winnifred what are you-" Benjamin opened the tent flap and found me furiously writing on parchment.  "Jesus Christ, you really are going mad from staying in here, aren't you?" he chuckled and sat by me on the bed. I tried to add another word before I began speaking to him but the paper had ripped under my hand due to the pressure I had set on it. I tossed it to the side.

I sighed heavily and nodded. "I'm having a hard time getting used to staying in her. I think I'm understanding why the soldiers get so irritated whenever they've been in the barracks for days on end, this really is maddening." 

"You can use that in some way to help them so they won't be so angry." Ben said, taking my feather pen from my hand and my book away,"now who are you writing so angrily to?" 

"My family, I've sent them two letters so far just because of how bored I am." 

"I mean it's something to get your mind off things." He looked down at the paper,"Has Florence brought you dinner yet?" 

I shook my head in reply," She's been dealing with a nurse who's worried that she'll be murdered next. I feel terrible, all these girls feel they aren't safe." 

"I mean, they chose a dangerous job in the first place, this happens whenever you're in a war. Innocent people get killed and there's not too much we're able to do but try and protect everyone." 

"I know, of course." I sighed again,"Did the General approve of my plan?" 

"I haven't gotten any word back from him yet, but he should approve of it." He smiled and ran a hand through my waves of red hair. 

"Thank you," I smiled back to him. He began to stand up and exit, but I grabbed the sleeve of his shirt and tugged him back. He stopped and stared back at me for a moment with his fiery blue eyes before kissing me gently on the lips. "I really do mean thank you, Benjamin. What do I have to express my gratitude?" 

"Would you let me kiss you again?" He smirked. I nodded, giving him permission to do it again. This time it was more full of passion. I broke away first and giggled. 

"You're sweet," I said softly. 

"But you're sweeter. Now I really do have to go this time, Caleb is waiting for me." 

"Will you let me meet Caleb some time? He seems interesting." I stated. 

"Of course, tonight?" Ben asked. 

"I have not a single thing going on, so why not?" I laughed to myself, he looks so handsome in his uniform. My heart fluttered when he smiled back to me. 

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I was sitting up in my bed with a book laying on my lap. I skimmed over the same sentence so many times it lost meaning. I kept waiting for Benjamin to come back with Caleb, who I was anxious to meet. I tried remembering the features of his bearded face. Brown hair, I believe he has brown eyes as well. I sighed and snapped the book shut. Brown hair, brown eyes. Was that really all I could remember? 

There was a commotion outside, my arm seemed to be healing faster so I peeked out from my tent. Caleb and Ben were slowly coming towards my tent from the fireside. From what I saw, Benjamin's light dragoons were around the fire, all laughing and enjoying the cold air. 

I sat back down in my bed and patiently waited for them to come in. Sure enough, a few moments later I heard Ben's voice call from the outside,"Are you decent?" He asked. 

I grinned and shook  my head,"Of course, Benjamin." I answered. 

Caleb stumbled in, smelling like ale and the woods. "Is this the gal you were talkin' about?" Ben's cheeks flushed pink and he tried quieting the drunken man. "Ah, Benny Boy, it's okay she's a pretty gal ya...ya can.." he lost his balance for a moment but found it when he plopped down on my desk chair,"What was I sayin'?" 

I was unable to see Caleb's size when he peeked in through the tent flaps, he was a tall man with muscles you could almost see through his jacket. 

"Sorry, he got a bit too much in him," Benjamin smiled anxiously,"my apologies-" 

"I remember now! She's the girl ya said that ya wanted to run away with-" 

"Caleb!" Ben said, his cheeks now profusely burning red,"I told you to be quiet." 

My interest sparked,"What were you saying, Caleb?" I grinned devilishly at Benjamin,"You said Ben wanted to run away with me?" 

"Oh yeah, said you're the prettiest girlie he's ever 'ad the chance to lay his eyes on." I pressed my lips together and tried to hide my blush but looking down to the floor. Benjamin laughed nervously and urged his friend to stop talking about this immediately.  "Ah hell, Benny at least she's finding out now rather than..Then, well never finding out." He drunkenly leaned to the side. 

"Yes and now it's a mess I had to prefer that you-" Ben started, his face was burning red with embarrassment. 

"That I what? I'm tryna help you Benny Boy, you weren't gonna tell her a thing!" 

"Who said that I wasn't?" Ben said, now beginning to push him out of the tent. 

"Me, I said you weren't because you're- Are we leavin'? Ah shite, Goodbye my fair lady," He called as Ben pushed him from my tent. I laughed and shook my head, replaying back the scene that had taken place in front of my bed. Was Ben honestly that shy? It didn't seem like that. 

At least an hour passed before Ben arrived back to me, he looked so worn, I assumed he was dealing with Caleb and his drunkenness. "I swear it's a blessing that drinking doesn't shorten his temper." Ben rubbed his eyes and sat at the edge of my bed. 

"You know you can take your uniform off, right? You don't have to be done up in blue and gold with me. Also, I agree with that, we'd all be doomed if he were." I sat up and moved closer to him. I couldn't lie, I was freezing since Caleb had walked in and let the cold autumn air in. 

"I will later, it's cold in here though." He glanced at me up and down,"aren't you just a bit cold Winnie?" 

"I am actually. Was that stuff that Caleb was saying...was that true? You wanted to run away with me?" I kicked my legs over the side of the bed and sat next to him with my patched brown blanket wrapped around.  

"I mean, would there be a problem if I did want that?" He put an arm around my waist.

"I don't believe so, I'd rather hear it from you though and not a drunken man." I giggled and rested my head on his shoulder,"I'd run away right now if I were able to, and I'm delighted to know that you want to as well. Maybe in another life, we can." 

"Maybe of course, but we do have certain tasks to maintain here. When this is all done, we should run away together." 

"I'd enjoy that very much." I looked up and him and locked eyes. It was only a moment before he leaned down and planted a  soft kiss on my lips.