The Vicky Series: Book 3: Living A Dream

Chapter 6 Part 2

"Those poor citizens! Those awful men will find Henry a worthy opponent. He chased a renegade band of bandits through two countries until he stopped them... and he'll stop those wicked men too."

Quin was touched by her loyalty. But his news wasn't finished. There was more. This wasn't the worst, but it was bad. He pulled a letter from his pocket and turned it over reluctantly.

"This came with the dispatch." He said by way of explanation.

Vicky thought the news of the violence was what upset Quin. His face wore a pained expression and she knew that there was more news to tell...more bad news. She let her eyes fall on his extended hand and the letter it held. A cold chill trounced down her spine and she shook her head. Her mouth was suddenly dry. She swallowed and tried twice before she found her voice.

"I—I—" she shook her head. "I can't!"

Her heart was thumping in her chest and she twisted her hands together and shook her head again. No! It must be about Penelope. Oh no. No. NO!

"It's from Penelope." He said quietly and felt his heart break as her terrified eyes flew up to lock on his. "Shall I read it to you?"

She swallowed and opened her mouth but only a mewling sound passed her lips. She clamped her mouth shut with a click of her teeth and nodded as tears began to gather in her eyes. He wanted to pull her into his lap and tell her everything would be alright. But he knew there was more to tell and he couldn't make that promise.

He'd waited as long as he could. Henry's dispatch and this letter had forced his hand. It was time to tell her. As he watched her now it felt as though someone had reached into his chest and squeezed the life from his heart. After he said what he needed to he doubted anything he could do would bring her any measure of comfort. He only prayed it wouldn't kill her.

He cleared his throat as he pulled the letter from the envelope. He briefly glanced back up at her before he turned his attention to the neat rows of writing and began to read in a steady voice.

My Dearest Friend:

I have wondered many times in these past weeks if I should have stayed on with you longer. Never more than three days ago. I am grateful to the good Lord that I am still alive to write this today. Actually the store owner's wife has come to see me today and agreed to write this for me, God Bless her kind heart. Let me explain and set your mind at rest, for I am mending well.

There is much trouble here, as I'm sure you're aware more than most. I have always thought myself a sensible person but after so many months of being inside these walls I had not realized how much I was missing until I spent those weeks with you. I confess now that I looked forward to your afternoon nap so that I could walk about outside. It was perfectly safe to do so, of course.

That said, after I returned to Heinrich I began to feel as though the walls were closing in on me. So three days past I ventured from the bivouac. Three young men needed items from the general store and decided to go when they were off duty. I wanted—no, I think I needed to be out more than I needed any particular item...so I joined them. But I get ahead of myself. Let me go back.

You've seen several posts, both in Las Cruces and the ones you're major has served. It's not so different here really. Or so I'm told as this is the only post I've ever lived on. What makes this ordinary camp a dangerous place is that it is a Union post while the town and the folks settled around are mostly from the south. Heinrich says it's worse than sneaking behind enemy lines.

I have no idea about that, of course, but he has forbidden anyone to leave the camp alone. There are only five families living here and we are not to leave without being accompanied by at least TWO soldiers. Although he has lectured us (being the civilian families) that it is safer if we don't leave the camp at all.