Dr. Jacobson headed to his quarters, his body and mind weary beyond belief. The doctor in him knew he could lie down and sleep twenty-four hours in a row. The practical side of him understood he didn’t have that option.
He was almost to his cabin when the sound of feet behind him startled him into motion. Too late.
A hand muffled his cry, and steel-like arms dragged him behind his quarters. He tried to twist, but the hard, bloody work earlier in the day made him weak. Dr. Reynolds stood nearby, but he wasn’t the one holding him prisoner. His captor pushed Dr. Jacobson away, causing him to stumble as he faced his attacker. Shock overcame him.
Sergeant Hanks.
Dr. Reynolds smiled. “Thank you, Sergeant Hanks. That was a little robust for my liking. I didn't say to damage him.”
Fury rose up inside Dr. Jacobson. “What on God's earth do you think you're doing?”
“A little birdie told us what you did to get the guards to allow that fiasco to happen earlier,” Dr. Reynolds said.
Puzzled, Dr. Jacobson stared at Dr. Reynolds. “What are you talking about?”
Dr. Reynolds said, “You bribed guards to release Lilly Billing's brother and her lover.”
Apprehension made Dr. Jacobson edge away from the other men. “Why do you care if I bribed them? You bribe guards all the time, Oscar. And it was nothing more than a quick visit.”
Sergeant Hanks threw a surprised look at them both. “Bribery? Both of you?” His voice was tinged with amusement.
Dr. Reynolds cleared his throat. “I do. But this is different.”
Dr. Jacobson took a half step forward, squelching a desire to punch the sanctimonious man in the face. “How?”
Sergeant Hanks snorted. “Because you’re helping Yanks, that’s why.”
Dr. Jacobson threw the soldier a disgusted look. “And you’re surprised?”
The sergeant’s expression matched his angry tone. “Ain’t surprised one bit.”
Dr. Jacobson pondered trying to take these two men down, and quickly realized he didn’t have any energy to try and fight two men. If he wanted out of this alive, he’d need to talk his way out of trouble.
He said, “Lilly is an excellent nurse and a kindly woman. I thought she deserved a little peace seeing her loved ones. With conditions in the prison being what they are, it's unlikely her brother and betrothed will survive their time here. It was Christian charity.”
Dr. Reynold’s leaned one shoulder against his quarters, his icy expression less visible under nearby torchlight. “She is an excellent woman in her own way, but if you do it again, I will get you both removed from the area. And in your case, Wirtz will have you executed. Miss Billings...well, he'll banish her and have her lover and brother executed. She'll be all alone in this God-forsaken area without a single protector. Except for maybe Chillingsworth.” He paused, perhaps considering all his options. “Or, if she settles down and cooperates with me, I could be her protector. She would make a fine Confederate wife.”
Dr. Jacobson’s stomach twisted, his concern so high he thought he might be sick right there. “Don't you even consider it.”
Dr. Reynold’s pondered a moment, his smile chilly. “Don't worry. I'm not a man without honor. I'm not a rapist. But if she wants to survive, she'll turn to me.”
The pleasure on the man’s face stirred outrage inside Dr. Jacobson. “I've got plenty on you, Oscar. Things that no one else knows. You could kill me, but I have left instructions with someone that if anything happens to me, the information on you will be released. You're guaranteed of that.”
Dr. Reynolds’ cold smile disappeared as Dr. Jacobson started to move away slowly. Dr. Reynold’s sneered at him. “Watch your back, Yankee. Watch your back.”
Hanks laughed. “Yeah. Don't matter what you know about the doc here, Jacobson. We could kill you just for the joy of it.”
Apparently they’d exhausted their threats, because Reynolds and Hanks left. Dr. Jacobson watched until they disappeared beyond the torchlight. A laugh echoed out of the darkness, but Dr. Jacobson couldn’t be sure if it was inside the prison, or the evil delight of both Hanks and Reynolds.
Daylight had come when two guards on rounds between the woods and the prison saw something just inside the shady woods.
The first guard stared into the semi-darkness. He was already scared and tired. He despised this duty, especially because the woods beyond frightened him in a way he didn’t understand.
“What the hell is that?” the first guard asked.
A bloody wooden stake jutted out of the middle of the road leading into the forest. The second guard realized what was impaled on the stake. He went wide-eyed and slack-jawed. He backed away.
The first guard found his voice. “Jesus, Jesus. Oh, bloody Jesus. Is that what I think—”
Both men backed away as terror ripped through them.
Impaled on the stake was Sergeant Hanks' head.
LILLY
Inside the medic tent that day, Lilly attended to a sick, feverish and weak prisoner. He looked up at her, his eyes filled with thankfulness.
“I know you have worse things to deal with, Miss, but I thank you for your kindness,” the prisoner said.
Lilly rinsed a cloth in cool water and placed it on his forehead. “Nothing worse at the moment. Your fever seems a bit better. Keep the cloth on your forehead.”
The prisoner’s blue eyes didn’t reflect his suffering, but clear curiosity and maybe a hint of fear. “I just figured with what happened to the Sergeant…”
His voice trailed off, and Lilly urged him to say more with, “What do you mean?”
Embarrassment pinked his cheeks. “Oh, nothing to concern yourself with, Miss.”
She held the cool cloth to his forehead again, tired of men patronizing her and assuming she couldn’t abide the more horrendous things in life.
“Please don't spare me because you think I'm the fairer sex,” she said with sarcasm. “I am a nurse, and I’ve seen the worst of life.”
Looking chastened, he said, “Word in the yard is two guards found Sergeant Hanks' head impaled on a stake, on the road into town.”
Lilly froze in shock, but found her voice a moment later. “Who would do such a thing?”
“Don't rightly know, Miss, but word is it wasn't Union soldiers. Men are talking, about...things…”
Lilly leaned closer and whispered, “What kind of things?”
Now the sick prisoner’s eyes turned pleading. “I don’t want to scare you, Miss.”
Lilly considered the man’s health and maybe she would make him worse by pushing, but she needed to know. “What things?”
“Some men say it's the dogmen.” He lowered his voice. “Evil demonic beasts from the bowels of hell. They say the dogmen feed on the fear and suffering of man, and well, what better place to find suffering than this death camp?”
Lilly didn’t know what to think. “You don't believe such nonsense, do you? A more rational explanation would suggest Union soldiers, or perhaps Hanks had enemies within the prison staff?”
The prisoner closed his eyes, as if talking had drained his energy.
Lilly patted his forehead with the cloth.
The prisoner spoke again, his voice barely a whisper. “Whatever it was, Miss, it ripped his head right off his body, and ate his innards.”
Later that day in the medical tent, Lilly washed her hands at a basin of fresh water while Dr. Jacobson unpacked supplies. The entire morning Lilly had spent plotting something and deciding how she’d manage to get away with her plan.
She dried her hands on a towel and turned to the Dr.. “I'd like to go into town tomorrow if I may. Could that be arranged? I need to tend to female concerns.”
There was a mix of caution and amusement in his eyes. “I don't see why not, as long as you don't make a run for it.”
Lilly smiled, even though she didn’t feel it. “Leaving my post is not in me, doctor. I wouldn't leave the sick and injured when they need my assistance. I won’t leave when my brother and Benjamin are still here in this prison. I just need a few things that I would rather not trust a man to locate for me. I am sure you understand.”
Dr. Jacobson nodded, his eyes still sparking with amusement.
Lilly’s cheeks went hot.
“I can have Isaac take you back to town with him after his morning supply drop. Just instruct him when to bring you back,” he said.
Lilly was relieved. “Thank you. I wasn't sure Dr. Reynolds would allow it, or Sergeant Hanks, and…well I know he isn't a problem anymore.”
His expression turned thoughtful, and for a moment she wondered if he would renege on his decision.
Instead he said, “You go on into town, take your time. Remember, you are not a prisoner here.”
The next morning Lilly, Isaac and Chillingsworth sat cramped together on the cart seat, ready to head away from the prison. Isaac, just as he always did, seemed completely at ease.
Lilly kept her gloved hands twisted together, nerves making her jumpy. Besides that unwanted emotion, she couldn’t ignore her irritation anymore.
“There really was no need for you to accompany me, Corporal Chillingsworth. I can take care of myself in town just fine. And I have Isaac to help me.”
Chillingworth threw her a concerned look. “Wouldn't hear of letting you go alone, Lilly. A woman like you needs protection at all times.”
She rolled her eyes to the heavens for a moment, then turned her gaze back to his. Finally she decided a lightness and sense of humor would be good policy. She kept a playful tone in her voice when she said, “And I suppose you are just the man to lend this protection?”
Chillingworth scowled and looked away. Isaac threw her a grin and she returned it. He looked away and clicked to the horse. She looked up and saw Dr. Reynolds in one of the guard towers. What is he doing up there?
DR. JACOBSON
Dr. Jacobson felt a rush of air as Dr. Reynold’s charged into the medical tent, his voice tight and face equally alarmed.
“You let her go into town? Are you mad? If word gets out what is happening here—”
“What Reynolds?” Dr. Jacobson said as he stepped toward the other man. “What would happen if she told them what is happening here? Maybe they have a right to know. Besides, you do not seriously believe people in town don't already know what is happening at this prison, do you? Don't worry. They haven't done a thing to protest or improve prison conditions before now. Even if she tells the whole countryside, no one cares.”
Reynolds met Jacobson halfway, hands on hips, his stance filled with cocky anger. “Are you accusing me of something, Dr. Jacobson? If so, I could have your hide for it.”
Dr. Jacobson didn’t feel the least intimidated by the other man’s posturing. He’d encountered many men like this one over his military career and just as many not in the military. He was used to arrogance being splashed in his face.
“The way I see it, the course of this conversation seems to have you accusing yourself, Dr. Reynolds. She went into town to get lady things. Chillingsworth will make sure she doesn't bolt for the hills.”
Disgusted, Dr. Jacobson left the tent.