The Eyes of a Soldier
By Bonnie Dee
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About this ebook
Marching home from the Civil War, Logan Albertson is at the end of his strength and will to carry on when he spots the lights of a cabin in the Tennessee woods. Widowed Mae Pike is bone weary and struggling to survive in the wilderness without her husband. When a stranger shows up in the night, she keeps the door barred—until he tells something about himself that gives her a glimpse of the Yankee soldier as a person.
In two short days, two wary strangers connect in subtle ways. Soon the flickering flame of attraction between Logan and Mae flares into a fire that consumes them both. Is a future together possible for enemies of war, or are mere moments of comfort all they can share?
This short story was originally contained in an anthology. It’s intended as a free sample of my work. If the “happy for now” ending doesn’t appeal, I suggest reading Scarred Hearts which is similar in theme and tone and is a full length novel.
Bonnie Dee
Whether you're a fan of contemporary, paranormal, or historical romance, you'll find something to enjoy among my books. I'm interested in flawed, often damaged, people who find the fulfillment they seek in one another. To stay informed about new releases, please SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER. Help an author out by leaving a review and spreading the word about this book among your friends. You can join my street team at FB. Learn more about my backlist at http://bonniedee.com or find me on FB and Twitter @Bonnie_Dee.
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The Eyes of a Soldier - Bonnie Dee
Eyes of a Soldier
SMASHWORDS EDITION
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PUBLISHED BY:
Bonnie Dee on Smashwords
Copyright © 2014 by Bonnie Dee
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
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The Eyes of a Soldier
Right, left, step by step in the sucking mud, Logan watched the patched toe of one boot move in front of the torn toe of the other. The trousers of his Union blues were coated with the red clay of the South. The once shiny boots were red too, stained by blood and clay. Each step forward sucked him deeper and seemed to drag him back. What would happen if he simply gave in and stopped moving? He might fall face down in the muck, let it fill his lungs and put him to sleep. God, he would welcome sleep at any cost right now.
He dragged his gaze up. He’d been marching with other stragglers, men from different companies, the remainders of destroyed units. Now all of them had disappeared around a bend in the road. If he curled up right over there on that soft-looking patch of grass underneath an oak tree would anyone even notice his absence? Probably not.
He slogged over to the side of the road and up the slope then collapsed. The fresh scent of grass filled his nose as he took a sip of the tepid water in the bottom of his canteen. Leaves rustled overhead. A bird whistled and another answered. Strange bird calls in this foreign land. Tennessee was a world away from his home in Wisconsin. He didn’t belong here. He just wanted to go home and, with the war finally over, he could—if he could just keep his boots moving until he reached a functional train station.
Logan closed his eyes. Through the lids he watched the play of sunlight and tree branches, a dance of light and shadow.
***
Mae pulled a bucket of water up from the well, heaved it over the edge and set it on the ground, then lowered another. Two buckets. One for each hand, both so heavy they strained her shoulders as she carried them to the shanty. After all this time, she should have developed more muscle in her arms, but she hadn’t been raised in the country. The hardest labor she’d done, up to age sixteen, was ply a needle and thread or sit behind the counter of her father’s store, ringing up sales on his brass cash register. Back then she’d worn a clean dress every day and bought new shoes whenever she needed them. But with the impetuous nonchalance of youth, she’d thrown away that life to follow Gray Pike up to his mountain home.
Mae stumbled over a stone and half of the water sloshed