Falling for the Enemy

LIES

                                                                                   Henry

I can see her wounds better now.  The water and soap from the bath have helped wash the blood and dirt away that I could not remove last night with my rag.  Many of the wounds on her back are deeper than I once thought and she has many more bruises than I saw last night.  Her face is still swollen but now the blood and dirt have all been washed from her hair.  

She has been laying in the bath for over an hour now, just soaking her injured and broken body in the warm heat.  Every so often I add more warm water to her tub and she thanks me but other than that we sit in silence.  Her lying with her eyes closed in the warm bath water and me trying not to look at her broken but still beautiful body.  

“I think I’m ready to get out,” she says in a relaxed tone.  

“Are you sure you wouldn’t like to soak longer?  I have more water heating on the fire.”  

“No I think my skin is wrinkled and shriveled up enough,” she says a real smile actually appearing on her face.  

She grips both of her hands around the sides of the tub and uses the edges of the tub to gently push her body into a standing position.  She is wearing her knickers and chemise but they are white and sticking to her wet body.  I look away trying to be a proper gentleman and try not to stare at the flesh showing through her garments.  I hold up a linen towel for her to wrap around her body so she isn’t so exposed.  Then taking her hands I assist her out of the tub.  I do not carry her to the room this time because she insists on walking.  She gingerly takes one step and then another and continues at a slow but steady pace to Mary’s bedroom.  Sarah has laid out new knickers and a new chemise for her to change into.  

Closing the door behind me I allow her some privacy to take off her wet clothes and slip-on her dry clothes, however, before exiting the room I ask her if she needs any assistance and she shakes her head no.  

“I am just outside the door if you need anything,” I say through the door.  After 10 minutes or so I check on her by first knocking on the door and then walking in.  She is standing in front of the mirror that is across the room from Mary’s bed and staring at her mangled face.  She has one hand on her right cheek.  

“The swelling will go down.   It already looks like some of it has begun to go down since yesterday” I say lying about the swelling.  

I only say this because she looks upset and disgusted by her face in the mirror.  She turns to look at me and even under all of the swelling, cuts, and bruises she is still stunning.  

“I wonder what Nathan will think of me now,” she says moving to sit down on the bed.  

“Catherine, you are a very attractive girl, even when bruised and broken you are still beautiful.  I know it’s hard for you to see past your swelling and cuts but you are the same striking woman that you were before.” 

 She smiles at me, not believing a word I just said, and lays down on the bed on her side.  I can see that she is favoring her back because this is the part of her body that the flesh has literally been sliced into many pieces of raw meat.  There is a knock on the door.

“Miss Catherine, I brought you something to eat. I know it’s not much but it’s all we have left.”  Sarah says bringing the bowl of berries and dried meat over to the bed.  

“Thank you, Sarah.  How is my father?”  

“I don’t know how much longer we can lie to him, Miss Catherine.  He is becoming agitated because he hasn’t spoken with you and he has been up and moving more.  It seems that he has caught a second wind.” 

I can see she’s thinking about going to her father, but she is unsure of what to do.  

“Sarah if he becomes too agitated let me know and I will go to him but let’s try to keep him in the dark for as long as possible.  I want the shock of what happened to affect him as little as possible.  I’m hoping we can keep the charade going for another few days to allow some of my swelling to go down, so it doesn’t look as bad.” 

I know when she says this that she is not going to be able to keep this up much longer.  There are only so many reasons that myself and Samuel’s family can come up with for Catherine being out of the house all the time.  

“I am going to go do a few things in the barn.  I need to feed and water the animals. Unless you would like me to stay with you?” I say looking at Catherine.  

“No, I am fine.  I am going to eat and then get some more rest.  I am exhausted and thank you both for the warm bath.  It was very kind of the both of you.”  

I leave Sarah with Catherine and walk out to the barn, as I am attending to the animals I mindlessly think about the last few days.  It seems that after the warm bath Catherine seemed to be in better spirits, and she even allowed Sarah to stay in the room with her.  Silently I think this must be a good sign because she is allowing herself to be exposed to other people now.   Cleaning out the cows’ stall I hear the barn door open and Mr. Cooney walks in.   

“Catherine!” he calls and then begins coughing in his handkerchief.    

I step out from inside the stall to greet Mr. Cooney.  

“Good afternoon Mr. Cooney.  Catherine is not in here it’s just me.” 

 “Henry could you go fetch Catherine for me I would like to talk with her.”  

Quickly I try to think of a reason that I am unable to get her for him.  

“Mr. Cooney I believe Catherine is out hunting,” I say trying to sound as convincing as possible.  

“Henry, I am tired of all the stories everyone has been telling me.  I know something has happened.  The other morning I could have sworn I heard gunshots but Samuel insists I was dreaming and then last night I heard screaming but again I was told another lie.  I know the screams I heard were not Adam last night.  Henry, where’s my daughter?”  

“Mr. Cooney, she asked that we not tell you.  She is okay but she doesn’t wish to cause you any more stress.” I say hoping that he will take this answer and be satisfied.  

“Henry, I have allowed you to stay in my home when you are a United soldier.  I could be hung for being a traitor.  I have allowed my family to nurse you back to health and I have shared my food with you and helped keep you alive.  You can at least tell me where my daughter is. “ He is right.