Page 36 of The Unknown Birds

“Put your eyes back in your head,” the nurse said, rolling her own. “I’m not the first girl you’ve ever seen, and God willing, I won’t be the last.”

Her speech sounded rehearsed, and Ash wondered how many times a day she said the exact same thing.

“I’m Nurse Joseph. You may call me Nurse Jo.”

Ashley couldn’t tear her eyes away. She was so very beautiful, with shiny brown hair and delicate rosy skin. She was Ashley’s idea of a fine lady from a country house, but she was more than pretty. She exuded authority and strength.

“Did you come here for medical attention?” Nurse Jo inhaled sharply. “Are you bleeding, Private?”

Ash nodded, and the nurse immediately drew her to a bed and pulled the curtain.

“Pain?” she asked.

“A little cramping,” Ash whispered.

Nurse Jo eyed her cautiously. “Show me where.”

Ash placed her hand on her lower abdomen, hoping the nurse would leave her alone long enough to nab the bandages she’d seen on a nearby tray and go.

Jo slowly peered into her face, searching for the truth and seeming to find it.

What would happen now? Would she be court-martialed? Sent home in disgrace?

“Sit.”

Ash sat, afraid to look up, but when she finally did, she saw only compassion.

“Your first time?”

“No. I got careless. Lost track of the date.”

Jo nodded. “Your commander saw the blood and sent you?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have what you need?”

“No. I ran out.”

The nurse stepped outside the curtain for a moment before returning with a canvas satchel and several rolls of bandages.

“Drink plenty of water,” she said. “And then drink some more.”

Ash licked her lips. “You won’t turn me in?”

Nurse Jo held Ash tightly for a moment, running a hand through her short-cropped hair. It was so tender, Ash almost began to blub.

“Was it your choice to come here?” Jo asked.

“Yes.”

“Then it’s your choice to stay. Besides, my directive is to ensure only the worst cases are sent back to Blighty. And I know runners are worth their weight in gold,” she added, nodding to Ashley’s arm band. “Just be careful.”

“Thank you,” Ash said, still reeling from the warm embrace.

“Tell your officers you’re anemic,” she said. “They won’t question it. As a rule, men would rather not know. I’ll scrounge up a pair of clean trousers for you,” she added, ducking through the curtain once again.

When Ashley emerged from the dressing station a few minutes later, she found Maxie waiting patiently outside.