Homefront Hero
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“‘You appreciate my position.’ Gallows, you pander like a confounded diplomat.” The general froze. “You are a diplomat. You can talk out of both sides of your mouth better than half the fellows up in Washington.” Barnes pointed at him. “Come to think of it, I can’t fathom a worse punishment for you than to send you into a post dripping with rules and protocol. A protocol officer. If we don’t have one, I’ll find a reason to need one. It’d serve you right, if it doesn’t kill you first. Why should I go through the trouble of Courts-Martialing you when I can send you someplace dreadful and force you to sit through endless speeches?”
John gulped. Should he protest, fortifying the general’s appetite for punishing him? Or congratulate him on a creative solution? He settled for something in between. “Exactly how would I be discharged, then?” He wasn’t even sure the general’s current plan involved a discharge. Did it matter?
“I have no idea. It’ll take me a month just to figure out how to set it all up through channels, so you can expect to be on base through November.”
“That’s fine, sir. I have a…commitment of sorts to keep in November.”
Barnes looked up. “Commitment?”
“To the Red Cross, if you remember.”
The general’s laugh filled the room. “The socks? The auction of your Red Cross sock? Confound it, Gallows, you’ll be the death of me yet.” He waved John off. “Dismissed until I can fathom what to do with you.”
John retrieved his cane and rose.
“John Gallows knits and gets religion. And here I thought I’d seen it all. Well, whatever you do,” Barnes added, “don’t tell me you’ll pray for me. I’m not sure I’m ready to hear that talk coming out of your highly publicized mouth.”
“I won’t,” John replied, but couldn’t help adding, “tell you, that is.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Charleston, South Carolina
November 1918
Mama touched Leanne’s arm as the Charleston Holiday Ball was winding to a close. “You feeling all right, honey? It’s been a long night.”
She wasn’t at full strength, but Leanne had enjoyed the evening despite so many missing people and decorations that were half as splendid as in years past. “I’m fine, Mama. Tired but fine.” She sighed. “It’ll be a somber sort of holiday season, don’t you think?”
“Too many families have empty places around the table.” Mama’s sigh matched her own. “Your grandmother will be sorely missed.” Nana had been in the last wave of influenza victims.
“You took good care of her,” Papa said with a hand on Leanne’s shoulder.
“I was glad of the chance.” She had still been on medical leave, and while she wasn’t strong enough to resume her hospital duties, Leanne had surprised herself by requesting two weeks’ leave to come home to Charleston and tend to Nana. Besides, Dr. Madison felt she’d have further immunity to contracting influenza—unlike her parents. It seemed, like John said of his trip to the campus, that God was clearly leading her to her Nana’s side. “We had so many wonderful conversations before she passed, Mama. I thank God every day for that time.”
Mama smiled through brimming eyes. “She loved you especially. She was glad to see you happy.”
Leanne looked at John, regal in his full dress uniform for perhaps the final time, smiling as he accepted the gushing thanks from a group of Red Cross leaders. He’d been asked by over two dozen Red Cross Chapters to give speeches in support of the knitting campaign before Armistice Day had announced the end of the war last week. Tonight at the Charleston Holiday Ball, his famous sock had brought in a record-breaking anonymous bid to raise funds for wounded soldiers. “I am dearly happy, Mama.”
“I gather you told Nana so?” Papa asked.
“Of course I did.” She’d told Nana all about John and what had transpired between them. Nana and Grandpappy had been a wartime romance, too, and Leanne heard many tender stories that cast the memory of her grandmother in whole new light.
“Well, now,” Mama said with a mysterious smile, “that explains everything.”
“Explains what?”
Papa reached into his coat. “Why your mother owns this, of course. Only we don’t think I should keep it. I believe it belongs to John.” To Leanne’s surprise, Papa produced a hideous olive-green sock.
“I think you ought to frame it, though—it’s certainly no good for wearing.” She chuckled, peering at the lopsided garment. “The top isn’t even the same size as the bottom from the looks of it.”
Leanne felt her jaw drop. “You bought John’s sock?”
“Actually your grandmother did. The last time we were together, she gave me money and told me to bid in secrecy.” Mama’s eyes brimmed over, and a single tear stole down her cheek. “Mother always did like a good surprise, and she wanted such a marvelous heirloom to stay in the family.”
Leanne pulled her mother into a quick, joyous hug. “John will be thrilled. I should go tell him.”
Papa stopped her as she turned. “No need, darlin’, he already knows.”
“You told him Mama was bidding on his sock?” John hadn’t given any hints of knowing what was afoot. He’d acted as surprised as everyone else when the emcee had announced the generous anonymous winning bid.
“It seemed only fair to let him know, seeing how he’s asked for your hand and all. I told you Nana wanted the sock to stay in the family.”
Leanne was having trouble breathing. “Mama, I…” She turned and looked at John, who was trying hard to pry his way out of a gaggle of Red Cross spinsters to make his way toward her. The look on his face told her he’d known everything all evening. “Papa, you…”
“Go save your beau, Leanne.” Papa’s voice was warm and joyous.
“Oh, he can take care of himself with those old hens.” Ida’s voice came from over Leanne’s other shoulder. “I’m gonna get my congratulations in first.” Ida’s fierce hug nearly sent Leanne to coughing.
“Did everyone know but me?” Leanne gasped, fanning her face in stunned shock.
“Only Colonel Gallows doesn’t know by now, and I expect he’ll know within the hour if not sooner.” Ida laughed.
Leanne wanted to shake her head and blink. God had granted her every single wish and more besides. “I’m stunned. I don’t know what to do.”
“I have a few ideas.” John came up from her other side and took her hand. “But I hope you’re not going to make me knit a second sock before you say yes.”
“No! I mean yes! Rather, yes, I’ll marry you but no, you won’t have to knit a sock.” She flew into John’s arms, knocking his cane from his hand and nearly sending him reeling. “A hundred yesses!”
Ida caught the cane and tried to hand it back to John, but Leanne happily ensured the captain was otherwise occupied. “I’d rather he lean on me.”
Epilogue
Era Magazine
Dateline: November 1919, Washington, DC
Headline: New Socks for Celebrated Knitting Couple
The war hero and nurse who charmed the nation’s heart into more Red Cross knitting have collaborated on their finest project to date. Sources close to the Red Cross told Era magazine that Mrs. John Gallows, now wife of diplomatic attaché and decorated former U.S. Army Captain John Gallows, will be knitting a new type of socks: baby booties. Readers will remember last year’s Era cover featuring Nurse Leanne Sample and Captain Gallows in the Red Cross promotion to encourage boys’ participation in the “Knit Your Bit” for the war campaign. That effort, and their survival of the subsequent influenza epidemic and quarantine that hit Camp Jackson, evidently joined more than just yarn to needles and the couple married this past spring.
Pink or blue? “Anything and everything but army green,” Gallows remarked with a smile when cornered by reporters last week. “We’ve had enough of that for a while.”
Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Gallows! Era couldn’t be more pleased that our little project paved the way for yours.
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nbsp; * * * * *
Dear Reader,
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water.” Life’s “hot waters” are indeed what makes us strong, and are often how God molds us into who He wants us to be. John and Leanne came into this story with goals very different from the experiences God gave them. But in His infinite wisdom, God not only gave them hardships, but gave them each other. Love allows life’s challenges to bring out the best in ourselves and our relationships. While John’s and Leanne’s wounds make them who they are, their spirits reveal who they can be. It’s my hope that these two brave lovers give you hope and courage for the challenges you face. As always, I love to hear from you at www.alliepleiter.com or P.O. Box 7026 Villa Park, IL 60181.
Allie
Questions for Discussion
Think back to a time when your future felt wide open with possibilities like Leanne’s. What caused you hope? What caused you fear?
Are people right or wrong to call John Gallows a hero for his airship incident?
Would you have said yes if you were asked to be part of the Red Cross knitting promotion photos? What would you have done in Leanne’s place?
Did you have a time in your life where physical pain was a serious issue? What helped you cope? What made it worse?
What is good about Leanne’s idea of waltzing? What’s not so wise about it?
How would you help a soldier like Private Carson?
Do you think John recognizes the gift he’s been given? Why or why not?
Would you have stopped John from waltzing in front of General Barnes? What would you have suggested he do instead?
Leanne tells John, “God’s placed you in just the right place at just the right time.” When have you felt this way? What came from the experience?
John disregards his body’s need to heal. Do you agree with his approach? What are the risks and are they really worth taking?
Leanne says, “I am [not] free to ignore God’s instructions simply because I wish differently.” When have you faced this struggle? Would you change how you reacted?
Have you faced a large-scale crisis like the influenza epidemic? What did you gain from the experience? What was the cost of it for you or those you love?
If John were your son, would you have made him get on the train or let him stay with Leanne?
Leanne feels God close to her when she is desperately ill. Have you had such an experience? How has it changed you?
Is there a way you can use a craft you love to support the men and women in the armed forces? Contact your local yarn shop, fabric store, Red Cross, or search the internet to see if there’s a project suited to you.
ISBN: 9781459227880
Copyright © 2012 by Alyse Stanko Pleiter
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