by June Tate
‘We can invite Jenny and Chad,’ he said, kissing her softly.
‘What do you think has happened to him, Brad? I’m getting somewhat concerned for Jenny.’
‘I’ve no idea, but I’m sure he’s going to show up. He loves Jenny, he’s not going to let her down.’
‘But what if he believed Adam when he told Chad Jenny was staying with him?’
‘Well, if I was in his shoes, Jenny would have to tell me to my face before I would believe it. Now, Mrs Jackson, your husband is waiting.’ And he pulled her close.
Twenty-Seven
Little Hans had been fractious for a couple of days, and whatever Sarah tried to do seemed fruitless. The child wouldn’t eat, he was restless and decidedly grumpy, and on the third day he started to cough and his temperature rose. He seemed to be having trouble with his breathing, and Sarah began to panic. She called to Beth to come and take a look at him.
Beth felt the baby’s fevered forehead and noticed his laboured breathing. Calling for one of her staff to get the doctor, she took Sarah and the baby into the kitchen, where she boiled a kettle. When it was boiling, she made Sarah open an umbrella and hold it over her and Hans, making a canopy in which to hold the steam coming from the kettle. After a while, the child’s breathing was easier, to everyone’s relief, but the two women knew this was only a temporary measure. Hans was very poorly, and they were all relieved when, shortly after, the doctor arrived.
After examining the child, the doctor called an ambulance. ‘Your baby is suffering with croup, and we need to get him to hospital and in a steam tent to relieve his breathing. This, hopefully, will help with the cough, and we need to get his temperature down. Has he eaten much?’
Sarah shook her head. ‘He wouldn’t take his milk or his cereal, nor would he drink the water in his bottle.’
The doctor frowned. ‘He’s probably dehydrated too.’ Seeing the worried expression on Sarah’s face, he lightly touched her arm. ‘Try not to worry. In hospital they have all the equipment to get him better.’
But as she carried Hans into the ambulance, Sarah wasn’t sure that that would be enough.
Beth had called Jenny’s office the following morning to tell her about Hans and how poorly he was, so that evening she and Rusty went along to the hospital, armed with nightclothes for Sarah, who was sleeping in a chair next to the baby’s cot; toiletries for her use; grapes and sandwiches to eat; and magazines to read.
Sarah looked distraught, and when she saw the two women she burst into tears.
Whilst Jenny was comforting the girl, Rusty poured a cup of strong tea from a flask and slipped two lumps of sugar in. She stirred this and handed it to Sarah. ‘Here, drink this, love, it’ll make you feel better.’
Whilst Sarah was resting, drinking her tea and having a snack – to build her strength, as she was told – the two friends were looking at Hans in his steam tent.
‘Ah, bless him,’ said Rusty. ‘Will you just look at the little chap? He does look so pale, but this contraption seems to be working, as his breathing isn’t too laboured.’
‘He still has that hacking croupy cough,’ Sarah told them. ‘It sounds so awful, almost as if it’s coming from his little boots.’ She fished in her pocket and held out a crumpled sheet of paper. ‘If I give you the address, will you send this to Gunter for me? I need him to know about Hans. He is his father, and he has the right to know.’
Jenny took it from her. ‘I’ll catch the last post tonight,’ she promised.
Gunter eagerly opened the letter the following afternoon, anxious to see what Sarah had to say. These letters were like a lifeline to him and kept him going during his imprisonment, but when he read the content he went pale. He quickly read it again, before heading for the office where the English captain, who was in charge of camp, was to be found. He asked permission to see him on compassionate grounds.
Once inside the office, he stood to attention.
‘Well, Reinhardt, what is it that brings you here to see me?’
Gunter handed the officer the letter he’d just received.
The captain read the contents, frowned, handed back the letter and said, ‘I’m sorry to hear about your son. I hope he gets better soon.’
‘I would like your permission to go and see him, sir. I realize this is asking a lot, but he’s only a few months old, and I’ve only seen him when he was very small. I’ve missed so much of him growing, and now he’s really sick; you can imagine my concern.’
‘Yes, of course I do. I have children myself. But I’m afraid that’s not possible.’ As Gunter started to protest, the officer interrupted him. ‘I will, however, allow you to make one call to the hospital to find out for yourself exactly what the situation is – but Reinhardt, that is all I can do.’
‘Very well, sir, thank you.’
Gunter was led into the outer office, where the clerk found the hospital number, dialled it, then handed the receiver over.
He was eventually put through to the ward where Hans was being cared for. ‘My name is Gunter Reinhardt. I wish to know how my small son, Hans, is doing. He was brought in yesterday.’
‘One moment, Mr Reinhardt, I’ll get Matron.’
Gunter listened to the woman as she told him of Hans’ condition. Gunter looked even more concerned as he listened, until the matron said, ‘Would you like a word with your wife? She’s here with the baby.’
‘Thank you, I would appreciate that.’
‘Hello?’ There was a tentative note in Sarah’s voice.
‘Sarah, liebling, it’s me, Gunter!’
‘Gunter! When they said my husband was on the phone, I wondered who on earth it was. Oh Gunter, if only you were here. Hans is so poorly. They have him in a steam tent for his breathing, but his cough sounds awful!’ She started to cry, which tore him apart.
He tried to comfort her, but felt absolutely hopeless. ‘I am so sorry that you have to face this alone. I’ve asked to see Hans, but they won’t let me, I was only allowed this call. Oh Sarah, try not to worry.’
Between sobs she told him that Jenny, Beth and Rusty were keeping her company. ‘But the only person I want with me is you!’
Gunter was so frustrated. He desperately wanted to be there with Sarah and his son, and he wondered just how he’d get through the next few days, which the matron had said were crucial for the little baby.
‘I have to go, Gunter, Hans is crying. I’ll write to you every day. I love you.’
He didn’t even have time to say goodbye. He handed back the receiver to the soldier on duty and walked back to his room, but he just couldn’t settle. Eventually, he walked outside and wandered around. He had to get out of the camp somehow and see his boy.
Parked outside the camp kitchen was a lorry delivering vegetables to the cook. The driver picked up a large sack of potatoes and carried it into the kitchen. The German saw the name of the company on the side of the van, and when he saw it gave an address in Southampton, he made a quick decision. He swiftly climbed into the back of the lorry, saw an old mac on the floor and picked it up before burying himself beneath a pile of empty sacks. He heard the driver return, and he held his breath. To his relief, the man closed the back doors to the van and, climbing into the driver’s seat, drove out of the camp.
Gunter had no idea where he was headed and how he would find his way to the hospital, but at least he was out of the camp, and somehow he would see his sick boy. He had the address of the hospital in the letter Sarah had sent.
The journey seemed to take a long time, and Gunter wondered when the vehicle would stop. Eventually, it did so, and he heard the driver get out and walk away. He carefully got to his feet and peered through the small windows of the door. They seemed to have stopped outside a warehouse, and he saw a man he presumed to be the driver walk into the vast interior.
Gunter quickly opened the doors of the van, closed them behind him and slipped inside the building. Fortunately, everyone inside seemed to be too busy to notice him,
and when he saw a man emerge from a nearby room, he noticed through the open door a row of coats hanging. He waited, then walked over to the door casually and, with baited breath, opened it. Luckily for him, there was no one inside.
He quickly looked for a coat that would fit him. He tried one on and felt in the pocket, where to his delight he found some loose change. He swiftly went through the pockets of the others and soon had a small collection of coins. Opening the door of the cloakroom, he looked out and, seeing that no one seemed to be nearby, he slipped out and walked purposefully out of the building.
Once clear, he looked around for someone to ask about the hospital he wanted to visit. He approached an elderly lady and politely asked her. To his great relief he was in Southampton, as he hoped.
The unsuspecting woman gave him detailed instructions, even to which tram to catch – which would take him almost to the door. He thanked her and made his way to the tram stop.
Sarah was sitting by Hans – who, in his steam tent, was sleeping peacefully – turning the pages of a magazine. She looked up as she heard footsteps approaching. She frowned. That man walking down the ward looked just like Gunter, she thought, but how ridiculous! He was in civilian clothes, and Gunter was in Bishop’s Waltham. But there was something about him that made her keep watching. She was about to cry out as he got nearer, but the man put his finger to his lips, so she covered her mouth to smother the sound which was rising in her throat.
When he reached her, he kissed her quickly and whispered, ‘Don’t say anything, liebling, I’m here. Let’s make the most of the time we have together. Now let me see my son.’
Sarah could hardly believe what was happening, and after she’d told him the latest news of little Hans, and held on to Gunter’s arm to make sure he was real, she couldn’t wait any longer.
‘Gunter, what on earth are you doing here? I thought you were unable to come.’
He held her to him. ‘I escaped from the camp, and soon they’ll discover I’m missing. They’ll probably find me pretty soon, knowing my son is sick, so we may not have much time.’ He gazed into her eyes and kissed her passionately. ‘I had to come. How could I let you face this without me?’
‘You’ll be in so much trouble!’ she exclaimed.
‘What can they do to me, Sarah? I am already a prisoner. But I had to see Hans and you.’
‘The doctor says that probably tomorrow Hans can come out of the tent, as his breathing is so much better.’
‘That’s marvellous news,’ he said, reaching in the tent to hold his baby’s hand. He smiled as he looked at his son. ‘He has grown so much, it’s amazing.’
Gunter was still there in the late afternoon when Rusty and Jenny called into the ward. Sarah introduced them, saying, ‘He won’t be here long, as they will have discovered he’s missing at roll call this evening.’
Jenny looked at the happy expression on Sarah’s face, but she knew that the situation wasn’t good. ‘May I make a suggestion?’
They looked at her with puzzled expressions.
‘It would be better for Gunter if he went back to the camp under his own steam. The consequences would not be so severe. I’d be happy to drive him back there. What do you think? After all, these are compassionate grounds. If he goes back without waiting for them to come and get him, they may look upon the whole thing more kindly.’
Gunter looked at Sarah and smiled. ‘Your friend makes sense, liebling. Now I’ve seen you and Hans, I can sleep at night without worry.’
She hugged him. ‘Go, darling, I don’t want you to get into too much trouble. It was wonderful to see you, but you need to leave now before it’s too late.’
And so Jenny and Rusty bundled the young man into the back of the car and drove out to Bishop’s Waltham.
Jenny stopped just short of the camp and let the German out. ‘Please don’t worry about your family,’ she told him. ‘Whilst Rusty and I are about, we’ll make sure she and the baby are fine.’
‘Thank you so much, I don’t know what to say. Sarah is so lucky to have such good friends.’
‘You had better go,’ said Jenny. ‘With a bit of luck no one has yet left to search for you, which will only help your cause.’
The two women watched him walk up to the gate and be stopped by the guard. As they let him through, Gunter turned and smiled.
‘Nice chap,’ said Jenny as she drove away. ‘I’m so pleased we met him, because now we know that Sarah has a good man.’
‘Nothing’s easy though, is it?’ said Rusty wryly. ‘There he is, supposedly the enemy, now with an English wife and baby. Her parents have disowned her, and who knows how his family will react to his situation once he’s repatriated?’
‘From what I saw today, if his parents didn’t approve, I don’t think it would make any difference to Gunter. Did you see the way he looked at Sarah? And he’s naturally crazy about his son. No, nothing will keep them apart but time!’
Apart from a serious reprimand, Gunter Reinhardt was spared further punishment. The fact he returned voluntarily, and before the military police had been sent to find him, stood him in good stead. He was able to write to Sarah and tell her the good news. A few days after, she was able to write and tell him that little Hans was being allowed home, which was a great relief to all.
Twenty-Eight
Chad Maxwell had been in a military hospital in Southern France, suffering with a severe bout of bronchitis, which had laid him low. He’d been too ill to enjoy the celebrations when the end of the war was declared; all he knew was that he had to get better. But before he was fully recovered, he was shipped home, spending the voyage in the ship’s hospital.
When the liner docked in New York, he made the journey home to Wyoming, staying with his parents until he was better. There he told them about the wonderful girl he was going to marry.
‘So when do we get to meet this Jenny?’ asked his father.
‘When I have a home to offer her, Dad. I need to buy a ranch so we can raise horses. She’s given up so much for me, I want her to be happy.’
‘She needs a ranch to make her happy?’ asked the elder Maxwell.
‘Hell no! She said she would sleep on a blanket in the open as long as she’s with me.’
‘Then why the devil are you wasting your time? Bring her out here!’
‘It’s not that simple, Dad. She’s married and has to get a divorce, and there is a great deal of paperwork to get done before we can be together.’
‘She knows you’re home, son?’
‘I’ve not had the opportunity to write. First I was ill, then I was on a ship, now the journey here.’
‘You’re taking a chance, aren’t you, my boy? How do you know she’s still waiting for you?’
‘I don’t, Dad, and to be honest it scares the hell out of me.’ He then explained to his father the predicament he discovered when he saw Adam.
His father frowned. ‘Well, Chad, do you believe the man?’
‘To be honest, I don’t know. I realize that Jenny would feel she had a duty to stay with him, under the circumstances, but I also know how we felt about each other. I want her with me, but I feel a louse to even think of her leaving a man who has lost his sight!’
‘Then you must go back there and sort this out! Once you’ve been discharged, you must go back to England. You can’t get on with your life, Chad, until you do. You know that, don’t you?’
‘You’re right, of course. But first I have to get my discharge. Then I’ll sort it, I promise.’
Back in Southampton, Jenny carried on working, sorting out the paperwork and getting the GI brides ready for the voyage that would send them off to a new country and a new life, all the time wishing it were her that was going.
She and Brad had pulled a few strings to enable Rusty to stay in the flat, instead of joining the other brides at Tidworth camp, whilst awaiting passage to America. He had now left the country and was home, discharged from the army and setting up his practice once aga
in.
Rusty was kept informed of his every move by letters which came regularly, which only made it more difficult for Jenny, who had heard nothing from Chad. Jenny had also been served divorce papers by Adam’s solicitor and was visiting her own solicitor to enable the case to go to court, but it was a long and arduous task. As she wasn’t disputing the charge of adultery, she wouldn’t have to appear in court, for which she was eternally grateful.
Meantime, Chad was having a hard time booking a cabin on one of the Queens to travel from New York to Southampton. The bookings were full, and he was on a waiting list. He’d written to Jenny, telling her of his plans . . . but this letter wasn’t readdressed to her, because the time had run out at the post office, and it landed in Adam’s hands, who put it in the dustbin, unopened.
It was now September, and Jenny had still had no word from the horse whisperer, but she tried not to be too disheartened. She couldn’t help the doubts which kept creeping into her mind that once Chad had arrived home things had changed, but deep down she really believed she’d see him again. There had been a sincerity about the American that was unshakeable in her mind, and on the darkest days she clung to this hope.
She spent her spare time at the stables with Beth. For Jenny it was cathartic, cleaning out the stables, rubbing the horses down and taking them out on exercise, letting them gallop, feeling the wind through her hair – being alone with her thoughts.
Today she’d been out with one of the stallions for a good hour, giving him a thorough workout and then a run, and she rode back into the stables in good spirits, having benefited as much as the animal. She slipped out of the saddle, watered the horse, then led him into his stable where she removed the saddle and the rest of the tack, wiping him down after she’d done so. All the time talking softly to the horse, engrossed in what she was doing.
‘I do believe I could train you to do my job.’
Jenny froze. She could hardly believe her ears. Turning, she saw Chad leaning over the stable door, grinning broadly at her.
