In Love and War Read online

  In Love and War

  by Natalie Brock

  ~ About This Story ~

  War is hell. That’s a given. But for the women who served on an American military base in Devon, England during World War II, it was a different kind of hell. Kay, Sally, Mary, Maggie, and Cathy -- each of them joined the cause for entirely different reasons, but none of them had any idea what lay in store.

  In Love and War is an unforgettable tale that explores the loves and losses of the women assigned to the base. As the story unfolds, you will witness their evolution and the profound effect of experiences they never expected to have -- experiences that will change each of them forever. It’s a story that will stay with readers long after the last page is read.

  In Love and War

  by Natalie Brock

  Copyright 2013 by Natalie Brock

  All Rights Reserved

  Thank you for purchasing this eBook. This eBook is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons or places real or fictional, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Kindly respect the author’s hard work and do not share, reproduce, copy or distribute it any way, except to recommend it to others. Your support and respect for the property of this author is appreciated.

  Dedications

  With love and gratitude to my husband, friends and family, and especially to my online community of friends and faithful readers who have encouraged my writing with their kind words, continued interest, and voracious appetite for reading my stories.

  Table of Contents

  Characters

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Chapter 58

  Chapter 59

  Chapter 60

  Chapter 61

  Chapter 62

  Chapter 63

  Chapter 64

  Chapter 65

  Chapter 66

  Chapter 67

  Chapter 68

  Chapter 69

  Chapter 70

  Chapter 71

  Chapter 72

  Chapter 73

  Chapter 74

  Chapter 75

  Chapter 76

  Chapter 77

  Chapter 78

  Chapter 79

  Chapter 80

  Chapter 81

  Chapter 82

  Chapter 83

  Chapter 84

  Chapter 85

  Chapter 86

  Chapter 87

  Chapter 88

  Chapter 89

  Characters

  Medical Personnel

  David Mason - Chief surgeon, 30 years old

  Sally (Sal) Bradley - Head nurse, 25 years old

  Kay Nolan - Doctor, 26 years old

  Mary Clayton - Nurse, 18 years old

  Ned Jansen - Ambulance driver, 21 years old

  Military Personnel

  Louis Richards - Sergeant, base administrator, 28 years old

  Willie Wilson - Company clerk, 21 years old

  Joe Douglas - Private, first class, 22 years old

  Michael Zacharius - Private, first class, 22 years old

  Norma Walker - WAC, 24 years old

  Bill Morton - Colonel, 42 years old

  Edward Welles - Royal British Air Force Group Captain, 27 years old

  Thomas Hudson - Royal British Air Force Group Captain, 28 years old

  Commissary Staff

  Doris Carson - Cook, 23 years old

  Maggie (Margaret) Simpson - Server, 38 years old

  Cathy Lang - Server, 21 years old

  Millie Connors - Cook, 22 years old

  Susan Stevens - Cook/Officers Club bartender, 21 years old

  Ray Henderson - Chief cook, 27 years old

  Non-Military

  Alexander Fielding - English gentry, 30 years old

  James - Alexander’s butler, 50 years old

  Chapter 1

  ~March 1944, Devonshire County, England~

  She checked her hair in the mirror of her compact, deciding the updo made her look older. Good. That was her goal. One swipe of Max Factor Berry Red applied to her lips should add a few more years and complement her strawberry blonde hair. But when the jeep hit a bump in the road, the tube of lipstick she was holding made a diagonal smudge down the side of her chin. At the same time, the sway of the jeep caused her to lean just a little too hard against the woman sitting next to her as the sardine-packed vehicle rocked from side to side.

  “Sorry,” Mary said.

  “That’s alright,” the other woman replied.

  Mary looked at the woman she was sitting next to. An extremely pretty blond with a fair complexion, five, maybe ten years older than Mary. Mary was keenly attuned to ages lately, probably because she needed to pass for 21 when she was really only 18.

  Mary didn’t even realize she was staring at the older woman until the woman offered her a handkerchief. “Oh, no thank you,” Mary said.

  “I think you should take it. You have lipstick all over your chin.”

  Mary pursed her lips together and took the handkerchief. She moistened it with her tongue and tugged hard against her skin.

  “Gone?” Mary asked.

  “Almost. Here, let me.” The woman took the handkerchief back and targeted the errant swath of color. “There. That’s better.”

  “Thanks. Um, I ruined your handkerchief,” Mary said apologetically.

  “Why don’t you keep it.”

  “Thanks,” Mary said.

  “My name is Kay Nolan. What’s yours?”

  “Um, Mary. Mary Clayton. Are you a nurse?”

  “Actually, I’m a doctor,” Kay explained.

  “Really? I didn’t know there were women doctors.”

  “I was the only female in my graduating class. Are you a nurse?”

  “Yes!” Mary answered just a little too fast, but she was thrilled that Kay even asked her that. In reality, she wasn’t quite a nurse, only because she didn’t complete the coursework yet. She took a first aid class in high school and some Red Cross training before she signed on to be an Army nurse. The Army didn’t even question her credentials when they accepted her application. She guessed her fabrications were believable enough.

  “There’s a serious shortage of nurses in the Army. They’re going to be very happy to have you,” Kay said.

&nbs
p; “Oh I hope so.”

  “Trust me, they will. You nervous?”

  “Nervous? Me? Psshh. Not a bit.”

  “Well, I am.” Kay admitted.

  “Really? Why?”

  “I’ve never been outside of Sacramento before.”

  “Where’s Sacramento?”

  “California,” said Kay. “It’s the state capital. I grew up on a ranch there. Where are you from?”

  “Spring Valley.”

  “Where’s that?”

  Mary laughed. “Kentucky.”

  “I’m not even sure where Kentucky is located, except that it’s really far from here,” Kay said.

  “That’s okay with me. I’m really excited to be away from home.” The more space Mary put between herself and Spring Valley, the better. Between an abusive father and the reputation she got for being “easy,” she was beyond ready to make a fresh start. If she never saw her hometown again, it would be too soon. No more rolls in the hay with boys she hardly knew. The only reputation she wanted now was to be respected as a knowledgeable and caring nurse. So she turned her focus to the here and now and felt excited just to be talking to a friendly person after the long, lonely trip from Kentucky to England, by bus, then train, by ocean liner, then railway, and now the last leg, by jeep. “I’ve read so much about England.”

  Kay nodded. “Most of what I’ve read about England has been in Jane Austen novels. She made me want to see the English countryside. ... Oh, looks like we’re here,” Kay noted as the jeep made its final turn into the military encampment.

  The base was about 20 miles inland from the coast -- the coastline of the English Channel -- and a boat ride from strategic sites along France’s coastline. As soon as they pulled into camp, Mary’s stomach fluttered with excitement. There was so much activity going on. Men and women in uniform rushing from building to building. Older men barking orders, younger men doing calisthenics in the courtyard, Privates saluting the officers. Her senses were assaulted by a loudspeaker blaring muffled announcements and war songs, and the smell of grass mingling with English mist, dirt and sweat.

  The women were ushered out of the Red Cross jeep and a uniformed woman with platinum blond hair greeted them brusquely and motioned for them to follow her.

  The group of about 12 women stopped outside a building marked with a red hospital cross. The uniformed woman turned around and addressed the group.

  “Welcome to Devonshire, England, and the 1044th Division base of operations. My name is Major Sally Bradley. I’m the head nurse and you’ll all be reporting to me.” Sal took a deep breath before continuing. “The 1044th is comprised of 400 men and women representing all branches of the service handling various operations in conjunction with the war effort. This is a restricted zone, ladies, meaning you may not leave base for any reason. Is that clear? ... I didn’t hear you.”

  Mary and the other women murmured “yes” and nodded weakly.

  “The correct response is ‘yes sir, yes ma’am, or yes Major.’ Now, I’m going to give you a quick introduction to camp, so listen good because I’m only going to say this once.” Sal looked at the group and made sure she had everyone’s attention before launching into the orientation speech she’d given many times before.

  “This base is built on the campus of Devon University, which was abandoned when it lost funding during the Great Depression. The common area, which we call the Quadrangle or Quad, is surrounded by eleven buildings, including an administrative office, conference facilities, classroom training facilities, dormitories, weapons and munitions, a garage for storing and maintaining our military vehicles, a Commissary, an officer’s club, a PX or base store, a chapel, and of course, a hospital. We have indoor plumbing, as well as outdoor showers for soldiers and guests who have a short layover. The woods that surround the campus serve as a natural fence for the base. And the clearing to the north of campus is used as an airfield by the American Air Force and the allied British Royal Air Force.” Sal pointed upward to her left. "See that? That’s the old bell tower, minus the bell. It’s used as the air tower and lookout post. Spotters are stationed there 24 hours a day to help guide our airmen back to base and keep unwanted visitors out.”

  Without turning around, Sal pointed at the hospital. “Now, behind me is our medical center. We have an operating room, hospital ward, triage unit, and infirmary where we treat as many as 200 soldiers a day, with a staff of only 12 doctors, 25 nurses, and 10 medical assistants. At present, we have 45 patients in residence. Let’s go inside. Follow me.”

  As the women filed into the hospital, a tall, dark, and handsome, wavy-haired doctor walked by and planted a kiss on Major Bradley’s cheek.

  “How’s it shaking, sweet cheeks?”

  Major Bradley stiffened. “Dr. Mason. I told you not to call me that in front of the nurses.”

  Dr. Mason eyed the women. “Are these the new blood?”

  “These are the new medical personnel. Ladies, this is Dr. Mason, the chief of surgery here.”

  David Mason smiled seductively. “Ladies, I’m looking forward to getting to know each and every one of you -- in the biblical sense.”

  Giggles and gasps escaped the lips of the women as Dr. Mason departed. But before he did, he gave the Major’s behind a little smack.

  “Don’t mind him,” Sal said, even though she was highly annoyed at the doctor for undermining her credibility in front of the new staff. “His bark is bigger than his bite.”

  Sal led the women further into the hospital. She stopped at the vestibule outside the operating room. “I want everyone to grab some scrubs. We’re going into the O.R.”

  The women donned surgical caps, gloves, gowns, and face masks before entering the operating theater. There were 10 operating stations, and four were in use. Mary was awestruck by all the modern-day equipment. She had been to doctors’ offices back home, but they were nowhere near as sophisticated as this.

  Mary’s eyes fell upon a surgery in progress. A man’s leg had just been amputated and blood was squirting out. The surgical team was frantically trying to stop the bleeding and stabilize the soldier’s blood pressure.

  The sight of blood, the lack of food and sleep, and the smell of ether hit Mary like a ton of bricks. Her eyes rolled up behind her lids and all she saw was whiteness, followed by blackness.

  Chapter 2

  “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” -- Harry Truman

  Kay stood with her arms crossed, tapping her foot as she watched Dr. Mason wave a pen light back and forth in front of Mary’s eyes while holding each eyelid open, one at a time. The longer she watched, the more annoyed she got.

  “I told you I could have done that.”

  “You’re just a nurse. A hot nurse, but a nurse nonetheless,” David said, matter-of-factly.

  “I’m a doctor, not a nurse,” Kay fumed.

  “He’s just being a jerk, Dr. Nolan,” Sal said, playing peacemaker. “Don’t worry about him.”

  “Don’t worry? He’s the head of surgery,” Kay pointed out. “If he’s like this, I can only imagine what the other doctors are like.”

  David glanced at Kay before turning his attention back to the patient on the examining table. “Look nurse ... doctor ... lady, if you can’t take the heat, get out of the profession.”

  The color rose in Kay’s cheeks. She bit her tongue and addressed Sal. “It looks like you’ve got this under control, Major Bradley. I’m going to check on some other patients.” And with that, Kay left the examining cubicle.

  Sal sighed heavily. “I do believe you just broke your own record, Dr. Mason. You alienated a new medical professional in no time flat.”

  David grunted. “Ask me if I care.”

  “That’s a given. ... So what’s wrong with her? Why did she pass out?”

  David put his hands on Mary’s throat to check her thyroid. Mary stirred, opened her eyes, and pushed David hard. “Get away from me. What are you doing?”

  “Welcome
back, cutie,” David smiled.

  “It’s alright, Nurse,” Sal said. “He’s just examining you.”

  Mary was vaguely disoriented. “Why?”

  “You fainted,” Sal explained.

  “I did? I don’t remember.”

  Tired of the small talk, David gave his official diagnosis. “Looks like she’s suffering from dehydration and exhaustion. She’ll be fine. Now get her out of here. We need this examining room for real patients.”

  David hurried off as Sal shook her head. “Asshole,” Sal muttered in David’s direction before turning back to Mary. Mary started lifting herself off the examining table. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “The doctor said I’m fine,” Mary replied. “I want to take a shower. Um, where is it?”

  “The showers?” Sal looked at her wrist watch. “Look, I have an appointment. I’m supposed to play tour guide for a couple of British officers who are visiting the base and, thanks to you, I’m late.” Sal turned to leave.