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Back The Land Beneath Us Save as PDF
Chapters (62)
  1. Cover
  2. Endorsements
  3. Books by Sarah Sundin
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright Page
  6. Presidential Radio Broadcast
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. Epilogue
  58. Acknowledgments
  59. Discussion Questions
  60. About the Author
  61. Back Ads
  62. Back Cover

With numb fingers, she opened the envelope and removed the slip of paper. A prayer, and she read the dreaded words: “REGRET TO INFORM YOU YOUR HUSBAND CPL CLAY PAXTON WAS ON SEVEN JUNE WOUNDED IN ACTION IN FRANCE STOP YOU WILL BE ADVISED AS REPORTS OF HIS CONDITION ARE RECEIVED.”

That wasn’t right, but each time Leah blinked, the words became clearer. Wounded . . . wounded . . . “He was wounded.”

Rita Sue hugged Leah’s shoulders. “Oh, sugar, I’m so sorry.”

“No, no.” An odd little laugh escaped. “He’s only wounded. He’s alive!”

Rita Sue ducked to the side and stared at Leah.

“He’s alive. Thank God, he’s alive.” She laughed and kissed her baby’s head. She didn’t care if he’d lost all his limbs, been burned, disfigured, and maimed forever. Clay Paxton was alive. “He’ll survive.”

Rita Sue massaged Leah’s shoulder. “I pray he will.”

Leah tucked in her lips. True. The telegram didn’t say how badly he was wounded. She had no guarantee he’d survive, but she had hope that one day he’d come home to her.

She lifted Helen and kissed her sweet-smelling cheek.

Leah could picture Clay stepping off the train, breaking out in his gorgeous smile, taking her into his arms, and kiss—

No, he wouldn’t.

Leah pressed up to her knees and then to her feet. Even more clearly, she could see him in the hospital at Camp Forrest, proposing to her, assuring her he’d die in battle and promising—promising to divorce her should he survive.

She wobbled a bit, then sent a grateful smile down to Rita Sue. “Thank you. May I—may I make a call to Texas to tell his parents?”

“Of course, sugar.” Rita Sue led Leah into the kitchen.

Clay would indeed come home, but not to her.

Once again, Leah would have to release someone she loved.

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45

US 158TH GENERAL HOSPITAL
SALISBURY, WILTSHIRE, ENGLAND
TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 1944

Clay eased down onto the hospital bed after a long walk around the hospital grounds. He could feel the benefits of the early postsurgical ambulation the physicians now promoted, but boy, did it take a lot out of him.

“Very good, Corporal.” Lieutenant Dugoni, his nurse, winked at him. “Tomorrow we’ll send you on a five-mile march.”

Clay hefted his legs onto the bed and leaned back against the headboard. “I’d prefer climbing a cliff, but a march will do if that’s all you’ve got.”

The nurse laughed and straightened Clay’s bathrobe over his legs. “I’ll see what I can arrange. In the meantime, keep doing your exercises. You’re making excellent progress.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” He filled his lungs, careful to keep his shoulders and pelvis straight and to not favor his wounded side. He didn’t want to become a “chest cripple,” permanently bent to one side as were too many veterans from World War I.