Tom had a hand-carried letter for Mother:

Mrs Ira Johnson

Courtesy of Lance-Corporal T. J. Johnson,

C Company, 2^nd Missouri Regiment.

Dear Madam,

I had hoped and expected to return home in the same train as our son Thomas. Indeed, by the terms of enrolment under which I accepted appointment as surgeon in our state militia on federal duty, I cannot be held more than ore hundred and twenty days beyond the proclamation of peace, id est, the 12^th of December last, or the 6thof January, this current month - the difference in dates being a legal technicality now moot.

I regret that I must inform you that the Surgeon General of the Army has asked me and my professional colleagues to continue on duty here on a day to day basis until our services can be spared, and that I have accepted.

We had thought that we bad these devastating fevers under control under control and that we could dismantle the field hospitals here and send our remaining patients to Fort Bragg. But, with the arrival three weeks ago of casuals and casualties from Tampa, our hopes were dashed.

In short, Madam, my patients need me. I will come home as quickly as the Surgeon General decides that I can be spared... under the spirit of the Oath of Hippocrates rather than through any quibble over the letter of the contract.

I trust that you will understand, as you have so many times in the past.

I remain, faithfully yours,

Your loving husband,

Ira Johnson, M.D.,

Captain (M.C.) AUS

Mother did not cry where anyone could see her... and I didn't cry where anyone could see me.

Late in February I received a letter from Mr Smith... postmarked Cincinnati!

Dear Miss Maureen,

By the time this reaches you I will have laid aside my Army blues and resumed wearing mufti; our engineering battalion, Ohio militia, is rolling west as I write this.

It is my dearest wish to see you and to resume my suit for your hand in matrimony. With that prime purpose in mind, after a few days at home with my family, I purpose going at once to Rolla with the intention of reenrolling. Although I was granted my degree in April last year about six weeks early, that sheepskin does not supply me with academic work that I missed. So I intend to make up what I lost, plus a bit more for good measure - which puts me close to Thebes for each weekend (which is what the wily fellow had in mind all along!).

May I hope to see you on Saturday afternoon March 4^th, and again on Sunday, March 5^th? A postal card should reach me at School of Mines - but if I do not hear from you, I shall assume that your answer is Yes.

This train is moving too slowly to suit me!

My respects to your parents and my greetings to all your family.

While looking forward eagerly to the 4^th,

I remain faithfully yours, Brian Smith, B.S.,

Sergeant, Eng. Battalion,

Ohio Militia (Federal Duty)

I reread it, then took a deep breath and held it, to slow my heart. Then I found Mother and asked her to read it. She did so, and smiled. ‘I'm happy for you, dear.'

‘I don't have to tell him to wait until Father gets home?'

‘Your father has already expressed his approval of Mr Smith... in which I concur. He is welcome.' Mother looked thoughtful. ‘Will you ask him to consider fetching with him his uniform?'

‘Really?'

‘Truly. So that he can wear it in church on Sunday. Would you like that?'

Would I! I told her so. ‘Like Tom did, his first Sunday home. Goody!'

‘We will be proud of him. I intend to ask your father to wear his uniform his first Sunday home, too.' She looked thoughtful. ‘Maureen, there is no reason why Mr Smith should have to put up with Mrs Henderson's boarding house, or drive clear back to Butler to the Mansion House. Frank can sleep in the other bed in Tom's room and Mr Smith can have Edward's old room.'

‘Oh, that would be nice!'

‘Yes, dear. But - Look at me, Maureen.' She held my eyes. ‘Don't let his presence under this roof cause either of you to permit any of the children - including Thomas, I must add to see, or even to suspect, any impropriety.'

I blushed clear to my collarbones. ‘I promise, chère mama.'

‘No need for promises; just be discreet. We are women together, dear daughter; I want to help you.'

March came in like a lamb, which just suited me, as I did not want to spend a long afternoon being primly proper in our parlour. The weather was warm and sunny, with no breeze to speak of. So on Saturday the fourth I was the perfect shy young maiden, with parasol and leg o' mutton sleeves and a silly number of petticoats... until Daisy had us a hundred yards from the house and out of earshot of anyone. ‘Briney!'

‘Yes, Miss Maureen?'

‘"Miss Maureen," my foot. Briney, you've had me in the past; you can stop being formal, now that we are alone. Do you have an erection?'

‘Now that you mention it - Yes!'

‘If you had said No, I would have burst into tears. Look, darling, I've found the loveliest place -‘

(Nelson had found it.) There seemed to be evidence that no one else knew of it. Daisy had to be led through two tight spots, then she could be unharnessed and allowed to graze - while we two turned the buggy around. Impossible for the mare to do ir; not enough room for her to back and fill.

I spread the blanket down on a grassy spot separated from the bank by a thick bush... and undressed while Brian watched me - right to my skin, right to stockings and shoes.

That spot was certainly private but anyone within a quarter mile must have heard me. I fainted on that first one, then opened my eyes to find my Briney boy worried. ‘Are you all right?' he asked.

‘I've never been more all right in my life! Thank you, sir You were splendid! Terrific. I've died and gone to heaven.'

He smiled at me. ‘You aren't dead! You're here and you're wonderful and I love you.'

‘Do you, truly? Brian, are you honestly intending to marry me?'

‘I am.'

‘Even with me disqualified for the Howard Foundation?'

‘Redhead, the Foundation introduced us... but it had nothing to do with me coming back. I would happily indenture myself for seven years, like what's-his-name in the Bible, for the privilege of marrying you.'

‘I hope you mean that. Do you want to hear how I'm disqualified?'

‘No.'

‘So? I'm going to tell you anyhow, because I need your help.'

‘At your service, Ma'mselle!'

I'm disqualified because I'm not pregnant. If you will raise up just a little, I will take that rubber mockery off you. Then, sir, if you please, as soon as you are rested enough, I ask you to qualify me. Briney, let's start our first baby!'

He surprised me... by being ready again almost at once. Even Nelson could not manage it that quickly. My Brian was a remarkable man.

Bareness to bareness was just as perfect as I always knew it would be. This time I was even louder. I have since learned to have an orgasm silently... but I would much rather sound off, if conditions permit. Most men like applause. Especially Briney.

At last I sighed. ‘That did it. Thank you, sir. I am now an expectant mother. I felt it hit the target. Spung!'

‘Maureen, you're wonderful.'

‘I'm dead. I died happy. Are you hungry? I made some tiny cream puffs for our lunch and filled them just before you arrived.'

‘I want you for lunch:

‘Blarney. We must keep up your strength. You won't be deprived.' I told him about the arrangements we would have that night - and other nights. ‘Of course Mother knows all about it; she was a Howard bride herself. She just asks that we keep a good face on things. Briney, are your parentes redheaded?'

‘Mother is. Dad's hair is as dark as mine. Why?'