before.
   Mrs. Davis had a bath drawn for her. It was wonderful. Just being able to wash her hair seemed like a gift from heaven. The post surgeon, Dr.Whitehead, came by and examined her head wound. He was a heavy set man with a faint smell of liquor about him.
   "I'm afraid you're going to have a scar but your hair will cover most of it," he said as he examined the wound. "There is really little that I can do."
   She smiled. "I'm happy to only have a scar from it all."
   "Surely, madam, surely," Whitehead said.
   "What of Lieutenant Bohanin?" Mrs. Davis asked. "How's he faring?"
   Whitehead shook his head. "I'm afraid that the Lieutenant is going to lose much of the movement in his hand. He has a badly shattered wrist."
   "And the man with the leg wound?" Nell asked.
   "I believe he will lose it. We'll know for sure by tonight."
   Nell turned her attentions to Annie after the surgeon left. She was in for a good head washing and bath. Mrs. Davis found a dress that was too large for her but it was the best the post had to offer. Mrs. Davis said that she would get material in the morning and make a pair of simple dresses.
   That evening, they ate at the Davis' quarters. The hot meal with fresh bread from the post bakery, eaten on fresh linen and China, seemed the first civilized meal that Nell had eaten in ages. Nell asked about Collier but Captain Davis gave him only a passing comment. He seemed more concerned about how she was going to get back to Missouri.
   "I'm sure the Methodist Church in Ellsworth can help find the little Annie's relatives," Mr. Davis said. Annie can stay with us until they can make arrangements for her care.
   "Annie has been very well cared for," Nell snapped.
   Mrs. Davis was surprised. "Of course, my dear, I was not suggesting that you didn't do a wonderful job with the child. I was just saying that arrangements should be made for her welfare."
   "I believe that I should have something to say about Annie!"
   "Surely, young lady, you don't intend to keep the child yourself. I mean . . . how could you provide for her care under your circumstances?"
   "And what are my circumstances, Mrs. Davis? Do you really know?"
   "Of course not, my dear." Mrs. Davis sat quietly for a moment before continuing. "You're tired and you've been through so much. I realize how attached you've become to the child. Who wouldn't? Really, dear, we must be practical."
   Nell realized her manner and calmed herself. "I'm sorry. I just think that you should consider my rights to the child if her family cannot be found."
   "This matter does not need to be settled tonight," Captain Davis said. "We'll look at all the possibilities for Annie's welfare. Mrs. Baker, your claim would, of course, be considered."
   Nell relaxed and gave her next words consideration. "I don't mean to be offensive. Please excuse me. You've been so kind . . . It's just that Annie and I have been through so much together. I guess that I just began thinking of her as my own."
   Mrs. Davis smiled pleasantly. "Think nothing of it, my dear. I quite understand. I was a mother myself and can identify with your feelings. Of course, you have a claim to the child. I will do everything that I can to help." She took hold of Nell's hand.
   Tears came into Nell's eyes. "I think I probably should get some rest. I am very tired."
   Mrs. Davis rose from the table. "Of course. Let me help you prepare for bed."
   As Nell waited for sleep, she thought of the last six days of her life. When sleep came, it was sudden. It was the first sound sleep that she had enjoyed in days.
CHAPTER XXI
It was midmorning before Nell got out of bed. She apologized to Mrs. Davis for having slept so long. Mrs. Davis brushed the apology
   Mrs. Davis had a bath drawn for her. It was wonderful. Just being able to wash her hair seemed like a gift from heaven. The post surgeon, Dr.Whitehead, came by and examined her head wound. He was a heavy set man with a faint smell of liquor about him.
   "I'm afraid you're going to have a scar but your hair will cover most of it," he said as he examined the wound. "There is really little that I can do."
   She smiled. "I'm happy to only have a scar from it all."
   "Surely, madam, surely," Whitehead said.
   "What of Lieutenant Bohanin?" Mrs. Davis asked. "How's he faring?"
   Whitehead shook his head. "I'm afraid that the Lieutenant is going to lose much of the movement in his hand. He has a badly shattered wrist."
   "And the man with the leg wound?" Nell asked.
   "I believe he will lose it. We'll know for sure by tonight."
   Nell turned her attentions to Annie after the surgeon left. She was in for a good head washing and bath. Mrs. Davis found a dress that was too large for her but it was the best the post had to offer. Mrs. Davis said that she would get material in the morning and make a pair of simple dresses.
   That evening, they ate at the Davis' quarters. The hot meal with fresh bread from the post bakery, eaten on fresh linen and China, seemed the first civilized meal that Nell had eaten in ages. Nell asked about Collier but Captain Davis gave him only a passing comment. He seemed more concerned about how she was going to get back to Missouri.
   "I'm sure the Methodist Church in Ellsworth can help find the little Annie's relatives," Mr. Davis said. Annie can stay with us until they can make arrangements for her care.
   "Annie has been very well cared for," Nell snapped.
   Mrs. Davis was surprised. "Of course, my dear, I was not suggesting that you didn't do a wonderful job with the child. I was just saying that arrangements should be made for her welfare."
   "I believe that I should have something to say about Annie!"
   "Surely, young lady, you don't intend to keep the child yourself. I mean . . . how could you provide for her care under your circumstances?"
   "And what are my circumstances, Mrs. Davis? Do you really know?"
   "Of course not, my dear." Mrs. Davis sat quietly for a moment before continuing. "You're tired and you've been through so much. I realize how attached you've become to the child. Who wouldn't? Really, dear, we must be practical."
   Nell realized her manner and calmed herself. "I'm sorry. I just think that you should consider my rights to the child if her family cannot be found."
   "This matter does not need to be settled tonight," Captain Davis said. "We'll look at all the possibilities for Annie's welfare. Mrs. Baker, your claim would, of course, be considered."
   Nell relaxed and gave her next words consideration. "I don't mean to be offensive. Please excuse me. You've been so kind . . . It's just that Annie and I have been through so much together. I guess that I just began thinking of her as my own."
   Mrs. Davis smiled pleasantly. "Think nothing of it, my dear. I quite understand. I was a mother myself and can identify with your feelings. Of course, you have a claim to the child. I will do everything that I can to help." She took hold of Nell's hand.
   Tears came into Nell's eyes. "I think I probably should get some rest. I am very tired."
   Mrs. Davis rose from the table. "Of course. Let me help you prepare for bed."
   As Nell waited for sleep, she thought of the last six days of her life. When sleep came, it was sudden. It was the first sound sleep that she had enjoyed in days.
CHAPTER XXI
It was midmorning before Nell got out of bed. She apologized to Mrs. Davis for having slept so long. Mrs. Davis brushed the apology
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