The Guidance - By Marley Gibson Page 0,79

somewhere. "Was Kenney in your unit?"

"Aye. Colonel James Kenney from Connecticut," Major Fair explains as he strokes his beard. "At one time, I considered him a friend—before I left Radisson, that is."

While they're working, the rest of my team is on pins and needles listening to the one-sided conversation. I fill them in the best I can. I soften my voice and meet Fair's eyes with mine. "See my friend over here? That's Stephanie. She's Ada's great-great-great-granddaughter."

"Lovely child," he comments after a moment.

"What did he say?" asks Stephanie.

"He said you're pretty."

Her face reddens. "Oh. Thanks."

I face him again. "Tell me about Ada, Major. We all want to know."

This request seems to soothe him some. He takes three paces to the left and stares out of the lace-curtained window like he's reliving a precious memory. "Ada was a strong woman on the outside, but I saw into her soul, to the fragile and frightened girl. It was wartime. What do women know of war?"

I decide not to tell him that our armed forces have been letting women in since the mid-1960s and women are now going to war just like men. Not information he necessarily needs to know.

"But you were there for her. You showed her great kindness," I tell him.

"I tried." Fair's eyes are distant as he remembers the woman he loved. "Her hair was so thick and soft. Delicate ladylike hands that could dance over the piano keyboard with such care. Those hands became rough as she constantly waited on us and worked to grow any food she could in the garden for her father and sister."

I smile at him. "She mentions in her diary that you brought vegetables to her."

"That I did."

I hate to rile him up when he seems unruffled right now. However, I've got to piece this puzzle together and get Fair to move along. "Sir? Without getting too upset, can you please tell me about this Kenney guy?"

Loreen puts her hand on my arm. "The energy in the room just shifted. I feel something dark and brooding again."

"I heard a growl," Becca says.

Celia agrees. "Was that someone's stomach?"

No one fesses up.

I watch Fair fist his hands at his sides, the knuckles losing all color.

"Kenney was my friend. We fought side by side. We drank whiskey together. We celebrated the fall of Atlanta together. And we both ended up here in Radisson. Kenney knew I was in love with Ada. Hell, everyone knew. I couldn't keep it to myself. The morning that I was instructed to head east to Savannah, well, it damn near broke my heart. Hers too. She wanted to come with me. Of course, that was impossible. Kenney promised me he'd watch out for Ada until I returned. He watched out for her, all right," he says through his clenched teeth, seething.

I relay this to my team. Taylor sniffles at the sadness of the tale. Celia steps forward. "How long was he in Savannah?"

Fair hears her. "I had no sense of time without Ada. It was days, weeks, months—who knows? I wrote her constantly. Every night, in fact."

"Did you hear back from her?" I ask, careful where I'm treading.

"No. My heart was broken, thinking something had happened to her because I was gone. I trusted my fellow soldiers, but they're only men in a desperate time. I feared for her sanctity and her virtue although Kenney assured me he'd watch out for her. Had something become of him that he could no longer protect my Ada?"

My chest aches at the colossal pressure and loss of love Nathan Fair is experiencing. It's hard even to catch a good strong breath for fear the searing air won't properly fill my lungs. This is such total sadness. There really isn't a bigger word for it. Like a death ... sorrow, misery, grief ... any of these words will do.

Loreen moves her hand over her chest and doubles over with a groan. Next thing I know, Father Mass is at her side. Her face is contorted in pain and tears stream from her eyes.

"I've never felt such despair," she says between quick breaths.

"Loreen, what can I do to help?" Father Mass asks.

She doesn't answer; she grabs his hand and holds on tightly. "It'll pass. He knows I'm stronger than Kendall and he's testing me. Testing all of us."

"Come on, Major. Leave Loreen alone!" I shout out. "We're here to get to the bottom of everything."

At that, Loreen's knees collapse and she falls into Father Massimo's arms. She