spare, offer a coffee they hadn’t time to take, and direct them to the hospital with his compliments. He was, Kate knew, being exceptionally helpful and she was being exceptionally ungrateful. It was Julia’s presence setting her on edge as Monsieur le Commandant escorted them to the hospital, making the necessary introductions, interspersed with compliments and small talk that strained Kate’s French and her courtesy.
A nurse was sent to fetch a junior doctor, who, in turn, was sent to fetch a more senior physician.
“We only need to borrow supplies,” said Kate in desperation. The rain was pouring and the clock was ticking.
“It is good to know one’s colleagues,” said the commandant, patting her arm in a fatherly way. “And everyone wants to know the so intrepid dames Américaines.”
“More muddy than intrepid right now,” said Kate, and everyone laughed as though she’d said something very clever. Except Julia, of course. “Dr. Pruyn has prepared a list of the items we need most desperately. . . .”
“We must not have you reduced to desperation!”
Underlings were dispatched to fetch various items. More coffee was offered and refused. Kate suggested that she sign a receipt and felt that she had committed a faux pas.
“Ah, one of your countrymen!” The commandant waved at someone above Kate’s head. “Dr. Stapleton! Dr. Stapleton is visiting from the hospital of the Red Cross in Nesle. Have you met les dames Américaines?”
They had, Kate noticed, gone from being collégiennes to being dames. She wasn’t sure whether that was a promotion or a demotion.
“Not in this country, I haven’t,” said an American voice. A man wearing a white medical coat walked up to them, stopping at the sight of Julia. “Julia. What brings you to this mud pit?”
“That’s Dr. Pruyn.” Julia’s voice was as sharp-edged as ground glass.
“On such long acquaintance?” He began humming something. Kate recognized it immediately as “Auld Lang Syne.” “Should old acquaintance be forgot . . .”
The song had the most remarkable effect on Julia. Her back tensed; her face was totally expressionless except for her eyes, which glittered in a most disconcerting way, like seeing the painted eyes in a portrait come alive.
Kate looked from one to the other. “I take it you know each other.”
“Classmates,” Julia bit out, her lips clamping down hard on the words. “At Johns Hopkins.”
“And now colleagues.” Dr. Stapleton held out his hand. Julia pointedly failed to take it. Dr. Stapleton shrugged, not visibly distressed. “I look forward to renewing our acquaintance.”
“We’re very busy,” said Julia flatly. “Kate. We have everything?”
It was, thought Kate, the first time she had ever heard Julia use her name. “Yes, we should be getting back. I’d rather not drive after dark.”
“No,” agreed Dr. Stapleton, falling into step with them as they walked to the door. Julia made sure Kate was between them, but since Kate was considerably shorter than both, she proved a less-than-effective barrier. “It’s dangerous out there for young ladies.”
“Don’t worry,” said Julia, looking straight at him over Kate’s head. “I have a revolver and I’m not afraid to use it.”
“You don’t really have a revolver, do you?” asked Kate as they loaded the parcels into the White truck.
“Why not?” Even in the grips of some strong emotion, Julia was careful with the precious parcels. She saw the last one secured and then looked defiantly at Kate. “Maybe, like Maud, I have an ambition to ‘pot a German.’”
A German—or her old classmate? Julia, Kate remembered, had always been insanely competitive. She’d been first in their class at Smith and never let anyone forget it. Kate squinted at the road, or what had once been a road before the rains had got started on it. Army trucks had carved deep ruts in the mud. What had happened? Had Dr. Stapleton come out tops in an exam? It would be just like Julia to hold a grudge. Kate entertained herself thinking of various possibilities. A thwarted romance? A scholastic competition?
She couldn’t resist needling Julia just a bit. “That Dr. Stapleton—do you think he’d help out with the infirmary once a week? If you went to school with him . . . We could use the extra pair of hands.”
“We don’t need the help,” said Julia flatly.
“Oh, don’t we?” One of Kate’s innovations had been to have all the committees submit weekly reports. She knew exactly how many patients Julia and Dr. Stringfellow had seen last week and how many remained to be seen. The numbers were staggering.
“Not his help,” said Julia fiercely.
Kate looked at