Join me today as I welcome author and guest blogger Linda Shenton Matchett.

War’s Unexpected Gift: An Excerpt

One of the goals of my books is to shine the light on ordinary women who did extraordinary things in days gone by, so when I was accepted as part of A Merry Heart anthology, I wanted to honor the nurses of the Army and Navy Medical Corps who served around the world. Gwen Milford is a secondary character in A Doctor in the House, and she deserved her own story. Transferred from a requisitioned manor-house-turned-convalescent-hospital to the embattled sands of Normandy, then Belgium, Gwen’s life took a decidedly different turn:

 “Join the Army Medical Corps,” they said. “See the world,” they said. Gwen Milford shivered as cold rain slithered down the back of her neck. Her boots made sucking noises as her feet squished and slid across the muddy terrain. The box in her arms seemed to get heavier with each step as she trudged to the waiting line of trucks. “Hardly the glamour I anticipated.” She shook her head and hefted the carton into the canvas-covered bed of the vehicle. She’d given up trying to keep moisture off her spectacles.

Dozens of olive-drab-clad men and women worked like ants at a Tennessee summer picnic to sort, pack, and load the countless pieces of equipment and supplies. At least for the moment, shells weren’t falling. She’d gotten used to running the wards at Heron Hall outside of London with only the periodic doodlebug to interrupt their days. Bored, she’d raised her hand when word came through that nurses were needed for the Allies’ push into France.

Normandy. The name would be remembered for generations to come even by those who hadn’t experienced the carnage. Almost two hundred thousand men had stormed the beaches, and more than ten thousand had given their lives. She and her fellow nurses had arrived on D-plus-four. The mud had been endless there, too.

 “Stop. You’re getting maudlin.” Gwen scraped her wet curls away from her eyes and tramped toward the building to grab another box. A stiff breeze tugged at her garrison cap, and she tugged it lower on her head. She ducked inside, then wiped her boots on the blanket someone had thrown on the floor at the entrance. The rumble of men’s voices mingled with the higher tones of her fellow nurses. The shrill notes of someone whistling “Yankee Doodle Dandy” floated toward her. She smiled and hummed along as she headed down the corridor. The music got louder, and she stopped in the doorway.

Back in the hall, Private Culwell, a barely-out-of-high-school soldier, swished the mop back and forth on the floor, the sharp trills bouncing off the walls of the empty room. Gwen broke into song, and he whirled, a wide grin on his face. He leaned close to the wooden handle acting as if it were a microphone, and his slightly off-key tenor joined her alto voice. They finished the song, and applause sounded from deep within the building. Someone shouted, “Well done, Culwell.”

She grinned as they bowed toward each other. “Your reputation precedes you.”

“That and a nickel will buy me a cup of coffee.” He shrugged. “Need something, Lieutenant?”

“Nope. Came inside on my umpteenth trip from loading the trucks, and couldn’t resist your happy tune. A real pick-me-up, especially with all the rain. Is it ever going to cease?”

“Maybe not. One of the guys told me this area gets a lot of precipitation in the fall. Could be worse. Where we’re headed is near the mountains. Bet we’ll see snow before long.”

“Are you always this optimistic, Private?”

“Yes, ma’am. No sense in moping around. I’m not getting shot at or bombed, and I’m warm and inside. And the Good Lord is in control. Doesn’t get much better.”

“Thanks for the reminder.” She pointed to the pristine floor. “And for the great job you’re doing.” She could take a few lessons from the man’s simple faith. He always wore a smile, and his face glowed as if lit from within. “Well, best get back to it.”

About Linda: 

Linda Shenton Matchett writes happily-ever-after historical Christian fiction about second chances and women who overcome life’s challenges to be better versions of themselves. Whether you choose my books set in the Old West or across the globe during WWII, you will be immersed in the past through rich detail. Follow the journeys of relatable characters whose faith is sorely tested, yet in the end, emerge triumphant. Be encouraged in your own faith-walk through stories of history and hope. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Linda was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historical places all her life. She now lives in central New Hampshire where she is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII.

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