Read Online Nightingale by Susan May Warren - Free Book Online Page B

because we both grew up in Iowa. The prairie can feel like a river, constantly moving. And maybe, like me, he wanted to see the world.”
    From the bed, Sadie stirred. “You did, didn’t you?”
    Esther cut her voice low, her words almost for herself. “I was going to Europe. I was just waiting for my official orders when I met Linus.” She blew into her coffee. “Did you know that Linus has the complete collection of Hardy Boys mysteries? And a stack of about a million comic books. But not one copy of
Tom Sawyer
or
Huckleberry Finn
or even something bolder, Hemingway, or Fitzgerald.”
    Caroline turned over the letter. “This Peter moves around a lot. This is the third location he’s written you from.”
    â€œI noticed that too. I wonder if he’s not with one of those army units, you know, the ones with the German prisoners of war?”
    â€œPrisoners of war? In Wisconsin?”
    â€œI read an article in the newspaper. I can’t believe you missed it—we had a crew of prisoners pass through here a few weeks ago, on their way to Fort McCoy. They hire the prisoners out to pick peas and work in processing plants.” She helped herself to another strawberry. “He’s probably making sure they all stay healthy—a traveling medic.”
    â€œI don’t know how I feel about having Nazis in our backyard.”
    â€œNot all the POWs are Nazis. I read a letter to the editor from a woman who said she heard some of them singing ‘Amazing Grace,’ and that they held regular church services at their camps.”
    â€œGermans, singing hymns?”
    â€œHalf our town is German, Caroline. You might be Dutch, or whatever, but I would bet that your neighbors still have relatives in Germany. Even Bertha—she hasn’t said anything, but I suspect her family was fighting for the other side.”
    â€œI don’t know. If I saw a Nazi, I’d spit on him where he stood.” Caroline bit into another strawberry, catching the bloody juice as it ran down her chin. She slurped it up. “I just hope they don’t come to Roosevelt. We might have the Battle of the Bulge right in the middle of the convalescent ward.” Caroline finished off the strawberry then opened Esther’s book. “I’ll quiz you.”
    â€œI’m not ready.”
    â€œSure you are. You’ve been at this every waking hour. Do the Hahns know?”
    Sadie whimpered in her sleep. Esther got up, settled next to her on the bed, peeled her sweaty hair from her face. “No. I think a part of me is hoping I get this scholarship and then I can leave—be on my own.”
    â€œWhat, escape with Sadie in the middle of the night?”
    â€œShh!”
    â€œBut you’re going to sneak out of town?”
    â€œAnd, I was hoping you might come with me.”
    Caroline blinked, swallowed, her gaze falling to Sadie, then back. Slowly, she nodded.
    Esther took her hand. A smile pulsed between them.
    â€œWhat if Linus is alive?” Caroline said quietly.
    â€œHe’s not.”
    â€œDid you get a telegram?”
    â€œNo. But he must be dead. He has to be. He hasn’t written.” She cut her voice to just above a whisper. “He’s not coming back, and I have to be ready when the Hahns find out.”
    Caroline drew a deep breath. “When is the exam?”
    Sadie drew her thumb up to her mouth. Sighed, her body shuddering before she settled back into slumber.
    â€œIn two weeks. I’ll be ready.” Esther got up, sat down again at the table. Opened the book. “Did you know that Rosemary was in love with Linus? He was supposed to come home during his last furlough—the one he spent with me.”
    â€œHow do you know that?”
    â€œShe heard me talking to Charlie—”
    â€œOne of these days, he’s going to wake up and spill your secrets—”
    â€œAnd when she found out that he might be