Free The Major's Daughter by J. P. Francis Page A

approach had been clever. He had slipped away before evening roll call, just as the men returned from work, stepping behind a wagon or into the tree line beyond the camp, and from there he had until reveille to get away. Major Brennan did not imagine he would get far, but you never knew.
    Meanwhile, he waited for the Brown Paper Company to get back to him. It was a ticklish predicament. By putting the men on bread and water, he undermined their ability to work, thereby reducing the available labor force for the extraction of pulp. Geneva Conventions had specific guidelines about nutrition and what was required in order to let a man labor. A diet of bread and water would make the men weak. It was a muddle, certainly, and he waited for the call from Sherman Heights, president of the Brown Paper Company, with a headache building along his scalp line.
    â€œCollie?” he called into the next room. “Are you there?”
    She came in a moment later.
    â€œCould you bring me some aspirin and a glass of water, please?”
    â€œOf course, Papa.”
    She disappeared and returned quickly. Coming through the door, he recognized her mother in her movements. He smiled softly to see it. He wondered if she knew how much she resembled her mother, his late wife, and wondered if she knew how beautiful she had become.
    â€œSit with me for a moment,” he said, taking the pills and the water from her. “Thank you.”
    â€œQuite a day,” Collie said, sitting in front of the desk.
    â€œThey’ll be on bread and water for a time,” he said, putting the pills on his tongue and then washing them down with water. “My hands are tied.”
    â€œCan they still work?”
    He shook his head.
    â€œI can’t put them to that kind of work if they’re not eating.”
    â€œHow long will you keep them on it?”
    He shrugged. He took another sip of water.
    â€œYou look like your mother sitting there. Do you know how much you resemble her? I’m not sure I’ve told you.”
    â€œI have some idea.”
    â€œYou do, you know. It’s in your movement as much as anything, and sometimes in your voice.”
    â€œIs it painful to see?”
    â€œNo, not at all, sweetheart. It’s a delight. One of the few I can count on these days.”
    He looked out. The harsh light of midday had given way to the mountain shadows of early evening. He rubbed his temples. He watched her brighten.
    â€œWell,” she said, “if some good news will make you feel better, I should tell you that Estelle is coming for a visit. She confirmed it today in a letter. She’ll arrive in a week or so. So now you’ll have two young women to escort around the camp.”
    â€œOh, I’m glad to hear that. She’ll keep good company with you.”
    â€œI’ll take her everywhere. I already have a dozen things planned out.”
    â€œGood. You need to consort with some people your own age. Maybe you could host a small reception to introduce her to people. Mrs. Hammond would let you use the parlor, I’m sure.”
    â€œI thought of that. But who would I invite?”
    â€œOh, the Chapman girls, and some of the guards. I don’t know. Perhaps you’ll invite your German beau.”
    He watched her blush. He smiled.
    â€œHe didn’t pass along a secret plan for mutiny, did he? He’s not asking you to spy, I hope. He said he had a poem for you.”
    â€œPapa! He gave me a poem and asked me to go over his translation of it.”
    â€œI see. Well, I probably shouldn’t have permitted it. Be careful. The last thing we need is the story of the daughter of the camp’s commandant becoming involved with a German prisoner. You understand that, don’t you?”
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous, Papa.”
    â€œAll right. But just the same, he’s very handsome. Even as an old man, I can see that. But we’re still at war with the Germans. These