“Time to go back inside,” Red said. When he saw Tim’s face he laughed. “Did I frighten you, lad?”
Red started for the jailhouse door, and Tim read on:
My prayers will be with you wherever you are. God give you strength to take whatever course you may deem wise. Your folks have written and we will post our letters at the same time. We have sent a surprise in a separate packet. There’s something there from me. Can you guess what? I hope it will reach you in good time.
Your loving,
Kate
At four o’clock as the prisoners moved into the yard Captain Senn hailed Tim. “Lieutenant,” he said solemnly, holding out an envelope, “there was a letter with the money your family sent. I’m sorry I had to open it.”
“Thank you, Captain.”
“Here is another,” said Senn, making a ceremony of giving up the second letter. “Since it came from a soldier, we opened this one too.”
It hadn’t appeared that Kate’s letter had been opened but suppose it had? Then Senn would watch him like a hawk. Tim looked sharply at Senn’s face and saw nothing there but that patient, meaningless smile.
When they were out of earshot Red said, “That stuffed shirt doesn’t need to apologize for opening our mail. After all, we’re prisoners of war. But don’t let me keep you from your mail.”
They stood in the middle of the yard while Tim read the letter from his family. He finished reading and said, “Things are fine at home.”