Multifaceted

Callie chuckled. ‘Yeah, people often mistake me for being in my early twenties. But, uh, no, I’m already twenty-five.’ ‘Wow. And you’re wearing a doctor’s coat,’ Harriet mused. Callie nodded, her smile warm. ‘What can I do for you, Lieutenant Colonel? Are you here for a check-up?’ ‘No, not for myself.’ Harriet’s demeanour shifted, her tone becoming more serious. ‘I wanted to ask about PFC Hoover. How’s he holding up after our little scuffle?’ Callie’s professional instincts kicked in, and she relayed the information. ‘He’s got a midshaft humerus fracture. It’s a clean break, and he’ll recover well as long as he rests properly and follows the doctor’s advice.’ Harriet’s expression softened, relief evident in her eyes. ‘Good to hear. Can I see him?’ ‘Sure.’ The common ward was a mix of hushed conversations and the soft beeping of medical equipment. Following Callie, Harriet walked down the neat rows of beds. She spotted PFC Hoover, evidently surprised as he saw her approach. ‘Mind if I have a word?’ Harriet was direct, as always. PFC Hoover quickly sat up from his bed. ‘Uh, no, ma’am. Please, go ahead.’ Harriet pulled up a chair, her posture relaxed but authoritative. ‘Look, about earlier, I wanted to apologise. I didn’t mean to go overboard during the fight.’ PFC Hoover looked taken aback. ‘Apologise? Ma’am, you don’t need to—’ Harriet held up a hand, cutting off his protest. ‘No, I do. Training is one thing, but it’s no good if someone gets hurt. We’re all in this together, and I don’t want anyone injured unnecessarily.’ PFC Hoover’s expression softened, gratitude shining in his eyes. ‘Thank you, ma’am. I appreciate that.’ Harriet’s tone shifted, becoming more encouraging. ‘Listen, I’ve heard about your dedication to training. Keep working at it, keep pushing yourself. You’ve got potential, and I want to see you improve.’ PFC Hoover nodded. ‘I will, ma’am. I’ll work harder.’ Harriet’s lips curved in a brief smile. ‘Good. That’s what I like to hear. After you recover, we could go for another round or two.’ ‘I look forward to it.’ As Harriet rose from her seat, PFC Hoover watched her with a mix of awe and newfound respect. He, like many other cadets at Valour Ridge, had heard of Harriet Daniels, the first ever female officer to make it to Lieutenant Colonel in the air force at the age of twenty-eight. He used to think her rank was just because of connections. But after today, seeing her in action, he’d changed his mind. Callie had been observing the scene from a distance. The way Harriet had approached PFC Hoover was different from the tough exterior she displayed during training. Callie found herself intrigued by Harriet’s multifaceted nature—someone who could be both a fierce fighter and a compassionate leader. After the visit to the soldier, Harriet and Callie strolled out of the ward, their steps in sync as if they had been friends for years. Harriet turned to Callie. ‘Thank you for taking good care of PFC Hoover.’ Callie smiled. ‘Just doing my job.’ ‘I didn’t catch your name earlier.’ ‘Callista Hawthorne, but everyone calls me Callie.’ ‘Callie, that’s a nice name.’ As they walked down the hallway, Callie noticed the lingering look from Harriet and touched her own cheek, bemused. ‘Is there something on my face?’ A chuckle escaped Harriet’s lips. ‘No. I was just thinking, you’ve got a cute name. It matches your cute face.’ Callie’s cheeks were tinged with a light blush. ‘You’re the one turning heads, not me.’ Harriet’s finger lightly tapped her own chin as she pondered. ‘Well, in the military, it’s mostly men, you know. Being one of the few gals, I get my fair share of attention. Some admire, some fear. Others just keep their distance.’ Few dared to stand their ground against Harriet, especially during training, but Elias was an exception. He never treated her with exaggerated deference, nor did he brush her off entirely—a balance that she’d grown to appreciate. Callie found herself laughing at Harriet’s candidness. ‘Maybe they are afraid you’ll beat the pants off them. I mean, if someone asks you out, I’m half-expecting you to challenge them to a duel or something.’ Harriet chuckled. ‘I guess that’s true. No point dating a man who can’t beat me in training.’ ‘That’s a high standard.’ Harriet nodded, her mind wandering once again to Elias, a man with whom she shared a long history and had come to regard as a brother. Like herself, Elias was a man who defied the norms. Her uncle had tried to nudge them together, sensing a unique connection. Yet here they were, acquainted for years, and neither of them showed even the slightest romantic interest in the other. Harriet got the feeling that Elias would choose a life of solitude over marriage any day. To be frank, she shared the same view, but Uncle Hershel’s nagging was getting on her nerves. Harriet respected the general more than anyone else and hated to disappoint him. Since neither she nor Elias had an interest in choosing a mate, maybe they could form a pact. ‘Hey, Callie, can I get your medical opinion on something?’ ‘Sure.’ ‘If a man doesn’t date, doesn’t have a girlfriend, still remains single in his mid-thirties, could he be…’ Harriet glanced around and lowered her voice. ‘You know, frigid?’ Callie was surprised by the direct question, but Harriet looked serious, so she gave it some consideration. ‘Well, sexual frigidity is not a term commonly used in modern medicine. It could refer to one of several sexual dysfunctions—ED, anorgasmia, low libido, etc. To reach a diagnosis, I’d have to take a medical history and perform a physical exam.’ Callie assumed Harriet was asking for a friend. Knowing how sensitive the topic could be for many men, she didn’t press for a name. Instead, she asked, ‘What else can you tell me about him?’ Harriet looked thoughtful. ‘Not much, actually. He’s got this permanent ice-cold façade when he looks at me, or any woman, for that matter. Official business aside, he wouldn’t even make an effort to seek me out. I’ve known him for more than a decade but never once saw him with another woman. That’s why I think he might be...you know.’