There's No Accounting for Love 16
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Chapter 16
Casualties of War
The Korean War ended with a ceasefire at Panmunjom, July 27, 1953, with 340 Australian dead and 1216 Wounded. Those who died in the war were sent home for burial, it was a much different story for those who came home wounded. They soon discovered their attempt at reentering society became another battle to be fought. Many veterans were trying to make an adjustment to civilian life with injuries that have altered their abilities and lives forever. Some were missing limbs; others suffered emotional and psychological damage with no place to turn and no one reaching out with a helping hand.
A situation that was soon to be discovered by Elizabeth and Robert Helmsley on what had been intended to be a pleasant day spent in the local village.
Ian and Michael had taken Michael's parents for a visit to the village on a bright spring day. While sitting in a small café enjoying a cup of tea and a bite to eat something caught Elizabeth's attention in a park across the street. Robert noticed something was disturbing Elizabeth. He asked, "What has your attention Elizabeth?"
Without a word she stood and walked quickly from the café and headed across the street almost on the run where there was a scuffle of sorts taking place. Michael and the others quickly followed and found Elizabeth shoving a policeman away from a man on the ground trying his best to avoid the officer's boot.
Elizabeth told the officer to stop what he was doing, "How do expect this man to get up and walk with only one leg, you can see you're asking the impossible and still you continue to kick him, what kind of a man are you."
The officer reached out as if to push Elizabeth away when Michael grabbed his arm, turned him around and gave him a fist to his jaw hard enough to send him stumbling back onto the grass.
A second officer ran up intending to hit Michael in the back with his night stick just as Ian stepped between them, doubling the officer over with a punch to his gut.
The officer, clutching his stomach face red with anger yelled, "Who do you think you are I'm placing the whole bunch of you under arrest for interfering with police business."
Robert in his usual calm demeanor said, "You do that and I'll see that you and your Neanderthal partner won't see the light of day for the next six months, and from what we've seen, the stockade may be where you belong."
Robert looked over at his darling Elizabeth doing her best to comfort the injured man and suddenly his clam demeanor turned to anger as he said, "And let me add one more thing, if your partner had so much as touched my wife neither of you would have lived to see the sunrise tomorrow."
His father's sudden rage even startled Michael.
The bravado the two officers displayed earlier was gone as they took note of the anger in Robert's eyes.
Elizabeth still kneeling beside the injured man asked what she could do to help him. He replied with a rather big smile, "My dear lady, you have done more than anyone like me could expect. Thank you for coming to my aid, I hope my inability to get out of the park as the office was ordering me to do will not cause you and your family any problems. My friend Thomas will be back shortly to help me. He left me here to go for some lunch for the two of us."
The head constable joined the others looking all puffed up and ready to defend his officer's until he recognized Lord and Lady Helmsley from their pictures that had been in the paper recently. Turning pale he mustered a weak smile and asked what the problem was.
By the time Lady Helmsley completed her description of what had taken place the Constable had taken several steps back with the two offices cowering behind him.
Ian noticed a young man on crutches hurrying down the sidewalk dropping the lunches he had just purchased for himself and his injured friend. Looking panic stricken he yelled, "Billy what's wrong, are you alright?"
Ian immediately went to the man explaining that his friend was fine as he walked with him back to where Billy was. Michael had reached the phone booth on the corner and contacted Frederic and gave him a short explanation of what had taken place. Frederic told Michael to place all of the officers under arrest by the authority of Her Majesties Government and take them to their own jail where they're to remain until he arrived to place charges against them for cruelty against Australian veterans.
Elizabeth and Ian were calming the two young veterans, Ian asked how old they were; Thomas said he was 24, and Billy 22. They both had served in the Korean War and had just recently arrived back in Australia after being discharged from the military hospital. Thomas was missing his right foot and Billy's leg had been amputated just above his right knee. Both men were thin and still wearing worn army clothing. Ian asked, "With your injuries why do you only have two crutches between you?"
Billy replied, "That's all the Red Cross had left so we make do the best we can, it isn't so bad, when we're together we can lean on each other. The hard part is there isn't much either of us can do for work and folks don't seem to want us around, I guess it reminds them of the horror of war."
Elizabeth said, "Surely your families will help you."
Thomas replied, "Our families have enough hardship feeding those still at home, we're just an added burden. Don't get me wrong, they love us; there just isn't much they can do to help. It's pretty much the same for most of the wounded who came back."
Billy gave his friend Thomas a big smile as he said, "This is Lady Helmsley, she came running across that street and charged into the officer that was kicking me like a mother lion protecting her cubs, it was really something, you should have seen it."
Michael said, "That's my mother, she's not afraid to attack anyone who's doing something wrong. She's known as Elizabeth the terrible by evil doers everywhere." Elizabeth looked at Michael and rolled her eyes.
Billy said, "Lady Elizabeth is your mother? Well, I see where you get your courage from. Thomas this man gave that cop who was kicking me such an uppercut to the jaw he was lucky it wasn't broken; I bet he'll be black and blue for a month. And this man sucker punched the other officer who was about to strike Elizabeth's son with his nightstick, the officer keeled over gasping for breath."
Thomas reached out and shook both Ian and Michael's hands as he said, "I'm sure sorry I missed that, those officers are as mean as sin to us vets."
Elizabeth said, "It's unbelievable, doesn't the government help you there should be something that can be done. This situation is deplorable, our young men go to fight a stupid war and lose life or limb and you're left to wander the country hoping to find any kind of work just to survive. It infuriates me."
Robert had come back and put his arm around his wife and said, "There is something that can be done, I'm not sure what yet, but Elizabeth we're sure as hell going to find a way to help these men as well as others like them."
Thomas and Billy looked at Robert, Michael realized he hadn't introduced them said, "Billy and Thomas, this is my father, Lord Helmsley." Robert reached out and shook hands with both men.
Ian said, "I'm afraid in the excitement Thomas dropped the food he was bringing for them, we'll have to make sure they're fed properly."
Thomas replied, "That's doesn't matter as long as Billy is okay, I can't thank you all enough for coming to Billy's aid."
Michael said he was going for the car and added, "We're taking you two back with us and have Quinn fix you a good solid meal, and they'll stay with us until we come up with a solution to this disgusting situation they and other veterans are in."
Billy protested, "You have done more for us than most would already, we can't bother you further."
Michael was on his way for the car as Thomas joined Billy is protesting against the need for anymore help.
Robert said, "You might as well save your breath, you're coming back with us whether you want to or not, and there's no use arguing about it. Trust me arguing with Michael and Elizabeth is like arguing with..." Robert looked at Elizabeth and decided to end his sentence while he was still ahead.
A half hour drive later and the two veterans were being introduced to so many people that there was no hope of remembering names, with the exception of Quinn, Eve, and their son Guy, who was bouncing with excitement at having real army men in the house.
Peter as usual took in all the commotion with a smile. After Billy and Thomas were well fed and the story of what took place in the village was told and retold, everyone found themselves touched by the insensitivity toward wounded men who through no fault of their own found themselves in desperate situations.
Thomas and Billy were dazed by all the attention and fuss that was being made over them by this very unusual group of people. As evening approached, Peter said, "There was a room on the ground floor with a private bath for Thomas and Billy to use."
Martin, Jon, and James helped them get settled and ran a warm bath for them. Several of the guys brought clothing in that they put on the sofa and told the men to use what they wanted. Before leaving the room James and Jon told Thomas and Billy that if they needed anything they were just down the hall and not to hesitate to wake them.
When they were alone Billy sat in a chair looking bewildered. Thomas asked if he was okay. Billy said, "I feel like I died and gone to heaven, I hope I don't wake up in the morning and discover we're back in that shack down by the rail yard."
"I know just how you feel Billy; it's hard to believe we're in this nice room in a house filled with kind and loving people that actually want to help us. Let's bathe before we get in bed, I can't wait to be clean again."
In the morning after another bath and shaving Billy wasn't sure if they should use the nice clothes that were left for them. Thomas said he thought that not using them might make them think we're ungrateful, "I believe we should look our best when we greet the others this morning.
When they left the room the scent of coffee and hot cakes made them aware that others were already up and about. Jon and James met them in the hall and walked to the dining room with them. As soon as the good mornings were said Quinn placed a heap of hot cakes in front of them with butter and warm syrup, asking if they preferred coffee or tea. They both said coffee.
Thomas put his head down and Billy asked him if he was alright. Thomas was a bit choked up as he said, "I can't believe any of this is real."
Quinn said, "It's real, so dig in before those hot cakes cool down." He gave both of them a glass of orange juice just as dishes of scrambled eggs and bacon were being passed around by Jon and James.
Eve walked in and took her place along with Guy. She looked around and said, "Where's Billy and Thomas?" Guy said, "Mom they're sitting right there in front of you."
Eve said, "It can't be, these guys don't look the same, okay Quinn what did you do with Billy and Thomas?"
Both Billy and Thomas started laughing as Thomas said, "It's really us we just washed the dirt off, shaved, and put on these nice clothes some of the guys left in our room."
Eve said, I can hardly believe it, you two are studs for sure. That caused Billy and Thomas to laugh even harder.
Michael and Ian walked in and Ian said, "It's nice to hear our guests are laughing, must be the food is really funny this morning."
SMACK! Michael cracked up as he said, "Ian you know better than to make a remark about Quinn's cooking when you're standing that close to him."
Ian was rubbing the back of his head, "I didn't think he'd do that in front of our guests."
Smiling Quinn said, "I guess you thought wrong didn't you."
Billy and Thomas weren't sure what to do watching all the fun going on.
Eve said, "You're scaring the dickens out of Billy and Thomas with all your tomfoolery. Now behave yourselves."
Thomas said, "Actually, we're enjoying the fun you folks are having, it's good for us to see families that are this close.
Jon spoke up saying, "I think our family just grew by two, welcome home you guys; the others raised their glasses in a welcome salute. Billy and Thomas looked like they were in a state of shock."
Thomas said, "We can't just stay here, we have no way of repaying you."
Eve said, "I have a feeling dad has more than enough things that you can do, he always needs help at the B & B. I know Adam could use help taking guests on tours, can either of you ride horses, I know it might be difficult with your injuries, but there must be a way we could rig something up so you could mount and dismount safely that is if you would be interested."
Billy and Thomas looked at each other before saying, "We're interested."
Robert and Elizabeth had joined everyone at breakfast and Robert asked if they had considered prosthetic limbs? I understand they can do wonders with those now."
Billy said, "Yes the doctors at the military hospital told us about them and explained that they could fit me with a leg and Thomas was told he could have a prosthetic foot so he wouldn't even need crutches. But they're expensive and neither of us could afford them, but they are great for those who can."
Elizabeth let out a sigh, "You mean to tell me the Australian government doesn't provide those types of things so you can rejoin society in a useful productive way. Robert, this lack of concern for veterans makes me crazy. We spend outrageous amounts of taxpayer money on armaments, but can't spend money on repairing the damage those armaments do to our men fighting in the governments pathetic and useless wars."
Elizabeth, I'll make some calls today and see what we can do about that. Let's you and I put our heads together, I'll bet we can find a way of helping all of these men who haven't been able to find work because of their injuries."
Elizabeth's eyes lit up with excitement, she definitely had herself a mission. The others who were listening to the discussion couldn't help smile at her enthusiasm.
Frederic had arrived and taken care of the problem with the law enforcement officers in the village. New officers had been hired and quickly learned what happened to those who misused their authority.
Robert had contacted a facility in Sydney that specialized in prosthetic limb replacements. Frederic had insisted on providing Robert and Elizabeth with a chauffeur driven car and they were on their way with Thomas and Billy to meet with doctors at the clinic.
After a couple of weeks at the ranch eating properly and living with people who obviously cared about what happened to them Billy and Thomas were like two different men. What a difference kindness can make, they were properly groomed, with clothes that fit and a new light of hope shining in their eyes.
Once at the clinic they were shown what could be done so that both men could once again walk without the crutches. Nothing could replace what they had lost in the war, but they would be able to be self-sufficient.
Elizabeth and Robert were known as Lady Elizabeth and Lord Helmsley while interacting with doctors at the clinic. There are times when a bit of snobbery is helpful, and making sure Billy and Thomas were treated with respect and received the best prosthetics available was one of those times.
Two months had passed before they were fitted with their prosthetics and had made the adjustment to walking without crutches. Robert and Elizabeth never left their side the entire time. On the trip back to the ranch Robert and Elizabeth were every bit as excited as Thomas and Billy to see the reaction of everyone at the ranch as Billy and Thomas stepped from the car and walked to the house.
The moment of truth arrived as the car pulled into the ranch. Elizabeth said, "My goodness Robert, look at the crowd. All the ranch hands and everyone from the B & B must be there including the guests. Guy was on top of Quinn's shoulders waving like crazy.
As the car pulled to a stop and doors opened Elizabeth and Robert got out and waited as Billy and Thomas stepped out and made a slight bow as a loud shout of excitement erupted from the gathered crowd. There were audible gasps as Billy and Thomas walked up and started hugging everyone. There were plenty of tears, laughter, and congratulations. Most people had no idea Thomas and Billy would be able to walk unaided let alone appear to walk as easily and naturally as they did.
Once inside and some of the folks from the B & B left there were lots of questions and explanations. Elizabeth said the doctors warned Thomas and Billy that they needed to take it slow and easy for another couple of months before taking on any work duties.
Both Billy and Thomas complained strenuously saying they needed to start working and paying their way. Everyone at the ranch told them they'll just have to do as the doctors said and be patient. If you feel well enough to take the horses out for a ride now and then that'll be fine, but let's not over do anything that might upset the applecart.
The guys agreed, reluctantly but they did agree. Michael said, "We all understand how you feel, but we realize you need more time to adjust and get used to walking on your own so there won't be any setbacks."
Peter added, "The ranch pays for itself so there isn't a need for you to pay your own ways, we all pitch in when there's a need and that's all anyone could ask of you when you're ready."
Eve said, "And what you earn up at the B & B is yours to do as you wish, there's always a car, clothes, and savings accounts you may want to consider opening."
Robert said, "Elizabeth and I are considering building a home for veterans who need help adjusting to life after the war. We thought you two might encourage other vets that feel lost and hopeless. I think your story would relieve a lot of their worries and give them hope for the future."
Both Thomas and Billy were immediately excited at that prospect. Thomas said, "I can't think of anything Billy and I would like to do more, what a wonderful idea Robert."
Billy added, "You are the most remarkable people, there is no end to your love and kindness."
Chapter 17 to follow: