He'd taken up a pallet between Toadvine and another Kentuckian, a veteran of the war. This man had returned to claim some darkeyed love he'd left behind two years before when Doniphan's command pulled east for Saltillo and the officers had had to drive back hundreds of young girls dressed as boys that took the road behind the army.
In "Blood Meridian" by Cormac McCarthy, a character finds himself among a group of soldiers, sitting on a pallet alongside a man from Kentucky. This individual, a war veteran, has come back to his hometown with hopes of rekindling a romance with a dark-eyed girl he left behind two years prior. The backdrop of his return hints at the tumultuous nature of the times, as his memories intertwine with the harsh reality of war.
This moment captures the emotional struggle faced by many soldiers who left loved ones behind while they were away at war. The mention of officers needing to drive back young girls disguised as boys only deepens the sense of loss and yearning that permeates the narrative. It reflects the drastic changes inflicted by conflict on personal lives and relationships, illuminating the intersection of love, war, and memory.
