SIX #3
Levi tenderly kissed her hand. “I won’t see thee starve either. We’ve been granted the one sheep. It must feed us and our guards until the wagon returns.”
He looked at both women. “We will work out what to do about our guest once it’s dark.
I know it’s already been a long day, but there is still work to do.
There is no food in the house. Nothing left.
We’ll need to make quick work of butchering it so that our bellies will have something to digest tomorrow.
I will go out and tell the two barn inhabitants—”
Abigail was already reaching for her apron. “We’ll be ready.”
Butchering wasn’t something that Maggie was unaccustomed to after living on her own family’s farm. Seeing it done on an empty stomach, however, was an entirely different matter.
She tried to breathe through her mouth. The metallic scent of blood nauseated her.
“Normally, this would be hung to age for a bit. The meat is unlikely to be as tender, but it will provide nourishment and for that, we are thankful,” Levi said between cuts.
Corporal Sullivan had removed his coat and rolled up his sleeves to assist Levi.
Both were blood-spattered. He wiped his face on a handkerchief from his pocket.
“It will be the best meal I’ve had in months.
We’ve been surviving on army rations of hardtack and salt pork.
And whatever could be found in the woods. ”
Corporal Griffen, not one to do any unnecessary extra work, piped up from the fence-line, “Alex, you’d eat a squirrel and think it tasted good.”
He threw a dirty glance back at Griffen. “Corporal Alexander Sullivan. In case you’ve forgotten, we’re stationed here for official business, not pleasure, Charles.”
“If thee is through with blathering over Christian names,” Levi interjected, “I suggest we get back to butchering.” He spoke with such casual paternal authority, it was impossible to take offense at.
The chatter ceased and the only sound the butchering knife as it sliced through.
Maggie was still uneasy around the corporals, but Levi had reassured her he’d be there the entire time. There was no escaping them, so she’d have to get used to it. And Levi required her help to tote things back and forth to the kitchen.
The butchering was a lengthy ordeal and nothing was wasted, aside from the gut. The hide had even been carefully removed and set aside for later. The heart, liver, and kidneys were placed in a bowl, and Maggie took them to Abigail.
On her return trip, she overheard Griffen ask if Levi planned to put the racks in the cellar, and her heart skipped a beat.
It’d been over twenty-four hours since anyone had laid eyes on their hidden guest. It was a miracle he remained undiscovered and silent, especially during the raid. If they were to go now, it would be tempting fate yet again.
Levi answered calmly before true panic set in. “No. They’ll hang in the smokehouse to age for a day or two, at least. Now that Missus Howard is preparing the organs to eat, we can afford to give it some time to rest.”
Both corporals seemed to accept that, and the work continued on.
Maggie focused on the task at hand, but she could’ve sworn that Sullivan was watching her. Every time she turned, she felt eyes on her back, but by the time she looked up, he had turned his head.
Maybe she was crazy. But the thought that he might be unnerved her.
It was after dark by the time the butchering finished.
The foursome was thoroughly exhausted beyond belief and in much need of a bath.
Griffen, having done zero work, was the only clean one amongst them.
Still, the energy that would be required to tote water from the well was too daunting.
One bucket was brought up to wash off the blood and other fluids from their hands, and that was deemed enough for now.
They sat on the porch to eat, their clothes being less than sanitary.
Abigail had already divided up the meat on everyone’s plates, ensuring that they all had a fair share. After having breakfast with Lynch, it wasn’t a bad forethought.
Maggie dug in, scarcely tasting the food, but her mind kept wandering to the cellar.
He had enough food and water for several days, but these men would be here much longer.
What would they do?Her brain throbbed and she put down the fork to rub her temples.
She lifted her head and she stared right into Sullivan’s gaze.
She swallowed reflexively and a piece of meat caught in her throat. It set off a coughing fit that had her eyes watering. She waved off Abigail and Levi, explaining between gasps of breath, “Swallowed—wrong.”
Then, there was a cup of water in her hands. She sipped gratefully and the coughing subsided. But the person behind the cup wasn’t Abigail or Levi.
Sullivan.
Before she could react, he went back to his own plate. She hadn’t imagined anything during the butchering.
She looked questioningly at the Howards. They had definitely noticed the encounter. Abigail looked bewildered, but Levi bore a strange expression.
Anger? No. Parental concern? No. It was more like… eureka.