TWELVE
Levi’s bad leg ached. It usually did, but a sleepless night on the floor hadn’t helped things.
On top of worrying for his son and wife, Maggie’s words unnerved him.
She didn’t seem to understand the dangerous situation that she had found herself in.
An accusation of espionage was no small matter.
She could hang. What was Sullivan’s aim?
He was determined to find out. The barn lay before him. His barn. Now housing two unwelcome strangers. Ready to barge in, Levi strode purposefully towards it. But he stopped just short, dead in his tracks. It was as forceful as if someone had stood in his way.
Do nothing.
He hadn’t often had the spirit speak to him so clearly. But today he did.
Puzzled, he questioned it. Why, Lord?
The response was a difficult one, but one he should have already predicted: Trust.
Something bigger was coming. He sensed it. Would he have the strength it took to face it? Closing his eyes, he sighed deeply and hung his head.
He went inside to check on Abigail. She and Maggie were embracing, the sisterly love evident between them.
Abigail looked at him over Maggie’s shoulder.
Not a word passed between them, but it wasn’t necessary.
Their lifetime together had taught them to read one another, without verbal communication.
Without knowing the details of what it specifically was, she knew what the Lord had asked him to do.
The Lord had asked the same thing of her.
And they must, for it was all they had left.
Each day that came, they all wondered if it would be the day the soldiers returned.
Yet, it never was. Maggie stuck close to Abigail and kept her distance from the corporals, per Levi’s request. When she did venture out, she never caught Sullivan staring at her, but still, she knew he kept track of her.
After another week, the food supply had dwindled precariously low.
Even down to two small meals a day, not much of the mutton was left.
Maybe a day, at most. Between lack of nutrition and stress, Maggie’s weight had begun dropping.
All the pounds she had put on when she and Henry had arrived were gone.
Even Griffen’s face was beginning to show signs of weight loss.
“I’m going hunting in the morning with Corporal Sullivan,” Levi announced at dinner.
Maggie accidentally dropped her fork at the sudden change in conversation.
“How’d that come about?” Abigail asked, looking as perplexed as Maggie.
Levi shrugged. “He’s not stupid. I approached him about finding additional meat. He wanted to go himself, but I asked him if I could come along, show him the east side of the farm, and set traps. It wasn’t a hard decision. Both are as hungry as we are.”
When Levi opened his bedroom door the next morning, Maggie knew he was shocked to see her waiting out in the kitchen.
“I’d like to come with you.” Seeing that he was about to protest, she hurried on.
“Meat isn’t enough. I could gather some greens and forage alongside you.
Abigail’s taught me well enough. Besides, I’ve hidden inside for long enough.
My staying away won’t change anything. If anything, it’ll put his mind at ease being in his sight all day. ”
Levi looked ready to protest, but Abigail popped her head out. “Let her go, Levi.”
So, it was decided and the two headed out to find Sullivan. Before Sullivan could say anything, Levi informed him that Maggie would accompany them foraging. Sullivan gave her a long look, but without one word of response, Sullivan turned and headed towards the woods, gun slung on his back.
The silent treatment now?
Maggie turned questioningly to Levi, but he just shrugged his shoulders and followed Sullivan.
They didn’t talk, as silence was required to locate game, and it actually turned out to be an enjoyable day.
They returned to the farm with one rabbit, two squirrels, and three doves.
Levi’d set half a dozen traps out they would begin checking.
Maggie had filled her basket with acorns, wild greens, and pecans.
They should’ve done this weeks ago. Elijah had given them the hope they needed to survive. Now, they knew they would eat once the sheep were gone.
Abigail prepared a bountiful supper for them all. Before Maggie could take the two plates to the barn, Levi stopped her. “Invite the men inside to eat tonight.”
Maggie was taken aback. “If that’s what you want.” That was the last thing she wanted to do. But Levi knew what he was doing, and it was his house, after all.
Griffen and Sullivan accepted the invitation, but begrudgingly. They were hungry, and this was how they’d get something to eat. Everyone settled around the table for what was bound to be an awkward meal.
What do we say to each other? Good job on not starving today?
Levi opened in prayer, thanking the Lord for the food before them.
Maggie bowed her head in respect to him, but peeked around the table.
Was Sullivan actually praying? He was a good actor, if not.
Griffen just sat there, practically drooling.
Maggie quickly closed her eyes again until Levi said, “Amen.”
Besides the sounds of their forks scraping their plates, there was no other sound. Griffen helped himself to seconds and Abigail served the remaining food to the four of them before he could go back for thirds.
When the last bite had been eaten, Sullivan and Griffen rose to go back to the barn. Maggie exhaled in relief. What had been the point of that?
But then Levi spoke up. “We make it a point each night before we retire to have a short time of devotion in the parlor. Would thee care to join us? The barn is well insulated, but it doesn’t have a fireplace.
Thee is welcome to stay in the warmth a bit longer.
” Levi gestured towards the room behind him.
Griffen spoke first. “Naw, not for me—”
“Yes. Thank you.” Sullivan cut him off.
Maggie’s mouth dropped open. What in the world is happening? She swiveled her head back and forth from Abigail to Levi, but they wouldn’t make eye contact. Maggie thought Abigail seemed a bit surprised, but she couldn’t tell for sure.
Levi shouldered two kitchen chairs and took them into the parlor.
He gestured for the men to sit, while Maggie sat in her usual spot by the loom.
Abigail and Levi took their places in the armchairs near the fire.
Without wasting a moment, Levi took his bible from the mantle and opened it to Exodus.
Keeping it light, he read of Moses and the miracles he’d performed.
The parting of the Red Sea, leading the Israelites out of Egypt.
Stories that Maggie had heard all her life.
After he was done reading the scripture, Levi prayed aloud once more, thanking God for His word. Then, he shared a few sentences with them all on the hope that he had found within that text. Instead of asking them what they thought, as he usually did, Levi asked Abigail to close them in prayer.
Maggie heard Abigail’s voice but didn’t really listen. She was too busy trying to understand what game Levi was playing at. It didn’t make any sense.
Abigail finished and Levi rose, ending their devotion time. Sullivan and Griffen hadn’t said one word. “We hope that both of thee join us each night,” Levi suggested.
Sullivan merely nodded. “I’ll switch over for watch with you in three hours.” He followed Griffen outside without further commitment.
Maggie waited for Levi to explain. He didn’t. When he began helping to clear the dishes, Maggie’s eyes could’ve burned holes into him, but she put aside her annoyance and helped, too.
When everything was tidy, she couldn’t stand it any longer. “What was that about?”
Abigail stilled, watching expectantly.
Levi finally glanced up, his gaze even. “For the remainder of the time that they are here, we will share a meal together and include them in our devotions. We have nothing to hide any longer. It’s what is right.
” With that short explanation, he went into the room he shared with Abigail and shut the door.
Abigail was quiet.
“And you believe that’s right too?” Maggie questioned.
Abigail was quiet before she answered. “Tonight was hard on all of us, Maggie. But… before this war, it was common for us to invite strangers in to break bread and speak of His word. My heart breaks that that’s no longer the case.
So to answer thy question, yes. I do.” Abigail walked to her bedroom, where Levi waited. “Goodnight, Maggie.”
Christmas was around the corner. Maggie hadn’t realized it until Levi mentioned it when they’d all gathered.
Surprisingly, both corporals continued to stay after each evening meal.
Neither had yet spoken up or contributed, but Maggie thought that they were listening.
Sullivan, more so than Griffen. He appeared to concentrate on Levi’s every word.
But that was only during that short period together.
Once the final prayer was said, he went back to being his standoffish, arrogant self, barking orders.
Maggie was hurt that neither Levi nor Abigail seemed concerned with her opinion about it all.
The day after their first supper together, Maggie had tried to talk sense into Abigail.
But Abigail wouldn’t listen. She politely declined Maggie’s advice and made it clear that she didn’t want to discuss it further.
It was baffling behavior, and very un-Abigail-like.
Maggie sensed that Abigail wanted Maggie to come to some sort of understanding, but she had yet to ascertain how.
Therefore, Maggie did what she usually does. She compartmentalized and focused only on the present. One day at a time.