FOURTEEN
Sullivan’s story had shaken Maggie to the core.
She drifted back and forth from hope that one of her brothers was alive, to terror at the thought of him coming home and home no longer there, to grief hitting her like a tidal wave.
Abigail and Levi had helped her into the house and instructed her to lie down.
Emotionally exhausted, she had drifted off, but her sleep was restless.
The nightmare happened again. Only this time, her brothers weren’t dead.
In one dream, it would be Joel, mangled and calling out for her.
In another, it was Hugh. But it always ended the same way— their look of disgust and betrayal when she confessed her love for Henry.
By the early hours of the morning, she gave up the hope for sleep and waited in the quiet kitchen until Levi and Abigail wakened.
Abigail came over to the table where Maggie sat and hugged her. “Did thee rest any?”
Maggie relished the comforting embrace for a moment. “No,” she answered truthfully. “But I need to put it behind me. There’s no point in dwelling on it—I won’t be able to do anything about it. For years,” she exhaled.
I can’t talk about this anymore.
She changed the subject. “Will we be going to get Elijah?”
Abigail looked downcast and nodded to Levi to answer Maggie.
“Not yet. With the fort’s demise so recent, I fear that we may have drifters come through. Any survivors that had been told to come and take from the flock. In one week, it’ll be safer. We’ll go then.” Levi squeezed Abigail’s hand, and she gave a small smile back to him.
One week. That we could get through.
They all tried to keep busy the next seven days. Chores helped Maggie keep her mind occupied and not think about her brothers, while they helped Abigail and Levi pass the time more quickly.
Levi decided to butcher two of the sheep. They were older and struggling the most during the winter season. He would dry the meat and hide it away, just in case another unpredictable incident occurred.
The women, of course, helped as it was a hefty task to do alone. Abigail showed her how to fleece the two sheep and spin the wool into yarn. In the firelight, Maggie practiced new stitches, knitting Levi a pair of socks he desperately needed.
Each day that no soldiers appeared, they all breathed a little bit easier.
Finally, one week had passed and it was time to fetch Elijah. This trip was different from Abigail’s last trip to the Browns. Maggie accompanied her, both following a map Levi had drawn.
Maggie’s heart hurt for Levi. Although he had not said, she knew this was one of the times he despised his bad leg.
But, with no horses, the mountainous journey would be too much for him.
He could handle the flock in their fields at home, but this distance on foot was too great.
Levi instead stayed behind, watching for any unwelcome movements and waiting for Elijah at home.
The map Levi had drawn was clearer than the directions Abigail had tried to follow before. The landmarks he’d sketched in were easy to spot. Before long, the Brown farm was in sight.
“The change is remarkable. No broken doors, no desolate house.” Abigail nodded towards the smoke pouring out of the chimney. “Elijah’s been busy,” she said as they walked down the final hill.
Abigail stopped her just before they reached the yard.
The expectant joy of seeing her son was wiped from her face.
“Maggie, we must break the news of the fort’s demise delicately…
That’s where Joseph was said to have been taken to and forced to fight.
We don’t know the effect the fall had on Joseph’s fate. ”
As the words left Abigail’s mouth, dread pooled in Maggie’s stomach. Before she could agree, a small child was visible in the window.
Suddenly, there was a commotion. The door flew open and all the children poured out, their mother behind them. They embraced Abigail, shyly looking around her at Maggie. Then, Elijah was there. He picked his mother up off her feet and swung her around. Abigail laughed gaily.
Setting his mother down, Elijah went to Maggie next and warmly embraced her. Maggie felt as if she had gained a brother back.
The little girls tugged Abigail inside, beckoning Maggie to follow. They removed all their winter wrappings and piled next to the fire. Elijah sat between his mother and Maggie, thrilled to see them again.
The three youngest children all clamored for their visitors’ attention until their mother silenced them. “Shh, let Mrs. Howard and our guest rest.”
But Abigail just laughed. “The children are fine, Lydia. It’s a joyful time to be with Friends once again.”
Lydia smiled, but it didn’t reach the corners of her mouth. She didn’t fit Abigail’s description of when she saw her last, but Maggie could still tell there was a shadow within her.
“Where’s Levi?”
At the mention of the absence of the eldest Howard man, the room fell silent. The children solemnly waited for a response. No doubt remembering that their own father was gone. Taken away.
Abigail cleared her throat. “Back at the farm. The journey would have been too much for him on foot.”
Lydia snapped her head away. How quickly the cheer left the room.
Elijah cleared his throat and changed the subject. “Joseph Jr., tell thy neighbors of the beaver we trapped.”
Animated at once, the only Brown son recalled a tale of when Elijah allowed him to accompany him to the woods near the lake. Given the size of the beaver in question, no doubt the story had been embellished a little bit.
While the boy spoke, Maggie took in the children. She’d heard bits and pieces of the Howards’ neighbors, and she tried to match them to their descriptions.
Let’s see, there was Sarah, Hannah, Joseph Jr….and a Rebekah? Sarah was the youngest and looked to be around six or seven. Joseph Jr. must be next in line, as he appeared to be eight or nine. Maggie inwardly chuckled as she saw how he hung onto Elijah’s every word.
Hannah was the middle daughter and looked around ten years old.
And that left Rebekah, the eldest. Maggie scanned Rebekah’s face.
She appeared to be much older than her younger siblings.
If Maggie guessed accurately, the girl would be fifteen years old.
And not unlike her young brother, Rebekah had her eyes fastened to Elijah.
I wonder…
Seconds later, Maggie’s hunch was confirmed. Sensing Rebekah’s gaze, Elijah looked over to her and smiled, his eyes dancing. Rebekah blushed and dropped her gaze, and Elijah went back to paying attention to Joseph Jr.’s story.
Maggie smiled into the cup of water she had been handed. Young love. So fragile. So sweet. Elijah would make a fine husband someday.
The tender moment hadn’t gone unnoticed by Abigail either, it seemed.
Her gaze bounced back and forth between the young couple, and a knowing smile spread on her face.
No doubt she was thrilled at the prospect, since they’d been close with the family for so long.
Elijah was a man. A man ready to have his own family.
Cheer spread back through the room, and Lydia slowly appeared to come back to herself. After a few more stories, she sent the children from the house to play outside to “let the adults talk.”
Rebekah hung back, not wanting to be dismissed with the rest of the children.
At fifteen, she was a young woman, and games wouldn’t appeal to her as they did to her siblings.
But her mother didn’t allow her to stay and asked her to go look after the others.
Clearly disappointed, Rebekah gave one last glance to Elijah before she went outside.
When the latch closed, Lydia looked pointedly at Abigail. “Tell me whatever news thee has.”
Grimly, Abigail told her and Elijah of everything that had happened since she last saw them. And as delicately as possible, the fall of Fort Fisher.
Maggie remained silent, watching Mrs. Brown. Her face was ashen.
Elijah hung his head, and Abigail rose to comfort her friend.
Lydia remained stoic, not shedding a tear. She brushed Abigail off and went over to the window, gazing out at her children. “I will continue to pray for my husband. I would’ve sensed if he had left this world and I don’t. I don’t feel as though he’s dead.”
“Thee knows that we will also continue to join thee in that prayer. Every single day until he returns,” Abigail said confidently.
Lydia softly nodded. “I’ll take some air for a moment. Give thee a chance to speak alone.” She departed quickly.
Elijah lifted his head and Maggie was struck by the similarity between him and Levi.
“Mother, I—”
Abigail stopped him and smiled. “I know. It’ll be alright. Thy father will understand and agree. I—” her voice caught. “We are so proud of thee.”
In one fell swoop, Abigail had removed all expectation and possible guilt from her son. Tears shimmered in Elijah’s eyes. Standing, he quickly embraced his mother.
Maggie’s eyes watered as tears rolled down both of their faces. Abigail let go of Elijah with one arm and beckoned Maggie over. She and Elijah pulled Maggie into the embrace and the three wrapped arms around one another.
This was her new family. She belonged to them. She would not be alone, no matter what happened.
When the embrace ended, they all wiped their eyes. It was time to return home. But this was not goodbye. Now that the soldiers were gone, they were free to visit.
Elijah called everyone back inside and the younger children, not expecting that anything would have possibly changed, eagerly ran in to say their goodbyes to “Mrs. Howard” and “Miss Ackerman.”
Only Lydia saw the tear-stained faces and whispered loudly enough for Maggie to hear, “Thank thee, Abigail. I will do my best to look after him.” She winked at Elijah. “Although I know well enough how much he is looking after us.”
His cheeks turned pink at the compliment, and he glanced down.
Rebekah had appeared wary when she first came in, but as she realized Elijah would be staying, any resemblance of dismay quickly disappeared. A wide grin dominated her face as she looked at her newfound love. Maggie was happy for them both.
A few more tears were shed in the final goodbyes, Abigail firmly hugging each one as they made their way. Maggie waved towards Elijah and took Abigail’s hand as they walked up the road.
She allowed Abigail to decide if she wanted to speak and to steer the conversation.
But Abigail appeared to be in good spirits.
Despite missing her son, she knew he was where God had placed him.
Only when they drew near the farm did Abigail’s positivity wane.
“Maggie, would thee mind giving me a moment to speak to Levi?”
Understanding, Maggie agreed wholeheartedly and went to check on the new lamb.
She stroked the creature’s fuzzy head. “Tragedy strikes, war ensues, but still, new life is made,” she whispered in comfort.