TWO
Henry strode toward Maggie, the morning light spilling out behind him.
Coming close, he reached out and embraced her.
His arms encircled her, and he bent his head down to rest against her shoulder.
His face nestled against her neck. Warmth wrapped around her.
Never had she felt so safe. So protected.
Lifting his head, he tilted her head back to look into her eyes. “Maggie,” he whispered as he leaned down to kiss her.
Her eyes fluttered shut, enraptured by his love.
“Margaret!” Maggie jumped at the stern sound of her mother’s voice. Mama stood behind her, wearing a black shroud. “Your father would be so ashamed,” Mama cried. “Think of your brothers. How dare you defile their memory?”
Henry moved in slow motion, unaware of the ghost behind him. Maggie held him tighter. “He isn’t like what you think, Mama! He’s a good man. And he loves me.”
A snarled laugh echoed from the other side of them. Maggie whipped her head around and cried out in fear. Her fingers dug into Henry’s arms to shield herself from the monster.
“Love you? You stupid rebel. Why would he want you? You’ll bear my mark forever,” James gave a sadistic smile. He reached down into his boot and withdrew his knife.
Henry vanished, leaving Maggie alone. She was frozen to the spot, unable to run. James ran towards her across the yard, knife raised. Maggie shrieked as she felt the tip of the knife tear her skin.
Then, the pain was gone. Just as Henry had vanished, James had disappeared into thin air. The yard was empty. Maggie pressed her hand to her chest and felt the blood spurting out.
“See what you’ve done?” Henry whispered from behind her.
Spinning around, she saw him. His side was gashed open again and his blood soaked the dirt. There was a lot of blood. Flowing like a red stream. Following its path, she saw them.
Mama. Father. Hugh. And Joel. Their corpses scattered on the ground like rag dolls.
Sinking to her knees, Maggie held up her bloody hands and screamed.
Jolting upright, Maggie sat panting in the bed. She groped around her neck until her fingertips touched cool metal. Trailing her fingers downward, she found her healed scar. It had just been a dream.
Her stomach twisted and she swallowed bile. Her nightgown and sheets were damp with perspiration. The quilt was twisted around her middle as she had tried to escape the nightmare. Untangling herself, she made her way over to the basin and splashed water on her face.
It was the first nightmare she’d had since she had been here. Her deepest fears had come out to plague her in the darkness. There wouldn’t be any more sleep now. She’d barely been able to fall asleep after her encounter with Henry.
The loft was cloaked in darkness, but she could see just the smallest peak of dawn on the horizon from the tiny window. Henry would be leaving soon.
Still trying to shake the dark feeling from her dream, she dressed quickly. As she climbed down the ladder into the kitchen, she saw she was not alone.
“Thee couldn’t sleep either?” Abigail tied an apron around her waist.
Maggie shook her head. “Can I help you with anything?”
Abigail pointed to the loaf of bread sitting on the counter. “Thee could slice the bread while I make coffee. I wanted to pack Henry sandwiches for his trip and make him breakfast. We must be quick to have it ready before he leaves. Levi and Elijah will rise soon as well.”
The two worked efficiently in the kitchen together, and before long, the sandwiches were wrapped in beeswax cloth, and a hearty breakfast was ready.
The rays of dawn spread across the cove, and Maggie could see Elijah and Henry out in the yard readying Samson. Abigail ran out to beckon them inside. Levi entered the kitchen seemingly unsurprised at the pile of food on the table. Neither bade the other good morning. It would be a somber meal.
When everyone was gathered around the table, Levi once again prayed Henry’s safety and thanked the Lord for the time they had been able to share over the past several weeks.
“And we also thank you, Father, for Henry delivering Maggie to us. Her place in our home is an unexpected gift that we are most grateful for. Amen,” Levi concluded.
Abigail squeezed her hand under the table. Maggie kept her eyes downcast, embarrassed but equally moved by these people. When she finally looked up, Henry met her eyes, and he gave a slight nod of reassurance.
Maggie picked up her fork, but pushed the food around on her plate. She didn’t want to hurt Abigail’s feelings, but she had no appetite today.
Glancing around, she saw that the others appeared to feel the same. The only one truly eating was Henry. Probably for the sake of the journey ahead, as they both knew how difficult it would be to find sustenance along the way.
At last, his departure couldn’t be postponed any longer. Rejecting Henry’s offer of helping clear the table, Abigail said, “The dishes will keep. Let’s see you off, properly.”
Everyone filed out the door, Maggie last in line.
The rising sun had not yet warmed the day. The dream still lingered in her mind as she stood in the yard, and she rubbed her arms in an effort to evade the chill in the air.
She stood back watching each person bid farewell to Henry.
Abigail didn’t bother to hold back her tears this time and they ran freely down her face.
Levi put his arm around her. He pulled her slightly to the side to allow a moment for Henry and Maggie.
Elijah noticed and moved to stand beside his parents.
Henry walked over to where Maggie stood. His arms hung at his sides, and she kept hers firmly crossed.
“We’ve had quite the adventure together, haven’t we?”
She forced a small smile in answer to his question, not trusting herself to speak for fear of bursting into tears.
“Take care of yourself while I’m gone. I’ve told Levi and Abigail to provide you with whatever you need. I’ve funds put by… just in case. They will protect you,” he said with quiet confidence.
“I will. Thank you,” she said softly.
His eyes flitted over her face until he brought them back to gaze into hers. They stood silently staring at each other. Neither blinked, for once they did, it would break the intensity of this moment.
Swimming in the hazel depths of his eyes, there was affection. Deep emotion. And regret. Or maybe his eyes only mirrored hers.
Before tears could form in her eyes, she rapidly blinked, and the spell was broken.
“Goodbye, Maggie,” he whispered.
Don’t go. Stay here with me, her heart begged.
He strode towards Samson, giving his family one final nod goodbye. This may be the last time that she ever sees him. As he put his foot in the stirrup to boost himself onto the saddle, Maggie blurted, “Henry, wait.”
Everyone stared at her, but she ignored them and walked boldly to him, her heart propelling her forward.
His face held so much hope as he hopped down to meet her. The lightness of his spirit crushed her. How she wished she could cling to him and feel his arms wrap around her. Just as they had in the dream.
But the cobwebs of the nightmare still lingered, and she could not.
Sticking out her hand towards him, he looked down at it, bewildered. Finally understanding, he clasped it, and she shook his hand. He didn’t immediately let go. They stood, joined by their hands for a moment. Lingering over her touch, his thumb rubbed the back of her hand.
It was the first time she’d willingly touched him in the whole of their acquaintance. Under duress, she’d aided him when he was injured. Consented to sitting in front of him as they fled her home, riding Samson.
But this time, there were no extenuating circumstances. She touched him because she wanted to.
She was healing. Body, mind, and spirit.
“Goodbye.” She let go. The live connection between them dropped and it felt like she’d cut off part of her body.
Stepping backward, she got out of his way. She had to let him go.
Henry threw himself up onto the saddle and, without looking back, galloped out of the yard. The muscles in his back were rigid.
They all watched and waited until he disappeared from eyesight into the forest beyond the clearing. Abigail burst into a fresh round of tears and Levi and Elijah led her inside. Maggie stayed in the yard, rooted to the spot.
God, go with him, was the only prayer she could muster.
True to their word, the Howards treated her as one of their own. Although a huge hole had been left in the family by Henry’s departure, they all managed to find some joy here and there.
Elijah, having witnessed the emotion between Henry and Maggie, fully embraced his role as “little brother” and cheered her up with his good-natured demeanor.
Levi invited her to their nightly bible time in the parlor.
She attended but said nothing to add to the discussion.
Comfortable with just listening to the others share their thoughts on scripture, she sat in one of the cushioned chairs beside Abigail.
Although her family believed in God and they’d memorized scripture, Maggie couldn’t recall them making it a habit to share in family devotions. Before the war, they had attended the local church, and Mother had made it her mission to ensure everyone was presentable on Sunday.
Maggie found herself glancing over at her family bible on the washstand as she climbed into the loft at night. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to open it. Levi read from their bible and that was enough.
As the days turned into weeks, the pain of Henry’s absence didn’t lessen, but Maggie chose to fill her day with activities to keep her mind from it.
Abigail helped with that, and their bond flourished even more.
It was easy to privately share her thoughts with Abigail as they worked alongside each other.
She often found herself admitting things that she hadn’t even realized privately before.
A quick study like her brother, Abigail typically responded with tough questions, resulting in Maggie pondering deep thoughts.