FIVE
In a flurry of skirts, Abigail crossed the room and threw the woven basket from the mantle into the fire. “We can’t risk it.”
Levi grasped Elijah by the shoulders. “Don’t worry about the flock.
There is no time. Head up into the mountains and stay hidden.
Thee remembers the cave we found a few seasons ago?
Don’t go there. If we found it, others will have as well.
Move often. In a week's time, circle around and try to come back. I don’t need to tell thee to exercise all manner of caution when thee returns.
If we aren’t here, go to the Browns. The soldiers will not likely go back to the place they’ve already raided…
Remember that the Lord is with thee. And so are we in heart.
” Levi leaned his head down on Elijah and closed his eyes. “Thee is our son. Always.”
Abigail walked over and clung to Elijah and Levi, her body shaking. “God go with thee and keep thee safe.” She spoke through her tears.
The piercing scene sent a stabbing pain through Maggie. She wrapped her arms around her middle, desperate to keep herself from falling apart. It felt as though the earth had fallen from its axis.
By the time that Levi pried Abigail from Elijah and pushed him through the door, the first rays of day were shining on the mountain peaks. They all stood on the porch as Elijah silently disappeared into the woods.
Maggie’s breath showed in the frosty air. Short puffs, in and out. Reminding her that despite the pain, she continued to breathe. The rooster crowed from the pen, breaking the stillness.
The familiar sound seemed to bring Abigail back to the present as well.
Wiping her cold tears with the corner of her apron, she reached over and squeezed Maggie’s hand.
“Long ago, I entrusted him to the Lord. The Lord will watch over him now.” With one last look at the place where Elijah disappeared, she turned and went into the house, leaving Maggie alone with Levi.
Levi stood, hand against his bad leg. Maggie wondered if the cold made it ache or if, like herself, Levi was feeling a physical pain from it all.
“May I do anything for you?” She asked softly.
Without meeting her eye, he shook his head and stepped from the porch.
Maggie barely heard him say, “There is nothing that we can do now.”
She’d never heard him sound so dejected. His joyful spirit that she’d become accustomed to was gone. She went inside before she could give in to the sorrow that shook her core.
The stove had gone cold. Unlike most mornings, the smell of breakfast didn’t waft from it. The embers in the fireplace burned low. Abigail wasn’t in the kitchen or in the parlor. The house stood lifeless.
For the first time since arriving, Maggie felt alone and her heart grieved Henry’s absence profoundly. Then her mind reminded her of the facts, and she realized how grateful she was that he wasn’t here.
Abigail emerged from the room she shared with Levi. A lumpy bag hung from a shoulder. “Maggie, will thee stay here and take watch from the parlor window? I must retrieve something, and I will be right back. Come running if thee sees anyone approaching.”
Eager to help, Maggie nodded and took her place near the window. The cold seeped through the glass and she shivered thinking of Elijah making his way through the woods without shelter. Nothing moved outside the window other than the branches blowing in the wind.
Even when Levi and Abigail both returned, she kept watch.
Lunchtime came and went with no sign of soldiers on the horizon.
Despite the chores waiting, no one moved from the parlor.
The only sound came from the clock as it ticked, marking every passing second.
Levi occasionally stretched his bad leg, pacing in the small room as he read from their worn bible.
Abigail sat motionless, eyes closed, as her lips moved in silent prayer.
When men’s voices became audible, everyone stilled. Slowly, Levi crossed over to the window. He and Maggie watched as the branches on the edge of the wood moved, and men bearing muskets emerged.
Twelve, thirteen, fourteen… Maggie mentally counted them. Digging her nails into her palm, she tried to focus on the pain to stop the shaking that had begun inside her.
Mostly clothed in everyday wear, it was hard to tell that they were a unified army. Here and there, a man would be wearing the rebel grey coat or pants. Only one man wore a full uniform.
A small part of her, strangely, felt relief to her surprise. Men like this had been her neighbors. Family.
“They resemble farmhands more than they do more than they do soldiers,” she murmured. Hopefully, they could be reasoned with.
“If only that were the case, I’d welcome them with open arms. This is a sorrowful bunch. Half-starved by the looks of it,” Levi muttered.
Almost all of the soldiers were in the clearing now, walking past the lone-standing cross, and approaching the house. Two horses pulled a wagon, and one man rode solo behind it. The rest were on foot.
Levi went over to Abigail and held out his hand. After hours of remaining still, she finally stood. Levi bent down and gave her a lingering kiss.
Maggie set her eyes down at the ground, giving them a moment.
“Maggie?” Abigail asked solemnly, holding out her hand.
Maggie went to her and grasped it. Levi touched Maggie’s shoulder, linking the three of them in solidarity.
“We will get through this,” Levi promised.
They followed him through the house and stepped out to face whatever happened next.
Soldiers had already opened the barn doors and were pillaging, looking for anything they could find. Others were on their hands and knees, digging in the winter garden, pulling up every small onion and garlic stalk and stuffing them into canvas bags.
Seeing them rip the cabbage from the ground lit a fire in Maggie.
Anger swelled within her, replacing the soul-shaking terror she’d felt since Levi burst through the door.
That winter garden was their main source of food.
Together, she and Abigail had worked so hard to ensure their survival.
They had planned to get it out of the ground in a few days' time, before the first heavy frost. Now, it was all for naught.
Before she could stop herself and think sensibly, she ran forward.
“Stop! Why are you robbing decent people?” Levi grabbed her by the arm before she could continue.
“Say nothing,” He whispered firmly in her ear.
At Levi’s reprimand, the red anger faded from view, and she realized what she’d done.
The blood drained from her face, and she felt weak at the knees.
Her emotions overruled her good sense. Tears swam in her eyes as she thought of how the Howards had sheltered her.
Cared for her. And how did she repay them?
By adding fuel to the fire. Putting them all further at risk.
Especially the hidden slave just feet away and Elijah, fleeing from the war’s persecution.
Oh God, what have I done?
The soldiers didn’t stop, unimpeded. But the man on horseback noticed the scene and stared at her. Kicking his heels in, he urged his horse forward.
Levi walked to meet him, noticeably limping. Abigail’s hand firmly stayed on Maggie’s back, signaling for her not to move.
“My apologies, sir. How can we assist thee?” Levi asked, taking off his hat.
The man sneered down at him. “Another quaker—why am I not surprised? I’m Captain William Lynch.
My men will gather all food, water, and other supplies needed.
Stay out of the way and no harm will befall you.
” Pointing towards the house, he said to the men who had come closer, “You lot take the house.”
Levi, Abigail, and Maggie watched as they ran inside, undoubtedly taking anything that they could carry. The sound of things clattering and breaking drifted out into the yard. Levi and Abigail’s faces remained emotionless.
With business now underway, Captain Lynch turned his attention to them.
Maggie met his gaze. His face held curiosity and slight apprehension.
He was a wiry man with a large mustache dominating his face.
His chain of command must be earned from intelligence then, if not because of physical power.
Arguably more dangerous in their situation.
Maggie kept a blank mask, devoid of feeling, despite her true feelings that bubbled under the surface.
Narrowing his eyes at her non-reaction, he addressed Maggie. “You, unlike your companions, are not Quaker. Who are you and how do you come to be here?”
Levi stiffened beside her and she answered carefully. “I was orphaned by the war. These kind people sheltered me.”
“And where is your husband? Surely, you are old enough,” he inquired tersely.
“I haven’t married. I am eighteen.”
“Then your parents failed. You are well beyond the acceptable age to be married and to have supplied children. But I assume you intend to tell me your father was killed. Am I correct?” At her curt nod, he continued. “Confederate or traitor, Miss…?”
“Ackerman. Margaret Ackerman. My father fought with the Confederate Army. As did my brothers.”
She could tell from his expression that he didn’t fully believe her.
The only way to pacify him would be to offer up more information.
She just wondered what Abigail and Levi would make of it.
“My father died at Sumter and my brothers were killed at Gettysburg. Shortly after, my mother fell ill and did not recover.”
Critically sweeping his eyes over her, he seemed to analyze her story.
After a short pause, he nodded. “They might have failed in regard to you, but their sacrifice for our nation will redeem them.” He now focused on Levi.
Finished with his inquisition of Maggie, he hammered Levi for information about the property.
Notably, Levi did not make mention of the upper pastures, deeper in the mountain.
All the while, soldiers continued to plunder and damage everything in the process.
Men came from the house with their arms loaded.
From every single bit of food they had in the kitchen, to quilts from the beds.
The ones raiding the barn carried out rope, the ax from the chopping block, and the chickens, all tied up by their feet.
Finding the cellar, they carried up all the crates of canned goods.
Cold sweat dripped down Maggie’s back at their close proximity to the hidden runaway.
Averting her eyes, lest she cause any suspicion, she counted the seconds as they passed by.
When the last crate was carried up and the cellar door closed, she finally exhaled.
All plundered supplies were rounded up and placed into the wagon or carried in haversacks.
Appearing as a last-minute thought, one of the men went back into the house and carried out the wooden cross Elijah had carved that hung on the wall. Maybe to mark someone’s grave. It being placed into the army’s wagon undid Abigail’s composure. Her blank face cracked, and she whimpered.
Levi gripped her hand, and her knuckles turned white as she grasped his back in return. Still holding her hand, Levi faced Lynch and snapped, “Will that be all, Captain?”
Surprised by the change in the Quaker’s demeanor, Captain Lynch furrowed his brow.
“We’ll make camp here tonight and leave at dawn.
It will be a long ride back to Wilmington and my men need sustenance.
You will be so good as to house me. My men will bed in the barn.
” Hoping down from his horse, he snapped his fingers at Abigail. “Your wife will make the meal.”
Sensing Levi’s growing anger, Abigail composed herself and interjected. “Assuming that all the supplies were taken from the house, I’ll need some of them to make anything suitable for thee.”
The subtle reminder of their depleted food source didn’t faze the captain. “Tell the men what you require, and they’ll fetch it from the wagon.”
Tension abated for now, Maggie took a deep breath. They would all need to muster every ounce of self-control to get through the next twelve hours. Whatever came after that would have to wait.