SIX #2
Concern for her friend gave Maggie the courage to speak. “Mrs. Howard needs to sit down.”
Maggie’s request broke the silence and Sullivan whipped his head. He critically assessed Abigail’s pale face. “Take a seat over there, next to the porch. Where we can see you.” His fingers tightened on his musket as he went back to scanning the area.
Maggie helped her sit and Abigail whispered, “I shouldn’t have told them of the sheep. Captain Lynch is a calculating man.”
Maggie squeezed her hand. “You had no choice, Abigail. Levi was in danger. What is it you always say, ‘have faith’? This could pay for his freedom. We’ll find another way to get food.”
Abigail blinked back tears. “What would I do without thee, Maggie? Every day that I live, I will thank the Lord and Henry for bringing thee to us in this dark time.”
Fixing her mind on Henry, Maggie thought of nothing but him to remain calm as they waited.
They remained huddled close till well past noon, until movement on the far side of the farm indicated they were back. Abigail hopped up and Maggie followed suit, feeling blood rush back to her legs that had dangled off the porch.
Contrary to the tension that had been present when they left, the men were now joyful.
Several had removed their coats and sweated through their undershirts.
The bleating of sheep could be heard even from a distance.
Levi worked, along with a few of the men, to drive the sheep out of the woods.
The captain watched, looking proud as a peacock.
It was the first smile they had seen beneath that mustache.
Smiling as he sentences us to starvation.
Sullivan and his companion set down their muskets and whooped and hollered. “Griffen, when’s the last time you’ve seen such?” Sullivan asked as he playfully smacked him on the shoulder.
“Not since before the war,” Griffen licked his lips. “Boy, I can already taste it.”
Almost in response to the playful banter, Maggie’s stomach growled. A bitter reminder that their gain was the family’s major loss.
“This can’t be all…” Abigail mumbled, frowning as they got closer.
Sullivan and Griffen finally left the women to assist with herding the animals to the wagon. Abigail didn’t hesitate and strode towards the captain, hot on their heels. She wasn’t going to let this go on a moment longer.
Lynch spotted her and his slight smile dissolved.
Maggie followed behind her friend, feeling a mixture of pride, and forced aside her personal trepidation. She owed the Howards so much—she wouldn’t let them face this alone.
“I assume the sheep are satisfactory?” Abigail asked Lynch bluntly.
“Mr. Howard and I have reached an agreement. Taking a cripple Quaker with us to the fort would only slow us down,” Lynch swung back up onto his horse.
“My men will eat a hearty meal. The Confederacy thanks you for your contribution. Good day, ma’am.
” With a tip of his hat, he turned back to his bounty once again, dismissing Abigail.
Maggie tugged gently on Abigail’s elbow, pulling her out of the way and nearer the house. Levi was safe. The runaway hadn’t been discovered. The army was leaving. That was what she kept repeating to herself.
Levi assisted with the sheep until the army pulled out, leaving him in a billow of dust. As it cleared, Maggie saw that he wasn’t alone. Behind Levi stood Sullivan and Griffen. Each looked angrier than the other.
“What the devil?” Maggie blurted out.
Abigail appeared just as shocked as Maggie. She opened her mouth to ask, but Levi stopped her with a wave of his hand.
“I believe thee both are already familiar with Corporal Sullivan and Corporal Griffen, so I will save introductions. They’ll be remaining with us until Captain Lynch can send the wagon up for the remaining sheep.”
A million questions whirled in Maggie’s brain. But Abigail asked the most practical question. “And how are we to feed them if we have nothing to feed ourselves?”
“Captain Lynch has given us permission to slaughter one sheep and has left a small number of provisions,” Levi replied bitterly. He turned back to the men, “Thee may retire for a moment in the barn. I’ll call out when it’s time.” Without waiting for rebuke, Levi ushered Maggie and Abigail inside.
The damage was less than Maggie had pictured.
The cupboard doors were still open, showing the bare shelves and the furniture flung about the room.
Only the parlor was untouched, as it was already a plain room.
Nothing in it could’ve been carried away unless the soldiers wanted to haul the loom and chairs through the mountains.
No one mentioned the damage, as both women were anxious for Levi to explain.
He didn’t make them wait. “When we got to the flock, Lynch was nearly beside himself at the number of animals. He sent the men in to round up the flock, but it was a mess—they’re inexperienced and arrogant.
The size was the other problem. Too many for them to try to transport the long distance to the fort…
Finding him at a disadvantage, I told him I’d assist if he deemed our family exempt from any conscription.
‘Surely, in these times, thirty head of sheep are equal value to the exemption price.’ I could tell that he wanted to refuse.
But after the incident in the yard, he knew he couldn’t force me to herd sheep all the way to Wilmington.
He accepted on certain conditions… The exemption is only valid if every. Single. Sheep. Is. Accounted. For.”
Abigail gasped, but Maggie didn’t understand.
Levi ignored her and continued. “Lynch isn’t a stupid man.
He saw the flock was too large and decided to divide the flock, taking the first half now.
Sullivan and Griffen are here to ensure that we don’t make off with the rest. Another wagon will come for the second half once they reach the fort.
If one sheep is missing, no matter the reason, the deal is void, and they’ll take me with them.
If I refuse, they have orders to execute me. ”
The silence rang out when he finished.
“But… that’s ridiculous,” Maggie rasped. “Sickness, predators, or a million things could change the total. It doesn’t mean that we—”
Abigail began to cry. The gravity of the situation was all too apparent.
Levi gathered her close and said softly, “Thee knows I would never leave thee willingly. But I’m afraid I cannot part from my convictions either.”
Tears ran down Abigail’s cheeks as she cupped his face. “I know.”