ELEVEN #2
“How did you manage to get home on this ankle?”
Abigail half-smiled. “God and Elijah. I’ll tell thee all about it, but first, I must apologize. I pressured thee yesterday, and—”
Maggie held up her hand, stopping her. “No, Abigail. You didn’t. I’m the one who should apologize. You didn’t deserve to be spoken to in the way that I did. This is your house, and I should’ve respected that. I’m sorry.”
“Apology accepted.” Abigail leaned forward and squeezed her hand in reassurance. “Now, would thee like for me to start at the beginning? Levi said there would be questions.”
Maggie nodded, and Abigail began. “As thee knows, I left for the Browns earlier than planned. I didn’t want Levi to try and dissuade me again, and I thought it would be best if I could get to the Browns before it was dark.
Lydia is there by herself with the children—no need to frighten them further after what’s happened.
I tried not to hope, but I did anyway, that Elijah would be there…
He wasn’t, of course. It took a lot of persuasion to get the children to open the door.
They took me to the bedroom where Lydia was. ”
Abigail grimaced, recollecting the sight of her friend.
“It shocked me. The change in her… She was always considered a natural beauty and kept her family tidy. But yesterday, she looked like she’d aged ten years.
Her face, hair, and dress were filthy. Her eyes bloodshot.
She wouldn’t speak, just stared at the wall.
” Abigail’s eyes watered. “Rebekah, her oldest, finally told me she’d been like that since they took Joseph away.
She didn’t even move when the children cried from hunger.
I was a fool not to bring them anything—”
“You couldn’t have known,” Maggie interrupted.
“What did I expect after a raid? Rebekah confirmed that the army took everything from them. She asked if we’d be raided too, and I told her of the situation.
That’s when Lydia sat up… it scared Rebekah and I both.
I’d almost forgotten that she could hear me.
She asked me if Joseph was with them when they came to our farm…
The hope in her eyes gutted me. When I answered no, she just cried. ”
“I didn’t think of that,” Maggie gasped. “He wasn’t here. What happened to him, then?”
Abigail exhaled. “Levi asked the corporals one day if they’d been to other farms in the area.
They mustn’t know that we know about Joseph, but Levi said they mentioned they’d split when they reached the town.
Half headed back with supplies, and the other half continued to forage.
It’s likely that the corporals here don’t even know about the Brown situation. ”
Maggie nodded but said nothing. She didn’t want to admit that deep down, she had been scared to find out that Sullivan had been an active participant. “What happened then?”
“I almost left to avoid causing more pain, but Rebekah wanted to know about Isham. I couldn’t bear to tell her the truth.
I simply told her that he did make it to us, but we needed Elijah’s help to move him because of the occupation.
She promised to look out for him, and I, in return, promised to send supplies back to them.
No matter the state of Lydia’s mind, she’s still my friend…
As painful as it was to leave them, I had to.
I’d spent longer there than I anticipated and I still needed to find Elijah.
But it was dark by the time I got started back.
I headed northwest to cover new ground. I was worrying about Elijah and wasn’t careful where I stepped.
The ground just slipped out from under me.
I thought I was going to die when I hit the ground and couldn’t breathe.
The fall had knocked it out of me. Then, once I could, I tried to stand, but couldn’t because of my ankle.
Must’ve twisted it on the way down the hill.
I groped around in the leaves to try and find a branch to use as a makeshift crutch.
No clue about where I was, but I knew I’d have to try to walk to get out of there.
My fingers brushed a pile of small sticks that didn’t make sense.
I could barely see it, but I tried to mentally picture it.
When I realized it was twine, it clicked. ”
“What was it?” Maggie asked, not understanding.
“One of Elijah’s rabbit snares,” Abigail smiled.
“Thee would’ve thought I’d found gold. I racked my brain to figure out where I was.
Then that clicked too when I touched the high dirt walls beside me.
The gorge isn’t very big, so the fact that I had not only managed to find it but to fall in it was somewhat ironic.
It runs about half a mile north of the farm.
“It’s some kind of tunnel?”
Abigail shook her head. “It’s made when the river floods and it cuts through the woods.
I can’t believe we hadn’t thought of it when Elijah left.
The perfect place to hide since its placement makes it unseen to the untrained eye.
Near the river, it provided a place close to a water source and an escape from the wind…
I took a chance and called out his name.
Then, my son was in my arms. It was worth the pain.
” Happy tears poured down and she gestured towards her ankle. “He helped me get back home.”
“But Levi said he’s at the Browns. When did he leave?” Maggie was heartbroken she’d missed him.
“He left almost immediately. We snuck in through the back window and then he and Levi carried Isham away to bury him. It was…difficult to watch. And to be unable to help. It was crushing to see just Levi return. I’d told Elijah of the Browns’ situation on the way home, but I never imagined he wouldn’t have come back to say goodbye.
” She bit her lip. “Levi reminded me that it was for the best. It would’ve added risk for Elijah to come back, even for a moment, but still.
I wanted… It doesn’t matter. Looking back, I can see that Levi was being strong for me. He didn’t cry, so that I could.”
She paused, but Maggie stayed silent, sensing that she wasn’t done.
“Elijah is a man now. Without being asked, he assured Levi he’d been finding plenty of game and committed to caring for the Brown’s wellbeing.
Who could ask for better character in a son?
I’m very proud of him. Even if I’m selfish at times and want him with me.
Through prayer, I have peace. It will be painful to remain apart, but I trust a plan that is not my own. ” She gave a weak smile.
Maggie embraced her. She didn’t always understand Abigail’s faith, but she knew she loved her.