THIRTEEN
Maggie needn’t have worried, for the next three weeks Sullivan kept as much distance from them as possible.
The snow stopped, leaving a blanket of white on the ground.
The men remained outside in the white sunshine, tending to the flock and filling the smokehouse with any game that dared to venture out.
Abigail finally approached the subject one day at random. “Has thee thought of what thy plans are with Henry once the war is over?”
Maggie stopped sweeping at the bold question. Stunned, she muttered, “I can’t think of anything but the war right now.”
Abigail gave a short nod of agreement. “Life after does seem strange. But I wondered if thee would want to return home?”
Oh, I see. She turned away so Abigail wouldn’t see the tears forming in her eyes. The level of hurt she felt surprised her. “Um… I suppose I will. My mother had family near Charleston. Perhaps they would be willing to take me in until…” Until what?
“Oh. I didn’t realize thee had other family.” After a pause, she said, “I was asking because…I very much doubt that the Browns will want to remain here…after… and I know that Henry has always enjoyed farming as much as Levi. But I didn’t know if thee missed thine own home.”
Maggie bit her lip. Was Abigail asking her what she thinks she was? Slowly, she turned around and faced her. Abigail peeked at her from a side glance, still wiping the table.
“No, there isn’t much of a home to return to. And if I had a choice…I would love to stay in this area.” Maggie twisted the broom nervously in her hands.
Abigail sighed in relief. Dropping the cloth, she turned and embraced Maggie fiercely.
“And we would love to thee to remain. I don’t know why, but these past few weeks I have been worried sick that we would lose thee after the war.
Thee hasn’t spoken much of home, but I didn’t know if thee was homesick, or…
or… starting to feel affections for h-home. ”
Maggie pulled back. “No! Not at all. I’ve felt torn in two lately. I no longer recognize myself before coming here. Not in a bad way—just a little bit confusing.”
Abigail looked deeply into her eyes. “And thee still loves Henry?” Never one to shy away from asking difficult questions, it still caught Maggie off guard to hear it so straightforward.
She had never confessed to anyone except herself of her true feelings for Henry. They may have all guessed or assumed, but it felt final speaking it out loud. She inhaled shakily. “Yes. I love him.”
Abigail’s eyes filled with tears, and she smiled through them. “Something I prayed to hear. Thank thee, Lord.”
Feeling lighter than she had in weeks, she and Abigail sat down and chatted, dreaming of the day the war would be over and Henry would return.
Levi bound inside, interrupting them. “Abby, Maggie. Thee will never believe what gift has arrived. Come and see.” His eyes sparkled as he hastened them to the barn.
Despite it not being in season, one of the sheep had given birth to a tiny lamb. Everyone admired the new arrival walking on its shaky legs. After over a month of sharing responsibility for the flock, even Sullivan and Griffen seemed to take pleasure in this surprise.
Probably because they are counting on having another one to hand over to Captain Lynch.
Pushing the thought away, she tried to appreciate the moment before her.
“This calls for a celebration,” Abigail clapped. “Everyone inside for a midday cup of tea.”
The party was but halfway across the yard when Levi stopped dead in his tracks. As he’d been in the front of the group, it was instantly noticeable. The chatter stopped and they all stared at him. What was he doing?
“Levi, what—” Abigail began, but he stopped her.
Holding a finger up, Levi turned his ear towards the distance. Sullivan and Griffen immediately jumped on guard, scanning the horizon. Then, they all heard it. It was faint but slowly growing louder. Hoof beats.
Running back to the barn, Sullivan and Griffen grabbed their guns.
“Go inside,” Levi urged Maggie and Abigail.
She and Abigail had gotten as far as the porch when two men on horseback came into view, riding in from the lower pasture. As they drew closer, Sullivan and Griffen lowered their rifles as if they recognized them.
“Where’s the rest of the unit?” Sullivan yelled out to the men.
The newcomers reined in their horses but didn’t dismount. “Not coming,” one of the two replied.
“What do you mean, ‘not coming’?” Sullivan growled.
The two men looked warily towards Levi. They dismounted and led their horses over to the trough. Keeping their backs to the Howards’ home, they spoke for only a moment before Griffen snatched his hat from his head and threw it to the ground.
Even from the distance of the house, Maggie could tell it was bad news. Sullivan seemed furious, animatedly speaking to the two comrades. Levi joined the women on the porch, tensely watching it unfold.
Whatever had happened, the foursome argued over it. Griffen still hadn’t recovered from the initial news. He looked like he might be crying.
After several heavy minutes, Sullivan glanced towards them. Defeat was spread across his face.
Abigail saw it too. She breathed, “Could the war be over?”
Maggie felt her chest tighten. But Levi said nothing, still intently locking eyes with Sullivan. When Sullivan broke contact, Levi sighed. “No.”
Sullivan looked like he had swallowed sand.
The two arrivals were pointing around at the farm now, asking him questions.
He gestured over his shoulder to the barn.
Without waiting for him to show them the way, the soldiers made their way to the barn, opening the doors.
Griffen followed him, but Sullivan did not move.
Facing the east side of the farm away from the house, he put his hands on his hips.
Neither Levi, Abigail, nor Maggie looked away from the barn.
Only when the men exited, two carrying a bleating sheep and Griffen bringing rope, did Levi leave the porch.
The men’s heads swiveled towards his direction at the movement, clearly anticipating an outcry.
But Levi didn’t go to them. Instead, he walked over to the spot Sullivan stood, keeping his back to the women.
Griffen helped the two others tie a sheep behind them on each horse. When those were secure, they wasted no time in mounting again. With a final head nod to Sullivan and Griffen, they spurred their horses out of the barnyard.
Their time on the farm had been less than half an hour. Yet, within that short span, everything had changed.
Levi spoke with Sullivan for another minute or two after the horse riders disappeared again through the trees. Then, gesturing for the women to go inside, he began walking back to the house. Maggie glanced once more at Sullivan, but his back was rigid.
Inside, Levi at long last shared the news. Fort Fisher had fallen. Captain Lynch would not be coming back.
At once, Abigail fell into a kitchen chair, weeping tears of joy. Levi himself looked like a heavy burden had been removed from his shoulders. His hand grasped one of Abigail’s. Still, around his eyes there was a ring of uncertainty…and sadness?
When Maggie heard the news, she smiled brightly, realizing that they would no longer have to fear starving and that Elijah would be able to come home.
But as quickly as that realization struck, so did another.
Losing Fort Fisher would be a major blow to the confederacy.
Men, just like her father and brothers, had perished in its demise.
Men just like Sullivan. And Griffen. They had only been staying until the rest of their unit came back for the flock. Would they now be leaving?
The thought of Griffen gone cheered her heart.
Aside from the one tender moment at Christmas, the man was nothing but a glutton.
The thought of Sullivan leaving should have cheered her heart, too.
No more barking orders. No more being watched, suspected of being a spy.
But, for some small, tiny reason… the thought of him leaving felt like a loss.
She looked up and saw Levi watching her. His expression told her that he sensed her inner conflicting emotions. She moved towards the window. The yard was empty, though.
“The corporals are packing to leave within an hour. Without horses, both will be walking the rest of the way to rejoin another unit. Heavy loads would burden them. I offered all of the game hanging in the smokehouse,” Levi said from beside her.
No horses meant there was no way to take any more of the flock. The only two Levi would lose would be the two that were already gone.
Seeing a need, Abigail rose, wiping her face with her apron. “Come, the meat must be wrapped for the journey, and canteens filled.”
Maggie assisted where she could, reminding herself that this was merely another step closer to the war ending. And Henry returning.
The three took the filled sacks and canteens out to the men. Both corporals already had their rifles shouldered, hats on. Ready to march out. Maggie hung back, behind Levi and Abigail. Levi shook each man’s hand.
It felt so strange to be saying goodbye. Their presence on the farm had caused angst, but somehow, they’d become accustomed to each other’s presence.
Levi cleared his throat. “Gentlemen, before thee depart, let’s offer up one final prayer together. Shall we?”
Sullivan nodded, elbowing Griffen to remove his cap.
“Lord, Thee is a merciful Heavenly Father. We ask that Thee spread Thy wings over Corporal Sullivan and Corporal Griffen and keep them safe. We thank Thee for the unique opportunity we had to gather together this winter, in Your Presence. May we all continue to see Thy Will. Amen.”
“Thank you, sir,” Sullivan said sincerely. Griffen repeated the sentiment in his usual mumble.
Levi and Abigail stepped aside for them to take their leave.