Henry wrapped the small child in a blanket and laid him by his mother, who was still unconscious. Mary rushed into the cabin, meeting Liza inside the door. Liza sent up a howl of sorrow that filled the whole cabin and yard. She walked over to Samuel’s body and gently picked him up. She turned without another word and quit the cabin. Mary rushed to the bed and began to feel for Nan’s breath. It was shallow and her eyes fluttered but didn’t open.
Hearing a groan, they all turned to see Gabe coming around, his sons gathered round him. Tom helped him over to the pallet, beside Nan. John gave Gabe a dipper of water, from the bucket by the fire.
“What happened Gabe?” John asked, his voice husky and low.
“I heard a noise, like somethin’ movin’ around. I gets up ta see what’s what. I see men in my cabin and before I could do more’n move, they clubbed my head. I ain’t know nothin after that.” He grunted and then turned his head and vomited on the dirt floor. He wiped at his mouth and John offered the water dipper again and Gabe took a drink.
“My children?” He asked, his voice cracking.
“Lil Samuel didn’t make it.” Henry said in a low voice.
Gabe sent up a scream that filled the small cabin. His other children joined in. John wiped at the tears sliding down his face. Gabe rocked back and forth and then turned to look down at his unconscious wife. He placed a trembling hand on her brow. The other women had lit candles and had built up the fire. Mary was examining Nan. The news was not good. Gabe moved away from the bed to the table in the room. He sat and gathered his sons around him, their soft whimpers muffed in his large chest as he held them to him. John went out of the cabin, to deal with the dead men.
Mary moved about the cabin and then went back to Nan. Her hands moved about the woman’s abdomen. She could hear John’s voice, ordering the dead men taken away in a wagon and dumped out on the road, away from the farm. She looked up at Henry when he came to stand beside her.
“She’s bleeding, Henry. Nan might lose the baby.” She whispered; she didn’t want Gabe to hear.
“What can I do?” He asked.
“Get Bethy and Ginny. There isn’t much else for you to do. Take Gabe and the boys to our cabin. We’ll take care of things here.” She said gently. She knew that Patina would take care of the children at the main house. She watched her husband move to Gabe and lift the man under his arms and walked Gabe and his boys to their cabin. Mary’s heart was breaking.
Bethy and Ginny arrived to help Mary with Nan. The women moved about the small cabin, Nan moaned coming in and out of consciousness. Mary could hear Liza’s cries and once more felt the sting of tears. Gabe came to the cabin and looked in; his face deeply carved with devastation. Mary shook her head and she saw Henry behind Gabe. She motioned Henry to take Gabe back to their cabin.
Within a few hours, Mary delivered the stillborn daughter of Nan and Gabe. Mary’s heart shattered the dead child. She knew Nan would be devastated at the loss of Samuel and her daughter. Bethy took the tiny baby girl, wrapped in swaddling and took the child to her grandmother. Mary heard Liza’s wails once more, now for a lost granddaughter. Evil men had taken two precious babies. Mary sent Bethy to get Liza. She was having trouble stopping the bleeding. Liza knew more about childbirth.
Liza came into the cabin; Mary thought the woman had aged a decade.
“I can’t get the bleeding to stop.” Mary said, trying desperately to keep her voice even.
“Let me see.” Liza whispered. Liza ordered Ginny to get her herb bag. Ginny rushed from the cabin and returned shortly with Liza’s medicine bag. She poured hot water into a bowl and then added herbs. The scent of green things mixed with the acrid scent of blood. The dirt floor was muddy from the blood from the dead men.
Mary stood back as she watched the older woman work, her hands tender with indefatigable strength. Mary held Nan’s prostrate body up while they fed her a stringent tea. Silent hours passed, and tea was remade and given. It was late in the day when Nan finally came to, and her bleeding had subsided. She was weak and pale, but alive. She didn’t have to ask about the unborn child, the sorrow was etched deep in those around her.
Gabe was sent for as well as her boys. Nan cried softly, too weak to do much else. Gabe cradled his wife, his tears mixing with hers. No one had the heart to tell Nan that Samuel was gone. That could wait until the morrow, when Nan was stronger to take the news. Mary left them with Liza and headed back up to the house. She felt drained of spirit and of strength, she needed her children desperately. She found them in the study with John and Patina.
“The baby didn’t make it. Nan is conscious and we think she’ll live.” Mary said softly. The old man nodded weakly, his mouth trembling. Patina uttered a soft sob and hid her face in her hands. The house was quiet around them and Mary sat on the floor, gathering Ida into her lap. Patina went to the cradle and picked up Victor and brought the child to his mother. Mary held her son to her and rocked him.
Nan recovered and both children were laid to rest in the
