Dark Henry and Mary walked into the room, a quilt across their sodden shoulders. Henry’s body trembled, his teeth clacking. Mary was shivering as well, but mostly from fear. She went to the bed on unsteady legs and sat, watching Liza rub Victor’s limbs and talking low to the boy. Theo came into the room as well, he had changed and also sported a quilt. Both men stood silently, watching Liza rub the child’s limbs. She added herbs to the steaming water, infusing the room with a medicinal pong. Henry walked over to the bed and gathered Mary into his arms. He gently patted her face, looking into her frightened eyes.
“Sorry I had ta hit you. Forgive me? I was scared for the baby.” He said, his large hand going to her belly. Her hand squeezed his and she smiled, her lips trembling. Her golden honey eyes held fear and he hugged her to him. They all watched Liza and Victor. Patina added more hot water, bringing the bathwater up in temperature.
Mary listened to Liza crooning to her son, and could hear water splashing. She started to get up but Henry held onto her. She assured Henry she that was alright and wanted to go help Liza. Letting Mary up, Henry moved off the bed, helping his wife to find her balance. Mary walked on wobbly legs to the tub that held her child. The color had come back to her son, but his feet looked wrong. Mary feared that her son’s feet would be frost bit. More hot water was added, their hands massaging his small body. Mary placed her hand on her son’s chest, feeling a strong heartbeat. Patina brought in warmed blankets and they pulled Victor from the water and wrapped the small body within their heated depths. Mary lay back down on Patina’s bed, holding Victor close to her.
Looking about the room, her eyes spotted Ida curled in the corner of the room. She was sound asleep, tears staining her soft cheeks. Henry followed her gaze, and smiled at his daughter. He retrieved her and placed her in the bed with her mother and brother. Cookie walked in with steaming mugs of chicken soup, and handed them to the men to help warm them. Tall Tom brought clothing for Henry and Henry went to another room to change. He came back and saw that Mary had a steaming mug. She smiled up at him and Henry thought he might weep with relief.
Everyone left the room but Henry, who sat in a chair beside the bed. His large hand cradled Victor’s small head, his thumb rubbing rhythmically across the tiny brow. He looked into his wife’s beautiful eyes, he apologized once more for striking her.
“I’m so sorry Mary. I was scared that you might lose the baby. I just couldn’t let that happen. I just didn’t know what else ta do.” He shrugged helplessly; his voice trembled. Mary smiled softly at her husband, her eyes shimmering with tears.
“It’s alright Henry. If you hadn’t, you’d never have heard Victor.” Her hand covered Henry’s larger, darker hand, the contrast startling. She loved that contrast, loved the dark power in his hands that could move her to ecstasy. She closed her eyes, her body tired from the long day in the saddle. The day had been a nightmare and had drained her of everything. But they were all whole, all safe now. She had her children with her, she had her husband. Her eyes grew heavy and soon she was asleep.
Henry got up after a while, Mary’s soft snores swirling about their children, like a song. He wanted to take the wet clothing back to the cabin. His body was slowly warming up from the drenching in the cold river. The hot chicken soup had gone a long way to warming his innards. He would come back later to check on them. He also wanted to thank Theo, for had it not been for his sharp hearing, they would have left his son to die in the woods, never knowing he had been alive after all.
Henry found Theo in the study with his father, who had insisted on being up and around for Christmas. Both men were sipping a mug of mulled cider. They invited Henry to sit and gave him a stein of cider to sip. It made its way soothingly down his body, suffusing him in warmth. The smell of cinnamon enveloped his head, as he took another sip.
“Thank you, Theo, you saved my son.” Henry said softly. Theo tried to wave off the gratitude, but Henry would have none of it.
“No, I mean it, you did. You wouldn’t give up. It’s cause you wouldn’t give up that you found my boy.” Henry said, his voice thick with emotion. Theo extended a hand.
“We have to care for our children. We have to protect them. I know Drake would have been devastated without his best friend.” Theo said softly and squeezed Henry’s large hand.
“I’ll always remember it and I’ll always be thankful.” Henry said and held the other man’s gaze. Theo cleared his throat and nodded. Henry left the study and went back upstairs to watch over his family.
Theo watched the big man leave. He was touched to his core. He didn’t know what else he could have done. He knew if their positions were reversed, he would have been mad with grief and fear for Drake. His eyes unconsciously looked for Drake. He understood a father’s love for his son. He watched as the tall man disappeared upstairs to his wife. Theo left the study, in search of his son. It had been a close call that day, it could
