Captive

Andrew and Molly Part 24

Without a word, Aggie scooped up the little girls and guided a protesting Jamie back to her cabin as the grieving family headed for the dusty road.

“This has gone on long enough,” Molly stated flatly., gesturing for Andrew to follow her into the kitchen. “Time to talk. Rosemarie, take the baby and go to Aggie.”

Andrew sat glumly at the rough kitchen table as Molly made tea and sliced bread, sausage, and cheese. How unlike the times they’d shared a simple meal before his capture. He desperately regretted reproaching her for marrying the master before having a chance to reconcile.

Sarah poured steaming tea and placed a full plate before him. “Time to talk. What are we to do? We loved and needed each other once. Now I am a widow, a mother with children to protect, and a farm to run. I was made to marry our master, though I admit, it was not against my will. Thinking you dead, I feared my fate with no protection. This is a hard place to be a bondswoman with no one to defend me. I truly grieved you, but did what I had to do. Even the reverend insisted I marry Wharton. What are we to do? Now I have children to consider, Jamie is yours by birthright, though Wharton accepted him. The girls are truly Wharton’s.”

Andrew broke in. “We were truly married. I am your one true husband. I’ve never stopped loving you. All I could think of was escaping and getting back. I feared for you every hour I was gone.”

Just then, Rosemarie rushed in. “Make haste! Aggie sent me.! It’s Bartles!”

Andrew and Molly Part 23

Jamie was back in minutes. He was followed by a sweaty, ruddy-faced Andrew, clearly anxious at being called from his work. He couldn’t imagine what would be important enough to call him from timbering.

Molly took a seat on a stump between the two men, clearly interested in what business Joseph James had with him. Rosemarie, dawdling at serving milk and cookies to the children lingered on the sidelines. She had no intention of missing out on anything to do with Andrew. Curtly, Molly dismissed her. “Rosemarie, be about your own business.”

“Andrew, Mr. Joseph James would have a word with you.” Molly explained.

“I heard you’ve just escaped from a long time with the Indians. Me an’ Marthy wanted to know if you’d heard anything of our girl Sarah. She was out berrying an’ was took by the Indians about a year ago. She was a little yellow-haired girl not as big as Marthy. She’d be turning sixteen tomorrow. She’s been gone a long time, but we been trying to hold out hope for her. Did you see her?” Joseph gave Andrew a pitiful look.

Andrew looked stricken and struggled for words. “Mr. James, I did see a girl named Sarah. She was in the camp where I was for a while. I’m sorry to tell you she died along with most of the Indians when the sickness came through. That’s when I escaped.”

Marthy gasped and looked faint. Molly moved to support the pitiful woman. “Let’s get you in to lie down.” She offered, kindly.

Joseph put his arm around his wife. “No Missus. We’ll be better off getting home. We weren’t expecting good news. Thank you.” The sad little family and shuffled down the dusty road toward home.