Chapter 4 - THE FATHER WHO CAME BACK TOO LATE
Samuel entered the clearing calling Abigail's name.
“Abby!”
It was the first time he had used it in months.
Abigail stood beside the window with both babies asleep in a wooden cradle Ruth had improvised.
Her body still hurt.
She refused to sit.
Daniel went outside.
Samuel stopped.
His eyes moved toward Daniel's rifle.
“I came for my daughter.”
Daniel said:
“You had her.”
Samuel's jaw tightened.
“Family matter.”
“Stopped being one when you threw her into a blizzard.”
Samuel's face darkened.
“I don't answer to you.”
The cabin door opened.
Abigail stepped outside.
Ruth protested behind her.
Samuel stared.
“Abby.”
She felt nothing.
Then his eyes dropped toward the cabin.
Toward the babies.
“They lived?”
Abigail's anger became something colder.
“Yes.”
Her father crossed himself.
“Thank God.”
“Don't.”
He froze.
“You don't get to thank God for saving the people you abandoned.”
Samuel looked ashamed for perhaps one second.
Then his attention shifted.
The blanket.
Hanging near the fire.
His face changed.
Daniel noticed.
So did Abigail.
Samuel stepped toward her.
“We should go.”
“No.”
“Your mother is sick with worry.”
“She watched you throw me out.”
“She was afraid.”
“So was I.”
Samuel lowered his voice.
“You don't understand.”
“I understand enough.”
He looked toward Daniel.
“You've filled her head.”
Daniel did not respond.
Abigail did.
“Elias didn't leave.”
Samuel stopped.
There.
Proof.
“Who told you that?”
She felt sick.
Not denial.
Not surprise.
Who told you.
“You knew.”
Samuel's face hardened.
“Abigail.”
“You knew he died.”
“Yes.”
“And you told me he ran.”
“I was protecting you.”
The phrase sounded obscene.
“From what?”
“A dead man's trouble.”
Abigail's breathing changed.
Samuel's gaze moved toward the blanket again.
“Did you find anything inside that?”
Daniel raised the rifle slightly.
Samuel went still.
Abigail whispered:
“That is why you came.”
“No.”
“You didn't come for me.”
“Abby—”
“You came for the blanket.”
Silence.
Daniel said:
“You should leave.”
Samuel looked toward Abigail.
“Whatever Elias told you, he was confused.”
“He wrote it down.”
Her father's face emptied.
Mistake.
Daniel saw it too.
Samuel whispered:
“You have the letter?”
Abigail backed toward the cabin.
Samuel moved.
Daniel stepped between them.
“Don't.”
Samuel's hand hovered near his coat.
Daniel's voice went flat.
“Whatever you're thinking, don't.”
Samuel slowly lowered his hand.
Then looked at Abigail.
“Harrow won't let this go.”
Daniel's expression changed.
“So Harrow is involved.”
Samuel realized too late.
He had said too much.
He mounted his horse.
Before riding away, he looked toward his daughter.
“I tried to give you a clean life.”
Abigail stared.
“You tried to give yourself one.”
Samuel disappeared through the trees.
Daniel waited until he was gone.
Then looked at Abigail.
“He'll come back.”
“With Harrow?”
“Or somebody worse.”
Ruth stepped outside.
“Then we don't stay here.”
Daniel nodded.
Abigail looked toward the babies.
“Where?”
May you like
Daniel answered:
“Somewhere Samuel Pierce cannot control.”
