Molly was stunned to see Andrew standing before her. She’d long ago given him up. He was emancipated and scarred, little resembling the healthy man she’d last seen. He dropped to the ground at her feet, wrapping his arms around her legs. “Molly, Molly, I thought I’d never see you again.”
Overwhelmed at his unexpected return after so long, she was bewildered and confused. As he wept and buried his head in her skirts, she dropped to her knees and held him. The little girls clung to their mother as she called to Jamie, “Go get Pap and Gran! Run! Run!”
Jamie whirled and ran, shrieking, “Pap! Gran! Ma wants you! Hurry!”
Molly felt no connection to the poor wretch she was trying to comfort. Her crying girls added to the confusion by pulling at her. Amid all this, she heard the weak cries of an infant coming from his pack.
“”Feed him, please. He’s had nothing since yesterday morning.” With this, Andrew struggled to work a pack off his back. He lay it on the ground, tenderly unwrapping it to reveal a starving baby boy, bound in a malodorous blanket. The child could have been no more than a few weeks old. “Help please,” he beseeched her. “He may yet die.”
“God in Heaven! Poor baby! Hurry girls. We have to feed him!” Forgetting Andrew, she scooped up the wailing baby and ran for the house, pulling Hannah by the hand. Aggie kept up the best she could. She couldn’t see Will, Aggie, and Jamie reaching Andrew behind her. With the baby in one arm, she heated milk in a pan over the fire. As it warmed, she hastily washed the baby, wrapping it snugly in a towel. Dipping a clean cloth in warm milk over and over, the baby sucked. Meanwhile, Will and Addie supported Andrew between them, seated him at the table, and got him food and drink. Afterward, Will helped him bathe and get into James’ nightshirt then into bed in spare room.
In the meantime, Molly and Addie bathed and dressed the baby, settling it in the cradle. Once it was full, warm, and dry, the baby gave them no trouble.
As the excitement settled and the children played at their feet, Molly, Will, and Addie tried to piece the story together. Apparently, Andrew and a few others had been enslaved by the Powhatan tribe, since his capture. They had been able to escape after a recent trader brought measles, decimating the village, leaving no one to pursue them. They’d been traveling several days and he the baby were the only survivors.
Molly had no idea what to make of Andrew’s return with the baby. She’d married Andrew in England and then, thinking him dead, married James in Jamestown., She had no idea where this left her, but today there was business to tend. At Addie’s suggestion, she sent Will to pay to fine and bargain for the indenture of a sixteen-year-year old girl who was sitting in jail for the crime of having had a bastard child. It had been stillborn yesterday, so she should still be able to nurse this baby.
She would just deal with what had to be done today and let tomorrow take care of itself. For now, everyone under her roof was fed and safe.
Exciting turn of events. I had my money on Andrew turning up again. [I think Spellcheck has been at it again – emaciated not emancipated].
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Emaciated is right!
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Poor Andrew, I can’t wait to see what happens next! 🙂
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Me too!
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Another great story Linda. I look forward to your post every day. Your characters come alive in my minds eye and I wait to see what tomorrow will bring. You are amazing.
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Thanks so much. Writing now.
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I scour my email each morning to find the next installment… ❤
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Why thank you Ma’am.
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I’m enjoying this story, Linda and especially how all the piece fit together like a well-made puzzle. Whatever is next? 🙂
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Writing it now. These serials push me, knowing people are waiting. I am already thinking of the next one I’ll start.
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Wow! This is why I get up early to see if there is a new door opening in Molly’ s life. You amaze me Linda, love the story and events but poor Molly, what a woman! Await 18.
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I do love hearing from you, Gloria. I am thinking of doing my next series about a family my mother knew. The man went to prison and his wife moved to that town so she could visit and worked as a dishwasher in a hotel to support herself. She couldn’t support her small daughter so she put her in an orphanage and took her out on weekends. They lived that way till her husband got out of prison. Does that sound nteresting?
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Well, I’m hooked. I spent the last hour (long since should have been abed!) locating and reading from the beginning. Historical fiction has never been anything I’ve read much of, but now I’m wondering how much I’ve missed. This is truly wonderful, and I am looking forward to more.
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to educate a world!”
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Why think you Madeline. You may like my other serials. Will find links.
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I’m sure I will. Thanks.
xx,
mgh
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
I will admit to picking up the threads of this story only recently but Linda Bethea has created a historical and very moving picture of life for the settlers who arrived in America full of hope for the future. A tough life that would defeat most of us today.. Here is Molly and Andrew part 17 but it will give you a flavour of the wonderful story.. I intend to read the posts I have missed as soon as possible..#recommended
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Thanks, Sally. I have come to love these characters.
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They had such a hard life but still found time to be kind to each other..unless of course you were a witch!! xx
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Oh yeah!
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Wow, more complications ahead. Good for Molly, though. She can manage anything.
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She was certainly a pragmatist.
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What an unexpected bunch of problems. Molly handled it well. 🙂 — Suzanne
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She is amazing.
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Oh the twists and turns – incredible to think this is based on a true story. I’ sure there are many others similar in nature .
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You know there have to be.
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