The Rhythm of Fractured Grace by Amanda Wen

Author:Amanda Wen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Published: 2024-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“SIOBHAN?”

Ian’s form in the doorway appeared nearly indistinguishable through Siobhan’s magnifying headset. “What’s up, Ian?”

“There’s someone here to see you.” Blurry Ian motioned toward the doorway. “Dark hair, has a baby, says she’s your sister.”

Smiling, Siobhan removed her headset. “Sure, send her on back.”

A moment later, Sloane appeared. Brown eyes glimmered behind her glasses, a smile danced around her lips, and a sleeping Domenica lay nestled in a flowered sling.

Siobhan rose from her workbench, gave Sloane a gentle hug, and caressed Domenica’s fuzzy dark head. “You look excited.”

“This little lady slept through the night last night,” Sloane enthused. “It’s amazing what a few hours of uninterrupted sleep will do for a person.”

“Good for you, my dear.” Siobhan laid a gentle kiss on her niece’s forehead. “Keep it up, okay? Your mama needs sleep.”

“Sleep isn’t the only reason I’m excited.” Sloane’s gaze fell on the violin, which lay disassembled on the workbench. She gave a quiet gasp. “Wait, is that the violin?”

“It is. It’s seen better days, but I promise I’m getting there.” She glanced up at Sloane. “Okay, you’ve basically turned into a human heart-eyes emoji. I’m guessing this means the violin and your excitement are connected?”

“Indeed they are. I did some digging on John Caldwell. It turns out the attack was quite brutal.”

Siobhan blinked. “Oh?”

“Yes. Apparently John and his family were part of a wagon train heading west, and the party was attacked by Sioux warriors. John was off hunting at the time with most of the rest of the men, so they all survived. But his wife and kids were attacked. The wife and three of the children died, but two daughters survived. Everyone was scalped.”

“Gahhh.” Siobhan’s hand flew to her mouth. “Scalped? And they survived?”

“It was rare, but it did happen. I knew of one other scalping survivor—a guy named Robert McGee—who was attacked in the 1860s. He made a career out of public appearances and for a while was believed to be the only person who ever survived a scalping.”

Siobhan’s skin crawled. “Can we stop talking about scalps?”

“Only one more mention of the word—promise—but it’ll be worth it.” Sloane pulled her phone from her pocket. “I tracked down an obituary for one of the daughters.” She tapped the screen a couple times, then held it out for Siobhan.

Siobhan took the phone and read the obituary aloud. “‘Deborah Caldwell Martinson, widow of Levi Martinson, departed this life Thursday last at the home of her son Bartholomew in Harper County, Kansas, where she had resided since her husband’s death in 1914. Deborah was born in Miami County, Ohio, in 1857, but moved to Kansas with her family as a young girl. She married Levi Martinson in 1876, and to this union were born five children, one of whom preceded her to heaven. Mrs. Martinson is known for surviving a vicious tomahawk attack when only a child but recovered and served the Lord as a faithful Christian until he called her home and granted her a new body free of disease and blemish.

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