The Stolen Ones by Ida Linehan Young

Author:Ida Linehan Young
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Flanker Press
Published: 2021-07-09T18:15:35+00:00

25

Peter led Mary through the frozen footpath to the home of Mary and John Sampson. Danol and the crew were out with the men searching the pond that had recently shed its icy bodice for open water. The grim sojourn was willingly accepted by the men of the Angel Endeavours. None could imagine themselves being in the boots of John Sampson.

“We’ll stay on until it’s over,” Danol said that morning. “The men, all in agreement, said they’d give up their wages to the family. We have a fine crew.”

“Indeed we do,” Mary said.

Mary hadn’t slept well. Pains were becoming regular every hour or so. She didn’t know how long she could keep it from Peter. She didn’t want him to worry. He had been opposed to her coming, and she didn’t want to admit that this was exactly why. Mary held out hope that it would pass if she rested, but she couldn’t do that until she met Mary Sampson.

They were welcomed into a warm kitchen. The smell of fresh bread hung in the air. Mrs. Sampson had been in bed for over a week, about the same time as the search had resumed. Her niece, Ada, was keeping house and making sure she ate. Mary and Peter were ushered to the woman’s bedside, where they made their introductions. The woman’s long brown hair was a tangled mass across the pillows. Her skin was sallow, her eyes sunken.

Peter felt her forehead and shook his head. There was no fever. She looked from one to the other as they bent over her from either side of the bed. Her eyes went to Mary’s belly as she straightened. She reached out and touched Mary’s stomach, then felt her own.

Mary sat beside the bed while Peter examined Mrs. Sampson across from her. Mary cringed as a pain overtook her, but she swallowed hard and turned her face so Peter wouldn’t see. She counted in her head until the pain subsided, then turned to the woman.

Peter was thorough. “The baby is ready. It could be any time now.”

“Mrs. Sampson, you must eat and keep up your strength,” Mary instructed her.

Mrs. Sampson’s big eyes focused on Mary. She stared for a few moments, and then she wept. Big hearty sobs escaped her. With great effort, she turned toward Mary. Mary reached for her hands.

“Did you come for this one?”

“Mrs. Sampson, I came because you wanted me here,” Mary said. “I’m not sure why. As you can see, I’m not really in a state for travelling.”

The patient glanced over her shoulder at Peter. Mary locked eyes with him. “I’ll go get you some soup,” he said.

Mrs. Sampson followed his movements with her eyes. Once he left the room, she pulled Mary close.

“Do you know if my boys are gone? Do you know where they are?”

“How would I know that?” Mary’s words were soft and soothing as she patted the woman’s hand and brushed the hair from her face.

“If this baby dies, I want you to take me, too.

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