26

Hannah leaned into Joseph, eyes closed against more tears as he cradled her with a tenderness she’d never imagined any man possessing—especially not Joseph Garnet. In the darkness of approaching night, the room around them vanished away. His heart thudded in her ear, matching the rhythm of her own. His hands, though calloused, gently stroked her hair away from her face.

Gradually her eyes dried, though the open wound in her heart remained. As did thoughts of Myles. He didn’t deserve death, and definitely not an execution. She could picture him on the ground, leaning against the cabin or under a tree, knees bent up, knife in hand as he whittled away at whatever piece of wood he’d chosen to bring back to life.

The agony rippled through her with another sob, though she had no more tears.

“Shhh.” Joseph’s breath warmed the top of her head. He stood and pulled Hannah with him, never releasing his hold on her as he lifted her into his arms and set her on the bed. He got in beside her. “Try to sleep.”

“I can’t.” When she closed her eyes she saw passionate, determined, stubborn Myles. Had he begged for his life when the soldiers discovered him trying to leave, or had he simply glowered at them with those almost black eyes he’d inherited from Mama? Had they hurt him too, or killed him immediately?

“You have to have faith that Samuel is still out there, and that we’ll find him.”

Faith? In what? The brutalities of war? She didn’t have anywhere to put her faith. If only she knew a Great Creator, or Loving Father to grant her some sort of hope. The hope Joseph must have had to be able to leave his family to help her search. The hope Lydia Reid held that despite her fears she would follow her husband into the wilderness.

Hannah rotated in Joseph’s embrace to face him. “Do you really believe your God hears prayers?”

For a moment he said nothing, then a nod. “I do.”

“Will you help me pray?”

He kissed her hairline and took one of her hands in his. The other remained around her. “Dear Lord…” He waited.

“Dear Lord.” She closed her eyes and tipped her head forward until it met Joseph’s.

“Tell Him what’s in your heart.”

Her heart? She didn’t want to look that deep. Too much pain resided within. More than she could bear by herself. “Help me.”

Joseph gripped her hand, but said nothing.

She turned her plea to one she couldn’t see or feel. “Help me, God. Please. Will you take everyone from me? Myles…I wanted to see him again, to see what manner of man he’d become, to see Pa in him, to…” have family again. “I—I don’t want him to be dead.” I don’t want to lose everyone I love. “All my hope lies with Samuel. That he’s somewhere alive. Oh, Lord, please leave him alive. I need him.” I need him, God. And I need Joseph. I didn’t realize how greatly until now, but God, I wouldn’t have been able to survive this without him here with me. Let me keep him forever this way. “Bring Samuel back to me.” And let me keep Joseph.

When Hannah said nothing more, Joseph squeezed her hand. “Lord, this we pray, in Jesus’s name.”

Neither of them spoke more. Gradually Joseph’s hold relaxed and his breathing deepened. She stared at the shadows on his face. She had never expected this gentleness from him. This patience. Her heart swelled, but not just with feeling for him. Hope was also there. Almost like a tender embrace from within, and the whisper that Someone she had never known, or spoken to until tonight, loved her.

~*~

Numb tingles shot pain up and down Joseph’s arm, but Hannah lay so peacefully in the light of day. He’d woken a while ago, but other than the pain in his arm from the pressure of her head, he was quite content to watch her sleep. Besides, she needed the rest. She’d tossed and turned beside him most of the night.

He reached out with his free hand and brushed the dark strands of hair from her cheek. “Lord, please hear her prayer. Protect Samuel and help us find him.” Even if You don’t hear my prayer, hear hers. Joseph smoothed his thumb over her eyebrow, following the curve. It was impossible to ignore his own desires. “But if my prayers are heard…I want her, Lord. I want to find her brother and take her home. I want my children at home with us.” His lungs burned and he forced a breath. “I want a family again.”

Hannah stirred, releasing a soft sigh as she rolled toward him. He slid his arm deeper so her head came onto his shoulder, then stretched his arm and worked feeling back into his hand. Relaxed, Joseph smiled at the thought of a future together. And never a dull moment. He’d do his best to make her happy, while she kept him on his toes with her sharp wit and fiery temper. Once in a while he might even provoke her, just enough to watch her flair. She was real pretty when angry.

A tapping at the door broke through his daydream. Hannah moaned, but her eyes remained closed. Joseph quickly extracted himself from under her and hurried to answer the door before they woke her. Thankfully, he was still fully clothed.

He cracked the door open to Daniel’s curious gaze and half-smile.

“So you did survive. I had my doubts when you didn’t meet me this morning.”

Joseph stepped into the hall and pulled the door closed. Downstairs bustled with activity. “How late is it?”

“Almost midday. So I decided to go without you. Figured things had gone very poorly last night and she’d murdered you, or things went very well and you wouldn’t want to be disturbed.” Daniel grinned. “By the looks of you, I’d guess closer to the first.”

Joseph waved him off and combed his hair down with his fingers. “Did you find out anything?”

“I did. I could have waited, but what I have could help smooth yesterday’s blunder. The most recent record of Samuel Cunningham was four months ago. He was transferred to the second infantry unit of the Third New York Regiment.”

“So he is alive.” Joseph felt his own grin pulling now.

“As of four months ago, but I don’t think that unit has seen much battle in that time. As I said last night, General Washington is making plans, but nothing has been decided. And I don’t think anything will be for a little while. Not until Lieutenant General Rochambeau, the French commander, reaches General Washington just north of New York. From the information I’ve gleaned, you’d do best to head toward White Plains.”

“White Plains?” A five or six day’s journey down the Hudson. But now with some hope that they would find what they sought. Samuel Cunningham was probably alive and there was a possible end in sight. Then they could go home.

“I reckon that’s the end of my usefulness here, but we should be back in the valley soon. Is there anything I can do for you there?”

Joseph leaned against the wall, wishing he didn’t have to wait to return. He’d never even had a chance to say goodbye to James. Maybe his son wouldn’t remember him by the time he made it back. “Check on Rachel and the children. Tell them what you know. And that I will come home as soon as I am able.”

“Of course.”

“The cabin’s empty. It might only be for a few weeks, but feel free to make use of it if you wish.”

“Thank you,” Daniel said. “And I’ll see if Rachel and her husband need any help with the farms.”

“I’d appreciate that.” Joseph extended his hand. “More than I can say.”

Daniel gripped his hand and pulled him into an embrace. “I hope you don’t mind that I still consider you my brother.”

“On the contrary. I’m grateful.” His brother and friend. What a blessing Daniel’s return proved to be.

“Forgive me for my next question, but Hannah doesn’t know about what happened between you and her father at Oriskany, does she?”

Joseph shook his head and sighed. “Only you and Andrew know.”

“Probably better that way.”

“I hope so.” But doubts nagged.

“You saved my life that day. And your own. You’re not at fault for his death.”

“How can it not be my fault?” Joseph questioned. “I killed him with my own hands.”

The door creaked open behind him, and he pivoted.

Hannah wrapped a shawl over her shoulders as she stepped out, sleep still in her eyes. “I heard you talking.”

He could only stare. How much had she heard? Surely she didn’t realize the topic of their conversation or her hands would be at his throat.

“I was informing Joseph what I discovered about Samuel,” Daniel replied smoothly. He quickly explained everything he’d already reported.

As soon as Daniel finished, Hannah turned back to Joseph, her eyes bright. “When do we leave?”

“As soon as you wish.”

“Then let’s not wait. I don’t want to wait.”

“I’ll settle with the innkeeper and let him know we shall depart after we’ve eaten something.”

She gripped his hand and gave a wobbly smile. “Thank you.”

The two words kneed him in the gut. Forgetting Oriskany was not as easily done as he’d hoped.