Chapter 4: A moment of happiness
Author: ZeusFluff.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Revolution characters. Date Started: 10/12/15. Date Finished: 10/13/15.
"Mommy look at me!"
Rachel was chopping wood with an old axe she'd found in a shed off to the side of the cabin. Danny was playing with Charlie's stuffed bunny and sitting on a blanket not too far from her. Her heart nearly leapt into her throat as Charlie made the swing go a little higher each time.
"Not so high baby! I don't want you to fall off!"
Charlie only waved at Rachel and kept the tire swing going. Rachel stopped chopping wood and watched Charlie on the tire swing, she was getting too high. That is until Ben showed up with some rabbits he'd managed to catch. She watched as he reached a hand towards one of the ropes holding the tire to the tree and pulled it to a stop.
"Ok princess, I think that's enough tire swing for today, you can go exploring, but don't go too far ok?"
Helping Charlie down Ben gave her a smile. Rachel gave her a serious look as Charlie passed her.
"Stay where I can see you young lady."
Charlie skipped away from Rachel and smiled.
"Ok mommy."
Rachel knew though that Charlie was almost an exact copy of her. She could get into mischief almost anywhere.
"Someone's more like their mother every day. I'd better get dinner started. We'll have a nice little feast tonight. Don't worry, there's plenty more rabbit out there to eat. I may even find some deer soon."
Ben kissed Rachel and made his way into the house. As Rachel began chopping the wood again, she strained her ears to listen for Charlie. She smiled when she could hear her singing not too far away by an oak tree. Twenty minutes later, Rachel stopped chopping the wood and froze. She didn't hear Charlie singing anymore.
"Charlie? You're supposed to stay where mommy can see you."
When no answer came, she scooped Danny up into her arms and headed for the house. Opening the front door, she found Ben cutting up the rabbit meat with a knife.
"What's wrong Rachel? Where's Charlie?"
She was trying not to panic, but her eyes told the whole story.
"She wandered off. I don't know where she went. 20 minutes ago she was standing right by the oak tree where we hang the wash to dry."
Ben nodded and wiped his hands on an old shirt and followed Rachel out of the cabin. He called out to his daughter, hoping she would answer.
"Charlie? Where are you?"
Rachel held Danny closer to her and walked faster.
"Charlie, answer your daddy. Where are you?"
Both worried parents heard splashing up ahead of them and hurried towards the sound. The two found Charlie jumping in a little stream.
"Charlie, I thought I said to stay where I could see you?"
Charlie's tiny lower lip trembled as tears began to slide down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry mommy, I got thirsty and I found some water. There's enough here for everybody. Want some?"
Rachel shaking her head no took Charlie by the hand and led her away from the stream.
"If you were thirsty you could've gotten water from the water pump by the house. I don't want you to wander off again. Ok?"
Charlie nodded and stayed close to Rachel all the way back to the cabin.
"Did daddy find something to eat?"
Rachel gave Charlie a smile and squeezed her hand.
"Yes he did and there is plenty for everyone."
Charlie's eyes lit up.
"Is it chicken?"
Shaking her head no, she answered Charlie.
"No, but it tastes kind of like chicken."
"Charlie honey, it's time for dinner. You want to come over here and sit by the fireplace with us?"
Charlie had herself wrapped in her blanket on the floor and was trying to sleep. She didn't feel good at all.
"I don't feel good mommy."
Rachel shined the lamp on Charlie and saw a sheen of sweat on her forehead.
"When did you start feeling bad sweetie?"
Charlie tugged at the blanket to pull it around her tighter.
"Right after we came back from outside earlier."
Rachel put a hand up to Charlie's forehead and sighed.
"Oh baby you have a fever. You drank that water from the stream didn't you?"
Charlie nodded and kept the blanket around her.
"It tasted funny, but I was thirsty."
Rachel felt Ben's hand on her shoulder and she looked into his eyes.
"What is it?"
Frowning Rachel looked back to Charlie.
"Ben she's got Dysentery."
Looking up at the ceiling she shook her head. Was this the world they lived in now?
To Be Continued…