A great big "Thank You!" to my friend (whom I'll call Jane). She was a huge help in catching my many errors.
And thank you to each and every person who reviewed!
For many years a large grandfather clock had stood in the Shaw parlor. It had been first placed there and wound by John Shaw's father, many, many years before. Now it gazed sleepily down on a strange little group kneeling in a half circle near the fireplace.
Elizabeth, her voice breaking with sorrow, was speaking. "Lord, thank you for my little girl. I missed so many years of her life, but I thank You for the time You have allowed me to have." the tears ran unashamed down her face. "Please watch over Mandie and Celia and Joe, and place Your hand of protection upon them. Be with the men who are searching for them—let them not miss any sign or clue." She wiped her eyes and squeezed Sallie's hand.
There was silence, except for the steady ticking of the clock and the crackling of the fire.
Meanwhile, Aunt Lou, Jennie and Liza were standing in the kitchen, having their own little prayer meeting.
"Lawd, we knows you kin do everything—dat dere ain't nothing impossible fo' You." Aunt Lou spoke, gazing up to Heaven. "Lawd, we need sometin' here. We need Missy Mandy back here wid us. We be askin', just fo' you to bring huh home." Tears ran down the old woman's wrinkled cheeks.
The clock in the parlor struck midnight with a slight whirring sound, breaking the oppressive silence in the parlor. Elizabeth glanced up at it. It was over fourteen hours now, that Mandie had been missing. Elizabeth felt dull and heavy. Her heart cried out in anguished prayer. Please, Lord! Please bring her home.
In the kitchen, Aunt Lou turned in expectation when she heard a slight thump on the porch, and then hurried for the door. Liza, who had been interrupted mid-sentence, stared after the housekeeper. She hadn't heard anything. Everyone, including the ladies in the parlor, heard Aunt Lou's loud ejaculation a moment later.
"Praise de Lawd!" she cried. "Take huh right up to huh room, Massah Joe. Miz 'Lizbeth be in de parlor."
But Elizabeth was no longer in the parlor—neither was anyone else, for that matter. They had all rushed out into the hall at Aunt Lou's joyful cry, but now they stopped in concern. Mandie lay limp in Joe's arms, her head sagging against his shoulder. Joe swiftly climbed up the stairs and into her room, where he laid her down on her bed.
"Where's my father, Mrs. Shaw?" Joe questioned, stretching his aching arms.
Elizabeth hesitated, overcome. To have her daughter kidnapped, be missing for fourteen hours of Christmas Eve, and then be returned in this state was overwhelming. She shook her head. "I don't know. He has been out searching for y'all with everyone else."
"I'll find him." Sallie said quietly.
Elizabeth turned to look at the Indian girl, a frown creasing her forehead. "I cannot allow that, Sallie. A young woman, alone, after midnight—in the woods? It isn't proper."
"But who else will find him?" Sallie asked, looking around.
Elizabeth felt herself giving way, but she shook off the feeling and drew in a deep breath. "No, Sallie." She's Cherokee, Elizabeth's mind pricked, She has a better chance of finding the doctor than any of us.
Jonathan and Robert exchanged a glance and then stepped forward. "We'll go with her, Mrs. Shaw."
Elizabeth gave in. "Very well." She sat down on the edge of the bed and touched her daughter's cheek.
Mandie lay as still as death.
Joe plopped down on the top stair near Mandie's room. As soon as Elizabeth had reluctantly gone to bed, Aunt Lou had shooed Joe out of the room. He rubbed his aching arms and leaned against the wall. The two hours of riding while holding Mandie had felt like an eternity. His aching body demanded rest, but Joe knew his mind couldn't relax while Mandie was still unconscious.
He heard a light step behind him and turned to see Celia. "Aunt Lou says you can come sit with Mandie for a while if you want." the girl said in low tones.
Joe leaped up and followed her back into the bedroom. Celia waited near the door while he drew a chair up beside the bed and sat down. He watched her silently for a moment, and then squeezed her hand gently. "Please wake up, Mandie." he whispered.
She lay unmoving, her face pale. Joe waited quietly, holding her hand, then he sighed deeply and leaned over to press a kiss to her forehead. "I love you." he brushed a stray wisp of her hair off her forehead. As he looked at her, his throat was tight.
Please, Lord. Please help her to wake up.
Then he settled back, her hand still in his, to wait.
The door opened, jolting Joe awake. He sat up suddenly and glanced around. Dr. Woodard entered, and Joe realized that he had been dozing. But he felt better for his brief nap.
Joe leaped up. Father and son embraced tightly, and a careful observer might have noticed a slight mist in the doctor's eye— but perhaps it was only because of the cold night air that he had just come in out of.
They drew apart, and Dr. Woodard directed his attention to Mandie.
"How long has she been like this?" he asked as he began his examination.
Joe glanced up at the clock. It was a quarter past one o'clock in the morning. "Over four hours. I think that Big Eye gave her some sort of drug to put her to sleep, and then she was thrown from the horse."
A concerned expression passed quickly over the doctor's face.
Joe saw it. "There could be internal injuries, couldn't there?" he said flatly. It was more of a statement than a question.
Dr. Woodard nodded solemnly. "You should probably get some rest, Joe. From what Jonathan and Robert have told me, you need it."
Joe nodded. He felt exhausted. "Please call me when she wakes up, Dad."
The doctor smiled slightly. "Of course I will."
Joe rolled over, blinking his eyes in the sudden light. Jonathan stood by the window, just in the act of drawing the curtain back. "Dr. Woodard sent me to get you." Jonathan said with a wide grin.
Joe blinked in confusion, then the events of the previous day flooded back to him.
Mandie.
He leaped out of bed. With a thumping heart, Joe dressed and rushed down the hall to Mandie's room.
He knocked on the door, and Celia opened it. She smiled and motioned him inside. Joe entered the room and stopped short.
Mandie smiled up at him. She was dressed in her dark green dress, with her hair neatly braided. Her face was still very pale, but she was awake and propped up on pillows. "Joe," she said in low tones. Joe sat down on the edge of the bed and took her hand in both of his. She's awake—she's alive! Joe thought joyfully. He grinned.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
Mandie smiled. "Yes."
"Dr. Woodard said it was a miracle." Celia put in, her hand on the doorknob, as she was about to leave. "He said that he'd expected broken ribs at least, but Mandie isn't even bruised from the fall."
A sense of wonder washed over Joe.
"Of course," Mandie added, "My ankle is sprained and Dr. Woodard had to sew the cut on my head closed. But in a week or two, I'll be fit as a fiddle."
Mandie leaned back against the pillows, her face a little paler, and Joe looked concerned.
"Are you sure you're alright? You look tired." he said, touching her hand.
She smiled weakly. "I feel tired. Your father said it's because of the sleeping powder that the Boss made me take. Celia told me what happened last night." Mandie's weakened voice trembled slightly. "Thank you."
Joe felt himself flushing in embarrassment. He looked down at their joined hands. "I love you, Mandie." he said in low tones.
Suddenly a tear dropped on his hand, and he glanced up in concern. Mandie was crying softly.
"Mandie!" he exclaimed, worried. "What's wrong?"
She brushed the tears away and managed a weak smile. "I'll tell you later."
Joe stood reluctantly. "What would you like for breakfast? I'll have Liza bring it up to you."
"Just grits and some toast please," Mandie said, avoiding his gaze. "Thank you."
Joe nodded and left.