Chapter 26: Blue Moon Rising
March 1748
Uncas sat at the top of the wooden steps, curling his toes in his moccasins and gently swishing the mug of warm milk that dangled from his palm. He peered out towards the still partially snow covered forest. The winter had seemed long to him, longer than usual. Pounds of snow had fallen, decorating the glade with a sheet of sparkling ice. As beautiful as it was, it was also rather treacherous, especially for Pru, who had swelled considerably with child over the course of the winter. Though no longer. With the slight shift in season, much of the snow had melted away, soaking the frozen earth and creating large muddy splotches all around the glade.
He brought the mug, still warm to his fingertips, up to his lips and took a large gulp of the steaming liquid. He had always preferred it to tea. The sweet flavor always seemed to linger sweetly on his tongue in a way the bitterness of tea did not. Uncas rested his elbows on his knees, blowing at the steamy wisps of air as they ventured out of his mug. "Morning, Father," he said without turning to see for certain that it was him. He knew it was him by the soft shuffle of his footsteps, very unlike the often hurried tap of Nathaniel's feet.
"Good morning, son," Chingachgook softly spoke as he took a seat beside Uncas on the porch steps.
"Is it still our plan to hunt this morning?" Uncas asked, his eyes still fixated off towards the forest as he watched the first brilliant rays of the sun's light creep its way between the winding trees.
"Yes, though slightly altered."
At this Uncas turned his head towards his father, somehow instinctively knowing that the altered portion of the plan had something to do with him. "How so?" He questioned, his forehead creased with suspicion.
Slowly, Chingachgook turned to face his son. The wariness in his eyes made his chest constrict. He knew it was often hard for Uncas being the youngest of their family, so often left behind or told no for lack of age or experience. Though this was not the case today. Uncas being excluded had no bearing on any of the reasons his son so often heard come from his lips. Chingachgook breathed in an awakening breath of crisp air and said, "I need you to stay with Pru."
"What? Why? Sampson is already staying behind. Why should need I too?" His deepening voice edged with frustration.
"Sampson has work to do around the farm and will not be able to stay near the cabin should anything happen with the pregnancy."
Startled by his father's words, Uncas quickly responded with, "I thought Pru was doing well. Why should anything happen with the baby?"
Chingachgook smiled softly at his son's naïveté and said, "She is very far along now and could very well give birth at any time. She will need someone to stay with her should that happen."
Uncas sighed, resolved to his fate. He understood this particular need. She should not be left alone. Though he could not hide his disappointment that he was being left behind. He stared back towards the forest, watching as the sun rose even higher when a rather obvious thought crossed his mind. "What about Martin?"
"Martin. Yes. I think it best that he comes with me and Nathaniel. He will soon have demands put on him that will not allow him to leave the farm for some time. It is important that he…run free in the forest."
Uncas contemplated this for a moment. He knew what an attentive father Martin would be. Not only did he watch the way Martin saw to Pru's every need or whim but he, just as the rest of them, grew up with both Sampson and Chingachgook as examples of how a father should be. Their guidance practically ensured that all three of them would grow up truly loving and caring for their families. Which meant that once that baby was born, Martin had no intention of leaving his family's side. At least for a little while and certainly not so he could "run free in the forest" as his father put it.
"This is important, Uncas."
Uncas swiveled his head back towards his father. Their eyes met in shared understanding and as he nodded his head up and down said, "I will stay with Pru. Keep her and my niece or nephew safe."
Chingachgook rested his heavy palm atop Uncas's shoulder, relief flooded his features as he said, "Thank you son. You doing this will put everyone's mind at ease."
Uncas smiled reassuringly back at his father. While silently praying to The Great Spirit that while his pregnant sister was left solely in his safe keeping, that everything remained as it is now…in perfect harmony.
Martin kneeled down next to the side of the bed that Pru had curled her up on and began softly whispering into her ear. "Pru…Pru can you hear me?" Nothing but the smooth sound of her breathing filtered into the air. "Pru…my love, I have to go now. And I really need you to hear my voice before I do."
Martin raised his eyes to the open bedroom window, clearly seeing the morning light as it began casting away the evening darkness. They were off to hunt this morning and as much as he did not want to keep anyone waiting, he refused to leave without Pru knowing. "Sweet girl…," he cooed into her ear as he brushed away a few stray locks of hair from her cheeks. "…Please hear my voice."
"Hmmm…," she softly murmured.
"Ahhh, that's my girl right there," he whispered through a wide smile. "Pru, I'm going hunting with Chingachgook and Nathaniel. Father and Uncas are staying on the farm with you. Do you hear me?"
"Mmmm hmmm….," she mumbled with a slight nod.
"I won't be gone long. So you make sure to keep our baby in your belly until I return, alright?"
A small smile curled up along her lips and slowly she peaked the tiniest bit of her blue eyes open, "I shall do my very best."
Martin leaned down and nuzzled his nose against hers before placing a gentle kiss upon her lips. He rubbed his palm along her belly, tapping his pointer finger three times atop the swollen mound and whispered, "Stay put little one."
Pru's eyes had already fallen back shut, as Martin began to move away from her. Then just as the tips of his fingers began to slide from her belly, she quickly reached out and grabbed a hold of right hand, bringing it over to her lips. She twirled his palm over and placed a kiss in the center of his rough calloused palm. "Be safe."
Martin squeezed her hand reassuringly and said, "Always." Then carefully withdrew his palm from hers. He pulled the blankets up around her shoulders and turned on his heel, quietly exiting the room.
He made his way down the hall and into the common room, where Chingachgook and Nathaniel both stood waiting for him. "I'm ready."
"Pru's awake?" Sampson asked from the kitchen.
"No. Not really. But she knows I'm leaving and that you and Uncas will be here with her."
"Well then…she knows everything," Sampson said, going back to kneading the large white ball of dough he had in front of him.
Martin crossed over to Uncas and rested his hand on his little brother's shoulder. "Thank you brother."
Uncas reached out his arm, mirroring Martin, and said, "I'll look after her, don't worry."
Martin smiled back at him, gripping his shoulder tight in silent response. Before dropping his arm and crossing over towards the door. He swiped his rifle from its place beside the hearth and without looking back, crossed the threshold onto the porch and out into the glade. Nathaniel and Chingachgook followed closely behind him.
More than two hours had passed since Chingachgook, Nathaniel and Martin left to hunt. Sampson too had long ago finished making bread and gone off to tend to the needs of the farm, leaving Uncas alone in the cabin with a still sleeping Pru.
He started his morning by cleaning up the cabin. He swept the floors, washed the dishes, scrubbed the supper table and went around dusting out every dark nook and cranny that the cabin had to offer. He thought to wash the linens but the wash line was too far away from the cabin, the distance ensuring that if Pru called for him that he probably would not hear her so opted instead to grab a book and nestle himself in the cabin's enormous wooden archway. He had opened the door wide earlier to let in as much fresh air as Mother Nature would afford him. Uncas leaned back against one wooden beam , while pressing his feet up against the opposite and balancing the book atop his knees. Though he only managed to read through a few paragraphs before another wave of boredom set in. He wished Jack were still here, certain that he would have stayed behind and kept him company. Though he had moved on long ago before the first snow fall.
"Ugh…," he mumbled as he clapped the sides of the book together and hastily slid it across the floor in frustration. He followed the book with his eyes, watching as it stopped just short of the hallway entrance. He peered down into the darkness, popping up onto his feet as he did so. "Well sister…," he softly began. "…if you will not come to me, then I will come to you." Then made his way towards Pru's bedroom door.
"Pru?" Uncas whispered as he lightly tapped his knuckles against the wooden door. "Are you awake?" When no response came from the other side of the door, he gently pushed open the door and peeked his head inside.
Pru laid curled up on her right side, hair fanned out across the bed and with what Uncas could only assume was Martin's pillow stuffed between her legs. The blankets were in a tangled mess around her ankles, leaving her her whole body exposed to the coolness of the bedroom. He shifted his head towards the open window as a chilly gust of air swirled around the bedroom. Uncas contemplated whether or not to shut it but remembered Martin saying that despite the cold temperatures, Pru was always hot and preferred sleeping with the window wide open much to his dismay. Though even with this knowledge, Uncas could hardly leave her laying exposed like that so he crept into the room and over to her bedside. He touched the back of his palm to her cheek, startled by its icy feel and quickly pulled the blankets up all the way to her chin. He had promised to keep her safe and not letting her fall victim to hypothermia certainly qualified as keeping her safe. Once she was properly covered he bent down, kissed her lightly on the head and shuffled out of the room, closing the door behind him. Uncas peered down the hallway, shrugged his shoulders and mumbled to himself, "I guess I'll chop some wood then."
Pru stirred at the sound off the bedroom door clicking shut. Her eyes begrudgingly opened and shifted to the side so she might see who was there. But as her vision came better into focus, she realized she must have been hearing things and closed her eyes once more. Though instead of allowing herself to fall back to sleep, she rolled onto her back and tried to gauge the time by the beams of sunlight poured in through the window. Could it really be mid day already? Pru groaned at her revelation and began kicking at the covers, thrusting them towards her feet and off the bed. She sprawled her whole body out across the sheets, desperate to stretch out her cramped limbs. The release in her muscles forced a sigh from her lips. "Ahhhh, that felt good," she unconsciously said to her baby. An occurrence that had quickly become a habit whenever she was alone. "As much as I would like to stay in bed all day, I fear all of those boys out there will worry. So we are getting up and out of bed little one," she said as she cradled her belly with her right hand, while bracing herself against the bed with her left and carefully swung her sore legs over the side, placing her feet atop the cool wooden floor. She leaned forward about to lift herself from the bed when she felt the baby shift, it's little body pressing down atop her bladder. "Ooooh," she breathed as she clenched her lower muscle to prevent herself from peeing right there. Pru pushed the sensation to the back of her mind and quickly lifted herself from the bed. She waddled over to the rocking chair, grabbed her heavy woolen shawl and wrapped it tightly around her. Then stuffed her swollen feet into her moccasins and hastily made her way out of the bedroom.
Pru shuffled her way down the hall, only barely taking note that it was completely empty and hurried her way out of the cabin. She looked towards her usual spot towards the right of the cabin, but saw that there was still some lingering snow piled high along the ground. And where there was snow there could also be ice and she had no intention of knowingly putting herself into a position where she might slip and fall. Her last thought made her next clear in her mind. "So we go left," she softly said as she made her way off the cabin steps and towards the opposite side of the farm.
She passed through the glade carefully and without any incident. Though now into the forest, the terrain became a bit more challenging. Pru cupped her hand under her large belly, leaving her right fully extended out to the side to aid with her balance. This was the first time in months that she had gone out alone to relieve herself and while at the time she grumbled about having to be constantly escorted, now she wished she had sought out Uncas or Sampson to help her. The ground was not just partially snow covered, but also still frozen solid and the unfortunate path that she had chosen was riddled with exposed tree roots, making her journey further inward extremely hazardous. Step after step she moved until finally she declared that it was far enough and as she bent to raise the hem of her nightgown, shifted her foot ever so slightly. The small motion was enough to throw her already unsteady body completely off balance and she swooped in the air, landing with a crack against several raised roots.
Pru could feel a sharp shooting pain radiate up her arm from her elbow. She tried reaching for her injured arm with her left hand but between the aches in her body and her swollen belly gave up, instead choosing to investigate the tender spot along the back of her head that was throbbing. "Ahhh," she moaned as the pads of her fingers gingerly felt around the wound. She winced even deeper when she realized the tenderest part of her skull was also sticky with blood. Pru blinked her eyes several times, desperate to keep herself conscious but the harder she tried the more out of focus the world became. The last thing she was aware of before losing consciousness was the feel of warm liquid trickling down her thighs.
Uncas rubbed his forearm across his brow, his linen shirt absorbing a good portion of sweat that had gathered there, off and away from his face. He tilted his head backwards, his eyes fixated on the sun position. Based on what he was seeing it had to be close to two o'clock in the afternoon. Now he knew how Martin could disappear for hours chopping wood. It was very easy to let your mind wander as one lost themselves in the monotony of the task. Though two o'clock meant that he had been at it for hours and during that had seen neither Sampson or Pru. Pru. She had never slept this long before, even at her tiredest and quickly Uncas heaved the ax into the stump overcome with the need to be certain she was alright. He rounded the side of the cabin and took the steps two at a time. His feet hustling him through the threshold and down the hall. He knocked on her bedroom door, softly at first. But when no immediate answer came he knocked harder and louder. Still no answer came. Then without any hesitation, turned the knob and swung the door inward.
His heart stopped briefly, then rapidly began to pound in his chest as uneasiness coursed through his system. The bed was completely empty with sheets and blankets skewed along the floor. Pru had woken up and disappeared all without him knowing. He turned on his heel and began hollering her name as he opened every door the cabin had to offer, bedrooms and pantry alike. "Pru!" Each time he yelled her name with no response his wariness grew. "Pru!" He shouted as he ran out of the cabin into the glade. "Pru!"
"Uncas…Uncas what's the matter?" Sampson asked, dropping his bucket and gripping tightly both of Uncas's shoulders.
"Pru…she's…gone."
"What do you mean gone?"
"I mean gone…vanished. I checked on her a few hours ago and then went to chop wood. I…I lost track of the time. And when I went to check on her again she was gone."
Sampson raised his eyes up past Uncas and began scanning the farm for any sign of her. Nothing. She was nowhere in visible sight. "When did you see her last?"
"A few hours ago. She was still sleeping."
Sampson narrowed his eyes towards the forest. No one had come to the farm. Uncas was just outside the cabin and would have heard if someone had approached. That left Sampson with the thought that Pru had woken up and wandered off on her own accord, most likely to relieve herself of a full bladder and that would have only taken a few moments. If she didn't respond to her name being frantically called, she was not in ear range. Which was frightening on its own, because she would have no need to wander that far. Which implied she had been taken from the forest or, she was unable to respond. Which most definitely meant that she was hurt. The idea that Pru was alone, pregnant and quite possibly hurt sent a terrifying chill shooting down his spine.
"We have to split up and search the forest for her," Sampson said in as calm a tone as he could muster.
Uncas gaped at him with wide eyes. "I let her down. I let Martin down. I was supposed to keep her safe."
Sampson squeezed his shoulders tightly, "It is not your fault Pru wandered off. You have no control over what other people do. Though right now I need you to focus all of your energy into helping me find her. I will search the deeper portions of the forest. I need you to stay closer to the cabin in case she returns. Do you understand me?"
Uncas nodded his head rapidly, "Yes."
"Then let's go find her."
Chingachgook, Nathaniel and Martin crossed the tree line into the glade just as the sun had begun to make its slow descent into darkness. Both Nathaniel and Martin had doe slung over their shoulders as they happily trudged towards the cabin. Though their laughter quickly faded when they saw a forlorn Uncas sitting atop the steps softly weeping. Nathaniel and Martin immediately tossed the deer into the grass and all three men quickly made their way over to him. An overwhelming feeling of dread bubbling up in each of their bellies.
While Chingachgook and Nathaniel stopped short in front of Uncas, Martin tore past him into the cabin. "Tell us, son," Chingachgook calmly declared.
Uncas lifted his head to speak, but was silenced before he even began when Martin reappeared with a look of horror stricken across his face. "Where is she? Where is she, Uncas?" Martin begged.
"I don't know. Sampson and I have been searching for her for over an hour. We can't find her."
"What!" Nathaniel bellowed and immediately both Nathaniel and Martin split into different directions. Nathaniel sprinting towards the left of the cabin and Martin heading towards the right in the direction of the lake.
"Father…," Uncas weakly began. "I am sorry. I was supposed to be watching her."
Chingachgook reached out a hand and gently stroked the top of his son's head. He wanted to stay with him, comfort him, but now was not the time for him. Now was the time to find Pru and he was certain that Uncas knew and understood that. "Son…," he softly began, despite the urgency of the moment. "…I want you to stay here at the cabin in case she comes back. While I search the western most side of the forest."
"I can help," Uncas hastily argued.
"And you are by staying here in case she returns."
She won't return. He thought to himself. Hours had passed now without any sign of her. She was lost, taken or worse. He pinched his eyes tightly shut, forcing several dark images from his mind and whispered, "Alright."
Chingachgook nodded his head and asked, "Which way did Sampson go?"
Uncas tilted his head to the left. "Same way as Nathaniel."
"We'll find her son. I'm sure of it." And without another word Chingachgook quickly disappeared amongst the trees.
Uncas closed his eyes and buried his face in his palms, mumbling weakly against his skin, "Please Great Spirit, please see her safely home…please…"
"Ahhhh…," Pru whimpered before even opening her eyes. The moment she felt herself beginning to come to was also the moment she felt a radiating pain shoot through her abdomen. And instead of opening up her eyes, she pinched them tighter shut. "Ahhhh…," she moaned as she shifted onto her left side and tried desperately to curl her leg up into her body. This was not a pain from being wounded. While her head did throb and her elbow stung wickedly, it took Pru only one conscious second to realize that the pain she felt working its way through her stomach was none other than that of labor contractions. And given the intensity, duration and the pressure building between her thighs, she had most likely been in labor for some time now. "Oh no you don't, little one," she stammered as she squeezed her legs tighter together.
"Pru! Pru where are you?"
Pru instantly flung her eyelids open. "Natty!" She tried to holler but her voice came out too hoarse to be heard. She could feel tears begin to prick at the corners of her eyes in panic and swallowed hard, desperate to lubricate her throat so she might be heard. Another wave of pain ricocheted through her core that forced her to clenched her legs together. "AHHHHHH!" She screamed into the air. And almost immediately afterwards heard the rustle of leaves and forest debris as footsteps rushed towards her.
"Pru!" Nathaniel exclaimed as he dropped down into a squat beside her. Even in the quickly fading light he could see that the sleeve of her nightgown was blood stained and that her hair was matted similarly. "What happened?"
"I fell."
"Of course you did. Let's get you up now," Nathaniel calmly drawled.
"Natty…AHHHHH!" She wailed again, gripping tightly to his arm as curled her body further onto her side.
Nathaniel's eyes went wide. While he had never seen or heard a baby being born, Sampson had made certain to prepare each one of them for signs of when it may come. And this was definitely a sign. "Don't you dare!" He bellowed at her. "You better suck that baby back in because this is far beyond me sister!"
Pru laughed through her tears and said, "Brother, if you don't get me back to Sampson quickly…you will have no choice in the matter."
With that and despite her pain, Nathaniel swiftly jostled her into his arms and began running at his fastest pace, screaming Sampson's name as he tore through the forest. Then nearly collided with him as he raced out of the tree line towards the cabin.
"Pru!" Sampson exclaimed.
"I can feel the baby's head," she asserted the moment she saw him.
"Quickly…get inside the cabin," he stated as they made their way to the bottom of the cabin's steps. "Uncas…try and find Martin."
Uncas's initial relief at seeing Pru in Nathaniel's arms was quickly halted when, as they drew closer, he saw blood smeared across her nightgown. Instantly he hopped to his feet and began screaming Martin's name as he made his way towards the lake.
"In the bedroom, Nathaniel," Sampson hastily directs as they ascend the porch steps side by side. He stops short of the doorway, allowing Nathaniel and Pru to go first then swiftly follows behind, grabbing his medical bag along the way.
"Sampson!" Nathaniel shouts from the bedroom.
"I'm here," he calmly stated as he entered the room, pulling the rocking chair over towards Pru and dropping his medical bag on the floor beside the bed.
"She's cut. On her elbow and at the base of her head," Nathaniel stammers as he watches Pru's face contort into pain stricken expression.
"AHHHH…," she wails again.
"Those wounds will have to wait. We have a far more pressing matter at hand," Sampson stated.
As soon as Sampson lifted Pru's nightgown up, Nathaniel eyes briefly met his sister's in frightened apology before he did a quick turn on his heel, swiftly exiting the room. He placed his back against the wall next to the open bedroom door and slowly slid his body down its length. Until his bottom connected with the floor and he was able to stretch his legs out as much as possible. Another howl echoes through his ears, though this time it's not Pru but rather Martin hollering her name as he barrels into the cabin with Uncas trudging closely behind him.
Martin rushed down the small hallway. His open palms smack at the wall as if to propel him faster. Quickly he tries to jump over Nathaniel's stationary legs, only to have his foot catch on Nathaniel's knee caps and suddenly go flying into the wall at the end of the hall. "SHIT!" Martin yelped as he scampered back up onto his feet. His eyes paused for the briefest of seconds on Nathaniel's stunned expression. Martin had no idea if he looked like that because he just watched him fall or because Pru was having their baby. Then just as the thought passed through his mind so did the sound of Pru's painful wail tear though his ears. Martin and Nathaniel's eyes widen in unison. A shared moment of blissful panic crossing between before Martin scurried into the bedroom.
Uncas walked over to Nathaniel and dropped to the floor cross legged beside him. He let out a sigh if relief that he was, at the least, able to find Martin quickly and rested his back against the wall as he scooted himself a bit closer to his brother. He knew this was going to be hard for him. Pru giving birth was going to be a painful reminder that while their sister was about to have a beautiful, healthy baby, he was not. And so, deciding that no words would be enough at this moment, chose instead to dip his downward, lightly resting it atop his brother's right shoulder. His eyes drifted over to the side of Nathaniel's face just in time to see his brother drop his face into his palms and sigh with sadness.
Martin hurled his body into the bedroom, pulling the door shut behind him. His body froze. Pru's legs were bent, heels digging into the bottom of the bed and her nightgown pushed up to her waist. He could see blood soaked through the fabric of her right sleeve and along the back of her nightgown's collar.
"Martin," Pru breathed through gritted teeth.
Martin shifted his eyes to her face, sweaty and crimson colored. Their eyes met, her blue hue piercing him straight to the heart.
"Martin," she said, stretching out her wounded arm out to him.
Martin immediately reached for her hand, gripping her palm tightly in his as he climbed onto the bed behind her. Pru instantly leaned her body back into his, resting the tender part of her head back against his shoulder. "I'm here. I'm here with you," he whispered into her ear. "I love you."
Pru closed her eyes, a tear sliding down her cheek. She winced as she turned her face into his cheek. "Martin…I…AHHHHH!"
"Push Pru…push right now," Sampson calmly commanded.
Pru lifted her head from Martin's shoulder and rounded her body forward. She squeezed Martin's hand with every ounce of strength she had and pushed. "AHHHHH…"
"That's it my girl…just a bit more."
Martin stared at the side of Pru's face, completely awestruck. He had loved her everyday since that first moment when he saw her stride barefoot in Chingachgook's blue linen shirt across the glade. Thousands of beautiful moments for him to choose from within his memories that encompass his love for her, though none would ever compare to this one. Watching the woman he loves give birth to their child. Overwrought with emotion, Martin gently pressed his forehead to her temple and whispered, "My love…you can do this. You can do anything."
Pru pinched her eyes shut, a wave of new tears streaming down her face as she absorbed the moment. Martin's heartfelt words followed by the tiny wail of their child as it left her womb.
"Well done my girl!" Sampson proclaimed. "You have a healthy baby boy!"
Pru and Martin both turned their tear stained faces towards Sampson, who had popped from his seat and was holding their son high in the air for them both to see. "Come here Martin and take your son over to your wife."
Martin's face shot up into a wide vibrant grin. His father's use of words was all too poignant for him and quickly he slid off the bed and over to his newborn son. Sampson wrapped the baby in a clean white cloth and gently kissed him atop his forehead before he gingerly passed the adorable bundle into Martin's waiting arms.
Martin starred, starry eyed, down at the little person he had helped create. The baby's small face was scrunched up into a dozen tiny rolls of skin that made him look like at any moment he might demand to be heard. His eyes trailed further around his son's tiny features until his little eyelids blinked open to reveal his perfectly shaded eyes. Eyes the same color as the forest. Eyes the same color as his own.
"Martin?"
Pru's voice the only sound in this moment powerful enough to tear his attention away from their son. Their son. Martin quickly shuffled over to the bed, realizing he had been keeping the baby all to himself and gently laid him in Pru's arms. "Our son," he happily starred as he shifted his body beside her on the bed.
"Hello there sweet boy…I'm your mama," she breathed between joyful tears. "You already met your papa." And she leaned slightly into Martin's body. Her tears flowing more and more with each passing second. She closed her eyes and bowed her head. Her forehead lightly touched their son's and instantly the cranky rolls along their son's forehead softened and his breathing seemed to steady.
"He likes your voice," Martin whispered into her ear so as not to disturb their son.
"Thank you."
"I like it as well," he whispered, nuzzling his face into her cheek.
"No, Martin…thank you for giving me this beautiful life," her last words nearly muffled into oblivion from her soft sobs as she turned her face into his. Their lips are almost touching.
Martin starred, glassy eyed, into her cerulean blue eyes. He parted his lips to speak, though found himself to overcome in that moment and instead, pressed his lips to hers. The sweet gentle massage of their lips and tongues melted the rest of the world away. Leaving only him, her and their baby in its wake.
Sampson stood up, a bundle of soiled linens gathered up in his arms. He glanced over towards them, both completely unaware that he was still in the room. He smiled softly to himself and slowly began backing out of the room. As much as he wanted to address Pru's other wounds, he thought it best to give them this moment alone instead. He pulled the door shut as he made his exit, nearly stumbling over Nathaniel and Uncas, who both still huddled together on the floor beside the door.
"The baby?" Chingachgook's soft voice cut through the darkened hallway. His body a shadowy silhouette against the hearth's blazing fire. Having entered the cabin just as his tiny grandson took his first wails of breath.
"A healthy boy," Sampson responded.
"And Pru?"
"Aside from the wounds on her elbow and head that still need to be tended too, absolutely fine."
Chingachgook sighed in relief, a wide grin adorning his lips as he touched his hand to his heart and bowed his head in thanks to Sampson for seeing his daughter safely through this. Then with the comfort that all was well, promptly turned on his heel towards the kitchen to contend with the matter of supper.
"Can we see them?" Uncas piped up from the floor. For the first time since he realized that Pru was missing this morning, the nervous knots that had clustered in his belly began unraveling.
"Soon. Let's give them a moment shall we. In the meantime, why don't you two boil me some water and fetch some clean bandages for your sister," Sampson said with a small hand flick ushering both boys up onto their feet and away from the bedroom door.
While the others got to work on their individual tasks, Nathaniel wandered outside onto the porch. He leaned against the wooden rail, gripping the weathered wood tightly beneath his palms and peaked up at the stars. His mind and heart filled with faraway thoughts as he softly whispered, "I know it was you. You…who stayed with her in the forest. You…who watched over. You…who led me to her." Nathaniel paused, wiping a stray tear from his eye before continuing, "Thank you my sweet girl for protecting her and the baby. Thank you…" His rough voice trailed off into silence, as the shimmering light of a star shot its way across the blackened sky. His lips curled into a soft smile and he placed his palm atop his heart. "Always..."
Martin laid completely motionless atop their bed, for fear of waking Pru or Elijah. Elijah. He thought, chuckling softly to himself as he gently rubbed his son's little foot. His tiny body sprawled across Martin's bare chest. He peaked down at Pru and watched as she smiled softly in her slumber, almost as if she had heard his chuckle and decided to join in the fun at their little secret. He caressed her thigh with his fingers, his mind wandering back to only hours ago when they had gone through the painstaking task of picking a name for their son.
"What shall we name him?" Martin asked as he cradled his son in his arms.
"Hmmm…Sampson?" Pru questioned, both her eyebrows shooting into her hairline.
"No. Father hates his name," Martin countered. "Chingachgook?"
Pru smiled and shook her back and forth. "How about we name him after your grandfather?"
"You don't even know what his name is…what if it's Bartholomew!"
Pru cringed, "Is it?"
A rumble of laughter peeled out from his lips, startling the baby, who peaked his tiny eyes open. "No. It's Elijah."
Pru's shoulders sagged in relief and she stroked the baby's face with her fingertips. "Aren't you a lucky one, Elijah."
"Elijah Bartholomew Blackwood," Martin stated, a playful smirk drifting across his face.
Pru giggled, "Elijah Bartholomew Blackwood it is!"
Pru shifted closer against Martin's body and in turn, he wrapped his arm tighter around her back. Careful not to disturb the bandages on her head or elbow. He pulled the blanket higher, covering his wife and son up to their necks and very gently placed a sweet kiss on top both their heads. Then closed his eyes to a feeling of serenity that he prayed would never, ever go away.
"Ooh, ooh, ooh,
Ooh, ooh
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And dreams that you dream of
Once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dreams that you dream of
Dreams really do come true
Someday, I wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top
That's where you'll find me
Oh, somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
And the dreams that you dare to
Why, oh why, can't I?"
Somewhere Over the Rainbow- Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
(For Martin, Pru and Elijah Blackwood)
Two weeks Later...
Nathaniel woke to the soft shuffle of footsteps lightly scuffing across the loft floor, down the steps and out the cabin's large wooden door. He pulled himself forward, the silence in the cabin made him aware that it was still well before sunrise and curiously followed his little brother's trail to where he sat on the top porch step, arms draped across his upward pointed knees and a sullen expression tainting his features. Nathaniel's face dropped into its own sullen expression, somehow already knowing what this was about. Then quietly dropped down beside him and nudged him with his shoulder, "Tell me?"
Uncas turned his face up, the full moon's light catching his down turned lips and showing off his silently wept tears.
"Uncas? What is it?" Nathaniel asked, nudging his shoulder lightly against him.
"Everything is going to be different now," He murmured through his almost inaudible sobs, "Pru won't stay with us any longer or travel with us...I will miss her."
Nathaniel wrapped his arm around Uncas's shoulders. He was right everything was going to change. As Pru's belly grew so did the realization that they would no longer be a foursome. Pru would stay behind with Martin, Sampson and with the newly born Elijah. While they would move on, as they always did, and continue to hunt and trap. When their father had mentioned over supper that they would be leaving in late October, it had visibly shaken all of them. It was still only March and already he was preparing them. It had been a hard but necessary truth to hear. For all of them. Though, while it was unpleasant to hear, Nathaniel was certain that the more time they all had to come to terms with it the better it would be. And he was certain this was his father's rationale as well. Pru had even excused herself from the table, claiming she needed to feed the baby, but everyone knew she had really gone off to cry alone. He had become abruptly tight lipped. His usual light heartedness squashed by their father's declaration and Uncas...all Uncas could do was stare blankly off towards the darkened hallway that led to Pru's bedroom.
It was not until right then that Nathaniel truly understood his father's uneasiness over Martin and Pru's relationship. While he now knew that their were several strings on their father's being tugged, he also understood what Chingachgook was trying to say to them about how none of them were ready for this separation, including Pru. Though, here it was upon them and they each felt it like a knife to the heart.
Nathaniel scooted closer to Uncas and thought of Pru, already seemingly absent from their trio and said, "She will always be here. Safe and protected. We will always know where she is and how to find her. It will be much harder for Pru. Because we wander. She will always wonder about us. Wonder if we are well, wonder were we are, if we are coming home..."
"Home?" Uncas interrupted his brother's words. The word lingering on his tongue like honey in a beehive. "You think of this as home?"
"Yes. Of course I do."
"The farm more than the Delaware camp?"
Nathaniel smiled softly. The corners of his lips begging to rise higher. "Much of our lives has been spent at the Delaware camp and being there has taught me so much. And I am grateful for it, but home is where the people you love are at. I love Pru, Martin, Sampson and little Elijah. So, yeah...this is home."
"I'm not ready to leave them. Especially now...with Elijah," Uncas said wiping away his tears from his cheeks.
"Me neither. But we have months of time still to be here. And I don't know about you, but I plan to enjoy every minute of it. And with any luck, corrupt little Elijah into so bad baby habits that will drive Pru absolutely mad!" He added, lightening the somber mood.
"He's only a baby. I doubt you'll have any impact on him at all," Uncas said, smiling for the first time since supper.
"Ahhh, little brother...watch and learn!" He chuckled. Deciding right then that whenever they were on the farm, he would savor every moment he could with them and in true Nathaniel fashion.
Uncas chuckled too, knowing all too well Nathaniel's brotherly antics. Then sighed softly and asked, "Do you think we will ever live here on the farm with them?"
Nathaniel smiled wide. His pearly white teeth gleaming in the darkness, "Of that little brother I have no doubt. No doubt at all."
Author's Note: So this chapter, just like the other, had an original moment that had been laid out in either The Ties That Bind or Bound Together. For instance, When Alice has Matto in TTTB, Pru and Nathaniel share a laugh about Alice not wandering out alone. Pru had insisted that Alice take Lydia with her because she herself went into labor alone in the woods.
The scene with Uncas in the beginning was another step in showing his evolving maturity. He goes from petulant child, disappointed in the idea of being left behind to genuine understanding what his father is saying about Martin and because of it quickly mans up. Remember that he is still only thirteen at this point. So he is still at a stage where his mind and body are pulling him between childhood and adulthood. Then later feels terrible when Pru disappears and blames himself entirely for it. Poor kid was only trying to chop some wood! Thank the lord, Nathaniel finds her when he does! I mean what the hell was she thinking wandering off into the woods nine months pregnant alone and in a semi unfamiliar spot!
I know often men weren't present at their children's birth but there was literally no way Pru was having that baby without Martin there. It just would not have felt right. She needed him beside her and that's exactly where he was. And Bartholomew... :)
More Uncas to come...
P.S. I know this story will end up being a bit longer then my usual 25 chapters given the amount of years I have to span, so thank you for sticking with me and this story!
Thank you to everyone who viewed/reviewed...Especially, ELY72, Evermore22, Hazel222, BlueSaffire, MohawkWoman, BrynnaRaven, AsterLaurel, your support is awesome and unwavering! Thank you!
Thanks for reading :)
