I'm sorry if I don't update as much as I usually do. There's a competition
our orch. is going to and we're playing Jupiter from The Planets...such an
awesome song, but mostly, fiddling, plays, and spring break!! Whoo hoo! So,
sorry for the horrible cliffie...
Chapter 13: The Apple Orchard
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Farmer Cotton sat in his chair by the fire with his book and Mrs. Cotton sat by his side on the couch knitting. The creak of the door was heard and Mr. Cotton turned to the hall. Rosie came through from outside and let her hair down.
"Hello, darling. Nice day at work?" Farmer Cotton asked.
"Yes, Papa," She said blankly and she walked to the kitchen for a snack before supper.
Mrs. Cotton looped her yarn and Farmer Cotton picked his book back up. It wasn't until she heard Rosie walked up the stairs when Lily set her things on her lap.
"Tolman, she's miserable. Let her have her privileges back; she has been responsible long enough and I trust her when she says she won't do it again," Lily said and Mr. Cotton shook her head.
"Aye, I know she has said that and she might try to promise herself not to stay out late, but right when she will see Sam again, her restraints will slip," He said and Lily sighed.
"How do you know, Tom? She's nearly coming-of-age, she's a good lass---"
"How do I know? I was their age once, Lily, and so were you. Rosie's coming- of-age is what I'm worried about. They are not just friends, Rosie and Sam. Who knows when she'll leave the house..."
Lily put her yarn down and came up to Tolman, "Is that what you're worried about? Rosie being off and married? If Rosie is going to be married to Sam, we shan't be fretting about her. You and I were married at Nick's age and we worked things out. Tolman, please, she's not young anymore," Lily said softly and he held her hand as he thought hard.
"All right, one more week if she keeps to her work. I hate punishing her too, Lily-dear, but it'll teach her," Farmer Cotton said and he kissed his wife.
~·· ··÷¦÷·· ··~
It had been over two weeks since Rosie had seen Sam. She would go straight to work at the Dragon in the morning and then dolefully make her way home for the rest of the night. Sam figured that maybe she had taken time off work because every other night he went, she was not there. He started to worry after the first week when she hadn't come back or visited him but he waited.
It wasn't until one night at the Dragon that he asked Myawl the barmaid when she returned with his drink, "Pardon me, but has Rosie Cotton fallen ill or gone on holiday? I never see her in here anymore."
Myawl shook her head and wiped the table, "No, she's quite alright. Her work schedule is in the afternoons now." She explained and left to another table.
Sam sat quietly with his beer and thought. That explained Rosie not being at the bar at night, but why hadn't she stopped by Bag End or Bagshot Row at all? He supposed that she might be busy and that he could visit her but his stomach flipped. Perhaps she was avoiding him on purpose---was it because they might be spending too much time together? People told Sam often that he tends to worry too much but Sam wasn't sure now if he really was exaggerating the point. He took a few more drinks of his ale and sat thoughtfully.
~·· ··÷¦÷·· ··~
It was late September and Sam spent his time over at Bag End for Mr. Frodo's 49th birthday (and Bilbo's 127th). This year's harvest was rich and long and even by the time of the last week of September it felt like mid- summer.
Rosie wished to see Sam more that anything and Farmer Cotton hadn't told her yet that he would let her off her punishment in three days. In the meantime, Rosie helped with the kitchen with her Ma and spent time with her brothers. One warm afternoon, both Rosie and Nibs went to the shed for their baskets and headed down the trail over the Water. Beyond Bywater there was a strip of apple trees.
They talked and giggled as they picked the apples. Rosie told him who came into the bar and jokes that older hobbits would tell her and Nibs laughed as she retold him. Nibs told her about who visited them while she worked and a funny incident with Nick and Cobfoot in the stable.
During their picking, Nibs took a bite of an apple on a tree branch, "If I was ever stuck on a mountain top with no way off, I would wish myself an endless bushel of apples for I would never get tired of them. They're almost sweet like honey or syrup---or a kiss."
Then he snickered, "Tom and Marigold would know if kisses tasted like apples! Do they Rosie?"
"Do they what?" Rosie asked offhandedly.
"Do kisses taste like apples?" Nibs said obviously and Rosie whipped around.
"What are you referring?"
"Well, surely I needn't to be answering that question for you."
Rosie placed her hands on her hips, "Nay, I'm pretty sure I do need an answer, dear brother of mine!" She stated sarcastically.
"Well, I figured as much that you would know because of Sam Gamgee---"
"Nibs!" Rosie yelped appalled at his brusqueness and Nibs shrugged.
"What? Isn't it the truth?"
"By all means, no!"
"Sister, do not riddle me with false replies." Nibs said matter-of-factly and Rosie turned pink.
"Honest to my own soul, I am not."
Nibs climbed down with a straight face, "Sam has not once kissed you on the ...well, lips?"
Rosie turned a deep shade of red, "No."
"Oh...," He murmured silently and then he stated candidly, "Well, I don't know what he is waiting for."
Rosie stayed quiet and giggled, "Neither do I and I do wish he would hurry up!" She said and Nibs rolled his eyes playfully at her girlyness. They walked on and personally, Rosie knew that she could trust telling her littlest brother anything.
Their baskets were almost full with the crisp yellow and green apples. Nibs only went for the best apples on the tops on the trees and climbed up very skillfully to get them. Rosie spotted the patch of red apples down the hill and called up to Nibs in the tree. "Nibs! I'm going to go get some more apples down the hill before winter comes and freezes them to the core. I'll meet you back up here in half an hour, all right?"
Nibs bundled a handful of apples in his shirt on the thick branch, "Aye, see you later!"
Rosie picked up her heavy basket and walked for a long time down into the bottom of the field. The red apples shined on the tops of the trees and she started to plan the candy apples she would make with them.
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Tom hitched up Cobfoot after filling the cart with wood, nails, yeast, and cooking oil and started home. His thoughts were of supper and sleep and Marigold. The bridge over the Water was over half a mile away and Cobfoot trotted slowly. He took notice of a hobbit walking ahead of him with a sack of potatoes and he stopped the cart.
"Samwise! How 'bout a ride?" Tom called out and Sam turned around and smiled. He loaded his potatoes in the back and sat up next to Tom who started Cobfoot up again.
"Just into town for some potatoes; my Gaffer was running low on 'em. Stocking up for winter?" Sam asked and Tom shrugged.
"Only a little for now. I'm guessing from our last snowstorm that we should take some precautions, but who knows. It seems to be warm enough today, isn't it?" Tom said and Sam nodded. Sweat ran down his neck and he wiped his brow while they rode on silently.
Finally, Tom sighed, "Well, aren't you goin' to ask how Rosie's been?"
Sam shifted uncomfortably and scratched his head, "Uhh, how has Rosie been?" He asked awkwardly and Tom laughed.
"Oh, Sam, you crack me up," Tom chuckled and he nodded, "Yes, Rosie is all right for now." He paused and then asked bluntly, "Will you be marrying her soon?"
Sam was taken aback, "What?? Propose to Rosie?" Then he set his hands in his pockets and mumbled, "Well, yes, I w-would like to, but not now. Why? Has she said anythin'?"
Tom laughed, "I am just curious for my sister's sake. Why not now?"
"I have my reasons, Tom, and marriage is something I have seldom thought of."
"Oh, Sam, you can't fool me. I know you think of it. What are your reasons?"
Tom knew Sam better than he thought he did, "Uh, well, first off, she hasn't reached her respectable age yet for any marriage, I would say."
"Sam, her birthday is in five days and you know that. Besides, age doesn't matter much in my family."
"Aye, but it does in mine. And secondly, I can't go off biting more than I can chew. If I do propose, then what? I have no house for her, land, and not even enough money to pay for a birthday present. I wouldn't even have a ring." Sam confessed and Tom tilted his head.
"Samwise, you know better than I do that Rosie could care less for things like that. If she did, then she would be off with that Nolfarm Burrowes, and that's the truth."
"Aye, but she deserves a home and I can't give it to her."
"Alright, then, let's pretend you did have all this stuff. Would you propose?"
Sam paused, "No, I do not think I would."
Tom halted Cobfoot and stared at Sam crossly and Sam almost shrunk like a scared puppy, "For the love of the Shire, Sam! My sister can't be waiting out her whole life just for you to ask her to marry her, and neither can you!"
"Tom, I just don't know. I haven't seen her of late and I feel like I'm not good enough for your...wonderful sister! Marrying Rosie would be...would be the best thing that would ever happen to me but it takes two people to marry and I feel like she might not want me for a husband! But I would so dearly want Rosie for my wife!" Sam declared and he almost burst into tears.
Tom pat his shoulder and snapped the reins for Cobfoot to continue. Tom knew Sam had had an interest in Rosie for over two decades now and he could imagine how Sam felt thinking Rosie hadn't any interest in all for him, even though that was completely untrue.
"I don't know why you can't see how Rosie feels but you have her heart, there's no doubt. The only reason she hasn't been over by your gardens or working at night is because of the hour of night she came home from seein' you." Tom said solemnly and explained everything.
Sam looked at his feet while Tom spoke and wiped his eyes. "Sam, you are all Rosie ever talks about. She goes to sleep to your music box and she still has flowers you gave her, even thought they are passed dead. She's in love with you and there is no one else. You two are both the same in the fact that you keep your feelings inside, and I don't understand. I really don't. Tell her you love her, Sam."
He closed his eyes and swallowed hard. The confidence in telling Rosie he loved her was rising and the bridge over the Water was coming up fast. Sam knew that when Tom headed home, Sam would follow and find Rosie to try to tell her everything.
And for the first time in a long while, Sam was very scared. He wasn't sure if could give the support Rosie needed for a soulmate, a husband, more or less handle the big steps into a commitment. However, the more he though of it, the more the idea of being Rosie's partner for life made his heart flutter and deep down he knew there were only a few things that would make him happy in his life: a garden, Rosie, and children. And at that he blushed.
The slopes of the hills rolled on until the horizon and a fast shadow was sprinting up the hill. Sam leaned over the side of the cart and blocked the glare of the setting sun out of his eyes.
"Nibs? Tom, is that your brother?" Sam asked and Tom stopped Cobfoot with concern in his eyes.
Nibs dropped his basket of apples and ran up to them out of breath, "Tom...Sam...I can't find her!" He gasped and tears threatened to fall from his eyes.
"Nibs, what do you mean?" Tom asked in a panic and Nibs bent over breathing heavily.
"Rosie. It was over an hour and a half ago that she told me she would be back from picking apples and now she's gone. I cannot find her---I'm so sorry!"
Tom and Sam jumped out from the cart and Tom grabbed Nibs's shoulders, "Where did she say she would go, Nibs? Where were you last when she left? Down by the green apple orchard?"
Nibs looked shamefully down and started to cry. Tom knew they couldn't waste time, for the day was ending. "Nibs, answer me! You must remember!"
Nibs fell on his knees and covered his eyes, "I do not know!! I cannot see the colors of the apples! I cannot see them!" He wailed and Tom told him to take Cobfoot back down home to tell his parents. Nibs rode away and Sam was already at a sprint down the hill towards the orchard. The strip of trees went on for nearly a mile and the sun was falling fast towards the horizon.
For a quarter of an hour, Sam searched while Tom went the opposite direction. In the thick of the trees, the shadows grew taller and darker and still he had not seen one sign of her. The sky was in a pink glow and Sam started to panic. Who knew what crept in the forest at night in these times. The wolves and demons that were told in stories lingered in Sam's mind and he tried to run faster. The breath grew short and he stopped every other minute.
Finally, he looked back. Perhaps Tom had found her and she was ok, or nothing was wrong and she was still picking apples. He walked looking upward into the trees incase she had fallen asleep in one, when his foot became stuck and he fell over.
He yelped and turned on his back and found his foot stuck in a basket. Suddenly, he turned back around on his stomach and crawled over to the body next to him.
Rosie was on her back with the apples from her basket strewn by the base of the tree she fell from. Her cheeks were a deep red and he checked her pulse. It was beating slowly and he brushed her wet curls off her face. He hadn't seen her in weeks and he never expected he would be seeing her like this.
"Rosie, Rosie, wake up now! Sam's here, wake up," He murmured by her face and he noticed her wrist behind her back. He brought it up gently and realized that she had twisted it. He put his hand on her forehead and she was burning.
He wiped her face and neck dry and her eyelashes fluttered. "Rosie! Rosie, please open your eyes. Sam is here, I am here," He repeated and she groaned. Her eyes did not open and Sam lifted her up.
He carried her out of the deep woods and out on the pasture. There was no sign of Tom or any sound of Cobfoot coming back over the bridge. The Water was too far away for him to carry her to but if he had to, he would.
She murmured nonsense in her feverish sleep and he held her in his lap. This was too much of a shock. His whole future he had been thinking about with Rosie in it seemed to have shattered. She cannot be dying, don't think that! He told himself stubbornly and he looked down to the only lass he knew he would ever adore.
"Oh Rosie, if you were only awake and well, I would be telling you how I love you," He whispered and he started to weep as he held her up to his chest. He wished that she would be all right and that someone would come.
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Chapter 13: The Apple Orchard
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Farmer Cotton sat in his chair by the fire with his book and Mrs. Cotton sat by his side on the couch knitting. The creak of the door was heard and Mr. Cotton turned to the hall. Rosie came through from outside and let her hair down.
"Hello, darling. Nice day at work?" Farmer Cotton asked.
"Yes, Papa," She said blankly and she walked to the kitchen for a snack before supper.
Mrs. Cotton looped her yarn and Farmer Cotton picked his book back up. It wasn't until she heard Rosie walked up the stairs when Lily set her things on her lap.
"Tolman, she's miserable. Let her have her privileges back; she has been responsible long enough and I trust her when she says she won't do it again," Lily said and Mr. Cotton shook her head.
"Aye, I know she has said that and she might try to promise herself not to stay out late, but right when she will see Sam again, her restraints will slip," He said and Lily sighed.
"How do you know, Tom? She's nearly coming-of-age, she's a good lass---"
"How do I know? I was their age once, Lily, and so were you. Rosie's coming- of-age is what I'm worried about. They are not just friends, Rosie and Sam. Who knows when she'll leave the house..."
Lily put her yarn down and came up to Tolman, "Is that what you're worried about? Rosie being off and married? If Rosie is going to be married to Sam, we shan't be fretting about her. You and I were married at Nick's age and we worked things out. Tolman, please, she's not young anymore," Lily said softly and he held her hand as he thought hard.
"All right, one more week if she keeps to her work. I hate punishing her too, Lily-dear, but it'll teach her," Farmer Cotton said and he kissed his wife.
~·· ··÷¦÷·· ··~
It had been over two weeks since Rosie had seen Sam. She would go straight to work at the Dragon in the morning and then dolefully make her way home for the rest of the night. Sam figured that maybe she had taken time off work because every other night he went, she was not there. He started to worry after the first week when she hadn't come back or visited him but he waited.
It wasn't until one night at the Dragon that he asked Myawl the barmaid when she returned with his drink, "Pardon me, but has Rosie Cotton fallen ill or gone on holiday? I never see her in here anymore."
Myawl shook her head and wiped the table, "No, she's quite alright. Her work schedule is in the afternoons now." She explained and left to another table.
Sam sat quietly with his beer and thought. That explained Rosie not being at the bar at night, but why hadn't she stopped by Bag End or Bagshot Row at all? He supposed that she might be busy and that he could visit her but his stomach flipped. Perhaps she was avoiding him on purpose---was it because they might be spending too much time together? People told Sam often that he tends to worry too much but Sam wasn't sure now if he really was exaggerating the point. He took a few more drinks of his ale and sat thoughtfully.
~·· ··÷¦÷·· ··~
It was late September and Sam spent his time over at Bag End for Mr. Frodo's 49th birthday (and Bilbo's 127th). This year's harvest was rich and long and even by the time of the last week of September it felt like mid- summer.
Rosie wished to see Sam more that anything and Farmer Cotton hadn't told her yet that he would let her off her punishment in three days. In the meantime, Rosie helped with the kitchen with her Ma and spent time with her brothers. One warm afternoon, both Rosie and Nibs went to the shed for their baskets and headed down the trail over the Water. Beyond Bywater there was a strip of apple trees.
They talked and giggled as they picked the apples. Rosie told him who came into the bar and jokes that older hobbits would tell her and Nibs laughed as she retold him. Nibs told her about who visited them while she worked and a funny incident with Nick and Cobfoot in the stable.
During their picking, Nibs took a bite of an apple on a tree branch, "If I was ever stuck on a mountain top with no way off, I would wish myself an endless bushel of apples for I would never get tired of them. They're almost sweet like honey or syrup---or a kiss."
Then he snickered, "Tom and Marigold would know if kisses tasted like apples! Do they Rosie?"
"Do they what?" Rosie asked offhandedly.
"Do kisses taste like apples?" Nibs said obviously and Rosie whipped around.
"What are you referring?"
"Well, surely I needn't to be answering that question for you."
Rosie placed her hands on her hips, "Nay, I'm pretty sure I do need an answer, dear brother of mine!" She stated sarcastically.
"Well, I figured as much that you would know because of Sam Gamgee---"
"Nibs!" Rosie yelped appalled at his brusqueness and Nibs shrugged.
"What? Isn't it the truth?"
"By all means, no!"
"Sister, do not riddle me with false replies." Nibs said matter-of-factly and Rosie turned pink.
"Honest to my own soul, I am not."
Nibs climbed down with a straight face, "Sam has not once kissed you on the ...well, lips?"
Rosie turned a deep shade of red, "No."
"Oh...," He murmured silently and then he stated candidly, "Well, I don't know what he is waiting for."
Rosie stayed quiet and giggled, "Neither do I and I do wish he would hurry up!" She said and Nibs rolled his eyes playfully at her girlyness. They walked on and personally, Rosie knew that she could trust telling her littlest brother anything.
Their baskets were almost full with the crisp yellow and green apples. Nibs only went for the best apples on the tops on the trees and climbed up very skillfully to get them. Rosie spotted the patch of red apples down the hill and called up to Nibs in the tree. "Nibs! I'm going to go get some more apples down the hill before winter comes and freezes them to the core. I'll meet you back up here in half an hour, all right?"
Nibs bundled a handful of apples in his shirt on the thick branch, "Aye, see you later!"
Rosie picked up her heavy basket and walked for a long time down into the bottom of the field. The red apples shined on the tops of the trees and she started to plan the candy apples she would make with them.
~·· ··÷¦÷·· ··~
Tom hitched up Cobfoot after filling the cart with wood, nails, yeast, and cooking oil and started home. His thoughts were of supper and sleep and Marigold. The bridge over the Water was over half a mile away and Cobfoot trotted slowly. He took notice of a hobbit walking ahead of him with a sack of potatoes and he stopped the cart.
"Samwise! How 'bout a ride?" Tom called out and Sam turned around and smiled. He loaded his potatoes in the back and sat up next to Tom who started Cobfoot up again.
"Just into town for some potatoes; my Gaffer was running low on 'em. Stocking up for winter?" Sam asked and Tom shrugged.
"Only a little for now. I'm guessing from our last snowstorm that we should take some precautions, but who knows. It seems to be warm enough today, isn't it?" Tom said and Sam nodded. Sweat ran down his neck and he wiped his brow while they rode on silently.
Finally, Tom sighed, "Well, aren't you goin' to ask how Rosie's been?"
Sam shifted uncomfortably and scratched his head, "Uhh, how has Rosie been?" He asked awkwardly and Tom laughed.
"Oh, Sam, you crack me up," Tom chuckled and he nodded, "Yes, Rosie is all right for now." He paused and then asked bluntly, "Will you be marrying her soon?"
Sam was taken aback, "What?? Propose to Rosie?" Then he set his hands in his pockets and mumbled, "Well, yes, I w-would like to, but not now. Why? Has she said anythin'?"
Tom laughed, "I am just curious for my sister's sake. Why not now?"
"I have my reasons, Tom, and marriage is something I have seldom thought of."
"Oh, Sam, you can't fool me. I know you think of it. What are your reasons?"
Tom knew Sam better than he thought he did, "Uh, well, first off, she hasn't reached her respectable age yet for any marriage, I would say."
"Sam, her birthday is in five days and you know that. Besides, age doesn't matter much in my family."
"Aye, but it does in mine. And secondly, I can't go off biting more than I can chew. If I do propose, then what? I have no house for her, land, and not even enough money to pay for a birthday present. I wouldn't even have a ring." Sam confessed and Tom tilted his head.
"Samwise, you know better than I do that Rosie could care less for things like that. If she did, then she would be off with that Nolfarm Burrowes, and that's the truth."
"Aye, but she deserves a home and I can't give it to her."
"Alright, then, let's pretend you did have all this stuff. Would you propose?"
Sam paused, "No, I do not think I would."
Tom halted Cobfoot and stared at Sam crossly and Sam almost shrunk like a scared puppy, "For the love of the Shire, Sam! My sister can't be waiting out her whole life just for you to ask her to marry her, and neither can you!"
"Tom, I just don't know. I haven't seen her of late and I feel like I'm not good enough for your...wonderful sister! Marrying Rosie would be...would be the best thing that would ever happen to me but it takes two people to marry and I feel like she might not want me for a husband! But I would so dearly want Rosie for my wife!" Sam declared and he almost burst into tears.
Tom pat his shoulder and snapped the reins for Cobfoot to continue. Tom knew Sam had had an interest in Rosie for over two decades now and he could imagine how Sam felt thinking Rosie hadn't any interest in all for him, even though that was completely untrue.
"I don't know why you can't see how Rosie feels but you have her heart, there's no doubt. The only reason she hasn't been over by your gardens or working at night is because of the hour of night she came home from seein' you." Tom said solemnly and explained everything.
Sam looked at his feet while Tom spoke and wiped his eyes. "Sam, you are all Rosie ever talks about. She goes to sleep to your music box and she still has flowers you gave her, even thought they are passed dead. She's in love with you and there is no one else. You two are both the same in the fact that you keep your feelings inside, and I don't understand. I really don't. Tell her you love her, Sam."
He closed his eyes and swallowed hard. The confidence in telling Rosie he loved her was rising and the bridge over the Water was coming up fast. Sam knew that when Tom headed home, Sam would follow and find Rosie to try to tell her everything.
And for the first time in a long while, Sam was very scared. He wasn't sure if could give the support Rosie needed for a soulmate, a husband, more or less handle the big steps into a commitment. However, the more he though of it, the more the idea of being Rosie's partner for life made his heart flutter and deep down he knew there were only a few things that would make him happy in his life: a garden, Rosie, and children. And at that he blushed.
The slopes of the hills rolled on until the horizon and a fast shadow was sprinting up the hill. Sam leaned over the side of the cart and blocked the glare of the setting sun out of his eyes.
"Nibs? Tom, is that your brother?" Sam asked and Tom stopped Cobfoot with concern in his eyes.
Nibs dropped his basket of apples and ran up to them out of breath, "Tom...Sam...I can't find her!" He gasped and tears threatened to fall from his eyes.
"Nibs, what do you mean?" Tom asked in a panic and Nibs bent over breathing heavily.
"Rosie. It was over an hour and a half ago that she told me she would be back from picking apples and now she's gone. I cannot find her---I'm so sorry!"
Tom and Sam jumped out from the cart and Tom grabbed Nibs's shoulders, "Where did she say she would go, Nibs? Where were you last when she left? Down by the green apple orchard?"
Nibs looked shamefully down and started to cry. Tom knew they couldn't waste time, for the day was ending. "Nibs, answer me! You must remember!"
Nibs fell on his knees and covered his eyes, "I do not know!! I cannot see the colors of the apples! I cannot see them!" He wailed and Tom told him to take Cobfoot back down home to tell his parents. Nibs rode away and Sam was already at a sprint down the hill towards the orchard. The strip of trees went on for nearly a mile and the sun was falling fast towards the horizon.
For a quarter of an hour, Sam searched while Tom went the opposite direction. In the thick of the trees, the shadows grew taller and darker and still he had not seen one sign of her. The sky was in a pink glow and Sam started to panic. Who knew what crept in the forest at night in these times. The wolves and demons that were told in stories lingered in Sam's mind and he tried to run faster. The breath grew short and he stopped every other minute.
Finally, he looked back. Perhaps Tom had found her and she was ok, or nothing was wrong and she was still picking apples. He walked looking upward into the trees incase she had fallen asleep in one, when his foot became stuck and he fell over.
He yelped and turned on his back and found his foot stuck in a basket. Suddenly, he turned back around on his stomach and crawled over to the body next to him.
Rosie was on her back with the apples from her basket strewn by the base of the tree she fell from. Her cheeks were a deep red and he checked her pulse. It was beating slowly and he brushed her wet curls off her face. He hadn't seen her in weeks and he never expected he would be seeing her like this.
"Rosie, Rosie, wake up now! Sam's here, wake up," He murmured by her face and he noticed her wrist behind her back. He brought it up gently and realized that she had twisted it. He put his hand on her forehead and she was burning.
He wiped her face and neck dry and her eyelashes fluttered. "Rosie! Rosie, please open your eyes. Sam is here, I am here," He repeated and she groaned. Her eyes did not open and Sam lifted her up.
He carried her out of the deep woods and out on the pasture. There was no sign of Tom or any sound of Cobfoot coming back over the bridge. The Water was too far away for him to carry her to but if he had to, he would.
She murmured nonsense in her feverish sleep and he held her in his lap. This was too much of a shock. His whole future he had been thinking about with Rosie in it seemed to have shattered. She cannot be dying, don't think that! He told himself stubbornly and he looked down to the only lass he knew he would ever adore.
"Oh Rosie, if you were only awake and well, I would be telling you how I love you," He whispered and he started to weep as he held her up to his chest. He wished that she would be all right and that someone would come.
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