Hell's Aftermath
The air was icy with the chill of death. Larry checked on Peter. He discovered that the man who had raped his daughter was dead. He looked at Todd, shaking his head. Todd realized that his tormentor was gone. Peter Manning would never hurt him again. Peter would never hurt anyoneever again.
"We have to get Marty home," Larry said. "It's dark and the air is frigid."
"Will she be alright?" Todd asked. He gazed lovingly at the woman in his arms. She was a woman now. Marty was no longer a girl.
"Is she going to lose the baby?" Todd questioned. He had witnessed Peter hitting her with his fists. Several of the punches had landed on Marty's lower stomach. How could Marty's unborn child survive his uncle's abuse? It was a fact that Barbara hadn't survived it.
"We have to get her home so I can examine her," Larry said.
"Alright," said Todd as he carried Marty out of the shack. A few minutes later, he placed Marty in Larry's arms and mounted his horse. Larry lifted the precious bundle that was Marty into Todd's embrace. Todd would have to be very careful. He didn't want to jostle Marty and cause her any more pain.
"Let's go," said Larry. He too had mounted his steed. There was an urgency to get back to the warmth and safety of Larry's cottage. Larry needed to tend to Marty's wounds.
When they returned to the cottage, Larry thoroughly examined Marty. After he called Meredith and Todd back into the bedroom, he shook his head. "She's spotting," he said. "She might lose the baby."
Todd and Merrie's faces were shrouded with worry when they heard Larry's words. Before Larry and Todd arrived with Marty, Meredith had just gotten the baby to sleep. She had been heartbroken when she heard about the horrors that Marty had gone through at Peter Manning's hands.
Marty opened her eyes. She looked at her loved ones who were standing at her side. Her face was expressionless.
"I hope I do," she said.
"Marty, you don't mean that," Meredith said. She knelt at Marty's side and took her hand.
"I don't want a baby," Marty stated. "I'm far too young. If I had the baby, then everyone would know the awful things that- that monster did to me."
"No one will know," Todd spoke up. "Because I will marry you. I will help you raise the baby. The baby will be yours - yours and mine and no one will ever question it."
"Why, Todd?" she asked in a broken voice. She couldn't believe that he ask her hand in marriage now... after the terrible things his uncle had done.
"I told you that when we grew up, I would marry you. I love you... and I want to raise the baby together. It's a part of you... and it's a part of me, and I will love it as my own," Todd vowed.
Hearing his words, Marty burst into tears. She sobbed brokenly. Eventually the tears stopped, but Marty was exhausted. She closed her eyes and fell asleep as she was emotionally drained.
She hadn't given an answer to Todd's proposal. All her loved ones could do was watch over her and worry. They feared that Marty would miscarry.
They all took turns caring for Barbara's tiny baby. Someone was always at Marty's side.
It was Merrie's turn to sit with Marty as Larry was rocking the baby. Todd looked on. He watched as Larry soothed his infant cousin. "I will raise that baby, too," Todd declared.
Merrie had just left the bedroom. She approached the fireside where Larry and Todd were having a conversation. When she walked in, she had heard Todd's offer to care for newborn girl. Merrie said, "I was hoping that Larry and I might adopt her. She needs a home... and if Marty has the baby, you'll have your hands full."
Todd nodded. He knew that Larry and Meredith would take better care of Barbara's daughter than he ever could. The baby would have a good home with the doctor and his wife.
"I'm sure my Aunt Barbara would be honored to know that you would adopt her," Todd said.
Larry was pleased to have the chance to adopt the infant. As he was gazing at the baby, Todd asked, "Will Marty be alright?"
"Time will tell," Larry replied.