Let Me Call You Sweetheart Chapter 5, Page 48

Nathan and Bill got on their horses and headed up to the Canfield cabin. Joseph came out and greeted them. He told them that he hasn't actually seen anyone at the other cabin near him, just the smoke. Cooper told his dad about the cat, Scratch, and that he thought he heard someone calling for the cat.

"No movement at all?" Nathan double-checked. "No horse, no wagon, no automobile?"

"No Nathan, nothing. Like I said I don't know if anyone even lives there, it's just odd that there's smoke coming out of the fireplace. I wouldn't have noticed if it wasn't for the smoke. They could've been there all summer, who knows?"

"All right then," Bill thanked Joseph.

"Let's take a ride there." Nathan steered Newton towards the cabin. As they got closer, they saw some chopped wood, obviously for the fire. There was a clothesline on the other side, but no clothes were hung on it. There was also a water pail under the hand pump outside and an outhouse. Bill spotted the cat that Cooper must've seen. They both approached quietly and got off their horses, tied them to a tree and slowly walked to the door. As they got closer, they heard a voice inside. Listening they weren't sure what they heard, but also smelled something cooking. Nathan motioned to Bill to stay back by a tree watching with his gun ready, if need be, and he would approach the door.

When he got to the door, he firmly knocked. The voice inside was quiet. No one came to the door. He knocked again and announced, "Constable Grant here. Is anyone there?"

Nothing. Then he heard a soft cry. "Shh." was all he heard.

Nathan reached for his gun and knocked one more time. Bill cocked his rifle.

"Constable Grant. I'm coming in." he announced as he broke into the door.

"Please, don't shoot." A young lady, about 18 was sitting on the bed cradling her crying baby tightly against her chest.

Nathan put his gun away. "It's all right miss. See, I put my gun away. I don't want to scare you. I'm just checking on who is living here. Are you all right?"

Bill came walking in. "Young lady, why didn't you answer the door?" he asked.

She meekly and quietly answered that she was in hiding. She was scared, and her baby sensed it too. Nathan looked around the cabin and the sparse furniture and belongings. There was an old stove with grits in a pot, table and 2 chairs, a bed, few dishes, and pots and pans that the hunters had used, and a makeshift bed for the baby with a dresser drawer. It was warm, but drafty in the cabin. Curtains were closed, so barely any light came in.

"May I ask what your name is and where are you from?" Nathan inquired.

"My name is Christy. I'm from these parts." she said. "This here is my daughter Timi Anne." as the corners of her mouth slowly curved in a smile looking sweetly at her baby.

"Are you out here alone?" Nathan asked.

"Yes."

"Where is your family?" Bill asked.

Christy looked away and murmured, "I don't have a family anymore."

"What do you mean, anymore?" Nathan wanted to get to the bottom of why this girl was out here alone with her baby.

Tears began to fill her eyes, "They told me to leave when they saw I was pregnant."

"How did you find this place?" Bill asked.

"A friend hunted out this way and I knew it was here."

"Where is the father of Timi"? Nathan was slowly getting her to talk.

"He's gone." was all she said.

"All right, let us help you. This is no place to live by yourself out in the woods. I don't know how you have any food, but first we need to get you and your baby checked out." Nathan said.

Bill suggested he'd ride back into town and get Dr. Faith out here right away.

"Yes, good idea. I'll stay with Christy until you get back. Stop by and tell Joseph to come over here please."

It didn't take long, and Joseph arrived with food, blankets, and a few candles.

Joseph talked with Christy and asked her if he could learn more about her story.

She quickly gobbled up the warm soup Minnie had made and little by little rocked her baby to sleep while sharing her story.

Soon Dr. Faith arrived. As little Timi laid in the dresser drawer sleeping, Faith asked the men to step outside while she examined Christy. "Oh honey, you have a little infection going on here. I can give you some medicine, but you need a good bath and so does your little baby girl. I know the water pump is all you have, but you do need a hot bath. It'll help. Did you have the baby out here by yourself?"

"Yes, my family told me to go. My one older sister knows I'm here but that's all. She came shortly after Timi was born, so she cut her cord and helped me clean up. She's been here whenever she can, bringing me food and chopping me wood. I don't know what I'd do without her." Christy repeated what she just told Pastor Joseph.

The men came in and she suggested that they bring Christy and her baby into town to the infirmary so she could have her bath and get medicine. "I'll ask Fiona if Christy can stay with her for the time being. I'm sure being the mayor, and since she has no one living with her now, this might work out."

"If not, she can stay at Billee's" Bill offered.

"Is this all right with you"? Nathan asked Christy.

Christy's eyes swam with tears. "Thank you, thank you!" she answered as tears flowed down her cheeks.