Her baby wailed. Wailed like death was coming over her. Lucy wanted to cry too, but she couldn't. Thunder rolled across the sky, filling the forest with ambience, but no rain fell just yet. She'd gotten down to the grill and helped make up some sandwiches before her daughter awoke. Lucy attempted to feed the girl, but she wasn't taking.
"Please…" Lucy begged, finding her tired eyes brimming with tears, "You must eat something…" she held the baby tight to her chest but…nothing. During her moment of desperation, a pair of heavy boots ascended the stairs. She looked towards the door to see Howard entering the room. He was dirty, but seemed to be mostly sober. He held his hat in his big hands, "Mill's shutting down for the storm…" he said.
Lucy nodded, "For the best," she agreed half-heartedly, "Forrest fixed the window pane…" she nodded towards the window closest to her, "We'll be good for this storm and ones to come…"
Howard completed his entrance into the room and awkwardly took a seat on the end of the bed. He took off his boots, then his jacket, setting them aside with his hat. "She's still not taking?" Howard mumbled.
Lucy shook her head, "She barely sleeps…" she explained, kissing their daughter's forehead, "Get your pay from the Mill today?"
Howard shook his head, "Owed it to Forrest," he responded, ashamed of it for the first time. Lucy took a deep breath, "Well are you stayin' here tonight?" she asked. She couldn't have the money conversation…not again…not now…
Howard nodded. He peeled his shirt off. "Gonna go to the pump," he stalked out of the room. Lucy watched from the window as Howard cleaned off the day's work at the water pump just outside. Thunder clapped again and the sky grew darker. Lucy could smell the rain coming by the time he returned.
Lucy was sitting on the bed, cradling their daughter to her chest. The girl seemed to be asleep but Lucy was taking care to make sure it stayed so. Howard sat down next to her on the bed, "Lay her down…"
"I can't…she'll wake…she'll cry…" Lucy stuttered but Howard's giant hands gently intervened and took the delicate creature from her hands and laid her down in the cradle which he set off to rock before he returned to the bed. He didn't say anything else. He laid down under the blankets.
Lucy watched the cradle, and waited for the crying to start. But when nothing sounded, she climbed into bed as well. Though it was a miraculous moment, Lucy found she was worried for her child, who was no longer at her bosom.
But Howard shifted, and then his head was on her chest, listening to the sound of her breathing. Lucy kissed the top of his wet hair.
"I'm going to turn things around," he promised, "We got this new thing going…its going to be different…"
Lucy just nodded. "One day, baby…" her fingers twisted through his hair. She looked out the window next to their bed. The night began to come on as the rain began to pour down across Franklin County. The last thing Lucy remember seeing before she was lost to the great pull of sleep was Forrest, trudging up through the mud- the last to leave the mill.