It had taken almost an hour to calm them all down. They'd fallen on him, crying and talking all at once. They were all gathered in a small bedroom in the back of the tavern. Katie sat on his lap with Israel to his left. Mima sat across from him on the bed, while Rose slept next to her.
"Pa, she ran right out in the open! Why'd she do that? She knows better." Israel said crying. He was frustrated and upset. "I should've gone after her."
"No, you did just right. You took care of the girls and you made it here safely. That's the most important thing." He rested his hand on his son's head. Sighing he said, "Your Ma, she ran to protect you. She knew if they came after her, they couldn't come after you."
"Aunt Becky's dead." It was the first time Katie had spoken since the morning of the attack.
Daniel turned and faced her. "I know your thinking of your Ma and Pa," He told her. "But this is different. Those renegades who attacked your family were only out for killing. This is a war party. They attack and take the women back with them. They have them marry their braves. They don't kill them - especially if the women are pretty. And there's nobody prettier than your aunt." He kissed her.
"But Ma's already married to you." Israel said.
"They don't care about that." Mima said angrily.
Daniel smiled at her sadly and taking her hand in his he said, "Well, I do. As soon as its light, I'm going after her. I won't come back without her." He squeezed Jemima's fingers and put his other arm around Israel's shoulders. "You need to stay here, and wait. I promise it, Katie Grace, I'll come back with her. Now, you all need to get some sleep. Cincinatus says none of you've been sleeping. Staying awake all night and getting sick, won't bring your Ma home." He tucked each of them in, and blew out the candle.
"Pa?" Israel asked as he started to go. "They won't kill her?"
"No, son, I don't think so."
"Will they hurt her?" He asked in a small voice.
Daniel sighed. "Well, son." He hesitated, unsure of how much truth to tell his children. "They might do that. That's why I aim to stop them. Now, none of you fret. I'll get your Ma home soon. You just remember her in your prayers and look after each other."
Mima climbed out of bed and threw her arms around him. "Oh, Pa!" She sobbed into his shoulder.
"Hush, now Mima. God watches us all." He said his voice thick remembering all the times that Becky had exactly that to comfort him. Sighing he said "Get back in bed, darlin'." He kissed her.
"I'm praying for you too, Pa." She said and climbed into bed. "Don't worry, I'll take care of us here. You just go get Ma."
He stepped out of the room and closing the door, he leaned against the doorpost trying to keep his emotions in check. A vision of Rebecca laughing and smiling up at him flashed before his mind, but he pushed it aside. Then, moving quickly, he turned to go find Yad.