Rebecca opened her eyes. Startled that she had allowed herself to fall asleep, she sat up ready to run. A hand reached out grabbing her shoulder. She turned ready to strike.
"Easy, now. Lie back down, hon. Shhh." Daniel's face hovered over her. It took her a moment to realize she was home. She was lying in her own bed.
"How?" She started to speak and found her throat sore and hoarse.
"Lie back, darlin'. Shhh. You are safe." He said pulling the covers back over her. She settled back into the pillows. He sat down next to her on the bed holding on to her hand tightly.
"We brought you home two days ago. You probably don't remember much. You've been very ill. Cincinnatus has been hovering over you like a mother hen. You were starved nearly to death, and beaten pretty badly too."
She pushed through the fog in her brain. She remembered Daniel laying her gently down onto a sledge and covering her with a blanket. She remembered looking up into their worried faces, as they traveled. Mingo and Daniel pulling her along, looking down at her every few seconds and talking to each other in quiet concerned voices.
"The children?" She'd asked.
"They are fine. Remember? You kept asking that, the whole way home. They hid in the reeds just like you told them too. They are all fine. You saved them, Rebecca." He brushed her hair back off her forehead tenderly. "Grace will bring them in the morning, I think."
"I'm sorry, Dan." She said hanging her head.
"Sorry?" His voice was tinged with anger. "What are you sorry for?"
"I didn't do what you said." She looked up into his green eyes. "I couldn't let them marry me off, Dan. I'm your wife. I had to run. I didn't care if they killed me. I couldn't . . I'd rather be dead. I belong to you."
He dropped his head, looking down. He didn't speak or even look up. His shoulders shook, and for a brief moment she feared he was truly angry with her. She squeezed his fingers. "Dan?" She said softly.
He looked up then. His eyes full of tears. She smiled at him and reaching up caressed his cheek. "I'll forgive you this once." He said with a sideways grin. She sat up and wrapped her arms around him. He kissed her and holding her as tightly as he dared, he whispered "Thank God, you're all right. I wouldn't have been able to endure it."
Clearing his throat from the other side of the curtain, Cincinnatus said, "Alright, I'm coming in."
Gently, he laid her back down and wiped the tears from his face. She smiled up at him. He sighed, even now, pale and bruised she was beautiful. Smiling and squeezing her hand he said, "It's alright, Cincinnatus."
"You're awake then." He looked at her carefully. "How do you feel? You probably don't feel a thing yet, but I'm sorry to say soon you are gonna feel just awful." He handed a bowl to Daniel. "You feed her that and make sure she eats every bit. I think by tomorrow she'll be ready for some meat." Looking at Rebecca he said, "You gave us all a good scare. It might be a hard row yet, but I imagine, you'll be back chasing this brood of yours around in a few months. If you do as I say." She smiled and smiling back at her he patted her shoulder.
"I'll behave." She said.
"That'd be a first." Daniel said with a smile. Kissing her hand, he said, "I'll tell you what, darlin', as soon as you finish off every bite of this, I'll go get your children."
She smiled, tears filling her eyes. "Oh, yes, please, Daniel! Go raihb mile maith agat!"
He kissed her again, not caring if Cincinnatus was watching. "Anything you want." He said happily.
***DB***
Even though he'd warned them to be gentle. They rushed in at her. He stood in the doorway smiling. He nearly wept as he saw a smile spread across her bruised and battered face as her children rushed in. Wiping his face with the back of his hand, he laughed as Rose crawled across the bed and into Rebecca's arms. They settled around her. Jemima on one side, Israel on the other. Rose in her arms. Katie-Grace stood next to him in the doorway.
Silent.
She trembled utterly alone; fear and tension poured out from her like waves. He remembered lifting her from the dark earth and carrying her away from the bodies of her mother and father. He and Rebecca had stopped thinking of her as their niece long ago. She was one of their beloved children. He turned to her and lifted her up in his arms.
"Inion, everything is alright now, sweet girl. Look,I brought her home just like I promised." He carried her across the room and set her down on the bed next to Rebecca.
"It's alright Katie-Grace." He said encouragingly . "She's really here."
Katie stared at her aunt for a full minute and then threw her arms around her neck sobbing, "Oh, Mama! Mama!" Becky's eyes filled with tears and ignoring her bruises and ignoring her hurt arm she held her niece tightly "Shh. It's alright, darling. I'm here now."