Gilbert stayed unconscious for the next few days. Uncle Jim said this was best because his body probably wouldn't be able to stand the pain. When he did wake up, Sara wasn't permitted to see him. Aunt Catherine was the one who fixed his supper and changed his bandages. She tried as hard as she could to scoop up his tray and take it to him, but Aunt Catherine was always faster.

"If you want to help, you can take supper to the other man," she was told one day.

Sara pursed her lips and looked at the tray. She wanted to help, but Gilbert was number one on her list. Maybe if she at least got close enough to his door, perhaps she cold duck her head in for a moment to see if he was awake.

"I can take care of it," she said, picking up the tray with both hands and walking carefully up the stairs.

She steadied herself as she climbed the stairs, being careful not to slosh the soup out of the bowl. When she was finally at the top of the stairs she looked at Gilbert's door, but proceeded to John's room, in which the other man slept.

"Hello?" she said as she entered the room.

The man in the bed was younger than Captain Gilbert and wasn't as muscular. He had blond hair and a pointy nose. She set his tray down on the dresser and turned to see if he was awake. His eyes were open and they were blue like Gilbert's, except his were not as deep a blue.

"Hello there," he said to Sara.

Sara tried not to blush, but she felt her cheeks grow hot despite her efforts. "Hello," she replied.

The man sat up and extended his hand. "I'm Hank. Hank Peddigrew. Can I ask you your name?"

"I'm Sara Sidle," she said.

"I see you brought me supper, Sara Sidle. I feel honored to have my supper brought to me by such a lovely young lady," he said.

"Thank you," she said. "sorry to rush out, but I have to check on my friend."

"And who is that?" Hank asked.

"Captain Gilbert," she said.

Hank made a face. "Isn't he a little old for someone like you," he remarked.

Sara wrinkled her forehead. "Well, he is very smart. I plan to go to a university and better myself like he did," she said.

Hank scoffed. "You're one of those women, huh?" he said.

Sara cocked her head to the side a bit. "How do you mean?" she asked.

"I mean you think men and women should be equal when it comes to education. You know women are not allowed to be educated, right?" he said.

Sara pursed her lips. "I think women can know things a man does. I really don't see a difference in a stature," she said.

Hank nodded. "I see," he said.

Sara turned back towards the door. "Now if you'll excuse me," she said as she left.

Once outside the bedroom door Sara huffed out a breath. This Hank wasn't the first man to tell her what he thought about educated women. She had trouble courting men because of her willingness to learn. Most women nowadays were content just being wives and mothers, but Sara wanted more. She wanted to peer into the minds of wise men and see what they saw. She wanted to die knowing she experienced everything.

"I will be educated," she told herself.

She turned toward her bedroom door and slowly put her hand on the knob. Captain Gilbert was a man who valued education and he supported her beliefs. Slowly she opened the door and stuck her head in.

"Are you awake?" she whispered.

At first she didn't hear anything. Gilbert looked to be asleep at first glance, but he slowly turned his head and Sara saw that he was awake. He smiled at her and Sara felt her heart jump into her throat.

"I wondered when I would see you," he said weakly.

Sara slipped inside and shut the door behind her. "You've been very sick," she said.

Gilbert chuckled, but then grew serious. "I hear Hank is in the room next to me," he said. Sara nodded and Gilbert continued. "I think it's best you don't speak to him."

At first Sara was annoyed. She wasn't the one to be told who she will or will not be friends with. But Gilbert's expression was genuine and Sara knew he was trying to do what was best.

"He really doesn't think women should have an education," she said.

"He's not really open to things like that. He is also married and I have seen things I don't want you to hear. Promise me you won't go near him," he said.

Sara blinked. "I won't, Gilbert," she said.

"Promise?" he asked.

Sara sighed. "I promise," she said.

Sara felt her cheeks grow hot. Gilbert was treating her like she was a child. She wasn't a child and she didn't want to be treated like one.

"I understand, Gilbert. Thank you," she said rudely.

"I don't mean to ridicule you, Sara. You're my friend and he isn't. He isn't a good character," he said.

Sara nodded. "I'm needed back downstairs," she said turning back to the door.

"Sara. I've been meaning to ask you something," Gilbert said.

Sara didn't wait to hear what Gilbert had to say. She was already out the door and heading back down the stairs.

~~O~~

The weeks passed slowly. Sara spoke with Gilbert a few more times, but the conversations weren't interesting. She stayed true to her word and avoided Hank Peddigrew. Both men were now well enough that they moved out to the barn to sleep. Gilbert was a helpful man and would always woke up with the chickens to help Uncle Jim with the feeding and whatnot. More often than not, Sara would take dinner out to both men. Sara tried not to feel Gilbert's stare as Hank talked with her.

"So, Miss Sara, how are you today?" he would ask.

Sara would always say she was fine and then head back into the house. Uncle Jim didn't appear to like Hank very much either, though he wouldn't say why.

"I just have feeling," he answered when Sara had asked.

Sara wished she knew what that feeling was, but unfortunately she found out for herself one morning. The day started out just as normal as ever, Sara had an apron full of feed for the chickens and had gone out to the barn to spread it around.

"Here chick chick chick," she said as she tossed handfuls of feed out to the hungry chickens.

The chickens came from all over the property. Pecking at the ground and clucking. The angry rooster, whom she called Othello, pushed the hens out of the way to peck at the seed. When her apron was empty she wiped her hands and went looking for the eggs. It was when she was on her hands and knees, looking under the back porch, that Hank came up behind her.

"What are you doing in there?" he asked.

Sara jumped at the sound of his voice. "You startled me," she said. "I'm looking for the eggs. The hens nest under here."

"Why won't they lay in their hen house?" he asked.

Sara shrugged. "They just decide not to," she replied.

"I think I saw some eggs in the barn the other day," he said.

Sara was skeptical. "They've never laid in the barn before," she said.

Hank put his hand on her shoulder. "They're there. I'll show you," he said.

Sara remembered her promise to Gilbert and she was going to keep it no matter how rude it made her appear. She backed away from Hank and wrinkled her forehead.

"If they are there I haven't seen them. I will tell my Uncle and he will look," she said as she turned.

Sara stood, with her apron full of the eggs that she had already found, and headed towards the front of the house. Before she knew what was happening Hank had grabbed her firmly by the arm and spun her around to face him.

"When I talk to you, you look at me!" he whispered harshly.

Sara pulled her arm back. During the scuffle she had left go of her apron and the eggs tumbled out and broke. She slid in slippery egg yolk and tried to get away.

"Help! Uncle-" she started

Hank slapped a powerful hand over her mouth and dragged her back towards the back of the house. Sara couldn't believe this was happening to her. One moment she was collecting eggs and the next she was being attacked! He pressed her roughly against the side of the house and Sara heard him unbuckling his pants.

"I can't believe this is about to happen to me," she thought.

Sara bit down on Hanks hand and she heard him swear. He let her go for a moment, but only to slap his hand across her face. Her cheek stunk and hot tears ran down her cheeks. Before she could speak he was pressing her into the wall again, his hand was pressed so tightly to her mouth that it hurt her.

"I'll show you," he hissed into her ear.

Sara closed her eyes and waited. She knew the pain was going to come and there was no way she could stop it. Suddenly she wasn't pressed into the wall anymore and she knew her Uncle Jim had come to save her. The two men fought, but Sara couldn't see it very well. Uncle Jim dragged the man out from behind the house and out towards the hen house.

"Sara, what happened?!" Aunt Catherine asked, running up to her with her hand to her chest.

Sara couldn't speak, but her appearance spoke volumes. Her hair had come loose from it's braid and her nose was bleeding. She put her apron over her nose and watched as the two men fought.

"I'll run him off our property!" Uncle Jim said as he came out the back door.

Sara looked at her Uncle Jim and then back at the two men. She had been so sure that the man who had saved her had been her uncle, but it had been Gilbert.

"Let's go into the house," Aunt Catherine said.

Sara followed her aunt into the house and looked back at the men. Uncle Jim and Gilbert were now chasing after him on foot into the woods. Ever since Sara could remember she had been against violence, but this time she made room in her heart for an exception.