moved by the gesture.
Mrs. Morris helped her into a clean chemise, one of Eliza’s, put her into bed and left quietly. Emma carried in Sarah’s case, patted the girl and went downstairs. The exhausted young woman had only meant to lie down for a little while. Tired as she was, she overslept.
Supper was over when she woke. A plate had been kept warm for her. Hixson jumped to his feet when he saw her coming slowly down the stairs. He put his arm around her and whispered in her ear, “Are you alright?” She squeezed his hand and smiled at him.
His family looked at each other meaningfully. Hixson’s love and concern for Sarah was apparent, and endearing.
Now that she was more herself, introductions were made. The conversation resumed its place: they were talking wedding plans.
“The wedding is a month from today.” Charlton began. “Annie is coming over directly; you’ll get to meet her tonight.”
Hixson was proud of his family. They didn’t overwhelm Sarah with questions although he was sure they had plenty of them. His poppa just smiled, and winked at Hixson every time their eyes met.
Even Eliza, who was apt to bubble over, was patient and quiet. It didn’t seem to be a strained quiet, either. It was more of a considerate, keep-your-voice-down sort of thing. These were special people, Hixson thought.
Emma watched the silent communication between the family and felt her hope rising. She was so pleased to see Sarah join a family as good as this one. They were kind people, understanding and tender with each other. As gentle as they were, these were not soft people. They worked hard, accepted the good with the bad in life, loved deeply and knew how to laugh at themselves. Those were all qualities Emma admired.
Annie arrived, met Sarah and Emma, and tried to contain her excitement. “I know you just got here and maybe it isn’t the time to ask. But maybe it is! Charlton, Sarah, Hixson? What do you think about making it a double wedding?”
She reached out to take Emma’s hands and continued, “That way Emma is here to share the day with her friend and it would all be even more special. You wouldn’t have to arrange anything, the plans are all set. And we’d all be together! What do you think?” Her face was glowing.
Hixson looked at Sarah, she smiled and shrugged. Charlton looked at Hixson and grinned. “I think it’s a great idea. We could remind each other of our anniversaries.”
When everyone had agreed to Annie’s plan, she took Sarah aside. “I have always wanted a sister. Now I’ll have two! I am so pleased we’ll share this day. Thank you, sister.” And she kissed Sarah’s cheek.
The two young couples stayed up talking long after everyone else retired. Annie explained the plans that had been made, like who would perform the ceremony and where the wedding was to be held. They talked about the house that Charlton was building on Annie’s farm. He hoped to have it done by the wedding.
Sarah was beginning to wonder how Hixson felt about leaving this place. He had expressed his intention to stay in Virginia with her. Now she wasn’t sure if that was a good idea. She tried looking at the situation through Hixson’s eyes. It was plain to see he was deeply attached to his family. The countryside was beautiful here: the farms were rich, the cattle fat. It was a good land.
What would I be leaving behind? She wondered. Not as much as he would. The cabin hasn’t felt like mine since that day. It doesn’t feel like home anymore. Emma and Caleb are all I have there. Momma and Grandma’s graves? Would they want me to stay there, just to put flowers in a crock for them every few weeks? She went to bed that night conflicted and restless.
August 23rd, 1865--Dover, Pennsylvania
The Morris family did not treat Sarah and Emma as if they were guests. They treated them like cherished members of the family. It was Sarah’s first experience with being loved and accepted by strangers. Mrs. Morris fretted over Sarah some, worried she would overdo. She was still alarmed over the girl’s health, knowing it was much worse than Sarah let on.
Mrs. Morris and Emma were of similar age, and became fast friends very quickly. Emma was a willing hand, and awed the family with her baking. None had ever tasted pastries as flaky, breads as light, or scones as rich as Emma’s.
Eliza loved Sarah immediately. She had yearned for a sister all her life, now she felt like she was getting her wish. Annie and Sarah were exactly the kind she would have picked, had she a choice. They were both witty, laughing easily and often. They were cheerful and sweet. Eliza couldn’t be happier.
Regardless of the instant affection they felt for Sarah, there was a great unspoken question lurking about. Everyone remembered Hixson’s mention of Sarah’s healing gift. No one wanted to bring it up, but they were all curious about it. They were about to have their curiosity satisfied.
Charlton was hollering from the barn, “Hixson! Hixson, come quick! Help me!!!”
Hixson was coming in the corral door and ran to his brother’s call. Poppa was pinned by one arm under a large toolbox. The wooden box of tools had been sitting on a crate of leather scraps. Poppa moved the tool chest, setting it precariously on a barrel, while he picked out a piece of leather to make some tack repairs. He tossed the leather scrap on his work bench. Just as he returned to put everything back, the plow mule backed up and pushed over the leaning tower. Poppa foolishly tried to catch the falling toolbox and got pinned beneath it.
Charlton found his father, red-faced and swearing, pinned by an ornery mule standing on his hand. “Get that son of a bitch off my hand! Gawd amighty! Hurry up, boy!!” Poppa was trying to kick the mule, but the barrel was in his way.
It was while Charlton dragged the recalcitrant mule off Poppa’s hand, which was no easy task, that he hollered for his brother. It took both of them to lift the toolbox without grinding it into Poppa’s arm any worse than it already was.
The brothers helped Poppa to the house. As soon as they cleared the barn door, Hixson started calling for Sarah.
Sarah saw from the kitchen door what would need to happen. She hurried inside, cleared everything off of the kitchen table and got a pan of water, all before the men made it to the house.
Poppa was gritting his teeth in pain. His arm was broken and badly cut from the sharp corner of the tool box. His hand was crushed where the mule had stood on it.
“Poppa, lay down on the table. We’ll help you.” Hixson instructed.
“Are you sure about this, Hixson?” Momma’s worried expression belied the calm tone of her voice.
“I promise, Momma. You’ll see.”
Sarah was already standing, arms outstretched. Everyone except Hixson and Emma began to back away nervously. Hixson stood behind her and watched, waiting. Emma, as always, was busy getting everything ready.
Sarah placed her hands of light on Poppa’s head. He smiled dreamily for a moment and closed his eyes. Then she and Emma set Poppa’s arm. She washed the cut and stitched it with her own hair, as usual. Then she splinted the arm with splints Charlton provided.
Sarah washed the blood from his crushed hand and bandaged it. Emma came around to stand behind Sarah, and she and Hixson got ready. The ribbon slipped from her hair as she called the light.
The mule had ground a lot of dirt and manure into Poppa’s hand, and there had been splinters in the cut. The danger of infection was great, so Sarah put all of herself into gathering the light.
Poppa’s brown curly hair began to shine as Sarah laid her hands on his arm. Her hair glowed and lifted from her shoulders. To those watching, she seemed to stand there for the longest time. At length she wrenched her hands away and collapsed.
Hixson was ready and caught her. He brought her upstairs and laid her in her bed. He sat with her a few minutes, watching her. Had anyone asked him, he would have told them he was keeping an eye on her. The truth was he just liked looking at her.
It took Charlton, Momma, Eliza and Emma to put Poppa to bed. Hixson heard them struggling up the stairs with him, and left Sarah to help. When Poppa was safely abed, Momma declared a little tea would be
a fine thing, and went to make it. Everyone trickled downstairs.
Emma had expected the usual stunned reaction, since the Morris family had never seen Sarah do this before. Instead, they appeared to be relieved. Charlton was the first to speak. “Well, we didn’t expect Hixson to fall in love with just anybody, did we?”
“You did say she was special, didn’t you?” Momma said to Hixson. “At first I thought maybe you just meant special pretty, but I should have known better. I didn’t raise no fools.”
Eliza had a more sober question. “Is she going to be alright? She’s been sick. I hope that wasn’t too much for her. Was it, Emma?”
Emma smiled at thoughtful young Eliza. “She’ll be fine, honey. It doesn’t hurt her at all. Your Poppa is a good man, so she’ll be fine. She’ll just sleep a while now.”
Hixson didn’t miss the comment about a good person. He didn’t want to talk in front of everyone, so he bided his time, but he sure intended to find out what she meant.
Everyone returned to their chores, and to their own thoughts about what they had witnessed. Momma sat with Poppa while he rested, her hands busy with the mending and her mind working.
Before he went to watch over Sarah, Hixson cornered Emma to find out what she was talking about. He pulled her aside when she went out to throw potato peelings to the chickens. “What did you mean about laying her hands on a good person?