“I hope they have gotten through this mess unharmed thus far.”
“So do I. Go on. I will watch over him and you get done what you need to so we can be on the road first thing in the morning.”
“I do hate the mornings,” she muttered and almost smiled when he laughed.
Abigail slowly walked back to Mrs. Beaton’s home. She was unsure about traveling to Matthew’s home but knew someone was needed to drive the wagon. If she insisted Dan do it, she could well be forced to say a final farewell to Matthew, and that was something she did not want. If he wanted her gone he would have to be man enough to tell her to go. Nor did she want to deprive Dan of the chance to see his family. Considering what he was riding into, it could be the last meeting for all of them.
There was also a lot she had to get ready. Her chests were almost fully packed as she had kept them as the storage for her things. Unfortunately she had gained a few new things. There was a baby she had to get ready. Then there was the problem of how to carry the goat’s milk so it did not spoil or, even more difficult, the goat itself.
Then she thought of Noah and winced. She had the strong feeling he would want to come with her but she was going to have to make him understand that he could not, that she would have to come back for him. She had no home and she had no husband. It was going to be difficult to make people understand the baby was not hers by blood and the fewer people who believed that, the greater the problems would be in settling somewhere.
She suddenly stopped and looked toward Mrs. Dunmore’s house. There was one thing she could do to ease whatever trouble she would have with Noah. It was close to the time the woman had said she could have the puppy, she thought as she hurried toward the house, and knocked on the door.
“Hello, Miss Abigail,” the woman said as she opened the door. “I was wondering when you would come or if you had changed your mind.”
“No, I still want the puppy. You still have him?”
“Yes, yes, come on in.”
Abbie stepped inside and followed the woman as she walked toward the back of the house. “Is he ready to leave his mother?”
“He is. There is just one thing. He is not going to get very big, I think.”
“That would actually be nice.”
“I hope the boy thinks so.”
“I think he will not care.”
She saw the puppy the moment they stepped into what looked to be the woman’s laundry room. The quick glance around she took told her Mrs. Dunmore did the wash for the soldiers. Then her gaze went back to the puppy she had picked out for Noah. It was still small, a little black and white ball of fur sitting there watching his siblings wrestle.
Mrs. Dunmore picked the puppy up and walked back to Abigail. She held up one of the dog’s paws and said, “See? The paw is small and he is still the smallest of the bunch. So thinking he is going to be small. Not a runt, but smaller than all the others.”
“I think Noah will be very happy with that. Thank you.”
“No, thankyoufor taking him. I was afraid I would have to put him down because no one would want him and I can’t keep him. Have too many damn dogs now.” She frowned as they started back toward the front door. “Are you sure Mrs. Beaton will be fine with you bringing the pup home?”
“Not at all.” Abigail smiled when the woman laughed. “I haven’t asked or told her and I am certain I will be made to pay for that, but it doesn’t matter. For one thing I am leaving soon.”
“Well, sorry to see you go and hope you have a safe journey.”
Abigail thanked her and left the house. The puppy kept licking her face so the rest of her walk home was both slow and crooked. She was laughing when she stepped into the Beaton house only to come face-to-face with Mrs. Beaton. The woman stared at the puppy but not with the horror Abbie had expected. The woman stepped closer and patted the dog’s head, much to Abbie’s surprise.
“If it messes inside the house it will not be the puppy’s face that gets rubbed in it.”
“I understand.”
“One of Mrs. Dunmore’s?”
“Yes, the smallest one.”
“Good choice. My little dog was one of hers too, also one of the smallest ones, but the Rebs shot it when they rode through town.”
“I’m sorry. They killed Noah’s puppy, too. And my cat. Makes no sense.”
“Just meanness.” She frowned faintly. “Noah’s been wondering where you were. Is the lieutenant doing well?”
“I think so. He developed a fever but I think the fever isn’t a dangerous one but we are taking him home tomorrow. And the army is leaving very soon after.”
