Back To Our Beginning

by C. L. Scholey

  Tansy had been diligently making slippers and scarves for many in the cave and was suddenly aware why Shanie had told her she should wait and give them all out at the same time. She had argued at the time her mother wouldn’t want anyone thinking she was playing favorites by finishing theirs first. Tansy chuckled, now understanding Shanie’s real reason. Shanie had known her mother would have wanted to give her own gifts and would have felt embarrassed if she had nothing to put under their tree to share.

  Morning brought squeals of delight as the youngsters, and those not so young, dragged everyone excitedly from their sleeping furs. Their tree had a multitude of treasures beneath. The games remained unwrapped so the children would understand they belonged to everyone. A few personal gifts were wrapped in hide, or clean unused cloth, or placed within a few of Emmy’s coveted baskets.

  No one was left out, including their new additions. The men had found many wonderful items that weren’t necessary to their survival but welcome and wanted nonetheless. The men laughed when it became apparent they had all hidden items away for each other without them knowing. Aidan had crafted many new arrowheads and tools for them all. Ethan rescued a slew of wonderful books he thought would be of interest to the others, including Tom Sawyer for Clint and children’s books for the youngsters. Cord found three well-made large hunting knives he gave out to the other men, and Clint had worked hard on new waterproof tinder kits with coveted waterproof matches he’d come across.

  They cooked a large goose over their fires that Cord procured some time ago, keeping it in their cave freezer, demanding Tansy wait to cook it. At the time, she wondered why but now understood he wanted it to be saved for Christmas dinner. Tansy was moved to tears when she unwrapped two large cans of cranberry sauce Cord and Clint had come across and hidden away.

  They feasted and laughed well into the night, telling stories of long ago Christmases, snug and safe while another storm raged around them from outside. The children slept where they succumbed to exhaustion, over toys and treats, huddled together as one, a full happy and content Lucky included, wearing new leather moccasins on his four paws that would protect him from the tiny cold sharp stones and ice in the lower part of the mine that sometimes cut his sensitive pads.

  They all deemed it one of the most wonderful Christmases they’d ever had. Not one dime had been spent, not one store visited and yet the joy on everyone’s face proved priceless.

  Chapter 22

  Winter slid by slowly. They reinforced the panels across the front of the mine. The snow rose too high for them to leave the security of indoors and they used their wood up at an alarming rate. Tansy took mental notes as to what they would need more of next winter. The jelly preserves were gone and Tansy opened up a jar of one of her precious jams. She made sure they all had some type of fruit every day at least once a day. The applesauce was wonderful heated and though she had no sugar at the time for her preserves, the fruit she canned was a welcome treat. Their syrup supply was exhausted and all dreamed of spring when the sap would once again flow.

  They slept a great deal as it was dark in most parts of the mine. They had only fire and a few lamps to light the inside with. Tansy asked Aidan what else he could make that would provide more light, and he went to work on torches to dig into the ground near the stone walls around the raised platform. They dared not pull back their makeshift doors even if for a short time for fear the heat would become less contained. They noticed a decided change in temperature around the small areas where they had tiny openings to let smoke filter out and made a point of keeping their distance.

  They partitioned off the top of the mine, penning the goat closer to their area to aid in containing the warmth and not wanting the goat to freeze. It helped keep the goat’s water from icing over. It also made milking her less tedious. Roaring fires blazed on the lower level often enough when they ventured down to play.

  None of the others had been inclined to section off an area for themselves as Aidan had done. Tansy found comfort in being able to see everyone around her at any given time; she suspected the others felt the same way. She couldn’t begin to imagine battling the loneliness of such an intense winter alone and remained grateful for the presence of each and every one of them. Though at times it seemed crowded, there was a decided sense of security. They were a family.

  The men made sure to keep up with their aim, practicing on the bulls-eye hide. Cord took an interest in Danny’s exuberance and included him on many of his various projects. Cord found a true love in his inventions. After it became apparent the water dripping near their freezer tunnel in the lower part of the mine would continue to fall, spreading over a small area to form a small ice rink, Cord took the initiative to make tiny wooden skates for Michaela. The sanded flat tops were fitted under her tiny feet and two thick pieces of leather were tied over her toes and around the ankles of her thick-soled moccasins, securing the wood from slipping. Two curved ends under the thin pieces of wood were left dull on purpose. He didn’t want the child to fall on the ice.

  Lucky proved to be priceless when entertaining the youngsters. His boundless energy encouraged the children into roughhousing that enabled them to get their fill of exercise and aided with their sleep at night. The patient dog allowed Michaela and Max to ride on him, which became a common sight. The children were encouraged to practice their aim, and Tansy decided to teach the younger ones to print and spell along with teaching them all, children and adults, about the many varieties of edible and medicinal plants. Becky taught first-aid and the children of course learned to count from Stacie.

  * * * *

  “Whatcha cookin’?” Clint asked Stacie. He leaned over a pot and sniffed at its contents then made a comical face.

  “Diapers,” she said and laughed at his expression.

  “You been takin’ cookin’ lessons from Shanie?” Clint asked.

  “Not funny,” Shanie said.

  “Well hell, I was serious,” Clint said defensively then winked at Stacie.

  Clint picked up Bart who cooed and babbled at him. “He’s a fine lookin’ boy,” Clint said and tickled the baby under his pudgy chin. He was delighted with the grin the baby rewarded him in return.

  “Thank you.”

  “He looks like you,” Clint said, studying the boy’s facial features.

  “Yeah, and he babbles like you,” Shanie said.

  “Now don’t be like that, sweetheart. You know I didn’t mean nothin’ by it.” He tucked the baby into the crook of his arm and placed an arm around Shanie giving her a good squeeze and a fast kiss to her forehead.

  Shanie shrugged him off and strode over to where Danny was helping the kids make a tower out of blocks and sticks while absently scratching Lucky behind the ears.

  “She’s a very beautiful young woman,” Stacie commented, watching the girl go.

  “So are you,” Clint answered and he winked at her when he handed the baby back.

  Clint had seen Cord and Tansy together. He was distraught at first but soon realized he couldn’t control where her heart lay. Tansy’s attitude toward Clint hadn’t changed. She was affectionate and caring until Clint realized she did like him. But that’s all it was. With the arrival of Stacie, Clint had begun to wonder if maybe he clung to Tansy so hopefully because of his loneliness and loss. Clint realized he really did like Tansy, but he wasn’t really in love with her, just the idea of her and her child.

  Cord and Clint had stayed late by the fire one night talking.

  “You mad at me?” Cord asked.

  “No. Well maybe jist a little,” Clint admitted.

  “It just kind of happened.”

  “You in love with her?” Clint asked.

  “Maybe...well hell, that sucks.”

  “Yeah, it sure does.”

  “She’s so damn irritating at times,” Cord said grumbling.

  “That’s true,” Clint agreed.

  “She’s bossy.”

  “Sure is.”

  “Wh
en she gets mad, she hits me or throws things.”

  “Sure does,” Clint said chuckling. He’d been on the receiving end of Tansy’s fury.

  “But she’s the only woman I ever met who’s not afraid of me. The way she stands toe to toe with me and argues, hell you’d think we were married.”

  “Guess so.”

  “You want to hit me again?”

  Clint gazed at him. “No. But can I have visitation rights with Mike?” His affection for the child was very real.

  “Hell yes. But believe it or not, I want her back. Damn she’s a sweet kid, and just like her mother,” Cord said fondly and was quite surprised at his admission. He’d never pictured himself to be a family man; he was surprised at how comfortable he was becoming in the role, especially now that Michaela sought him out on her own, the way she obviously adored his attention.

  They both turned in. After tucking the covers up around Michaela, Cord climbed into bed beside Tansy, and though sleeping she reached for him, snuggling into his warmth, mumbling a soft endearment. Cord wrapped his arms around her and decided he liked irritating women, well at least one irritating woman.

  * * * *

  A terrified scream shattered the silence, waking everyone in the mine. Cord, Clint and Ethan were all on their feet in less than a heartbeat. Aidan emerged from behind his partition dragging Emmy. The scream sounded again. It was coming from the bottom of the mine. Looking around with familiarity at their designated sleeping spaces Tansy determined Rose was missing.

  “It’s Rose.” She lunged toward the back of the mine but found herself snatched up off her bare feet in mid-flight.

  “Stay!” Cord commanded to her, his mind reflecting to the lion, and set her down near the fire, he then leveled the same fierce look on Shanie who looked ready to bolt. He grabbed up his hunting knife as did Aidan, Ethan, Clint and Danny and they took off at a run for the lower part of the mine carrying torches. They returned soon enough with Ethan cradling Rose in his arms. There had been no threat they could determine. Rose whimpered to Ethan she hadn’t wanted to disturb anyone, she was in labor.

  “I think it’s too soon,” Tansy told Becky.

  Ethan laid Rose on a bed. Becky checked between Rose’s legs. “The baby’s already coming I see its head, it’s crowning.”

  “So soon?” Tansy asked.

  Rose lay unconscious, she was bleeding heavily. Tansy had them boil water. They would need it to cool before they could bathe her or the baby. They would also need to steep a tea for pain.

  “I didn’t even have time to wash my hands,” Becky said fretfully, she reached for the infant as he slipped with her assistance from Rose’s torn opening.

  Becky cleaned the mucus and fluid from his nose and mouth. She cut the umbilical cord with a sharp knife they set aside sterilized for this purpose. She tapped the small feet and then puffed into his mouth, with one finger she pumped on his tiny chest. But even Tansy’s untrained eye could see the baby was beyond hope, his tiny face was grayish blue. He was stillborn.

  “I’m sorry, I can’t do anything for him,” Becky said, finally sitting back in defeat, though she realized the baby had been gone for a while and the venture hopeless, she’d had to try.

  They wrapped the infant in the blanket Rose made so painstakingly for her baby and turned their attention to the young girl. Rose was losing a great deal of blood and roused only long enough to help deliver the placenta. She succumbed to the merciful safety of oblivion as Becky stitched her.

  Emmy and Shanie sobbed, holding each other. The men, feeling helpless attended the other children, soothing their fears as best they could as morning ascended. Aidan’s fears rampaged as he looked to the motionless tiny pale young girl and the swaddled dead infant.

  “Emmy is older and stronger, she’ll be fine,” Ethan said, looking at his distraught friend. “We all knew Rose was way too young and abused badly. She was undernourished and beaten in her crucial early months. Emmy wasn’t, you’ve taken fine care of her my friend.” He placed a comforting hand on his best friends shoulder. Though the looks Aidan received from the other men told him his own thoughts and fears plagued them all.

  “It’ll be different for Emmy, like it was with me,” Stacie said.

  She brought Bart to the fire to feed him. The baby played momentarily before latching on, grinning and cooing at his adoring mother. He’d grown stronger and healthier daily, his weight gain impressive. Aidan looked at him with such hope and longing Stacie reached to clasp his hand. Soon after she handed a full and sleeping Bart over to Clint, who held him tucked in one arm, though a worried frown adorned his face.

  Michaela climbed onto Cord’s lap to keep a close eye on the baby. Though Clint’s attention of her never wavered, she found Cord’s growing attention helped curve the jealous feelings she had been having in the beginning upon the baby’s arrival. Michaela was unnoticing of Cord’s thoughtful expression. He pulled her tighter to his chest, his large hand unconsciously stroking the top of her head. For the first time, Cord wondered if somewhere out there a child born of him had been conceived and had lived, or died as Rose’s had because of the circumstances. Was it possible he was a father?

  Max also climbed up onto Cord’s lap while casting an anxious glance toward his sister, wondering why she was unmoving. When he asked the others they pretended they hadn’t seen the question.

  “Why won’t she wake up?” Tansy whispered.

  “Trauma. She’s so young to be giving birth. The baby, even though born early was too big for her tiny frame,” Becky answered.

  “Will she die?” Emmy asked.

  “She’s strong. She’s lost a great deal of blood, but we have to have hope. The worst part will be when she hears she’s lost the baby. Even after all that had been done to her, I understand she wanted him a great deal,” Becky said. She placed another blanket over the girl and they all waited with hope.

  Two days passed before Rose regained consciousness. She was weak and wanted to see her baby but fell asleep soon after given broth to drink. The next time she woke she was more coherent.

  “My baby?”

  “I’m so sorry, sweetheart; he didn’t make it,” Tansy told her.

  Rose closed her eyes then reached for her brother who had approached, greatly relieved his sister had awakened. She then sobbed pitifully. Soon the women and girls added their crying to hers. The men, also saddened for the young girl who had already suffered so much, did their best to offer what comfort they could. The entire group pressed to one another, each individual clasping with compassion at the distraught girl’s arms or legs, wanting her to feel their presence and support. Rose’s loss was everyone’s loss; they all felt her pain.

  * * * *

  The days passed with agonizing slowness. Rose’s recovery was gradual but the attention of everyone in the mine kept her from succumbing to despair. She maturely divided up the baby clothes she made between Stacie and Emmy. Aidan sought out more reassurance from Becky for Emmy’s delivery. Tansy told him she had a relatively easy birth with Emmy and Shanie but didn’t elaborate on Michaela’s, not wanting to frighten him.

  Michaela came running to her mother one beautiful sunny morning and produced a crocus. Tansy took it happily. It had been with relief that the partitions had been opened for a brief part of the day for the last little while. Although the snow could still fly, the change in the weather was apparent to them all and the fresh air was welcome.

  “Spring,” Tansy declared; her fist closed around the flower in victory. They survived the winter. “Look Cord, it’s spring.”

  “So, Mother Nature will allow the cycle to begin again.”

  Cord clutched Tansy to his chest with one arm, gazing at her adoringly and reached for Michaela with the other. With a laugh, he tossed the child into the air and recaptured her to his chest, chuckling as she squealed with delight. He snuggled them both. The bond had formed. Cord remembered a time when he wondered at Clint’s despair at losing his family, then d
esperately seeking another. Cord was right about his search for the answer being entertaining and most definitely interesting; he was amazed at the thought that it was also rewarding. For once in his life, Cord had a fleeting moment’s idea in this particular area Clint had been smarter; it was definitely a revelation.

  As he gazed into the faces of the smiling woman and child, an overwhelming thought entered his mind...his, they were his. As Michaela rubbed her nose affectionately against Cord’s cheek in a familiar gesture, he realized he was theirs, he had a family. Looking around at the others, he realized he belonged, he was wanted, needed. He found his answer, Clint had been right. It was well worth the search. Cord realized the journey was still beginning. It was a challenge they were all going to have to face. He for one was looking forward to the adventure.

  Epilogue

  Mid-spring, the women once again cried after the birth of Emmy’s son, Raidan. Named for Aidan and his mentor Ray. This time, they were tears of happiness. The beautiful boy was estimated at eight pounds, he resembled his father a great deal with his shock of dark black hair and dark almost-black eyes.

  Aidan was filled with relief and pride. He brought Emmy an armload of wild flowers and they celebrated with a bountiful feast. Cord procured a doe and her young fawn. While Ethan and Shanie captured a cow and her calf. They dispatched her young one, excited about the milk they and everyone else could now partake in, penning the cow with the goat, making a sturdy corral.