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Chapter 22
Hannah POV
Jamie and I had just left our supply list with Mr. Perkins at the mercantile and were headed to Millie’s for lunch when I saw a rider coming into town. I pointed him out to Jamie, “Look, travelers coming.”
As the horse drew near, I realized that the woman sitting in front of him was my friend, Abigail. But that man was not her Henry. He was too old. I gripped Jamie’s hand and said, “It’s Abigail and that is not her husband.”
He whispered, “Okay, let’s not make a scene. Let’s see what we can find out.”
We stood and watched as they rode closer. I was able to catch her eye and realized that she was terrified. I noticed as she barely shook her head at me, telling me not to say anything. The man slowed the horse and spoke to Jamie, “Good day. Can you tell me where I can get my wife a hot meal? We have been traveling and our
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Savage Freedom: Book #2 Boarding House Brides Chapter 23
Henry POVOnce again, I was woken by the sound of pounding on the door. By the time I had crawled out of bed, pulled on my pants and made it to the sitting room, Levi had answered the door and was holding out a piece of paper to me. “It’s a telegram for you, Henry,” he said, “I haven’t opened it.”I nodded as I took the paper from him. Opening it, I quickly read through the telegram. It was lengthy, but told me everything I had hoped to hear:Received the following telegram from Paris TX-Sent dispatch to Sill-Unable to Deliver; Assume you arrived at McCulloch; confirm receipt:Abigail is safe. Rossi in jail. Proceed to Paris and ask for Sheriff Randall Edwards.Signed, Fort Cobb DispatchI smiled as I looked up at Levi and Wohali, whom was bunking with us, “she’s safe.”We all
Savage Freedom: Book #2 Boarding House Brides Chapter 24
Abigail POVIt was difficult to tell Henry all that Rossi had done to me. I knew that it wasn’t my fault. The man was vile and had no right to touch me. However, it didn’t stop the weird feelings that stirred in my mind. I knew Henry’s touch, it was strong, yet gentle and soft. Rossi’s was rough and cruel. Henry’s kisses were full of love, passion, and tenderness. Rossi’s were lustful and demanding.The retelling of it was difficult because I blamed myself. If I had gone straight back to the fort. Hell, if I had allowed Levi to go with me to the camp, none of this would have happened. Once I had cried out my lingering fear, resentment, frustration and anger towards Rossi, all that was left was the need for his justice. His violation had only gone so far, but the mental anguish of his assault would last for some time.As we spoke of his punishment, I found my stomach was unknotting itse
Savage Freedom: Book #2 Boarding House Brides Chapter 25
April 29thHenry POVAbigail didn’t want any details concerning Rossi’s punishment. She only wanted me to tell her it was over, so that is what I did. I told Levi as we rode back into the fort that I didn’t want to be disturbed until the following day. I needed time to process what I had been a part of. Whipping and then hanging Zeke had been nothing compared to the brutality of a blood eagle. The image of that will haunt me for many years to come. But if ending his life put Abigail at ease, knowing she would never be forced away from me again, then it was worth any nightmares I might endure.The next few weeks were busier than before as we continued to sort and load everything that we would need for our journey to Camp Supply. It had been vacant for about a year because the previous command resigned and the remaining soldiers had no one to lead them. They either returned home back east or sc
Savage Freedom: Book #2 Boarding House Brides Chapter 26
August 7, 1866Abigail POVHere I am, sitting with my feet propped up, trying to stay cool in the August heat. I am miserable. And fat. I waddle when I walk, my back hurts. Whoever said being pregnant was a blessing, had never been pregnant in the territory in August. I am so ready for our little one to be born. So, here I sit with my glass of sweet tea, thank you Hannah, for introducing it to me. Anyway, as I was saying, I’m sitting here reflecting over the last few months since our arrival at Camp Supply.By the time Uncle Samuel had arrived with the lumber and building supplies, I was ready for an actual roof over my head. Sure, we had a bed in our tent, but it wasn’t the same as having four solid walls. Two thunderstorms had occurred while we were living in the tent. The wind howled and blew so much, that just about everything in our tent was wet by the end of the storm.I tried not t
Savage Freedom: Book #2 Boarding House Brides Chapter 27
April 1867Henry POVOn August 7th we welcomed our son into the world. His arrival was a happy occasion for Abigail had her friend with her. Hannah refused to let anyone other than the doctor into our bedroom while Abigail was laboring with our son. I listened for twelve hours as Abigail cried, the cursed me, and then screamed in her pain. If Jamie and my friends had not been there, I would have busted down the door to get to her.At one point, Hannah opened the door and told me to go pace somewhere else because my constant hovering by the door was making Abigail anxious. I moved my pacing to the sitting room. Jamie just chuckled at me. When I gave him a look that would make most men piss their pants, he held his hands up and said, “I’m sure I looked just as bad six weeks ago. She’ll be fine, Henry. Woman have been birthing since the beginning of time.”Walt chuckle
Savage Freedom: Book #2 Boarding House Brides Epilogue
May 1889 Abigail Henry resignation of his commission from the army couldn’t have happened at a better time. We were deeded our land with the assistance of his former commander, General Grant. After receiving the telegram from General Grant, Henry immediately sent another telegram informing General Grant of the location we wanted as our own. A parcel of land just ten miles west of Camp Supply, along the North Canadian River. General Grant responded, telling Henry that paperwork would be sent directly to Camp Supply by military courier. We waited impatiently for the paperwork to arrive. We only had so many months to get the house built, before his commission expired. After six weeks, the courier arrived. He had traveled by train as far as he could and then completed his journey on horseback. The dispatch from General Grant revealed documents of ownership of the land and a purchase receipt showing it was paid in full. Also included was a signed note from General Grant: Captain Heinri
Savage Freedom: Book #2 Boarding House Brides Author's Note
I hope that you have enjoyed Henry and Abigail's journey as much as I did while writing it. The old west was a simplier time but they still had their struggles. Digging into life following the American Civial War was fun and challenging. The fallout from a divided and wounded nation had ripple effects for years to come. In many ways, we are still dealing with the struggles. The right for a state to determine it's own laws was one of the bedrock principles of the south during the war. At that time, the government was overstepping its power. Unfortunately, 160 years later, we see it happening today. Maybe one day we will all take a page out of Abigail and Henry's story:Excerpt from chapter 13: I shook my head. “The greed of men. The Apostle Paul wrote in his epistle to Timothy that ‘the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows’. I think that is what happened to my father. He
Savage Freedom: Book #2 Boarding House Brides Author's Note
I hope that you have enjoyed Henry and Abigail's journey as much as I did while writing it. The old west was a simplier time but they still had their struggles. Digging into life following the American Civial War was fun and challenging. The fallout from a divided and wounded nation had ripple effects for years to come. In many ways, we are still dealing with the struggles. The right for a state to determine it's own laws was one of the bedrock principles of the south during the war. At that time, the government was overstepping its power. Unfortunately, 160 years later, we see it happening today. Maybe one day we will all take a page out of Abigail and Henry's story: Excerpt from chapter 13: I shook my head. “The greed of men. The Apostle Paul wrote in his epistle to Timothy that ‘the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows’. I think that is what happened to my father. He
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- Savage Freedom: Book #2 Boarding House Brides Author's Note
- Savage Freedom: Book #2 Boarding House Brides Epilogue
- Savage Freedom: Book #2 Boarding House Brides Chapter 27
- Savage Freedom: Book #2 Boarding House Brides Chapter 26
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- Savage Freedom: Book #2 Boarding House Brides Chapter 24
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