Salvation

Chapter 9 - Sadena

"Wait a second little one......." Sadena held up her hand slowly, racking her brain for the boy's name "...Kaleb. Put down the gun sweetheart, it's Sadena, friends of your parents."

She felt Thea stop suddenly behind her. This was an unusual turn of events and she did not want to startle to little one holding the gun. She didn't want Thea to act on this threat either. She exhaled deeply.

"We're just here to help, I swear."

The little boy did not lower the gun, but she noticed that he relaxed his finger on the trigger ever so slightly.

"YOU have no business here," he yelled.

"I know sweet one, we just came to see if all was well here," She lied, trying to calm him.

He lowered the gun just a bit and stared at her. He stared suspiciously but it was if he wanted someone to take over.

"They're gone." He said simply, lowering the gun the rest of the way.

Sadena did not want to lose any momentum. "I know darling, let us in and tell us what happened."

He slumped to the floor and began crying. A little boy no older than nine years old, messy red hair and a dirty face. Sadena could tell that it was all too much for him. She dropped lower, to his level, and she reached out a hand.

"Come here sweetie, tell me what happened."

He looked at her with such conflict it broke her heart. Then he let go of the gun completely and laid his head on her lap. Her heart broke in two. She knew that it was not good.

"They took them, they took them all. Except me and Janey."

Sadena nodded and ran her fingers through his hair. She reached out and patted Thea's leg. It was alright for the moment. She felt Thea leave.

"Who took them sweetie?"

He sobbed without abandon now, it was hard to understand him.

"Men c-c-came....they had guns," He bawled now, "Mom told me and Janey to go to our fort in the woods and not come out till they left."

She let the boy cry in her lap. This was not good. To take a whole family was brazen, and one thing she knew, Vancouver did not venture out this far and take a whole family. Yes, maybe the lone female and such, but not so blantly come into an established trade route and so openly kidnap their people. She let him continue.

"We came home the next day, everyone was gone. Mom, Pa, Dusty and Pam. All gone. They took our goats as well."

Sadena just held him. She let him cry while surveying the home. She could see the small remains of a fire in the hearth.

"How many days since they took them?" She asked softly.

Kaleb rubbed his runny nose and though, "Maybe two days," He furrowed his brow, "or three, I don't know. Me and Janey have been keeping quiet, in case they came back. But no one has until now."

Sadena smiled at him, "Good job, you guys are pretty smart!"

Kaleb nodded solemnly. His eyes still filled with tears he rubbed his nose and got up. He went over to the small cupboard in the kitchen and opened the lower door. In there huddled under a blanket was the youngest in the family, Janey. A tiny wisp of a girl, only five years old. Kaleb reached in and gently took her hand.

She climbed out and wrapped her arms around him and buried her head in his shirt, peeking ever so slightly at the strangers in her home. She felt her heart break at the sight. He led her slowly over to where Sadena was. He whispered in her ear. She nodded, lifted her head, smiled shyly but continued to hold on to her brother.