The Fire Within

Chapter 25

April 30, 1864

In the bright morning light of late April, Grace packs her belongings onto the back of Abraxas. She has spent two weeks mourning her cousin, showering the new baby with love and affection, and catching up with the others. But now it is time to return. She received word from a courier sent from Virginia that General Grant was moving his troops deeper into the Virginia wilderness where they intend on bringing the battle directly to Lee. As much as she wants to remain here with Emanuel and the others, she desperately wants to be near Zachariah. Every battle is dangerous, but this one seems more ominous than the others.

Ezekiel gathers his things and exits the house. Everything in him tells him that he needs to be here for his son, the only part of his precious wife that he has left, but duty calls. He has no idea where his unit is currently stationed, but he’s not going to them. He’s going with Grace, to where he believes he is needed the most. The journey north and back to his family took a toll on his beautiful mare. She’s just not been the same since he pushed her so hard. He’s not sure what horse he’s going to take that will let him keep up with Abraxas, but he has to try.

Out in the horse barn, Isaiah brushes Phobos as he places the saddle on his back. This horse deserves to be in the action again. He loves to run in the open forests and he’s always taken care of Isaiah. Now, Isaiah hopes that Phobos will take care of Ezekiel and bring him back to his son safely. When Ezekiel enters the barn and sees his saddle on Phobos’ back, he’s dumbfounded.

“What are you doing?” Ezekiel asks.

“Phobos needs to run, he needs to be out there. He’s wasting away here. Besides there’s no other horse in this barn that will be able to keep up with Abraxas, other than Phobos.” Isaiah finishes brushing his beloved steed. He guides the horse by the reigns toward the entrance where Ezekiel is standing. “He’s a good horse and has kept me safe. He will do the same for you.”

Ezekiel places his hand on the horse’s soft muzzle and strokes his midnight black hair. This horse is the opposite of Abraxas, but Phobos is also his equal. The horse nudges Ezekiel’s hand as he strokes the massive beast.

“You will get on just fine. Let him do his job and he will see you safely back home with your son,” Isaiah croaks out in his raspy voice.

Ezekiel overcome with emotion, hugs his brother. He never believed that he would ever have this relationship with his brother ever again. But here they are, and Ezekiel couldn’t be happier. Another gift that Mary gave him before she left this world. Every day he has found yet another gift that his wife bestowed on him in the short time that she was with him. The return of his brother’s love is just the latest in a long string of gifts that he attributes to the love he received and gave to the woman that changed his life.

“Thank you, brother. I’ll take good care of him.”

Isaiah smiles and steps back as Ezekiel climbs into the massive steed’s saddle. He’s so much broader and more muscular than his beautiful mare and he knows that this horse will care for his rider, no matter what.

He guides the horse to the front of the house where he finds Abraxas and Grace waiting. She’s said her goodbyes and is now anxiously awaiting Ezekiel. When she sees him on Phobos, she gets flashbacks of the midnight beast pursuing her through the darkened woods of northern Virginia. But she knows things are different now and he no longer has to invoke nightmares. She smiles at horse and rider as they approach. She’s dressed in a long navy blue nurse’s dress. She was going to bring back James for this trip, but decided that it wouldn’t be wise, especially when she promised she would discuss that with Zachariah before she made that decision.

The two riders wave toward their family before galloping off into the morning sunshine toward where they believe Zachariah’s unit will collide with Lee.