Heart of a Hero (H.O.C. #3)

Chapter 10

“So, Titus just took Lottie and Miss Corinne? What about baby John? What about ...? What a..?” Sophie began crying, the story had moved her so greatly. Really, Lottie was becoming alive to Sophie, and she didn’t want anything bad to happen to her. She wasn’t thinking that this was the past, that the events had already happened. “I want Lottie to be alright. And, and Miss Corinne, too. And I hope they hanged Titus Kirby for what he did, taking her away from her love, David, like that.”

“I think you’re a little too deep into this story. It’s overwhelming you. Let’s take a break, eat some dinner, and relax.” Belinda, rubbing her granddaughter’s back, cooed in a whisper.

“NO! Granny B! I have to know what happened to them! You can’t stop telling it now, Aunt Jess. You … you just can’t!” Sophie was one octave below yelling, and Belinda’s visage told her to watch it or she would be grounded. “I’m … I’m sorry, Granny B., Aunt Jess, I promise, I really am okay.”

“We’re still going to eat dinner before we continue so you have a few moments to get calmed down, okay, Sophie?” Aunt Jess was also very calm and quiet. How they managed to be so collected, Sophie was unsure, but it was a trick she wanted to learn.  “Stay passionate, Sophie. Don’t try to be what you aren’t meant to be, okay? Be passionate. I want you to take this story and pass it on so that your children and grandchildren, and great grandchildren never forget. It’s too important!”

“Yes, Aunt Jess. I’m going to go splash my face with some cold water. I’ll be out in a little while.” Slumped shoulders walked away from the living room.

“Dinner will be ready soon, Sophie.” Belinda called from the kitchen.

“Belinda, maybe we shouldn’t … I don’t know. I don’t think the details about this story are necessarily good for Sophie. She seems a bit …”

“Sophie's too far in, Jess. She’s taking it too personally and I know there are going to be details she can’t handle. Those guys who kidnapped Lottie and Corinne did unspeakable things to them. We need to skip those particular details. I’ll tell her when she’s older. But, we can certainly let her know that despite the hardships, Lottie and Corinne both stayed strong and David and Ryne worked tirelessly to find them. She needs to know that good won; that love conquered all.” Belinda shook her head. Lottie cried every time she told this part of her story, and Belinda knew why; so did Aunt Jess, for that matter.

Jess started to set the table, but they didn’t speak about Lottie again until Sophie had finished eating her dinner and washed the dishes. Jess made popcorn and they sat down together in the living room.

“So…” Sophie said as she smacked on popcorn and sipped her favorite orange cola, “what happened next? That poor baby was so hungry. And how did little Julia handle not seeing her mother when she woke up the next morning?”

"Ryne was gone before she was awake, but he made sure both the baby and Julia would be well cared for while he and Corinne were gone. I'll get  back to it.”

*****

David hated to ride his horse so hard and so fast, but he had to get back to the Fort. He also searched as much as the dark would allow, for any sign of the wagon, the horse, or his wife.

"Lottie!" He called her name, breaking the silence of the night, as he neared the first outpost.

“Who’s there?” The night watch responded. David heard the gun click. He couldn’t blame a guy for being scared.

“It’s Sergeant Harmon.”

“What brings you at this hour?

“I need to see the Colonel.”