Introducing Maddie

Another peek inside my book in progress... again; any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Freezing did not describe what Maddie felt at the moment. She was beyond freezing but kept pushing herself onwards into the dark of night in the deepest part of the forest. She had a job to do and nothing was going to deter her from the task at hand. She had spent all day nursing the wounded men from the battle already and her mother had told her to go get some rest. If it had been any other day and any other circumstance she would have obeyed her mother; but not this time. She was determined to find her brother. She recalled her fears of the day. Every solider that she happened upon throughout the day she had made sure it wasn’t Elliott. If the man’s face was unrecognizable she would look to his belly for the undeniable birthmark Elliot bore. So far in her quest to find him she had failed. Still, she did not give up. She had overheard people talking about soldiers flanking the sides of Union forces in the pass and prayed her brother had been there.  Anger boiled the blood in her veins now. Elliot never listened to her, never took her advice and this time he had really done it. He was only a boy, thirteen years old, and felt he could be as good a soldier as any other man fighting in the war. She had told him he was too young and inexperienced for the job, but of course he did not listen. When news of the attack came, her mother had readied the family for the certain jobs they were meant to carry out. Maddie’s was to assist her mother in nursing the wounded. Elliott and Maddie’s three younger siblings were to stand guard at the farm and make sure nothing happened there. He seemed excited about his job. He stood brave, musket in hand with three children at his back as Maddie and her mother left for town. It was only an hour later that twelve year old Layla came looking for mother and found Maddie instead telling her that Elliott had run off to help the soldiers fight. What was he thinking? After getting her three siblings in a safe place, Maddie had continued her duties until she was sent to rest. Now she was on a mission to find her younger brother no matter what the cost.

 She had just about to reach Cherokee Lake when she heard voices. She knew she was close to the place where there was a hunting cabin and she and her brother had spent much of their time growing up. All she had to do was get to the water’s edge and follow it east a bit to get to her destination. However, when she heard the voices the she thought maybe she had happened across a bit of luck. She ran to the closest tree and squatted down by the base of the trunk in an effort to hide herself from sight. She was not going to take any chances on getting caught out in the dead of night alone by just any man. No she was to vulnerable right now alone and unarmed, and she chastised herself at that moment for not bringing her gun with her. Woman she may be, but her daddy had taught her well on how to defend herself and survive if need be before he died. She was better with the musket that her own brother and never failed to win at every game of hide and seek with her siblings. She was not afraid one bit right now, but recognized the importance of staying out of sight. She listened again carefully so she could figure out which way the voices were coming from.  She heard a man say something about blood. The sound was too far to catch every word said. She cupped her hands and held them to her mouth and blew softly to warm them a bit. She could no longer feel the tips of her fingers or her feet now. Her warm breath helped only a little, still not regaining any feeling in her fingers what so ever. She rubbed her hands together one more time and then wrapped her arms around her legs for extra warmth. She listened for a while longer and until the voices had stopped all together. She could tell that there were at least two different men out there by the pitch of their voices but neither resembled her brothers at all. After a long spell of not hearing any voices or sounds of feet walking along the forest floor she decided to be on her way again.

 It did not take her much longer to reach the lake and turn east. The wind blowing off of the water made it much colder, if that was even possible. Maddie reminded herself she was almost there now, not much further and she continued on. When she reached the big oak that marked the path to the cabin she heard voices again. Her heart skipped a beat. She knew it had to be her brother at the cabin. She started to run now and as she came closer to the cabin the voices got louder. She heard her bothers voice and relief swept over her. He was here, he was alive. She thanked the good Lord as her legs carried her even faster now towards the cabin.

“Help.” The voice was right beside her then. She could see the cabin now, but it was just the outline of the structure against the trees surrounding it. It was dark, no fire and no light inside. She stopped and turned to her right where she had heard the man’s voice come from. She seen a body of a man propped up against the trunk of a tree.

“Who are you? What side do you fight for?” She was not about to help a Union Soldier and she was not really in the mood to help anyone right now. She had to find her brother. She had heard his voice, she just knew it and yet he was nowhere to be found. Still she could not allow herself to let another man die because she was being selfish.

“My name is Luke Conner and I am a Confederate Soldier. I am wounded bad and need to get help for my fellow men. They are only few yards away up the hill there just beyond that cabin. Can you help?”

“I can but I am trying to find my brother. Do you know if he is with your men? I thought I heard his voice.”

“Is he a young man?”

“Yes Sir, he is only thirteen. He should not have been out here today but he never listens to anyone.”

“He is here.” With that Henry pointed down to his lap. Maddie followed with her eyes and seen the body of a boy laying there. Henry was holding the boys head in his lap and the body and limbs of the boy was against his legs. Her heart dropped. She fell to her knees beside Henry and the boy and looked to his face. It was her brother Elliot. Blood was drawing a line from his mouth and down his chin. His eyes were closed and she could see wet lines making their way from the corner of his eyes and down his cheek. He had cried, and that thought made Maddie cry. Silent tears flooded her eyes as she tore her apron and began to wipe the tear streaks and blood off his face. She was not going to let Henry see her cry no matter how bad she was hurting.

“I did not realize he was so young. I came across him on my way for help. He called out to me and I found him here. He was brave and spoke of a girl named Maddie. He looked up to this girl, I think. Said the two of them hunt here at this cabin. He came here wounded knowing she would find him here. He did not quite make it. I sat with him and listened to him and then we said a prayer together right before he… he went peacefully at least. Do you know this girl he spoke of?”

Maddie gulped back more tears and replied as best she could, “I am Maddie.”

                                                                     By: Desirae Bennett



© [Desirae DeVon Bennett] and [Entertaining Thoughts and Ideas], [2013-2014]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [Desirae DeVon Bennett] and [Entertaining Thoughts and Ideas] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Photo Credit:
http://shirleymanson.pblogs.gr/tags/neoclassicaldarkwave.html
Winter Dark Forest (id: 72176) | WallPho.

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/union-field-hospital.25502/