Already prepared, Kitty thrust a cloth at the boy’s chest and Nathaniel held it firm. He turned to his wife and gave instructions while the boy wailed.
“I can’t die, I can’t die, I can’t die.” The boy’s entire frame quivered, and his pale face went ever more white until even the freckles began to lose their pigment.
“Son, look at me.” William cupped his face and forced the young stranger to look in his eyes. “You will be well—look at me. You will be well. Now, tell me your name.”
“Lund…Townsend.” He struggled to look down at his middle, but William held his head still.
The boy groaned again, this time with a shrillness that stabbed the air. His eyes went round and his breathing hiccoughed. William’s limbs went numb. No, Lord!
William threw a frantic look to Nathaniel. The doctor’s arms and chest were spattered with blood, as were Kitty’s. They worked together to stem the flow talking fast and grabbing at the cloths and bandages that Eliza thrust at them.
William turned again to the boy. “Tell me what happened.”
The boy’s body shook more now, his jaw tapping his teeth together as he tried to speak. “In the woods…the same soldier…and…another man.”
“Another soldier?”
“No, he was…” He stopped as tears poured from his frantic eyes. His young face contorted with fear as he met William’s gaze. “I don’t want to die.”
Dear God, please keep him alive!
William coughed to clear the rock from his throat but it wouldn’t move. He spoke deep and low, stroking the boy’s head as huge tears continued to fall over his trembling cheeks. “You will live.”
Nathaniel yelled something and Kitty responded quiet but with equal urgency.
The boy’s trembling began to fade and his voice quieted. “I’m scared.”
William forced a smile he didn’t actually feel as he stroked the boy’s head once more. “You are the bravest man I know.”
The panic smoothed from his features and his eyes went still. It was only when the boy’s head went limp that William turned to Nathaniel, unable to breathe.
The doctor swore between his teeth and hurled a blood-covered rag on the ground beside him. Kitty slumped to the side and turned her head away.
William gasped and his lungs raced, meeting the sudden pace of his pulse. He looked again at the boy. A needless death. Rage misted through him like a poisonous fume.
He rested the boy’s head gently against the ground and looked to the men who had brought him. “What happened? Where did you find him?” Rising to his feet, he started to speak again, but Nathaniel neared and spoke before him.
“Were you returning from Plymouth?” Nathaniel turned to William. “This is Andrew Cooper and his son Leo.”
William nodded as the older one spoke.
“Aye, we were.” He looked to the boy’s limp form on the ground. “We heard gunfire, then not long after Leo heard him—”
“Did you see anyone?” William interrupted. “Was he alone?”
The younger man answered. “We saw no one else.”
William spun and strode from the room, but Nathaniel caught him by the arm. “Where are you going?”
“To get my musket.”
Nathaniel’s grip went as hard as his look. “Wait.” He turned to Andrew and Leo. “Report your story to my wife, then bring the child’s body to his family.” He
turned to Kitty. “I’m going with William.”
Thomas reached for his musket above the mantel then turned to Joseph as if he knew full well his thoughts mirrored theirs.
William exited with the others following. “Meet me at my farm at the edge of the wood.”