“You can’t do it!” Cyprian yelled. “You’re a traitor, a hypocrite, a heathen! Don’t you even think—”
Suddenly the backdoor shut and Cyprian’s muffled voice struggled to make its way back in. “Miss Campbell, you know better than to let this happen! Don’t let him dismember my boy!”
Kitty’s mind and strength nearly buckled under the weight of her oppressions when Nathaniel’s warm hand rested on her arm. “Don’t listen to him.” He stopped and sighed. “You know what to do?”
She glanced at the boy’s mangled leg, then at the saw in Nathaniel’s hand. Clinging to the strands of courage Nathaniel gifted her, she nodded. “I do.”
Nathaniel nodded and turned to Joseph. “Prepare your grip.”
Jacob wailed as his uncle leaned over him and held him down.
Nathaniel gripped the boy’s thigh. “Show me your mettle, son.”
Then he put the saw to the flesh.
Chapter Twenty-six
Nathaniel’s pulse found its natural rhythm as he wiped the blade clean. Though he’d performed the task numerous times, the execution of such an operation always pained him nearly as much as it did the patient. Especially when that patient was a child. He studied Jacob who slept fitfully, finally overtaken by the pain. It could not have gone more perfectly. I thank thee, Lord. Covered with a thick blanket from Nathaniel’s own bed, the boy’s chest moved slowly up and down, while his brow crunched together.
Focusing again on his task, Nathaniel spoke to Joseph who stood with arms crossed in the corner. “You did well, surprisingly.” He looked over his shoulder and offer
ed a half smile, hoping a bit of brevity might lighten the heaviness that clearly rested on Joseph’s shoulders. “I almost feared you would collapse.”
Joseph didn’t offer so much as a glance, his gaze trained solely on Jacob. His throat shifted and he licked his lips as if holding back the emotions that made his muscles flex. “’Tis my fault.” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “If I had insisted he not assist with that horse...”
Nathaniel swallowed the quick reply he almost spoke and let the words rest as he formulated a proper response. If he were in Joseph’s shoes he would feel the same, and no comment, no matter how well meant would be appreciated. With another quick look at his life-long friend, he sighed. “No matter how deeply you choose to take this upon yourself, the truth remains. Jacob will continue to need you as he always has. You are everything to him.”
Joseph’s jaw ticked and he stared at the ground. “I will continue to do for him all I can.”
Just then, Thomas entered, another bucket in his hands. “Fresh water, as you requested.”
“Thank you.” Nathaniel took it and sloshed the flesh-covered saw over and over until the tiny fragments fell off the blade’s teeth.
Joseph looked up. “Where’s Cyprian?”
Moving his gaze from Jacob to Joseph, Thomas answered. “He went home to fetch Jacob a change of clothing.”
Nathaniel hummed in response and put the saw in its place in the cabinet. “You’ve done enough, Thomas. I know you have responsibilities at the press.”
Cupping Nathaniel’s shoulder, Thomas nodded. “If you need anything more... ” He offered a half-grinned good-bye to Joseph and disappeared out the door.
Joseph pushed off the wall and leaned his hands at the end of the table, still gazing at the sleeping boy. “Miss Campbell is incredibly skilled. I’m sure I’ve never seen a woman do what she did.”
Pride warmed Nathaniel like a spiked drink. She had done remarkably well. Considering how pale her lips had been, and how her fingers had trembled. He put the last clean instrument on the cloth and glanced out the window, then into the study. Where was she?
He motioned toward Joseph. “Stay with him until I get back.”
“Of course.”
Though Kitty being in his room was less than plausible, he checked there first, thinking she might have retreated there for a place to rest, then hurried into the kitchen when both the upstairs and the parlor proved unoccupied.
Going outside and around the back, he made sure she wasn’t at the well or resting under his shade tree before giving way to the worry that wedged deeper.
Where could she be?
A vision in his mind vanished as quick as it appeared. The pond.
Racing down the road on the west of Shawme Pond, Nathaniel rushed past Newcomb to the place where they’d shared that sacred moment. His heart continued a fearsome rhythm. She’d been so close to disclosing her troubles less than an hour before. God willing, he could once again coax her into the comforting securities she needed and would tell him all.