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Eve smiled and went inside the cabin where her two children were still eating their breakfast. The cold cornmeal mush and milk pleased her son, Matthew, her oldest. Jane Ann loved it and still had a milk ring around her mouth. She warmed her coffee. She sipped it slowly, feeling the warm liquid sliding down her throat.
Something suddenly enraptured her and sent a sensation through her that both startled and awakened her. It was so real, her eyes widened in shock, and then she smiled. A heady feeling of euphoria filled her. She'd had many of these sensations, and she knew the source well. For a moment, she let herself relax and enjoy the feelings overcoming her. She closed her eyes and smiled.
Perhaps her own body caused these sensations, since she hadn't been with a man in a long while. Lonely women did strange things.
"Mama, why are you smiling?" her son asked.
At first she didn't answer, couldn't. How could this feeling swamp her so? It lingered, she indulged it for a second longer. For happiness was a vague reality that seldom came to this valley. Then her eyes flew open and she stared down into Matthew's quizzical face.
"It's a beautiful morning…" She smiled at her son.
"Good fishin' weather…" He smiled back.
Eve knew her son well. She knew what he was up to. She wiped the ring from her daughter's mouth and whisked them from the table so she could clean it.
"Can I go fishing, Ma?" Matthew asked, as he turned to look at his mother.
"I'd rather you wouldn't…" Eve said hesitantly.
"But why, I'll be careful…" Matthew insisted swiping the white blond hair from his eyes.
Matthew took after her with her blond hair and blue eyes. He always swiped the hair from his eyes, as it seemed to blind him at times. Eve knew that Matthew was a very good fisherman and that the river was something he'd been educated in for some time, but she had a feeling climbing up her back that she couldn't explain when it came to her children leaving her site. She knew with Matthew she had to be careful not to coddle too much, and yet not to give him so much leave way that he did as he pleased.
Matthew sullied up and frowned, pushing his hair out of his eyes once more.
She took one look at her son's pitiful face and took pity, "Oh…all right, but just until the sun is over the tree tops, and then you come home, you understand?"
"Oh boy…" A reckless smile broke across his face and his blue eyes twinkled.
"I wanna go…" Jane Ann cried.
"Oh no you don't, you are too little yet. Actually, Matthew is too, but I know how much he loves it. Besides, he's always been extra careful, and usually manages to bring back some fish for supper. You my dear must have a tea party with me later…"
"Yeah…" Jane Ann cried, clapping her hands together.
Matthew got his gear and small shovel.
"Get some big worms so you can catch a big fish for supper…and be careful, and just until the sun is up over the tree tops, you hear me?" Eve cried.
"Yes Mama…." He turned to look at her and Jane Ann. "I'll be back with enough for supper." He cried.
Eve nodded with a smile, "Sounds good."
When she finished most of the chores, she turned to Jane Ann and smiled. "Okay, let's get the tea set…"
Jane Ann went to a small trunk and pulled out a miniature tea set that had belonged to Eve as a child. Jane Ann was extra careful of all the dishes, brought them to the table proudly, and set it royally for her Mama. Eve watched fascinated that she had taught her daughter something to play at such a young age. However, Jane Ann was precocious for her age just as Matthew was. She blamed it on the fact that Harold had never fathered them. They were too much trouble. It was her job to take care of them.
Jane Ann went to dig her only rag doll out of the trunk and set her in the chair that Matthew usually occupied.
"Good Mama?" she asked.
"Very good, you've learned fast how to set the table for tea. We must have a cookie with our tea, today…." She smiled.
"Oh goodie, a cookie…" Jane Ann waited till her mother brought two cookies to the table.
They were just sitting down to eat when the door flew open and a painted Indian grabbed at her. Eve nearly screamed, realizing quickly that the war paint meant he was an enemy. Panic constricted her throat. She reached for Jane Ann's hand immediately, but it was too late.
They grabbed Jane Ann and she gasped and trying to reach for her daughter, but another Indian came in and took Jane Ann. Eve screamed then for her daughter.
