"Tommy, could you grab George. He's running out the door." I asked, wrestling with Rosie to get her nightgown on.

We had moved out here to start a farm and let me just tell you, having six kids and trying  to start a farm is not easy. I had fortunately been apprenticed as a vet and Tommy had grown up with animals, so we know what we're doing. 

"Oh no you don't George. Come right back here." Tommy said, grabbing the little toddler and tossing him in the air.

George smiled his cute little toothless smile and I couldn't help but smile myself. 

"Mommy, wiw you be able to weed tonight?" Rosie asked as I pulled the freshly washed nightgown over her head.

"Um, I'm not sure honey. If you're a good girl."

"What about me? Do I have to be good?" Liz laughed. 

Liz was the oldest and got to stay up later.

"Especially you."

Liz faked a hurt look and asked innocently, "Mwa? I'm hurt that you think of me that way."

"Alright my household comedian. Can you help me get these little rascals to bed?"

"I already did." And she pointed to little Timmy who was already asleep in his cradle.

"I didn't mean him and you know it." 

Liz smiled and grabbed Rosie's hand.

"What's dat?" Rosie asked, pointing out the window.

I looked out the window and saw several horses approaching the house. The eventually came to the porch and I heard a knock on the door.

"Tommy, could you see who that is?"

The only visitor we ever really got was Samantha with the weekly delivery of bread, but she never came this late.

Tommy opened the door and the I heard a familiar voice speak out.

"Mr. Conner, I need your help."

"Sure Samantha. What is it?"

"A friend of mine has been hurt...Badly. And she's lost a lot of blood."

"Come on in." Tommy said, gesturing for them to come in.

Samantha walked in first, followed by a tall boy carrying the limp body of a girl.

"Oh my goodness!" I gasped.

"Put her right over here young man." I ordered, my mother instincts taking over.

He followed me into our bedroom and I told him to place her on the bed.

"Samantha, fetch me a hot basin of water, some linens, and my sewing kit. Liz, help her." 

"Got it!" They said in unison, running off into the kitchen.

"Anything I can do?" The boy asked desperately.

"Yes. Stay out of this room."

I knew it sounded really mean, but I was stressed to get her patched up before she lost anymore blood. He seemed to understand and immediately left the room just as Liz and Samantha came back with the utilities. 

"What's going on?" Rosie asked, coming in sucking her thumb.

"Nothing Rosie. Come with me." Samantha said, picking her up and leaving the room.

I walked out of the bedroom a really quick and asked, "Do any of you here know how to sew up a wound?"

A tall girl with sandy hair nodded. I hadn't noticed her before, but she seemed just a little younger then me, probably around 25. Didn't talk much I noticed.

"Alright. Could you help me?" 

It wasn't really a question, but she got the idea and followed me into the bedroom, shutting the door behind her. Then we set to work.

.................................................................................................

- Samantha's Point of View -

"Calm down Callum. She's going to be fine." I said, holding Rosie on my lap.

Callum was pacing back and forth in the room, running his hands through his hair.

"How can you say that? She could die."

I would've reassured him that she wouldn't, but at this point I wasn't so sure myself. It was almost a two hour ride here. A person can lose a lot of blood in that time. I had been surprised when Rowan nodded her head. I had know idea she was so resourceful.

"What's taking them so long?" Callum asked, sitting down then standing right back up again.

"Mr. Conner, do you know how much longer it'll be?" I asked.

He  took his pipe out of his mouth and paused for a minute.

"I haven't a clue. It really depends on how bad it really is. When Lucy's attending to a lamb with a gash like that, sometimes it takes four hours...Sometimes more."

Callum groaned and ran his hands through his hair one more time. He sat down one more time and just as he hit the wood on the chair the door to the bedroom swung open and Mrs. Conner came out.

"Samantha, could you come here for a minute?"

I nodded and got up, glancing at Callum a really quick before going into the bedroom behind her.

......................................................................................................

- Callum's Point of View -

I looked as the door shut behind them and I felt like the whole world knew what was going on except me. How could this be happening? She had never done anything wrong. She had never done anyone harm unless it was self defense. Why was this happening to her? I ran my hands through my hair again and stared at the ground. 

It seemed like an eternity before Samantha finally came out, her face grim.

"Well?" I asked, standing up.

"Callum...Come with me." She ordered and walked out the front door.

I closed the door behind us and was just about to ask her again, when she started to talk.

"Callum...It's...It's a..."

"Just tell me."

"Callum, she's in critical condition."

I looked at her for a minute, not quite believing what she was saying.

"How critical?" I asked, as if you could get any worse then that.

"She's in a coma...We're not sure if she'll ever wake up."

I stared blankly for a minute, then a deep feeling in my chest started growing bigger and bigger. It began to ache and it hurt more then anything I'd ever known. I sat down on the porch leaned my head against the railing. Why? I don't know what I'd do without her. She was my only bright light...And she'll be gone.